Into the Fire

Ana Cruz murmured lazily into Jeremy’s chest, snuggled against the soft warmth of him as they lounged lazily on the couch. The calming scents of home filled her nose, as she absorbed the sights and sounds of the TV. She was warm, she was happy, she was-

Darkness.

Like the world itself had been switched off.

It was so instantaneous that it took several moments for Ana’s mind to catch up. Where she had been warm and comfortable, now she felt cool and restricted. Where there had been the blaring sounds of the TV, there was now… nothing… at all. It had been light, now there was nothing but absolute pitch blackness. The kind of darkness that felt heavy on her eyelids and prevented her from moving… from breathing.

Jeremy?!

Ana Cruz screamed.

Or rather she tried to scream. When she opened her mouth, instead of sound escaping, dirt fell inside, gagging her. She was blind and paralyzed, a heavy weight pressing down on her from all sides. It made no sense but her mind only produced one possibility, however insane. Oh meu Deus! I've been buried alive. Foda-se! Ana’s muscles bunched and with a surge of suffocated panic she **** herself the only direction she could… up.

Dirt showered over her as she broke free from the ground with a heaving gasp, into the eerie green light and open air. It had taken less effort than Ana had expected, picturing herself several feet underground, but she was thankful that whoever had done this had not been bothered to dig too deeply.

The first thing Ana saw was the fire; Massive, dazzling, green flames that filled her vision and **** her eyes away as she struggled to free her legs from the grip of the earth. Dirt fell from the familiar t-shirt and black leggings she had changed into after the game and she brushed even more from her hair.

Disoriented, she looked around. Where was the apartment? Where was Jeremy? Where was Dylan? Where am I?! Seven headstones ringed the blaze, her own name carved deeply into the one above where she had been buried. Ana’s blood froze when she saw several of the other piles shifting and other women beginning to pull themselves free. When she saw the name on the stone beside her own she once again burst into action.

Ana fell to her knees and began digging furiously at Dylan’s grave, the loose dirt flying easily through her clawed hands. She found the girl in seconds though it felt much longer. Ana clenched her fists and heaved, pulling up what she desperately hoped was a living snarky goth by her clothes and partially tearing the black hoodie.

“Hey, watch it! This is my favorite sweater,” Dylan said, coughing and brushing away as much dirt as she could from her glasses.. Ana couldn’t help but laugh, a **** bark of sound bursting from her lips as the tension slightly lifted at seeing her friend alive. She clutched the far shorter woman to her and squeezed hard enough the hug itself threatened to finish the suffocation the grave had attempted. “Alright. Okay! I’m fine. Get off, goof nuts. What the hell happened?”

“I’m… I’m not sure.” The question brought Ana back into the moment and startled she sat back up and looked around. There were other graves, other people trapped under the ground. Jeremy?! She turned quickly to the grave on her other side but instead of her fiancé she found a trembling Fleur Lavigne still sitting half buried in the dirt, eyes wide and frozen like a deer in headlights, both hands clenching tightly around something at her throat. Ana moved to her next, placing a hand gently on the shell shocked woman’s shoulder.

“Fleur? Can you look at me? You’re okay, querida.” Ana tried. Fleur blinked and then glanced over.

“Ana? What are…? I… I think I’m dead. W-w-we died. And now we are in Hell.” Fleur said, looking back at the blazing green fire. “I.. I can’t be here. Th-this can’t be happening!”

“Ha!” The sudden sound had both girls jumping and glancing behind them, out of the circle of graves.. For the first time Ana spotted the dark thorny throne and the woman that sat upon it, her moving hair and clothes spiking Ana’s heart rate once again. Skipping right over ‘Who’, Ana landed on: _What the fuck is she? _She briefly considered that Fleur may be right, that perhaps the building had collapsed and killed her. Beside the woman a raven sat on a dark wood pedestal. Its head snapped to the side as it looked at them, its impossible voice rasping, “Do you feel dead? Clearly not all that speaks is intelligent.”

“Clearly,” The woman on the throne agreed flatly, her dark eyes rolling to look pointedly at the bird.

“It… Just…” Fleur gasped, in barely a whisper.

“Ya… that bird just spoke.” Dylan shrugged, as though acknowledging it out loud would make it less insane. It didn’t.

