A Series of Perverse Dreams, Part 2

"Um, my name is Kacey," I responded hesitantly.

"Kacey!" he shouted, "Are you brave enough to attempt to win at a game that has never before been defeated? I must warn you, you'll have to think on your feet, remain agile and work quickly. For if you do, you will be handsomely rewarded with one hundred dollars!" He yelled the prize amount aloud while throwing his hands and head to the sky, attempting to attract more people, but they slowly meandered past us, paying no attention.

I looked the box over. It was tall like a telephone booth and much more square around the middle, but not by much. A screen atop the game flashed the name "Locked Box Challenge" and various visuals denoted the strife one would endure attempting to beat the unbeatable game, like those cheesy, low-budget graphics they flash on the monitors at a bowling alley. I went to ask, "How mu-"

"Only 10 dollars," said the man abruptly.

"I mean, what ar-," I tried again.

"Rules are explained inside the box." He leaned closer and in a whisper compared to how he had been expressing himself, with a wink said, "If I told you out here, you wouldn't step in there." He stood back and spread his arms again, "No danger awaits you, just a test of your wits and constitution! Win ten times your money, if you dare try!"

Suddenly, some college aged frat boy pushed by me loudly exclaiming, "Fuck this! I'll take that hundred bucks now, bro," as he handed a ten to the carnie and opened the door. I could see it was pitch black inside and when the door closed a thick metal bar slid slowly across the front to lock him in. His buddies and I watched the screen atop the box flash the words "Challenge Accepted" and go blank. Within 30 seconds a loud buzzer went off and the screen blinked a large red X. The bar quickly slid back open and the frat bro came charging out, "Hell no! Fuck that! Keep your money you son of a bitch!" He stormed passed his friends in a huff and they turned to follow, laughing after him.