The silence of the forest is absolute, the only noise waves breaking rhythmically on a stony beach. Looking from the shore out over the lake, you could swear that you were in eden, a land untouched by civilisation. At least until you turned around and saw the house.

Sitting twenty meters up from the waterline, the house looms huge and imposing in the light of the rising sun. Inside, six people are all waking up. None of them have ever met, none of them know where they are and none of them have any memory of how they got there, all they share is a thin band of metal clasped around their right ankle.

On the dining table in the living room, a mobile phone lays almost casually discarded, then vibrates across the table as the screen lights up.

*Message Received*

Taken OOC

Daniel awoke in the upstairs bathroom, though at first he didn't know where he was. His eyes fluttered lightly against the tile floor and he groaned softly, and rolled onto his back. His muscles ached and he felt drowsy, confused. What happened to me.. his mind trailed off in different directions as he stood and started out of the bathroom into the unfamiliar house. It was beautiful, nicely crafted and huge as he soon found out as he wandered through it. Finding a downstairs living room, he sat on the floor, laying himself against the rug and trying to keep his head from spinning.
He was confused, dazed, and almost clueless. The only things he knew were there were other people in the rooms, though he hadn't payed much attention to them, he was in a house he didn't recognize, and an odd metal band was around his ankle. As the waves of nausea and uneasiness began to pass, he sat up and glanced around.

"You shouldn't do that, Lady!" A husky voice whispered into Jennifer's ear. She turned to see who it was, but before she could see she fell. Waking suddenly, Jen realised it was a dream. A horrible one too. At first glance, she thought she was in her own room, and fell out of bed. But as she studied her surroundings, she realised she was not in her room at all. She looked around again, this time taking everything in. There were floral curtains on the large window that had a view of trees. The walls were an odd pasty pink colour, but the moldings around the ceiling were very detailed. She tried hard to think of how she ended up here, but her mind was blank. She had know idea where she was, or why. She reached down to scratch her ankle when she noticed a metal band around it. She glanced closely and saw a small triangle carved into it.

Jennifer decided to take a look around. Maybe someone else could help her out. She tip-toed out of her room, paying close attnetion to what she saw. In one room that she passed she saw another girl asleep. She kept walking around until she made her way to the living room area. Sitting on the floor was another guy, who seemed as out of it as she felt. She wandered in and carefully sat down on a chair. Her mind was still groggy and she couldn't get her thoughts straight. What the hell was going on?

Eyes shuddering open, Evan awoke from the deepest sleep he'd felt in a while.

"Uhh, my head. Damn, I must've been drinking some serious juice to be this screwed" spoken quietly to the empty room he was just starting to take in.

Rolling to the side of the bed and slipping his feet to the floor, he sat for a minute, head in hands, still groggy from whatever it was that had put him under the night before. Blinking through bleary eyes, a strange glint caught his attention.

"What the hell...?"

Evan pulled at the metal band around his ankle, looking for a release catch or lock - some way to remove the strange object. No luck, looked like it was staying where it was for now. Standing up from the bed, he finally started to take in his surroundings. He was in a bedroom, nothing special, just a bed, table with a dim lamp on it and small set of drawers, no ornaments to speak of and a single window with the curtain drawn.
After patting himself down, he quickly discovered everything was missing, no keys, no wallet and no phone. Strolling across to the drawers he pulled them out one by one, again nothing.

"Someones going to a lot of trouble to piss me off" he grumbled to himself.

Reaching for the curtain, he brushed it back and rush of bright morning light swept into the room, briefly causing him to squint as his sight adjusted. Peering out the glass, all that was visible was trees and grass, with the faint sound of water somwhere nearby, picturesque in an average kind of way. Evan couldn't remember recently being anywhere near a place like this, but with all the travelling he'd done it was difficult to keep track.

Turning to leave the room and opening the door, the sound of other people became apparent, from the look of the room this was probably a hotel of some kind, so it was hardly surprising to think it would be occupied.
'Time to see if someone can tell me what the hell is going' on he thought, heading out into the hallway.

Ryleigh stood there in the pitch dark, looking around. Nothing. She was just in an endless space of darkness. Walking, she couldn't get out; she even tried running - no exit to be seen. At this point she became hysterical, screaming, shouting and yelling; - no reply. She continued to cry and run, as if she was running from something, but no exit came and she just continued to run in the darkness.

