#WritcoStoryChallenge
The setting was perfect. Candlelight, polished cutlery and a single rose set in a delicate vase at each table.
Everything seemed at place.
The clock's hands point to midnight, and a man in a neat suit suddenly walks in the grand room.

He looks straight ahead, eyes in concentration, focused about something on his mind.

He reached the center stage, and tapped lightly on the microphone, sending an instant feedback around the room.

The feedback woke Wendy up. She tilted her head to one side in annoyance, suddenly feeling tightness and pain around her wrists. Her mind raced as her vision adjusted into focus. She realized she was tied to a chair. She tried to move around, but her wrists were stuck. Panic started to rise from her stomach. She noticed she was dressed up in a beautiful sequin dress, and felt her face heavy with make-up. She wanted to get out. This couldn't be happening to her.

She was about to scream when someone else did. An ear-splitting scream rang in the room.
She looked around, searched for the sound.
What she saw sent chills down her spine.

Several young women who were beautifully dressed up are tied to their chairs in individual tables.
Several screams followed.
They were panicking, crying, trying to get out.
Wendy looked up at the spotlight on the stage and noticed the man in the neat suit.

"Ladies, ladies, there's no reason to panic."

The screams didn't stop. One practicular girl from Wendy's side kept screaming so loud. She was cursing and crying at the same time. Her voice drowned out the rest of the screams. Wendy started to get a headache from all of it.

The man, out of frustration and annoyance suddenly took a remote from his coat pocket, gave one of the buttons a push, and the girl who screamed the loudest was buzzed with electric shock.

The room fell into instant silence.

"That seems better." He said. "You can scream all you want, but no one will hear you."

He fixed his tie dramatically, and composed himself, as if he was about to give a speech. Wendy didn't know this man. She thought no one in this room did.

"Allow me to introduce myself." The man started to say.

"I am the love of all of you. This Valentine's Day, for 24 hours you get to be with me, and in the end, I will choose the one for me."

Wendy closed her mouth in shock, and bit her lip to stifle her cry.

A woman across from her was sobbing, unable to control the tears flowing down her face.

The man stopped talking, and hit a button on the remote again.
A spotlight shone on the girl across Wendy.

The girl was wearing a tight red dress, her hair fixed in a messy bun. She was shaking badly. Wendy could see the eyeliner drip down in black ink from her eyes down to her cheeks. She stained her red lipstick too.

"Tsk," the man shook his head in disapproval. "You ruined your makeup."

The man hit a button once more and the girl was given an electric shock.

Everyone gasped.

"You see, if you're good to me, I will be good to you."

Wendy was trying to focus on all this, when she noticed someone trying to break free from the ropes. She looked at her own wrists. It seemed impossible to get out of because the ropes weren't simply tied in the ends. It was attached mechanically to the bottom of the chair.

"No, don't."

"Ssh, please."

She heard the others saying.

A spotlight shone on the woman trying to get away. She was gnawing on the ropes with her teeth. She looked fit, and seemed just like the kind of person who could break or escape in this kind of situation.

She was electrocuted as well.

"Ladies, " the man chuckled, although his eyes spoke of anger. "This is a time of love. I haven't even introduced myself yet and you're acting like idiots."

"He just wants us to obey him, that's all we have to do. Let's just do what he tells us, everything will be alright."

Wendy could hear one woman speaking hushly in the back.

"What was that?" The man looked ahead. Wendy could feel his eyes landing on her. She prayed he didn't mistake her for the girl behind her.

The room went dead quiet.

"Look, I spent a lot of time dressing some of you up, doing your hair. All of this," he gestured around the room "...is a one man job. Think about the effort I made to put you here. You should be thankful. You ladies, don't have anything better to do today. You went about complaining on social media, ranting about not having a boyfriend to go on a date with. Well, here I am giving it to you! What's the drama?"

The man looked around the room. When no one budged, he smiled.

"Okay, everything seems in order for our official program, are you all ready?"

The lights dimmed, with only the candlielights on each table giving light around the room. A visual presentation was projected on stage. It was hearts, millions of little hearts falling from the skies.

"Welcome to the 3rd edition of my Special Valentine's Date Program!"

An applause boomed in every speaker around the room.

Every woman looked around, startled.

