Chapter 2 – From Club to College

The pink neon sign glowed enticingly into the night, the words ‘DeSade's Cabaret Restaurant’ encircled by a string of bulbs chasing each other endlessly. Melody could feel the butterflies stirring in her stomach as their car pulled up outside. She'd known since yesterday, when the studio had telephoned, that they'd made the cut, but, by agreement, neither she nor her mother knew if Penny and Suzy were in. Melody was hoping they'd got in, she and Penny had always done everything together, and it just wouldn't be the same without her.

Penny and Suzy were already waiting in the lobby when the Williams family walked in. Melody's hopes rose when she saw they were both wearing identical little black dresses, and had styled the long blonde hair they shared to match as well. Would they have dressed as a mother-daughter team if they weren’t competing? She was just a little jealous she hadn't thought to do the same.

As the girls embraced, Penny whispered into her friends ear, "We're in!"

"I thought so." whispered Melody back. "We're in as well!"

"Come along girls." Gina ushered them forwards. "The show will already have started and I'm absolutely ravenous."

The night's opening act was just being helped off the stage as they walked into the body of the restaurant. Everyone was a little sorry they'd missed it, judging by her macerated buttocks, she'd been thrashed until her skin was flayed off.

As they entered the restaurant, a waitress walked over to greet them. Both the girls stared, amazed, at her. It wasn't her clothes, a tight-fitting fishnet top, tiny red g-string and 5 inch heels, it was the state of her body. Almost every inch of visible flesh, and it was nearly all visible, was covered with scars, welts or bruises.

"Welcome to DeSade's. My name's Carmen and I'll be your waitress for tonight."

The waitress smiled at Melody's shocked expression, "Is this your first time at DeSade's miss?" Melody just nodded. "Well, in addition to the stage show, you're welcome to beat any waitress that takes your fancy at the table. As you can see, I'm very popular."

The two families were shown to a table quite close to the stage, where the next act was just setting up. After ordering drinks and starters, they settled back to watch. The act was billed as a human dartboard. A very busty brunette stood against a board with numbers painted on her body, and members of the audience were encouraged to come up and compete for a bottle of champagne. After half an hour, a table on the far side of the room were cheering as the winner walked back carrying his bottle, and the dartboard was being carried out, bleeding profusely.

Two hours later, replete after an excellent meal, it was Suzy who suggested they try out their waitress. "It'll be fun, and we could all do with the practice."

They called Carmen back over and ordered a single-tailed whip. Everyone took turns, seeing who could be the first to draw blood. Carmen took the whole thing in very good spirits, barely gasping as the whip cut into her already scarred skin.

Chattering excitedly in the car home, everyone agreed it had been a terrific night.

“It’s a shame we won’t get to do it again,” mused Suzy, “but I suppose if we weren’t in the contest we’d never have come here at all.”

****

The next week was busy with practical matters. With the contest that Saturday, there was plenty for Gina and Suzy to sort out at work. For everyone, there were costumes to decide on and routines to rehearse, both families had agreed to keep their plans secret, so as not to ruin the surprise.

However secret they tried to keep their plans from each other, little hints did leak out. When Melody popped in to see Penny unexpectedly, she found her and Suzy hanging by one hand from beams in the garage, flicking each other with the cords from their dressing gowns. Helping to clear after a meal at Melody's, Penny spotted the odd sight of a half chewed raw pork belly in the bin.

Despite attempts at reticence, the girls found they couldn't resist chatting about their plans, although they did manage to keep some things secret.

"So you and your mother are going to use the stage assistants, what if you're given a pair of dorks and they get the routine they wrong?" asked Melody, as she and Penny were sitting in her room one evening.

"They're usually pretty good. I know you occasionally get an idiot, but it's a risk we've got to take. A bondage routine really won't work unless we're both tied up."

"I suppose so. I'm just happier with only me and mum, it means we don't have to rely on one rehearsal on the day itself. I'm scared enough as it is."

The girls shared a nervous look. Penny voiced their thoughts, "What if we muck it up? Remember that woman who fell onto a spike right at the start? Five seconds and it was all over, the audience actually booed!"

"Look at it this way," Melody said, trying to reassure herself as much as her friend, " We can't be as bad as that, neither of us will have any spikes to fall onto."

After another moment Penny thought of something else. "And our mums, what if one of them wimps out and ends it quickly?"

"I don't think so." Melody felt on firmer ground here. "Remember a couple of years ago when we were all watching it together? Both our mums were cheering from the sofa when that woman took an acid shower."

Penny gave a relieved little grin, "Yeah, you're right. I just need to stop worrying and make sure I know what I'm doing."

