I stood up, rubbing my sore butt after being ungraciously dumped on a cold white floor.
Looking around, I saw that other people were in this strange place, too. Most of them
were ranging from their 20s to their 50s with a couple older and one younger. The
older two had started talking to each other and the rest started to do the same. One of
the women and a young man were trying to calm the little boy who appeared to have
been on the sight by accident.
"Guess his parents weren't very concerned with what he was doing online," I mumbled
to myself.
Many of these people looked worried. I, on the other hand, was thrilled! The whole
reason I had been on CYOC was because I wanted to experience things that were
impossible. Well if getting sucked into the Internet from my computer isn't unreal, I
don't know what is.
Walking over to the far side of the room, away from everyone else, I found that the
room was actually a sort of anteway that led to other rooms. Picking a random door, I
turned the knob and looked inside.
Woohoo, a bathroom. How exciting.
Opening another door revealed something a little more practical. The room was an
indoor pool area with a hot tub as well. Kind of like those chain hotels.
I entered the door eager for my story to begin.
A sign on the wall read: TO ALL POOL USERS: PLEASE USE LOCKER ROOMS TO
CHANGE. SUITS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL AS SHOWERING SUPPLIES. DO NOT
ENTER THE POOL BEFORE WASHING OFF. PLEASE USE THE PROVIDED
BOTTLE OF FORMULA X TO KILL ANY MICROBES OR FUNGI THAT MAY BE ON
YOUR PERSON. FOLLOW ON-BOTTLE DIRECTIONS.
I walked into the locker room and picked a key off the board. Matching up the number
on the key to the locker it opened, I found an entire locker full of swimming supplies. I
was given the choice between going in trunks, speedos, or—a note informed me—the
buff. But before I made that decision, I followed the rules given outside. I had read
enough CYOC stories to know that bad things happen when you don't follow the rules.
Stripping down before wrapping myself in a towel, I picked up the bottle labeled
FORMULA X and made my way to the shower. There wasn't anyone else in the locker
room or the swimming area, but I knew that if I didn't wash off, I would be in trouble.
Taking off the towel, I stepped into the community shower, chose the first faucet to the
right and began washing off. I picked up the Formula X bottle and began reading the
directions.
Squirt one quarter-sized drop of Formula X into your hand. Lather all reachable parts
of your body with Formula X. Rinse with water as hot as you can stand. Repeat once
to insure effectiveness.
I decided to follow the directions. Squirting said amount into my hand, I began to wash
myself. I covered every part of my body with the gooey, white substance. It didn't make
any bubbles, it just sort of enveloped my skin. I washed the first layer off and repeated.
After the second layer, I began to feel something strange...