[Freezer] Event #4 “Love is an open door!”

[Madge Baker]

Darkness. Cold. You feel nothing but cold air around you. It's no wonder though. Both Cassim and Della were brought into a very unfriendly cold, dimply lit with some blue lamps room. The freezer.

Della's arms that been chained to one of the pipes have already starting to get sore so they probably were here at least for a few hours ago. She was sitting on the floor unconscious. In a few meters on the opposite side of the room was Cassim, laying down face up on the floor. The poor man was also chained but only by his ankles. He will have less trouble going around the room but no matter how hard he will try - he will always be a few meters away from Della, not being able to touch, to hug, to comfort her.

Both of them did not hear the speech that was going on in the kitchen behind the metal door, but nevertheless they were also started to wake up - both due to the cold tingling and burning the skin and the lack of sleeping gas.

---

RULES:
1. Sadly neither Cassim and Della nor Dorian and Katherine can hear each other through the metal door. They will be able to interact with each other only after the "winner" of the game will

2. Cassim can walk around the freezer because he is chained by his legs to the pipe in the far right corner of the room. Della is chained by her wrists, arms above head in a sitting position in the middle of the room. No matter how hard Cassim tries - he won't be able to reach her and sadly Della's chains are way too short to leave her spot.

3. You are allowed to try to interact with each other and to investigate the environment - by doing the perception checks (every 6th posts as usual) if you want to.

PARTICIPANTS:
- Cassim
- Della
- Dorian (possibly later)
- Katherine (possibly later)

DATE:
- June 3rd

[Della Edington]

Della gasped awake, the cold on her body registering as the last of the sleeping gas left her system. This was...new. The darkness was familiar, as was the aching in her arms and the feeling of the concrete floor, but everything else was different. Chains, faded blue lights, the cold; this was a whole new experience. She shivered, blinking away the sleep from her eyes and trying to center herself. This must've been a game, right? So she needed to not panic. She needed to look around, get her bearings, and survive. She had done this once before, so she could do it again. Taking a deep breath, Della looked up, ready to stay calm no matter what she saw.

She hadn't prepared herself for the body lying on the ground a few yards away from her.

"CASSIM!?" The half-scream, half-cry echoed through the room along with the sound of chains rattling as she strained against them, desperate to reach him. Was he alive?! He had to be, she refused to believe otherwise! "Cassim, wake up! Please wake up!" This wasn't how they were supposed to reunite! He wasn't supposed to be part of the games, he needed to stay safe in one of the rooms!


In her panic, her breath became rapid and ragged, and she noticed how she could see it as little puffs of white. That wasn't good. Was it really that cold in here? Was this a freezer or something? If that was the case..."Cassim, please, you need to wake up!" Why did she have to be chained up? She wanted to rush over to him, hold him, warm him up and keep him safe. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes but she refused to be a blubbering mess this early.

[Cassim ben Ishak]

"CASSIM!?"

The sharp call of his name jolted him awake. That voice... It couldn't be... Della?

"Cassim, wake up! Please wake up!"

It was her. Yet he became very aware this wasn't a dream. His whole body screamed at him as he went to move. Cold, sharp metal rubbed harshly against the flesh of his ankles. The room was dimly lit in a cold, unfeeling light that seemed to drain any warmth that could be found. Goosebumps completely covered his bare arms. Small clouds of steam passed through his lips as he breathed. Trying not to hiss in pain, he forced himself up into a sitting position. In front of him he saw her. 

Della, her hands wrapped in chains high above her head. Adrenaline rushed into his veins. Taking a deep breath he moved on his knees and tried crawling closer to her. She was there, she was right there. Yet just before just hands could reach her, touch her, the painful bite of metal bit into his ankles. Through the darkness his eyes followed the chains. There was no possible way he would be able to reach her. Not like this. 

"No," he whispered, feeling his chest grow tight. He glanced back over to Della. It seemed his time to join the games had finally arrived. Cassim needed to stay calm. From what Carmen said, there was always rules to these games, right? You had to win to get out. This was a game he was bound and determined to win. 

"Listen to me," he began firmly, "don't panic. Breathe, Dells, just breathe. Keep your eyes on me." 

