Page 12 of Knotty Escape
The gothic structure looks haunted. It's a large Victorian home with weathered gray clapboard siding and leaded glass that would have been beautiful if not for the broken shutters and cracked glass. Like something you’d see in a movie where the main character doesn’t realize this is a horror flick, and she’s about to be brutally murdered.
Am I about to be brutally murdered? Possibly.
“You wanted excitement, Lila? Well, here it is,” I huff, then tie my hair up out of my face before grabbing my purse. I wore black leggings and a baggy band t-shirt. I went for comfort, since I don’t know what to expect from an escape room.
I do a quick sweep of the contents of my purse, making sure I have my wallet, a granola bar because I’m always hungry, a water bottle, and my heat suppressants. I always carry them with me. If my heat starts, I can take one, and once the first wave passes, I can get my ass to a clinic.
“Lady up, Lila. Have fucking fun for once, let go, and just…follow your instincts,” I order myself, hoping to quiet some of my self-doubt and nervousness.
With one last skeptical look at the house, I head inside.
There’sa reception desk in what looks like an entryway that's been turned into a waiting room, with several chairs lining the walls. A pretty woman smiles at me as I approach.
“Lila?” she asks, and I nod. “Great! I’m Trix. I’m the owner here at Knotty Escape. We received your waiver last night, but I wanted to go over it with you in person, as well as offer to answer any questions you might have,” she says as she grabs a black tablet and heads to my side of the desk.
“Okay,” I agree.
“Perfect, so first things first, there are red panic buttons throughout the entire building. If at any time you feel unsafe or just can’t handle any given situation, hit them. This brings the experience to an immediate end. You will be escorted out and offered any assistance you might require.”
Trix pauses, waiting for me to respond, so I nod again. I might have signed the waiver without reading it… So this is news to me. Oops. I blame Wendy. And the vodka. But mostly Wendy.
“Alright. Now, along with the red panic buttons comes the black curtain lever.” Trix smiles in a mischievous way that reminds me of Wendy. “Those will cut the camera view, but not the audio. We need to be able to hear you call out your safe word, which you may pick now. I often suggest using the phrase banana hammock. Not a common thing to say.” She shrugs.
“Uh, okay, that's fine,” I agree, but the more she speaks, the more confused I get. Why do I need a safe word for an escape room? Something I should ask, but that would mean admitting Ididn’t read the waiver I signed, and I don’t want to look as stupid as I’m feeling right now.
“Fantastic, I’ll just add that…” She taps the screen a few times before glancing back up at me. “You’ll be entering this experience with three alphas. Is that okay?” Trix tilts her head, watching me carefully. When I don’t answer, she adds, “I’ll be monitoring you the entire time, unless you pull for a black curtain.”
“Okay.” I don’t like that I’ve come into this blind, but at the same time, it sounds like a safe experience. I don’t fully understand what I signed up for, but fuck it. If it’s more than I can take, I’ll hit the red button.
“Great. Let's get you into the locker room so you can drop your stuff off in there. You’ll have access to your locker at all times, and there are no rules against bringing your phone into the rooms.” I follow Trix through one of the doors and into a locker room. “The bathrooms all have locks, and while there are no cameras in them, there is audio and a panic button. Everyone is welcome to use any of the bathrooms at any time, as long as they aren’t already occupied.” She opens an end locker for me. “The code is five five five. Don’t worry, if you forget, I won't! So, do you have any questions?”
“Um, no.” I mean, none that I’m willing to ask her.
“Okay, Hun, have so much fun! Once you’re ready, you can exit through that door, and you’ll be greeted by one of the alphas for the first room! Bye now!”
Once I’m alone, I take a few moments to get my shit together before stuffing my phone in the waistband of my thin black leggings. The pop socket keeps it from sliding down my leg, since I don’t have any pockets.
Looking around the locker room, I stop on a bright black and pink sign, and start questioning my life choices.
CONSENT QUEENS AND KINGS.
I could very easily just hit the button on the wall and walk my ass out of here. But the curious part of me, the needy desires of my omega to explore life to the fullest that have been repressed for the last eighteen months, demands otherwise. And I am pretty sure my chaos bestie would shit a brick if I back out.
I’m too anxious for answers to waste any more time in here, though, and push my way through the exit and right into the waiting stare of an alpha.
Oh, my… I suck in a deep breath as the attractive man in front of me pushes off the wall and approaches. Shit, is he wearing a scent enhancer? My good fucking god, he smells good. Something aged that makes warmth fizzle through my body. Is he speaking? Shit, what did he say?
“Huh?” Blinking up to meet his gaze, our eyes meet, and he smiles. It’s a knowing smirk, and his cerulean blue eyes sweep across my face as I snap my mouth shut and swallow. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“My name is River,” the tall, incredibly attractive, and deliciously scented alpha says as he holds his hand out for me to shake. The warm tone of his skin is so different from my own.
My fingers tremble as I place my hand in his, but his grip is firm. Self-assured. Not the least bit nervous. Clearly unbothered by my nervous scent. Is my scent unappealing?
I shake the thoughts off. I’m here for an escape room, not a fucking blind date.
“Yes, sorry. It’s nice to meet you, River.” Licking my lips and gathering my courage, I meet his gaze once more. Shit, he’s intense. “Wait. River? Oh my god, River!” How could I have failed to recognize him? Possibly because his dominance is so much more potent. He’s also taller, with styled hair, and a powerful scent of whiskey that nearly knocked me off my feet.
The glasses are the same, though, and so are his blue eyes.