Ana stood and instinctually stepped between Fleur, Dylan and the woman on the throne, taking in the impossible woman and her talking crow. There was nothing natural about either of them, not that anything about the situation was natural. Why aren’t I panicking? There was something wrong with the way she felt. Something dulling what she should be feeling. ****? She glanced around once more and noted that all the so-called graves were now empty and seven women were beginning to gather behind her, and no one actually seemed to be dead. When you’re dead, do you know you’re dead? Ana didn’t know the others, other than Dylan and Fleur though one woman with strikingly long red hair felt somewhat familiar from… somewhere. Harper? Why do I… She could worry about that later.

“Who are you?” Ana asked, turning again to face the dark haired woman and keeping her voice as calm as she could manage. “You did this to us? How? Or better yet, why?!”

“So many questions, Ana! But, alas! So little time. Right now the audience is being introduced to the seven of you, seeing little teasers about your lives while you… adjust. I will answer your first question however. I am Eris, host of this season of Harem Hotel! And of course you all know all about that,” Eris said.

And Ana - did.

The moment before she had never heard of Harem Hotel, the words had been near meaningless but now… rules filled her head. Challenges.. Transformations?! She felt the blood run from her face as she looked at the other ‘contestants’. Women she was expected to compete with and do much… more, with.

“You again?! You bitch! This is what you were talking about? I don’t know how the hell you got me here or how you are in my head but I. Am. Outy! Where the hell’s the exit?” The speaker was a young black woman brushing dirt from her… costume? Corrine. The name came to Ana just like the rules. She knew her, felt a pull when she looked at her and thought the name she shouldn’t even know. Corrine looked around the wide clearing at the trees beyond for any clue of an escape and Ana joined her in looking, wanting no part of this. Ana could see light in the woods. There were deep flickering flames down several paths around the clearing, and the bouncing glows of thousands of fireflies flitted through the too dark shadows beyond the bonfire, but from where they stood there was no sign of civilization, no sound of cars, no city lights no hint at what direction would lead them to safety.

“I wouldn’t recommend you try the woods, certainly not before you’ve gained any power,” Eris said, her eyes also scanning the treeline. “But you’ll see the exit soon enough. You won't be able to use it, however, not until we have a winner. Not until your Mistress is cho…”

“Eight.”

“What?” Eris asked, brow raised at the interrupting non sequitur. A willowy blonde took a step forward from the group. Jennifer. And the dark haired girl behind her… Lily. Ana shivered, finding the implanted knowledge more than a little unsettling.

“There are eight of us. You said seven.” Jennifer Quinn said, meeting the witches eyes.

“Aaack! She’s right.” The raven squawked. “Another of your last minute surprises?”

“No.” Eris stood. Her eyes locked onto another girl who looked very much like Jen though more filled out than the twiggy artist.

“Ha, two for one special?” Dylan said, a bit too loud for comfort, from beside Ana. Eris ignored her and took in the twins.

“Shhh. Don’t draw attention. We are out of here as soon as I figure out where to go.” Ana hissed back, though she was unsurprised by Dylan turning to jokes even now.

The witch lifted one hand, fingers curled upward, and the unknown woman lifted into the air with a yelp and floated forward until she hung in the air in front of Eris. A twirl of one finger and the girl began to rotate in place.

“Let her go!” This time Jennifer’s voice was harder.

“It’s too late for that. She is in the chain,” Eris said, annoyance evident in her tone, before continuing almost to herself. “Elimination? It’s been done this early before...”

The word rang in Ana’s mind. Elimination. She knew what it meant, knew that it was a possibility for any woman who fell too far in this so-called game, including her. If I were going to play. She doubled down on her resolve to find an escape, and fast.

“No! Y-you c-can’t!” A new voice cried out. Ana had expected Jen, but it was Lily who spoke up so vehemently against it. “She didn’t even have a chance. She didn’t fail your g-game! D-don’t do… don’t do whatever it is you do.”

“Hmm. I suppose you have a point, farm girl.” Eris said with a shrug. She stopped the spinning girl with a gesture, meeting her face to face. “Okay. Ariel Quinn. You get one challenge. Best your sister and you can take her place in the show instead.” Eris offered.

“What kind of deal is that?” Ariel spat. “Just take me now if that’s how you want it. I’m not going to throw her under the bus to save my own skin.” Ana approved of the girl’s backbone but tensed at the offer. Any plan for escape would become far more difficult for the girl if the witch accepted Ariel’s offer and eliminated her on the spot.

