The time came for our escape, right after the volleyball game. The five girls and I went back to the complex and freed Noah. We all went into the dining room, where Jenn fished out the shirt and jean “halves” and the girls quickly started putting them on. “You know, I think I like them better without the jeans.” Noah commented.

“Can it Noah! Remember, you almost didn’t leave with us today.”

“All right, all right. I get the picture.” All dressed, I led the group out of the dining room, down the hall, and out of the building. Outside, I saw no one coming. We all ran toward the fence and leaped over it. Once over, we tried to get bearings on the way to go to get to the main building. After we had got our bearings, we made camp a mile away from the building. “What are we stopping for?” Noah asked.

“Obviously, by now, the girls back at the complex have noticed that we are gone, and are going to try to find us.”

“Obviously.”

“So, I think we should split up into groups of two, all going separate correct ways, to the main building. We’ll meet there.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Jenn and I will go off East. Noah, you and Stacey will go straight ahead. The rest of you will head west. Go out about a hundred yards, and then head for the building. Hopefully, we’ll be there by nightfall. If not, camp out and we’ll see you there.” We all bade each other good luck and continued on our way.

Jenn and I headed east, and then turned ninety degrees to head toward the building. We were well on our way when Jenn asked, “So, who is this Tracy person?”

“Tracy is my girlfriend. She was kidnapped last Wednesday, and I’ve come to find her.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah she, and a bunch of other secretaries for a Building and Loan in Nanopolis, Oregon, was kidnapped, and I was hired to protect her. Only I couldn’t. You see, I’m a detective.”

“Oh.”

“Is that all you say, ‘oh’?”

“No.”

“Good. Jenn, may I ask where you work?”

“I work here.”

“Huh?”

“I was on Skid Row for the longest time. Then, one day, this man came to me and a bunch of my friends. He offered a life, friends, and a job. How could we refuse? So, we came here and started working. How were we to know that we would be humiliated, and forced to do menial tasks? I never thought I would be hurting anyone.”

“So, you have no idea who’s behind this, or what it’s all about?”

“Not a clue.” She responded.

“Gotcha. Now, you had better get some sleep. Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m.” Noah and I fell asleep.

The next morning, that girl came and escorted me to the dining room. “This is it?!” I asked, looking at the four girls in front of me.

“Yes, Adam.”

“Hey, how’d you know my name?”

“Stacey here told us.” She pointed to Stacey.

“Who all is here?” I asked.

“Well, I’m Jenn, there’s Stacey. . .,” she went on stating the other girls name.

“The first thing to do is to get you some decent clothes.”

“How are we going to do that?”

“Well, I’m dressed differently than I was the day before. Who changes my clothes?”

“I do.” Jenn said.

“Well, it’s simple. Keep the clothes you take off me.”

“But they keep track.” Stacey said.

“So, cut the legs off and fold up the rest to make shorts. Give them the legs and make up and excuse. Cut the shirt, making it a half-shirt.”

“Now, there’s an idea,” one said.

“Do you have any colored dye?”

“Sure,” another said.

“Dye the shirts and pants green for camouflage.”

“Breakfast is over for you,” Stacey said, “We have to take you back to the cell.”

“Okay, we’ll make our break in three days. We’ll go and get Tracy, then get off this big beach!” They took me back and locked me in, getting Noah and taking him to breakfast. The morning passed slowly.

Lunch came and went. At about one, Stacey came to the cell door. Opening it she escorted me out, and down the hall. “What’s up?” I asked.

“Beach Volleyball,” Stacey started. “We do it every day at one. Jenn got permission for you to come out and play.”

“Great. This would be a great time to get away!”

“No, there are both loyal and non-loyals playing. One whistle from one of them, and we’re dead in the water. Plus, your friend Noah doesn’t have permission to play.”

“What did he do?”

“He, um, kinda had an accident with one of the loyalist’s bikinis.”

“Oh. I kinda figured that would happen. What’s their opinion of me?”

“Oh, they love you. After the game, I’m allowed to take you to the lounge.”

“Wow! Will they give me a change of clothes?”

“It depends.”

“On what?”

“Do you sweat?” We went outside and another girl and I were Captains. It just so happened that it was the loyalists versus the non-loyalists. The ‘nons’ won. After the game was over, I was escorted to the lounge by Stacey. We sat on a couch. There was no one in sight.

“Where are the rest of them?”

“They are on break. Except for the one guarding Noah, everyone’s in the pool.”

“I thought that today was your last day here.”

“So did I, but I got a message that I was going to leave with Tracy.”

“Might I ask, Tracy seemed in the master’s control, if it’s that powerful, how come you’re not affected?”

“Well, it’s quite simple, see this ring.”

“Yes.”

“Well, there is circuitry inside which turns off the brainwashing. You just have to pretend that you are in a trance.”

“Oh.” I said. We talked for a while, and then I was taken back to my cell.

“Adam, where have you been?” Noah asked.

“Well, I’ve been mingling with the locals.”

“Oh. I’m sorry about that slip. When do we leave?”

“In three days.”

“Oh. I guess I can wait that long.” He stated. The two days flew by, leaving us to the morning of the escape attempt.

“Only if you take me along. I can’t stand it here. Oh, no. My programming is taking over. My shift. . .tomorrow. . .escape.” She stuttered. I was escorted to my room and locked back up. I watched until the guard fell asleep, then I picked up my phone and dialed the office. Steve answered the phone.

“Black Detective Agency.”

“Steve, what are you doing on my phone?! Where’s Tricia?”

“I, um, didn’t know where you went, and I kinda took over.”

“WHAT!?!”

“Yeah, I gave Tricia the day off. Noah is over looking for you now.”

“Steve, it’s a trap. How long has Noah been gone?”

“About an hour. . .do you hear static. . .Adam, the line’s breaking up. . .” The signal terminated. I looked at the phone. The battery level indicator was down to zero. Drat, I knew I should have bought Powergizer, you know the one with the turtle that keeps going. I fell asleep, only to be awakened by a noise in the next cell. I heard someone walking around inside.

“Hello?” I said.

“Adam, is that you?”

“No it’s Santa Claus. Noah, what are you doing here?”

“Well, I found two thugs who brought me to paradise, here.”

“Did you meet sir?”

“Who?”

“Sir!”

“Well, thanks for calling me ’sir,’ but you can call me Noah.”

“No, not you, the master, the head honcho, big cheese, the leader!”

“Oh. No, I was just brought here by a few girls. Boy where they hot!”

“Noah, Tracy’s here.”

“Really?! Where? Let’s go!”

“Not here, in the main building on the other side of the island.”

“Oh. How are we going to get over there?”

“We’re planning an escape attempt tomorrow. . .shh!. . .here comes the guard!” She came by and stopped in front of my cell.

“I hear you’re planning a break.” The girl whispered to me.

“That’s an interesting rumor. How would I manage that?” I asked.

“Cut the facade, I know some girls who would like to leave too.”

“Huh, why?” Noah muttered.

“We’re tired of living here. We’re tired of serving a man with no name. We’re tired of not going out with guys. We’re tired of these tacky bikinis!”

“I think they look just swell.” Noah commented. The guard slapped Noah across the face.

“Will you take us with you?” She pleaded with me.

“Assemble all those who want to go at breakfast tomorrow. We’ll talk then.”

“All right, is he on our side?” She inquired.

“Yeah.”

“Well, he eats at a different time.”

“Whatever, bring the girls who want to go free to my breakfast.”