52 Loss

"It's a draw, it's a draw," one spectator shouted.

"That means the next round will count twice, right?"

"I can't wait to see how this will turn out."

The group mumbled between each other and they stared at the two cards on the little table.

Meanwhile, me and Celestia stood in one corner, while Raya and her partner was in the other. We were currently within the break after a round.

"it's good that we have a draw," Celestia sighed in relief.

I tilted my head, "why do you think so?"

"Well, uh," she stumbled on her words, "to prepare?"

"What is there to prepare? It's a random game."

"But we have more time to think now."

I shrugged my shoulders, "there was nothing to think about. A draw doesn't change anything either except move the conclusion to the next round."

Upon hearing how the next round counted double, Celestia tensed up, "certainly, but-"

"there are no buts, you just feel it is great that we had no confrontation yet, right?"

She lowered her head and replied with a low voice, "yes."

"You don't have to feel guilty," I laughed, "it's in human nature to try postponing the inevitable. It takes true courage to face problems head on."

"I'm sorry."

I pulled at her cheeks, "don't be. Just play the game the way you think is right and the card that fits you the most."

She nodded quietly.

"Break is over," Raya announced.

We took our seats again, and the second round began.

The cards were shuffled in the air with an impressive speed until it stopped at the exact time I told it to stop.

Afterwards, Celestia took three cards and Rayas partner did too. This time, Celestia chose first. The moment she laid her eyes on the cards, she began to frown.

"Hey, where's your poker face," I asked her.

"No talking while they choose a card," Raya butted in.

"Huh, that's the first time I heard of it."

"I thought it was only natural."

"Che," I clicked my tongue, "whatever."

Celestia looked at me apologetically, and I reassured her that it was alright. She wasn't a professional gambler after all, so the blame couldn't really be pinned on her.

Truthfully, I understood why she would frown.

In this game, the starting point wasn't always balanced. If they pulled two 'hell' cards and one 'earth' card, that would mean their opponents held two 'heaven' cards and one 'hell' card.

As heaven beat hell, the opponent had a higher chance of winning. Even if she played the single 'earth' card, it could be beat by the 'hell' card within their opponents hand.

The cards may be shuffled again, but for Celestia the only control she had, was over which card she could play. So to be in a disadvantage was deeply troubling for her.

After a long brooding, she finally laid one card on the table.

The cards were shuffled once more and I couldn't tell which of the two was hers.

Raya asked, "which one of the cards speaks to you, point at it," and I did just as she said.

"This one," she rested her hand on the card.

"Yes," I affirmed.

"Let's take it away from you then," she pulled the card away and gave me the other one, "are you ready to reveal it?"

The question was an unnecessary one as she started counting down before I answered.

Swip. The sound of both cards dragging on the table rang through everyones ears. The two cards revealed different pictures. One was heaven, the other was hell.

Raya smiled, "looks like you lost this one."

The guy behind her laughed harshly, "serves you right, bastard."

The crowd all showed various expressions of surprise, their mouth froze agape, and then they clapped.

"Ugh," Celestia blurted out and her face turned as white as a ghosts.

"That's two out of nine for me. It's time for a break."

We went to our respective corners, but mine was filled with a somber mood. Celestia chewed on her lips and only stayed silent.

"Now, now, don't beat yourself up over something like this. We still have seven more games to go. Anything could happen."

She swallowed the saliva that had build up. Her brows remained furrowed, but she found a glimmer of hope from my words, "yes, let's try to win this."

"That's the spirit. You need to be a bit more optimistic," I smiled, "by the way Raya is cheating."

"Ah, yes of co- cough, cough," she choked on her words and found herself unable to stabilize her breathing.

"Are you okay?"

"No! That's against the rules isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it is."

"Then we should call it out!" Celestia swing her arms around, "she would lose if we did!"

"I can't prove it."

Her voice turned desperate, "that can't be," her face turned dark, "then how did you know that she was cheating?"

"I'm guessing by the way she is acting. Think about this clearly, this game is totally random, right?"

Celestia nodded.

"Then who in their right mind would agree to play a game with such bets? There was no normal person that would play a 'fair' game with their lives at stake. Look how calm she is," I secretly pointed at her, "she would have to either be a masochist who likes losing, or she is cheating," I said, "just to be sure, I used the first two games as a test. Cheaters always try to win in the beginning, as that would be the time they are the least suspicious and you know how that ended."

It was as if Celestia had reached an epiphany, "you, you are right. Then doesn't it mean if we kept this on, we would lose?"

"I'm certain we will," I said in a grave tone.

The hope she found with great hardship disappeared without a trace, and her legs gave up. "It's the end," she muttered.

"Don't sign my life away yet. We still have a chance of winning."

"How so, if she cheats and you can't find out how, there's nothing to do except wait for our inevitable doom."

"No," I patted her head, "the moment she started cheating, the game wasn't random anymore. It had turned much easier than it was before."

"That's," Celestia stared at me helplessly.

A familiar sentence ended our discussion, "break is over," Raya announced and everyone moved back to their spots.

"ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ?" Agnes suddenly asked me.

"Of course, didn't you listen to my talk?"

"ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪᴅ. ɪ'ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀɴ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ."

"You found out," I sighed and the seriously stared at her, "truth be told, it's not looking good. I just didn't want to break her last lifeline, so I told her some optimistic words. But you know, we both aren't the type who work with optimism."

"ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏɴʟʏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴍᴇ."

ʜᴇ sᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅs. ɪʟʟ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴsᴜʀᴇ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ, ᴏʀ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴄʜᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʙᴇɪɴɢ, ᴏʀ ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴏғ ᴍʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ.

ɴᴏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍɪɴᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʜᴇʀɪsʜ ᴀs ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ, ɴᴏ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴍɪɴᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴀs ʟᴀᴜᴅᴀʙʟᴇ. ɪ ғʟᴇᴡ ʙᴇᴛᴡɪxᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛᴏʀs. "who does she think she is," ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. "a nobody ," ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴅᴇʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴ ᴍʏ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ.

ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀsᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ sᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛɪᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ. sʜᴏᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ᴀʀʀᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴄᴄᴜʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴘɪᴇʀᴄᴇ ᴀ ʟᴇᴀғ ғᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴇs.

ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇs ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴀɴᴅ sᴘɪʀɪᴛ, ᴀɴ ᴇɢᴏ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ. ɪ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ ɪғ ᴍʏ ᴀɴᴄᴇsᴛᴏʀs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴋɪᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘʟᴇssʟʏ sʜᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ ᴏʀ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴜsɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɢʀᴏᴀɴɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴛʀᴇɴᴜᴏᴜs ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛɪᴇs ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ.

ɪғ sᴏ, ɪ sʜᴀʟʟ ᴀsᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʀᴇᴘᴇɴᴛ, ᴀs ᴛᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛɴᴇss ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ— ᴛᴏ ғᴏsᴛᴇʀ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴄʟᴜᴍsʏ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛɪʟʟ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴛʀᴇᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ sᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ, ɪᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴍᴏss.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴅs ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ sʜᴜғғʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏғ ɪᴛ.

ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴡᴀs ᴡʜɪᴄʜ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟʟ ɪ sᴀᴡ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʜᴀᴢʏ ғᴏɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴛɪɴɢᴜɪsʜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴡʜᴀᴛ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ sᴍᴏᴋᴇ ʜɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ʀᴜʙʙɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ᴘɪɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ʀᴏᴀsᴛᴇᴅ, ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ. sᴜʀᴇʟʏ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴘʀᴏʜɪʙɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄʟᴀᴜsᴇ. ᴀ ᴄʟᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴏsᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴅ. ᴡʜʏ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴍᴇ, ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ.

ɪ sɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴜɴғᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴏɴ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴅs ʟᴇғᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ.

"Which card speaks to you," ʀᴀʏᴀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ, ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀᴍʙɪɢᴜɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʟᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄɪᴀɴ.

sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴀs ɪғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ sᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴍᴇʟɪɢʜᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ . . . ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜsɪɴ? ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ sᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴀᴜɴᴛ ɪ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ, ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ʜɪs ɴᴀᴍᴇ, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ.

"This one,"ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ sᴀɪᴅ, ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴʀᴇᴀᴅᴀʙʟᴇ.

"Alright here you go,"sʜᴇ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ʜᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ, ɪғ ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs, ɪ ᴍᴀʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇɢᴜɴ sɴᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ɪ ʜᴇʟᴅ ᴍʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ғʟᴏᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇs ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ғɪxᴇᴅ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ— sᴏ ғɪxᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍᴇ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ, ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴅs.

ɪ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛ ʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴜɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅɪʟʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜs ᴇxᴄɪᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ ᴄᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄᴀʀᴅ.

ᴀ sʜʀɪʟʟ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ʀᴀʏᴀs ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ,"looks like you lost again!"

sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʟʟ. ᴀ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴜs ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ғʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ғᴇsᴛɪᴠᴀʟ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ sᴛʀɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴜᴛs, ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ɪ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ɪᴛ.

ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴄᴇʟᴇsᴛɪᴀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ɢʟᴇᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴜʟᴛs. ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴀs, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴀʏᴀ ᴡᴀs ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ.

ᴡᴀs ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴏᴘᴇғᴜʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴏғ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛs?

ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ sᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ʟɪғᴇ. sᴜᴄʜ ɴᴀɪᴠᴇᴛʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ. ɪ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ. ɢʀᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ɪ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴋ ᴍᴇ ᴀs ᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟɪsᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ.

ɪ ʟᴀɪᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs ᴏɴ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ. ᴡᴀs ɪᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɢɪʀʟ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴍsᴇʟ ɪɴ ᴅɪsᴛʀᴇss?

ɪ sᴜʀᴇʟʏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ɴᴏᴛ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʟᴇss ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ɢɪʀʟ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴛᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴡɴ. ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ɴᴏ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ.

ᴀ ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴀsʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʀs. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴜsʜᴇᴅ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀɪᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴs, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴏᴅ. ɪ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴀs ɪ ᴡᴀs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ. ɪ

ᴘᴀɪᴅ ᴍʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ʀᴀʏᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀs ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ. ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʙᴀʀʀɪᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ᴇʀᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜs. ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇɴ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴅs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴀʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs sɪᴍᴜʟᴛᴀɴᴇᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ—

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴏss.

ʀᴀʏᴀ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʜɪᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ,"ah too bad, that is too bad! That is your fourth loss, one more and you're out! Hurry hurry, let's move to the next game."

ʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ sᴛᴀʏᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇᴅ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ.

"It couldn't be, did you get scared," her high pitched voice pierced the air, "well I can understand that, seeing as you are about to lose your life. I can't wait to have you as my pet, what would you like me to do to you," she licked her lips and trembled.

"ɪs ᴛʜɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ," ɪ sᴄᴏғғᴇᴅ, "ʜᴏᴡ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛɪɴɢ."

ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ.