Lottie's Ship Wish

CHAPTER 18

Lottie's head drooped down and her hair that came loose from being cut went along and swept across her face.

"I...shouldn't have run away..."

She bit her lips. "No, I shouldn't have messed with the story...at least with the original, I could have two years' worth of time to be with my dad before my death..."

"But now...I'll die alone and unloved again..."

With no force anymore in her body, she watched the games proceed. Many more were added to the winners and did their requests to her.

One slapped her. She didn't know if it was out of anger or pleasure.

The other, kicked her on the stomach but the tattoo man stopped the winner after one kick to make sure she won't get killed.

The fourth one wounded her hand and licked her blood.

It was disgusting. She was disgusted, but what could she do? She had no way out.

Then, the fifth game came, and another client won.

"What is your request, dear client?" Cosimo asked.

"Break her spine," He bravely requested.

Even with a disheartened state, fear still crawled back to Lottie. The first four were nothing. She could heal from all that with a few days of rest, but the fifth one. The fifth one could kill her from the shock of pain or could cripple her for the rest of her days if she ever survived today.

It seemed like she was not the only one concerned. The audience looked at each other and expressed their opinions, even Cosimo was unsure of the request.

"Ah, breaking her spine? It might kill her. Look, she is so small!"

"Yeah, it might end the fun early too."

Cosimo started to sweat. "Ah good sir, can we think of another request? We might want to give it to you, but we are not the owner of the prize but the gentleman in front of you."

His eyes kept moving to the red-haired noble who's silent in their exchanges. Lottie looked at him too; begging him with her eyes.

However, after a few seconds he smiled and nodded.

"Break her spine. We promised after all." He agreed.

Lottie's jaw dropped.

'I'm going to die...'

Her breath started to quicken.

'I don't want to die!'

The tattoo man once again walked to Lottie's place, but she tried to move away. Away as possible.

"No! Augh!" Nonetheless, she's chained. One pull was all it takes for the tattoo man to bring her closer.

"Please, please sir! Don't do it! I'm begging you!" Lottie pleaded, but as always, it wasn't heard.

"Sorry, kid. Just doing my job," the tattoo man answered and pinned her down, her face facing the floor.

"No, please!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she shouts her pleads, still, the man pinning her lifted his one arm to ready for the hit.

And that second, a loud thud echoed inside the gambling den.

Everyone fell silent.

The sound didn't come from the hit to Lottie's spine but from a large bag of gold coins laid out on the gambling table; gold that came from a noble wearing a hood with silver mask that cut in line.