Fifty Shades of Chili and Honey

Sara took a deep breath, trying to ignore the heat creeping up her neck. It wasn't just the kitchen's temperature; a subtle warmth was spreading through her, a tingling awareness that made her skin feel…alive. She carried her appetizer, a small plate of spiced shrimp skewers, to the judges' table.

"Good evening, judges," she said, her voice slightly huskier than usual. "For my appetizer, I've prepared shrimp skewers with a chili-lime glaze. The chili is…a local variety." She winced internally. "Smooth, Sara."

Kendra's eyes sparkled, willing to entertain her. "Local, huh? And how would you describe its…kick?"

Sara’s cheeks flushed. "It has a…pleasant warmth," she managed, her gaze flickering to Turner. His eyes seemed to linger on her a moment longer than necessary, and her pulse quickened. Damnit.

Becca took a bite. "Mmm, the shrimp is cooked perfectly. And there is a nice…tingle." She glanced at Sara, a smile playing on her lips.

Turner cleared his throat. "The spice is…interesting. It definitely awakens the palate." He paused, his gaze drifting down to Sara's face.

"And it seems like it's awakening the chef as well," Georgia remarked.

Sara felt her skin grow warmer. Her libido was definitely up. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. She quickly retreated to her station, a strange mix of exhilaration and embarrassment swirling within her.

As she plated her main course, she tried to focus on the task at hand, but the warmth within her intensified. Her skin felt incredibly sensitive, and a flush spread across her chest and shoulders. She caught her reflection in a stainless steel pot and gasped. Her skin was noticeably flushed, and she could swear she saw faint, swirling patterns floating around her.

She quickly plated her main course, a pan-seared salmon with roasted asparagus, and rushed it to the judges.

"For my main course," she began, her voice slightly breathless, "I've prepared pan-seared salmon with roasted asparagus. I…I kept the seasoning simple."

Kendra raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Sara's flushed skin. "Simple, huh? You seem…heated, darlin'."

Sara swallowed hard. "The kitchen's warm," she lied, her voice cracking slightly.

Turner's eyes were intense. "The salmon is good. Tender, flaky. And the…heat…is definitely present."

Sara’s heart pounded. She could barely breathe. She wanted to run and hide, but she **** herself to maintain eye contact.

Becca took a bite. "The salmon is delicious, Sara. But you…you seem a little…overwhelmed."

"I…I'm fine," Sara stammered, her voice barely audible.

She quickly retreated to her station, her skin burning with embarrassment and arousal.

Okay, dessert. Vanilla. Calm it down, Sara.

For dessert, she had prepared a vanilla bean panna cotta with fresh berries. The creamy dessert was meant to be soothing, but as she spooned a bite into her mouth to taste, her own voice suddenly sounded different. Richer, huskier, more…seductive.

Oh no.

She carried the panna cotta to the judges, her movements slower, more deliberate than usual.

"For dessert," she said, her voice a low, velvety purr, "I've prepared a vanilla bean panna cotta with fresh berries."

Georgia's eyes widened. "Well, aren't you just a little seductress, sugar?"

Turner's gaze was fixed on Sara's lips. "That looks inviting," he said, his voice thick.

Becca's jaw dropped. "Sara, your voice…it's…different."

Sara's cheeks burned. She felt a wave of intense attraction towards Turner, a sudden urge to…flirt.

Kendra leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, darlin', I think you've definitely captured the…essence of the vanilla. It's…intoxicating."

Turner cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on Sara's lips. "The panna cotta is…delicious. Creamy, and...yeah, creamy."

Sara’s cheeks burned crimson. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor. She felt a strange mix of embarrassment and exhilaration, a confusing cocktail of emotions she couldn't quite decipher.

She retreated to her workstation, her movements slow and deliberate. She felt a strange warmth spreading through her, a tingling sensation that made her skin feel incredibly sensitive. She glanced at Turner, and a wave of intense attraction washed over her. She had to resist the urge to go over and…flirt.

"I-I..." she began, almost uncontrollably, before stopping herself in her tracks and hightailing it out.

---

Emma approached the judges' table with a mix of trepidation and **** composure. She carried her appetizer, a simple salad with a light vinaigrette, like it was a ticking time bomb.