****

Penny and Melody didn't have to go to school that week, but they couldn't resist the chance to show off to their friends, and bask in the admiring and envious glances that were thrown at them. Several of the other girls in their school had auditioned, but only the two friends had actually been selected.

As the girls were packing their bags on Tuesday night, they were a little surprised when the headmistress came up to talk to them.

"Melody, Penny, congratulations on your entry." Miss Shaw smiled at them. "I was wondering if you'd talk to tomorrow's assembly? It could be years before we have any more contestants from this school, and I think you could really inspire some of the younger girls."

Melody looked at Penny, checking how she felt about it. "We'd love to Miss Shaw. It'll be a good chance to try out our costume's."

"With your costumes, that's great girls!" Miss Shaw positively beamed at them. "If you come in before school tomorrow, we can make sure everything's set up."

Melody and Penny rushed home. Their costumes weren't finished, and they knew, even with their mother's help, there was a full evening's work ahead of them.

****

The bell was ringing to call students in from the yard. The two friends were nervously checking themselves in the mirror, and helping each other to make minor adjustments to their costumes. Both were feeling quite tense, they'd never really tried to stand out before, and now they were preparing to expose themselves, both literally and metaphorically, to the entire school.

Penny and her mother had gone for a leather bondage theme. From a large metal ring, which exposed her belly button, thin straps ran over her shoulders and down her back, only covering her nipples by being clamped to them. A matching pair of straps ran from the base of this ring to a wide leather band tied tight around her thighs. Her long blonde hair was knitted into a tight plait. Leather cuffs on wrists and ankles, and cute little boots with 3 inch stilettos, were the only other items of clothing.

Her friend had gone for quite a different look, basing her costume on a circus acrobat. A spangled under-bust corset that showed her swelling breasts off perfectly, the short little ruff of a skirt hiding almost nothing below her waist. Silver fishnet tights that emphasised rather than hid her taut buttocks and fiery pussy, and arm-length fishnet gloves, silver to match her tights.

The two friends looked nervously at each other and grinned. Grasping each other's hands, they walked to the side of the stage, where Miss Shaw had just started addressing the school.

"As I'm sure you all know, The Contest is being held right here in Bearton on Saturday night. We are incredibly proud that two students from right here at Winstanleigh College have been selected to perform. Today Melody and Penny, who are both performing in the new mother and daughter category, have very kindly agreed to show us their costumes and talk to us about their preparations."

There were gasps, and more than one wolf-whistle, as the girls walked onto the stage in their costumes. They both blushed a little as hundreds of pairs of eyes drank in every detail of their near-naked forms. Miss Shaw started clapping as they approach the podium, and everyone else soon enthusiastically joined her.

"So Penny." said Miss Shaw, who seemed to have problems taking her eyes off the girl’s naked, peachy buttocks. "Tell us why you've decided on that particular costume."

Penny swallowed hard and stood a little more upright before replying, to regain her composure. "Well. Me and my mum decided to go for a traditional bondage theme and we thought some old-style leather would look really cool and be really practical. I wouldn't want to come loose at a critical moment."

"And how about you Melody?" said Miss Shaw, turning to her.

"Oh, we're going for a circus theme. Lots of swinging around and odd contortions."

"And can either of you give us any hints about your performance?"

Both girls shook their heads. Melody added "We don't want to ruin the surprise. All I will say is, we've all been practising really hard and come up with some pretty cool moves. I know there's going to be stiff competition, but I reckon we're both in with a chance."

"You're not feeling nervous, then?"

"Oh God, I'm terrified. And you are as well, aren't you Penny?" Penny nodded. "I know it's only one chance to get things absolutely perfect. Still, you only get snuffed once, and I reckon live on national television, rather than at home or in some little club, is the best way to do it."

"I know you don't want to give us details, but can I take it that you've planned something ingeniously abusive?" Melody couldn't help noticing that Miss Shaw seemed now to be addressing Penny's bottom.

"Oh definitely." Penny replied enthusiastically. " Melody and I are trying to keep our plans secret, even from each other, but I know both of our acts are going to be really degrading and painful. I can promise you on Saturday night we're going out with a scream."

"Thank you Penny, thank you Melody." Miss Shaw dragged her eyes from Penny's bottom and turned towards the rest of the school. "I'm sure we'd all like to wish them both good luck for Saturday."

As the assembled students clapped and cheered, the headmistress ushered the girls off the stage and towards her office. On the way, Melody whispered to Penny about the interest that had been taken in her posterior. As a result Penny, who'd always rather liked Miss Shaw, left her office with rather red cheeks both top and bottom.

This story is a fantasy, set in another place, with only the slightest passing nod to our reality as it’s glimpsed on a distant horizon. If this isn’t immediately apparent to you, I strongly suggest you seek urgent psychiatric care.