Inescapable Escapism

I could hear footsteps coming from the corridor outside my room. My mom was coming to check on me again. It felt like no time had passed since the last time, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to speak to her, though. There was no point. She was probably not even going to knock. She’d just barge in to make sure I wasn’t doing anything suspicious.

I wasn’t. Not really. In reality, I was sitting on my bed and reading a book. That’s all there was to it, nothing more. But, in my fantasy, I wasn’t there. I was somewhere completely different. The corridor before me was dazzlingly bright, and my drone shot forwards to try and catch it all. There was so much going on that I wasn’t sure it would be able to.

Stepping forwards into the corridor, I looked around with wide eyes. The floor below me caught my attention immediately, making anxiety shoot through me. It wasn’t there. Well, it was. I knew that logically, but it looked like it was nothing more than wisps. Soft clouds formed the floor I stood on, some parts thicker and more solid looking than others. Tiny tendrils broke away from the main path, drifting upwards in a lazy puff of golden smoke.

The lighting added to the effect. The only illumination came from the neon bubbly Frosted Ice logos and the walls. They looked strange too, though. The walls had been replaced by what looked like fish tanks. A light pink, mostly transparent liquid bubbled in them, but there was more. Flecks of gold glittered from inside. Each tiny bubble seemed to hold a piece of gold leaf, making the movements beautiful and hypnotic but also dizzyingly. I had to look away.

My eyes fell on the bar at the end, and my mouth fell open. I hurried to shut it, knowing how ugly I would have looked. A wide open-mouthed gawp was unattractive, and I spent too much time and effort in this world to be attractive. It wouldn’t do. Instead, I forced an excited smile onto my face and started to walk cautiously down the corridor, being sure to look surprised.

That’s how the viewers would be reacting, so I had to do the same. I was almost certain that the majority of my audience would be staring at the screen, their work or schoolwork forgotten. That made me happy. It meant more engagement, and that was always a good thing.

“Wow,” I breathed as I neared the end of the corridor, and my eyes fell on what waited there.

I didn’t really have to feign awe. I was feeling it. The bar was… incredible. It was a fish tank but in the shape of a giant bubble. Coral and rocks formed the foundation of it, making it look like it had simply been plucked out of the ocean and brought to the City rather than created by a props department somewhere. The only thing that gave it away was the Frosted Ice logo that was scattered around the otherwise rustic bar.

“This is magical,” I said, reading out one of the options the producers gave me. “I can’t believe Frosted Ice did all this!”

It was the most natural-sounding option, but I think if I were watching in real life, I would have known that it was something a sponsor was forcing me to say. I think it was the use of the company name. But then, the other options were worse. If I were to tell the viewers that Frosted Ice had created another masterpiece, and I didn’t mean a drink this time, they would have seen right through me. It barely even made sense too. Could a drink be a masterpiece? And were Frosted Ice drinks really that good? I had to assume not.

“I know!” the girl behind the bar said. “Frosted Ice put together this magical day, just for you! And the fun doesn’t stop here! Wait until you go upstairs. It’s magical!”

The bartender used the word magical too. That had to be intentional, but I wasn’t sure why.

I looked at her and felt my eyes widen again. She was perched on a rock behind the bar, high enough up that I could see her tail. Her legs must have been uncomfortable being encased in it, but she smiled at me happily before hopping down.

Seventy-one. That was her rank. I almost expected her to be unranked like the bouncer, but she wasn’t. That explained her smile. It was a huge deal for a smaller streamee like her to be able to meet and interact with so many high-ranked people. Even though I wasn’t a particularly high rank, I felt my back straighten and my chin lift. I was a big deal to her, and that filled me with a strangely powerful sensation.

The girl moved carefully, clearly struggling to move but trying not to show it, and I felt sympathy rush through me, overpowering the jealousy I had been feeling.

Being there, being the bartender at such a big event, would get her so many views and so many new followers. People would check in on her channel often, wanting to see who was coming to this event without having to search through streams for it. It made sense to just keep her stream up on a second monitor or something.