"Three years ago, I was suffering from depression because my girlfriend left me for someone else. I wanted to kill myself, wanted to end it all so badly, but no. I became bigger than that. I thought, why not help solve this huge problem every teenager seems to be having, so the world would be a less cruel place?"

He clicked on his remote so the presentation changed. It showed an animation of a couple happily exiting out a supposedly dating booth.

"I designed a program just like this one, sent out fliers to everyone I knew. I was confident it would work because a lot of women were in need of a boyfriend."

The presentation suddenly faded to black.

"But no one came. Nobody wanted to date a guy like me. I'm perfect for anyone I can tell you that. Apparently, I don't look good as much as most girls would prefer. To their words, they'd rather go for the hot and handsome guy who's a bully than a nerd and kind guy who's weird looking. "

Wendy noticed a few girls shaking their heads.

"So I came up with an extremely brilliant plan. I was over my ex-girlfriend at this point, and wanted to have a new love. I was desperate. I needed to find candidates who I think is fit for me, put them into a date they cannot refuse, and I get to pick one in the end. It's completely brilliant!"

He actually sounded happy, moving his arms and feet around on stage .

"Plus, none of you will ever recall this happened. It'd be like a very interesting Valentine dream you will never remember of the next morning, except for faint scenes you won't have a chance of putting together."

Wendy started to hear sobs again from few women. Someone was shushing them.

"Don't worry, no serious harm will be done to you. I only gave those girls a shock so they won't run away, as if they could." He chuckled into the microphone, which sent chills at the back of Wendy's neck.

"Anyway, the last two years I didn't find anyone I wanted. Turns out they weren't actually my taste." He looked disgusted, taken to a flashback. Then he snapped back to reality and went back facing erveryone.

"So I'm hoping this will be my lucky year! Trust me, I am the guy you will want to keep forever. I will cherish you, and give you all the love you deserve. Too bad I only get to choose one. So, let's get this date going!"

A cheer echoed from the speakers once more, then faded into a romantic music.

The room went completely dark, the candlelights too, with just the romantic music ringing around the room.

Wendy was frantic, but she tried to keep everything under control.

She couldn't hear anything. Then all of a sudden the lights went back on again, but this time she was alone with the man.

Wendy looked around for the other girls.

"Relax, they're here. You just couldn't see them. I dosed everyone else so they won't interfere. Like I did to you. I've spent four dates already." He cleared his throat, and poured their glasses some wine. Wendy didn't notice them before.

She tried to be calm but struggled to smile.

"Don't be nervous. It's just a date."

Wendy gave a faint laugh. "S-so I'm your fifth date?" She asked.

The man nodded. He seemed friendly now. Anyone who wouldn't know his secrets could be swayed by the niceness he put up for himself. Wendy couldn't be swayed. The pain in her wrists were there to remind her what a psycho the man truly was.

"What h-happened to them?" She asked quietly.

"They're fine." He said shortly.

"What did y-you think of them?" She started to say. "You think, the-the one was among them?" She said.

The man looked deep into her eyes. "I don't want to talk about my previous dates, come on. You're losing a lot of points already. First impressions matter, don't you think?" The man said, taking a sip of his wine.

Wendy nodded, trying to act calm.

"S-so, you must be a-" she clears her throat "...a genius." She stuttered.

"Oh, really? I guess so." The man actually smiled.

Wendy tried to concentrate. Tried to forget that she was trapped into a chair, forced to go on a date with a stranger who can electrocute her with just the push of a button. She eyed the bulge of the remote inside the man's coat pocket. If only she could take it, find a release button or something.

Wendy looked up at the man. "Oh," she laughed. It came out a little better this time.
"Since this is a date, I haven't known your n-name." She said.
"I'm Wendy." She almost tried to extend her hand to shake, but then got caught with the ropes. She nervously laughed a little.

"I already know who you are. You study Business, want to start your own company, you love apples. Granny Smith, but you hate apple juice because they-"

"...they don't taste like apples at all." Wendy finished. The man winked at her.

"Huh." A thought occured to her. Suddenly the chills came back, creeping in every inch of her body as she realized something.

"You dug deeper . I only wrote that in a writing app where I didn't think anyone would read it at all. It's mostly boring stuff."

"Well, you aren't boring." The man said .

"Well, it seems that you know so much about me, why won't you tell me your name?" She asked instead, trying not to be creeped out by how much of a stalker this man actually was. She was surprised to sound confident. It gave her strength.

