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32. An appeasement approach
Wednesday, May 8th, 1:00 PM
“Aiden, you cannot be serious. You’re unfair!†Tamara screamed in Aiden’s face during lunch.
“You got outplayed. Admit it,†a Riverbend next to Aiden responded, observing six fierce and frightened faces. All six had embarrassed Aiden and Maya at the dance and had to pay the price.
“You’re too cruel. I’m not allowing Aiden to tie me up. He ain’t trustworthy and seeks revenge.â€
Aiden smiled and finished his bite. “The game board endorsed our plan, and you guys also craved to tie me up, harass me, and break the rules. Remember our date, Daphne?â€
“Yeah, I do. My actions were inappropriate, but yours were foolish, ignorant, and short-sighted,†Daphne replied, sitting down opposite of Aiden. He was safe as Jenna sat left to him and had hooked her legs in his. For a dare, her legs had to be bound on the school grounds, though Aiden doubted this would get any target kidnapped. It was merely an inconvenience.
“True, but remember the timeline. You started,†Aiden returned. “Girls, this as a peace offer. You regretted abandoning Ariel alone and hogtied in the forest. You have apologized, but allow her to equalize. Some say you disliked what occurred during the dance too. Let’s straighten things up or continue this war. Your choice.â€
Olivia, the longest but shyest of the bunch, sat down next to Daphne. “No, eh, we’re sorry and want to end everything, but can’t we make up in another way?â€
“This is our best offer,†Jenna replied. “We aren’t vengeful and won’t hurt or humiliate you. If you lack trust, invite a game board member to join. Breaking such oral contracts carries punishments.â€
“So, why’s this necessary?†Tamara asked. “No need for another battle.â€
Aiden gazed at her. “True, but we got that prison sentence thingy. Saying we aren’t hostile is not entirely correct, but we play by the rules and won’t hesitate to use our prize. We suffered for it.â€
Tamara sipped from her water bottle while keeping eye-contact. “Okay, so we six get tied, and from those who refuse, you draw two names. Those go to jail. Correct?â€
“Almost. We only tie up five girls this afternoon, two by Jenna and I and three by Maya and Ariel. We put your names on a list and jail the first two who decline. Daphne’s actions were more tasteless, being your leader, she’ll suffer more. If you all comply, she will go alone,†Aiden continued while Daphne got more disgruntled by the minute. “Or, sweet Daphne, can we arrange another date?â€
But before she could persuade her friends to resist together, Tamara slammed her closed water bottle on the hardwood table. “Your list stays secret, won’t it? That’s the same as random.â€
Aiden and Jenna grinned, grateful for their brilliance. “No, we won’t,†Jenna said. “The list is Olivia, Dana, Caitlyn, Chelsea, and finally, Tamara.â€
The swift reply shocked their opponents as the psychological trick dawned on them: Each preferred the tie-up over a day in jail, individually speaking, creating the worst outcome. All lost. A classical prisoner’s dilemma Aiden loved to use when tying multiple people.
“No way, guys,†Daphne exclaimed, glancing over her shoulder at her friends. Olivia, Dana, please take one for the team.â€
Dana hesitated to speak as she glanced at Olivia, who ate in silence. “Eh, actually, 24 hours without my phone or internet is nasty. I’ve planned a lot this weekend. It’s my mom’s birthday. Aiden, how long do you keep us?â€
“How about exactly an hour? If you include traveling and tying, two hours. That’s all. Again, we won’t tickle, hurt, or humiliate you. A regular tie-up. Nothing scary. Ariel and Maya will keep you at Ariel’s house for about the same time. More questions?â€
A few shook their heads as Daphne jumped up and walked away with her gang trailing her. She was enraged, but Tamara tried to reason.
“Any voluntary human sacrifices?†a Riverbend classmate asked, retrieving his place at the table.
Aiden had recruited him as protection for the afternoon. “Dunno, but we caused havoc. If Olivia and Dana choose prison, we lose. Then we’ll obstruct them even more, and a full-scale war ensues. I’d prefer peace and forgiveness.â€
Aiden smiled. “Let’s go to biology before they plan anything.†He nodded and grabbed Jenna in his arms to carry her. It was easier than walking with her tied legs.
“Welp, today was interesting,†Jenna spoke as Aiden removed the last rope around her ankle inches outside the school grounds. Jenna stretched her legs happily for the first time in 8 hours. “I’m glad it’s over. Even when sitting still all day, you walk miles.â€
“Next week, you reminiscent about dares. Around Responsibility Day, there’re none.â€
“I comprehend that and won’t complain!†Jenna returned.