It was torture not being able to hold her. Even through the darkness he could see the tears threatening to spill over in her eyes. But at least now they could see the other. As long as they were together, they had a chance of getting out of here. But it made no sense. In almost all of the other games, there had been more participants. Why was it just the two of them? Unless... 

The confession. The denial. This was supposed to be a type of punishment for them both.

Not her. They can do what they want with me, but please don't hurt her. 

"What is the last thing you remember?" 

[Della Edington]

Her body relaxed a bit at the sight of his moving. Cassim was alive. He wasn't dead in front of her, where she couldn't reach him. His voice was low and firm, but it was music to her ears. Della sagged against the chains, letting out a sigh of relief. At least it looked like he had more freedom than her; his hands and arms were free, so if the worst happened, he could possibly fight his way out.

She followed his instructions, which for the most part, was easy to do. She doubted she could look away now that he was in front of her. "I'm sorry," she said, taking a deep breath to regain her composure. "When I saw you on the floor, I thought...I feared the worst." Green eyes looked him up and down, making sure he wasn't hurt or injured anywhere. Thankfully, Della couldn't see anything obvious. And while she was sore and cold, she didn't feel any other pains.

The last thing she remembered? Her cheeks flushed, and she was grateful for the warmth. "Besides our...talk, I remember going to bed," she answered, doing her best to maintain her usual detached demeanor. They needed to focus. How much did their kidnapper know? Of course she would know about the task Della had passed up, but there was nothing in the note that indicated a punishment if she didn't follow through. There were cameras in the rooms, but were they able to pick up sound? Had the room been bugged? Was this punishment for confessing their love?

There were too many unknowns, and the lack of instructions for a "game" didn't help, either. She shook her head. "There wasn't anything out of the ordinary when I fell asleep, at least nothing that I could notice. What about you?" Maybe they had woken up too soon? If this really was a "game", they would receive instructions soon, right?

[Cassim ben Ishak]

"Same situation with me. I went to sleep and then..."

I woke up here. Unable to even touch you. 

None of it made sense. Everything that Della and Carmen had told him should have involved a proper game. Rules. Instructions, something. Yet his mind kept going back to their sweet words utter between them from the night prior. How he'd been filled with so much hope and love then. Now it seemed all of his hope was being crushed beneath a mountain. All because he couldn't say no to her. If he had gently turned her down, would they still be in this situation? Whatever the case there was no chance to turn back time and change it. All they could do now was try to look for any signs of clues and try to get out. 

It would have been so easy. He'd done it before hundreds of times to multiple different suitors, but then again he hadn't really cared for any of them besides one or two. Just the image of her face breaking at his words was enough to make his heart twist painfully in his chest. No, he could never hurt her like that. 

Maybe it was just his imagination but it felt as if the room was growing colder. Already he could begin to feel his fingers and feet growing numb. He forced himself up onto his feet, the chains clinking behind him as he moved. So close, yet so painfully far. Were there still cameras in here? Dark eyes scanned the room, but it was dim and he felt unsure. If there were any they were certainly well hidden. 

Inhaling deeply he brought his hands to his face, exhaling as what little warmth he had washed over them. If he was cold, there was no telling how much pain she was in with her arms being in that position for so long.

"I'm so sorry, Della," Cassim managed to choke out. "Perhaps if I hadn't said what I did... We wouldn't be in this mess."

[Della Edington]

So he didn't experience anything before this, either. She leaned her head against the pipe behind her, sighing in frustration. What were they supposed to do, just wait here? Were they missing something? Cassim was on his feet, something she was a little jealous of, and he looked deep in thought. Did he notice something? She looked around, trying to find anything like a clue or instructions, but she didn't see anything. 

And then he spoke. It took Della a second to understand what he was saying, to comprehend what it meant. "Don't," she said softly, meeting his eyes with her own. "Please, don't. I can't bring myself to regret anything I said to you." Her heart ached to see him struggling like this, thinking that this was all his fault. If it was anyone's, it was hers, but she refused to accept that they would die just because she didn't tell someone she loved them. 

"We're gonna get through this," she told him, ignoring how she was starting to lose feeling in her hands and lower arms. She just kept her eyes on his, unsure if she was telling or begging him as she continued to speak. "We're going to escape this place, we're going to go on that date, and I'm going to make sure you never have to sleep alone again. We WILL get through this." 

