"I figured out I wouldn't get out without you releasing the door. So what do you want me to do to get out?"

"I'll let you out of the room in a few minutes."

"Why cant we go now! I want out of here! And when I get out what will see?! What will happen?! and How will I be let free again!"

"You will see a hallway, what happens is a surprise, and just find your way out."

"God Damn it Let Me Out!!"

"After I talk to the others!" There is the sound of static, and the last word sounds a good deal more feminine than the others.

"Great. Just Great. A psychotic whore has taken us hostage. So who are you people?"

" I'm no whore. Psychotic? Possibly."

OOC: I meant the other people in the room bobmaster

Julia sat in the back left hand corner of the room, her head still fuzzy. Had she been drunk? No. There was no way she had been drunk. She knew her limits, and she hadn't been even remotely close to them. At least, not close enough to black out and forget the rest of her night. So how had she ended up here and.. more importantly, where exactly was here.

Slowly she held her breath and counted to 10 in her head. She was getting nervous, fear tightening in her chest. 'Its okay. Its probably just some dumb prank.' She told herself. But still, having some indication of where she was would have helped the scenario considerably. With her mind calmed she commenced analyzing the situation. Barren steel walls. cold concrete floor. She would have likened it to an asylum, however she was pretty sure asylums had padded walls. At least, that's what television had lead her to believe. She had never been in an asylum herself, nor did she know anyone that had. She didn't think that they would be the sort of person she would like to fraternize with. Definitely not recommendable company

Speaking of company, she cast her gaze across the room and took in the sight of the other participants of this 'game of passage' as the speaker had dubbed it. Most prominent was the guy who was abusing the speaker. If he was trying to draw attention to himself, he was definitely achieving it. Not that he looked like the sort of person that should want to draw an undue amount of attention to themselves. Baggy pants, and a long dark trench coat dominated most of his figure. However if she had to hazard a guess, she would put his age at between twenty and twenty five. His yelling was giving her a headache. Or was that a hangover? maybe she had been drunk. 'Go on, keep yelling.' she mused to herself bitterly. 'I'm sure its going to help a whole lot. But then again, what would?' She decided that it would be best to wait it out, after all, the voice had promised to open the doors.

As she waited she continued her analysis of the rest of her companions in this room. As, it seemed that this disembodied voice intended for them to become exactly that. The first one to catch her eyes was the absolutely appalling looking scraggly guy. Uncombed hair, untamed clothes. She suppressed a shudder when she caught sight of his shoes. They were some nice shows. She obsessed over them like a magpie for several seconds before continuing her reconnaissance.

The next person to catch her eye was almost the complete opposite. My gosh, could a straight man posses such flare. But he was slightly younger then her, she had no taste for younger men. Still; what an outfit, and not a badly shaped body either. His debonare and flare made her own casual tee and 3/4 shorts feel slightly out of place. But she would live, after all, this wasn't her own fault. She had been at a beach party before this. hadn't she?

Next up was the absolutely huge guy. Was it possible for a man to be that tall? She supposed he was a basketballer, but she didn't know any basketballer's that leather armor. He reminded her of a character out of fire emblem. She couldn't remember his name, but there was defiantly a familiarity there. It was almost reassuring, like looking into a dream.

A young looking guy caught her attention next. Again with the baggy jeans. Julia decided she didn't like baggy jeans. Jeans were meant to be snug. Well at least, all her pairs were. He looked so young compared to the rest of them, and he had such prominent hair. She had always been susceptible to ginger hair. Her favorite cousin was a carrot top and she thought that it was one of the most gorgeous things to look at; in a cute rainbows and unicorns kind of way.

There was then the incredibly athletic looking guy, in all the black clothing. She felt like he was missing a pair of dark glasses to complete the matrix-esk look he had going on. Not that she thought that was a bad thing. It even suited him. But he defiantly needed the glasses to finish it off. But the gloves were a nice touch indeed. Fingerless gloves came in two forms, the sort that made you look like a hobo, and the sort that implied danger. These were defiantly the latter of the two.

On the thought of the matrix, her eyes then collapsed on the guy in the black full body coat. Long dark hair, and a goatee. He almost looked like her ex. Almost. He even had a waist coat. 'Sorry old matrix guy' She thought to herself, 'but this guy takes the cake.' He looked like some one not to get on the wrong side of, so she quickly averted her gaze. Confrontation had never been one of her strong points.

