Hawk wins

Valerie went first, revealing her cards. She had a full house, which made her feel confident. The other hands would have to be very good for her to not win.

The mystery man went next, revealing his hand. He only had a three of a kind, causing a wave of relief within her. If she won, she would tell Hawk about what had happened, and keep her dignity in front of the crowd.

Hawk showed his cards last, one by one. When she saw the second card fall, it took a second for her to comprehend what had just happened. He had a royal flush.

She had lost.

She froze in her seat, as the crowd around her erupted in murmurs. The last player and the dealer shook Hawk's hand, indicating the game had concluded. The crowd held its collective breath as Hawk approached her where she was seated, her head bowed.

"Stand up.", he ordered her. She wordlessly obeyed, her head still bowed as her mind was filled with nervous anticipation. She knew what was going to happen, but she was powerless to stop it.

"For the next 24 hours, you are forbidden from wearing clothes or covering yourself in any way, unless I say so."

"Hawk, I-", she looked up, trying to speak, to warn him, but he shushed her.

"Turn around."

Her shoulders dropped as she obeyed his command, turning around to face the silent crowd. All eyes were on her, no doubt imagining what she looked like under her dress. She heard the blade of a pocketknife open, and realized that in a few moments, they wouldn't need their imagination for that.

She gasped as she felt the cold steel of the knife against the small of her back, right where the bottom half of her dress started. The thin fabric was no match for the blade, and in a moment, he had cleanly ripped it in half. She closed her eyes as she felt the bottom of her dress give way, exposing her bare butt.

His job wasn't done, though. The dress still hung on her body, thanks to the thin straps on her back. She felt a sense of dread as the knife traveled, the sharp blade in contact with her bare back. She shivered as it came to a stop on her left shoulder. Valerie held her breath.

With a quick motion, he cut off the strap. She felt the dress sag, almost falling off her body. She could hear the crowd exhale collectively, anticipation building as they watched her humiliation.

He went to the middle strap next, taking his sweet time and making her wait. In a snap, he cut it off. Only one strap remained - the only thing between herself and complete nudity. She did not dare to move, in case the dress fall on its own.

With her nudity imminent, she tried one more time to warn him before it was too late. Still facing the crowd, she began to speak. "Hawk, please..."

He silenced her again. "No speaking unless I allow it."

"B-but...", she continued, desperation in her voice.

"Enough! I see that you won't follow orders easily. Open your mouth."

The authority in his voice made her obey instinctively. From behind her, he stuffed her own thong - well, it wasn't hers anymore, since she had lost it - inside her mouth.

"Now, where was I...", he said. He brought his knife to her right shoulder, where the final intact strap was. She closed her eyes, knowing what was about to happen. She accepted it. A part of her even welcomed it.

The strap gave way in a single stroke of his knife, and the dress fell to the floor. As ordered, she kept her arms at her sides, letting herself be seen in all her glory. The crowd around her erupted in cheers, as it had finally gotten its wish. Despite herself, she felt herself getting wet as she saw tens, if not hundreds of eyes hungrily ogling her nude form.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard Hawk call her name.