The number 666 is considered unlucky or evil

[Scene: A cozy coffee shop in Portland, Oregon. Maya and Jordan are sitting at a corner table sipping lattes.]

Maya:
Ugh, Jordan, you’re not gonna believe this. My total at the grocery store yesterday was $6.66. I nearly had a heart attack.

Jordan:
(Laughs) What did you do? Burn the receipt and sage the car?

Maya:
Funny. I added a pack of gum just to change it. I’m not letting that number curse my week.

Jordan:
You know it’s just a number, right? It’s not Voldemort’s Social Security number.

Maya:
It’s not just a number. It’s the “number of the beast.” It’s literally in the Bible. Book of Revelation, chapter 13. That’s not something you ignore like a parking ticket.

Jordan:
(Sips coffee)
Okay, I get it. It’s got that heavy symbolism, sure. But if you dig into the history, the original Greek texts actually have some scholars arguing the number might’ve been 616, not 666. It was likely a coded reference to Emperor Nero, not a cosmic hex.

Maya:
(Squints)
Wait… seriously?

Jordan:
Yup. There’s even a papyrus from the 3rd century that says 616. Maybe the devil couldn’t decide on a phone number.

Maya:
(Laughs despite herself)
Still, why take the risk? Bad stuff always happens when I see that number. I once stayed in a hotel room 666, and the fire alarm went off at 3 a.m. Coincidence? I think not.

Jordan:
I once stayed in room 13 on the 13th floor with black cat wallpaper, and all that happened was I slept like a baby and found free waffles at breakfast.

Maya:
You’re a protected species. Bad luck avoids you out of respect.

Jordan:
Or maybe our brains are just really good at noticing patterns—even if they’re totally random. It’s like how you remember the one time something went wrong with 666, but not the 20 times nothing happened.

Maya:
I mean… maybe. But why do airlines skip row 13? Or buildings go from floor 12 to 14? People are obviously on my side.

Jordan:
True, but that’s not evidence—it’s design based on public anxiety. Fear sells. Just like horror movies. Doesn’t mean ghosts are unionized and haunting elevators.

Maya:
You know I like horror movies, right?

Jordan:
Exactly. So you of all people should know the scariest part is always the music, not the number on the mailbox.

Maya:
(Smiles)
Okay, Mr. Rational. But admit it—if your bank account balance was $666.66, you’d feel a little uneasy.

Jordan:
Only because it would mean I’m broke, not possessed.

Maya:
Touché.

Jordan:
Tell you what. Next time your total comes to $6.66, don’t add gum. Donate it to charity instead. If the number’s cursed, at least something good will come out of it.

Maya:
That’s… actually not a bad idea. Evil number doing good deeds. Might confuse the universe.

Jordan:
Exactly. Beat superstition with subversion. And if a demon shows up, offer it some gum.

Maya:
(Smiling)
Deal. But only if it’s spearmint.

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[Scene fades as both laugh and clink their coffee mugs.]