As Veronica steps into the wardrobe, her eyes immediately lock onto the catsuit. She’s waited a whole week for this moment, and there’s no hesitation as she reaches for it.
The smooth, form-fitting material slides over her body like a second skin, sending a familiar shiver of excitement through her.
However, as she adjusts the fit, something else catches her attention—a few outfits hanging nearby, made of the same sleek, high-tech material.
One in particular stands out: a bikini-style ensemble, designed for water escapes. The fabric is glossy black with subtle silver seams that shimmer faintly under the light.
A matching set of gloves and thigh-high stockings accompany it, suggesting it’s more than just swimwear—it’s an escape artist’s costume, sleek yet practical. The reinforced clasps on the top and bottoms hint at some hidden trickery, perhaps designed to release at the perfect moment.
Next to it, another variation—a bodysuit similar to her catsuit but sleeveless and with short legs, almost like a gymnast’s leotard. It looks flexible, made for ease of movement, perfect for tight squeezes and contortion-based escapes.
Veronica runs her fingers over the material, considering. The catsuit still calls to her, but the idea of trying something new, especially for a daring water escape, lingers in her mind.
She glances at Elizabeth, who’s browsing through the wardrobe with her own ideas in mind. “You know,” Veronica muses, “I think I’ll stick with my catsuit today… but I might have to try one of these next time.”
Elizabeth smirks. “Already planning ahead? I like it.”
With that, Veronica zips up her suit, feeling completely in her element once more. Now, all that remains is deciding just what kind of escape she’ll attempt today.
Veronica adjusts the collar of her catsuit and smirks, stretching out her arms as if testing the fit. “You know,” she says casually, “I think I want to do something with real stakes today.”
Elizabeth raises an eyebrow. “Oh? What kind of ‘real stakes’ are we talking about?”
Veronica crosses the room, running her fingers along a few of the larger props stacked against the walls. “Something dramatic. Something… deadly. Like a death trap escape.”
Daniel, flipping through Kashmir’s journal, glances up at her with an intrigued but wary expression. “Define ‘death trap.’”
Veronica turns, a gleam in her eye. “Something with a guillotine.”
Elizabeth makes a noise somewhere between a gasp and a laugh. “You want to stick your head in a neck chopper?”
Veronica shrugs. “If I can escape from cuffs, from a vault, even from a water tank… why not this?”
Daniel slowly closes the book. “That is a little more extreme than usual.”
“Is it, though?” Veronica tilts her head. “Something about this suit… it’s like it wants me to push myself further. Besides, I’m sure there’s a trick to it. Right?”
Daniel exhales, flipping through the journal again. “Let me see if Kashmir left any notes about this.” He mutters to himself as he scans the pages, until his finger lands on a particular passage. His brow furrows. “Huh. There is something called ‘The Final Cut.’”
Elizabeth crosses her arms. “That’s not ominous at all.”
Veronica grins. “Perfect.”
Daniel sighs, but there’s a spark of curiosity behind his concern. “Let’s at least find the prop and see what we’re dealing with before you stick your head in anything.”
With that, the trio begins their search, uncovering crates and moving aside furniture, on the hunt for the infamous guillotine illusion.
Veronica runs her fingers along the wooden frame of the guillotine, admiring the craftsmanship. “It’s solid,” she murmurs, “but there has to be a way out.”
Daniel tightens the last of the restraints, securing her wrists behind the tall wooden stock. “You sure about this?” he asks.
Veronica smirks. “Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
The neck stock clicks shut around her throat, a heavy padlock securing it in place. For a moment, she stays still, testing the fit. Then, a familiar shiver runs through her body, and she feels the suit reacting. Subtle adjustments ripple through the material, and suddenly, she’s more aware of the locks, the weight of them, the pressure points that might release with just the right touch.
Her fingers move almost on their own, guided by an instinct she hadn’t possessed a moment ago. The suit enhances her dexterity, her fingertips brushing the locks in a precise sequence. Click. One down. Click. Another.
Daniel and Elizabeth watch in stunned silence as she works, twisting her wrists at an impossible angle to reach the last lock. The stock creaks, loosening.
With a final flick, the metal gives way, and the stock swings open. Veronica steps back, smirking triumphantly. “Well, that was fun.”
Elizabeth claps. “That was incredible! You made that look easy.”
Veronica grins. “Maybe it was.” She glances at the suit, as if silently thanking it for its help.
Elizabeth eyes the guillotine, a playful gleam in her eye. “I want a go.”
Daniel blinks. “You do?”
Elizabeth dramatically twirls in place, revealing her new outfit—an elaborate French Revolution-era aristocrat’s dress, complete with lace gloves and a high collar. “If we’re doing guillotine escapes, we should do it properly. Besides, I want to see if I have the same talent Veronica does.”
Veronica chuckles, stepping aside. “Be my guest. But if you lose your head, don’t blame me.”
Elizabeth steps forward, lifting her chin with exaggerated dignity. “If I am to meet my fate, let it be in style.” She places her head in the stock, giving Daniel a wink. “Lock me in.”
Daniel sighs, already reaching for the restraints. “You two are going to be the death of me.”
As he secures Elizabeth in place, Veronica watches closely, still feeling the residual thrill of her escape. Something about this—about the suit, about the tricks—was changing things. But what, exactly, was it leading to?
As soon as Daniel clicks the last padlock into place, there’s a sharp clank—followed immediately by a blur of metal.
SHWUNK!
The guillotine blade drops instantly, slicing clean through Elizabeth’s neck.
Veronica gasps, jumping back, while Daniel staggers forward, eyes wide in shock. But before either of them can react further, Elizabeth’s head, now resting neatly in the lower basket, blinks up at them.
“Uh, guys?” she says, completely unfazed. “What the hell just happened?”
Chapter Twenty Three: Return to the Lockup
Chapter Twenty Two: Now what did Daniel do?
Chapter Twenty One: What did the ladies do this week?
Chapter Twenty: The Captured Cat gets wet.
Chapter Nineteen: Veronica becomes the Captured Cat.
Chapter Eighteen: The Living Dummy
Chapter Seventeen: Spilt switch and back again.
Chapter Sixteen: The Heist goes wrong, oh my.
Chapter Fifteen: Preparing for the Heist
Chapter Fourteen: Introducing The Transposition Trick
Chapter Thirteen: Stretching, Spikes and Shackles.
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