I grabbed her feet with both of my hands and proceeded to work her soles over aggressively with my fingers. She squirmed and bucked and let out muffled squeals into her gag. She certainly wasn’t the most ticklish girl I’d ever tickled. But nor was she the least ticklish. But she was trying her hardest to convince me that she wasn’t. Her little grunts and bleats were intentionally stifled in an effort to not let me know that I was getting to her. But I knew that I was. Her effort to hold it all in was leaving her out of breath and within minutes she was panting and heaving. Eventually she just let the laughter flow through the gag. She still was making an effort to be defiant and stubborn with me, but I was presently in total control. And I realized that I loved this. This is what I wanted. I didn’t want her to be submissive. Sure, there was certainly an allure to that. Abbie could probably fulfill that role better. Elisa had spunk and I liked that. I yearned for the challenge she presented. I knew that she could tie me up like a pro. I knew that she was going to aggressively go after me and the other players. She was a rival. And I needed to show her that I, also, was not somebody that was going to roll over and die.
I switched my fingers to her ribs and totally changed my tempos. I found the soft spaces between her ribs and dug my fingers in, dragging them up and down her sides at a rapid pace. She squealed and moaned into her gag, and I soon had transformed her into a sweaty, panting mess. Finally, when the promised ten minutes were up I abruptly stopped my assault and allowed her to relax. She kept her body tensed and coiled, afraid to let her guard down, less her reprieve prove all too temporary. But I didn’t want to push my new friend / rival / frenemy too far. So I decided that we’d end the session here for today. I leaned over and unbuckled the gag. Once the strap had slid back out through the buckle, she shifted her jaw as slightly as she could and the ball popped out of her mouth with an audible “pop”. I pulled it back towards me as she lay her head down on the comforter and panted in exhaustion from the tickle session that she’d just been given. I went to my backpack and pulled out a bottle of water. I figured that she was probably pretty thirsty. I laid the bottle down on the bed and turned my captive toward me. I wasn’t going to make her drink while still bound. She’d suffer that indignity eventually, but not today. I simply began to untie the knot at her ankles that was holding her hogtie in place. I was giving her a second to catch her breath. However, I was interested to hear her thoughts on our session.
Me: So…what did you think?
Elisa: God. You can be SUCH an asshole sometimes.
My blood froze in my veins. She was serious. I’d pissed her off. I’d pushed too far. I’d overstepped. I didn’t think that I had been out of line, but clearly something had rankled her. I was going to address this maturely and assertively. But I was somewhat terrified that my invitation might be rescinded.
Me: What didn’t you appreciate? I’ll make sure not to do it again.
Elisa: Telling somebody that a book does OR does not have a twist ending is in fact a spoiler, you dipshit, even if you don’t tell them what it is!
I was somewhat glad that Elisa couldn’t see my face from the angle that I was facing. I went a little bit white. The girl was absolutely right. I had been toying with her. I’d lied. There was no big twist ending in A Visit from the Goon Squad. At least not in the traditional sense. The author does some cool things with changing narrative structure, but that occurs though the whole novel. But telling her that I was only joking and that there was NO twist ending would also be a spoiler. It was definitely an asshole move and something that I also wouldn’t appreciate. But I could fix this. I just had to pretend NOT to have actually read my favorite book.
Me: Relax. I was just joking with you. I’ve never actually read it. Though it is at the top of my To Read pile.
Elisa: Oh Thank God. I was really enjoying it. That had me pissed off for the rest of your capture.
Me: I’m sorry. No literature spoilers. I get it. Unacceptable. But I think I’ll start it soon and I’d love to discuss it with you when you’ve finished it and you’re my captive in the future. I’ll make sure to prepare several Yes or No questions about the book to ask you.
I looked over at her. She gave me a reluctant grin and just shook her head.
Elisa: You wish, kid. Yuck it up now. You’ll pay for this later.