"Good evening," she said, her voice strained. "For my appetizer, I've prepared a…traditional salad. No…special ingredients."

Kendra raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Traditional, huh? How…safe."

Emma's cheeks flushed. "I wanted to…avoid any potential…complications," she stammered, her gaze fixed on the salad.

Turner, though he’d been eyeing Sara moments before, now focused on Emma. "It's…green," he observed, trying to make conversation. "And…leafy."

Becca took a hesitant bite. "The vinaigrette is…light," she said, her tone unimpressed yet sympathetic.

Georgia leaned forward, her eyes twinkling. "A little too light, perhaps? Where's the…excitement, sugar?"

Emma's hands trembled slightly. "I…I didn't want to overdo it," she mumbled.

She quickly retreated, feeling a wave of relief mixed with a strange sense of…missing out.

For her main course, Emma had prepared a chicken and vegetable dish, again, devoid of any "special ingredients." She placed the dish before the judges, her movements stiff and awkward.

"And for my main course," she announced, her voice barely above a whisper, "chicken and vegetables. Simple. Healthy."

Kendra sighed dramatically. "Simple? Healthy? Darlin', this ain't a health spa. This is a culinary clash."

Georgia took a bite. "It's…edible," she said, her tone equally unenthusiastic.

Kendra smirked. "Edible? Bless your heart, Emma. That's hardly a compliment."

"Be nice, you two!" Turner chided.

Emma's shoulders slumped. She felt a wave of frustration mixed with a strange, unfamiliar urge to…rebel.

"I…I just wanted to play it safe," she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of defiance.

She retreated to her station, her mind racing. She had avoided the "special ingredients," but at what cost? Her dishes were bland, uninspired. They were…boring. And for the first time, Emma felt a strange, unsettling desire to be…un-boring.

For dessert, Emma had prepared a fruit salad, a last-ditch attempt to salvage her culinary reputation. She placed the bowl before the judges, her movements slightly more confident than before.

"And for dessert," she said, her voice surprisingly steady, "a fruit salad. Fresh. Light."

Kendra sighed. "Emma, you've completely avoided the challenge. You were given those ingredients for a reason."

Georgia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "And that reason, sugar, was to spice things up. To add a little…flavor. A little…excitement."

Emma's cheeks flushed. She felt a strange, unfamiliar heat spreading through her, a tingling sensation that made her skin feel…alive. The vanilla scent, which had been so faint before, now seemed to fill the air, intoxicating and alluring.

"I…I didn't want to…overdo it," she stammered, her voice suddenly huskier.

She glanced at Turner, and her heart skipped a beat. His eyes seemed to linger on her, and a strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through her. He looked genuinely sympathetic about her position.

"But maybe," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "maybe I should have…"

She trailed off, her gaze fixed on Turner's lips. A sudden, overwhelming urge to…flirt washed over her.

"Maybe," she repeated, her voice laced with a newfound confidence, "maybe I should have added a little…spice."

---

Charlotte approached the judges' table devoid of her usual bubbly energy, carrying her appetizer, a vibrant medley of spiced vegetables, with an almost ethereal calm. "Good evening," she said, her voice smooth and even. "For my appetizer, a spiced vegetable medley. A touch of chili, just to awaken the palate."

Kendra raised an eyebrow, a flicker of something akin to surprise in her eyes. "A touch of chili, huh? And a rather…generous touch, I'd say."

Charlotte's calm faltered for a fraction of a second, a slight flush rising on her cheeks.

Turner took a bite, his eyes widening slightly. "I wouldn't say generous, I'd say perfect. It’s…noticeable. And…warming."

Becca, who had been watching Charlotte with a growing sense of unease, took a small bite. "It's…interesting. The vegetables are perfectly cooked, but there’s an underlying…heat."

Georgia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Interesting indeed. A rather…sensual heat, wouldn't you say?"

Charlotte's composure cracked. The warmth she had dismissed earlier now pulsed through her veins, a tingling sensation that made her skin feel incredibly sensitive. "I…I simply wanted to highlight the natural flavors," she managed, her voice breathier than usual as she started to appear strained.

She retreated to her station, a strange mix of disorientation and burgeoning arousal swirling within her.