Then there was the last guy, the thin one. However he had very pretty eyes. Light blue was such a rare and interesting shade in eyes. She admired them for several lasting seconds, drinking in the righteous orbs. Then quickly turned her head and blushed. She didn't want to get caught staring.

Where there any other girls in here but her, she was suddenly feeling vulnerable. She cast her eyes around the room again, and laid eyes on her. The green shorts and green dress should have caught her eyes earlier. But for some reason they hadn't She couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was just all the masculine presence detracting from it. But shorts on a dress, Julia would never do it herself. But this girl held it with such confidence that it was hard to criticize. And the hair. Oh sweet ginger top. Julia eyes her longingly for a few moments. Not out of any desire, but more an indignant jealousy. This girl was gorgeous, athletic, (her entire body screamed it) and confident.

Julia then rested her head back against the wall. Thank god this was about companionship. Because unless the competition was problem solving.. Or being rich. Julia was sure she would get trounced by the rest of the people here.

here how on earth had she gotten here. As she lent back on the wall Julia tried to retrace her steps the previous night. She had been at the beach party, having a really great time. There was that cute guy she had been talking to.. Tim.. Tom.. Thomas? No, surely not. She wouldn't go for someone with a name like that. But he had been so funny, so witty with his one liners. And he seemed really quite into her, not just as a one night stand, but as a person. He had gotten her that last beer, and then what. Then what? It drove her crazy. She abhorred not knowing. Then what had happened? 'Think Julia. Think' She scolded her self. He had got her the beer, and then. Then she couldn't remember anything. He had gotten her that beer. The beer. Oh god, she thought it was just the fact that the beer was getting warmer that had made it taste a little different. Not.. not.. Her drink had been spiked. Julia felt like she was about to cry, the fear gnawed at he stomach. She felt so violated. Closing her eyes she pulled her arms up to her chest, closed her eyes, and began to shiver. Softly sobbing to herself.

Laurence rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blinking at the strong light above him. He jumped with surprise as his hands met cold cement, rather than a bed.

Strong light, concrete...this is distinctly unlike my room...

He sat up, stretching his arms, stopping mid-yawn as he saw others in the room - the many others, in a room with...steel walls.

Most probably not my room, then. Unless I redecorated, and...invited people over? No, not likely. I don't think I know this many people. Okay, surroundings - a prison? Most likely the kind of room they locked Victorian rapists in?

An electronic voice emits from unseen speakers, the entire room snapping to attention.

Nope, Victorian prisons didn't have speakers.

"Welcome to my little...passage game. You don't know me, or each other, but you will learn to work together, otherwise, well, that will be the end of you. The door is locked, and I will not unlock it yet. And Sam, don't bother trying to pick it. It is electrically charged. Lethally so. Now, these speakers are two-way, so if you have any questions, insults, promises, just let me know."

Passage game? Suggests there's a prize, which I expect will be the gift of, well, not dying a horrible death. They have knowledge of us, unless Sam is a friend of our captor. Their voice is masked - if we were all going to die, there would be no point in doing so, surely? Door is lethally charged - clearly knows their stuff, at least, when it comes to keeping rats in a cage and...oh, fuck, lethally. They're either bluffing, or they mean business. There is a high chance of me dying here, I imagine.

Laurence frantically surveyed the room, analysing anything he could to keep himself calm.

Other people - don't get to know them, they might die. That would be both a waste of verbal communication and emotional attachment.

The voice had given them permission to ask questions, and whilst Laurence had many, two seemed the most important.

"Uh, excuse me...psychotic captor...person. What are the chances of all of us making it out of here with most of our blood in our body? And, well, the second question I have is...why? Why randomly select people, and then throw them in a, what did you call it... a passage game? That may seem like a stupid question, but locating and capturing various people, for the sake of a game, goes a bit past 'crime of passion' territory."

