Island Girls

by Rodzil LaBraun

  "You won't be killing Michael," the redhead screamed at her. "He is already dead. There is nothing we can do about that. Pressing the purple button only saves our lives." The blond took note of her comrade's logic but did not concede. The redhead then reached down and grabbed the left arm of the blonde, instead of her right. She quickly jabbed her thumb at the red button to release pain relieving medication into the woman's bloodstream. A few seconds later, with the clock below ten seconds remaining, she pressed the purple button of her own accord while Michael screamed.

  "What just happened?" Trixie asked.

  While Zach was explaining it to her, Nancy said, "Cecile is damn smart." Apparently, that was the redhead's name. "I don't think that I would have thought of that as fast as she did." Some of the others murmured that they agreed.

  As hungry as I was at the end of the team challenge, I had still managed to lose my appetite during the execution. Our captors, surprisingly thoughtful for fucking murderers, had provided some containers that we could use to carry food back to our barracks for later. We loaded up and took the juice as well. Nancy grabbed the bottle of dark spiru as Trixie took the other.

  Before the screen went blank the always-too-happy hosts announced that the recreational center would once again be opening in the evening. However, the losing team each day would not gain access. Tonight, it would be just blue and orange teams once again.

  Walking back to our living quarters we each expressed how that our desire for the evening fun was waning from day to day. Shira said that she wasn't sure that she would go tonight. As well designed as the place was for our entertainment and relaxation, I felt the same way. Except that the current line of thinking was that our best chance of escape would be in the virtual reality game. And, of course, it was my only time to woo Lin.

  We had to recover from today's arena challenge and get our heads back on straight. Though we were all depressed, I believed that I could get Drexel back in the right mindset. Once we returned to the recreation center, the virtual reality game would distract him sufficiently. This time that would be a good thing.

  I talked to Nancy and provided her with some comfort. The grim reality of our daily imprisonment and fight for life had finally sunk into her heart. She cried a couple times. I promised her that everything would be okay, which I shouldn’t have. Too many things were not under my control. After a while she seemed alright.

  The three of us were at least eating and moving around some. But Shira went straight to bed and remained there, sending away anyone that came to check on her.

  I did some exercise to pump endorphins through my body. Working out always had a way of clearing my mind, helping me think things through better. It was not time to drown our sorrow in liquor. My team needed a leader, and I would have to be it.

  "Shira, I need to talk to you."

  "Go away," she said into her pillow. She was facing the far wall with her back to me. I couldn't tell if she had been crying or not. Anytime that I had a girlfriend that acted like this she was either very sad or very angry. There were a few occasions when I thought comforting was what she needed. It turned out that she was plotting revenge for some perceived slight that I was not even aware of. Instead of a tear-soaked beauty, I would find the face of a crazed mental patient. Considering the circumstances, I found the possibility of that being the case with Shira slim to none.

  "The rec center will be opening soon."

  "I'm not going."

  "I know. I understand how you feel." I had to be patient. She probably wouldn't respond well to me demanding that she join us as we search for a way to escape. This place was so secure that it was easy to feel like there was no way out. But we couldn't give in to that. We had to keep our hopes alive. Otherwise, we would become content to die here. "Can you please turn to face me? I just need to talk to you for a minute. Please?"

  To my surprise Shira rolled over to look at me. She was sad, for sure. But no tears were present. No crazy look either, so that was good.

  "I know that things look really bad. But we can't give up. Please tell me how you are feeling. I want to help."

  "You want to know how I feel?" Shira asked as she sat up in the edge of her bed. Her sexy tan legs dangled, not quite reaching the floor. "I feel like I am already dead. No matter what I do with my days here I am just waiting my turn to die. I don't see the point."

  "The point is that we are not dead yet. We still have hope. And we have each other."

  "Well that is all we have," she replied. "I don't think that I will never see my friends and family again, even if we can manage to get out. I've changed so much since I woke up here."

  "We all have. Prison does that to people."

  Shira shook her head. "No, a regular prison would not do to you what this place does. It's really fucked up. I was such a good friend to some wonderful people before. Now all that I am is a piece of a machine. Or a hamster in a wheel. My life has lost meaning, and it is not even my life. I am no longer me. And I hate it so much."

  I wasn't sure how to respond. I didn't know her before, so I couldn't disagree with her. And she was absolutely correct about this prison of ours. It messed with your mind big time. So, I sat on the edge of the bed at her side and placed my arms around her. I felt her shoulders melt as she leaned into me. And the tears finally came. For a while we said nothing. We just sat there like that.

  Eventually, I gave her a kiss on the top of the head. I wasn't sure how she would take that. I followed it up saying, "I want you to live, Shira."

  "Thank you," she whispered into my chest.

  "I want us all to live, and to be there for each other. Sometimes the meaning of life is what you can do for others. The mark that you can make on other people's lives. We have an opportunity to make such a huge difference right now. Be that good friend again, Shira. Let it help you return to your old self. We all need you."