Her main course, honey-glazed chicken with roasted vegetables, was presented with the same practiced elegance. "For my main course," she began, her voice slightly strained, "honey-glazed chicken with roasted vegetables."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "Honey? Rather…liberally applied, I might add."

Charlotte’s eyes glazed over slightly. The honey’s warmth, which had been a subtle undercurrent before, now bloomed into a full-blown craving for physical contact. She felt a sudden, almost overwhelming urge to…touch.

Turner’s eyes were fixed on Charlotte’s hands, which were now trembling slightly. "The chicken is…tender. And the honey…it’s…sticky, but amazing."

Becca’s gaze was sharp. “Charlotte, are you alright? You seem…distracted.”

Georgia’s smile was predatory. “Distracted? Or…delighted?”

Charlotte’s breath hitched. She could feel the heat radiating from her skin, the almost unbearable sensitivity of every inch of skin. "I…I’m fine," she stammered, her voice thick with an unfamiliar longing.

Almost involuntarily, she reached our her hand to touch Becca's cheek. The redhead, bewildered with this behavior, stared back at the former cheerleader with confusion. Charlotte awkwardly moved away, her movements slow and deliberate, like she was moving through water.

"Since when were her hands that soft?" Becca wondered. "Not that I would know, but that seems almost inhumanly soft."

Her dessert, a dark chocolate mousse with vanilla bean infusion, was presented with a newfound, almost reckless abandon. "And for dessert," she announced, her voice a velvety purr, "dark chocolate mousse with vanilla bean. Rich. Decadent."

Kendra’s eyes widened. “My, my, Charlotte. You’ve certainly…embraced the challenge.”

Turner’s gaze was fixed on Charlotte’s lips, which were now slightly swollen and glistening. “The mousse looks…irresistible.”

Becca gasped. “Charlotte, your voice! And your…eyes!”

Georgia’s smile was a predatory gleam. “It seems our little chef has finally found her…flavor.”

Charlotte's eyes, now glazed with a euphoric haze, fixated on Becca. Her lips, swollen and glistening, parted slightly as a soft, almost involuntary moan escaped her. "The…mousse," she purred, her voice thick and laced with a newfound, almost childlike innocence. "It's…so…chocolatey."

She swayed slightly, her hands reaching out to trace the rim of the dessert plate, her fingers lingering on the smooth, cool surface. A giggle bubbled up from her throat, high-pitched and breathless. "And the…vanilla. It's…warm. Like…a hug."

Her gaze drifted to Becca again, her eyes wide and luminous. "You…you look…tasty," she murmured, her voice laced with a playful, almost predatory tone.

Becca's eyes widened, her face flushing crimson. "Charlotte," she stammered, her voice strained. "Are you…feeling alright?"

Charlotte giggled again, a high-pitched, almost delirious sound. She reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and gently touched Becca's cheek again. "So…soft," she sighed, her fingers lingering on Becca's skin.

Turner's jaw dropped. "Charlotte! What are you doing?"

Georgia's eyes gleamed with amusement. "It seems our little chef has embraced the cocoa's…full potential," she chuckled, her voice laced with a hint of dark satisfaction.

Charlotte's giggles intensified, her hands now moving to trace the contours of her own body, her fingers lingering on the swell of her breasts, which had noticeably increased in size. "So…big," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder. "And…soft."

She swayed again, her movements becoming increasingly uncoordinated. A soft moan escaped her lips, a sound of pure, unadulterated pleasure. "Chocolate…vanilla…honey…chili," she whispered, her voice a breathy mix of giggles and moans. "It's…so…good."

She leaned towards Becca, her eyes filled with a childlike innocence and a raw, almost primal desire. "Kiss me," she whispered, her voice thick with a sudden, overwhelming urge. "Please."

Becca recoiled slightly, her face a mask of shock and confusion. "Charlotte, I…I don't think that's a good idea."

Charlotte pouted, her lips forming a childishly exaggerated moue. "But…I want to," she whined, her voice laced with a petulant edge

Turner stood up, her face flushed with a mixture of concern and mild rage. "Kendra! What's happening to her?"

"I told you, the vanilla is like a love potion, the chocolate is euphoria," Kendra raised her hands in defense. "Not my fault that Charlotte seemed to overdo it in her recipe, and her...current transformations!"