They entered the car that brought them to Aiden’s house, where they fetched their bikes. She had cycled to him in the morning, and he had not wanted to carry his supplies, a canvas duffle bag, all day with him. With a four-man-strong Riverbend escort, they returned to school, hoping any of the Northwood girls had the guts. Fortunately, they had.
“I’m glad you showed up,†Aiden grinned, seeing Caitlyn and Dana on their bikes. His powerplay could have resulted in a major embarrassment. “Shall we?â€
“Eh, whereto?†Caitlyn answered.
“A particular point in the forest. A 10-minute ride.â€
“You’re creepy. Going to an unknown spot with people we don’t trust to be tied is irresponsible. Can you be more specific?â€
Aiden laughed before mounting his bike. “I can’t describe it. Trust me.â€
Jenna cycled to his left, and the escort separated them from the Northwood girls. As promised, the journey was short, and they locked their bikes to nearby trees before walking over a little hill to a creek that flowed into the Arkalay River. Despite being only one foot deep, it was quite rapid, so transparent and mosquito-free. Boulders covered its banks, and pebbles filled its bottom. A straight, branchless fallen tree 2 feet in diameter bridged it at shoulder height, creating a tiny idyllic valley with high pines scattered throughout. Aiden had often picnicked here with his family, but the pines concealed the spot, making it a well-kept secret. The fallen tree was old, and its outer layers started decomposing, allowing a soft bed of moss to grow.
“Girls put these on,†Aiden said, seizing two blue overalls from the duffle bag.
“You told no retaliation,†Dana said, grabbing one overall.
Aiden smiled, thinking about the orange prison uniform. “Wearing them is voluntary. They protect your clothes.†Dana and Caitlyn accepted this reasoning and, to Aiden’s disappointment, cleverly got rid of their jumpers first. “Okay, now lay down on that tree with your faces close together and balance yourself with your hands.â€
The startled girls tested the strength of the tree as Aiden took his shoes and socks off and rolled his trousers up. The two boys in his escort followed his example, and when he displayed two rolls of saran wrap from his bag, Dana and Caitlyn sighed: They got wrapped to the fallen tree. Reluctantly, they lazed down, and Aiden encouraged them to move their heads closer together until they almost touched.
“Jason, mind doing Dana? I’ll take care of Caitlyn. Keep her arms free, and don’t go any lower than her knees.â€
Jason nodded, Aiden whispered his plan in his ear, and said something unkind to Dana but was careful and did not pressure his wrap too much. Otherwise, the spongy moss would compress and push upward, making breathing troublesome. By placing more pressure around her hips and legs, they would still be secure. Meanwhile, Margot tied the other girl from Aiden’s escort with some spare ropes from his bag in a standing spread-eagle and gagged her with her socks and duct-tape.
“Is this survivable? No difficulties with breathing?†Aiden asked Dana.
“No, I’m fine. Not uncomfortable.â€
Aiden’s mom had tied her two children in this exact position two years ago, so he had foreseen this answer. “Excellent, now place your hands on your back.â€
Both girls hesitated to adhere to this command as their arms still clutched the trunk, hoping not to tumble into the shallow water beneath. Slowly, they realized they were stuck and let go. Aiden guided Caitlyn’s hands to grab her elbows behind her and tied her wrists together in a box tie. Meanwhile, Jason watched and copied as Aiden wrapped her lower legs and ankle boots together and bowed them upward in a 90-degree angle.
As Aiden took a final short rope, Caitlyn reconstructed Aiden’s plan. “Seriously? A hogtie?â€
“Yeah, complaints?â€
“Eh, no. Why?â€
“Did you expect it to be more painful, like a suspension. Or something more intimate?â€
“Eh, dunno, but you’re more pleasant than I had expected.â€
Aiden laughed and grabbed the saran wrap. “As I promised, this is no revenge, but no worries, Caitlyn. I got even more wrap!†He circled the roll around her upper body, tightening her hands and her shoulders to the trunk, so her chest fell victim to the plastic prison twice. She could twist her head, but Dana lay only inches away. After a final check-up, he retrieved two sponges and three handkerchiefs from his now almost empty duffle bag. As Margot kept busy, tying another escort member, only she, Jason, Jenna, and Aiden could move freely.
