The Land behind the Forrest 1

»I get it!«

Eileen Schmitt threw herself into the sand, and she stretched her arms. However, she missed the ball by one or two inches, allowing their opponents to score. Angrily, she slammed her hand onto the ground, oppressing a curse. Her partner, Salome Mkapa, reached her a hand and helped her to get to her feet. She hugged Eileen, and then, they went to the net, to congratulate the other girls for their win.

It was the quarter final of the annual beach volleyball tournament of the University, and Salome and Eileen had put up a good fight. However, now, they would not be among the final four teams, and they would also miss the chance to win the cup, and the price that came with it: a two week trip to the Caribbean.

They went for their towels and water flasks, watching as the visitors cheered the winning team. It had been a University tournament, and so, there had been just a few dozen, most of them students. Two, however, still were waiting, and a girl stated:

»Hey, you were great! And I am sure the referee was bribed!«

Eileen hugged Helena and then the man by her side. Two weeks ago, her friend had broken her leg in a car accident, and she still had her right leg in a cast and had to use crutches. However, she had insisted on watching the game, and she had persuaded Maurice, an orderly from the hospital with whom she spent quite some time since they first had met, to join her.

When they walked towards the changing rooms near the entrance, forced to a slow pace by Helena’s limp, she asked them whether they wanted to join her and Maurice when they went to the cinema. Eileen shook her head.

»Sorry, not today! I think Salome and I will share a bottle of wine and cry about our loss!«

In fact, neither she nor Salome were that disappointed; since they had discovered their shared love for beach volleyball, they had trained and played on a regular basis, and of course, a free trip to the Caribbean would have been great, but their life didn’t depend on it.

However, Eileen had seen how Maurice had aided Helena more than she needed, and the day before, she had told her that Maurice had kissed her. So, Eileen decided that the two should have their evening at the cinema without her company. When they separated at the changing rooms, the girls hugged again, and Eileen whispered into Helena’s ear:

»Red or black?«

»Hm – red, I think! After all, it’s just our first real date!«

With her cast, Helena failed miserably in prancing away, and Eileen smiled. Helena had two special pairs of panties – a red one for occasions on which the man she was with could maybe get so far to see what was under her skirt, and a black pair, if she would allow him to go further.

»Take care, Helena!«, she sighed, and Salome put her arm around her shoulder.

»There are more fishes in the sea! Maybe, you should break your leg, too, so you can meet a colleague of Maurice!«

The girls went into the changing room and took off their tank tops and bikini bottoms before entering the shower. When the water poured over her shoulders, Eileen thought about what had happened to them ten months ago, and how much – or how little – it had changed their lives.

The previous July, she, Salome and some other girls had been kidnapped by a crazy rich man who not only had wanted a »collection« of a girl from each land that had one of the Seven Summits, but who had not shied away from kidnapping these girls. For his victims, it had meant two days of being naked, bound and gagged, repeatedly humiliated and finally forced to climax in front of the man and his devious friends.

Given their predicament, they had gotten away with a black eye, so to say; at least, as far as Eileen knew, for she hadn’t held close contact with all involved.

Between her and Helena, nothing had changed; she had not been on the kidnappers’ list, but had also ended up naked, bound and gagged, and one night, she had confessed to Eileen that on that occasion, the thugs had forced a butt plug on her – and that she had enjoyed it. Whenever someone mentioned the combination of the rear and sexual pleasures, Eileen shuddered: before they had been rescued, both she and Salome had not only been forced to climax, they had also been tied back to back – and butt to butt, and they had had to share a double vibrator shoved into their anuses.

Tamiko, her and Helena’s Karate Sensei, had found her true love during the kidnapping, a Chinese called Yini, and they were now running the dojo together, happily ever after. However, shortly after Helena had passed her yellow belt exam, both she and Eileen had quit Karate, for Eileen wanted to focus on beach volleyball, and Helena didn’t want to go without her best friend.

Occasionally, they had met Emily Moser, the Policewoman who had gotten involved into the kidnappings, and who had made some mistakes, leading to Eileen’s abduction and that of other girls. Last time they had seen each other, she had told them that she had gotten away with a warning and the loss of a month’s salary, and that the Police was still trying to figure out who had been behind the abductions. The most suspicious man, a rich banker called Frank Herbert, also the owner of the abandoned animal shelter where Eileen and the others had been kept, hid behind his expensive lawyers, and they didn’t have enough evidence to nail him down.