The girl was jolted awake by her horrid nightmare. 'It was just a dream Ry, just a dream,' she sighed with relief. She was sweating profusively. She didn't feel all that good, which was unusual. Ryleigh was normally a fit and healthy girl rarely one to get sick, but she felt completely and utterly washed - exhausted. What was wrong with her? She also felt slightly disorientated and confused, her head spinning as she finally started to come aware of her surroundings. She didn't recognise the place, and this definitely wasn't a hospital.

The disorientated and sick feeling increased as well as a new feeling, worry. Ryleigh wasn't in a place that she knew, she knew that much already. She realised that she was lying on a plain single bed, and there wasn't much in the room, just your normal plain furniture. Something wasn't right and it caused the girl's body to fill with fear. Now, as much as she wanted to just run out of the room and flee, she didn't want to leave the confinements either. She had no idea what she'd find on the other end. If she opened her door, would she walk to her death? Who knew, because she certainly didn't.

Finally, Ryleigh got the courage to get up off the bed. Looking down at herself, she was still in her shirt and jeans. She tried to think about what she was doing the night before, but no memory came. She couldn't remember if she'd been heading to work or home, nothing came. She had no idea how long she'd even been out here. Had it been an hour, a day or a few days. The lack of awareness made a shiver pass through her spine, she had the time, but it didn't show a date.

Maybe it would have been useful now to get one of those watches, she thought.

Checking out the wardrobe and the chest of draws, Ryleigh found none of her things. How long was she going to be here with no things. That wasn't good. Shaking her head she could hear people outside - well movement. Moving over to the door, she tried to listen out for any voices, when she couldn't hear any, she opened the door and tried to get a peek outside. The only thing she could see other than a corridor was another guy. She wondered if he was the captor or not, and quickly closed her door to avoid been seen, though it could be heard.

Ryleigh sat back down on the bed and sighed. Where was she and what was going to happen to her?

Kaya awoke with a yawn in a stretch, she sits straight and looks around. This was not her room or house nevertheless, where was she? Her head was pounding and her stomach was turning. She patted the bed she was sitting on that was covered with a golden comforter. She slips her flip flops off and move her feet on the cream shag carpet. Then, slowly, she stands and looks at the dresser nearby. "What is this?" She mumbles and strokes her ankle with the medal band around it. Tentatively, she walks to the door and twist the knob.

Kaya walks down the hallway stroking the wall and then tip toes down the stairs. She walks into the living room to spot two people in there; one, a man, was asleep and the other, a women, was awake. Kaya walks to a chair and sits down slowly, she opens her mouth to say something but her mind was clouded. She takes a deep relaxing breath, sends a silent prayer to her grandma, and then decides it was time to try again. "Hello," She mumbled. Perhaps this person could help her and tell where she was. If not, then she was at a loss and alone.

Marissa's eyes fluttered open and she put her hand to her head. God, her head hurt. What the heck happened last night? I wasn't even drinking, far as I remember... Then she looked around the room. She was in a bathroom; and not one she recognized. Her eyes widened and she looked around, trying not to panic. Shit. Did he find me...? No. No, he couldn't have. They wouldn't let that happen... But, then- what the hell?

Marissa groaned, and lifted herself up off the bathroom floor and opened the door. She looked around, and walked as silently as she could down the hall. She looked into the living room, and saw a small group of people. With a slight gasp, she looked around, slightly afraid for a minute. But then, she decided, even if she hid from them there was no way she could get uot of here; she didn't even know where she'd go.

She walked into the livingroom and stood behind the group. "Uhm.. Hi? Who are you people...?" She asked, hoping to god she didn't sound like an utter moron. Marissa bit her lip, and her eyes found a cell phone on the table. Her eyes squinted slightly, trying to make out the writing. Her eyes weren't completely adjusted to the light yet, but she could see the "New Message" shining on the phone. "Uhm.. Whoever's phone that is, I think you have a message." she mummbled.

