Elizabeth grinned. “I choose stretching! I’ve already been a pancake—time to see what it’s like to be all tall and wobbly.”
Daniel nodded and flipped through the book. “Alright, The Amazing Stretched Woman. Looks like we’ll need the stretch frame.”
Veronica sighed. “Let me guess—it’s another weird contraption?”
Elizabeth twirled around excitedly. “Of course it is! This whole place is full of weird contraptions, and I love it.”
They searched the storage unit and found a tall, vertical frame with adjustable clamps for the arms and legs. It had a set of gears at the top and bottom, with two large handles on either side.
Elizabeth climbed onto the platform and stretched her arms up. “Ooooh, I feel limber already.”
Daniel checked the instructions. “Okay, we secure your wrists and ankles first.” He fastened the straps, making sure they were snug but not uncomfortable.
Veronica peered over his shoulder. “And then… we just turn the crank?”
Daniel nodded. “Yeah, but it says slowly—we’re not trying to turn her into taffy.”
Elizabeth giggled. “No promises!”
Daniel took hold of the left handle, Veronica took the right, and together they started turning.
The gears clicked, and Elizabeth’s body stretched. It was subtle at first—just a gentle pull, her limbs elongating slightly.
“Oooh,” she cooed. “This actually feels kinda nice—like a really good stretch.”
They cranked a little more. Elizabeth’s torso elongated, her arms and legs growing longer as the machine did its work.
Veronica arched an eyebrow. “Okay, this is bizarre.”
Elizabeth wiggled her fingers, now noticeably further away from her shoulders. “Look at me! I’m all lanky!”
Daniel double-checked the book. “Alright, one more turn should put everything back in place.”
He and Veronica gave the final crank, and with a soft clunk, the machine locked into place.
Elizabeth’s stretched-out frame shimmered for a moment before settling.
Veronica released the straps, and Elizabeth stepped down—except she stumbled, her legs momentarily wobbly.
Daniel steadied her. “You okay?”
Elizabeth blinked. “Yeah, yeah, I just—whoa, I feel so tall.” She ran her hands down her body. “But everything’s back where it should be! No more misalignment!”
Veronica crossed her arms. “Well, that was definitely something.”
Elizabeth smirked. “Admit it, you love this.”
Veronica scoffed. “Let’s just say… it’s entertaining watching you go through this.”
Daniel closed the book with satisfaction. “Alright, one more trick successfully performed. Now, what’s next?”
Elizabeth’s eyes gleamed as she scanned the room. “Ohhh, I think I see something interesting over there…”
Elizabeth ran her fingers along the cool metal surface of the table, her eyes tracing the circular holes cut into it. Then, she crouched down, peering underneath—her breath hitched as she spotted the large metal spikes, positioned perfectly to rise through the holes above.
“Ohhh, this looks dangerous,” she murmured, grinning as she ran her hand over the metal frame. “I love it.”
Daniel flipped through the book, already suspecting what the illusion was. “Let’s see… The Perforated Assistant.” He frowned. “That’s a terrible name.”
Veronica crossed her arms. “Agreed. Sounds more like something out of a horror movie.”
Elizabeth hopped onto the table, lying down with excitement. “Oh, come on. It’s just a bit of poking fun.” She giggled. “Literally.”
Daniel groaned at the pun while scanning the instructions. “Alright, so the assistant lies flat—check. Then, the performer activates the mechanism—” He glanced under the table at the spikes. “And they rise up through the holes.”
Veronica eyed Elizabeth warily. “And you want to do this?”
Elizabeth beamed. “Obviously! It’s an illusion, right? That means I won’t actually get skewered.”
Daniel hesitated. “The notes do mention that the assistant might feel a strange sensation when the spikes go through, but it should be completely safe.”
Elizabeth wiggled into a comfortable position. “Hit the switch!”
Daniel found the lever on the side of the table, took a deep breath, and pulled it.
A low clank echoed as gears whirred beneath the table. Then—
Schink!
The spikes shot upward.
Elizabeth gasped, her back arching slightly as the metal spears passed cleanly through her body, rising up through the holes in the table. She blinked in shock.
“W-Whoa.”
Veronica’s eyes widened. “Elizabeth? Are you—?”
Elizabeth wiggled her fingers. “I’m fine! I felt it, though—like a weird tingling, but no pain.” She turned her head to look at the spikes protruding through her torso. “That is so bizarre.”
Daniel leaned in, observing closely. “It’s like your body just… adapted to let them pass through.”
Elizabeth smirked. “Guess I’m full of holes now.”
Veronica pinched the bridge of her nose. “I hate how much you’re enjoying this.”
Elizabeth playfully stretched her arms above her head. “Okay, okay, so how do we un-perforate me?”
Daniel checked the book. “Says here we just reverse the mechanism.”
He pulled the lever again, and with another clank, the spikes lowered back beneath the table.
Elizabeth sat up, patting herself down. “No marks, no wounds… just a very weird experience.” She swung her legs over the edge. “That was awesome.”
Veronica rolled her eyes. “You are way too into this.”
Daniel chuckled. “I think we’ve learned something important today.”
Elizabeth grinned. “That I’d make an excellent pincushion?”
Daniel shook his head. “That we really need to read all the notes before just diving into a trick.”
Elizabeth hopped off the table. “Agreed. Now, what’s next?”
Daniel and Elizabeth have more of a look around the illusions. Veronica on the other hand noticed a pair of old manacles, she started to notice she was starting to get really interested in the various restraints around the room. These manacles though seemed to be calling her.
Veronica reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the cold, aged metal of the manacles. They were heavier than she expected, with intricate etchings along the iron, almost like runes. There was something about them—something different. She couldn't quite explain it, but it was as if they were… calling to her.
