The Story So Far: The contestants have reached the exit to the palace, but with the villains in hot pursuit. Lucy and Lena tried to hold off their pursuers long enough for the gate to open, but found themselves cut off and surrounded. Meanwhile, Annabelle decided it would be a good idea to wander off and investigate a strange noise...

Part 11: The Doomed

Deep within the palace, in a dingy, mist-wreathed hall, beyond slimy waterfalls that fell like glistening veils, Lucy was being bathed in goo. She lay propped on her elbows, her hips sliding around in the shallow, gunge-filled lagoon that extended past the narrow catwalk spanning the hall. Reclining to either side of her, two beaming young women in ghoul costumes took great delight in slathering her with mess.

Lucy's mind whirled. It was hard to make sense of what was happening. Pale lilac gloop lapped at her sides and spilled in around her hips, covering most of her little gold bikini bottoms. The back of her head rested atop Joanna's thigh, and she could feel her long brown hair, now suffused with gunk, floating out around her head. The sensation of gliding around in slime, her legs kicking feebly but finding no purchase in the lotion-smooth mire, felt oddly relaxing. Though her chest still heaved from her recent exertions, Lucy found herself grinning dreamily and peering up at her tormentors.

Jo and Amelie clearly enjoyed their jobs. Having expended most of the gunge stored in their costumes, they now mostly contented themselves with drizzling handfuls of gunge from the pool over Lucy's torso. Aside from a few playful wriggles, each of which provoked mucky retaliation from her captors, Lucy had given up on trying to escape. There was no getting out of this.

As though reading her thoughts, Amelie stopped whispering in French into Lucy's ear, drew back a little, and switched to English. "You wonder why we still slime you, yes? Why you are not, how you say, eliminated?" Seeing Lucy nod, she glanced to her commander. "Shall we tell her?"

Joanna paused a moment, weighing her words. Just looking at her nemesis made Lucy smirk. The lithe blonde was scarcely less messy than she was, her wetsuit smeared with purple ichor and loose strands of wet hair clinging to the sides of her face.

"It's simple," Joanna said at last. "We made a new rule just for you. The guys in the control room don't decide when you're eliminated. Want to guess who does?"

Seeing the ghoul's eyes gleaming with mischief, Lucy groaned. "I have an idea."

Joanna's smile broadened. "Exactly. I bet Belle's got a spout of green goo queued up for you, and she's sat there just itching to press the button, but you're not getting eliminated 'til I say the word." Idly she scooped up a handful of slime and held it above Lucy. "And you know what?" she murmured, the mess drooling between her fingers.

Toes wiggling, Lucy gave a pretend whimper as goo dripped down onto her stomach. "What?"

"I wanna see you get a little gloopier."

Lucy squealed with ticklish laughter as the sliming resumed. She played along, wriggling and pretending to plead for mercy, while around her competing colours polluted the pool, the blurred hues radiating around her like fairy wings. In Lucy's view, today was long-awaited karma for her lifelong love of messy gameshows. After so long watching eagerly as others took mucky forfeits, it seemed somehow right that it was finally her turn to face the slime.

Suddenly all was sound and motion. A shrieking figure came sprawling through the gooey waterfall to her left. She caught a glimpse of a woman with flame-red hair thrashing wildly, magma-orange gunk erupting from her wetsuit, before the defeated ghoul bellyflopped into the lagoon.

Slime splashed wildly. For a moment Lucy closed her eyes, slick dollops painting her face and raining over her front, but she was already so utterly gunged that another spattering scarcely seemed to matter. The ghouls, however, had been caught off guard. Amelie reeled, yelping in surprise, as orange muck plastered half her face. Swiping at it and muttering what sounded like a string of expletives in French, she wheeled to reprimand the fallen ghoul, unaware that doing so left her ripcord in full view of Lucy.

For a second she could only stare. The prospect of escape had seemed so remote that there was no point even trying, but now... It was clear that Joanna, too, had recognised the danger. As one they glanced at each other, then at the exact same moment sprang into action. Lucy, however, was nearer the target.