The man took out his remote and pushed a button .

Wendy held her breath.

She was surprised the table opened from the center and food came out from a lift which seemed to be constructed from the inside.

"Let's eat while we talk." The man said.

Wendy sighed in relief.

She realized she was actually hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she ate, nor had any memory of what happened before she got there.

"Paella." Wendy said, noticing the meal of rice and seafood before her.

The man smiled at her.

"It's my favorite." She added.

Hungry as she was, she couldn't bring herself to eat. A thought occurred to her.

"How did you know?" She asked. "I never posted a thing about this being my favorite food. I always told people I liked Spaghetti best."

The man just simply smiled at her.

Wendy tried not to look afraid. A million thoughts raced to her head. She feared if this man went as far as to actually stalk her in her own house. She pushed the thought away, and picked up a fork and started eating.

"You know, you're the only one who's so eager to know my name. It's actually flattering." The man said.

Wendy smiled a little, trying to be interested as much as possible. "So, what is it?"

"Flyn." He said.

"Is that your real name?" She asked.

"Does it matter?" The man said.

The man ate his own paella. Wendy looked at him.

"Flyn," she called out. The man waited for her to say something.

"You said you wouldn't harm us, right?"

The man didn't say anything.

"You're only looking for the one." She emphasized the last word. "You don't like me. Why don't you just let me go?"

The man suddenly stood from his chair, put the napkin on his plate and walked to her. He leaned on the edge of the table, picked up the rose from the vase, and smelled it. He was so near Wendy she could smell his perfume.

Wendy held her breath. Did she say something wrong? The table opened once more to reveal dessert. Apple pie.

"Sorry, before you, I had baked scallops, cheesecake, lobster, yogurt, burger and fries, milkshake, sushi, and tea. I don't think I can finish this paella at all." He said, taking a fork and stealing a bite from her plate of apple pie. "Hmm, delicious."

He took another bite, and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, he moved closer to Wendy. He leaned so his face was almost touching hers. He tilted her face up so she could see his eyes. He brought her lips close to his, and kissed her.

Wendy was surprised, but she acted calm. The man opened his mouth, and pushed the apple pie to her tongue. The man pulled away, and walked back to his chair. Wendy tried to swallow the apple pie crumbs.

The table opened and closed for the last time to empty out the dishes. Now the table looked like it did before. The man casually put his arms on the table and crossed it.

"I do like you, Wendy. Don't say I don't. We have the same taste in music, honestly. We both lost our parents. We both like comics. Even though we didn't start nicely, this could still end in a good way." He said.

Wendy didn't say anything. She was still disgusted with the taste of the apple pie from his mouth.

"I think you're the one." He said.

No, no, no. She thought to herself.

"I know what you're thinking. You're trying to be good, but not too good that I would actually fall for you. I know you, Wendy. I think I like you most." He said.

"But," He added

Wendy held her breath.

"I have to see the rest." He stood from his chair. "You want to know my real name, right?"

"You'll know." He said.

The room went dark once again.

There's another microphone feedback, and Wendy woke once more.

The rest of the women was there, and the man was up on stage, except he has changed into a different suit. A red one.

"Ladies," he started to say. "I have to say, you are the most cooperative batch yet. I thank you for your participation to this special Valentine's Date Program. Unfortunately I can only choose one of you. The question is, was I indeed able to choose the one?"

Wendy looked around the room. All of the women were scared. She knew all of them hoped to not pass. She prayed this was his unlucky year again.
A drumroll sounded throughout the room, and the lights begun to dance.

"Who will it be?"

Wendy suddenly heard women talking.

"His eyes looked dead when he talked to me..."

"I don't think he'll choose me..."

"He held my hand..."

"I don't think he kissed anyone..."

"If he did, then that would be it..."

"Who got kissed?.."

"I don't think that matters..."

Few were crying again.

Panic started to rise in Wendy's chest. She couldn't breathe. The drumroll was too loud. The lights were blinding. She was having a headache. Her heart was beating too fast, she couldn't catch up. She felt the room spin. Fast.

"Why do I think it's me?..."

"He said something?..."

"He hugged me..."

"He touched my hand, it was disgusting..."

"I wanted to swat it away..."

The room was spinning faster now. She felt she was about to vomit. She closed her eyes because the lights were too much. The drumroll sounded like it was coming from her head.

There was applause.

