The sissy games

Part 70; Cheering flower

The face blinked, and in that same instant, eight sprays of black liquid shot toward them. Alex barely managed to dodge it, sliding to the side like a soccer player avoiding a tackle. He was used to that, but some of the others weren't, they got hit. They weren't pushed off the platform like in other games, but the spray slowed them down, putting them behind in the race for the doors.

The face blinked again. Alex realized the hint had been about timing, he had to dodge with the blink of its eyes. Another blast of black liquid came straight for him, and he ducked perfectly. While running, he spotted Ember cheering him on from the side, her voice carrying clearly above the chaos. Just a few more meters and he'd reach the end.

A blink, a dodge... and then another followed immediately. He hadn't expected it and got hit. The black liquid slammed him backward, knocking him flat to the ground. Glitter sparkled in the spray, just like the lashes of the giant girl's face. Alex gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet, wincing as the glitter clung to his hair and clothes. He quickly scanned the platform. The others were scattered, six still hadn't reached the door yet. There was still hope. He sprinted forward and crossed the finish line in third, gasping for breath.

After the seventh player reached the door, a voice echoed over the arena: "All of them are in! Except for Jeremy! Time to take a bath!" The floor beneath him opened, and Jeremy fell into a pool of pink shower gel. "But not only Jeremy should take a bath... after all, only four will go to the next round!" Alex could hear the faint, surprised screams of the others as the floor claimed them, and a small thrill ran through him, he was still in the game.

Alex met up with a smiling Ember. "You did so well!" she said, loud and proud. She stepped closer, grabbing his hands. "If you make it to the next round too, we're one step closer to leaving this place forever!"

"I'll do my best, babe!" he said, surprising himself as much as her. Ember's cheeks flushed pink, did he just call me "babe"? That was so cute. She shook off the thought when Alex asked if she knew anything about the next game.

"Sadly, no," she answered. "But I'm sure you can do this!" Her confidence gave him a boost, and he nodded, feeling a little braver.

The lights switched to green, signaling the start of the next round of the sissy games. Alex looked at the others; Chris, Erik, and Jorn—and the arena: a giant flower platform, each petal glistening under the bright lights.

A voice boomed: "The semi-finals are about to start! Four contestants must jump from petal to petal. Along the way, pick up cheerleader pom-poms to either throw at each other or hit targets around the arena. If you do it in a fabulous way, the effect will be stronger and in your favor! Let's see who makes it to the finals!"

The timer counted down, and all four jumped onto the petals. Alex spotted his first pom-pom and hesitated. Hitting another player seemed wrong, like stealing their chance to escape. But he had been through too much, he needed to win. Just as he made up his mind, a pom-pom smacked him on the head. He wobbled but managed to regain his balance, heart racing, and aimed at a target. Miss. Again. And again.

Erik hit the first target, setting off a small effect that made the next few petals wobble slightly. Alex jumped to the next petal and discovered what it did... slippery perfume sprayed from the flower, almost making him slide off. He grabbed two pom-poms and, in a move he never thought he'd do, danced a little, shaking them both in front of him before tossing them. One missed, but the other hit a target. A giant perfume bottle rose from the center of the flower, blasting Jorn with a strong gust that sent him flying off the platform. Three remained.

Alex felt a twinge of embarrassment... the crowd cheered at his little dance, laughing and clapping, making him blush even more, but he kept moving. Tricks, effects, and chaotic jumps filled the arena. Giant lips, spinning petals, and bursts of glitter forced him to leap higher, duck faster, and time every jump perfectly. Sweat ran down his forehead, his legs burned, and his heart raced, but he kept his focus. Finally, Erik fell after a push from a giant lip-shaped balloon.

"And with that, we have our finalists! They survived the cheering flower!" the voice announced.

Alex finally stopped, exhausted. He left the arena and ran into the waiting room, where Ember practically launched herself at him. They hugged tightly, catching their breath, laughing and talking excitedly about the last game.

"This is it, the finals! If we win now, we're free! Free from all of it!" she said.

"Let's do this!" Alex matched her excitement.

"Let's get you washed up first," she said with a smile, hands behind her back. "Left or right?"

"I'll go left," he said. Ember revealed a pink bath bomb; the other was a rainbow swirl with glitter. She dropped it in, and Alex took a bath, letting the warmth and fragrance calm his nerves. Afterward, he dried off and was handed some girly underwear again; green, delicate, and with lace. At least no T-string this time.

He had made it to the finals for the first time in a normal game. Only he and Chris remained. He glanced at Ember.

"Any idea what to expect?" he asked.

"Yes, a themed makeover. The best makeover wins, but there's always a twist," she warned.

"We'll see," he said. The light turned green, and they stepped toward the door, ready for the final challenge. Alex's stomach fluttered, a mix of nerves and excitement to the chance of finally leaving. Whatever came next, he would face it, and he would do his best.