“You’ll play. Don’t worry about that, sweetling.” Eris let the girl fall and retook her throne as she watched Jen and Lily pull Ariel back, helping the still glaring girl to her feet. “You all will. But feel free to struggle a little bit, it’ll keep things interesting.”

“It’s time.” Horace squawked, puffing himself up. “Audience will be live in one minute.”

“What do you mean ‘live’?” Ana asked, once again looking around. She saw no sign of cameras. Both the witch woman and raven ignored her question, and Ana actually found herself more relieved than annoyed. She didn’t really want to interact with the pair. Eris had done magic. Real magic. Ana shivered. Regardless, her question was answered a few seconds later.

Ana felt it when the ‘cameras’ went live. She could suddenly feel the eyes, the crawling sensation of being watched by something she could not see but knew was there. She reached back and took Dylan’s hand and felt Fleur step closer behind her. Most of the group drew closer together as each felt the same thing.

“Welcome viewers once again!” Eris said, addressing the night sky, her bored demeanor somewhat diminished though Ana suspected the wide smile was a bit put on. “Your lovely witches have arrived and are surely eager and ready to compete! Though, perhaps not as eager as you are to watch them!”

“C-compete for w-what? Who… who is supposed to be the… master.” Fleur spoke quietly from behind Ana’s shoulder but her voice still rang out for all those present. The thought hadn’t crossed Ana’s mind but Fleur was right. There was no sign of a man for them to compete for. Not that any of them would be staying if she had a say about it.

“Very good question, Fleur! And one of the few I’ll answer before our first challenge begins.” Eris answered, eyes looking past Ana and finding the quavering blonde girl. “One of you of course. One of you will escape the harem and become mistress over the others! All you have to do is hold the top spot in our leaderboard and the other six will be at your beck and call, each there to serve and please you. You’d like that wouldn’t you? Fleur, you most of all perhaps. You, having each of these beautiful women to…”

“N-NO. I… no. This is wrong. A test of my faith.” Fleur stammered.

“Believe what you want to believe.” Eris shrugged. “The mistress will still compete in each challenge and fight to protect her crown, but you should also be aware that whoever holds the lead at the end of each challenge will also receive a boon transformation. I assure you it will be far more preferable to the alternative.”

Again that word. Transformation. Ana shivered. Whatever was influencing her mind let her believe it, let her know that it was true. If you stay here you will change… transform. Who knows what they will do to you. To Dylan. Ana could still feel the eyes on her and knew instinctively they were likely being ‘filmed’ from all angles for anyone who cared to watch. Real fear bubbled inside her.

“Hey babe, I appreciate the comfort and all, but I kinda need my fingers unbroken for work.” Dylan winced, tugging on the hand that was currently being crushed by Ana’s. Ana let go with a start but Dylan only smiled.

“I’m sure there are many other questions but there is no better way to learn than to play. You’ve waited long enough, the witching hour approaches and those of our viewers who were able are beginning to arrive, it’s time to begin our first challenge!” The witch spoke again to those unseen eyes and ears all around them. Eris took one deep breath and, raising both arms, she gestured.

“Oh fuck this.” Ana heard someone say. Corrine again she thought. Ana couldn’t agree more as she watched the sky shift, the darkness and stars seeming to move and change above them, sinking lower and forming into a dark fabric above the clearing. The branches of the ring of trees bent and twisted, latching on to the shadowy cloth, pulling it taut until it seemed to be nothing more than a massive tent above them, most of the stars faded though some exploded in brightness, leaving the clearing brightly lit..

Someone screamed. Fleur clutched at Ana and held her back. The green-flamed bonfire flared and went out as a warm gust of wind blew across the clearing, taking the remnants of the fire with it. The headstones went next, fragmenting into dust and being pulled away with the next warm flow of wind. It’s breathing. The woods are breathing. Ana thought, her blood cooling inside her. It cooled even more a moment later as dark smoke flowed out and away from Eris, circling the girls in a ring that ran around the outside of the forming tent. The smoke shifted and formed into the shape of stadium benches before flowing away a moment later, leaving real bleachers behind. Again the shadows moved, seven new shapes taking shape, each evenly spaced in a much smaller circle around where the bonfire had burned, taking the positions the graves had held a moment before.

When the shadows dissipated this time Ana could see the tables. There were seven, each with a large black cauldron beside it and a large book resting on top. The one where her own ‘grave’ had been tugged at her but she **** herself to look away.