Jennifer realised that there were four others in the room she was in. She heard a couple mumble some words, but she was so lost in thought.
"Uhm.. Whoever's phone that is, I think you have a message." she mummbled.
"It's not mine," Jen said, not sure of who to trust. Why did everyone else seem to be as lost as she was. Who the hell were they, and why were they all here? Had they done something wrong? Puzzled, Jen looked around. She saw two other girls and two guys. She wondered if there was anyone else in the house. "Does anyone here have any idea what the hell is going on?!?" She said rather boldly. Surely someone would know something. And if not...if no one knew anything...she didn't even want to think about what that would mean. Was this some sort of reality contest?? Jen couldn't remember entering into anything...but then her friends often thought some things were pretty funny, which weren't! Then she thought about her family. A sudden wave of sickness shot through her. Were they okay wherever they were? Did they even know she was gone? She suddenly began to shake. Whoever was behind this was going to pay big time!

Daniel's eyes wandered to the other girls in the room, and the one that had just entered..
He smiled in their direction, though it was half-hearted and confused. Chewing his lip, he looked at the floor, very much so annoyed with his surroundings. With the other people. With his memory loss, with everything.
As he heard the standing girl's words, he mumbled "I'm Daniel.."

"I'm afraid I know nothing of this." She motioned around the room. "Or these," She says and pulls on her the band around her ankle. She flashes a wary, confused smile to all the people. "Kaya, I am Kaya." She glanced at the phone and then at the people again. Was anyone going to read the message? She hoped that it was a clue on to what was going on right now. Tears stung her eyes, she felt weak and confused. Her head was clouded and she had a major headache. This made it almost impossible to think.

To again break the silence she said, "Well if it isn't anyone's phone then maybe we should read the message...." She trails off into silence. She moves her hand towards the phone but hesitates. "Anyone want to read it?" She inquired and then withdrew her hand from where it was reaching towards the phone. What if something bad happened when she touched it? She didn't wish to take the chance unless it was needed. She looked from the stairs she had just come from and wondered if there was anyone else currently in the house. If so, were they the ones who had taken all these people or had these people taken her? NO! Don't be so untrustworthy Kaya. They are just as confused as you. She bite her lip lightly as her head spins with thoughts.

As he moved into the hallway, Evan saw a face peering from round a door further down, maybe someone who could tell him how he ended up here. Just as he was about to call out, the figure seemed to notice him and swiftly disappeared into the room. Thinking he might go and knock, try and get some information, the faint sounds of conversation from below drew his attention.

'More people, more chance of getting answers'. Evan suprised himself that he could think that clearly through the pounding in his head. He found the stairs nearby and walked down, noticing for the first time how well turned out this place was, clean, neat and a whole lot fancier than the hovels he usually found himself in.

'Heh, maybe my lucks changed, maybe I won this place in some poker game and drank myself to sleep in celebration, that would explain a lot'. Snapping out of his thoughts, he realised he'd been subconsciously tracking the voices and now stood in the entrance to an enormous living area, stocked with electronic goods and presently home to a group of nervous looking men and women, who, from what he gathered from their stilted conversation, seemed to be having trouble deciding to answer a phone.

"So much for my winning poker theory" he chuckled quietly to himself. Evan was sure they hadn't noticed him yet, leaning against the entryway, arms folded. A thought flashed through his mind - 'Need to make an entrance then, better not look as confused as these guys'.

"I guess I'll save you all the trouble" he announced confidently, strolling across to the table, brushing gently past the girl who had previously been hesitantly reaching for it, and sweeping the mobile off the surface. Flipping the phone open he read the 'message received' text and clicked to open the information.
Just two words flashed up on the screen - Good morning. "Okay, thats a bit weird" he spoke. "Message just says good morning, any of you know why?"

Ryleigh heard him walking towards her door, and then heard as he seemed to walk past it and disappear off. The poor girl was working herself up over what was going on, panicking over why she couldn't remember and why she was here, it nearly caused her to hyperventilate. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths, trying to remain calm.

If I stay hidden, maybe people will forget about me and I'll find a way out of this. She told herself. Or, maybe I can get some answers if I leave the room. Opening the door again, Ryleigh could hear the voices. She quietly crept down them and sat on one of the bottom stairs, trying to listen in, but ready to shoot back up the stairs if need be. Ryleigh was one to just hide rather than be out in the open, in a place she didn't know and with people she didn't know either.

She was just in time to hear the male that she's seen mention something about a message. Ryleigh sighed, to her it sounded like him and anyone else that he was talking to were in the same boat as she was. Being the shy and quiet girl that she was, she just chose to sat on the stairs and wait for them to notice her, not the other way around.

