Take a cruise, they said.
It will be fun, they said.
Go snorkeling, they pushed.
Now we are captives on an island.
The bright lights came on and a loud beeping blared in the long bunk room where 12 young women were being woken up for the day. There were 6 twin bunk beds, 3 on each side of the room. Each with a thin wool blanket and pillow. A single chest was at the end of each bed that 2 girls would have to share. They had been given 2 sets of PJs and 2 short thin green dresses. No underwear and no shoes or socks.
The women quietly made their way to the bathroom that has 3 shower and toilet stalls with a row of sinks against one wall and a long mirror so that they could brush their teeth and change into one of the thin green dresses.
"Day six," Greta said at the sink after brushing her teeth. She was tall and skinny like a model with short bright red straight hair and white skin with green eyes. She was into nature and exploring. Snorkeling had been her idea.
"Don't know why you're counting." Mia replied sleepily coming out of one of the stalls. She was medium height with dark brown curly hair that bounced just below her shoulders. She looked more Latino with her curves and honey skin and chocolate eyes. She was the athletic one of our group, use to running, and playing sports. Though she had feminine curves she was the tomboy.
Then there was me. The shy quiet bookworm. Short and petite with long straight blonde hair and blue eyes. I looked like a child next to my 2 best friends. Being an introvert all my life these two adopted me on the playground in elementary school and forced me into this close friendship. They would make plans (cruise, snorkeling) and I would say no (rather stay home with a good book on spring break), then they ignore me and here we are. Can't get kidnapped if you're home with a good book.
This being our sixth day on the island we pretty much knew the routine. Wake up, make breakfast in the fully stocked cafeteria, chores (laundry, dishes, gardening), prepare lunch and eat, then free time (reading, board games, movies in the recreation room), dinner and clean up, showers, then bed.
No one even bothered with escape. The place was guarded by big muscular men with guns and if you got past them the fact that we are on an island would put a definite end to your escape. Plus there were no boats on the whole island. We knew all this from the tour we had been given on our first day.
"Maybe today they will let us know why we're here," a pretty dark woman with grey eyes and tight curly black hair whispers next to me. I think her name is Laura. I just nod my head but I doubt they will tell us anything. We are completely at their mercy here. I finish braiding my long hair on the side letting it lay heavily in front of my shoulder then wait for Mia and Greta to come out of the bathroom so we can go make breakfast. Mia comes out first with her hair tied up in a messy bun on top her head. She looks sexy in the plain green dress the way it lightly hugs her curves. Greta comes out behind her looking like a runway model in a very short dress. Think it was a one size fits all deal but looks very different on the different body types and heights. I look like a child who decided to play dress up with her mom's nighty. It hangs off me and reaches just above my knees.
As a stand Mia rushes over to me wraps her arm around my waist pulls me over to Greta and wraps her other arm around her waist then says, "Let's go chikas." Our trio is ushered into the hall and down to the open cafeteria we go.
She's the only one I know that can get away with invading my personal space. Maybe it's her warm Latin roots that makes it so easy to accept her hugs and affections. Growing up my family were never huggers and we didn't say 'I love you'. Even though we didn't say it I had always felt loved by my family. It was pretty funny the first time Mia came over to my house and gave my parents hugs. They were very surprised I had befriended someone so openly affectionate. But that was nothing compared to the first time I came in covered in mud after 'exploring' with Greta. I was an only child and the house was kept spotless. I was a very clean child and didn't get dirty until Greta. My mom put me in the shower clothes and all then threw my dirty clothes away. After the first few times this happened Mom set aside a pair of play clothes for whenever Greta came over and would hose me down outside. When we all met back up for lunch in the cafeteria I noticed a few extra guards at each door. The other girls noticed it too because they stood much closer together. The door to the kitchen was blocked by 2 guards and the door we just came through was now blocked. I got a bad feeling in my stomach.