  Shira looked up into my eyes. A peaceful smile invaded her lips. "Joah, how did you get so wise?"

  "I'm not wise. I just care enough to speak from the heart."

  Her smile increased, and I responded in kind. When she looked to my lips, I wasn't sure what to do. Normally, when I was holding a girl and she did that it meant that she was ready for a kiss. But Shira and I did not have that kind of relationship. I knew the moment would be brief. If I was going to initiate contact between our lips, I needed to do it now. So, I did.

  Shira accepted the kiss. It did not last long. I looked into her eyes to determine her reaction. Often, a follow up kiss was in order. One with more passion. But I wasn't feeling that with Shira. In her eyes I saw friendship. Not lust. Not romance.

  "That was the first time that I have kissed a man since my husband died," she told me. The words choked her up as she said them.

  "There are plenty more where that came from," I replied. Normally that line meant that I was ready for some action. This time, I almost meant it as a joke. But if kisses would help Shira right now, I'd deliver them. I was seeing a side of her that I had not seen before. And I liked it.

  "No," she responded with an even bigger smile. "I'm good for now."

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:

  The four of us entered the recreational space together, no hand holding this time. Nancy was on my left, telling me that she was going to go wherever I went. Shira to my right committed to the same. Drexel was on the other side of Shira, seemingly still avoiding any interaction with Nancy. What a shame. I guess some things were hard for a young man to get over.

  The sound of dance music pumping hit us as soon as we entered. I wasn't sure if the club scene would be included this time since we were not provided any new clothing. We all still wore the same style of shorts and t-shirts that we spent most of our time in.

  The layout today was completely different, much more open. A large walled room took up the center of the facility while most of the rest of the space lacked any barriers. You could walk all the way around in a complete circle. Based on the images and videos appearing
on the wall of that central room, it was the virtual reality game. Some of the scenes displayed were from our previous visits to the game. Others may have been glimpses of adventures yet to come. I was happy to see the black skinned queen present in the mix.

  The complete length of the wall to our left, where a fourth team's entry would otherwise be, was a screen showing a beautiful beach scene. Much of the space in front of it was taken up by a swimming pool. It was long enough to do laps if you so desired. To the near side of it was a party hot tub that could possibly seat a dozen people.

  On the far side of the pool was a dance floor that changed colors and patterns to the beat of the music. Beyond that was a bar with two android bartenders. There were no stools, so it was designed just for walk up service. Photos of appetizers and desserts behind the bar indicated that there just might be food available as well.

  To the right of our entry was a lounge space equipped with two sofas and a drink table. Beside it was an entry into a room that I guessed to be maybe ten feet deep by thirty feet long. On the other side of the green team's unused entryway was an identical space.

  Lin approached us from the lounge side with Ronnie on her heels. She gave us each a hug in greeting, holding mine a little longer. I figured that was a good sign. We each also shook Ronnie's hand. He was near my mass, almost as buff, too. His lack of hair made him look older, but he was probably my age or younger. He didn't seem eager to talk. I resolved to figure him out later.

  "Where's Zach?" Drexel asked.

  "He and Trixie hit the bar first," Lin replied. "No surprise there."

  "Is he planning on going into the game soon?" Drexel was itching to get in there. The virtual reality world was highly addictive.

  "Maybe," Lin answered with a lack of interest in the subject. "He's a little twitterpated right now."

  "Twitter what?" I asked.

  "Twitterpated," Lin replied with a smile. "It's a reference to an old cartoon for kids. He's infatuated with Trixie at the moment. He's going to go where she goes, I think."

  "Ah," I said. "He is being led around by his short sword." When I got some strange stares from the remark, I muttered, "Another movie reference."

  "What should we do first?" Nancy asked, looking between Lin and me. She either considered us the two leaders of the group, or just wanted to be included in on whatever we were doing. I wasn't going to seek private time with Lin right away, so that was fine with me.

  "I don't feel much like dancing," Lin announced. "And I had a shot of that spiru liquor just a little while ago."

  "Bikini time?" I asked with a big smile.

  "Slow down, cowboy," she answered. "I just want to sit and talk for a while first. But you guys can have drinks if you want."

  "I can use another drink," Nancy said. She had barely touched the bottle of spiru that she brought back to the barracks. "But I want to stick close to you guys, if you don't mind. I can wait."

  "How about I get us some drinks," Ronnie offered. "Will they let me get more than one if I go to the bar by myself?"

  "I don’t see why not. There aren’t any minors here." I joined Lin on a sofa while Nancy and Shira sat on the other. It left space for one more person on either couch, but Drexel was confused on where he should sit. He was avoiding Nancy, and maybe felt awkward joining Lin and I with the vibe that we were putting off in each other's company.

