The music crashed to a halt before a word could escape my lips, which was deeply frustrating because I actually knew the answer to that one. "Sorry, Victoria," Charlie announced, his too handsome visage brightened with a lecherous grin. "Time's up, but you have answered five questions correctly."
The live studio audience clapped, their applause quickly giving way to murmured speculation, echoed by my own anxious thoughts. To be honest, I had not really expected to be selected from that crowd that now watched me, one of a lucky few given a chance to play. Not in my wildest dreams - okay, maybe there - had I thought I would reach the final round.
"Well, Victoria," Charlie said, "you can walk away a winner now with this beautiful golden necklace" - he held it up to the audience, who
ooh
ed and
ahh
ed appreciatively, though not of course with any sincerity - "or you can risk all and play
Prize Or Penalty
..."
This time there was silence. A dropped pin would have been deafening. Of course I would play. Everyone does - everyone who gets this far. And yet... it's terrifying when that moment is upon you.
But there's no reward without risk.
"Well, Victoria? What will it be? Play? Or pass?"
I took a deep breath. "I'll play, Charlie."
The audience cheered, and I could feel my cheeks blushing at what would - and what might - happen next. In front of Charlie and a room full of strangers, and my girlfriend Ellie (would our relationship survive this?), and then there were the TV cameras that would transmit this to my friends and family and potentially the whole wide world.
Forget my cheeks. I was blushing all over as the reality of this moment hit home. This was no longer just an innocent quiz show. This was now a life-altering gamble, one that started with -
"You know the rules, Victoria," Charlie said, his demonic grin wider than ever. "You scored five in the last round, and that entitles you to five items of clothing. I don't know, but I think you're -"
The audience completed it for him: "- overdressed!" General laughter gave way to a chant of, "
Strip! Strip! Strip!
"
Reluctantly I eased myself out of shoes and tights, leaving myself with bra and knickers, vest, shirt and skirt. Even though nothing intimate was revealed - yet - removing any clothes felt nonetheless amoral. Baring my legs and feet became an act of erotic exposure.
The stage lighting changed to focus on the gold-coloured boxes behind me, numbered one to ten. "Ten boxes, Victoria," Charlie explained. "Five prizes, and five penalties. Remember, at any time, you can quit and go home with this beautiful necklace." Again he held it up enticingly.
I shook my head, tempted though I was. I had five items of clothing. The chances of me leaving empty handed were roughly one in two hundred and fifty - and some of the penalties weren't so bad. I would trust to luck.
It wasn't just women who got to play
Prize Or Penalty
. I'd seen men get "Base Balls" - huge testicles - and "Ever Erect" (ouch!) and even "Come Like A Racehorse," which was reportedly a lot less desirable than it sounds. Just half an hour before I got my chance to play, a man left with a cool two million and a "Chastity Cage" (not a physical cock cage, of course, but a neural adjustment having the same effect); his dismay at that penalty had had the whole audience sniggering.
There were many penalties too that I knew I really wouldn't like. "Fit Clit" would make it so my clit could only be excited by running, "Firehose" would turn my orgasms into epic squirting events, and "Fabulous Futa" would transform my clit into a functional cock - yikes!
"To open a box," Charlie continued, though of course everyone already knew this, "you must surrender an item of clothing." He winked lecherously at the camera. "So, are you ready, Victoria?"
I nodded nervously. "Yes, Charlie," I replied, my voice catching.
"Excellent! Then let's play
Prize Or Penalty
!"