"Overdo it?" Turner sputtered, his face now a shade of crimson that rivaled the peppers. "She's practically…molesting Becca!"

"Now, now, Turner," Kendra drawled, her voice laced with amusement. "Let's not be dramatic. She's just expressing her…appreciation."

Becca, still frozen in place, her face a mask of bewildered horror, finally managed to stammer, "Appreciation?"

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Georgia cooed, her eyes gleaming with mischievous delight. "She thinks you're adorable."

Charlotte, oblivious to the escalating chaos around her, continued to sway and giggle, her hands resuming exploring the contours of her own body with fascination. "So…smooth," she murmured, her fingers tracing the curve of her hip. "Like…silk."

She then moved her hands to her face, cupping her swollen cheeks. "And my lips," she whispered, her voice thick with wonder. "So…plump."

She leaned closer to Becca, her eyes wide and luminous. "Kiss me," she repeated, her voice a breathy plea. "Please."

Before Becca could react, Charlotte lunged forward, her lips pressing against Becca's in a sloppy, chocolate-smudged kiss. A soft moan escaped her lips, a sound of pure, unadulterated pleasure.

Becca's eyes widened in shock, her body rigid with disbelief. She tried to pull away, but Charlotte's grip was surprisingly strong, her hands now tangled in her orange hair.

"Mmm," Charlotte murmured, her voice thick with satisfaction. "Chocolate kisses are the best."

Turner, now beyond furious, slammed his fist on the judges' table. "Kendra! This has gone too far!"

"Too far?" Kendra asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Darlin', we're just gettin' started."

Georgia clapped her hands together, a gleeful expression on her face. "This is better than any reality show I've ever seen!"

Charlotte, still locked in her chocolate-fueled embrace, began to nuzzle Becca's neck, her lips leaving a trail of chocolate smudges on her skin. "You smell like…vanilla," she murmured, her voice laced with a playful, almost predatory tone.

Becca, now a mixture of horror and mortification, finally managed to break free from Charlotte's grasp. She stumbled backward, her face a mask of disgust and disbelief. "This is insane!" she exclaimed, wiping the chocolate off her face with her sleeve.

"Alright, alright," Kendra waved. "Charlotte, your time is up for now. I would stay to watch the drama unfold, but we'll have plenty of time for that later today, and we have a full schedule."

"Plenty of time for that later today?" Becca all but screeched. "Is she gonna permanently be like this...bimbo now?"

"Permanently? No, of course not," Kendra scoffed. "Just...for a little while. Anyways, next!"

---

Lana, her face a mask of **** nonchalance, approached the judges' table with her appetizer, a surprisingly presentable...at least, presentable for her, vegetable salad. "Alright, folks," she announced, her voice a little too loud, "feast your eyes on…the salad. A masterpiece of…vegetable-ness."

Kendra raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. "Vegetable-ness? How…descriptive."

Lana shrugged. "Hey, I'm a woman of few words. Especially when those words involve…cooking."

Becca, still recovering from Charlotte's chocolate-fueled ****, took a tentative bite. "It's…crunchy," she offered, her tone unenthusiastic.

Georgia, however, seemed intrigued. "No…special ingredients, sugar?" she asked, her eyes gleaming. "How…restrained."

Lana's cheeks flushed. "I…I wanted to play it safe," she mumbled, her gaze fixed on the salad. "Avoid any…unforeseen side effects."

She quickly retreated, feeling a strange mix of relief and…disappointment.

Her main course, a hastily assembled "stir-fry" that looked suspiciously like a vegetable medley swimming in a vaguely brown sauce, was presented with a similar lack of enthusiasm. "For my main course," she announced, her voice laced with a hint of desperation, "a…stir-fry. A very…experimental stir-fry."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "Experimental? As in…'I experimented with how badly I could do'?"

Turner poked at the stir-fry with his fork, trying to hide his true feelings on what was being presented to him. He wanted to provide Lana with some kind of encouragement, because he knew how...challenged..she was at doing these sorts of things, but there wasn't anything he could really provide.

Becca, still wary of any food presented to her, took a tiny bite. "It's…chewy," she offered, her tone equally unimpressed. "And…vaguely vegetable-y."