The text message was a little weird, Jen had to admit. Who would be behind all of this? Surely by now her husband would have a search team out looking for her...she let her thoughts trail off. If her husband was okay... Jen couldn't seem to put anything together. Even if her husband had sent a search team out, she didn't even know where she was...so how would he? Why me? Why? she thought over and over again.

"So, if no one knows where we are or why...is there a connection between us? Some reason why all of us in particular have ended up here? Where are you all from?" Jen asked, searching for some way to piece something together. As it was right now, Jen knew nothing about the others, and therefore there was no way she could connect anything. Maybe she shouldn't even be trusting them. No that's silly, they all look as lost and confused as I do... She kept having arguments in her head. She desperately wanted to solve this.

Marissa looked around the room at the others. It seemed that they were just as confused as she was. Then she heard a man behind her chuckle. Her face scrunched, the she shrugged it off as he walked in to the room. It's not him; stop worrying so much. If he was the one that brought you here, he wouldn't have brought the rest of them, too.

"Good morning?" she said in responce to the man who read the message. "That's more than a bit weird." she looked around the room, searching for cameras or something, something that could mean someone was watching them. "I'm Marissa... I'm from A-" she stopped. She should probably tell them the story she was supposed to tell everyone. Just because they were in this house together didn't mean they knew anything; it also didn't mean she could trust them. "I'm from Washington."

With another searching look around the room, she added, "Anyone know where we are, how we got here, why we're here, how to get out of here, anything?" Her eyes looked back at the man that had read the message. He seemed far to confident to be as lost as the rest of them; she figured if anyone knew something, it would be him.

Daniels eyes pricked when he heard the girl, Marissa speak. "I-" he stopped for a moment. Weighing the options in his head. Should he tell them? Were they all in on it in some way? Daniel, calm down. Don't be silly. They're all just as confused as you. They dont have any idea whats going on either..

His eyes stayed locked on Marissa, he'd heard her hesitation, what was she hiding? After a moment of contemplation, he decided to tell this where we was from. "I'm from Washington, too.." he said softly "What... what kindsa backgrounds did you come from?" he asked, slurring his words slightly, grogginess still filling his head.

Kaya quirked an eyebrow at the message, she thought this message was so...stupid. For a lack of a better word that is. She sighs and takes a glance around the room as people named where they are from. What was she to say? Where she lived or where she usually is? To completely separate things. Her mind spun with thoughts as a girl mentioned if they were all connected. Were they? It doesn't seem that way. She had never seen any of these people, not even heard of them. So, how could they be related? She shrugs.

"I'm from North Carolina," she states simply and then draws silent so she won't reveal more. It wasn't that she didn't trust these people, it was more she just didn't know them. Also, she didn't know why she was here or what happen. This reminded her of those movies Saw, where they try to fix peoples mistakes and something like that. She dismisses the thought, it was irrelevant if she can't remember the movie.

Everyone seemed so hesitant. So, they are all nervous too... Jen thought. It wasn't adding up. There must be something that can help them. Jen realised they were all in it together. If only there was a way to get everyone else to realise that. It wasn't like they would all just sit down over coffee and become best friends, that would be way too simple. Nothing she could say would help either. She thought about telling them about herself, but worried that they might think she was behind it, being so open.
Jen thought for a moment longer, debating whether she should speak or anything. Right before she spoke the phone began to vibrate. She quickly snatched it before anyone else could, and read the message. Stunned, Jen regretted it.

"Well, this may help..." She paused before reading,"These are the rules. Try to leave the house and be punished. Try to remove the ankle bracer and be punished. Refuse to do what I say and be punished. You are all here for a reason. Its up to you to work out what that is. Well, I am guessing none of you sent that message...and I am also guessing that none of you are behind this. I think we need to work this out together, we may be here a while." Jennifer looked around, hoping the others would agree with her. After all, she didn't want to be punished, but she did want to go home. And without everyones co-operation, this puzzle may go un-solved.

Ryleigh now made her presence aware as she charged into the room full of panic pushing past everyone there and trying to take the phone. Struggling to comprehend the words that had just left the other girl's mouth she stared herself at the message on the phone.