They had to. Della wouldn't let herself think of what would happen if they didn't escape this.

[Cassim ben Ishak]

The fight and fire in her voice stirred something in him. There was fear on her face, yes, but also determination. Here they were. Stuck in an impossible situation where he should have been her pillar and she was the one offering it to him instead. Pride rose in his chest. He needed to trust her if they were to make it out of here. At least she would, that much he would make damn sure of. Through the darkness he tried offering her a smile as a small chuckle left his lips. 

"What would I do without you?" he asked. Cassim wasn't sure if that question was for her or himself. 

A particular small rush of cold air washed over his skin like ice water causing him to shudder almost violently. He absolutely despised the cold. Cassim made a mental note to sell the winter home he'd purchased in Colorado if he made it out of here alive. No, he would make it out of here alive. Hands rubbed up and down his arms in a meek attempt to bring some warmth back into his limbs. Already it felt as if he were walking on sharp needles from how numb his feet were growing. If they didn't act fast... There was no telling what sort of damage could be done. Especially to Della in her current state. 

Reaching down, he grabbed at his chains and followed them to the pole in which they were tied around. He needed to be careful. There was no telling what was in those pipes, and if he broke it, it could kill them both. His hands reached up and desperately tried to feel around the freezing cold metal, trying to find any engraving or sign of what it could be. Or better yet-- a weak point he could use to pull free. 

[Cassim attempts to check for any sign of what the piping could contain, and any weak points to pull the chains free]

[Della Edington]

Della wasn't sure if it was what she said or how she said it, but Cassim managed to smile at her, and she couldn't help but smile back at him. That was all he had to do to warm her heart, even in this hellish situation. She still found it hard to believe that he loved her just as she loved him, but she would hold onto that for dear life.

All the more reason for them to escape.

She watched him for a moment, how he examined and studied the chains before looking up at the ones around her wrists. Chains weren't like duct tape or rope, they were metal. And metal tended to do weird things in different temperatures. If there was a weak spot, or better, if the chains were old, maybe she could use that to her advantage?

She forced herself up into a squat, as high as she could get given her position, and took a deep breath. Even if her hands and arms were going numb, this could hurt. Still, this was worth the risk. With all her might, Della threw herself forward, hoping the leverage and her body weight would be enough to win her freedom and help Cassim to his.

[Action roll: Della will try to use her body weight to break the chains around her wrists.]

[Cassim ben Ishak]

The pipe beneath his hands was practically ice. The frost sitting over it was thick, and no matter where his fingertips moved, he could feel nothing. His eyes glanced back over to Della through the dim light. Was it just his imagination, or did he see a slight shake in her movements. But then he saw her move onto her haunches, steel her face and then throw herself forward; the chains and pipe groaning against the sudden force. 

[Cassim gives his +3 to Della's action]

[Madge Baker]

PERCEPTION CHECK: Cassim attempts to check for any sign of what the piping could contain, and any weak points to pull the chains free.

RESULT: 3 - the man, unfortunately, did not find any weak points.

---

ACTION ROLL: Della will try to use her body weight to break the chains around her wrists.

RESULT: 4 + 3 - 7 - With the might of a wounded tigress Della pushed with her body weight on the chains. Seconds felt like an eternity passed before her eyes, her skin burned against the cold metal but finally with a yelp of pain (that could be heard from the outside) she finally broke free. Both of her wrists were still in shackles with broken chainrings attached to them. Now she was free to move.

She didn't break her wrists BUT the pressure she experiences will leave some nasty bruises on both of her hands.

[Della Edington]

Her wrists hurt before and after the chains, and she stifled back a sob after the yelp, but she didn't stay still. After almost landing on her face, Della hurried over to Cassim, grabbing his face with her hands and kissing him in relief and desperation. She was free. She could touch him.

"Thank God," she murmured, kissing him again, "I can touch you now."

She would try to help him with his chains in a moment, but she needed to keep touching him. He was the only thing right about all of this, and she needed to feel that rightness, even if just for a few moments.

[Cassim ben Ishak]

With a sharp tug, he watched as the pipe came loose and clattered to the ground. She... She was free. Suddenly the room didn't feel so cold anymore. Her yelp of pain caused him to take a step towards her, almost disbelieving that she had actually broken free. But that was Della. She had always managed to find a way to defy the odds, even now. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she rushed towards him, flinging herself into his arms. Immediately he pulled her against his chest, barely able to process what was happening before her hands oh so tenderly cupped his cheeks and pulled his lips against hers. A moment of pure bliss but all too short as she pulled away. 