The lights were blinding, her balance swaying, the walls so cold to her fumbling hands.
Where am I?
This was an experience not too unlike the only other she could distinctly remember, only she had clothes this time. Nevertheless, she was getting very tired of this. Surrendering to an abyssal sigh, she slid down the wall to squat on the rugged floor. It was the only way to stop her from falling down. She balanced herself while sitting with her hands to the floor, and scraped them to the rough surface. It helped with some of the confusion, a sensation keeping her mind acute. Last thing she knew, she was just about to take a bad landing on the rooftop ahead of her.. yes, she was but a few metres away from the rapidly approaching ground that rushed up to embrace her, forgivingly. Forgivingly for screwing up, and would reward her with the experience, teaching her even further. She slammed her fist once into the ground to hurt it. That was how it was supposed to be!

She put her arms on her knees and sunk her head low to rest it there upon. Still deep in her mind, she did not take notice of the others yet. She was so used to solitude; so used to solving everything on her own. Having nobody, there was only one way of handling reality, and she knew no other method. She needed no other method. There was.. no other method.

Men.

Spite filled her mind. These primitive, ugly beings had no place in her heart. None whatsoever. They had done nothing but try to take advantage of her. Every stinking neanderthal in her town was the same, and there was no reason these would be different. She gazed solemnly with a daze through the masses of her kin, but she saw no one. Just meat, treading pointlessly back and forth and without purpose. It was just like it always had been. Masses of people passing by, all in their own little worlds, too concerned about the pursuits they just had too rush every moment of their life for. Was there but one who stopped to think if it was necessary? If there was any point to it all? She had always thought if they were not careful, this world was going to pass them by. By it passed, and they did not even notice. Blind fools, every one of them.

They can not see the wonders I see..

This could all just as well be a test in her mind, for all she cared.
Then, something stopped her train of thought dead in its tracks. A woman, or perhaps more of a girl by appearance. She was looking at her, almost staring. Lethe gave a contemplating look back into her emerald eyes, and spite seeped out of her to dissipate in the ethereal rivers of oblivion. More calm now, she tried to focus on a voice that seemed to sound over the blur of the other people in the room. It came from.. the walls? Looking up, she saw speakers that voiced an undoubtedly important message. She tried with all her might to focus only on the voice, shutting out the crowd even further. They were all just an indistinct blur; a fleshy mass without identity or purpose, safe for distracting.

As the message passed by, she repeated the words in her head. Fine. She waited, only barely irritated by the mass of questions that would now pass toward an inanimate object on the wall. Her face almost completely covered by her arms, she peeked at the girl opposite her through the mist of men as much as her conscience allowed her to. And waited.

Gav analyses the room and starts making judgements in his head with the people that were undeniabally about to become his companions.

I've always worked well in a team. I tend not to get on the wrong side of people as let's face it, there's no reason to. I should try and meet these people and get to know them before I say the wrong things. But at the moment I need to know exactly what is going on.

Gav stops looking at his soon to be peers and stares up at the ceiling.

The man's question had not yet been answered. Was it out of hesitation? Who knows...

"Answer our questions! So what are we actually doing here? What do you want from us and why did you pick us for this sick game?"

"Wha... what do you want from us?" Sniffed Julia, the weight of the world still crushing down on her shoulders. She didn't lift her head as she spoke, instead whispering the words into her own lap, trying to cover the tears that now rolled slowly down her cheeks. This couldn't be happening, the words where still dawning down on her. Had he said it would be the end of her.

She was violated, and she was going to die. Fear, uncertainty, and feelings of inadequacy mustered themselves into a raw burst of anger and hate. This was unfair, nothing about this was remotely fair. No one had any right to do this to anyone. And no one had the right to do this to her. Echoing the question of the matrix man, Julia felt her voice resolve returning. "WHY US?" She demanded, raising her head and staring at the speakers, letting the unchecked tears roll down her cheek and patter onto her tee and shorts. "Just tell me, why us?" She then rested her head against her knees and turned it to face the concrete wall beside her, hiding her face from all these strangers. Losing her temper wouldn't help. But she wanted some answers. And she was sure, so did everyone else.

As she sat there hiding her face, and trying to get a hold on her emotions she fished about in her left hand pocket. Her phone was still there. And in her right, her wallet. Well that was odd. On an inkling she looked at the screen of the phone. No reception. She had suspected as much. But still, its presence was reassuring. Hugging it to her chest she resumed rocking back and forth on the spot, her eyes now intently studying the wall.

Gav starts to ponder weather or not a response was yet to come from the controller of the experiment. Rather than waste time he decides to try and answer them himself. He knew he could not work out who the controller was, but he could at least try and find a common link between the other contestants.