Feeling a yank on her ripcord, Amelie spun back around, auburn hair bobbing and eyes like saucers. Lucy winked at her, slid sideways, the lilac pool churning around her bikini bottoms, and with a deft prod sent Amelie sprawling into Jo. The blonde went sliding backwards through the slippery pool, a screaming Amelie riding her like a bodyboard even as her costume went into meltdown. Lucy whooped in triumph on hearing Joanna squeal, pink gunge spilling all over her and trailing through the pool like a ship's wake.

The background rumble of pumps juddered to a stop, and suddenly Lucy heard the clamour of movement all through the hall's southern half. The horde was close. With the waterfalls beginning to falter, she struggled to her feet and made one final bid for freedom, wobbling through the shin-deep ooze as fast as she could manage. She couldn't yet see Lena, but if her teammate had somehow managed to hold off their attackers at the archway, she might still have a chance. Ragged gaps in the falling cascade revealed ghouls swarming into the hall. There had to be at least twenty of them. She was only a few yards ahead, and was so messy that she could barely walk without slipping over.

Glancing down at the shallow pool extending ahead of her, she knew what she had to do, and with a carefree whoop launched forward as though on a slip'n'slide, skimming through the gloop and squealing with laughter at the sensation of slime washing through her cleavage. Getting up felt like trying to swim through syrup, but finally she made it to her feet, checking her bikini as she did so. Tendrils of goo trailed from her arms and chest or flowed in ponderous rivers down her body, but she pressed on, struggling her way back to the walkway as the waterfalls dwindled to spattering dregs, some of which befouled her hair as she passed through. Entirely gunged yet beaming proudly, she stepped shakily onto the catwalk.

That was fun.

*****

Lips curling into a resigned smile, Lena stood facing the closed bulkhead. Behind her the horde drew ever closer. She knew what came next. Shaking her head, she glanced down at the multicoloured gunk oozing over her skin and dripping from her curves. Dark locks of wet hair bracketed her vision, and only brief glimpses of her dusky skin and black bikini were visible beneath the gunge, yet she suspected that this was little more than a prelude compared to what awaited her.

Movement to her right caught her attention. Turning her head, she gasped on seeing an astonishingly messy figure step up from the pool flanking that side of the catwalk. Slathered in gunge, shedding huge globules with every step she took, the woman tottered forward, beaming brightly, with hands out at her sides as though she had wet nail varnish.

"Oh my God! Lucy? Wow, and I thought I was gunged. What happened?"

Teeth shone white against the gaudy backdrop as Lucy grinned. "Got messy," she replied simply.

"You know what? I believe you." Lena skipped toward her teammate, her arms outstretched. "Come on, gunge hug!"

Tittering, Lucy stepped forward. The pair embraced tightly, chins resting on the other's shoulders, and giggled in embarrassment as little jets of collected slime came squirting from their bikini tops. The sensation of hugging someone covered in gunge was strange but - in Lena's view - oddly pleasant. She found her hands gliding over Lucy's slime-covered back, prompting a contented giggle from her teammate.

Peering past Lena's shoulder, Lucy's brows knotted in confusion, then she peered around as though trying to get her bearings. Leaning back from the hug, a question began forming on her lips.

Lena pre-empted her. "Looking for the exit?" Stepping back, she draped an arm over her companion's shoulder and shifted so that they were both facing the closed bulkhead. "Yeah, about that...."

*****

Meanwhile, down in the catacombs, Kirsty shifted excitedly. She'd been waiting in this gloomy, cocoon-like chamber for almost ten minutes, to the point where it was becoming awkward, and had started to think the contestants might miss her altogether. Now, finally, someone was descending the slanted tunnel opposite. Now came the fun part.

This place felt like the inside of a termite mound. Around her, gnarled, root-like pillars cast chaotic shadows upon charcoal-grey walls caked with calcified purple resin. Dense mist coiled through the sultry air, flowing from vents high on the walls to form a shifting, shin-deep layer that clouded an uneven floor, one that seemed to have been somehow gnawed rather than built. To Kirsty it was all awfully familiar. When filming the event's intro she'd raced through this very chamber, though there'd since been a few... changes.

Aside from faint pin-prick lights that dotted the ceiling, scattered points of eerie, yellow-white luminescence lit the rolling mist. Kirsty smirked. She knew where those lights came from.

