The Games Players: In The Country

Day 1 – Family Bonding

Steve and I had decided it was time for us to take another road trip, leaving our child with my mother this time as we toured in a camper van. But you know us – we decided to make more of the trip than just visiting the sites, so we carefully selected stops that would allow us to pay a number of visits while exploring the countryside.

It was actually around midday we set off – which meant it was about seven in the evening before we arrived at our first port of call. This was in the Dorset countryside, and once we had parked the van we took a rucksack each and we walked across the country lanes, towards Colsten Manor House, the current abode of Maria Colsten and her family.

Our research had told us her husband was going to be away on business, and that their housekeeper left at about eight and came back at about eight the following morning. Maria Colsten herself was in her early forties, and from the photos we were both looking at the day before she had collar length red-brown hair, cut short at the fringe at the front. Her three children all had the same colour hair – thirteen year old Carrie, eleven year old Suzie, and ten year old Billy.

We were both wearing grey fleeces over jumpers, Steve in a pair of grey trousers and hiking boots, me in a pair of grey leggings and short felt boots. Designed not to attract attention, as we walked down the quiet country road and then slipped up the side road to the manor house.

The sun was starting to set as we walked up to the front door, and I kept watch as Steve managed to quietly open it. IT only took a few minutes for us both to pull the stockings down over our heads, before we went in and I closed the door behind both of us.

As we looked down the hallway, we could hear laughing in the front room, and we looked in to see Maria sitting there with Billy. The young man was wearing a pink and grey long sleeved top, blue jeans and white stocks with purple toes on his feet, while Maria was wearing a dusky pink sweatshirt with black leggings, grey socks and black slippers.

She glanced up and saw both of us standing there, and gasped as Billy turned his head, and said “wow – are we being robbed? Really?”

Steve and I looked at each other, before Steve said “yes you are – but we want to make it as feel as if you, your mother and your sisters are all playing a game, so that it doesn’t seem scary. We’re called the Games Players for that reason.”

Maria was still staring at us, before she said “so you are robbing us?”

“We are,” I said with a smile, “but let’s not make this a scary thing, and we guarantee you will all be together for this. So here’s what we’re going to do – we’ll make sure Billy stays here first, before you take us both to bring your daughters down, and then you all stay in this room. Okay?”

“I’ll be all right, Mum,” Billy said as Steve slipped off his rucksack and took out some lengths of rope. “Okay then,” he said with a smile, “sit on the couch, and put your hands together in front of you.” Once Billy had done that, Steve made sure his wrists were tightly secured together in front of him, his mother watching as Steve then took more rope as tied it round his waist to keep his hands down on his lap.

“Now, just sit still,” he said as he knelt down, and then used two bands of rope to secure his legs together, at his ankles and then below his knees, cinching each band by taking the rope between his legs as well. Billy grinned as he twisted his legs round, before he looked at Maria.

“We need to make sure you cannot move your arms as well,” he said with a smile, “so please stand up, and put your hands together in prayer.”

“IT doesn’t hurt, Mum,” Billy said as Maria slowly stood up, and I watched as Steve secured her wrists tightly together in front of her, the rope going around and between her arms. He also tied more rope round her stomach to keep her arms against her sides, Billy watching as Steve tied the rope off.

“Now,” he said as he looked at Billy, “I’m going to stay here while my friend takes your mother to find your sisters. You’re not going to try and call for help, are you?”

“Are you going to stop me?”

Steve and I looked at each other before I took Maria and said “let’s go and find your daughters”, both of us leaving the room as Steve said “well, since you asked…”

“What is he going to do to my son,” Maria asked as we both walked up the staircase.

“You’ll find out,” I said as we got to the top of the stairs, and I slipped off my own rucksack, “so, which room first?”

“This one,” Maria said as she pointed to a door on the left, and I opened it to let us both go in. Her oldest daughter, Carrie, was lying on her back on her bed, her long brown hair falling over the shoulders of her pink hoodie. That was over a lighter pink t-shirt, and she was also wearing a pair of black leggings with black socks.

She looked at both of us as we stood there, and then sat slowly up, removing the headphones she was wearing as she said “Mum, what’s happening?”

“We’re being robbed,” Maria said, “but we’re all going to make a game of it, so I want you to do what the masked lady says.”

Carrie slowly nodded as she looked at me, and said “what are you going to do?”

“Make you like your mother,” I said as I opened my own rucksack and took out two lengths of white rope. “Your sister is going to be the same – so I want you to hold your wrists out in front of you, and I will use this rope to tie them together.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Maria said quietly as I secured Carrie’s wrists together, the doubled over rope going round and then between her arms so they were snugly tied. I then took the longer length of rope round her stomach and pulled it tightly so that her arms were held against her sides, as her mother watched.

“Well, is this all you are going to do,” Carrie said as I secured the ends of the rope behind her.

“Not quite – but we need to get your younger sister now,” I said with a smile as I picked up my rucksack and opened the door, both of them coming out as we went into the next room. Suzie was sitting in a chair, wearing a pair of pink pyjamas with stars printed on them and a purple patterned front, and she was surprised to see her mother and sister with their hands and arms tied.

“Oh wow – is this a robbery,” she said as I came in, and she saw my stocking covered face.

“Yes it is,” I said quietly, “but let’s make a game of it. First, however, I need to tie your wrists and arms in the same way as the rest of your family – so if you will allow me?”

“You’re the robber – you’re forcing me to be tied up,” she said, but she was grinning as I secured her wrists and arms, then she twisted round as I looked at the three captives.

“All right – we need to make sure you and your brother all stay together,” I said with a smile, “so let’s all go downstairs.” The three walked in front of me as we went back to the front room, Carrie and Suzie going in first as Carrie said “all right – so he won’t be disturbing us.”

“Vhreefhnhee,” Billy mumbled as the clear tape crinkled over his mouth, the white edges of a cloth sticking out under the tape as Steve smiled at them. “good – now don’t be afraid, he’s fine – and so will all of you be. Right now, however, I want the girls to sit with their brother while I take their mother round the house. You will make sure they stay here nice and quiet?”

“Of course,” I said as he left with Maria, Carrie and Suzie sitting either side of Billy as they nudged against him. I put my rucksack down and knelt in front of them, doubling over a length of white rope before I took it round Suzie’s ankles and pulled the rope to keep them together.

