Xóchitl had given Bill the paper clip she found and a shiny push pin before she went to bed that night. Each of the trio retired to their separated rooms. Their future heavy and bleak in the balance left the three feeling defeated and broken. Xochitl and Bill each wondered how they would ever return to their families. The looming dark of uncertainty seemed to cloud their minds, and the imminent future of being stuck in a foreign world was daunting to say the least. It was only Aspen who seemed to hope that the future had something positive other than the foreboding feeling that resonated in the other two's hearts.
Aspen touched the constant color changing wall at the far end of the cell like room. The room wasn't small but it wasn't grandiose by any means. Like a prison, the room was rather small and designed to only hold one person at a time. It was only then that it occurred to Aspen that, although the room contained a small desk with a single seat and what could only be described as small couch, a bed was absent. Curious Aspen pulled at the couch hoping to turn it into a pullout bed but it was to no avail.
Frustrated she plopped down on the couch with an exasperated sigh.
"How am I supposed to sleep on this couch!" to her dismay the couch exploded into a full size bed. She was catapulted forward with the end of the couch launching her to the ground on her round rump. The end of the bed smacking the back of her head. An irritated Aspen shouted a series of cuss words from the pain and rubbed the back of her head. Looking back at the cause of the explosion, she sucked in a sharp breath. Aspen was amazed to see the small couch had turned into a bed of luxury and comfort akin to the one at her home. The sheets made of fine silk, pillows fluffed and a fluffed comforter ensuring a warm night.
A soft hoot came from the side of Aspen's head and she turned her head to see that the ever color changing wall had turned into a quite looking forest similar to the one the night she had been abducted the stars glimmered in the faux night sky. It looked so realistic that she lifted her hand to touch the surface of the wall to ensure she was not in a dream. The wall that was once a glass that one could peer through to look at the other captives from the room had turned also into the same scenery, blocking the view of the enormous room outside her walls.
"Aspen!!!" Shouted Xochitl from the other side of their adjoining room wall. Aspen didn't reply still amazed at the scenery that encompassed her room. Suddenly a small door to the back of the room that would have seemed all but invisible to the naked eye opened. Curious Aspen followed the open door to find the bathroom that she shared with Xochitl. She pressed her hands on the wall opposite of the entrance to her bedroom. The door shift wide open and Aspen spilled onto the floor Xochitl's room. She sat up surprised looking around at Xochitl's unchanged room. Startled by the sudden commotion Xochitl plopped onto her own couch. "How are we supposed to sleep on these..." Started Xochitl in an attempt to save Xochi from her same fate Aspen shouted "No" but it was to late. Instead of being launched onto the ground Xochitl's legs where thrown over her head from the inertia of the assembling bed. Xochitl's room also contained the same imagery that framed Aspen's room of the forest. However Xochitl's blanket was made from a soft fleece just like the one her dorm room back at the university.
Knowing her friend was safe and unharmed Aspen erupted in laughter at the sorry state Xochi was in. Her legs sprawled back in their normal position and a look of bewilderment adorning her face. "Shut up! It isn't that funny..." she protested but she herself cracked a smile knowing the scene would've looked comical from an outside view. She rubbed the back of her head as it had hit the wall as the bed had popped out. At that very moment the girls heard Bill begin the same complaint. It was too late for either of them to warn him as the next thing they heard was a loud ka-thud from a heavy body slamming onto the floor and the a series of cuss words.
An alarm rang in Xochi's room flashing the room in a bright red. "Prisoner please return to your assigned room." said a robotic like voice from an unknown source. Aspen didn't hesitate to rush out of the room and close the door behind her. There was no telling what the repercussions to a small demeanor where. She neither wanted to endanger her or her best friends life. Aspen rushed to her bed and fell asleep on the soft bed with soft hoots in the background.
Aspen awoke the next morning to the intoxicating smell of fresh coffee. In her sleepiness she had forgotten her surroundings or what had happened the day previous. Groggily she sat up and slowly opened her eyes. "Gah!" Aspen shouted in surprise to see a coffee cup waiting for her mid air next to an awaiting Bartel-B.
"Good morning. It is approximately 8 am in the morning." Prompted Bartel- B. "Here is your beverage of choice per your morning routine. I have produced a breakfast that I think you will find enticing." Stated Bartel-B using her programming she shoved the cup of coffee into a startled Aspen's hand.
"Uh....thank you?" she stated unsure how to address of if it was even appropriate to thank an Artificial Intelligent being.
"You are most welcome. Here is your breakfast." The machine produced from what seemed like thin air two pieces of toast with an avocado spread. Bartel-B left the room leaving an astounded Aspen staring after her. It went much the same in the others rooms. Each presented with a cup of coffee and a breakfast meal of preference to each person. An hour later the once clear entrance transformed itself back into its original state. The three each took their time to leave their rooms before meeting in a common corner near the three bedrooms. Aspen and Xochitl continued to sip on their coffee cups knowing full well not to interrupt each other until their first cup of coffee was finished. Bill however, was a ranching man and was used to being awake and already hard at work at this hour.
"Now then...." he started in a hushed whisper to the girls. "I think its time we plan our escape."