Across the chamber there was a soft grunt. The approaching contestant had lost control of her descent and came sliding down the last section of the chute. Kirsty felt her shoulders tighten. At last. She watched eagerly as dramatic swirls in the mist announced the arrival of a curvy young woman, who came to a halt in the bowl-shaped dip at the tunnel's mouth. With her back propped against the slope, the newcomer squeaked and ducked her head down, having no-doubt spotted the gunge pipes poised above the depression. After a few seconds, seemingly confused at still being clean, she peeked up as though expecting a trick. When none came, the newcomer stood slowly, her form cast in hazy silhouette by the fog, and gave a start when Kirsty called out to her.

"Nice of someone to show up. C'mon, don't be shy, come closer. Let's see who we've got."

The woman approached warily. She stood a fraction shorter than Kirsty, who herself was no amazon, and had only a baby-blue bikini upon her pale but enviably curvy form. Hair the colour of dark chocolate, shoulder-length and parted to one side, matched Kirsty's almost exactly.

Annabelle! Goodo, this should be interesting...

Kirsty checked her appearance one more time. Her white bikini, stark against bronzed skin, seemed to glow dully in the diffuse light. Something told her it wouldn't stay pristine for long. After a few more paces, Annabelle lifted a hand to stifle a horrified chuckle.

Hah, she's finally noticed them. Peculiar oval mounds studded the chamber. The way the mist circled them reminded Kirsty of her hometown in Australia, where gentle waves would lap against the mooring posts down by the creek.

Annabelle shook her head and pointed. "Are those meant to be eggs?"

The two shared a brief 'what are we doing?' look. The glistening, faintly insectoid pods were as big as space hoppers. Each looked all too fragile, like overfilled balloons, their membranes stretched taut by the lurid yellow and purple slime throbbing within. Spotlights beneath them created the yellowish glow that spread like a miasma through the mist. The effect might've been horrifying were it not so pathetically unconvincing.

Hands set confidently at her hips, Kirsty lowered her voice to a teasing purr. "Notice anything else?"

With a flick of her eyes she directed Annabelle's attention to the artificial vines that hung in webs between the pillars, forming a knotted canopy around six feet off the ground. Suspended from those vines were dozens of balloons, each as big as a grapefruit and filled to bursting with purple or yellow gloop. On seeing them, Annabelle gave a jittery laugh and reached both hands behind her head, bunching her hair.

Hang on, I'm meant to be giving some exposition here. Doing her best to keep a straight face, Kirsty gestured to the eggs and cackled theatrically. "Mwa-ha-ha! Nice work, Annabelle, you've found the hatching chamber. The place where ghouls are made." She grinned on seeing the look Annabelle gave her. "Come on, play along."

Annabelle relented. "Okay, okay, it's where ghouls are made. So why are you here?"

"You mean me as in me me, or my character?"

"Either... or both."

Arms folding, Kirsty tried to recall how all this had been rationalised. "Ooh, I remember. After we got eliminated - me, Mel and Lisa - we got hit by some... rays, or something, which made us go native." She noticed Annabelle roll her eyes. "Not exactly watertight, I'll grant you."

"And the real reason?"

"The real reason is the guys in the control room liked us, and we had a blast doing it, so they offered to work us into the main event. And here I am."

Annabelle took a step closer. "And here you are. So the question is... what happens now?"

Getting back into villain mode, Kirsty grinned impishly. "Bad news, Annabelle. You've seen too much. You're gonna have to be dealt with."

"What am I supposed to have seen?" Annabelle sounded confused, but then suddenly she looked back to the eggs. "Ah! Right, I get it. This is why ghouls come back even after we beat them, they make out they've just 'hatched' new ones."

Shoulders loosening, Kirsty stalked two paces forward, her lithe body cutting through the mist. With calculated casualness she plucked a balloon from a nearby vine and rolled it on her palm, making ready to throw. "Got it in one. So I'm afraid, Annie, this is as far as you go."

Annabelle peeked around, weighed her options, and then smirked. "Is that so? Well, in that case... come get me!"

In a flash Annabelle had snatched a balloon for herself. Yelling ironic battle cries, the two women sprang into action.

*****

Lucy was about to get very, very messy - and she could hardly wait. Dancing excitedly from one foot to the next, she gave Lena a friendly hug. Her companion was already shaking with silent mirth.