Even as I stood there, waiting for her to make her way across the small space to serve me, I saw her ranking go up. That made me feel more envious. It was such a big opportunity, and one I didn’t get when I was such a low rank. I had to work hard, fight for viewers and hunt down opportunities. I spent my down time every evening scouring my contact card for any information I could get on the other streamees who were doing so much better than me. The girl behind the bar had just been handed it and probably didn’t even deserve it.

Discomfort went through me. I didn’t like how I was acting or how I was feeling. It wasn’t that girl’s fault that she had been given the opportunity, so I shouldn’t be feeling that way. It was her producers. They’d pulled some strings or had done something to get it for her. She got lucky, that was for sure, but she didn’t deserve any cruelty from me. It was something my mom would do, and I refused to be like her.

Plus, she looked so uncomfortable. She was limping, hopping about and eyeing my drone nervously. She was looking at me anxiously. I think she expected me to be mean, and that made me feel horrible. I wouldn’t do that. I’d make sure to be nice to her.

“It really is! And you look amazing,” I said, gesturing to her outfit.

She really did. Her dark hair had been curled, and there must have been fans built into the bar because it was moving constantly, as if caught in a current. Her body was mostly exposed, and only her chest was covered. A fragile-looking top, made of nothing more than pink shells, had been stuck to her body. It couldn’t have been comfortable at all. Gratitude washed over me. I was suddenly very glad that I was not in her position, despite how good it would have been for her ranking.

“Oh, thank you,” she replied, her cheeks colouring. “So do you!”

I looked down at my dress as the drone fluttered around us.

“Thank you! My viewers picked it out, and I think I’m in love! It’s so beautiful,” I gushed.

I was laying it on too thick. I needed to pull it back a bit.

“They did?” she asked, sounding shocked. “The last time my viewers picked an outfit out for me, I ended up walking down the main street in… well, just a bit more than what I’m wearing now.”

She laughed, and I joined in. At first, I had thought she was about my age, but now I saw that I was wrong. She was a year or two older, probably coming to the end of her contract. That was why she had the opportunity. Her producers were trying to drag it out and get offered an extension so they didn’t need to start over with a new streamee.

“Oh no,” I said, still giggling.

“Oh, yes. After that, I stopped trusting them quite as much,” she joked. “But, do you know who you can trust? Frosted Ice! They put this whole party together to help everyone celebrate their latest and most magical range yet. Specifically designed to make you feel your most magical and powerful self, Frosted Ice have created a range of premixed drinks, inspired by concepts you’d never normally be able to taste. Have I got your attention?”

It was a script that she was reading, and that was obvious. The words were clearly put together by a marketing department somewhere because it sounded nothing like what a real person would say. It was stilted, the phrasing awkward, but the bartender gave it her all. She was doing a good job. She deserved to be a higher rank. I didn’t really want her to overtake me and knock me down, obviously, but she was trying so hard.

“You do,” I said almost truthfully.

Her smile grew as her arms stretched wide, gesturing to the various clear tubes that were built into the bar. I hadn’t even noticed them before. I’d been too distracted by everything else.

“With five intense flavours and two more coming next month, you’ll be able to feel your magical best!” she said. “And today, you’ll be able to try all five flavours before anyone else.”

“That’s exciting!”

“Isn’t it? I have to say, I’ve tried a couple of the flavours, and they are incredible,” the bartender said, leaning towards me conspiratorially.

“Oh really? Which is your favourite?” I asked.

She paused, considering it.

“I would say… Electricity.”

That stumped me. I didn’t expect that to be one of the flavours. I thought it would be more… normal. What would electricity even taste like? I really didn’t know, and I’d never been even tempted to find out. It seemed stupid. Surely, if a person tastes electricity, they’d die.

“Oh really?” I asked cautiously.

“Really! The taste is just so… electric! You really have to try it to understand!”

I hesitated, knowing that my viewers were most likely voting on whether or not I would drink electricity. Part of me was tempted to just ask for something else. Another flavour or something that I knew was safe. I couldn’t though. Frosted Ice were the sponsor. I probably wouldn’t even be allowed to ask for another Frosted Ice drink.

“What are the other flavours?” I asked, hoping to give my viewers some other safer-sounding options.