"Thank God," she murmured, stealing another small kiss, "I can touch you now."

Oh, but he could also touch her. No more walls. No more waiting. He needed this, needed to prove to her how much he did care. That his words didn't ring hollow and that the love he felt burned like a bonfire within his soul. 

Raising his own hands he cupped her cheeks, fingers sliding into her long dark locks. And then he pulled her into a kiss. It was hungry, if not mess, but not lacking any sort of love or passion. It was as if he were a man who'd been lost in a desert and suddenly found his oasis. His body was pressed against hers, their lips locked in a passionate frenzy. She was his, and he was hers. There was no one in the world who could change that. 

Eventually he pulled away to catch his breath, hot steam of their breath passing between them as he pressed his forehead to hers and gazed into her eyes. "Dells," he choked out, a thumb gently caressing her skin, "I love you. I always have." 

[Dorian F. Blund]

His heart stopped in anticipation as the hand moved across the empty lines, covering each of them with a new letter: he had done it, he had guessed correctly. He had appropriately guessed Katherine’s too: Artichoke. Schnitzel. Both of them food, and all while they were having a failed date in the kitchen. It made sense, and the correlation had given him the confidence needed to trust his guess.
But now… what?

There was a silence, uncomfortably long. He glanced at Katherine, awaiting her reaction, hoping she would not be upset that he had found his word before her… and that nothing bad would happen to her now.

Sound came from a wooden door, and an object slid its way into the room. Dorian tensed up, fearing it might be some kind of explosive, but it finished its route against the leg of the kitchen table, and he could take a good look at the item. Two keys, one big, one small.

"Congratulations, Dorian." The voice was back. He hated hearing his name come out of her mouth. She sounded so disgustingly gentle for her role, it was uncanny. The worst part being that he had a strong feeling that was exactly what men like him sounded like to people of lower status: much too nice and proper for the revolting positions they held in the world. "Please, take the keys and the knife and proceed to open the door to claim your 'prize'."

The knife? What did he need the knife for? This didn’t sound good at all, and he eyed Katherine from the corner of his eye once again. He could only wish that wasn’t for her.

Taking a deep breath, Dorian kneeled down just enough to examine the keys, trying to find similarities with the one in his vest pocket, and quickly getting back on his feet, walked over to where Katherine had last left the knife, gingerly taking it. There was still blood on the blade, just as there still was on her cheek. Hopefully this wouldn’t be a bad omen for what was to come. Turning to the metal door, he frowned suspiciously. God, did he have a bad feeling about this. He didn’t even know if his prize was a good one. Yes, maybe he’d saved himself; but what if, just maybe, what he had won was just the right to end his misery and die at last?

No use dreading it when you can act on it. He felt the heavy weight of the knife in his left hand, keys in his right. Softly, he turned to Katherine. “Stay behind me.” He commanded. Whatever was on the other side of that door, he did not trust it. The key entered the hole, and, breathing deeply, he turned.

…

The first thing that hit him when he opened the door was the sudden rush of cold. There had been a gentle, even pleasant breeze in the kitchen he had relished in; but this chill was not natural, it was empty, and heavy. He could feel, just from barely setting a foot in, that this environment was grim and bleak. The realization that this was probably some kind of freezer hit him just as his eyes were setting on the surroundings and taking it all in.

The second thing he realized was that the room was occupied, and that people in here were getting busy.

Cassim, whom he had thought to be safe and sound up to this very second, was chained by his legs to a pipe in the room; in his willing arms was a woman he had seen around him a few times, and whom he believed was this 'Della' Katherine had told him about. The two were holding each other in a passionate and desperate embrace, as they spoke sweet words of love to each other.

For a good minute, it was unsure which emotion would overtake him first: confused embarrassment or terrified realization. Fear ultimately won. “I—Cassim!” Their skin looked pale and sick; the girl’s white face especially was soon to turn blue, if it wasn’t for the heat of the moment. “Have you two been in here this whole time?!”

