The Lottery Novels & Stories

I said. I needed my name to be plucked up in the lottery. It has to! I need to fight for this aimless venture that I'm about to embark. Liam is the one that I liked and I don't want him to go. So, I gulped a glass of champagne that probably cost an arm and a leg. And let the games begin. The host meticulously ran his hand down inside the invitation-full of lottery and hoisted the paper before promulgating the contender to add tension. The first 3 picks were these gorgeous-looking models who could have been featured in a modelling magazines and national advertisements.

Which unfortunately, was now the only job I had, since I'd been fired from my day job. As I walked past Lucky's convenience store, and noticed the sign lit up in the window with a much smaller jackpot, it reminded me that I had to stop in and check my ticket. After I said hello, pulled out my ticket and put it on the counter, Mrs. Kim nodded at the lottery machine. "I'm sorry, but the system is down. There are some print outs with the numbers by the door, though. After I thanked her, I grabbed one of the print outs, stuffed it in my purse, and headed down the street, hoping it would be a quiet night and I wouldn't have any trouble with anyone.

Grandma had pointed at her and screamed, calling her a self-righteous lunatic. "You either love a child, or you don’t. Why are you hiding behind this lottery nonsense? If you don’t want Silas Vale, I’ll take him back to the countryside right now. Otherwise, throw away that damned lottery box and love both children together!" Mom had sneered back coldly. "How I love my children is none of your business. I love both of them, of course. But there will always be bias. That can’t be controlled. "That’s exactly why I bought the lottery box to truly be fair. If they want something, they rely on their own luck. Their father and I won’t interfere. If he can’t draw the

I spun around and bolted for the fire exit. I had to find evidence. I had to find something that proved Lydia was real. The money was fake. The person was fake. However, what about the lottery ticket? That was a first-prize lotto ticket. It was the national lottery. There was no way Austin could have bought that off, too, right? I remembered the day Lydia won. She had waved the ticket in front of me for ages. I had memorized the numbers. Red balls: 03, 07, 15, 19, 25, 33.

She pauses halfway down the steps, her calm, piercing eyes scanning all of us assembled below. "Welcome to the Imperial Palace of Pierl,” she announces warmly. “I am Lady Eleanor, Mistress of the Lottery. It is my honor to receive you all. I will oversee your preparations for tomorrow’s lottery. But first, congratulations, not just for reaching the age to participate, but for trusting our goddess of love to grant you the best match. I also have a rare honor to share: His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Lordrin, will take part in this year’s lottery.” Excited murmurs ripple through the crowd of royals, most from girls. Lady Eleanor waits patiently for the noise to di

“The same tradition that ensures your father continues to receive treatment.” I want to flip the desk. I feel like shouting in his face. Instead, I simply stand there and took everything in, like a poison, because he is right. The elders have the upper hand now, and I am the paying for it because Dad needs the treatment. By the time I walk out, my heart feels wrong, and too tight. The whole damn town is already dressed up for the Lottery. Banners hanging from lampposts. Shops full of “mate gifts.” Everyone is smiling like it’s Christmas instead of a sale on human lives.

One day, half a year later, I went to the town market and passed a lottery shop. It was packed with noise. "Boss, give me ten scratch-offs!" "Ah, so close to the jackpot!" I stopped and quietly looked at those faces gone feverish over a single number. Suddenly, a familiar voice flashed through my mind. "I'm claiming this prize today. If you dare run, we're getting divorced!" I smiled faintly. Then I shook my head and turned away. That five million had once been Daniel Lawson's obsession and my nightmare. But now, it was nothing.

"Jessica's just trying to be nice, Henry. Hurry up and take it. Why don't you scratch the rest off now? Who knows? You might even win a million bucks." I wanted to refuse again. But when I looked up and met Jessica's sinister gaze, I couldn't help but wonder if she would throw me off the building again if I kept refusing her. I had no choice but to take the lottery ticket. "Then I'll scratch it off at home. It's not often that everyone gathers together. Since we're here to celebrate my college acceptance, I don't want everyone to have to wait around just to see me scratch off a lottery ticket." However, Jessica just wouldn't let it go. "Henry, if you're turnin

She undid him with a single look. “I can’t take it anymore,” he muttered, grabbing his phone and making a call to someone . “Hello?” the vendor answered nervously. “It’s Zayden,” he said sharply. The man on the other end stammered. “Yes, sir. Anything you need.” “I need you to sell a lottery ticket to a couple—the ones living in house number 48, Second Cross, near the temple in your town. Make sure you give them the winning ticket, I’ll pay you. I don’t care what you do—rig the draw, manipulate the numbers—I want them to win big.”

"Exactly. No decency at all! Ugh!" They saw mistresses who sneakily stole the wife's money, but to flaunt it to her face? That was a first. Lydia was mortified, torn between fleeing and standing her ground. Suddenly, an announcement boomed through the mall. "Celebration time! All customers can bring their shopping receipts to the service desk for a chance to win in our lottery! We've got phones, computers, and even a thousand and five hundred dollars in cash among the fabulous prizes." The mention of a lottery distracted the onlookers, who then rushed off to the service desk, dreams of prizes dancing in their heads.