"Ok people, my name is Gav. I'm not trying to draw attention to myself but someone needs to break the social silence between us. Let's explain who we are and see if we can find something we all have in common, and then maybe we can work out why we were picked for this game.

As said, my name is Gav, I'm a 24 year old university student of particle physics. I'm half English and half Finnish. I Was born in Finland but was raised in England."

"I apologize for the slight pause in answering. Laurence, the chances of making it out alive...depends on how well you get along. As for why, because I like to be entertained. So, Gav, it looks like I answered your question as well. Oh, I picked you guys for your abilities." The door suddenly swings open.

Pathetic.

Letting in only the slightest flood of noise from the mass blur, she regretted it immediately. Turning her head, she saw the girl now rocking hypnotically to put her mind off what was happening. She was going through the first stage; denial, Lethe deducted. Perhaps she should console her..? Or could she? No, probably not. She would probably only be a nuisance. It was probably best to leave her for the time being. Probably.. She hated the sound of the word. She wanted to know, to be sure, absolutely certain. Reminding herself, patience was the key to assurance. It was exceedingly easy to run out of patience in this place, however.
Continuing to watch the girl, there was something about her she could not quite put her finger on. Upon meeting another true survivor, she had always known as soon as she saw them, but this was a.. diluted version of that feeling. Perhaps the girl was simply holding her potential back in favour of other pursuits. Yes.. that could very well be it. She was uncertain. And this was a common trait she had seen in others; either doing something someone else wanted them to do, often society or their parents, or, in worse cases, unable to achieve their full potential due to being blocked by their past or present. Often both, as they were in the same spiral of inhibition.
It angered her, and she clenched her fists at the injustice of the world. A feeling she realised she probably shared with the rest of these people for being picked for this.. whatever it was. Seemed most like a test of some kind.

She raised her gaze and saw one of the men actually acting civilly. Grabbing as much integrity as she could, she fought her disgust and got up. Walking over to the man, she stood to look at him, getting his attention, and replied.

"I don't have a name, but some call me Lethe. That's all I know." She tipped her hip to the side and made an oblivious gesture with her arms.

As the door swung open, she redirected her attention casually and walked up to examine what was outside, carefully.

The hallway outside the door looks clear, but there are several suspicious holes on the walls at random places.

"Ok, it looks like we're going to have to socialize later."

Gav walks over to the girl in the corner

"I know this is a distressing situation but we need to press on. Just remember, we're all in this together. What's your name?"

Gav holds out his hand to help the girl up...

Lethe takes note of the holes and hesitates. There were too many variables here. She stood aside from the doorway and sighed. Perhaps a more reckless fleshbag would like to give it a try more than she would. Not seeing any takers, she takes one light step into the hallway, the first hole being a few metres away from her. Her guard is kept sky high, her adrenaline rushes, and she watches warily for a reaction.

This is...entertainment?

Laurence felt fairly indignant towards this. He could see why killing people could fulfill some basic, instinctual need, but watching people die? Manslaughter of various individuals didn't really have the same ring to it as 'killing spree', and it was just as morally unjustifiable. How did this captor jusify it even on a practical level? The amount of planning and work that must go into collecting people, just to sit and watch them snuff it...hardly worth the effort. Or the jail sentence.

More importantly, this person is going to let several people die horribly, just to get their rocks off. There's psychotic, and then there's ridiculous. Even Uncle Adolf had more of a reason than 'entertainment'.

Not that it mattered - he'd survive this, he'd get this freak arrested, and then he'd get a front seat at their trial.

As he left the room, into the hallway, he gave a half-arsed introduction to his fellow rats in the maze.

"As the electronic voice announced, my name is Laurence, Laurence Havel. That said, I have no idea what 'abilities' landed me in this place, I'm just a writer. Unless fast typing and sitting down are considered talents, I don't really see what I have that makes me too entertaining."

The hallway outside the door was empty, save for immediately suspicious holes.

Now, time to use the squishy bit between my ears. It's the first hallway, and our host wants entertainment - which, hopefully, means they want us to last some time. So, on that logic, the obvious should be the answer, meaning that those holes contain something meant to kill us. Probably easy to avoid, too. That said, they also expect a lot of these 'abilities' we've been chosen due to. The holes may just be to draw attention, a far more subtle trap waiting along the floor for example.