Shit. Was THAT his prize? Saving his friends? But then, what would have happened if Katherine had won, would they both have been left to slowly freeze to death? What kind of victory was that for the poor girl?

No time to worry about that. Della was free as far as he could tell, which was a bit strange, but Cassim was still trapped. He could worry about whatever these two had been up to later. “Hold on. I’m going to get you out of here. I'm so sorry we took so long.” He spoke out, and quickly made his way to the chain, looking for the keyhole. Finding it, he lowered the knife to the ground and reached out for the second, smaller key. That had to be what it was for.

[Katherine Sallow]

Dorian had said his word...Fuck but she was happy that her hunch was correct but what did that mean for her? There was a long silence and she only thought of the worst. She looked at Dorian and smiled trying to hide her fear. All of sudden she heard something. She looked over at the wooden door and noticed some keys had been pushed under. Confusion was written all over her face. "Congratulations, Dorian.Please, take the keys and the knife and proceed to open the door to claim your 'prize'." Katherine shot a look at Dorian who looked at her and fear was in her eyes. What was the knife needed for?

She watched him examine the keys and then he took the knife, her blood still on it and she placed her hand on her cut. She reacted as it still very much hurt. She then turned her attention to the metal door. What was behind the door? Dorian then distracted her “Stay behind me.” Katherine nodded and walked close to him. She heard him open the door. What was behind there? She was about to find out.

------

When Dorian opened the door, a blast of cold air hit her. She shivered. It was a freezer and Katherine could only think of the worst. Dorian stepped in the freezer then she did and she was in shock. There was Cassim and Della...holding each other and speaking of their love for one another. "I have been played for a fool" She said underneath her breath. Of course that note wasn't from him...but she wanted to believe. “I—Cassim!” Dorian said. Katherine noticed how pale they were and she didn't know what to do...she was frozen in her place. "Have you two been in here the whole time?!" Katherine shook her head. "While we were playing Hangman...you two were in here. If only we knew!" When she shouted she winced at the pain of the cut she did. Katherine could only cry. She was mad at herself. "Cassim...Della...I..."  Katherine looked at them both "Cassim...that letter I thought your love for me was real but..." She couldn't finish it in fear she would only make herself look like a fool. She looked Cassim dead in the eyes "I thought we would marry one another...It makes my heart die to think I cannot always be in your company and here we are. I enjoyed your company before all of this happened. I loved that you could hold me and say everything will be alright. I love you Cassim! I truly do!"She gave him a look. Maybe she was foolish thinking this idea would work "Do you love me back or were your feelings a lie?"Surely if someone had forged a letter from Cassim...that means this person wanted them to be together.

Katherine looked back at Dorian after her very dramatic monologue. How on earth would Della react? She didn't want to know. All Katherine could do now was think what could happen next.She and Della knew how these games played out. These two didn't. Katherine looked at Della and smiled then turned her attention to Dorian who had placed the knife on the ground...She shifted her body and stood on the knife. Hoping that no one would suddenly snatch it and stab one of them. Katherine watched Dorian as he tried the key in Cassim's lock. Please let it fit.... She thought and looked down at the floor.

[Madge Baker]

The moment the man has opened the door the dim light from the kitchen made his way inside the freezer. The cold burned their noses and cheeks - especially Katherine's fresh cut. Before they were two people - Della and Cassim. On the floor. In chains. Broken. But not defeated.

When Dorian approached Cassim to free him from his shackles... it didn't fit. Why? Wasn't this the prize he should have won? What does this mean? And then there it was. All four heard the speakers started crackling again, ready to reveal some new information about their unfortunate circumstances.

"Now, Dorian," the announcer addressed the young man while Madge was standing right behind her back with her hands on her helper's shoulders. She smacked her lips in a sly smirk. Oh, this is going to be fun. She enjoyed every moment of her sweet, sweet revenge.

"You have a choice to make," she continued calmly, adjusting the microphone. "Della as your rightful prise will follow you into your room, however, Cassim is not going to leave this room unless... you switch places with him," the girl proclaimed in a calm, but almost robotic voice. As if she tried to distance herself from what was about to happen as much as she could.

"If either of you decides to stay here - you can make the passing much," the woman continued, referring now to the knife on the ground, "faster."

"The choice is yours."

---

POST ORDER: Della - Cassim - Dorian - Katherine