Aurora, another kidnapping victim who was from Argentina, was concentrating on her final exams, and the Chilean Beatriz, one of her friends, had moved to Bamberg. The last two kidnappees, Anna Rose from South Carolina and Maureen from Australia, had been exchange students, and had returned to their home countries.

She looked at Salome in the showed beside her, and she noticed another remnant of the kidnapping: both she and Eileen had gotten their pubic hair shaved off, and like her, Salome had decided to keep it that way. They had never spoken about it, but Eileen considered that the Black also feared the itching when it would grow back.

After their forced intimacy, one would have expected that she and Salome would either be appalled by each other – or the direct opposite. However, they had developed a cordial friendship, and they could also handle things like hugging or seeing each other naked without problems.

»Well, nearly without problems!«, Eileen thought when Salome turned her back towards her to get her towel, and she saw the dimples on top of her buttocks. This sight always triggered a memory when she had first seen them, when Salome had been forced to strip in front of her fellow captives. Also, it always reminded that, whilst Eileen had felt just irritated by the buzzing toy in her rear, Salome had been more – responsive.

They towelled and since it was warm for an April, Salome wore a light knee-length dress in bright colours that on the tall black girl looked quite ethnic, though it was made in Germany. Eileen chose a white plaited tennis skirt and a red T-Shirt that left a strip of her belly bare. Her choice of clothing was another effect of her abduction, albeit a rather indirect one: before her kidnapping, Helena had always tried to persuade the shy Eileen to »show the world what God gave to you«, and to wear more daring clothes. And now, though she still sometimes felt a bit awkward, she forced herself to wear little dresses or miniskirts, just to prove to herself that the kidnappers hadn’t been able to destroy her confidence.

»Now, shall we really mourn over some wine, or shall we go to a bar instead?«, Salome asked when they were walking over the parking lot, towards the bus stop.

»Excuse me?«

The girls spun around, looking at the owner of the female voice. Behind them stood a woman in a light off-white business jacket and a matching skirt. She had pushed her sunglasses up into her dark blonde hair she wore in a bob, and she was smiling when she looked up to Eileen and Salome.

»I have seen you during the games!«, she started, and Salome sighed.

»Then, you know that we lost and are out of the tournament!«

The woman’s smile remained, and she offered her right to Salome.

»My name is Aurica Popescu! And you are-«

»Salome Mkapa«, Salome replied, patiently repeating her last name as the woman questioningly raised one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows. »It’s Tanzanian!«

Eileen also introduced herself, noticing the woman’s firm handshake.

»Now, I know it is Friday evening, but would you mind talking about business?«

Eileen and Salome exchanged a look. What kind of business could one want to discuss on the parking lot of the University’s sports ground? Instinctively, they looked at the few other people around, checking whether someone would recognize if they had to call for help.

»Miss Popescu-«, Eileen began, but the blonde interrupted her.

»Aurica, please! After all, we are about the same age!«

Eileen smiled. She had just turned 20, and Aurica sure was in her late 20ies. Well, Salome was turning 26 in a few days, so, it was true for her.

»Aurica, don’t you think-«

»I think that you two are perfect for my campaign! However, if you are neither curious, nor interested in earning some extra money – in a way that is neither illegal nor pornographic –, then, I will have to rely on the girls who won the game, though they are lacking your qualities!«

Ostentatiously slowly, she turned on her heels, and Salome rolled her eyes before she told her to stop. Eileen chuckled, as she could imagine Aurica’s smile, but she was curious, too. If it would end up with her offering them to deliver flyers for a minimum wage, they could still refuse.

»Since I am not after used cars or selling drugs, I don’t like to discuss my business on a parking lot! So, if you will follow me to my car, we can get to a nice bar or café – on my expense!«

Both girls hesitated; after all, Salome’s kidnapping had started with a woman asking her to follow her to a van. She had been narcotized, and when she had woken up, had found herself in a cell, bound, gagged and hooded.

To their surprise and relief, Aurica didn’t insist on them following her, and instead, she also took the bus with them. During the trip, she refused to tell them more, and just to see how much she meant business, Eileen proposed an expensive cocktail bar where they could sit outside.

