Escape Part 1

Today was the first challenge, and Eric was nervous even if he wouldn't be competing. They were all standing on the deck watching the Island get closer and closer. He could tell it was a relatively small island, mostly flat with white sand beaches and palm trees everywhere. It was almost pristine, untouched. Almost because even from this distance he could see the stadium. It was the largest building he had ever seen. He couldn't see much from here, but he felt you could fit dozens of traditional areas inside.

He had been nervous to join the group in case Marcos was upset about Beatriz' new total. He wasn't totally relieved to see that Marcos was actually happy and congratulated Beatriz on getting so many points. He didn't want to be the thing that broke them up, even if it seemed inevitable.

"Aren't you all so excited? It's almost time." Isla surprised him by calling out. They all turned to look at her. "We will be docking in a few minutes and then you all need to head straight for the stadium. Don't worry about what you are wearing, or not Beatriz, once the challenge begins you'll be given appropriate attire. I'm going to skip ahead to make sure everything is ready for you. Don't dilly dally now, I'm not above punishing anyone who drags their feet." She clapped and disappeared.

Given the warning, and what had happened to Valerie, everyone swiftly made their way to the stadium once the ship was docked. The air on the island was humid and hot, but the walk only took a few minutes. The stadium towered above them. Two massive doors opened easily as Yaz pushed them. The others followed her inside.

They found themselves in a huge chamber. In front of them was a stage with the throne from their first day on the ship, and a movie theater sized screen in front of the throne. To the sides were four doors each with a word written above in giant block letters. PRISON - COLISEUM - CASTLE - TRAIN.

"Welcome everyone. Oh I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. First I want to say congratulations to Stephanie and Valerie for avoiding elimination. You two really suck. Next I want to remind everyone what is at stake here. The winners will get a more rewarding transformation as well as VP. The further you from the top your score you will receive less or negative VP and your transformations may be more severe.

This is an Escape Room challenge. Behind these doors are four different scenarios. Eric will decide which two girls go to which room, the only rule being no roommates may be together.

Even though there are two per room the scoring is still individual. You may need to work together to get past certain challenges, but you may also have the opportunity to go alone. Any questions?"

"Are they all the same difficulty?" Eric asked.

"Great question Eric. The answer is no, the difficulty wildly varies. To answer your inevitable follow up, no I won't tell you which is which." A few others raised their hands but Isla ignored them. "Perfect, let's begin. Eric, who is going where?"

Eric considered his choices. Stephanie was universally hated except maybe for Valerie and Yaz. He didn't like the idea of Stephanie and Valerie as best buds, so he decided on Yaz as her partner.

"Yaz and Stephanie can try Prison." He said.

"Excellent choice. Well, go ahead ladies. Head inside. Don't worry it's time based, so no need to wait for us." The two said nothing and went into the door.

"Ok next I'll give Marcos and Beatriz Coliseum." He thought it would be good for those two to get to work together. "Sarah and Valerie can try Castle, and Jenny and Alexandra can do Train."

"Oh wonderful. What bold decision making. Get going girls. See you on the other side. Eric, take your seat. We get to watch everything!"

Stephanie opened her eyes to find herself staring up at a dim light high above her. She tried to push herself upright but couldn't move her arms. As she came to her senses she realized she was wearing a latex straightjacket, one that happened to have a cutout to allow her bare breasts to be exposed. She managed to pull herself up to her knees and then up to standing. She was in a prison cell obviously, maybe one used for solitary confinement. There was a solid metal door and stone walls. "Hello?" She called. "Anyone there?" Nothing but silence. She looked around, there was nothing at all in the cell. Just a bare stone floor. Then she noticed something on the wall. She got closer and noticed writing had been carved in very small letters in spots all over the wall. These must be clues she thought, they even have numbers. She read the first one.

Just sit and stew, there is nothing for you.

Well that sucks she thought. Maybe she needed Yaz to free her first? What if Yaz just left her here?

Just then she heard the crackling of static and a voice on an intercom.