“That is tight,” she said quietly as I wound the rope around and between her legs, securing the ends behind her before a second length of rope went round her legs below her knees and secured them together there as well.

I then moved over to Carrie and secured her ankles and legs together in the same way, before she said “ is there something in Billy’s mouth?”

“There is indeed,” I said as I looked in my rucksack, and took out a clear bag with two white cloths inside, “and now it’s time for both of you. Just breath through your nose, stay calm and you’ll be fine, right Billy”

“Rhhttt,” Billy mumbled as I folded a cloth, and said to Carrie “you first – open wide.” She nodded as I pushed the cloth into her mouth, and then took a roll of clear tape from which I tore off a long strip. I pressed that down over her mouth, the white edges between her lips, before I did the same to Suzie and sat to look after all three.

“Shhwwhrthshmnh.”

All three looked at Maria as she came back in with Steve, clear tape over her mouth as white cloth sat between her lips. Steve helped her to sit on the floor, and started to secure her ankles and legs as I helped Suzie to sit on Maria’s left hand side. I then helped Billy to sit on her other side, his back to Suzie, before Carrie sat with her back to all three.

I then used more roe pro secure their bound wrists to the rope below their knees, as Steve started to wind the longest length of rope we had round all four of them, holding them together around their upper arms. They tried to move, with little success, as I sat and looked at them.

“Now then, we need to wait a while before we leave,” Steve said, “so I’ll turn the radio on, and we sit nice and quiet.”

Which is exactly what we did, all four trying to talk before one by one they fell asleep, their chests rising and falling as they breathed through their noses. We stayed partly to make sure they were all right, but mainly so nobody would see us as we left the manor house and returned to our camper van with the valuables and money…

Day 2 – Tiger, Tiger

When we woke the next morning, Janna and I had breakfast, and then we packed up and drove off to the outskirts of Taunton. We arrived by midday, and parked up before we reviewed the plans for our visit that afternoon.

Jo Kingman is a local television personality, and she lived near to where we were parked with her three children – eight year old Ellie, seven year old Laura, and four year old Stevie. She had recently divorced her actor husband, but what we had found in our research was enough to tell us this would be a worthy visit.

They lived in a large, detached house a little further out of the town from where we were, with a walled garden except for the front – which suited us, given it stood a way back from the road. We were dressed in black for this visit, Janna in her leggings and short boots, me in pants and both wearing dark jumpers, leather jackets, gloves – and the stockings we pulled down our head as we let ourselves in.

The house seemed quiet, and we walked slowly to the kitchen before we looked out onto the back lawn. I could see Jo Kingman, wearing a long sleeved leotard with a brown leopard print. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

Janna pointed to the side of the rear lawn, and I looked to see Ellie and Laura playing on the grass. Both girls were wearing leopard print playsuits, with long sleeves and legs that came down to their knees. The playsuits also had hoods which were over their heads, with little ears fixed to the top.

“Do you see Stevie at all,” I asked Janna, and she shook her head as she looked out of the window.

“He must still be in the house,” she said quietly as we both turned and left the kitchen. We would need to find her son, and start the game with him before the others came in.

As it was, that was easy, because as we went into the hallway we saw Stevie coming down the stairs, smiling as he did so. He was also wearing something with a leopard print – but in his case, it was a pinafore dress, the skirt coming down to his knees and a pink bow on the front.

“Oh,” he said as he saw us, “who are you?”

Janna smiled as she said “well, tell me something first – are you Stevie?”

“Yeah,” he said as he looked at us, “does Mummy know you are here, and why do you have something over your heads?”

“Well, Stevie, we have been hired by your mother to play a very special game with you as a family,” Janna continued, “but can you tell me why you are wearing a dress?”

“Because I don’t want to be the only boy here,” Stevie said as we looked at each other, “what sort of game?”

“An escape game,” I said in reply, “and if you want, you can start to play first. That way, your sisters can be like you in every way. Would you like that?”

Stevie nodded as I took his hand in mine. “Come with me,” I said, “while my friend keeps an eye out for your mother and sisters coming in. What do you like to watch on the television?”

“Paw Patrol – can we watch it?”

“Of course,” I said as Janna went back to the kitchen, and I took Stevie into the front room. He watched as I closed the curtains, and then put the television on.

“Now, to play the escape game Stevie, I need to arrange it so that you need to escape – and don’t worry, your sisters and mum will be the same before we begin,” I said as I slipped my rucksack off, and opened it before taking out a large roll of white tape. “So, will you stand nice and still for me, with your hands by your sides?”

Stevie nodded as I peeled the end of the tape free from the roll. “That sounds funny,” he giggled as I stuck the end of the roll to the back of his left wrist, and then wound it quickly round his waist so that both his wrists were trapped against his sides. I then tore the tape free, and wound another band around his upper arms and body so that they were fixed firmly in place.

Stevie twisted round and then smiled as I said “Now, sit down, and wriggle back so that you are against the seat back.” I watched as he did that, and then taped his ankles tightly together, followed by his legs below his knees.

“Can I try to escape now,” he said as he wriggled his legs round.

“Not yet – you need to wait until the whole family is ready,” I said with a smile as an episode of Paw Patrol started. “For now, enjoy the television show.” Stevie nodded as he sat there, taped and secured, while I looked to the doorway. I could hear talking from the kitchen, which told me that the rest of the family would be joining us soon.

Sure enough, a few minutes later both Ellie and Laura came into the room, both of them with bands of white tape round their upper bodies, one holding their wrists against their sides and another wound round their upper arms.

“Hey Stevie – you dressed up as well,” Laura said.

“Yeah – where’s Mummy?”

“The masked lady is talking to her – she did this to us, and then told us to come in here to be with you,” Ellie said as she twisted round.

“That’s right,” I said with a smile, “so why don’t you sit next to your brother, and I will do to your legs what I did to his.”

“It doesn’t hurt - it actually feels nice,” Stevie said as they sat either side of him, pushing themselves back so that their feet hung over the edge, and then they watched as I taped their ankles and legs together, so that they were all the same.

“Do we have to watch Paw Patrol,” Ellie said as she twisted her legs round, “can we watch a film we all want to.”