“There’s cloud, power, knowledge and freedom!”

Immediately, I longed for freedom. Not just to drink it but to experience it. I wanted to be free, to make my own choices and do whatever I wanted rather than be constantly aware of the viewers and what they would want me to do. Desire gripped me so strongly that I couldn’t respond to the girl. All I could do was stand there.

Something flashed in my vision. A word.

“I’ll try the electricity,” I said, snapping myself out of the haze I was in. “It sounds so exciting!”

The bartender smiled at me before shuffling across the bar towards the cups.

“Normally, this comes in a can, so it’s easy and accessible. You can drink it on the go! But tonight, it’s on tap,” she said, smiling at me mischievously. “Watch this.”

She slammed the glass into place under a tap and pulled down the switch. Immediately, we were plunged into darkness. The only light came from the Frosted Ice signs around the bar and the drones. The room was silent apart from a faint rushing noise. The hairs on my arms stood on end.

“Uhh,” I started to say, thinking something had gone wrong.

Nothing ever went wrong in the City; they’d never show it. But I quickly realised the sudden darkness was intentional. The rushing noise was growing louder, and I realised it was coming from the bar. No, not just the bar, from the pipes around it. And one was starting to glow.

I saw my drone move out of the corner of my eye. It was trying to get a shot of my reaction to whatever was about to happen, which meant I had to play it up. I leant forwards towards the pipe, my eyes wide. I had to touch it. I knew how good that would look on camera, especially now that the glow was getting brighter.

Reaching out, I let my hand tremble before pressing my fingers against the clear glass pipe. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or just good timing, but the moment I touched it, the rushing noise became almost deafening. I snatched my hand back as the tube grew so bright it almost hurt my eyes.

Blue liquid exploded into the pipe, crackling and fizzing with electricity. It built, becoming more and more solid, before finally shooting out the tap and into the glass below. Once it was full, the lights slowly returned and soft music filled the room. The bartender smiled as she slid the glass towards me.

“There you go. One order of liquid electricity. Drink it whilst it’s charged.”

I stared at the almost luminous blue liquid, not wanting to pick it up. I was almost certain that the drink wasn’t actually electric and the effects had been fake, but… I also didn’t quite trust the producers. They wouldn’t have electrocuted me for entertainment, would they?

I honestly wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t resist any longer. The words were already flashing along the top of my vision, telling me to hurry up and drink it. It would look bad for the sponsors if I took too long or didn’t react well, and if I disappointed the sponsors, that was me done. If they pulled out, if they blacklisted me, I wouldn’t be able to go to any event that they hosted. I would be forgotten, left behind. The producers would try but even they would know it was a lost cause. I’d drop down the ranks, be nothing.

I reached out for the drink, trying to mould my expression into one of excitement rather than reluctance, and picked it up. The glass was icy in my hand, which somehow didn’t make me feel any better. But there was no other option. I couldn’t pretend to drop the drink or spill it. I had to drink it.

Lifting the glass to my lips, I paused for a moment, trying to smell it. There was no scent, but the bubbles jumped out of the glass, landing on my lips and making them tingle. That concerned me; however, I cared more about the sponsors than what would happen to me if I were to drink it.

I took a sip.

Surprise rushed through me, and I knew it was showing on my face. It was actually… quite pleasant. The flavour was strange and hard to describe. It was light and refreshing, yet zingy. It felt like licking a lemon or something like that. Almost like my tongue had been zapped with electricity. It wasn’t unpleasant or painful, but it was a shock.

“It’s pretty good, right?” the bartender remarked with a laugh, having seen my reaction.

“Yeah!” I replied. “It’s delicious!”

The bartender’s smile widened.

“It really is. You should try the other flavours; they’re all fantastic!” she said. “But you can try them up on the roof. Just wait until you get up there. I had a sneak peek when they were setting up, and it looks great!”

I glanced at the elevator at the back of the room, suddenly nervous.

“I bet it does…”

“I’m sure you’re going to have a lovely time,” the bartender told me, her tone unexpectedly supportive.