"Welcome to Point Louis Penitentiary. This prison was shut down years ago and has sat empty ever since. Well, mostly empty. You two brave fools decided to go exploring and fell right into my web. Now I've trapped you in my own little game. Escape and go on your merry littles lives, or fail and join my collection of trophies. You have a one hour head start before I release the Warden, or what's left of him." The voice reminded her of Isla, except it was a man's voice. She slumped against the wall. Maybe it was better if Yaz got out without her. She should be the one to lose.

Yaz woke up in time to hear a creepy voice telling them to escape. She sat up and looked around. She was in a prison cell. There was a toilet and a bed and black iron bars. She was wearing an orange jumpsuit. She stood up and went and tried the bars. She rattled them but they were totally solid. She searched the rest of the room and found a walkie talkie under her pillow. She pushed the talk button down, "Hello, Stephanie?"

"Oh Yaz. I can hear you. Where are you?"

"I'm in a cell. Can't see any obvious way to get out. The bars look pretty solid."

"Me too. No bars, just a solid metal door. And I'm wearing a straightjacket. There are clues written on the wall though. The first one told me to wait for you. The second one says,"

Escaping from prison isn't too hard, while the walls look solid just look for a shard.

"A shard? Um ok. I'll look at the wall closer.

Yaz ran her hands over the walls. They looked smooth but eventually she noticed a tiny crack. She pulled out a shard of stone and found a long thin wire had been shoved under it. She removed the wire, it was about 4 feet long stretched out.

She went back to the bars. There was a keyhole on the other side. Was she supposed to pick it? She didn't know if that was even possible, much less if she could figure it out. She looked into the hallway again. Finally she noticed a key on the floor, on the opposite side. She tried pushing the wire out to grab it but it was just too far away.

"Yaz, Yaz are you still there?" Stephanie called.

"Ya sorry. I found a wire, and actually a key outside the cell. Wire isn't long enough. Got another clue for me?"

"Yes. Here it is."

Look for a key, so shiny and sweet, to reach it, try showing a teat.

"Uh ok. That's weird. Wait. Of course." Yaz said. She undid the jumpsuit enough to remove her bra. She tied the bra to the wire and then pushed it past the bars and tossed it. It took a few dozen tries but eventually the bra landed on top of the keys. She slowly reeled it back in and was able to grab the key. She inserted it into the lock and the bars slid open. She looked at her bra, it was filthy. She decided to go without.

"Ok Stephanie. I'm out of the cell. I'm in a long hallway. Locked cells on either side. Empty. There is another door at the end of this hallway. I'll try it. Nope, locked. What's next?"

"Ok here it is."

You aren't all alone in that cell block my dear, if you want to get out then seek what you fear.

"What I fear? I'm not scared." Said Yaz.

"You must be afraid of something Yaz."

"No nothing. In my old life I was a hot shot lawyer you know. Nothing scares me. Nothing…except. Oh no. Mice. I really really hate mice. Nope I'm out. I can't do it. I'll just come in last."

"Yaz, you can do it. I don't care about coming in last, I deserve it, but you don't. You are the most capable woman on the boat, I know you can do it."

"Ok. I'll try. I guess I should look around."

Yaz started looking into the cells. She saw nothing of note until the final cell. She saw a mouse dart under the bed. She used the key to open the cell and then pushed the bed out of the way.

Under the bed there was a hole about a meter wide leading to a tunnel just a little larger than she was.

"There's a tunnel. Looks like I'd fit. But I saw a mouse. I can't Stephanie."

"You can Yaz. I'm with you. I'll keep talking the whole time you are in there. Did Eric ever tell you how we met? Well I was working…"

As Stephanie talked Yaz steeled herself and got into the tunnel. It was not easy to move but she was making progress. She could see light from the other end when something caught on her jumpsuit.

"Oh no Stephanie I'm caught on something."

"It's ok. Just stay calm. Try to reach back and find it."

"Can't get it. Oh no. I hear those little Devils squeaking. I have to hurry." She tried but couldn't get unstuck. She heard the squeaking getting louder and gave up. She unzipped the suit and hurried forward without it.