Eris raised a hand again and black vines similar to her throne crawled from the ground on either side of her, two large shelves knitting together as they all watched. Ana stepped closer to Dylan, tugging Fleur with her.

“We have to go. Now. I don’t think we have time for a plan or to wait for others.” She whispered. She had read the writing on the wall. Whatever this was it was happening now, if they wanted out unscathed it would be now or never.

“Okay.. so we what? Just run for it?” Dylan asked, eyeing the eight paths that lead from the clearing and pausing on the one that was apart from the rest. “That way?”

“It seems as good a choice as any.” Ana shrugged.

“W-wait. I’m not… I’m not a runner. I’ll slow you down!” Fleur protested even as Ana squeezed her hand more tightly. Ana waited until Eris was fully focused on her set and the bird was watching the witch from atop the throne.

“You are one today, meu bem… RUN!”

They ran.

The three women dashed towards the solitary path, Dylan in the lead as Ana held on to Fleur and pulled her with them, the less athletic girl nearly falling more than once. A quick glance back showed two others had decided to join, both Harper and Corrine making for the path as well. _Graças a Deus. Run. _Ana felt a momentary pang of guilt at the sudden attempt without the others but she would come back, she’d find help… somewhere, and save them. The tree line was right there, she felt all she needed to do was get out of the witch’s sight and they’d have a chance.

Ana crashed face first into the autumn leaves that covered the path as something suddenly jerked hard at her ankle. Dazed, she blinked and saw Dylan was down just ahead of her and Fleur at her side.

Ana saw the chains.

Black smoke circled an ankle on each girl and trailed back towards their respective tables with chains that looked like the slightest breeze would blow them away. Ana jerked at it but felt the very real resistance bite into her ankle.

“Eu só me fodo.”

Ana climbed to her feet, helping Fleur with her, and turned back to the others. Eris was looking directly at them, the bird on her shoulder. Ana could almost feel the green eyes boring into her.

Ana flipped the witch the bird and spat into the dirt.

She knew it wasn’t the smartest move but her blood was hot with their failure and the distance from the witch made her brave.

To her surprise she actually heard the witch laugh. It surprised her enough that she completely missed Dylan tugging at her sleeve.

“Ana… Ana! Listen.” Dylan prodded. Ana pulled her attention away from Eris. She heard the voices. The laughter? Turning again she saw them coming down the path. People. Regular. People. And at the front of the jovial group…

“Jeremy?”

He was there, dressed in the same jersey and jeans he had worn before Ana had been stolen from his side.

“JEREMY!”

Ana pulled against her restraint again, letting the shadow press painfully into her leg. And he saw her. When he smiled and saw her Ana felt her strength buckle. Oh meu Deus! Hot tears poured from her eyes and made trails in the grave dirt that still covered her cheeks. He came to her, taking her into his arms while whoever the others in the crowd were flowed past them.

“I… I wouldn’t go over there if.. Okay then.” Dylan said, futility trying to warn the others.

“You’re here. Thank God you are here.” Ana sobbed into her fiance's shoulder. She couldn’t help it. She knew she was still chained and that an actual fucking witch was watching her but she still felt safe as he enclosed her in his arms.

“Shhhh. Ana. It’s okay. It’s okay. Of course I came. You think I wouldn’t come for my two favorite ladies?” Jeremy said, one hand rubbing across her back. The words only made the tears flow quicker. “I wouldn’t miss your competition for the world.”

The breath rushed out of Ana like she’d been punched.

“My… what? Jeremy… They took us. Kidnapped us! We aren’t here to compete. You… J-just, get help. The police? The FBI? Whoever will listen. She’s a witch.” The words were a flood from her lips, a flood that had no visible impact on Jeremy other than causing a look of confusion. She took both his hands in hers, looking at him imploringly. “Please. This isn't a ga…”

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Please take your seats! Our show is about to begin.” Eris’ voice echoed around the tent, cutting off Ana’s plea. “Contestants, take your positions.”

Ana squeezed her lover's hands one last time and looked into his eyes, trying to convey how much she needed him to understand.

And then she fell. She hit the dirt for the second time as the shadow chains pulled taut and dragged her and the other would-be escapees across the dirt towards their respective tables.

“Knock em dead girls! You got this!” Jeremy yelled as he watched them go, a bemused look on his face.

He shook his head and went to find a seat.