Tickly
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Chapter 1 Part 4
🕑 Added 2025-02-24 16:00:07 +0000 UTC(Lily's POV)
The third guy, after checking in at the receptionist walked in our direction, his steps confident but his expression unreadable. He didn’t look nervous, but he didn’t exactly look thrilled either. As he approached, Ryan immediately perked up.
"Hey man, are you here for the experiment too?" Ryan asked almost instantly, leaning forward with curiosity. "What’s your name?"
The guy gave a small nod. "Yeah. Name’s Matt."
Ryan grinned. "Nice. I’m Ryan, that’s Dave, Maya, and Lily." He gestured to each of us in turn. "Welcome to the party."
Matt took a seat next to us, adjusting his short jeans slightly before getting comfortable. He wore a simple grey shirt and black ankle socks peeking out from his shoes. Something about his demeanor told me he was just as unsure about this as we were.
I decided to break the ice. "So, Matt, how did you end up here? What made you apply for this?"
He let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly? I was looking for something part-time, and I came across the ad. It sounded... weird. But the pay caught my attention. Figured, why not?" He shrugged, but there was something in his tone that suggested he wasn’t fully convinced this was a great idea.
Dave smirked. "Yeah, that seems to be the common theme here. We all saw the ad and thought, ‘huh, this sounds sketchy but kinda interesting.’"
Maya chuckled. "And now we’re all stuck together, waiting for whatever’s coming next."
Ryan leaned back against the couch. "Alright, let’s get to the important stuff. How ticklish are you, Matt?" He asked with a teasing grin.
Matt smirked slightly. "I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m the worst, but... let’s just say I wouldn’t be thrilled to find out how bad it can get."
I raised an eyebrow. "So, what’s your worst spot?" I asked, half out of curiosity and half to distract myself from my own nerves.
Matt exhaled, looking amused but slightly reluctant. "Probably my sides. Feet too, but it depends. I can usually handle it for a little while."
Maya grinned. "You ‘can usually handle it’? That means you’re doomed too."
We all laughed at that, even Matt.
Just then, Dave glanced up at the clock on the wall. "1:57 PM. Almost time."
I swallowed. My stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation. Whatever was about to happen, we were minutes away from finding out.
Before any of us could say more, the door to the lobby opened again. Our attention turned toward it as a girl walked in. She was impossible to miss.
She had a distinct goth look—long, jet-black hair, dark nails, a black crop top, and a black skirt that contrasted sharply against her pale skin. She also wore black thigh-high socks and matching boots, giving her an almost intimidating presence. Unlike the rest of us, she didn’t hesitate or look around nervously. Instead, she walked straight to the reception desk, calm and composed.
I exchanged glances with the others. This was definitely getting more interesting by the minute.
The goth girl finished checking in at the reception desk and, without hesitation, made her way toward us. Just in time—1:59 PM. She walked with confidence, her boots clicking against the floor as she approached. Despite her dark aesthetic, something about her seemed approachable, even friendly.
She took the last empty seat beside us, and—predictably—Ryan was the first to speak.
"Hey, are you here for the experiment too? What's your name?" he asked with his usual curiosity.
She smirked slightly, crossing her legs. "Yeah. I’m Anne."
Her voice was calm and assured, and she carried herself like she had no second thoughts about this whole thing. Definitely more composed than the rest of us.
Maya immediately leaned forward with interest. "So, Anne, since we’re all getting to know each other... how ticklish are you?"
Anne let out a soft chuckle. "Oh wow, straight to the point, huh?" She tilted her head slightly, thinking. "I mean, I can handle it. But, like anyone, I have my weak spots."
Maya grinned. "Well, it’s nice to have another girl in the group. And—" she shot me and herself a teasing glance "—it looks like all the girls’ worst spot is their feet."
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "I didn’t exactly deny it."
Anne smirked but didn’t confirm or deny the statement, which only added to the intrigue.
Before we could continue the conversation, the sound of approaching footsteps caught our attention. A woman dressed in a crisp white lab suit entered the waiting area. She had a professional air about her, but her warm smile kept her from being intimidating.
"Good afternoon, everyone," she greeted us, her tone friendly yet authoritative. "I’m the leader scientist and I’ll be overseeing today’s experiment. Thank you all for coming. If you’ll follow me, we can discuss the details and get started."
A glance at the others confirmed we were all thinking the same thing—this was really happening.
We stood up, exchanging quick looks before following the scientist through the sleek white hallway.
No turning back now.
We followed the scientist down the hallway, our footsteps echoing softly against the sleek white floors. No one spoke. The weight of what we had signed up for lingered in the air, but none of us dared to voice it.
After a short walk, we entered a new room. It was nothing like the sterile corridors we had just passed through. Instead, it looked more like a lounge or waiting area—chill and inviting. There were couches, chairs, and even some beanbag chairs scattered around. It was oddly comfortable, which somehow made me even more uneasy.
The scientist turned to face us. "This is the waiting room," she announced, her tone professional but not unfriendly. "Before we begin, I want to go over a few details." She gestured toward the seating, and we all hesitated for just a second before sitting down. Some of us took the couches, others chose chairs. I ended up next to Maya, who gave me a small, knowing look.
"Before you proceed, I need to make something very clear," the scientist continued. "In a few moments, you will be given a contract to sign. This contract will formally enroll you in the experiment. Signing is not mandatory. If, at any point, you decide that you do not wish to participate, you are free to leave. However, once you sign the contract, there will be no backing out of the experiment until it is completed."
Her words hung in the air like a weight pressing down on us. I swallowed, suddenly aware of how serious this was. Sure, I had read the ad, gone through the application, and even talked about it with the others—but now it felt real.
I glanced around the room. Everyone else looked deep in thought. Dave leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. Ryan absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his leg. Maya had gone quiet, her usual playful expression replaced by something more thoughtful. Anne, on the other hand, still looked composed, though even she seemed to be mulling it over.
I shifted in my seat. Was I really doing this? Were we all really doing this?
The scientist remained standing in front of us, her posture composed as she continued. "Now, let me explain the details of the experiment." Her voice was calm, but firm, as if she had given this speech many times before.
"This experiment will focus solely on foot tickling," she stated. "Your feet will be held in place and exposed to a variety of tools in under different conditions. The goal is to examine how different stimulations affect your reactions."
I felt a chill run down my spine. Foot tickling... I shifted slightly in my seat, instinctively curling my toes inside my shoes. From the corner of my eye, I saw Maya tense up too.
"Once the experiment begins," the scientist continued, "it will not be interrupted for any reason. The session will only stop when the designated time limit has expired. This is a strict condition, so if you sign the contract, you are agreeing to complete the experiment no matter what."
The weight of her words pressed down on us. I glanced at Ryan, who had stopped his finger-tapping, his eyes now fixed on the scientist. Dave and Anne both looked composed, but I could tell they were processing everything carefully. Maya was staring at the floor, her lips slightly parted, clearly deep in thought.
The scientist reached into a folder and pulled out several sheets of paper. One by one, she handed each of us a contract and a pen. "This is your agreement form. Signing this means you fully consent to participate in the experiment under the conditions I have just described."
She took a step back, her gaze moving between us. "The decision is entirely up to you. If you choose not to sign, you may leave now, no questions asked. However, once you sign, there is no turning back. You must complete the experiment in its entirety."
The room fell into silence. I stared down at the contract in my hands, the words blurring slightly as my thoughts raced. Was I really ready for this?
I looked around at the others. Everyone was hesitating, no one making a move just yet. The air was thick with tension, a quiet but undeniable pressure settling over all of us.
