Welcome to PleasureDome! Try not to die.
Welcome to PleasureDome! Try not to die.
You saw the ad. “Try out for a new game show where you complete physical challenges and win prizes!” Sounded like American Ninja Warrior, or Amazing Race maybe. You showed up at the location on the ad. It’s an older office building outside of town. Not abandoned, but there have been rumors of gentrification. A little sus, but you’re fit and have jiu jitsu experience. Just the type they want. You walk in and are greeted by two pretty young assistants. “Welcome! Fill out your name, age, and … well basically everything on this form.” You look at the form. Prior injuries. Makes sense. Liability reasons. Blood type. A little weird, but you suspect it might be needed in an emergency. Mental health history. Okay, that’s strange. You list your prior struggles with anxiety. Worst phobias? No, this is in fucked up territory now. You take the form to the assistants. “Oh right! They use that for screening. People who are afraid of water can’t do swimming challenges, people who fear heights can’t be on some of the larger structures. Most of the time it’s no big deal. Just list what you know!” Very suspicious. But the $125,000 prize money offer is compelling. You list arachnophobia and fear of falling. Okay. Form is done. You turn it in. “Great! Have a seat there and they’ll call you to go back shortly.” You scroll through your phone while you wait. Finally they call your name. They take you back and explain some of the challenges. Standard stuff, ropes crawling, wall climb, dodge the obstacles, stuff like that. Then they show you some unusual ones. Break the Chain, where you’re tied up and have to work your way out. Blackout, where the room is in complete darkness and you have to find the exit. “I thought this was like, an athletics competition,” you say. The producer nods. “Some of it is. Others are designed to test your mental mettle and performance under pressure. It’s nothing dangerous. You have a gnawing feeling in your stomach. Something isn’t right here. There are no actual challenges set up here. No wall, no ropes, nothing. “You know what … I think I’m gonna pass. Show me out.” The producer tries to talk you back into it. “You’re fit, you’re strong, you have martial arts experience, you’re a perfect contestant.” You stand firm. The producer looks disappointed. “Well, we understand. Kacy here will lead you out.” Kacy is one of the assistants, a blonde, extremely fit woman in her early 20s. She gives you a flirty smile and says she would have loved to see you shirtless with workout shorts. You smile and flirt back. “Okay, here’s the door. Sorry it didn’t work out … although you clearly do.” She bites her lip. The next thing you know, there’s a sharp jabbing pain in your neck. You feel several pairs of hands grasping you. You try to fight back, but your limbs are heavy, and your vision is swimming. Then everything goes black. You awaken later in a dark room. You have on nothing but tight shorts. No top, no shoes, nothing else. Around your neck is a collar, and your legs have a band on each ankle. You try to move your legs and can’t. It’s as if they’re tied to something weighing a ton. “Look alive. You’re on in 3 minutes.” On? On what? you wonder. The man on the other side of the door presses a button, and instantly your legs feel free again. “Couple of rules. One: don’t fuck with the collar. It’s fitted with a taser, injector needles and a small explosive. Damage it or try to remove it, and you’ll find out how badly it’ll fuck you up. “Two: don’t mess with the leg bands. In addition to the gravity bond, they also have electrodes that can tase you. “Three.” He smiles conspiratorially. “Try to have fun.” You’re led to a room and hear the sounds of cheering. Another door opens, and a new hell awaits you. It’s a physical challenge course, if the designer was Lucifer and the available parts all came from scrapyards and medieval armories. The climbing wall has swinging spike gates that slam into it periodically - but, you note, predictably. A loud woman’s voice booms out over the speakers. “Welcome, our newest contestant! He’s a fit and firm personal trainer in his old life. Can he use those skills to survive … and reap the rewards? PleasureDome is about to begin!” PleasureDome, you snort. The voice continues. “Our contestant will compete in a series of challenges to test his strength, agility, pain tolerance, mental fortitude and … stamina. For each challenge he completes … “ A screen displays a row of gorgeous young women in scant clothing, all smiles and tans and tits. “… One of our Pleasure Princesses will give him … the reward of a lifetime.” “Let’s hope he gets lucky … if you know what I mean!” A countdown timer begins. 10. 9. 8. … 2. 1. The ambient lights go out. A smattering of small floodlights on the arena floor go on. “PleasureDome is active!” You take a deep breath. The first challenge begins.
RedQuill