The drone moved closer to my face, trying to get a shot of my anxiety. I knew it was written across my features, but I wasn’t sure what to do. People would like to see it, I was pretty sure. It was understandable; they’d be encouraging me in the chat.

I took a deep breath before glancing at the bartender.

“Are there many people up there?” I asked.

“A few,” she said with a nod. “Some big names. That Ray guy is up there already.”

I felt my stomach tighten with nerves.

“Oh, really?”

The bartender’s cheeks flushed.

“Yeah… He’s cute in person,” she said.

There was more to her reaction than that though, I could tell. He probably flirted with her. That made sense; a lot of the higher-ranked guys were flirts. But I could use that to my advantage. I could flirt with him, play it up for the cameras. I wasn’t sure if my audience would like that, though. Some might not. They didn’t always like it when I acted like that with guys. In fact, they mostly didn’t. But maybe Ray would be a big enough name for them that they wouldn’t mind too much.

I’d have to play it by ear and see how the polls go. I was sure the producers would put some up. They’d decide what I should do and how I should act. They always did.

“I’ve heard he is,” I said with a shy smile before looking towards the elevator again.

I was wasting my time. I had already been at the party for ten minutes or so, and I had spent the entire time with the bartender, who was a lower rank than I was. That was a stupid decision, even if she was nice. I should be on the roof, talking to the higher-ranked people and getting more viewers.

“Have fun up there,” the bartender said as she climbed onto the rock again.

“Thanks,” I told her with a genuine smile. “I hope you have fun down here.”

She grinned at me before lifting a glass that had been left there and taking a long drink. I walked towards the elevator, hearing my drone circling me slowly. It was the perfect time to support the sponsors, I realised. I could do it in such a natural way.

I took a sip of the electricity-flavoured cocktail, savouring the taste.

“Wow,” I muttered just loud enough for the microphones to pick up. “This is delicious.”

A light flashed, signalling the producer’s approval, as the elevator doors opened. I stepped inside, looking around at the decorations inside. The floor of the huge industrial lift had been replaced with grass. The sides were open to the elevator shaft and painted beautifully to look like we were in the Countryside.

Ah, that’s why the ground was covered in grass. It was meant to feel like we were out there for some reason. I liked it. It looked pretty and made me excited for what awaited me on the roof. I knew it would be good. My viewers would like that.

“Hold the door,” a deep voice called.

I reached out towards the doors, but they were already starting to open again. Someone was walking down the corridor towards me, and for a moment, I assumed someone had changed their mind. Maybe the sponsors weren’t happy with how I had reacted to the drink and didn’t want me at the party.

But then I noticed the number above their head. Fifteen. They were another party guest and not just any guest. It was Landon. He had somehow managed to stay at number fifteen for years. Everyone knew about him.

And he was looking at me. He had reached the bar and ordered a drink, but his eyes were still on me. There was something appraising in his expression as he stared at me, basically ignoring the bartender. One of his drones zipped out in my direction, and I felt the need to fiddle with my skirt. I shouldn’t. I looked fine and I knew that.

I lowered my chin but continued to hold his gaze. A smile gathered on his lips.

“Thanks, darling,” I heard him say to the bartender before starting to walk towards me.

His movements were fluid and seductive. There was something about him; I couldn’t look away. Not that I wanted to. The drones buzzed around us as he drew closer, making sure to capture both of us.

He stepped into the lift, standing so close that my arm almost brushed against his.

“What are you drinking?” he asked, his voice low.

“Electricity,” I said, my voice sounding slightly weaker than I meant.

He was such a high rank, and there was something terrifying about him.

“That’s fitting,” he said, glancing across at me. “Can I try some?”

It felt like a weird question, but I didn’t want to say no. Being seen with someone like him would be huge for my ranking.

“Sure.”

Our fingers brushed as he took the glass from my hand, and I watched him carefully as he took a slow sip.

“Huh,” he said. “Somehow, Frosted Ice’s managed to capture exactly what I’m feeling between us.”

My face flushed, and I had to look away.

“What drink did you go for?” I asked as the lift doors started to close.

“Power,” he said, the word dripping in it.

He didn’t need to drink power; he already exuded too much of it.