»Well, I had hoped you would be cheaper, but I think I can afford a glass for each of us!«

When their drinks were served, Aurica took a sip and looked at them.

»You may have noticed from my name and from my accent that I am from Romania! But as you can see, I can walk around in broad daylight, and I prefer Margaritas to human blood!«

Since both the black Salome and Eileen, who was born in Russia, though she was living in Germany since she was ten months old, knew a thing or two about cliches, they suddenly felt sympathy towards Aurica. She seemed to have intended exactly that, for she continued:

»Have you ever heard of Weißendorf, or of Transylvanian Spirit?«

None of the girls had, and Aurica explained that Weißendorf, or Sat Alb, as it was called in Romanian, was a village in Transylvania, nowadays Romania, mostly inhabited by members of the German minority. She had grown up there, and she had decided to do something against the village’s decline in recent years.

»That’s why I have established Transylvanian Spirit, which is an energy drink. Currently, we have seven employees, but we are beginning to make profit, and so, I decided to start a marketing campaign in Germany!«

»Excuse me, but what do we have to do with it? You may have noticed that I have slight difficulties in passing as a Romanian!«, Salome interrupted her, and Aurica smiled.

»If I wanted Romanian girls, I would have looked in Romania! Anyway, I was here because I had negotiations with a new business partner, a German brewery. They say they are interested, but only if I manage to get some publicity – within the next six weeks! And that’s why I was looking for potential models, to promote my product!«

Eileen laughed. Since she was tall and pretty, some of her friends had jokingly told her she should become a model. However, whoever had seen her walk in high heels had never said that again. Salome cocked he head.

»So, you want us to pose with a can of your energy drink, in exchange for a free Bahama Mama?«

Aurica’s smile became more enigmatic.

»Of course, it would be on you on what you will spend your earnings, but given the prices here, I am talking about some 300 Bahama Mamas each, plus expenses!«

Eileen, who had just taken a sip from her drink, swallowed the wrong way and coughed. Salome patted her back whilst she stared at Aurica. At the bar, a Bahama Mama was 6,90 Euro, so-

»2000 for each of you, for one week’s work! I think that as students, you can skip one week at the University!«

Eileen, who had overcome her coughing attack, looked at the Romanian.

»2000 for just posing on a few posters!«

Then, she frowned, and though she tried to sound jokingly, her concern was real:

»Do you want us to advertise in the nude?«

»Would you like to?«, Aurica replied, and this time, it was Salome who nearly spilled her drink. Aurica laughed and explained:

»You would still be at least as modest as you were on the volleyball field – but for two Grand each, you would have to show a little more effort than agreeing upon a simple photo shoot!«

***

»Why do I have to go? I am junior CEO, after all! You could send Martens or Hartenstein instead!«

The man on the screen put his hands in the position Montgomery Burns had made famous and grinned at the woman he was video-chatting with.

»That’s right, you are the junior CEO, responsible only to me! And that’s why I send you, because you are the person I trust the most! Besides, I always thought you like to travel!«

Ligeia von Marwitz glanced at the man who now showed his trademark grin.

»I love travelling, but I prefer going to places that have already come in contact with civilisation! You are intending to send me to Transylvania – literally – uh!«

The man frowned at the sigh at the end of the woman’s sentence.

»Is everything okay, Ligeia?«

Ligeia brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, and she smiled, blushing a little.

»Everything’s fine, Hermann! I was just shuddering at the idea of having to go to that barbaric part of the world!«

»So, you are going«, Hermann replied, looking at Ligeia’s sight on the screen. She had turned 52 recently, but she was still a sight. When she had attended at the company, they had had an affair, until Hermann had chased after younger flesh. And even now, it seemed that Ligeia wasn’t indifferent to his presence: her blouse had one button more open than it would have been during a regular meeting, there was a fine film of perspiration on her skin, and during the conversation, she had repeatedly oppressed a panting. Now, she sighed.

»Do I have a choice?«

»Actually not!«

Hermann ended the call, and when the screen went black, Ligeia looked down, under her desk. She could see the back of the woman kneeling there, and her black armbinder that forced her elbows together and kept her arms almost immobile. Her head was covered by Ligeia’s crumpled skirt, and she continued to caress the woman’s hair.

»Have you heard that, Milli? He’s sending me to Transylvania!«

Then, she tightened her grip on the woman’s hair.