Finally she pulled herself out of the hole. She was naked, and covered in dirt, but she hadn't actually seen another mouse.

"I'm clear Stephanie. Thank you. Let's hope there is a way out here because that was a one time thing. I think this might be the cafeteria. Lots of tables with benches."

"I'm so proud of you Yaz. I knew you could do it. Ok. Next clue."

Freedom is very close or very far, to read the rules, check the bar.

Yaz looked around. There was a spot where you could line up to get your meals, kind of like a bar she thought. As she got closer she saw there was something carved into the plastic food trays.

The green door leads to the entrance, no locks, doors or traps. The red door leads to your companion, and a messy way back. Only one door may be opened.

Yaz didn't tell Stephanie what she'd found. If she just left, she stood a good chance of winning, but Stephanie would surely come in last. Nobody would blame her for leaving Stephanie. Hell, not even Stephanie would blame her. Yet she couldn't bring herself to do it. She ran for the red door. "There were directions to you. I'm on my way." Yaz told her.

"Well Eric, looks like you picked a good team. The others might not have been able to work well enough together to get this far. Oh, it really is too bad you didn't send Sarah here. I was going to put her in the cell with the walkie talkie. That would have been a riot!" Isla laughed. Eric did not laugh with her. "Right, well how bout them titties then? You gotta like that. Stephanie struggles while her breasts bounce everywhere, Yaz running in the nude. Don't tell me you are just a little aroused?"

Eric said nothing. Isla was right, he loved what he was seeing. Somehow Yaz still looks sexy and elegant nude and covered in dirt, and Stephanie, well he'd be happy to see her in that straightjacket forever, it was hot.

Marcos opened his eyes. He was in a small room with a dozen or so women. They were all sitting on the ground with iron collars on their necks shackled to the wall. He felt his own neck and confirmed he was restrained too.

He looked beside him, Beatriz was there too. He was wearing a very simple tunic and nothing else. Beatriz was totally nude of course, and still green.

Examining the other women he noticed they weren't all human. Some had ridges on their faces or pointed ears. One had a furry tail.

His attention was drawn by a figure entering the room. It was Isla, except she had green skin like Beatriz.

"Welcome my captives. All of you pretty little things have been brought here to compete for the amusement of your betters. If you win you will earn your freedom. If you lose you will, well, earn it another way. You two, my newest arrivals. I'll be back in one hour to take you to the arena to fight the Ravager. Good luck." She turned and left without a word.

Beatriz looked over at Marcos. "Oh I get it. Star Trek. Because I'm green, she made me into one of those green girls. Remember the movie? Chris Pine and the green girl?"

"Right, I never saw it but that makes sense."

"Right, you never got into that. Too bad, I bet a star trek nerd would know how to escape."

"Listen Bea, about that. Maybe we don't escape." Marcos looked at her seriously.

"What? You mean just give up?" Beatriz asked incredulously.

"Ya. We are the highest in the standing right now. We can afford the BP loss the most."

"But what about the transformations?" Beatriz reminded him.

"I know. I was just thinking you don't have any yet, and for me, well," he sighed. He didn't really know how to say this. "Well in some way Marcos is already gone. I'm still here mentally, even if I have these other memories. But physically, I'm a 19 year old girl. When this is all over, I can't just go back to my old life. I can't ever be Marcos again.

As things stand, maybe you move to Toronto with Eric, get a job at a spa there. The others, they can go back to their lives, just with tweeks. Me? I can't.

What I can do is try to protect everyone else. I can make myself useful here, while I'm still Marcos. When it's all over, Mali can begin her life."

Beatriz just looked at him sadly. "Have you really given up?"

"No, not at all. I still plan to win. It's just I'm not going to win for myself, I'm going to win by keeping everyone in, and by getting you that wish."

"Ok Marcos, I understand where you are coming from, but I can't just do nothing. Please help me escape?"

Of course Marcos couldn't refuse her, so together they started to look for clues.