"Let's have another game," the ninja suggested.
"Another one? Now?" the mercenary asked.
"Yes." The ninja nodded, "but with her as the prize."
"What?!" the mercenary couldn't believe what he was hearing. At the same time, Camilla was glancing around nervously. Could she escape now? Probably not, she was right in the middle of the table. If she ran, she would surely be seen.
"A reward for finding her would be nice, but not if it was split three ways," the ninja stated.
The fighter laughed. "I like the way you think! Whoever wins gets to keep her." Without warning he reached out, grabbing Camilla roughly off the table. She writhed in his grip, trying to get her three-inch body free from his giant hand. She gasped as he started prodding her with his finger, the giant hands rough on her shrunken form. She could only glare up at him, powerless to resist. Were she normal size, the fighter would not last beyond a single stroke of her axe.
"Very nice," the man smirked, Camilla flinching as he ran his finger over her curves, "she's a beauty!"
"Put her back down. You can get her if you win," the ninja instructed.
"Just getting a sample of the goods," the fighter leered. Moving his hand to the center of the table, he let go, dropping Camilla. She fell for a couple of inches before she hit the surface of the table, landing painfully on her side. She took a moment before getting back up.
"If I win, I think I'll keep her for myself!" the fighter grinned.
"Are you in?" the ninja asked the mercenary.
"Sure, why not," he shrugged, "we could do with a bit more excitement!"
The man picked up the deck of cards, shuffling them. From the middle of the table, Camilla watched. Was this to be her fate? Nothing more than a wager in this game? She was normally calm when facing her enemies, even as she cut them down, but now she could barely hold back her fury. She wanted more than anything to attack with all the strength she had, but she knew it would be hopeless. For now, she could only watch the game, waiting for the moment they dropped their guard.
The mercenary dealt the cards to his friends. He placed one card right next to Camilla, surprising her as a waft of air blew from the motion. Terrified by his immense size, she had to force herself not to cower and flee. She couldn't stand to show them any weakness. Two more were placed next to her, either side of the first. She gulped as she realized she was smaller than even a playing card. The mercenary then put down a coin, pushing it towards Camilla. At her current size, it was bigger than her head. Its placement next to her confirmed her status as a prize in this game between giants. He then nodded to the fighter, telling him it was his turn.
"No way I'm backing down from this one," the fighter said. Camilla turned, fixing him with a scowl as he smirked at her, his finger pushing a coin towards her. She liked this man the least out of this pathetic band. If she had even the slightest of chances, she would make sure she was no-one's prisoner. The ninja moved next, placing his coin beside Camilla with no hesitation. It was difficult for her to tell what he was thinking. Not that she cared—she would think nothing of him once she took his life. She wanted to make sure it would be her that ended all of these men.
Preoccupied with thoughts of revenge, Camilla almost didn't notice the gigantic hand reaching out towards her. She ducked as it passed over her head, flipping over one of the cards on the table. She heard a snort from one end of the table, her fear amusing to one of these vile creatures. Upon the reveal of the card all three looked to their hands, deep in thought. This was her chance. Camilla bolted towards the mercenary. She would likely not survive if she jumped off the table. As much as she hated the idea, she would have to land on the lap of one of these men and climb down their leg. The mercenary was the closest to the door, representing her best chance of escape. Unfortunately, she didn't get far before she was noticed.
"Oi! She's running!" the fighter shouted over his cards.
Camilla ignored the noise, focused on running as fast as she could. She didn't look up at the look of surprise on the immense face above her. She had reached his elbows, just a bit further and she will be off the edge. Her body suddenly jolted, thrown back towards the middle of the table by an immense force. Crying out at the impact, she landed on her back, overwhelmed by the sudden change in speed and direction she had just been subjected to.
"Not fast enough," the ninja said, "keep her here. We need to make sure she doesn't go anywhere."
Before she could get up, Camilla was pinned down by a gigantic, gloved hand. He pressed down on her body, only sparing her head from force. Camilla gasped under the rough pressure. She tried to move but couldn't. All she could do was stare up at the ceiling as she heard noises from towards the bookshelf.
"She's a troublesome one," the mercenary remarked.
"Hey, I think she likes you!" the fighter joked.
"Shut up," the mercenary barked, "if I win, I'll just hand her over and collect the reward."
The ninja returned, having found some grubby-looking string somewhere in the room. The mercenary lifted his hand off Camilla's body. She quickly rolled over onto her front, moving to get to her feet, but was suddenly pushed down again. The force felt immense on her little body; she felt like she might be squashed flat. The hand was replaced by giant fingers, holding her down over her shoulders and legs. Camilla gasped as her arms were pulled behind her body, nimble fingers tying them together. Her legs were subjected to the same treatment. Finally she was released, but she could do little with her limbs bound. Wriggling against her bonds, she heard a thud behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the ball she had knocked off the shelf, now being used to weigh down a length of the string that stretched out behind her.
"That'll teach you," the fighter sneered from out of sight, "see what happens if you try to escape again."
Camilla snarled. At least before she had a chance of escaping, but now she could hardly move. Even if the men left the room, she would probably not be able to get out. Camilla didn't embarrass easily but, shrunk down smaller than a doll and tied up, she burned with humiliation.
Now that she was unable to move, it was harder for Camilla to tell what was going on. She tested the strength of her bindings, but she could not get them to give even slightly. She could roll and shift a little bit, the complete extent of her movement. Her long purple hair getting in her face, she sat up as much as she could and flicked it out of the way. Coins thudded down on the surface of the table, none of the men willing to give up their chances of obtaining her for themselves. Camilla spent the entire round plotting how to escape, but she could not think of a way out.
"That's it, then," the mercenary said, "showdown time, boys."
Cards were placed on the table from three different directions. A moment passed before the table was jolted, Camilla gasping.
"I won!" cheered the fighter.
"...Indeed you have," the ninja said, taking a few seconds to confirm his win.
"Congratulations, I guess," the mercenary sighed.
Camilla's field of vision was blocked by huge fingers that moved towards her, shoveling her bound body towards the winner. Coins moved with her, feeling cold and unpleasant on her skin. The fingers collapsed over her body, and she was raised into the air. Light returned as the fingers unfurled, leaving her lying on her side in the palm of the fighter. She glared up at the giant, smug face of her new owner.
"I'll take good care of you," he chuckled, stroking her hair. Camilla felt utterly disgusted by this man, now literally in his clutches. If only there was some way of escaping...
