The cottage is silent and tranquil except for your mother's soft snoring on the bed next to yours but you continue to stare up at the ceiling, your thoughts running too wild for you to even try to sleep. It's always when the sun falls that all of your unwanted thoughts come back disrupting your sleep. But the main thought that sticks in your mind is the new guy, San. Where had he came from? He doesn't look like he's from around here and you're curious to find out where he's from. He had a certain vibe to him that you've never felt before , but you know better than to try and get to know him. For all you know , he could be some kind of bandit.

A sigh leaves past your lips and you turn your body to the side , staring at your mother's sleeping form. Once you had gotten home she was passed out on the bed , coughing her lungs out to which you had to wake her up , give her water and herbs before putting her back to sleep. It was always like that ; go to work , come back home , take care of your mother and sleep. You always wonder about what it would've been like if your father stayed and if he would be the one going to work and you staying home with your mother.

"I need to sleep," You murmur to yourself and close your eyes, slowing falling into a deep sleep.

━━━━

"You're late." The saloon owner , your boss growls as soon as you step foot into the saloon, his face holding anger. It's not as crowded as it was the day before and only the usual customers are there but what's odd is that Rob is nowhere to be found , his seat taken over by someone else. You furrow your eyebrows and look down.

"Sorry boss, I was making sure my mother-"

"I don't give a damn about your sick mommy, get to work," He cuts you off , his tone clipped and then he walks around the back and to his office. Your breath hitches and for a moment you feel embarrassment as the eyes of the customers land on you from hearing the conversation but you just sigh and walk around the counter.

Annabeth is sitting on a stool next to the drinks , her elbow propped up on the counter and her eyes are closed , her breathing slow and steady. A grin pulls at your lips and walk slowly over towards her sleeping figure , reaching your hand out and then leap forward, slapping her shoulder.

She jumps and almost falls off the stool but grabs ahold of the counter.

"The hell is the matter with you?" She glares at you and dusts herself off , but you only laugh and shake your head.

"You know you're not supposed sleep on the job, silly," You say in a whisper- like voice,"What if boss saw you?" Her and I both knew that boss, Mr. Rick, hated us slacking off even if there was no business. He called it "unprofessional" and he wouldn't hesitate punishing us if we were to go against his rules. If he were mad enough , he'd even stop us from eating while on shift. You wanted so desperately to leave but you have a mother to take care of, if it wasn't you doing it then who would? Annabeth maybe , but she had her own family to worry about.

"Whatever," She replies and waves her hand dismissively before getting off the stool,"Mr. Rick says we have a special guest coming today, I want to make sure I get my very best sleep before they do." Special guest ? It couldn't be the man from yesterday, could it? Annabeth notices your confused expression and shrugs.

"Probably some old man with a glass eye, I wouldn't worry about it." At that you laugh and nod along with her, of course it couldn't have been the man from yesterday , he's probably long gone by now. You grab the stool under the counter and begin to sit but a yell across the room startles you.

"Hey dollie , another glass yea?" Old man James raises his empty glass up, seated in the far back. From the looks of it he's already drunk but you don't dare refuse and nod with a smile , getting up and grabbing the bottle of whiskey before walking around the counter.

Old man James laughs excitedly and raises his glass higher as you reach the table , placing the bottle on the table and nod to to his.

"You mind?" You say playfully and he smiles before putting the glass down and watches you pour the drink in before handing it to him. He takes a large sip and then wipes his mouth before pointing a finger at you.

"How's your mother doin?" Your eyebrows shoot up in shock and confusion , no one ever wonders how your mother's health is doing , no one ever usually cares.

"She's doing alright, her coughing seems to be gettin worse , though," You respond softly. Old man James nods sympathetically and places his free hand on yours making you jump slightly.

"Hope she gets better soon, dollie," He says and then takes his hand away, you smile and thank him and smile before turning away. Now you're extremely confused and shocked, since when had Old man James cared about your mother? Maybe he was just being nice and at that you smile even more, grateful that he even said anything.

You start to walk back to the counter when the batwing doors open and in come a new face and the man from yesterday. He's back again? You freeze and stare as they walk to the counter and take a seat , speaking amongst each other. The new man looks short and petite yet he holds an immense power, his hair brown and pushed back. His coat is bright red which stands out among all of the dark colors in here. He must be San's friend. But why would he bring a friend knowing he's already disliked around here? You watch as they call over Annabeth who looks shocked and speechless but walks over to them regardless, smiling and leaning over.

The brown haired man whispers something to her to which she widens her eyes but then quickly turns around and runs to the back where Mr. Rick's office is. You take this moment to walk over to the counter , your head down as you pass them up. You can feel their eyes on you but you don't pay attention and go to the back.

"Your guest is here, Mr. Rick," Annabeth says softly making the said man curse and jump up from his chair , scurrying around the desk and pushing past both of you. He hurries down the short corridor and you see as he greets the two men, his laugh haughty and loud.

"Didn't think the new guy would be one of his guests," Annabeth mumbles and you nod your head slowly , still watching the men laugh and talk. Mr. Rick says something quietly to the nameless man before turning around to stare at Annabeth and you.

"Y/n!  get these two men some drinks now will ya!" He shouts making you flinch but you quickly walk over to the drinks anyways, their stares making you feel nervous and anxious for some reason. You take your time grabbing the glasses and the bottle, listening to their conversation.

"We didn't come here for drinks , Rick," A voice says to which you guess comes from the nameless man.

"Yes , yes but let's not discuss that now, let's have a drink before, yea?" Rick says quietly as if he doesn't want anyone to hear what they are speaking about. You pour the drinks and place them on a tray before carefully balancing it , but as you turn around your foot gets caught on something and you fly forwards, the tray falling from your grasp and crashing on to the floor. Fear courses through your veins as you hear Mr. Rick curse violently before moving and grabbing your arm harshly, pulling you up.

"You worthless little girl!" He says, your eyes casted down as tears form in your eyes from fear and embarrassment as you can feel literally everyone's eyes on you.

"Pick it up! And if you bleed all over my floor , you'll get something worse!" He pushes you down and your hands tremble , reaching forward. The tears that were formed fall down , dripping down your chin and on to the floor.

"Stop, she doesn't have to pick anything up," A voice says and you recognize it to be San's. You glance up slightly to meet his stare but you cast them back down. You can hear Mr. Rick grunt and laugh.

"I own her, excuse me for saying this but I don't think you have a say in this matter," He says but San only chuckles.

"What if I buy her from you?" What?! At this you look up and gasp , staring at San with a bewildered look. Buy you? Sure , it was possible that he could but you've never seen a girl be. sold off before.

"I'm sorry young man, but I doubt you have enough silver to buy her off."

"How much do you want for her?" You feel Annabeth place a hand on your back , her hand trembling slightly. You start to think about what would happen if San buys you off. You'd have to leave your mother , you'd  have to leave Annabeth. Who's going to take care of your poor mother? Please don't.

"10 silvers." Please don't. Please don't.

"Deal."

[ this was boring ]