“Well, we could watch Clifford,” Laura said, the other two nodding as I changed the channel – just as Janna came in with Jo. Their mother also had two bands of white tape round their upper body, but her wrists were taped together behind her back.

“Why is Mummy different,” Stevie said as he looked at Janna.

“Well, she needs to be a little different, so you all have the same chance of getting free,” Janna said as Jo sat in an armchair.

“That’s right,” Jo said as she smiled at her children, “we want everyone to have the same chance. What are we going to watch?”

“Clifford,” Ellie said as Janna knelt down and started to tape their mother’s ankles together, and then secured her legs together below her knees. She then stood up and nodded as the film started, all four wriggling slightly.

“I need to explain the final part of the escape game,” I said as I looked at Jo, “which is that it has to be done in silence. That means I need to make sure you cannot talk to each other.”

“How will you do that,” Laura asked me as Jo looked over.

“He will show you on me – I think I know what he will do, but just remember it’s a game,” she said before she pursed her lips while I eased free again the end of the roll of white tape. All three watched as I wound the tape round her head, covering her mouth and then tearing the end free before I pressed it down at the base of her neck.

“Mummy?”

“Hstsshlrht,” Jo said as she nodded, and I made sure the hood was up over Laura’s head before I wound the tape tightly round her head, making sure she stayed silent as well. Ellie was next, the two girls looking at each other before I looked at Stevie.

“Thanks for letting us play such a great game – when can we start to escape?”

“When the film finishes,” I said with a smile before I wrapped the tape round his head as well, watching all of them as the film began. “There now – mummy cat and her three little kittens, all nice and quiet and staying put.”

All three children started to purr as Jo shook her head, then looked at me as she said “fhkuhhfhrnhtshcrhhnthm.”

I nodded as they all watched the film. I knew Janna would find what we wanted to take – and we had time to spend with all four of them, make it feel like more of a game before we left. I knew we would need to replenish our supplies for the next day…

Day 3 – Mike’s Story

Statement taken from Mike Walker, aged 14

Look, none of this is going to get back to my friends, is it? I mean, I don’t know what they would do – laugh at me, or worse…

Right, right – well, yesterday my dad was away in London – he caught the early train for Bristol Parkway, which meant I was at home with Mum and my little brother Colin. He’s eleven.

What were we wearing? Colin had on a red polo shirt with white stripes and old jeans, while I was wearing a blue polo shirt with red and white stripes, and darker jeans. Mum – Mum had on a red polo shirt and jeans.

Anyway, when Dad’s away, Mum has to work at home, and ever since that lockdown if she really has to take a meeting, then Colin and I play a game – one Mum introduced us to. This was one of those days, so after we had lunch, we went into the back room. Colin was excited when he saw the white ropes laid out.

Don’t get me wrong – Mum makes sure the ropes are soft, and she uses them in a way when it does not hurt us, honestly. So I watched as she took Colin’s hands behind his back, took one of the lengths of rope which she doubled over, and then used to secure his wrists together. She made several loops, then took the rope between his arms so that when she tied the ends off, it was snug and tight.

She did the same to me as Colin and I talked about what we were going to do, and when she was done I wriggled my fingers as she tied some tope round my waist. That made sure I could not move my hands away, or Colin when she did the same to him. We both then sat down on two beanbags, watching as she used more of the rope to tie our ankles, the hems of our jeans flaring out from under the tight band.

Mum asked if we were both comfortable, and we both nodded, before she took some white medical tape and covered our mouths with wide strips. She then turned on the wall mounted television, and we started to watch a film – Free Guy – while she went to take her meeting.

Normally, she would come in after her meeting and tell us both we had to get free, and that was what we were expecting to happen this time. Guess we got a surprise, right? At any rate, Colin sat quietly as I tried to twist round. It makes me feel – better to do that.

You know what I mean – I get a little excited, but I did not want Colin or my Mum to see. We could both hear her talking, so we just – sat there. And then she came in.

She had a stocking or something pulled down over her head, and was wearing a black jacket over a dress, but the dress was tight. She looked at both of us, and smiled as she asked if we were enjoying the game. Colin nodded, but I wondered what was going on as she lifted a carry bag onto a shelf, and opened it. My eyes opened wide, as did Colin’s, when we saw her take out more white ropes.

She looked at us, and said that Mum had hired her and a friend to make this a very special game. She also said Mum would come and play with us when she had finished her meeting, and talked to her friend. Well, truth to tell Mum did play sometimes if Dad got home, so we were happy to hear that, but I wondered what she was going to do with the extra ropes.

I found out when she said she was going to make sure we really could not get free, and knelt by Colin’s side, wrapping the rope round his legs below his knees and then binding them there the same way Mum bound our ankles. Colin giggled as her gloved hands touched the back of his knees, but it did look tight.

IT was too, when she did the same to me, and I felt even more secure. She then took a long – a very long – length of rope and doubled it over before she walked behind me, and passed it round my body. I felt it tighten, forcing my arms against my sides, as Colin watched her wind it round my body in two bands, and then she tightened it behind my back.

It was a strange, nice feeling, as she used two short lengths between my arms and my body to make it tighter still. I tried to move as she started to do the same thing to Colin, and he giggled under the tape. But the way they held me was making those feelings of enjoyment I get so much stronger…

I was also aware of a strange feeling elsewhere, but I was helpless, like Colin – especially when she helped both of us toile on the floor, and then pulled our ankles back, using more ropes to secure our ankles to the ropes round our chests.

We rolled onto our side and looked at each other – we were truly helpless, but then she peeled the tape from Colin’s mouth, and allowed him to take a drink from a juice carton. She then replaced the tape, with a strip from a different toll of grey tape, before she helped me to have a drink as well.

“How does it feel,” she asked me after I had taken a drink.

“Nice – snug, tight – and something else,” I said as I felt myself blush. She nodded, and then pressed the new tape down over my mouth before the door to the room opened. A man came in, wearing a suit but with a stocking pulled down over his head as well – and Mum was with him. We could both see the bands of rope round her body – they were framing her chest, and she looked so different…

She also had the grey tape over her mouth, as the man helped her to sit down and look at us. She asked if we were all right – well, what she said was “Hruhhlrht” which made us both laugh, but we watched the man as he tied Mum’s ankles and legs in the same way as us, and then helped her to lie down before her own ankles were pulled back and tied to the ropes round her chest.