Aiden tied one handkerchief in a short loop. “Mouth open, Caitlyn.â€
He crammed the sponge in, planted one section of the loop in her mouth, and secured both with a cleave-gag. He treated Dana similarly, linking their mouths about three inches apart. The handkerchief between them did not drag them closer or put extra pressure on their necks, yet forced them to stare at each other’s faces. As its knot was right under their noses, this also tickled a little. Aiden had used this technique only once before, on his parents during Responsibility Day, who had detested it. “A perfect way to end Caitlyn’s cocky behavior,†he thought, as her eyes displayed a sad mix of bitterness and pity.
“Dana, Caitlyn, the timer starts now. I’ll free you in an hour.â€
“Beautifully done, Aiden,†Jenna said, sitting on a nearby rock. Her bare feet dangled in the water. She was too short to help meaningfully but had not objected when Aiden came up with the plan. “Now, we wait.â€
They turned around and saw how Jason got tied in the same standing spread-eagle. Aiden was disappointed he had not packed enough gagging. Still, their socks were an excellent filling, and her tape worked fantastically. As all her knots could be pulled loose with one swift movement, she had been sadistic: They were all a foot out of reach. She approached Aiden and Jenna, who refused to be tied and instead fastened her like the rest. The four Riverbends stood in a small group and complained about the constant stress in their arms and legs.
Aiden’s phone vibrated, and he saw a text from Maya that he studied with Jenna:
Olivia, Chelsea, and Tamara turned up and obliged. If Caitlyn and Dana came to you, can you text to send Daphne to jail? She came to me, begging to get tied, but I refused.
Aiden texted back that Caitlyn and Dana had been well-behaved and the game board afterward. “Poor Daphne,†he thought, almost sorry to hurt her. Then Aiden caught Jenna’s eyes and hugged her, which transformed into a kiss as their mouths drew closer. It was quite tame, not extravagant, yet intimate as he closed his eyes, forgetting everything. The sound of water drowned out the gagged mumbles. But as he opened his eyes, Jenna smirked of pure joy, and he saw a stunned and embarrassed Jason. There had been no other place for him to gaze. Aiden had seen many couples kiss far more inappropriately in school and turned red.
Blindfolds would have been helpful, but Aiden had none, not anticipating his escort would all be tied up. He preferred Dana and Caitlyn to gawk at each other, combined with enduring each other’s warm exhales. Soon, the many layers would clinch their bodies in their sweat and fluids of the damp tree. The girls would be miserable. Even without the gag, an hour in these conditions would feel endless.
He filled the remaining time with soft whispering with Jenna, not to disturb the bound, but also for privacy. Every 10 minutes, they checked up on all, and after half an hour, eased the predicaments of his escort by freeing their feet. Minutes before time, they pulled all loose and shifted to Dana and Caitlyn. They removed hogtie ropes and gags before cutting the wraps in reversed order. Slowly, making sure their arms were stable enough to remain balanced as the tie had weakened them significantly.
As Dana crawled back on the safe forest floor, her face carried a broad smile. “Aiden, man,†she panted. Drops of sweat ran over her face, and the blue overall was drenched and had turned green. Not only from her sweat, but the sponge-like texture of the moss had crept in, and her clothes had sucked it up. “That was gross. Nasty. A hogtie is supposed to be relaxed. Not letting a bog to take control of your body. Peace?â€
“A deal is a deal,†Aiden said, carefully avoiding her hug. She rolled the overall up and deposited it in a plastic bag. Those things smelled. “Shall we go home? It’s about dinner time.â€
The rest nodded, grabbed their bikes, and took off. Aiden rode next to Jenna. They said goodbye to Caitlyn and Dana, who turned left, and three members of his escort, who went to the right, desiring dinner instead of cycling another mile to protect Aiden. Jenna was cautious, and Margot lived close-by and did not mind. After all, it was a warm, dry, and sunny day.
Jenna and Margot were good friends, so Aiden allowed them to cycle next to each other and stayed behind them on the busy main road. He was exhausted, stale, and had spent plenty of time with Jenna together today. A few less would not hurt.
Yet, such mistakes are unforgivable: Two dirt bikes at once swiped to the right, slowed down, and sandwiched Aiden, holding Jenna and Margot off.
“No!!†Jenna yelled, battling toward him as they came to a standstill. To no avail, as Aiden already had a green garland around his neck and was directed to enter a van. They had lost and had to accept the consequences.