Georgia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Vaguely vegetable-y? That's hardly a selling point, sugar."

Lana's shoulders slumped. "I…I tried," she muttered, her voice laced with defeat. "I'm not exactly a…culinary genius."

She retreated to her station, feeling a wave of frustration mixed with a strange, unfamiliar urge to…prove herself.

For dessert, Lana had attempted a "fruit platter," which consisted of a haphazard arrangement of sliced fruit drizzled with a questionable amount of honey. She placed the platter before the judges, her movements hesitant.

"And for dessert," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "a…fruit platter. With…honey."

Kendra's eyes widened slightly. "Honey? Darlin', are you tryin' to…glue our mouths shut?"

Becca, still traumatized from her previous encounter, recoiled slightly. "Is it…safe?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Georgia, however, seemed intrigued. "Honey, huh? How…sensual."

Lana's cheeks flushed. "I…I just wanted to add a little…sweetness," she stammered, her gaze fixed on the platter. "A little…something."

She trailed off, her eyes widening slightly as she noticed a strange, warm sensation spreading through her. Her skin felt incredibly sensitive, and a sudden, almost overwhelming urge to…touch washed over her.

"A little…something?" she repeated, her voice thick with a newfound, almost **** longing. "Maybe…a little more?"

She reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and gently touched Turner's arm. "Did-Did I do okay?" she asked, trying to rationalize her atypical physical contact.

"Brilliant move, Lana, he's not going to suspect a thing," she sarcastically thought.

Turner, his face a mask of bewildered confusion, blinked at Lana's touch. "Uh…it was…pretty good?" he managed, his voice strained. "The…honey was…present."

She leaned closer, her hand still resting on his arm, her fingers tracing slow, deliberate circles. "The honey…it's…doing something," she murmured, her voice a low, breathy whisper.

"Lana..." Turner warned, moving his arm away from her slowly. "What are you doing?"

"What am I...o-oh, I, uh," she stammered, momentarily snapping out of her haze. "D-did y-you all like the..."

She couldn't even finish her sentence before running away from the four people, all of which followed her quick exodus silently. The ensuing silence was quiet enough you'd be able to hear a pin drop as the four people left at the table all looked at each other.

"Well that was enough embarrassment for a lifetime," Kendra heartily chuckled, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Onto Kathryn!"

---

Kathryn, her face a mask of **** confidence that barely concealed her inner panic, approached the judges' table with her appetizer: a haphazard arrangement of raw vegetables drizzled with an alarming amount of honey and sprinkled with chili flakes. "Behold," she declared, her voice a little too loud, "the…'rustic vegetable platter.' A symphony of…contrasting flavors."

Kendra's eyes narrowed, her lips twitching with amusement. "Rustic? Darlin', it looks like a rabbit's garden after a tornado."

Becca, still wary of anything edible, eyed the platter with suspicion. "Is that…honey and chili?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Georgia, however, seemed intrigued. "A bold combination," she purred, her eyes gleaming. "A culinary…daredevil."

Kathryn's cheeks flushed. "I…I wanted to experiment," she stammered, her gaze fixed on the platter. "Push the…boundaries of taste."

She quickly retreated, feeling a wave of nausea mixed with a strange, unfamiliar heat spreading through her.

Her main course, a pan of vaguely partly-cooked meat swimming in a pool of honey-chili sauce, was presented with a similar lack of culinary finesse. "For my main course," she announced, her voice laced with an attempt at her usual bravado, "a…honey-chili surprise. A culinary…adventure."

Turner, his face a mask of strained politeness, poked at the meat with his fork. "Surprise is certainly one word for it," he managed, his voice tight. He hoped that Kathryn would take the lighthearted jab in stride, but he underestimated how panicked she actually was feeling at the moment.

Becca, her stomach churning slightly, took a tiny, hesitant bite. "Okay, I know I asked if the last one was safe because of what happened with Charlotte, but this looks unsafe for a whole 'nother reason. Is this meat even cooked properly?"

"Oh, don't be a spoilsport, Becca," Kendra scoffed. "Mm, it's very sweet...and a bit spicy."

Georgia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "And…warm," she added, her voice a low, suggestive purr. "Very warm."