  "Oh my God!" Nancy finally exclaimed. She then got up off her sofa and sat beside me on ours. Drexel's head lowered from embarrassment as he joined Shira silently.

  "Should we start looking for opportunities in the game right away?" Lin asked. "Maybe before Zach gets in there and takes control?"

  "I don't know," I replied. "The more people in there might be the better. For distraction purposes. I'm leaning toward chilling out for a while to put our unseen guards at ease. What do you think Nancy?"

  "I'm with you," she replied. "I can chill for a while if you want to."

  "Shira? Drexel? What do you think?"

  "I'll follow your lead, Joah," Shira replied. She was using my name a lot when talking to me lately. That was a sign of fondness and respect in many cases.

  "I'd like to get into the game whenever Zach or Ronnie are ready," Drexel said.

  "Ready for what?" Ronnie asked as he returned with a huge tray of drinks. I got the feeling that he was trying hard to make friends with us but was a little awkward socially. I knew the type well. They were often loyal friends and good followers. His muscle might come in handy as part of our escape team. The guy was growing on me without really knowing anything about him.

  "The virtual reality starship game," Drexel responded as all eyes were drawn to the large tray that Ronnie placed on the table between us.

  "The drinks were free, of course," he explained. "And they let me take as much as I wanted. So, I got a dozen of the cocktails. The bartender guy explained that there is a small device in the bottom of the glasses that keeps the drinks cold without the need for ice. So, no rush. The short, fat glasses have spiced spiru with papaya and coconut juice. The tall, skinny glasses have vodka with cranberry juice and a couple mixers that I never heard of. Both were good. I tried samples."

  He continued, "The other glasses are beer. I didn't recognize the brand. The ones that look like motor oil are smooth and easy to drink. The darker ones are a little bitter and have a hint of citrus. I like them both."

  "You done good," Nancy told him as she reached for the vodka cranberry mix. "Come have a seat with us. That tray must have been heavy."

  "It was all I could handle in one trip. If we need anything else, I can go back for more."

  "That's okay, Ronnie. I think this is plenty of options. We appreciate it." The others murmured agreement and reached for drinks. Drexel took a smooth beer while Ronnie grabbed a bitter one. Shira took a spiru and juice but only sipped it as Nancy downed her vodka cocktail in three gulps and reached for another.

  "Wow, this is good," I said after a sip of the spiru cocktail. That left Lin as the only person without a drink, making her feel left out. So, she took one like mine for herself, but merely held it her hands for a while.

  "Ronnie, where are you from?" I asked.

  "San Diego. Born and raised. I work security for a So Cali band, plus handle a lot of their set up and transport issues."

  "What is So Cali?" Nancy asked, already with a shiny glaze to her eyes. I was going to have to keep an eye on her.

  "It stands for southern California, I think," Ronnie explained. "But that doesn't really say much. They are like an Americanized reggae with an urban touch. There are a lot of chicks are their concerts."

  "Oh, I bet you like that," Nancy told him. Ronnie didn't know how to respond. His awkward expression could have had me questioning his sexuality if it weren’t for the fact that he used the term chicks.

  "Every guy likes concerts with a lot of chicks," I said. "The music sounds cool. I think I've heard a little of that style at the clubs lately. Well, not lately. I've been here. And before that I was sleeping for a very long time. What year did you come from?"

  "Uh, yeah, I still don't quite understand that part of this place. Are we really all from different times?" When it was obvious that everyone else in the group had come to terms with it, he quickly realized that he should, too. "I'm from nineteen ninety-six, then."

  "That makes you the oldest guy here," Shira told him. "I mean, you were taken first. We were all kidnapped after sustaining life threatening injuries. What happened to you?"

  "I don't know. I was lifting a speaker when I felt dizzy. We were packing up after a show in Phoenix. One of my buddies saw me and told me to sit down. Everything started spinning so I laid down instead. Right there on the stage. That's all I remember."

  "Aneurysm," Shira said like she was some doctor viewing test results. "You probably had an aneurysm. It happens fast like that. A coworker of mine went the same way."

  "But I'm not dead. In fact, I feel fine."

  "We all do," I expl
ained. "Whatever killed us, or nearly did, has been repaired so that we are back to full health."

  "I still have my knife scars," Ronnie said as he lifted his t-shirt to show us three nasty scars on his hairy belly.

  Nancy traced the line of scarred tissue on her leg. "Me, too. They didn't fix the old stuff that we already healed from, apparently." She sounded drunk already.

  "Nancy, did you see that they have food over there at the bar?" I asked.

  Ronnie leaned forward with enthusiasm. “Yeah, they have desserts and finger food. I didn’t see any chicken wings, though.”

  "Oh my God!" she answered in a voice that confirmed my assessment. "I'm so hungry. Do they have brownies."

  "Let's find out," Shira said reaching for Nancy's hand. She turned and gave me a wink as they walked away. Shira was getting the opportunity to be someone's good friend already.