I had finished releasing her from the hogtie and laid her feet back down horizontally onto the bed as I proceeded to untie her legs.
Me: I can’t wait. I hope that aside from my ill-advised joke about your leisure reading I didn’t overstep any boundaries.
Elisa: None that I can think of. If I hadn’t agreed to your silly little Q&A, you weren’t going to actually leave me here until Erica got back, were you?
Me: Absolutely not. That would have been cruel and irresponsible.
Elisa: Then we’re good. Speaking of irresponsible. I do apologize about your hand. I realize that I played a dirty trick on Tuesday. It doesn’t appear as though it’s hurting you too much though. You still seem pretty dexterous.
She was correct. My finger was feeling better. I’d put it through more today than my attending caregiver would have been comfortable with. But it didn’t hurt too bad.
Me: I’ll be fine.
Elisa: I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just figured you’d trust me enough to know that I wasn’t going to put you through any highly public humiliation.
I’d just finished untying her knees and was not moving up to her thighs.
Me: I don’t think we know each other as well as you think. I should have known that, but I was more than a little discombobulated. I’d just openly discussed my enthusiasm for this sort of thing with Dale for the first time two nights earlier. I thought he’d betrayed me. I thought it was some sort of cruel prank. You’ll find that I might be more than a little paranoid. He never should have divulged anything to you without talking to me first.
Elisa: He didn’t tell me anything. He knew that I wanted to try and add his room as an active capture zone. So he told me that he thought he could nominate you and that you could keep a secret even if you didn’t want to be in the club. He never let me know you were into it. I went to check on things for myself. The third vote, Abbie, didn’t even approve you until after you were already tied up that night.
Me: I see. Since this room is an active capture zone, can I assume that your roommate is also a member.
I already knew that she almost certainly was. I’d seen the picture on Elisa’s digital camera.
Elisa: Assume nothing. We might just have a deal where she’s cool with it and confidential about it. The other members will reveal themselves to you when THEY are ready.
Me: Fair enough.
I’d now finished untying her legs and had begun unwinding the robust labyrinth of ropes that I’d used to thoroughly restrain her upper body.
Elisa: The real question is, do you have any leads on new members? What percentage of campus have you tied up already?
Me: I’m afraid not. You’re my first.
Elisa: Bullshit!
Me: No. It’s true.
Elisa: There is NO WAY that this is the first time that you’ve ever tied somebody up.
Me: Sorry. I should have clarified. The first person on campus. I’ve clearly tied up more than a dozen people in high school. You’re my first collegiate victim.
Elisa: Really? Why?
Me: This isn’t exactly an easy subject to broach with people. By my senior year of high school I trusted people and could ease into it with them. I didn’t want to come down here and be the odd, creepy guy who wants to tie girls up. I have experience. But not here on campus.
Elisa: I get it. It is something that’s pretty taboo. That’s why we take our secrecy very seriously.
Me: I appreciate that. This is a hell of a thing that you’ve created here. I’m very lucky to be involved.
Elisa: I’m not going to lie, when Dale said that you might be interested…I did not expect that he was bringing in another ringer. How’d you get this good?
Me: Practice, practice, practice. I was an Eagle Scout. And I’ve worked the last five summers as a junior sailing instructor, so I know how to tie knots. Then it’s just a matter of being into tying up people enough to put your rope skills to work on the human body. Now that we’re even, I hope you realize that maybe I’m not somebody to be messed with either.
Elisa: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Back up. We are not even. I left you as a gift for your roommate as a little welcome to the club hijinks. I haven’t even really gotten to play with you yet. And you may have escaped. But that was because you got a lenient little starter tie. I have not yet begun to make your life miserable yet. You might be good, but I’m going to show you who The Queen is.
She gave me a little wry smile.
Elisa: But because I caused you to hurt your hand and violated the rules that I’ve set out…I’m going to give you one week free to recuperate before I come for you. However, if you come for me in that time, all promises are off. I will defend myself.
