Chapter 1 - The Game Begins
As the two men played pool, both kept a careful eye on the clock that hung on the wall.
9 minutes till 6. 9 minutes until both men would either be allies or enemies.
The basement of the quiet bar had all the tension of a wild west showdown.
“So Luke,” Carlo lined up a shot and smacked the cue ball, “what do you say? Allies?”
Luke stood back, eyeing up the short but athletic man at the other end billiards table, as the ball Carlo hit struck its target.
The rules of the game were simple. Starting at Friday, 6pm, everyone in the game was encouraged to capture, restrain, and keep as many other players prisoner as possible. On Monday afternoon (New Year's Eve), every person or team would deliver their prisoners to the Eagle’s club owner Sir Raymond before the leather club’s NYE celebration.
For every captive delivered, the captor(s) would receive a monetary reward. The captives would spend the night as the club entertainment, with all their tips and potential payment going to the captors that brought them in.
The list of people playing - people who had consented to being captured and held prisoner in exchange for a shot at victory and payment - was to be texted out right at 6. That being said, most of the guys had already talked amongst themselves about who was going to be in the game and begun to strategize and make alliances.
“I don't know,” Luke said, “I still remember how trusting you turned out for me during our last game.”
“Its a new game,” Carlo said, “we've both betrayed each other in the past. But this… this is a fresh start, with higher stakes. Think of what we could do together!”
“I feel like this is a trap.” Luke said as he took his shot at one of the remaining stripe balls on the pool table, “you probably already have allies waiting outside to jump me. You’re very likeable, it'd be very easy for you to already have a crew lined up.”
“Likeable, yes,” Carlo says, “but that doesn't get me anywhere in these games. Remember kidnap game? You guys left me to spend the night as a dancing slave. I was right in front of you, on display, and no one rescued me. Not to mention I was never invited to Rolland’s…”
“Hey dude,” Luke said, “if you really want me to keep you prisoner for two weeks like I did to Selim, I've told you before - just name the time.”
“All I'm saying is,” Carlo said, “I need you. I'm coming to you hoping to get you on my side.”
“What do you have to offer me?”
“I'm smart,” Carlo said, “just like you. But I'm a bit stronger, and I know more people. Including a lot of people out of this game who could help us.”
“Not as strong as Chet.” Luke said, "arguably Nahum.”
“I could take Nahum.” Carlo said, “but that's not important. What's important is we're both smart, we both get people. And we're seldom on the same team… think of what we could do if we were.”
“Sorry man,” Luke said, “but not this time.”
Carlo shook his head, sat down his pool stick, and looked at the clock.
3 minutes till.
“Oh well.” Carlo said, “worth a try. I reckon we should get out of here before the game begins. Knowing that we're enemies in three minutes.”
Luke nodded and the two prematurely ended their game of billiards and turned to walk up the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, with two minutes left, Carlo turned to Luke and held out his hand.
“To a good game. May the best man win.”
Luke smiled and shook his hand.
At which point Carlo pulled Luke forward and tackled him to the ground.
“The game hasn't started!” Luke shouted, trying desperately to push Carlo off of him.
“I changed the clock before you got here!” Carlo said. He put his full weight on Luke and grabbed Luke's right wrist and pinned it above his head. He tried to wrangle Luke's left wrist, but Luke flailed his arms out of the way. “I had to be ready in case you refused me. My buddy owns this bar. He owes me a favor. It's 6:05. The game has already started.”
Carlo pinned Luke's other arm beside him. Despite both guys being a similar weight, and Luke being taller than Carlo, Carlo’s experience as a wrestler and his more dedicated gym routine meant he was able to pretty easily pin Luke down since he'd gotten the jump on him.
Luke shouted for help.
Carlo just smiled. No one would come to help Luke. His buddy had flipped the bar sign to be closed and turned off the lights. The only person waiting upstairs was Ricky, already ready with handcuffs, duct tape, and a getaway car. Ricky would be down in a minute, and they could snag their first bounty.
Carlo heard running upstairs in the main bar. Followed shortly by his buddy, the bar owner shouting:
“You can't be in here!”
And a voice that didn't belong to Carlo’swaiting ally respond:
“I'm a friend of Carlo’s”
Luke smiled. Carlo’s eyes went wide.
Carlo turned and saw Selim at the top of the stairs. Selim’s wide frame filled the door threshold, his thick beard framed his mischievous smile.
Carlo didn't wait long enough to see what sort of restraints Selim was no doubt bringing down to use on him.
Carlo let go of Luke and sprinted to the emergency exit, a small second staircase that led up to a back porch behind the bar.
Throwing open the door, Carlo immediately learned the fate of his backup and getaway driver Ricky
The short, unathletic, 26 year old had been hastily tied with rope, bound in as many places as possible into a makeshift but immobilizing hogtie. Ricky had been gagged and thrown into the open trunk of his own car.
► Show Spoiler
As soon as the jacked jock saw Carlo burst out of the backdoor, he yelled “shit” and began charging towards Carlo.
With his getaway guy (Ricky) tied up in the back of his getaway ride (Ricky’s own car), and three guys chasing after him, Carlo did the only thing he could.
He ran.
The two big guys chased after Carlo, with Luke peeling away to make sure Ricky stayed secured in the trunk. Carlo sprinted down the dark alley. His pursuers were gaining on him.
Chet, the jock, was faster. But Carlo knew this part of town. He turned down one street, then another, then a sharp turn down another. By the third turn Chet couldn't see him. Carlo hopped a fence and turned again.
He'd lost them.
Carlo caught his breath for a minute.
“Shit.” He said under his breath, “Shit. Shit. Shit.”
He'd had a plan for if Luke denied his request. He could jump him before he even knew the game had begun. He had Ricky as a backup. He'd chosen a location he knew, with a friend out of the game that could help him.
And he's still failed.
He texted Mateo.
“On my way. We lost Ricky. Be there in 15.”
Mateo’s apartment was thankfully just a few minutes bus ride away. Mateo had moved to the city a few months back, and started joining this group of kinky guys for bondage games a little over a month earlier. He was a surfer with an outwardly chill demeanor, despite the fact that he was often internally quite stressed. He'd made quick friends with Carlo, and the two were quite comfortable around each other, so much so that Mateo was fully naked when Carlo arrived at his place.
Carlo filled Mateo in on what had happened.
“Is there any way to save Ricky?”
“I don't know.” Carlo said, “it's early in the game. There's a few days left so we could rescue him. But right now we don't have the information or resources to take on Luke, Selim, and Chet.”
“So what now, dude?” the still relatively new surfer bro asked. Mateo’s heart and mind racing.
“We go for easy prey.” Carlo said, “someone we think we can kidnap and keep here. Get them before someone else does. Thin the herd a bit.”
“Who?” Mateo asked.
Carlo smiled.
, luckily, he has the upper hand this time. Great start! As for what I want to see.... definitely betrayal, especially if the traitor gets captured immediately after they tied their teammate. The strategy I would come up with is to try to play solo and stay low in the early game, spy on others' situations and target the weakest captor when the game is close to the end. Best chance to win in my mind, but so boring! Not gonna have fun tied up/torturing someone for a long time.
)
