Wishmaker

Miyako trembled as she curled up into a ball on her bead. "I need the help. I need the help," she muttered over and over to herself.

"Go to sleep. They said tomorrow we could rest before the punishment and final..."

The words of the black-haired woman went unheard as Miyako was too panicked about not having Vasily's aid.

"Tch, just last through tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be back in form when it matters most," the black-haired woman growled as she got cozy under the covers.

When morning came, according to the guards, all 6 prisoners were marched over to the dining area, where Vasily himself was waiting.

"Good morning, girls. Eh, what a past 6 days you've had. I've seen so many good matches, so much potential, but also, so much failure. Haahh... I guess closed tournaments are often the case. Still, some of you I thought would play much better. Oh, and did you forget what happens if you fail? ..."

Silence.

"Ah, I was hoping for a clap back. Don't be so tense, ladies, today is the rest day. The trauma and pain won't start until tomorrow. Oh, but my good friend, Ivo, here, wanted to show you something. Ivo! Where is he?" Vasily shouted out, struggling to contain his laughter. "Could it be... HERE! There you are, Ivo," he laughed as he lifted up a serving cover to reveal Ivo's severed head on the plate beneath it.

Arina and Miyako let out a scream, as Lowri, Imono, and Milady all went pale. The black-haired woman seemed to be the only one unphased by things.

"Ivo here was put in E-block, but well... he lost his head. It's sad, he was offered a very special gift, yet refuted and rejected it at each turn. Ladies, if you were given the gift of achieving all, at the cost of your body's autonomy, would you take it?" Vasily grinned.

Though he wasn't staring directly at her, Miyako knew this was directed at her. "I need to tell him. I want it, I need it," she thought as she attempted to open her mouth.

"What kind of sick question is that? Give up control of our bodies to achieve our dreams? That ain't a dream, it's a nightmare!" Lowri fumed.

"Ah, but would you not want to have a perfect downhill run instead of breaking every bone in your body from a miscalculated rotation?"

"No, because I'd rather do the run without some puppet strings guiding me along!"

"Says the girl who was strung up in plaster nearly... 3 years ago? How was that? Was it fun?"

Lowri began to shake as she clutched her right side. "It was only busted ribs. I could still walk."

"Oh, my mistake. I was only greeted with images of you laying in bed, bandaged up when I researched the incident, so I made assumptions. Any other responses to my question, ladies?"

"Uh, how much control we talking?" Imono asked.

"Your entire body. Not even your eyes will move freely. You'll be a sentient puppet."

Disgust spread across Imono's face. "Oh, fuck that."

The others nodded in agreement, save for Miyako, who just stood there, trembling in place.

"Ah, let me give a clearer picture. If this talent were to be here, it would allow you to play like the greatest grandmaster in the world. Would you not want such a gift here, for the small price of bodily autonomy?" Vasily smiled.

"Putting it like that makes me wanna reject it even more. Shit sounds like it's just cheating," Lowri glared.

"Ohoho? Cheating? But it's only cheating if it's caught."

Miyako's heart began to thump as Lowri began glaring towards her. "I know how to catch a cheater," Lowri declared.

A malevolent smile spread across Vasily's face. "Then I'd like to see such a scenario where you try to prove it."

Miyako went still as Vasily began walking away.

"Ah, one last thing; I'll be doing nightly rounds when it's time for bed. If there's... anything you want to talk to me about, perhaps, in relation to a... gift, THAT would be the time for it."

Miyako let out a sigh of relief. "I'll be able to meet privately with him. I need his gift. I need to get out of here. If not... I'm gonna end up like Ivo," she thought.

The girls then dispersed, with the black-haired woman predictably returning to the cell to lie down, while Imono and Milady began practicing their chess.

"I do hope I get drawn to play you first. I'd love to off you right after you're punished," Arina gloated.

"You think a smooth do would shake me like it did you? I'm not a paper tiger like you," Milady scoffed.

As for Miyako, she found herself being constantly tailed by Lowri.

"Um, why are you following me?"

"Because I'm going to catch you in the act, cheater," Lowri glared.

"I don't cheat... I'm talented... I'M THE ACE OF THE CURLING TEAM!" Miyako retorted.

"Huh? I'm talking about here. I don't give a shit about curling. It's boring-"

"IT'S MY LIFE! I want it back, I WANT IT BACK! I don't care what I need to do to get out of here, I'll sell my body. If that also gets me gold on the ice, ah, maybe they could do it to my teammates. They're the ones that really need control..."

Lowri shook her head as Miyako descended into nonsensical rambling. "Fine, but you should know; when you dope and get caught, there goes all your winnings," she snarled before walking away.

Miyako paused her ramblings upon noticing Lowri's departure. "Oh, she left. Now I just need Vasily. I need to confirm. If I don't, I won't have the gift. I won't win, I'll die. I'll lose my game, and they'll execute me like Ivo. I need to see him. I need to see him," she thought.

Hunkering down in her cell, Miyako waited, and waited. She knew not how long she was waiting for, only that she had to stay awake.

"It's the rest day. Why're you sitting like you can't sleep? Walk around outside, unwind, do something to ease your mind, will you?" the black-haired woman grumbled.

"SHUT UP! It's your fault, YOUR FAULT! You did something! I was fine the day before, but when I faced you, GONE! I NEED IT BACK!" Miyako shouted.

"Tch, he better get his ass here soon," the black-haired woman muttered under her breath as she wrapped herself up even tighter in the covers.

...

After what felt like an eternity, the guards began corralling everyone back into their cells. Then a few minutes later, Vasily arrived as promised.

"Hmm, anything you want to request?" Vasily asked Lowri and Milady.

"Nope, fuck off," Lowri glared.

"Ditto, you Russian fuck," Milady chimed.

Vasily smiled and shook his head as he moved onto the next cell. "And you two?"

"Nope," Imono snarled.

"Yes. Let me out of here!" Arina fumed.

"Ah, I can't grant that kind of request. How about one I can grant?"

"GIVE ME MY HAIR BACK!"

Vasily let out a sigh and moved onto the last cell.

"DON'T WALK AWAY! I SAID, I WANT MY HAIR BACK!"

Ignoring her, Vasily turned his attention towards Miyako. "Seems your cellmate is asleep. What a shame. But you, you stayed up waiting like a good girl. You want something from me, yes?"

Miyako trembled and panted as she looked directly at Vasily, a deranged look in her eyes. "Make me good at chess. I want the gift, I'll let you control my body, just let me win... Let me win..."

A disturbing grin lit up on Vasily's face. "Your wish will be granted."