A blinding spotlight shone, there was an electric buzz, but everything turned blurry and black.


The buzz grew louder in her ear.

Wendy woke up. Her phone was vibrating beneath her face. She was in her bedroom.

Someone knocked on the door and opened it.

A woman in PJ's stood by the door amused.
"What time did you get home last night?"

Wendy groaned. She sat up, clutching her head.

"I don't know Jess. My head's aching so bad."

"You drank too much."

"What?"

"You called me drunk, sang to me a song I can't make out of, and I think you even puked. I'm surprised you got home fine." Jess said.

"I had the weirdest dream ever." Wendy said.

"Can't be weirder than mine." Jess said.

"That's funny." Wendy said, staring into space. "I don't remember what it is, but, I can't help but feel something."

Jess chuckled. "You're hangover. That's what it is."

"No, it's weird but I can't just explain it. It felt real, I just don't know what it is."

"I know what it is." Jess joked. "It was Gordon and I screwing on your bed last night, and you had no idea."

"What?!"

Jess held her hands up laughing. "We made a bet. You're a loser when you're drunk. I bet you wouldn't wake up and I won. We did it twice."

"Ugh, you're disgusting! I didn't sleep in any of your stink did I?" Wendy groaned.

Jess rolled her eyes. "That's why you should get a boyfriend." She left the room.

"Hey, in my dream I think I did!" Wendy yelled after Jess.

One Week Later

It was afternoon. Wendy was on her way home from the university. She walked calmly, trying to take the cool breeze in.
She reached the bus stop and waited.

"Excuse me," a voice called out behind her.

Wendy turned around to a young man.
"H-have you seen this girl?"

He held out a picture of a missing woman from the university too. She was pretty, and wore a tight red dress.

"Her name's Michaela. She wasn't seen since last week."

"I'm sorry, no. I haven't seen her."

"That's okay, please contact this number if you do or if you know anyone who does."

"Sure."

The young man left. Wendy felt sorry for him. She suddenly heard her phone rang. It was Jess.

"Yes?" She said.

"Hey, on your way home, could you grab me some eggs? We ran out."

"Fine, I'll stop by the convenience st-"

Crash. Wendy almost fell to the ground. Someone bumped hard into her.

"Oh, shit. I am so sorry."

"Wendy, hey, what happened?" Jess asked on the phone.

It was a man in a bicycle. Papers from his basket flew and landed to the ground.

Wendy grabbed her arm in pain but helped pick up the papers.

"It's fine, the walkway here can be very tight." She said.

The man was lean and had messed up hair.

"I'm sorry, were you hurt? I was pedalling too fast."

"A little yeah, but don't mind it." Wendy said, handing the papers to him.

Just then, she heard the music from his headphones dangling around his neck.

"That's..."

The man looked down on his headphones. "Oh, The Rolling Stones..."

"I thought nobody listened to them anymore..." She said. "No one I know of, yet.", She added.

The man looked at her and smiled. "I'm glad I'm the first."

Wendy blushed. She seemed to like this guy already.

"I'm Wendy." She said, extending her hand.

The man shook it. "Wesley."

They both smiled at each other.

Just then, the bus arrived.

"Oh, my bus is here." She said.

"Oh, right. Well, then I guess I'll see you around." Wesley said.

"I guess." She started to climb up the bus.

"Sorry for your arm, again." Wesley started to drive away

"It's no big deal. Bye."

Wendy walked to the last row of the bus and watched Wesley pedal from the large window.

"What was that all about?" Jess teased over the phone.

"Just bumped into someone." Wendy replied.

"You sound like you're blushing." Jess said.

"Oh god, I think I am."

She looked back out the window and saw Wesley stop at a stop sign.

"I think you're going to have a boyfriend. Come on, snap a photo for me!" Jess said.

"He's back is to me, I can't..."

"Tell you what, if he looks back, ask him out. If he doesn't, atleast you get to have someone to moon over for the next few weeks."

"Oh, you're messed up." Wendy said, but she was looking at Wesley.

The bus started to move.

"I don't think he's going to look." She said to the phone, not taking her eyes off Wesley's back.

The stop sign on the crosswalk went green, and Wesley started to paddle.

Just then, to Wendy's surprise, Wesley looked back on his shoulder to the bus.

Wendy gasped, and felt herself blush even more, as the guy on the bicycle smiled.






© Illegna