The woman smiled, and said once the film was finished, we could try and escape. Those were the normal rules, and Mum nodded, so we rolled back over and managed to watch the television while the man and woman watched. Truth to tell, we did not even know they had left the room until the room finished, and we looked round. Mum then started struggling, and we joined in – but as I twisted round, trying to get free, I was aware something else was happening to me, and there was no way I could stop it…

Dad found us when he got home – he freed us, and then called the police as Mum told us we had really been robbed. They surprised her when her meeting finished, and the man made her show her where the valuables were while the woman – well, you know what she did to us…

Day 4 – The Conservatory

The house we live in as a family looks out over the Brecon hills, and offers us a magnificent view. Today, however, as I sit here with my daughters and our – guests – I find myself finding the view a useful distraction from what I know is really happening.

The day started as the day usually starts – my husband called from the office in London to check we were all right, and then my three daughters went to their rooms to start their lessons for the day. They are all home schooled -we believe in self-sufficiency, and using what we have to live and learn.

We also like to dress in a casual old school style – so that particular day, I was wearing a grey top that had a fake waistcoat panel at the front, as well as a long skirt made of crimson patterned panels. Black sandals were on my feet, and I was comfortable like this. So I made some coffee, and then made my way to the office to start my work as a commodity broker.

It was about an hour later when the day took a very different turn. I had just finished a discussion with a client, and stood up to make my way back to the kitchen to make some more coffee. When I walked in, however, our two guests were there. A man and a woman, both dressed in black – jumpers, pants, and in the case of the woman knee length leather boots. But they also had on black gloves, and both had stockings pulled down over their heads, obscuring their features as they looked at me.

Well, naturally, I asked who they were and what they were doing here – and then the man pointed a gun at me, as the woman told me to sit down very quietly and listen. Well, I had no choice, so I sat as she sat next to me, and explained they were here to take our valuables.

They also told me that they knew I had my three daughters at home, and it would be necessary to “make sure you all stay in one place and cannot stop us from what we need to do.” Well, that frightened me, but she put a gloved hand on mine and said there was no need to be afraid – they were going to make it a game for the girls, with my help.

That was when I knew who they both were, so I said I would cooperate, and tell them this was a game when they had to know – but I asked them one favour. The man asked what that was, and I said to let me go with them first to tell Alice what was happening. Alice is my youngest daughter, six years old, and I said she would not be scared if I told her what was happening.

The two guests looked at each other, and then the man nodded as he said that was fine – but they would have to start by securing my arms first. I knew I would have no choice in that, so I nodded as the woman opened a rucksack on the kitchen table, took out a length of white rope, and told me to stand up and turn round. When I did this, I felt her take my hands behind my back, and then I felt the rope as it was used to make sure my wrists stayed together. IT was tight, but not uncomfortable…

What did surprise me was when she took out a longer length of rope, and doubled it over, before she passed it round my body and pulled it tight under my chest. She then took it round my body again and again, making two bands that held my arms against me, and framed my chest before she tied it off behind me.

The man then nodded, as he picked up a second bag, and said it was time to start to gather my daughters together. We walked quietly out of my office- after the woman had put my status as Do Not Disturb and put my computer on standby – and we slowly walked up the stairs.

Now, my girls all have their names on their room doors, so we walked down to Alice’s’ door. The woman knocked on the door, and I asked Alice if I could come in. When she answered, he opened the door and we walked in as Alice turned in the chair.

She had a hairband in her blonde hair, a red rosette on one side, and she was wearing a sheepskin gilet over a long sleeved tiered white top. ~Alice was also wearing a pair of crimson culottes with a fringe on the edge, brown tights and silver slippers.

“Mum,” she said quietly, “what’s going on?”

“Well,” I said as I smiled at her, “we’re going to have a surprise today, something Dad has arranged for both of us. We’re going to act out a family play, in which two robbers are going to hold us captive. These are the robbers,” she said as she looked at us, “but they are actors, and they’re not going to harm us.”

“But you have ropes around you – will they do that to me as well?”

“Yes, they will – and to Heather and Bea as well. But – can you give some rope to hold?”

The masked woman nodded as she passed a length of the white rope to Holly. She stroked it, and said “it feels soft…”

“It is – and it does not hurt. Come and see what they did to me.”

Alive came over and looked at us, before she said “we’ll all be the same.”

“Yes,” the man said, “and I know you have a wonderful conservatory, so you will all be there. So, are you ready to start playing? If so, give my friend the rope, and then put your hands behind your back.”

“Okay,” Alice said, and I smiled as I watched the woman tie my youngest daughter’s wrists together behind her back. She then took a longer length of rope, and wrapped it round Alice’s upper body as well, moving her gilet to the sides as she did so.

“How does it feel?”

“Like a big hug – and it doesn’t hurt Mummy,” Alice said as she tied the ropes behind her.

“So do you think you’ll be all right like that for a while?”

“I think so – when will the others start to play?”

“Soon,” the woman said as she looked at Alice. “But we want this to be a nice surprise for them as well – so we’re going to take you and your mother down to the conservatory, and make sure you stay there while I come back and get your sisters. All right?”

Alice nodded as she walked out of her room with me, and we went down to the rear of the house. The conservatory had large panoramic windows, and we keep there a cane long seat and two armchairs, which we sit in in the evenings.

“Alice – can you sit yourself back on the long seat,” the woman said, and I watched as she pushed herself back onto the cushion.

“What happens now,” she said as she watched the woman fetch two more lengths of rope from the bag she had collected from the kitchen.

“Now, I need you to stay right there, so sit nice and still,” the woman said as she knelt down, doubled over one length of rope, and bound Alice’s ankles together. I watched her do it – wrapping the rope round, feeding the ends through the loop and pulling back, then winding in the opposite direction before tucking the ends under one band, separating them and taking them between her legs, then tying the knot at the back.

She did the same thing to her legs above her knees, before she said “there now – so, can you promise you won’t shout or try to raise the alarm while I go and fetch your sisters?”

“Okay,” Alice said with a smile as I sat next to her. “Look at me Mummy – I can’t move now.”

“that’s right,” I said with a sigh, “and I think I am going to be the same.”