She lifted them from the hook they hung on, inspecting the inside of the cuffs. They seemed worn, well-used, yet sturdy. A small key dangled from a rusted chain attached to one of the cuffs, but something told her these weren’t ordinary restraints.
"Find something interesting?" Elizabeth asked, peering over her shoulder.
Veronica hesitated before answering. "I think so… There's something about these." She turned the cuffs over in her hands. "They feel… important."
Daniel glanced up from the book he was flipping through. "Well, if you want to try them on, I’d suggest reading up on them first."
Veronica smirked. "For once, I agree with you."
She searched for an entry in the book, flipping through pages until she found a small sketch resembling the manacles in her hands. Her brow furrowed as she read the title:
The Shackles of the Willing
Elizabeth leaned in, intrigued. "What does it say?"
Veronica scanned the text. "Apparently, these were used in escape acts, but there’s a catch. They’re not just any restraints—once locked, they… ‘attune’ to the wearer."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Attune?"
Veronica continued reading. "It says here that they ‘respond to the desires of the wearer’ and that ‘the more the assistant embraces the role, the more adaptable the shackles become’."
Elizabeth grinned. "That definitely sounds like something for you, Ms. Cat Burglar."
Veronica scoffed, but her fingers tightened slightly around the metal. She wasn’t sure if she liked how intrigued she was by them—or how the idea of slipping them on made her heart beat just a little faster.
Veronica took a deep breath and, before she could second-guess herself, snapped the manacles around her wrists. The cold metal sent a shiver up her spine as they clicked into place, the fit snug but not uncomfortable.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, she felt it—a strange warmth, like a pulse running through the metal. The manacles almost seemed to shift, adjusting perfectly to her wrists as if they had been made for her. She tested them, tugging lightly, but they held firm.
"Feel any different?" Elizabeth asked, watching closely.
Veronica frowned slightly. "I mean… they feel secure. But nothing weird." She rolled her wrists, trying to find a weak point, but the shackles barely budged.
Daniel flipped through the book again. "Okay, so according to this, the shackles are designed to ‘resist removal until the wearer fully embraces their role.’" He looked up. "Whatever that means."
Veronica raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like nonsense." She reached for the key attached to the chain and slid it into the lock—only for it to refuse to turn. She tried again, twisting harder. The key didn’t move.
Elizabeth smirked. "Uh-oh."
Veronica scowled. "No ‘uh-oh.’ It’s just stuck." She tried again. Still nothing.
Daniel tapped the page. "Says here that only when the assistant willingly plays their part will the shackles allow themselves to be removed." He looked at Veronica. "Guess you’re going to have to lean into it."
Veronica huffed. "Lean into what?"
Elizabeth grinned. "Well, you did pick out a cat burglar outfit earlier. Maybe the shackles want you to actually act the part."
Veronica crossed her arms, the chains of the manacles clinking together. "That’s ridiculous."
Daniel shrugged. "Hey, you’re the one wearing the magic cuffs."
Elizabeth nudged her playfully. "Come on, just for fun. Try sneaking around, maybe crack a safe or pick a lock."
Veronica hesitated. It was absurd. Completely irrational. And yet… the way the manacles felt on her wrists, the way they seemed to be waiting for something—it made her curious.
She eyed the old storage lockers lining the back wall.
"Fine," she said, cracking her knuckles. "Let’s see what these things can do."
Daniel flipped through the book, scanning the pages until he found an illustration of the very manacles Veronica was wearing. His brow furrowed as he read.
"Okay… so these manacles are part of a full escape routine," he said, looking up. "It’s called The Shackled Spectacle—and it’s more than just those cuffs."
Elizabeth perked up. "More? How much more?"
Daniel turned the page, revealing a diagram of an elaborate contraption. "A lot more. Looks like there are additional manacles, leg irons, a collar, and even a full restraint frame. The assistant—" He glanced at Veronica. "—gets locked into all of it and has to escape before a grand finale reveal."
Veronica narrowed her eyes. "Define ‘grand finale reveal.’"
Daniel skimmed further. "Uh… says here the escape happens inside a sealed trunk. Once locked inside, the performer vanishes completely, only to reappear somewhere else entirely—free of the restraints, of course." He turned the book around so they could see. The final illustration showed an empty trunk onstage with dramatic flourishes, while the assistant—no longer bound—stood in the audience, arms raised triumphantly.
Elizabeth beamed. "That sounds amazing."
Veronica, however, was less enthused. "It sounds like a magician’s death trap." She rattled the cuffs on her wrists. "And considering I can’t even take these off, I’m not exactly feeling confident about a full set."
Daniel shrugged. "Well, it does say the restraints won’t release unless the assistant fully commits to the role." He smirked. "Looks like you’re halfway there already."
Veronica crossed her arms, the chain clinking again. "I am not playing along with some magical bondage gimmick just because this book says so."
Elizabeth gave her a teasing nudge. "Are you sure? Because I think you’re already getting into character."
Veronica shot her a glare but hesitated when she realized something—she had felt a shift the moment she considered sneaking earlier. Like the manacles had… adjusted to her. Responded to her.
She exhaled. "Fine. Let’s say I try this. What’s the first step?"
Daniel checked the book. "First, you put on the full set of restraints."
Chapter Twelve: Blades and Misalignment
Chapter Eleven: Veronica finds her suit
Chapter Ten: The Lockup. Veronica gets a glow up
Chapter Nine: Compacting Veronica
Chapter Eight: Pancakes and inflating balloons
Chapter Seven: But wait, there's more!
Chapter Four: One becomes two, two become one