"No... That can't be right... This has to be some joke or something..." She started, shaking her head and trying to stop the panic overtaking her body. It just had to be a joke. Someone was playing a sick joke on her.

Think clearly. Don't panic and you can work this out. Ryleigh told herself in her mind, trying to clear her thoughts. She wanted to just run out of the place and find civilisation and home. The one thing that stopped her though, was the words she'd heard on the phone.

Attempt to leave and be punished.

Ryleigh didn't have the courage to try and escape. She wouldn't dare. The ppor girl was too busy trying to figure out what was going on and find a solution that she didn't think that her appearance after the phone messages was anything suspicious. She just wanted to get the hell out of the house, and if she started thinking about solutions now, then she'd be out quicker.

Startled a little as the phone began to vibrate, one of the girls snatched the phone from his grasp before he could respond and read aloud the new message they had just received. Initially annoyed by the gesture, he soon forgot it once she began to speak.

"These are the rules. Try to leave the house and be punished. Try to remove the ankle bracer and be punished. Refuse to do what I say and be punished. You are all here for a reason."

Up until now Evan hadn't really been fazed by the events, sure it was a bit weird but nothing to scream about. With this message it was starting to get a little bit unnerving. Someone had gone to the trouble of bringing five strangers to the middle of nowhere and apparently had them contained in this house and having to follow his every word. It was becoming increasingly unlikely this was a prank of some kind.

Just as he was going over this in his mind, vaguely listening to the girl talking about working together, a memory struck him. There were actually at least six people in this house, the person he had first seen peering out into the hall had yet to appear. That soon changed however as a panicked figure came barrelling into the room, knocking him aside slightly as she went for the phone.

Initially not sure what to make of this intrusion, he soon realised she was just another like them, caught up in something that none of them seemed to understand. Unless one of these people is phenomenal actor, of course, and this had crossed his mind. The new girl just stood in front of them all staring into the small virtual space of the screen in front of her, as if unable or unwilling to comprehend its contents.

The room had fallen briefly quiet, stunned by this crazed lady that had just arrived. Needing to take control of the situation, as much for his own sake as anyone else's, Evan broke the silence.

"Well my name's Evan, I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you all but under the circumstances...maybe not. Anyway, I have to agree, we need to try and find out what the hell is going on here. First off, you there, with the phone, snap out of it, try and call someone, your family, the police, anyone, if this guy is serious then thats unlikely to work but at least we'll know. Secondly, I'm going to try and just walk out of here, if this is some sort of elaborate trick, its the best way to find out one way or the other." Pausing for second, a final idea came to him. "Also, the rest of you should probably search this place top to bottom, find anything or anyone that might be useful."

Evan spoke as confidently as he could manage, hoping to calm the group and himself in the process. Without waiting for the responses, the silently nervous man walked away from the group, out the same door he'd arrived by just minutes before. As he passed just out of sight he released a deep breath he'd been holding since his speech, it helped him relax a little, and for what he was about to try Evan needed to be as relaxed as possible. Standing now in front of the large double door that led out so invitingly in to the serene woodlands beyond, he gripped the handle and turned it slowly, opening the path to freedom. At least thats what he hoped.

Kaya stands as Evan reached for the door, "I really don't think you should do that," she said. Not that she knew what was going ton happen but still there was a reason they were here. "After all, no one would go through this elaborate process just to let us get out like this," she mumbles waving her hand to the door. She also tried to sound confident and assure of herself but her voice quivered and her hand was shaking. She grabs her fingers and smiles, "Let's sit down with some food and a drink. We'll probably feel better and be able to think more calmly if we have some food in our system." She nods and flicks her black hair with nerves and then continues her ramble, "I don't know about you guys but my head is throbbing and everything is a wee bit foggy. Which means that my talking isn't helping...." She trails into silence.

Her cheeks turns pink that stands out greatly on her dark skin. She glanced at the phone which seemed to hold their fate and frowns. Why can't we just throw that dam thing out and live our own lives? This was so stupid to be trapped like birds. Kaya wanted to be free, to fly like an eagle and soar like a bird!She smiles at the familiar memory of her grandma uncovers itself.

The room drew silent again and it was like a bone-chilling cold had settled it. One that was really just a realization of their situation....Or was it just Kaya who felt this? She shivers and then rubs her hands together.