Me: So, that’s it. We’re rivals now.
Elisa: Certainly. It’s like schoolyard sports. The two best players have to go on opposite teams. It’s you versus me, Trent. It’ll be a rivalry, but I plan on making it a fairly one-sided rivalry.
Me: I’m looking forward to it.
Elisa: You say that now. You won’t be. I’m making it my mission to see to it that you BEG me to let you go. One of these days, I’m going to make you grovel.
Me: Good luck with that.
Elisa: It won’t be immediately. I’m going to have to condition that arrogance out of you a little bit first.
Me: Does this mean we can’t ever team up?
Elisa: You witnessed a backstab firsthand today. I don’t trust as easily as you do.
Me: We’ll both be sharing Wednesday as an off-day. I’ll have my conflict sheet e-mailed to you tonight. I want Wednesdays and Fridays. What’s there to fear from each other on Wednesdays if neither of us is ALLOWED to betray the other.
Elisa: OK. Wednesdays maybe. Did you want to help me ambush your roommate?
Me: I was kind of thinking more…Abbie?
I gave her a cheeky little smile. I didn’t need to see Dale bound and gagged. I’m sure I would, but that wasn’t my prerogative. We had an alliance, not that Elisa needed to know that.
Elisa: I’ll bet you’d like that. I don’t need YOU to spring a trap on Abbie. If she ever saw both of us teaming up, she’d pass out like the little opossum that she is. She’s our club’s resident sitting duck.
I’d finally finished untying Elisa completely. I unwrapped her wrists last and she immediately started stretching out her sore arms. She stood up from her bed and waved them around and hugged herself. She worked the feeling back into them in a manner reminiscent of Michael Phelps’ warmup routine. Then she took the water bottle that I’d laid out, unscrewed the cap, and drank thirstily from it. I felt kind of guilty. She’d been tightly tied for a long time and had to be sore.
Me: Do you need me to do anything for you? Help massage out any kinks?
Elisa pulled the water bottle from her lips and answered smugly.
Elisa: I don’t require any after care. I’m not your fucking girlfriend.
Me: I know that. I just usually like to make sure that when somebody’s been tied up in a strenuous position for so long that-
Elisa: Let me stop you there. I’ve had worse. You are sure as shit going to get worse. And I’m not going to give you the same offer. That’s not how I roll. So you can save it. I’ll let you know if I’m ever not doing OK. Don’t bank on hearing that from me. If Abbie or the others want your pity, you can give it to them.
Me: So that’s it?
Elisa: That’s it. E-mail me your conflict sheets by midnight on Saturdays. No initiating captures between midnight and noon on Monday-Friday. If you get a new conflict after the week has started, notify me immediately and I’ll disperse the information. Don’t lock your dorm room door if you’re inside unless you’re sleeping, have non-club guests in there, or are involved in an active tie-up situation. Nobody likes a coward. Except Abbie. We do love her.
Me: Got it. And the week restarts tomorrow.
Elisa: Yep. You’re welcome to capture Abbie, Dale, or myself starting again tomorrow. I’d caution you against trying me again though. But you’ll learn that lesson sooner or later. The other club members have to initiate with you first.
Me: I’m looking forward to it. Again, thank you so much.
Elisa: No problem. Good to have you on board. Now get the fuck out of here. I need to shower. I’ll send a text to all the group members letting them know that I am now free and that they may not capture me again today. You’ll see the format and you’ll be expected to do the same in the future.
Me: I think I’ve seen it. It involves a number and the Money with Wings emoji.
Elisa: That’s it. But I’ll send yours for now because you don’t get access to everybody’s phone number yet.
Me: Got it. Have a nice shower. I think Vaseline will help with those rope marks.
Elisa: Fuck off.
She said it with a cheeky smile and waved me off as I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door. I had been seriously pissed at this girl only four nights ago, and now I was in utter awe of what she had created. This was the opportunity of a lifetime...and I was just getting started.