“Yes, you are,” the masked man said as he found two more ropes in the bag, and soon my own ankles were tied together, and there was a band of rope holding my legs together above my knees, my skirt gathered under that as I leaned over and kissed Alice’s head.

A few minutes passed, before I heard Heather say “oh wow – you really are just like me Mum.”

“Yes I am, and so is Alice,” I said as I looked at my middle daughter, “this is a fun game, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is,” Heather said as she wriggled round, the bands of rope holding her arms to her side also forcing open a little the short beige hooded jacket she was wearing. She’s eleven, and under the jacket she was wearing a short sleeved light grey top. Her long brown skirt flowed to the floor, and she was also wearing flat black shoes.

“If you sit in an armchair,” I said with a smile, “then they can make sure your legs are just like ours, before Bea joins us. What were you doing anyway?”

“History – so Drama makes a good break,” she said as she sat down and pushed herself back, the man kneeling and starting to bind her ankles together as the masked woman left us again. Heather watched what he was doing, and then how he passed the rope under her legs and pulled it tight above her knees, gathering her skirt as well.

As he tied that off, he stood up and said “I need you to stay quiet for the moment until your older sister joins us, then we can do the next part of the game.” She nodded as we talked about her history lesson – and then Bea was brought in.

My oldest daughter is fifteen, and she was wearing a long sleeved red top with a striped, grey cardigan over it – and that had also been pulled to the sides by the bands of rope round her upper body. Unlike the rest of us, she was wearing blue jeans, and crimson moccasins.

“Mum – this is really a game,” she said as she looked at me.

“Yes it is – so we don’t need to be scared, because nothing bad is going to happen to any of us. So we’ll all play, Bea – all right?” Bea nodded and sat down in the other armchair, saying “so we’re all going to be here, right?”

“Right,” Alice nodded as I watched the man securing her ankles, and then her legs below her knees. So there we all were – tied up in the conservatory, and unable to do anything as the woman said “so, what can you girls tell me about what you can see” while the man left the room.

I knew where he was going, and I prayed he would not take too much from the three girls as Heather and Alice shared what they knew with our female guest. Bea looked at me, but I shook my head without saying anything, and she nodded in return as she twisted round.

It was about an hour later when the man came back and looked at all of us.

“Time for the next part of the game,” he said with a smile, “we need to make sure that none of you can call out and raise the alarm. Now, don’t worry – we will be in the room to watch you until the final stage, and we will put the radio on as well.”

“How are you going to stop us talking,” Heather said.

“With this,” the woman said as she took a red silk square from her bag, rolled it into a band and then tied a double knot in the middle. “Open your mouth as wide as you can.”

We all watched as he eased the knot between Heather’s teeth and then tied the band round her head, trapping her long blonde hair at the base of her neck as she closed her lips over it.

“Try and talk,” Alice said, and then she giggled as Heather said “Fhllsfhnhheee.”

“Try not to talk, you will get used to it,” the woman said as she rolled a second red scarf up, tied a knot in the middle of it, and then used it to gag Alice. The man also rolled up a scarf, knotted it and held it in front of Bea.

“I know who you are,” she said quietly, “thank you.”

“No, thank you,” he said, smiling under the stocking as he gagged her, and then I got the same gag as well, the knot pressing down on my tongue as I felt the band pressing in on my cheeks. I looked at ~Alice as she looked at me, and then we all heard the radio.

So, like I said, there we were, looking out over the hills, unable to move or speak clearly as our guests watched the sun start to set. The woman turned on the lights, as the man said “so, the final part – we are going to the kitchen, and you can try to get free. Then we can all talk about this.”

I looked at Alice, who had fallen asleep, her head resting against me as her chest rose and fell under the bands of rope, and then at the other two girls, who nodded as I watched our guests leave. Bea waited for a few moments, and then started to struggle, trying to find some give in the ropes.

Heather looked at me, and I saw the darkened red at the corners of her mouth as she said “Shllhthrrhswhllmhm?” I nodded, and watched as they both wriggled round – I had Alice against me, and besides, I knew I could not reach any of the knots.

Both girls gave up after a while, panting through their noses as I saw the sweat stains on their clothing, and Bea said “Whrrnhtghthnnfhrhh.”

“Hknhh,” I said, as I hoped they kept the promise they made. It took another hour, but the police did come – just as they had promised…

Day 5 – You’re never too old

“Come on Granny – it’ll be fun!”

I have to admit, the look on Helen Bleasdale’s face as she looked at her six year old granddaughter was one for the record books, as Steve stood behind her and guided her hands behind her back. She had walked in on – but perhaps I need to set the scene.

We had both moved on to the Wirral for our next stop, and we had planned to visit the home of Aaron Bleasdale, a celebrity chef, and this particular day we knew he was in his restaurant. He lived in a wooded glade with his wife Coral, and their daughter Victoria.

We had parked up for the day, and it was about four in the afternoon when we approached the house, wearing our usual black working clothes. The house was quiet as we made our way round, and heard someone in the kitchen. I looked in, to see Coral standing with her back to the window, working on something.

I looked at Steve as we pulled fresh stockings down over our heads, and tried the door handle for the rear entrance. It opened, but it squeaked as we walked in, and Coral turned round. She was wearing a grey long sleeved top, and jeans with the legs tucked into knee high dark brown leather boots with straps at the top. Her long blond hair was free, and had a set of beads round her neck. More importantly, her eyes were wide open behind her large glasses, as she said “oh my god…”

“Stay calm,” Steve said as I closed the door, “if you get upset, then Victoria will get upset, and we don’t want that to happen, do we?” I watched Coral as she gripped the work surface behind her, and then she slowly nodded.

“You… Are you the Games Players?”

“We are,” I said with a smile under the stocking, “so you can trust us when we say we don’t want to hurt you or your daughter – but we are going to rob you, so you need you to tell her this is a special game you have arranged, and that you are going to play it together. Do that, and there will not be any problems.”

“I don’t like lying to her,” Coral said quietly.

“Think of it as not lying, but playing a game together,” Steve said with a smile. “what were you doing?”

“Preparing a snack for her.”

“Well then,” I said, “do that, we will come with you, and you can explain while she has the snack.”

Coral nodded slowly as she finished slicing the vegetables, and put it on a tray with a bowl of dip and a glass of milk. Steve opened the door for her as she started to walk down the corridor, and then we heard her daughter say “thanks Mum.”

