It doesn't

Day 4+

For the next few days, the voice did not greet the prisoners. Life went on uneventfully, and the only significant change was a constant dwindling of hope, as points decreased, day by day. Eventually, the first two captives reached their final remaining points, and a meeting was called to discuss how to deal with the problem.

The first two to reach one point were Ed and Emery, due to how carelessly they had purchased their expensive clothes. Ed's cheap suit was wrinkled and stinky with his sweat, but he hadn't asked Tim to purchase him anything else, as he didn't want to appear greedy in front of the others. Emery was similarly still dressed in her sculpted black jeggings, the more expensive part of her outfit that she had used her second point on. For the meeting, Jen was released from her cell to be with her daughter, but Tim remained locked up. Frank sat near Jen, ready to take her back to her cell when the meeting was over.

"Okay then." Ed kicked off the conversation. "Now that we're all gathered, let's try to find a solution to our problem: what is the best way to earn more points?"

Leticia laid it out plainly. "We already know, there's only two methods. Kill, or fuck."

Jen bit her lips and squeezed her daughter's hand tighter.

"Yes," Ed said, beginning to sweat again. "That's quite right. And since killing is off the table, I suppose we'll have to decide how to go about the other method. The question is, I think, how will we be paired?"

"Who said killing is off the table?" Jen asked, her voice strained.

"Nobody is killing anybody," Frank asserted, staring the mother down.

A small drop of blood formed on Jen's lower lip where she tore the skin with her teeth. She looked back at Frank and asked, "What if, there was a volunteer?"

"Mom!" Emery squeezed her mother's hand. "I'm not going to kill you, just to avoid having sex!"

"Please, Em," Jen said, lowering her head. She tried to sob quietly.

For a few seconds, no one knew how to respond. Ed tried to break the silence. "Well, first things first, let's break down our problem. Who needs points, and when? I know Emery and I are at one point each, due to some less than responsible clothing choices, which I am most regretful about. But most everyone is very low on points, is that correct?"

"Not me," Sarah said, her voice high and defensive. "I still have five points. I'm not having sex with anybody."

Ed nodded. "That's fair. But the rest of us need to make some decisions, I believe. If we are all to survive, I think it would be reasonable to form pairs? Mr. Greco and Ms. Smith won't need to worry about points until later, but that does leave three men, and three women."

Jen shook her head but stayed silent.

"How do we decide the pairs?" Frank asked. He wasn't opposed to the idea. None of the three women were particularly bad looking. Emery was the most attractive, followed by her mother, at least according to his own tastes.

"There are a variety of ways to decide," Ed answered. "Personally, I believe the best way is to let the ladies decide on their partners. Perhaps the youngest goes first? Or you can draw lots?"

"I'm fine with Emery going first," Leticia said.

Jen didn't stop crying, but she didn't object, either.

"Then, Emery," Ed said, turning to the teenager, "The choice is yours."

Emery shifted in her seat and squeezed her mom's hand again. "Um, Jack. You're the closest in age to me. If, it's okay with you…"

Jack, who hadn't been paying attention, looked up when he heard his name. "What?"

"Uh, I was asking if you'd be my partner for, um, earning points."

Jack thought for a moment. "Yeah, sure."

Frank was a little upset, but he tried not to let it show. Jack clearly wasn't interested in having sex, and yet he'd gotten the best-looking girl without even trying. Lucky bastard, he thought.

Next, it was Leticia's turn to choose. She compared her choices. The fat, old, sweaty Ed, and the young, athletic, dark-skinned Frank. She glanced at Jen, and asked her, "Do you have a preference?"

Jen wiped her cheeks and nodded, squeaking out a name. "Ed."

"What the fuck?" He hadn't meant to say it, but it slipped out anyways. All eyes turned to Frank. "I, uh, mean… nevermind. Sorry." He was embarrassed, but also furious to get his last pick. Why would Jen choose that fat fuck over me? Fucking racist bitch.

"I'm fine with that," Leticia said, ignoring Frank's outburst. "I guess that just leaves me and you, Frank."

"Yeah, I guess so," Frank said slowly, being careful not to let his thoughts out again.

"Great, that part's taken care of then!" Ed said, moving the agenda right along. "Now, I have some suggestions for improving our lives here that I want to discuss." Ed told the others about a plan to open a third room, using another expansion. The cost in the shop was $2000, twice as much as the first expansion, but Tim was still at over ninety points. He could spare enough to buy the room. The group agreed that it would be a convenient place for 'earning points' and Tim made the purchase for them, creating a second door opposite the one in the first room, such that the original room was inbetween the two expansions.

The price for the next room expansion jumped to $4000, and the group agreed to stop at three total rooms. One room held the two cells, along with Jen's kitchen that she wasn't trusted to use anymore. A second bathroom was added opposite the kitchen, complete with both toilet and shower, so there would be less competition over the one in the main room. The tiny bedroom in the main room was removed and the small bed was given back to the store, making more space for the six captives, not counting the two who slept in their cells, to fit their sleeping bags across the ground. The third room was very plainly outfitted with only a king-sized bed, a small bedstand, and a third bathroom. All of the renovations took place over the course of the morning, and in the afternoon, it was decided that each of the three pairs would be given two hours to 'earn points' in the privacy of the third room, starting with Jack and Emery.