By Papa Palpatine, copyright 2022
(Disclaimer: All characters in this story are 18-years-old)
Beth followed Ashley through the hallway to the school gymnasium, where Marcus a some of the other seniors were working on their project for the annual Halloween Haunt House. Beth asked, "So, what are Marcus and the others working on in there anyway?"
"It was Marcus's idea," Ashley replied. "They're doing a spooky Egyptian Tomb complete with mummies and stuff. Marcus said the concept was that it's the resting place of an ancient Pharaoh and his concubines."
"And Marcus wants me to be one of the concubines?" Beth asked with trepidation.
"Well...sort of."
"What do you mean 'sort of'?"
"Marcus will ask you to let him and the others wrap you neck-to-toe in plastic wrap and tape to get the shape of your body for one of the mummies. I already let them do it with me and, I must say, the mummy they made turned out pretty good."
Beth raised an eyebrow. "And you trusted Marcus and the guys not to try any funny business while they had you wrapped up and helpless like that?"
"Okay, I know Marcus has his... eccentricities. What artist doesn't?" Ashley brushed some of her blonde hair out of her eyes. "He's actually a nice guy if you get to know him and he's a genius. Besides, something about being wrapped up like that felt kinda good; it was relaxing, like one of those wrap treatments they give you at those expensive spas."
"And you're sure it's safe for me to agree to this?"
"Look, if you're still worried, I'll be right there watching the whole time." Ashley said. "And if any of the guys try to do anything inappropriate, I'll personally give them a good hard knee to the groin."
"Well...Okay."
***
As they entered the gym, Beth marveled at the sight before her. The walls of the "tomb" were painted Styrofoam; painted well enough to look convincingly like sandstone in the dark with the fog machines going and spooky music playing from the loudspeakers. There were alcoves in the walls on both sides of the corridor they had built, each with an open sarcophagus and a female mummy standing in it. Each mummy looked convincing and was even decorated in fashion that would be appropriate for a concubine of an ancient ruler of Egypt.
Beth turned to Ashley. "I've got to admit, you were right about Marcus being an artist and genius. This stuff's good enough to be on a Hollywood sound stage."
Ashley smiled. "I'm sure he'll be happy to hear you approve."
"Wow, that's a lot of mummies. Did he--"
Ashley nodded. "He convinced several girls from the cheer-leading squad and the gymnastics team agreed to be body models for these, myself included."
"Really?"
"Really. As weird as he can be sometimes, he has quite the silver tongue. He even got Alexis to go along with it."
"Alexis? As in the school's stuck-up cheer captain?"
Ashley smirked. "Well, it helps that he appealed to her considerable ego by promising that her mummy would be the Pharaoh's favorite concubine. She'll even have the honor of sharing the Pharaoh's king-sized golden sarcophagus."
Beth chuckled, "Figures. If any girl going to this school is likely to be a gold digger, it's Alexis."
They both laughed and then they continued down the corridor. At the end, they found Marcus and some of the senior boys wearing respirators and holding cans of gold spray paint. They had set up a makeshift paint booth in a corner with plastic sheeting and white butcher paper. They were currently painting the Pharaoh's aforementioned king size sarcophagus. Marcus noticed the two girls approaching. He put down his spray can, took off his respirator, and walked toward them. Marcus wore black jeans, a black t-shirt, black steel-toe boots, and had wild dark hair. He smiled as he came near.
"Hi Ashley," He said.
"Hey Marcus," Ashley replied. "How's things going?"
"Not bad, we're almost finished with the big sarcophagus. Just a couple more coats of gold paint and we can finish the piece by hand-painting some details."
"Good," Ashley smiled. "I'm sure the folks who come through here on Halloween Night will be impressed."
"That's what we're aiming for."
"This is Beth," Ashley said, introducing her friend. "She's here to become one of the mummies."
Marcus looked at Ashley and smiled. "Hello Beth, thanks for coming. If you'll go change into a t-shirt and gym shorts, I'll go get the supplies to do the wrap."
"Huh?" Beth said, confused.
"It gets a bit warm being wrapped in several layers of plastic and tape," Ashley said. "I personally would've stripped down to my underwear if we didn't have to worry about Mrs. Mason or one of the other teachers peaking in here at an inconvenient moment."
Beth noticed Marcus blush slightly when Ashley said that. Ashley turned to her and said, "Anyway, go to the girls locker room and get changed."
***
Beth emerged from the girls locker room wearing a white t-shirt, blue gym shorts, and a pair of ankle-length socks. She tied her light-brown hair back into a ponytail. Marcus and the others were waiting back in the gym with the rolls of plastic wrap and packing tape, and a pair of EMT scissors.
"Okay," Marcus said, rubbing his hands. "Just bring your feet together and cross your arms over your chest, and we'll get started."
Beth nodded and assumed the pose. Ashley and one of the other seniors helped hold her steady as Marcus grabbed the first roll of plastic wrap, starting by wrapping her ankles and calves. He worked his way up over her knees, her thighs, and her stomach. After he wrapped her arms, chest, and her neck, he immediately started back down. When that roll ran out, he grabbed another and started again.
Ashley wasn't joking about the heat,
Beth thought. It was already getting a bit warm inside her plastic cocoon with Marcus just finishing a third layer of wrapping. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead and just missed dripping into her left eye. Marcus paused for a moment.
"If you need a sip of water, let us know." Marcus said. "We don't want you to get overheated or dehydrated."