C. N. Garraway

Prompt

Write this scene. You wake up nude, chained to what appears to be a stripper pole, in a room filled with strange-looking people and creatures.

My Response

Voices faded in and out as I surfaced from unconsciousness. A headache bloomed behind my eyes. I blinked against a blur of lights until my vision steadied.

I lay on a cold, unyielding floor. The air smelled metallic, almost sterile, and when I tried to sit up, the clink of chains stopped me. My wrist was bound to a pole that gleamed under the harsh beams above.

“What the f—” My voice cracked as I caught sight of the audience.

The lights made them hazy at first, but as my eyes adjusted, their shapes sharpened. A tall, blue-skinned male with tentacles sprouting from his head. A green female with burgundy hair trailing to her waist and four arms folded neatly across her chest. Closest to the stage, there was a massive male with scales like a reptile, but small blades covered his body. Six eyes blinked at me above a triangular nose and a mouth that stretched in one straight, unnatural line. I shivered and turned away.

Movement to my right. Another human—female, naked, her body pressed against the pole opposite mine. Her wide eyes locked onto mine before she folded her arms across her chest, trembling. Guilt stabbed at me; she looked as terrified as I felt.

To my left, a man stood tethered like us, though fear didn’t touch him. He smirked, lifted his chin toward the crowd, then started to move—hips swaying, body rolling with deliberate rhythm. The audience roared. He turned back to me, grinning, and motioned for me to join him. I shook my head.

Confident, yes. A show-off and an exotic dancer? Not even close. We were clearly not on Earth anymore, unless we were in someone’s huge basement and a scientist cooked these creatures up in a lab. I highly doubt that was the case. These things were creepy, and some looked like they could kill you with their face if they chose.

A short figure stalked onto the stage—an octopus with legs. His voice was deep and authoritative. He pointed at the girl and spoke. When she stayed silent, he tapped something behind her ear.

“Speak. Perform.”

She burst into tears.

I leaned toward her, but the creature cut me off, poking me hard in the chest with a tentacle finger. Then he tapped behind my ear, too.

“Do you understand me?”

I froze. I did.

“What is your name?”

“Jabari.”

“Weird name.” His gaze swept the crowd. “You will dance. All of you. Or someone out there will eat you.” A clawless hand gestured toward the reptilian beast.

My gut turned. I’d never so much as stripped for an ex, let alone an arena of aliens. To my left, the man was still at it, swinging his hips with practiced flair. Judging from the crowd’s frenzy, he’d done this before.

“Now get up!”

My legs trembled as I rose, chains rattling. The roar of approval only deepened my shame.

The octopus slapped my fellow captive on the shoulder. “I like you. Cooperative human.” Then, as he slid past me, he whispered, “Dance—or I’ll eat you myself.” His tongue slicked across his lips.

My pulse thundered. I scanned the crowd, desperate for escape, and found her: a lavender-skinned woman in a black bodysuit, slipping into the front row. She reached into a bag and produced a sleek device. With a flick, she aimed it at my wrist cuff. The metal released—vanished. Gasps rippled through the audience.

She pointed again. The overhead beams went out, plunging the stage into darkness. A sphere of light blossomed at her side, hovering.

“Get in, you moron!” she shouted.

“What about the others?”

“My team will get them. Move!”

Two more spheres appeared, lighting the dark.

I hesitated, then leapt into the light. Darkness swallowed me whole, and the world lurched as the sphere shot forward at impossible speed.

Your Turn

If you try the prompt, feel free to share your scene in the comments or link to your blog. I’d love to read what you come up with.