Ashlea Drury
I opened the curtains, looking outwards at a London blanketed in a singular unbroken cloud which seemed to block the morning sun, only allowing small spotlights of amber to break through to the streets below. The city seemed very quiet, which was only to be expected as no one knew what this thing is. A part of me hoped my questions would be answered here, but the abundance of security personnel led me to think otherwise. I turned from the window, stepping into the ensuite bathroom and stepping into the shower. The water ran down my body as I scrubbed myself clean. In that small cubicle, I thought about what to say, what not to say, what to reveal, I just hoped that I wouldn't be asked to speak first. I rubbed shampoo into my hair, rinsing it and then applying the conditioner before washing that out too, leaving my hair to smell like some pretentious floral arrangement. I stood in the warm water for a few more minutes before turning the shower off and headed for the wardrobe. Swinging it open, I noticed that it contained a lavish red dress. It looked expensive, but surely I wasn't intended to wear it, but my fears were confirmed when I noticed a note on the dress stating my fear. I placed it on the bed, and then sat next to it, wrapped in my towel. The clock neared the ten o'clock mark and I sighed aloud, dropping the towel to the floor, I slipped into the red dress, just in time for a knock to sound on my door. I quickly zipped the dress up and awkwardly headed for the door, opening it to a smiling face I didn't recognise.
"Good morning Miss Drury, Ahh, I see that you have already put on the dress we picked out for you," the youthful woman stated as she glanced my figure up and down. I shuddered at her predatory gaze.
"Can I help you?" I asked, though already guessing what she was here to do.
"Sorry, sorry, where are my manners? I'm Jess, I'm here to help you with your hair and make-up and seeing as you are already in your dress, we can pretty much get started. Can I come in?" the youthful woman beamed. She had short red hair, a plain, but pretty face and seemed bubbly.
"Uh, sure?" I responded, gesturing for the woman to enter.
"Wow," she stated as she entered, "I wouldn't be able to afford a room like this in years, you must be rich or something."
"Not really no, it's uh, all paid for."
"Lucky then," the woman said as she seemed to materialise a chair from nothingness. "Now, can you please sit here so that I can make a start." I did as Jess ordered and watched her place her make-up bag on a nearby table. "Hair or make-up first?"
"Does it matter?" I asked as I watched her run her fingers over the vials of nail polish, lipsticks and brushes.
"Some people prefer their hair to be done first, others make-up, I think it's a superstitious thing, like a way for said person to feel lucky, personally, I prefer doing my hair first."
"Then please start on my hair," I responded and Jess smiled as she withdrew a hairbrush and comb.
"Of course."
Sebastian Vassinari
I looked at myself in the mirror and found myself ready. Black trousers, black belt, white shirt and black suit jacket. Hair styled by an actual hair stylist. I looked smart and suave and although this outfit was still nowhere as fancy as the one in that dreamlike place, it was pretty close. I knew what I had to do, what I had to say and now I looked the part. I'm sorry Isaac, I have to do this.
Harry Gallagher
"You sure this is the place?" Kim stated and I felt a smirk break out across my face.
"Definitely," I responded, looking across the road at the men in suits who stood, barring entrance to the hotel.
"I don't know Harry, it seems a bit, risky, don't you think?" Liam said, uncertainty in his voice.
"But if what Stacy said is true, then we will gain something insurmountable by inviting ourselves, aye Stacy?"
"Yes, the future will change in our favor if we attend this conference they are holding," Stacy said.
"You heard her, now, you two wait here whilst we get dressed in more, appropriate attire."
"Don't peek at me babe," Stacy whispered in my ear before leaving the confines of the car. That woman, I thought as I felt a tingle run through me. I grabbed my own outfit, leaving the car and hurrying to catch up. I followed the breadcrumbs of clothes to my prize. She looked exquisite, standing there in the nude, a playful grin on her face. "Babe," she covered herself with her hands that still held her outfit, "I told you not to peek." I advanced until I stood just in front of her.
"As much as I would love to make love to you right here, I don't think we have the time." I saw a frown appear on her face. "But, how bout I take you somewhere nice afterwards, somewhere fancy, how bout that?"
"Really?"
"Of course," I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her nakedness against me, finding it difficult to hold back.
"And they say you're not a romantic."
"And who said that?"
"Hmmmm, do you want me to answer that?"
"No, not really, I don't want to relive those memories, I have you, and I've never felt more lucky to have met someone in my life." I let go, and removed my shirt. "But before I get any more sappy, we really shouldn't let them wait for us."