Kathryn's hands trembled slightly. "I…I wanted to create an...experience," she mumbled, her voice thick with a newfound, almost **** longing.

She retreated to her station, her skin burning with an unfamiliar heat, her mind filled with a strange, overwhelming urge to…touch.

Her dessert, a plate of half-baked cookies drizzled with vanilla extract and sprinkled with cocoa powder, was presented with a final, **** attempt at culinary redemption. "And for dessert," she announced, her voice a breathy whisper, "vanilla-cocoa cookies. A sweet…temptation."

Kendra's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise in their depths. "Darlin', did you just…douse everything in our little ingredients?"

Becca's eyes widened in horror. "Are these…raw too?" she squeaked, poking at the cookies.

Georgia's smile was predatory. "A temptation indeed," she purred, her eyes fixed on Kathryn.

Kathryn's eyes glazed over slightly. The combined effects of the honey, chili, vanilla, and cocoa hit her like a tidal wave, overwhelming her senses. Her skin flushed crimson, her lips swelled, her voice deepened to a husky purr, and her breasts seemed to…inflate.

"Temptation?" she repeated, her voice thick with a newfound, almost primal desire. "I'll give you temptation."

She reached out, her hands trembling slightly, and grabbed Turner's arm, pulling him towards her. "Kiss me," she demanded, her voice a low, husky growl. "Kiss me now."

Turner's eyes widened in shock. "Kathryn! What are you doing?"

"I'm…experimenting," she slurred, her hands now moving to trace the contours of his face. "Pushing the…boundaries of…pleasure."

She leaned in, her lips pressing against Turner's in a sloppy, food-smudged kiss. A low moan escaped her lips, a sound of pure, unadulterated lust.

Kissed Turner!: +3 VP

"Kathryn!" Turner yelled, attempting to push her away. "Stop this!"

"No," Kathryn growled, her grip tightening. "I want…more."

Kendra watched the scene with a mixture of amusement and morbid fascination. "Well, this is…unexpected," she drawled, her voice laced with a hint of dark satisfaction. "Certainly not how I expected anything with Kathryn and Turner to happen."

Georgia clapped her hands together, a gleeful expression on her face. "This is even better than I expected. The sheer quantity of ingredients she used is almost impressive."

Becca, her face a mask of horrified fascination, watched the unfolding chaos with wide eyes. "She's…she's like a…a walking spice rack!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "And…and her…her chest!"

"Emphasis on 'rack'," Georgia snorted.

Turner, struggling against Kathryn's surprisingly strong grip, managed to pry her lips away from his. "Kathryn, you're scaring me!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and disgust.

Kathryn, her eyes glazed with a mixture of lust and euphoria, ignored his protests. "Scared?" she purred, her voice thick with desire. "Don't be. I'm just…sharing the love."

She reached out, her hands now moving to tug at Turner's shirt, her fingers lingering on the buttons. "Let's…experiment together," she whispered, her voice a husky growl. "Explore the…boundaries of…taste."

Kendra, leaning back in her chair, chuckled softly. "Oh, this is rich," she drawled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Literally."

Kathryn, her movements becoming increasingly uncoordinated, stumbled slightly, pulling Turner with her. They crashed against the judges' table, sending plates and utensils flying. "Oops," she slurred, her voice sultry. "My…bad."

She then moved to straddle Turner on the ground, her gaze intense. "Now, where were we?" she asked, her voice a low, predatory growl.

Kendra looked onto the scene with mild amusement. After all the grief Kathryn had given her in the past two rounds, seeing her debased to...this was cathartic. But then her mind drifted to Turner. As the harem master, he should enjoy whatever was going on, and that certainly wasn't happening with his struggling.

She sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright, that's enough," she declared, her voice laced with mock exasperation. "Kathryn, your time is most definitely up."

With a flick of her wrist, Kathryn straightened up and walked wordlessly and mechanically to the exit. Turner, frazzled, got up from the ground with Becca's help, smoothing out the wrinkles now present in his shirt.

"Hey, if it's any small consolation, not like we lost particularly good food there," Georgia offered, pointing to the vegetables, questionable sauce, and seemingly-raw dough now all strewn around the floor.