“I have a surprise for you,” Coral said as we followed her in, and we saw Victoria sitting on the end of a long couch. She had long blonde hair, with a black bow slide on one side, and was wearing a black top and leggings.

“Who is this Mum,” Victoria said as she took the tray, they look funny.

“Yes, we do,” Steve said as he put his rucksack on a chair, and I slipped mien off, “but your mum has arranged this for you, and she’s going to tell you all about it.”

“Okay,” Victoria said as Coral sat next to her, her hands together as her daughter picked up a carrot stick.

“Well – they are actors, who I have hired so that we can play a special game, and give Dad a big surprise when he comes back later.”

“What sort of surprise?”

Coral smiled as she stroked Victoria’s hair. “Well, they have those masks on because they are pretending to be a pair of robbers, and they are going to make sure that neither of us can stop them or raise the alarm – but it is all a game, so there is nothing to be afraid of.”

“Okay,” Victoria said as she picked up the glass of milk and took a drink, “so how do you stop us doing that?”

“Well,” I said as I opened my rucksack, “with these. Let me give you this to hold, and my friend will start with your mother so you can see there is nothing to be afraid of.” Victoria took hold of the rope from me as Steve drew some from his rucksack, and said “I want your mum to stand up and look at you, and I will start by making sure her hands stay behind her back.”

Victoria watched as Coral stood up, smiling as Steve guided her hands behind her back and secured her wrists together with the rope. The young girl was running the cord through her fingers, then put it down and finished her snack as Steve produced a longer length of rope, and passed it round Coral before he pulled it tight under her chest.

“See,” she said with a smile as he took the rope round her in two bands, “I’m really not going to be able to use my hands now.” Victoria nodded as Steve tied the ropes off, and Coral turned round, wriggling her fingers and making her daughter laugh.

“So are you going to do that to me as well?”

“I am,” I said with a smile as Coral sat down and Victoria stood up – after I had removed the tray and put it to one side. I took the rope from her and smiled as she put her hands behind her back, and I made sure her wrists were snugly and tightly secured together behind her back.

“Oh,” she said quietly as I passed the rope round her, and then gently pulled it tight before I took it round her shoulders, “that does feel funny?”

“Is it scary though?”

“No – it feels nice actually,” Victoria said as I finished binding her arms, and then she sat herself down next to her mother.

“Now I need to make sure you both stay here,” Steve said as he took more rope from his rucksack, then knelt down and crossed Coral’s ankles before he started to bind them together.

“Am I going to be like this as well?”

“Yes, you are,” I said with a smile as I took rope from my rucksack, crossed Victoria’s ankles and started to bind them tightly together in the same way as her mother. We then made sure their legs were secured together below their knees, the rope going between their legs there as well, as they looked at each other.

“So what happens now,” Victoria said as she bent her legs and put her feet down on the seat.

“Well…”

“Oh my goodness – what is going on here?”

I looked round to see an older woman in the doorway, wearing a long sleeved cream ribbed top, black pants and flat black shoes, a tartan scarf wrapped loosely round her neck.

“Helen,” Coral said quietly, “Aaron is at work, and…”

“We’re playing a game of robbers!” Victoria called out as she wriggled round, “come and play with us Gran.”

“A game of…” She looked at me, as Steve came up behind her and said “indeed – and as you are here, it means you get to join in the game. That will make your granddaughter very happy, won’t it Victoria?”

As the young girl smiled and nodded, Coral said “yes, we need you to play as well, Helen. Then we can all be together.”

“Come on Granny – it’ll be fun!”

Helen did not move or speak for a moment, but then she smiled and nodded as Steve guided her hands behind her back, and started to bind her wrists together. “all right – I can play with you for as long as you want me to,” she said as she then felt the rope round her body as Steve pulled it tight.

“Good – you can help keep Victoria company,” Corals aid as she and Victoria watched the rope going round Helen, stretching her top over her chest as Steve made sure it went under her scarf. She then sat next to Coral, Victoria saying “it’s like a hug that doesn’t stop” as Steve started to secure her legs.

“Yes it is – so they are keeping us hostage. Does that mean you are going to make sure we can’t raise the alarm as well?”

“Yes, it does,” I said as I looked at them, “tell me, Coral, do any of you have an allergy to sticking plasters?”

“No – why?”

“Good,” I said as Steve took the rope between Helen’s legs, and I took from my rucksack a roll of brown sticking plaster. “But not yet – you can sit and talk quietly while my friend pretends to look round the house.”

“Why don’t you tell Gran about our trip last weekend,” Coral said, Victoria nodding as they talked about their trip to the zoo. Steve left me to sit and watch them as they sat still, while he searched the house.

When he came back, he looked at the clock, and said “well, I think your dad may be coming home soon, and we want to surprise him when he comes in, so I need you to put your lips together for me.”

“Okay,” Victoria said as I tore a strip of fabric plaster from the roll, and then pressed it firmly down over her lips as she sat there.

“Good girl – we can all tell each other how this felt after the game,” Coral said, Victoria nodding as I gagged her mother, and then her grandmother.

“So you stay here nice and quiet, and then you can surprise your dad. Got it?”

“Ghhtht,” Victoria said as she nodded, Coral and Helen looking at each other as Steve said “we will wait in the kitchen” and we both stepped out…

Day 6 – Namaste

Janna is at her best when she is dealing with families that seem to invest completely in the scenarios we bring to them, and also when it is with different cultures in mind. We were heading to Yorkshire via Bradford, but we had also decided to make a pit stop on the way.

Bradford has a large Asian community, and one of the leading business leaders was Devansh Patel, the owner of a well know chain of restaurants. He is married to Arushi, and has two children, Gatik and Amyra – twin ten year olds.

So it was that we felt we had to be appropriately dressed for the occasion of our visit – Janna was wearing a black robe and pants, the matching dupatta covering her hair and the lower half of her face, while I was wearing a white shirt and loose pants with black shoes, as well as some rather natty sunglasses.

It was lunchtime when we walked up to their house – Devansh was at a very well publicised event, so we knew we could spend a little time there. The house was on a busy road – and paradoxically, it meant nobody noticed as we slipped in the front door.

We could both hear music at the rear of the house, but there was also the sound of a television on, so we both looked carefully in the front room. Gatik and Amyra were both there, lying on the floor – and having fun with their own game.