»He, who told you to stop – hmmm, that’s better!«

Ligeia leaned back as the woman between her thighs continued to pluck on her moist labia with her lips and pushed her nimble tongue inside her. She padded the girl’s head and then withdrew her hands from under her skirt.

»Please, Milli, carry – uh! – on until I have – uh! – checked the village he is sending us to!«

Milena twitched by the mentioning of »us«, but she continued kissing and licking Ligeia’s warm and moist middle, sensing her strong fragrance in the stuffy heat under her skirt. Refusing to please Ligeia had consequences – consequences she definitely didn’t want to experience again!

She had left the legal path years ago, and since then, she had gained quite a reputation among certain circles, culminating in the job ten months ago, when a rich guy named Frank Herbert had hired her and Sabrina, a fellow criminal, for the abduction of some girls. It had sounded promising – a quarter of a Million for each of them for the work of a month, and everything had gone fine – until the end. Milena could still remember how she had looked up and seen the face of the Japanese, a girl they had left behind naked, bound and gagged. A moment later,  she had knocked her unconscious, and when she had woken up, she had been stark naked and tightly restrained, with a hood over her head, and her mouth stuffed with two pairs of used panties and a sock and rounds of tape sealing her lips. She had been tied face to crotch to Sabrina, and a zip tie had been tied between her legs, so tight she could still remember the pain. And that had only been the beginning.

The show arranged by them for Frank Herbert had been ended by the Police, but his guests had managed to escape. Among these guests had been Ligeia von Marwitz – and when she had stumbled over Sabrina and Milena, she had decided to take them with her.

Ligeia had a Bentley, but whilst the seats offered all comfort, the trunk where they had been stowed hadn’t, and when, after a trip of several hours, they had stopped for the first time, she and Sabrina had been in quite a mess. Their crotch straps had been cut, and they had been allowed to relive themselves, still bound, gagged and blindfolded. Then, they had heard her recite a nursery rhyme, and she had taken Sabrina with her, to join her on the backseat, whilst Milena had continued the ride to Tuscany in the trunk.

Sabrina had never spoken about what she had been forced to do in the limousine, but Milena could guess that she had been ungagged, so she could »please her Mistress«. During the next weeks, these were the only occasion their gags came off – either at mealtimes, or to please Ligeia von Marwitz.

Marvin, her trusted chauffeur, had joined in the games, though he had never thrust himself upon her or Sabrina. However, both he and Ligeia had been more than careful, and so, there had been no escape from the little mansion.

Not that they hadn’t tried. However, both Ligeia and Marvin had always stopped those attempts, and then, they had shown that they knew quite a few techniques both Milena and Sabrina had also been experts in, though never on the receiving end so far. Spanking, sensory deprivation, enemas, and Ligeia’s favourite punishment, tease and denial.

Then, after about three weeks (the girls had stopped counting the days by then), Ligeia had made them kneel opposite to her armchair. Both girls sported the armbinders they had almost gotten used to, and big red ball gags prevented them to spit out the pair of Ligeia’s panties each of them was chewing on. Ligeia held her riding crop and patted them with it, so they sat straight and thrust out their chests. Then, she made them »an offer they couldn’t refuse«.

She had told them she had to return to Germany, and that they had two alternatives: first, they would be left behind, to be found by the cleaning ladies who would show up within the next two days. Or, they could get an upgrade, from toys to servants.

She had explained to them what being her servant would mean, and in the end, both Milena and Sabrina had decided to do it. Had they refused, they would have been free. However, there was little chance to get Ligeia punished, and with their own criminal record, they had no intention to get in contact with the Italian Police. In addition, they were broke, since Frank Herbert of course hadn’t paid them. Ligeia’s offer included a payment of 10 Grand a month.

»And after a minimum of one year in my service, you may leave!«

For 120.000 Euro, Ligeia’s pussy definitely improved in taste, and though they were rather house slaves than actual servants and they still more often sported armbinders and gags instead of regular clothes, their living conditions had improved. And yet, Milena had sworn that once she had her money, she would have her terrible revenge on Ligeia von Marwitz.

Sabrina had followed the conversation, too. She was standing beside the door, sporting a similar armbinder as Milena did, and she fought the urge to shift her hips. The crotch strap was tight, but not too tight, but she needed to pee, and she didn’t want Ligeia to notice, for she sometimes liked to play kinky games about it.

