Laughter of Symphonia - part 2

The first sensation Sheena registered was the unyielding pressure around her ankles. Her eyes fluttered open, the dim light struggling against the heavy curtains. A rough, splintered plank held her fast, her feet protruding through two circular openings. Dread coiled in her gut. Beside her, Marta stirred, a soft groan escaping her lips as she too became aware of their predicament. Colette, on Marta’s other side, let out a startled gasp, her body jerking against the wooden restraint. “What in the...?” Marta’s voice, usually a confident alto, was a mere whisper. Sheena twisted her head, her neck stiff. Three pairs of boots, meticulously arranged, sat just beyond their reach. Her own sturdy hiking boots, Marta’s sleek ankle boots, and Colette’s brightly colored sneakers. Then she saw the toe ties, tied snugly around each of their toes, connecting them to the rough wood. A shiver traced its way up her spine. A high-pitched giggle echoed from the shadowed corner of the room. A figure emerged, bathed in the soft glow of a single lamp. Alice. Her blonde pigtails bounced as she skipped forward, a wide, innocent smile plastered across her face. “Good morning, my sleepy little birds,” Alice chirped, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “Did you have lovely dreams?” Colette’s eyes narrowed. “Alice, what is this? Let us go.” “Oh, Colettie,” Alice pouted, her lower lip trembling just so. “But the fun has only just begun. Look, Rainy and Pressy are already enjoying themselves.” Sheena followed Alice’s gaze. Beyond Colette, two more figures were similarly ensnared. Raine and Presea. Their feet, bare and vulnerable, were positioned beneath strange contraptions. Pink, fluffy brushes, the color of bubblegum, spun rapidly, mounted on metal arms that extended from the stocks. They danced across Raine’s soles, tickling her toes, making her squirm. Presea’s feet writhed, a soft, involuntary moan escaping her lips as the brushes worked their magic. Raine’s head snapped up, her eyes pleading. “Alice, please! It tickles!” “Oh, I know, Rainy! Isn’t it just delightful?” Alice clapped her hands, her innocent facade unwavering. “Such happy little wiggles!” Marta tugged uselessly at her restraints. “Alice, this isn’t funny. We need to go.” “MartMart, always so serious.” Alice tutted, reaching out a hand to gently stroke Marta’s cheek. Marta flinched away. “But you’ll learn to love it. Everyone does. Especially Sheeny.” Her gaze lingered on Sheena’s feet. The whirring sound of the brushes intensified. Alice turned a small dial on a nearby panel. The pink fluff balls spun faster, their tips a blur against Raine’s arch. A high-pitched, almost desperate giggle burst from Raine, her body convulsing, her feet thrashing against the invisible torment. Presea, too, began to squirm with renewed vigor, her breath catching in her throat. “See?” Alice beamed, her eyes sparkling with unadulterated amusement. “They’re having so much fun. And soon, it will be your turn, Colettie, MartMart, and my very special Sheeny. I can’t wait to see your toes dance.” She skipped back to the panel, her fingers hovering over more dials. The sound of the brushes grew louder, a mechanical hum that promised an agonizing, delightful torment.