Gatik was wearing a light blue shirt with dark blue trim, and dark pants, while Amyra was wearing a pink sleeveless tunic and floral print leggings. What was strange was both of them had their wrists tied behind their back with a dupatta – blue for Gatik, pink for Amyra – which was also holding their ankles together in a hogtie.

Janna looked at me and shook her head, before we both walked in and said “hello there.” They both rolled over and looked at us, as Gatik said “who are you?”

“Well,” she said as she looked at them, “we’re here to play a game of escape with you and your mother – but it looks as if you are already playing a game. Are you both having fun?”

“yes,” Amyra giggled, “ so Amma has hired you so she can play the game as well?”

“That’s right – but we have an idea of a different way to make it more difficult for you to escape. Would you like me to show you – it involves this.” She took from her shoulder bag a large roll of silver duct tape, the twins looking at it before they both nodded.

“Good – well, my friend is going to see your mother, and he will bring her to join you in the game in a little while. We’re going to use these dupattas, so why don’t I get you free, and then we can begin.”

I nodded as I left her with the twins, and made my way to where the music was playing. Looking in the kitchen, I saw Arushi sitting at the wooden table, drinking from a mug. She was wearing an ivory coloured tunic with pictures of old balloons on the material, and a print of a cityscape around the lower hem. She was also wearing a pair of crimson silk pants, and a crimson dupatta loosely round her neck.

She looked up and saw me, before she said “who… My children…”

“My friend is with them,” I said quietly as I sat down, “and discussing the game they were playing. Let me guess – they saw it on YouTube?” As Arushi nodded, I smiled and said “fine – I don’t judge, but given we are here to relieve you of your valuables, we’re going to make this a really different game for them, aren’t we?”

“You… You want me to help them think this is part of the game?”

“That’s right – and you van stay with them to try and escape as well. But first, I need to make sure you cannot raise the alarm – your mobile phone, please.” I watched as she picked up her handbag and took out her iPhone, and handed it to me as I put it in my pocket.

“It used to be much easier when you could remove the battery – be assured, I will not look, and I will leave it here.”

“So what is your – friend saying to them?”

“that you hired us to help you to play as well,” I said with a smile as I opened my rucksack, and took out a roll of silver tape. “she will be using this, with your dupattas, to secure them – and I will use this to secure you. So please, stand up, turn round, and put your hands behind your back.”

“Okay,” Arushi said as she slowly stood and turned round, looking over her shoulder as I taped her wrists together behind her back, and then wrapped the tape round her waist to keep them against her back. I then wound the tape round her arms and body, above and below her chest, but I took care to make sure her dupatta was not trapped underneath. As she twisted round, I said “before we join your children, why don’t we take a walk round, and you can point out where your valuables are kept.”

Arushi nodded as we left the kitchen, twisting her body round from time to time as we walked up the stairs. I could hear Janna with the kids, and they sounded as if she was taking care of them, before we searched the other rooms.

When we had gone through the last room, I said “now to join your kids – but first, I need to keep you quiet.”

“Please, do not use that on my skin…”

“Of course not,” I said as I lifted her dupatta up, and continued “open wide.” As she did so, I wound the silk round her head twice, making sure it sat between her lips and kept her quiet. We then went back downstairs, and entered the front room as Amyra said “Whrrhdeemhmm.”

“Ghd,” she mumbled as she looked at Gatik and Amyra. They were sitting back to back, and their wrists had been taped together before they were taped to their legs. Their ankles were also taped together, and there was tape round their upper arms. One of the dupattas had been sued to make sure they were held together round their waists, while the second sat between their lips, holding their heads together as well.

“Please, sit down,” I said as Arushi sat on the couch, watching with her children as I taped her ankles together, and then her legs below her knees. Helping her to lie on her side, I watched Janna as she put the wall mounted television on, and Peppa Pig was playing, before we left them to try and escape…

Day 7 – My Brother

ViTheFirst
Good afternoon everyone – I don’t know if anybody has been following the news this week, but the Games Players seem to have been busy.

DamselDanni
Yeah – I hope they had as much fun as we did

ViTheFirst
It looks as if we have a new member with us – welcome YorkshireLass

YorkshireLass
Thanks – I think – but I’m not sure if I can say I enjoyed what happened to me or not – not yet anyway.

DamselDanni
Well, why don’t you – hang on, YorkshireLass. Are you the daughter of Ivy Rosenthal? She was the name of the latest report.

YorkshireLass
Yeah, I’m busted aren’t I? The detective who talked to me later last Friday suggested visiting here – finding others who could tell their story. So yes, I’m Clara Rosenthal, eleven years old, and still trying to figure out what happened.

ViTheFirst
Well, that’s what we do here. Forgive me, but you are Jewish, right?

YorkshireLass
Yeah – my dad is a rabbi, which is why he was not at home when they called. He was at a meeting at the synagogue after the service, so Mum, Daniel and I came straight home afterwards and got changed so that we could go for a walk.

DamselDanni
Robert is your younger brother?

YorkshireLass
Yeah – five years old, and – anyway. I went up to my room and took off my dress, before I put on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved black checked blouse. Sitting down, I pulled on a pair of mid-calf brown boots, and then put on a grey furry gilet.

ViTheFirst
You live on the outskirts of Kettering, right?

YorkshireLass
That’s right. When I came down, Robert was eating a sandwich at the kitchen table. He was wearing a blue jacket, jeans and brown shoes, while Mum was at the sink. She had on a checked blouse like mine, and her jeans were tucked into her knee length light brown boots.

Mum handed me a sandwich and a drink before she pulled over her head a lime green top – it was a bit like a poncho, but had sleeves as it hung lower at the back.

DamselDanni
So you had lunch, and then you went for your walk.

YorkshireLass
Well, that’s what Mum said we were going to do – but then there was the sound of the front door opening, and Mum went to see if a parcel was being delivered.

ViTheFirst
Let me guess – it wasn’t a parcel.

YorkshireLass
No, it wasn’t a parcel as such. I could hear Mum talking to someone, and then she came back into the kitchen with two visitors. A man and a woman. They were casually dressed – they both had on checked shirts, jeans and hiking boots. The man had on a shooting jacket, the woman a grey sweater under her blouse.