His contemplation was for nought, however, as the obnoxious 'Lethe' was already going to...test, the trap...with her own person.

"Not that I wouldn't mind seeing you impaled, or set on fire, but if the traps are set off by motion, we could very easily use something other than our own flesh to set them off. It's a bit of a cliche, but we could use our own clothes, rubble and such to initially test a trap. If it's triggered by heat, or remotely activated, then you can, by all means, try to activate it with your own body."

As she steps out of the room, nothing seems to happen.

"Mm, I know. Now shush."

Lethe silenced the talkative man in favour of not disturbing her concentration further and took another step. The first hole was in front of her at head height and she reached with her foot to tap the floor ahead of her, under the hole, thinking any possible trap could be triggered by the floor.

As she taps the floor, nothing happens, though there is a strange buzzing sound by her head.

Her reflexes in overmode, Lethe tumbles back to watch for any reaction. Though calm, all she can do is stare into the hallway.

"Anyone else hear that?"

Gav looks over at the contestants assessing the possible traps

"Sounds like a whirring blade, maybe? Well either way, it's definitely not nothing."

He looks back at the girl

"We can't just leave you here but we need to get going. Are you coming?"

Axel snaps out of his shock shaking his head and looking down the open hallway. He gazes at his companions, trying to guess what 'abilities' each one had. Some were obvious, the big guys; strong. Though he had the same thoughts as Laurence, what could a writer do, why was he here?
His gaze then drifted to the girl in the corner, wondering what abilities she could possess, surely he would find out later. If he lived that long. Even just thinking the words crushed Axel, how could he die? He's a prodigy, destined for greatness; greatness still unachieved. He couldn't die here, it's impossible. Right?
He then gazes outside the door to the girl testing the traps. The traps, how could he get used to this? What did he know of traps and puzzles, he ran and climbed what he was told, nothing else. Though perhaps one of these other people where chosen for that. Tough still he stared blankly at the traps, moving towards them and stopping at the door to gaze at them.

"Oh, just a blade. Well then." Lethe smirked sarcastically and stepped forward again.
"I am assuming no one has any kind of junk we can throw into this corridor.. so someone will have to sacrifice clothing. Who has something they can live without? I know I don't." She turned back to the group of men who were ogling in her direction. If it was her, the corridor or both, she did not care, but raised an inquisitive brow and tipped her hip to the side.
"The girl doesn't have to come right now, as we're not getting anywhere yet."
And she doesn't have to see what's in store for us..

The hissing sound grows louder, constant and right next to her ear.

Whoa. Lethe backed away once again, back into the room, observing the hallway. "Uh, so, clothes anyone?"

Axel takes off his jacket and untucks his shirt, handing it to Lethe.
"I guess I can go without this."

Julia pulled herself to the feet, dismissing the arm offered to her Mr. Matrix. Gav did he say his name was? Well it wasn't the most plan name. In fact, it wasn't really plan at all. Still it hadn't been what she was expecting. If he were here friend she should nick name him Neo. She noticed that several people were now making their way towards the door, and the other girl had already stepped beyond the threshold. 'So confident,' thought Julia. All thought several people were still milling about in the first room Julia decided that the best place to be was were the action was going to take place, at least then she could do something.

She walked to the right hand side of the door, and with her hand braced against it, checked the corridor. Long with holes dotting either wall. She could also hear a mechanical whirling. A blade? that's what Gav had said. Maybe a mechanism preparing. Julie studied the room, her eyes paying close attention to the opposite side of the holes; looking for any form of markings that would give away what sort of device was released from the hole. And the roof. You could never be to careful.

She noticed the other girl hesitating, and dangerous looking athletic guy offered her his jacket. Without the jacket he looked much better suited to his athletes build.

The holes in the wall are small, too small for a blade of any sort.

"So it's settled. One of us is losing a coat. I am happy to give up mine if it means not sparing one of our lives. But... since you already offered, looks like I'm hanging onto mine for now. Heh". Gav says as he tries to get a laugh or two from the group.

Without a word, Lethe grabbed the jacket, folded it into a ball and threw it after a spin into the corridor to maximise the length of the throw, only to back another step into the room, carefully watching.