Since her services weren’t required, Sabrina wore the standard gag in this house, a simple ball gag that wasn’t too efficient in noise reducing, but made her speech unintelligible and forced her to drool. She looked at Milena’s feet protruding from the desk, and when she heard a slurping sound, accompanied by a sigh from Ligeia, she decided that the rubber ball didn’t taste that bad.

Like Milena, she was also waiting for the day of revenge, but unlike her companion, she had already taken the first steps. Though he always acted as the perfect underling, Marvin wasn’t indifferent to her charms, and she was sure that she would be able to seduce him. With the chauffeur on their side, they could exact their revenge earlier, and their chances of escaping were better.

»Maybe, the trip to Transylvania will be our ride to freedom!«, she thought, and she lowered her head so Ligeia couldn’t see how her lips formed a smile around her gag.

***

»At least, the sad damsel can now maybe escape to a better place!«

Lioba Karnstein sat in the open window of her small flat and drew from her cigarette. This time, her attempt to quit smoking had lasted for three entire days. Lioba knew that she was self-piteous, but she thought that nobody would care if she got terminally ill anyway.

It was an exaggeration, of course. Lioba had friends, and it wasn’t their fault that they either lived in a different country or she didn’t call them. Still, she had the excuse that the events of the last year had been quite strenuous, and she still needed time to recover from it.

18 months ago, Lioba had started to work at a project of one of the professors of the University she was employed at: »Project Little Death«. The goal had been to develop an aphrodisiac that worked absolutely sure, Viagra for women, so to say. They had had considerable success, but they had stepped into the radar of some criminals, and it had ended up with her colleagues being kidnapped by Chinese criminals. Lioba had not been among them, but in the tumultuous events that had followed, she had also ended up naked, bound and gagged repeatedly. In addition, she had met her ex again, retired Special Agent Mike Dunbar. For a short while, she had hoped that they could pick up where they had once stopped, but there had also been his new girlfriend, Isabelle Marceau, and Mike had decided for her.

She held no grudge against Isabelle with whom she had gotten more acquainted during their various predicaments, and when Isabelle had invited her to her hen night and her wedding with Mike, she had gladly agreed. During the hen night, however, there had been again criminals too close to their place, and again, she, Isabelle and some other girls had ended up gagged and in tight bondage, whilst their clothes had again been taken from them.

The adventure had ended up well, and when Mike and Isabelle had married little later, her wishes for them being happily ever after hadn’t been forced. She wanted them to be happy, and when they occasionally phoned, these were nice talks. However, in the end, it seemed that every girl had found her special someone – except her. That’s why Lioba referred to herself as the »sad damsel«.

In addition to a man in her life, Lioba missed her old apartment. Since she had been assaulted and left naked, bound and gagged in it, she had no longer felt safe there, and for the moment, she had rented a cheap flat, until she would find something better. Since the only thing that hadn’t gone South was her career, though Lioba had left »Project Little Death«, she had quite a sum, albeit not enough for buying a nice apartment. Perhaps, it would be enough for Marseille, but Lioba wanted to make a new start, and an offer from a pharmaceutical institute in Paris sounded promising, as did living in the French capital.

However, she now wanted to do a final step and buy an apartment instead of renting one, and the prices in Paris were too high if she wanted to live somewhere close to the centre. So, she had been about to tell the institute that she would stay in Marseille when the letter had reached her. It had had a stamp on it that had looked strange and familiar at the same time, for it had been a Romanian one.

Being just 31, Lioba Karnstein had seen quite a bit of the world. Born in Hermannstadt, or Sibiu, as the Romanians called it, she had spent her first years in Romania, until her parents had first moved to Germany, and then to Britain, where she had finished High School (and had her relationship with Mike). After her PhD, she had moved to France where she now worked and lived for four years.

She had frowned at the letter that had been sent from Hermannstadt. There were still a few distant relatives of her living in Romania, but this envelope looked as if it came from some company rather than a private person.

»If only there was a possibility to find out what’s in it!«

She had opened the envelope, and found a letter, together with the photocopy of a map and a few photos showing a big, albeit old-fashioned house in some rural area. The letter had been in Romanian, but she still knew a little of the language, and with the help of Google translate, she had been able to read it.