But I noticed they both had rucksacks on, both had on leather gloves – and both had what looked like a stocking pulled down over their heads.

DamselDanni
When she visited us, she was wearing a brown jumper and boots. Vi?

ViTheFirst
Dressed in black. Anyway, what did your mum say?

YorkshireLass
She told us both they had guns, and they were here to rob us. Daniel was frightened by that, but then Mum said that we were all going to be the same, and they had promised we would not be harmed if we all treated it like a game.

DamselDanni
Wow – she told the truth?

YorkshireLass
Mum never lies to us, trust me on that. I looked at Daniel, and told him it was all right to be a little afraid – but whatever happened, if they did it to me first, he would see it would be all right.

ViTheFirst
That was brave of you.

YorkshireLass
Well, it was important to keep Daniel happy, so he nodded as Mum went over and hugged him. She told me to take Daniel into the front room with the lady, and she would join us in a little while. I nodded as I stood up and walked round the table, Daniel taking my hand as the lady followed us into the front room.

She told us both to sit on a double seat, the television in front of us, and we watched as she went to the window and pulled the curtains over them. It made the room a little darker, as she came back and sat down, putting the rucksack on the floor. She then told us she knew this could be a little bit scary, but she was going to take it stage by stage.

Opening the bag, she took out two lengths of white cord, and gave us one each to hold. It felt soft, and Daniel looked at it curiously as she said this was what she was going to use to make sure we both stayed in the room.

DamselDanni
So what did she do first?

YorkshireLass
Well, she asked me if I was willing to go first, and then she would do the same to Daniel. I said I would, so she took the rope form my hands, doubled it over, and then wrapped it round my ankles before she brought them together. Daniel and I watched as she wrapped the rope round several times, then tucked it under the top band, separate the lengths, and took them between my ankles. Once she had tied the ends off at the back of my legs, I tried to move them apart – but I couldn’t.

Daniel asked me if it hurt - but truth to tell, the boots meant all I could feel was the fact I could not move them apart. So I told him he would be all right, as the lady took the rope from him and started to tie his ankles together, the cuffs of his jeans under the band.

ViTheFirst
Was he scared after she had done that?

YorkshireLass
No – if anything, he was bemused by the fact his legs were held together. He then watched as the masked woman took another length of rope form her bag, doubled it over, and then made sure my legs were tied together, below my knees and above the tops of my boots. When she was done, I tried to move my legs again – all that happened was a squeaking sound as my boots rubbed together.

DamselDanni
That can be fun as well.

YorkshireLass
Looking back now, I guess it was fun – but I was watching as she did the same below Daniel’s knees, and I asked him if he was still scared. He shook his head, and the woman smiled. It was a nice smile, as she stood up, and asked me to shuffle forward – she was going to do to my wrists behind my back what she had done to my ankles.

Daniel watched me shuffle myself to the edge of the seat, and take my hands behind my back. I watched as she walked behind me with more rope, and then felt her crossing my wrists before I felt the rope on my wrists. That was a strange feeling as well – she was making it difficult for me to think about trying to escape, raise the alarm – and it was actually exciting.

Daniel was watching her as she tied my wrists together. And he was actually interested in what she was doing. When she had finished, she put her gloved hands on my shoulders, and asked me if it hurt. Well, it didn’t hurt, so I looked at Daniel – to see he had already shuffled forward, and had his hands behind his back. She said thank you, as she walked round, got more rope, and then walked behind him.

ViTheFirst
Did you watch her tie your brother’s wrists together?

YorkshireLass
I did – to make sure he really wasn’t scared. The woman then said she was going to use a longer rope to make sure our arms stayed by our sides – and to my surprise, Daniel asked if he could go first this time!

DamselDanni
I get the feeling he was finding it easier to enjoy what was happening.

YorkshireLass
Oh don’t get me wrong – I guess I was still trying to figure out what was happening, as she took a long rope out, doubled it over and walked behind Daniel, then wrapped it round him and pulled it tight round his stomach. She took it round several times as Daniel grinned, making bands round his stomach and his upper arms as he sat there. She then took the rope under one arm, up and round the back of his neck, and under the other arm.

ViTheFirst
It feels like you’re being hugged the while time – I can testify to that.

YorkshireLass
I found that out when Daniel pushed himself back, his feet hanging over the edge of the seat, and she started to do the same time. It was just like been hugged – the ropes made my gilet go to the sides, but the bands were – well, nice.

DamselDanni
So you weren’t scared any more.

YorkshireLass
No – neither of us really were by this time, as the woman turned on the television. There was a cartoon on, so we sat and watched it as Daniel shuffled closer to me, and nudged me with his body.

I nudged him back – it was really like a game – and then a few minutes later the man came in with Mum.

ViTheFirst
I guess she had been round the house with him – how did she look?

YorkshireLass
Tied up – her hands were behind her back, and she had two bands of rope round her body as well as ropes under each arm, the same as us. Her top was stretched a bit, but she was glad to see we were both happy, as she sat in an armchair next to us.

The man put his rucksack down – it made a jangling sound when he did – before he took some rope out, crossed Mum’s ankles, and tied them together in the same way as us. He then tied rope round her legs below her knees, so that we were all the same when he stood up.

The man then said he was going to have to make sure we stayed quiet – and that was when Daniel said he wanted to be with Mum. The woman nodded as she picked him up, and then sat him across Mum’s lap so that he could rest his head on her chest.

DamselDanni
So how did he keep you all quiet?

YorkshireLass
He had a wide roll of white tape, which he peeled a long length off, and then pressed it down over Mum’s mouth. We could both see the shape of her lips underneath. But when she tried to talk we could not make out what she was saying.

Daniel was next, and then it was my turn. It felt strange as he pressed it down over my mouth and chin, but it held fast, and I could not really talk either.

Daniel was happy – I could tell, as Mum leaned her head down and kissed his head, while the woman asked me if I wanted to lie down. I nodded, so she helped me to lie with my head near Mum on the armrest, before they said to stay calm and still – it would not be long before our father came home.

DamselDanni
So how long was it?

YorkshireLass
Well, we watched another film, so a couple of hours after they left – but Dad did find us, and Umm told him how brave we had been when she could.

ViTheFirst
So you’re not scared now

YorkshireLass
No – so what happened to you two?

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