24- A little game we call: Capture the Flag

Isabella

“Wakey, Wakey Bambina (Baby)” I hear, a loud stern voice now filling my ears. My body feeling like it had just been submerged in an ice bath. A gush of air trying to fill my aching lungs, my body still feeling the sharp sting of the freezing cold water that had just been thrown on me.

Realizing I was no longer strapped to a chair, but lying on the cold hard floor, my head feeling foggy and tight.

Alex and Grant both standing in the center of the room, large empty buckets within their hands. A couple of guards dressed in black now stand behind them, their buff arms folded in front of them with their equally buff chests.

Taking a second to look at the room, my eyes finally land on Angel and Caleb. Both are also lying on the floor. Caleb trying to prop himself up onto his arm. His clothes drenched in water as his breathing becomes labored.

Angel was also propped up. Her body is in a similar state as Caleb.

Feeling my heart constrict, I move to quickly get on my hands and knees before crawling my way over to my friends. Reaching out to touch them only for Angel to recoil.

“Ang, it's me” I whisper, trying to sooth her as my eyes look to Caleb. Looking at me, she exhales a shaky breath only for her to sob. Inching closer I move to wrap her in my arms, my other hand reaching for Caleb. Careful not to touch either of their wounds.

Glancing to look at my fiance’s, the men all stand there silently. Their expressions are motionless just like their blackened souls. Monsters.

Then, just as I’m about to spout off words of profanity, does Grant move to speak. “You’ll each be given a chance to eat, change and attend to your wounds. Once done the games can begin.” Turning he moves to leave with Alex up the same flight of stairs leaving us alone.

Confused, I’m left speechless. My questions were left unanswered. What game were they talking about? Why were we here? Why are they hurting my friends? The list grew and grew until it all but consumed my tiny brain.

The extra men who were standing near the stairs now move to help us. Neither of us struggling, too weak to fight as we were pulled along by the men, another metal door which had another guard posted as we were led down a darkened hallway and up two flights of stairs. Only to be tossed inside a small yet very clean room.

Once inside, one of the guards moved to show us the attached bathroom. Telling us to shower and to wear the black workout attire that was given to us. Gesturing to the table that held fruits and yogurt for us to eat. Bottles of water also sat there as well as a first aid kit. After being instructed, he moves to leave, slamming the door shut. A few locks could be heard soon after.

Sighing, I move to help Angel into the bathroom. Helping her with her clothes, I attempt to remove the rags. Finding it difficult because of the dry blood. Resulting in me re-opening the wounds on her body. A small stand alone shower stood off to the side. No privacy curtain. A small basin for a sink along with no mirror and a tiny toilet could be seen. A lone cabinet stood on the other side of the room which held bath towels. Tiny bottles of soaps and shampoos could also be found.

Turning on the water, I’m lucky to see warm water as I move to strip as well. Once naked, I move to lead Angel into the shower, getting to work on washing Angel and then myself. Angel struggling to hold herself up. Carefully washing away blood and dirt. Various cuts littered her body. Major bruising also started to show, especially her sides. Alex’s words are large and prominent. Silent tears falling as I continued, Angel crying in pain and anguish.

Once we are both washed and clean to the best of my ability, I move to dry us off with a towel. Moving her over to the bed and giving Caleb a chance to shower. Attending to her wounds, I move to apply generous amounts of creams and antiseptics, no bandages to be found as I move to help her dress before propping her up on the bed. Caleb joining us shortly before attending to his own wounds.

Grabbing the clothes, I suddenly realize there black spandex pants with a black sports bra. A black muscle tee for Caleb. Along with the clothes were black tennis shoes as well as ankle socks. A couple of hair ties were found in the bathroom as I moved to style our hair as it was clear we would be doing something physical.

Dressing in record time, we move to eat our food. My stomach feels nauseated but knowing that if I didn’t try to eat now that I would be in trouble later.

Soon shortly, we each finish our meal just as there’s a knock. The locks on the door opening and guards move to enter the room. Each of them grabbing us by the arm before dragging us down the darkened hallway once more. Six flights of stairs and a metal door later, we were eventually dragged into a large open area. Steel rafters are barely visible under the stadium lighting. Concrete walls standing at least 20 if not 30 feet tall in front of us. Spanning the entire area.

Standing before us are ten guards, each dressed in black. My fiance’s also present and dressed in similar outfits. The only difference was half of them wore red while the other half wore blue. Huh, interesting.

Thrown to the ground, I try to help Angel and Caleb only to be halted by Lucus. Lucus giving me a warning growl that makes me freeze.

Smiling, he moves to open his arms wide. Addressing each of us with a mischievous smile as he spoke: “Welcome, and welcome to the maze of fun. Today Agapi (Love) we’re going to play a fun little game, since you obviously love to play them” crouching down to my level, he makes sure to maintain eye contact with me as he continues.

“We’re going to play a fun game that I like to call, Capture the flag. But with a twist” grinning you could tell he was excited, like a child at Christmas. “You see, you and your little friends are going to be the flags. You will be the blue flag and Angel and Caleb the red flag. Each of you will be given a 5 minute head start. The goal is to make it to the other side of the maze before you're caught. So you Agapi (Love) need to avoid the red team and your friends the blue team”.

Dreading the outcome, I wait for him to continue.

“If either of you are caught by either team, that team gets 20 seconds to punish you however they see fit. After those 20 seconds you'll each be given a chance to get away from us before we continue on. Of course all punishments are purely physical as we don't want people to think were monsters now." at the end of that statement, the men all chuckle.

“But, should you be caught by an opposing team member then it’s game over for you. And well, let's just say after yesterday's turn of events, yesterday was only a glimpse of what’s to come should you be caught. Of course, should you make it through the maze, you’ll be safe and given a reward for your effort. Any questions thus far?” asks Lucus once finished, petting my hair like a damn cat or dog.

“I do actually” chimes Caleb. Lucus moves to look at him as he waits for him. “What do you mean, when you say caught?”

“Ah, good question Caleb. Let’s say they need to physically get you. You're allowed to either A. Outrun them or B. Fight them. But if they get you first, well…” he trails off, leaving us to fill in the rest with our imagination.

Moving to stand, he swiftly claps his hands and we’re forced to stand up. The guards now coming with cups in their hands along with paintbrushes as they move to paint stripes of blue and red. Covering any and all pieces of exposed skin that they could see.

My arms, chest, torso, face and back are painted blue. Caleb and Angel painted in red, paint covering any and all exposed areas for them as well.

Once finished, we hear Lucus give out the orders to his team. Noticing that he and Tony were wearing blue and Grant and Alex were wearing red. Please no, Please.

Huddled on each side with guards, another guard moved to push me over to one entrance while another moved to push Caleb and Angel to another. Giving them a weary look, I try to assure them that everything would be okay and they nod.

Then, with loud clear words, Lucus shouts. “On your mark… Get set… GO!”