It was from a notary in Hermannstadt, informing her that her great-aunt had died from old age, and in her testament, she had stated that her earthly possessions should go to the youngest living member of her family.

Obviously, the old lady (whom Lioba had never met in life) had been quite rich, at least according to Romanian standards, and she was leaving her not just the house, but also a factory ground. For a few moments, Lioba had felt as if she had won the lottery jackpot, but then, she had calmed down and googled the small village called Weißendorf. It was a small village in rural Transylvania, with a decreasing population, as most of the young tried to find work elsewhere. So, Lioba wouldn’t be a millionaire.

However, according to the internet, she would be able to make at least some money: 50.000 at least, up to 100.000 if she had some luck and played her cards well. Together with her savings, she would be able to afford an apartment in Paris!

The letter had stated that if she was willing to sell the property, she would have to come to Romania herself, and so, she had booked a flight to Hermannstadt and already rented a car via Hertz. She still had some free days left, and a little break from either working or sitting in her apartment complaining her non-existent love life, would do her good.

»Let’s just hope that this time, the Chinese and Russian kidnappers are operating elsewhere, and I can return save and sound!«

***

»I still can’t believe we are going!«

Eileen pressed Salome’s hand, and she added a high-pitched squeal to emphasize her excitement. Salome smiled and drew from her cigarette, looking whether Aurica’s car would come and pick them up soon.

The offer from the Romanian was something that would perhaps end up with Eileen and Salome being recognized and mocked by people, but it was, as she had stated, neither illegal nor indecent. They would have to do commercial clips for both YouTube and TikTok, advertising »Transylvanian Spirit« at the place where it was produced.

»Perhaps, it will even lure some tourists there! Weißendorf can definitely need soe money! And if they think that the girls there all look like you-«

Aurica had been honest why she had picked Eileen and Salome: not only would professional models have been too expensive, she had chosen them for their looks, too.

»Sex sells! And you definitely look hot in a beach volleyball outfit!«

Another reason had been the fact that Eileen and Salome had so many in common whilst at the same time, they looked completely different. Both were tall, measuring 6’, and had long shapely legs and an athletic build. Quite blatantly, Aurica had asked them for their bra size, obviously pleased that both were 36D.

However, whilst Eileen was blonde with blue eyes and a fair skin, Salome was black, and Aurica had been honest in this case, too. The contrast would attract viewers, and it would also signal diversity. Salome, who, since she had moved to Germany, knew what it meant to be either exoticized or being used as a token, had sighed, but in the end, she had agreed to accompany Eileen and Aurica on the trip to Weißendorf.

»At least, I am going with a real friend, not someone chosen to fulfil a quota!«

Helena had been impressed when they had told her the next morning, and she hadn’t even been angry that they would leave later the same day.

»My best friend and my second best friend are becoming models!«

Helena was easy to forgive Eileen and Salome that they would leave her alone for an entire week. Her date with Maurice had gone well; so well that, cocking her head and chuckling, she had whispered into Eileen’s ear:

»I should have worn black!«

Eileen wondered how they could have had sex with Helena’s leg in a cast that reached up to her thigh, but obviously, they had found a way. So, she now was only a little grumpy for Helena hadn’t waited for Aurica to show up, but left to meet with her new love.

»Eww, there’s a white van coming for us!«

Salome felt a real shiver run down her spine, though Eileen had only been joking. However, when she had been kidnapped ten moths ago, she had indeed been transported in a white van. However, when she saw Aurica behind the wheel, waving at them, she kicked out her cigarette and waved back.

One of the less appealing details of the modelling job was that Aurica’s company was a small startup, and thus, though she had confirmed that they would be paid full and in cash, there wasn’t much excess money left. At Weißendorf, they would have to share one of the houses there, and they would be self-sufficient. In addition, Aurica couldn’t afford a flight and therefore, they would have to do the trip in her van, starting now, so they would arrive on Sunday evening and could start shooting on Monday.

The girls towed their bags in the load where two mattresses towed to one of the walls indicated that they were meant to sleep in the car, too.

»2.000 plus expenses! You should have told us that the expenses are a bottle of lukewarm water, and a few crackers from a highway snack bar!«, Salome complained. Eileen shrugged and slung her arms around her.

»See it as an adventure! I am sure, after next week, we will have a lot to tell!«

***