10 : Kill The Temptation Now

The temptation was a physical weight, pulling his arm toward the silver chip. His brain chemistry was firing in all the wrong directions, demanding the dopamine hit. "Kill it," he hissed to himself. "Kill the ghost."

The Dealer held the chip out. "Last chance. The gate closes at midnight." 10 : Kill the Temptation

The Dealer vanished into the shadows, his violet eyes fading like a dying ember. Elias stood in the rain, soaked and exhausted, but for the first time in years, he was entirely, beautifully present. The temptation was a physical weight, pulling his

"Just one," Elias whispered. The Dealer smiled, a predatory tilt of the head. "The first one is always 'just one,' Elias. But this is a Ten. You won’t ever want to come back." "Kill the ghost

Elias looked at the chip, then at the photo of the daughter who hadn't spoken to him in years. The "Ten" offered a fake version of her love. The gray, cold alley offered the slim, painful chance of earning the real thing back.

Elias took a step toward the Dealer. His lungs felt tight. He remembered the warmth of his wife’s hand, the smell of jasmine in her hair. The real world was gray, cold, and lonely. Why stay here?