She and Lena were trapped between a solid bulkhead and an advancing posse of ghouls. Kindred spirits, the pair had been first into the Splatter Dome. Both had lasted longer than they'd dared hope, and gotten messier than they could possibly have imagined. Now it was time for their grand finale. Elimination beckoned. Shame and liberation, sacrilege and sacrament, it was what they'd fled from and yearned for all this time.

Beside her, Lena gave her an amiable pat on the shoulder. "Looks like this is as far as we go. Still, it was always going to happen sooner or later. I don't know about you, but I did a lot better than I thought I would."

"Same," replied Lucy. "I suppose we did pretty well."

She noticed Lena's posture change. With the waterfalls gone, she'd spied the letterbox hatches along the chamber's sides. Glancing at Lucy, she smirked. "Wait here. I have an idea."

"Uh, okay..."

With that Lena scampered over to the western wall. On hopping down into the pool beyond the walkway she paused, tottering back and forth and trying desperately not to slip. Seeing a ghoul stepping into range and preparing to fire her sprayers, Lena held up a finger to forestall her. "One moment," she commanded.

While the ghoul paused, unsure what to do, Lena shuffled to one of the hatches, collected two custard pies, nodded politely to her confused foe, and then made her way back to Lucy.

"Ta-da!" said Lena, handing one of the pies to Lucy. "Remember before? I did say to hold that thought, didn't I?" Seeing Lucy smile in understanding, she brandished the pie. "What do you say - one for the road?"

Lucy needed no convincing. "Hah, absolutely! On three, yeah? One, two... three!"

With a hoot of laughter the pair splatted each other. Cool custard engulfed Lucy's face, the yellow muck surging through her hair and pouring down onto her chest. She could hear stray blobs landing on the ground behind her, while a few others slid slow and oily down her back or caught in her long hair. Amid muffled squeaks the pair held their pose, each rubbing their pie into the other's face to ensure maximum messiness, the creamy mess disintegrating and tumbling down their fronts in chaotic welters.

At last, with the pies finally spent and the ghoulish host almost in range, the pair wiped their eyes, both eager to see what they'd done to each other. Cheering, they stepped back in, clasping hands and leaning in until their noses almost touched.

"You know what, Lucy?"

"What?"

"I can see why Jo keeps picking on you. You're fun to gunge."

"Haha! Thanks, you too."

They huddled against each other as their opponents closed in on them. Lucy's eyes were fixed on the ghoulish host. They filled half the hall, many wading through the lagoons that flanked the walkway, and still more were coming. So many... The sight was comically surreal, as though they were besieged by a motley gang of troubadours. Most wore the standard wetsuit-like costumes, complete with slime-shooting sprayers beneath the wrists and spongy panels for dispensing those obscenely sloppy hugs. Garish war paint daubed every hand and face, the colour matched to the gunge they would shoot. And there, at the horde's centre, marched a now somewhat bedraggled Joanna. Lucy mouthed a playful challenge that brought a wry smirk to the ghoul's cherry-red lips.

Clinging to Lena felt like hugging a melting snowman. They were both covered in gunge, but gravity was drawing the gloop steadily downward. Their bikinis, previously buried beneath seeping layers of ooze, were gradually re-emerging, glinting dusky gold on Lucy and midnight black on Lena.

They were almost in range. Just a few more paces...

Nimbler, cat-suited ghouls began darting left and right, flanking the huddled contestants while their heavier counterparts, including some in those ridiculously unwieldy sumo suits, lumbered into position. Soon they formed a horseshoe around the fidgeting contestants, who huddled close in what they knew would be a forlorn attempt to shield themselves.

For a few seconds the ghouls just stood there, watching, but then the front rank lifted their wrists...

Any... second... now!

Lucy almost sang as the first spatters touched her leg. Soft gasps emerged as the gunging intensified. Liquid ribbons played over their entwined forms, colours overlapping in a chaotic whirl of miasmic splendour; yellows and blues and greens and purples, all mixing and swirling and sliding and slithering. Lena trembled in giggling embarrassment, the motion dislodging tides of sludge. Lucy wiggled gleefully and clutched Lena tighter. Both swayed a little with each fresh squirt, the ooze squelching deliciously where their bodies pressed together.

With her chin on Lena's shoulder, she glanced down to see pink gunge slather her new friend's back, making the flimsy-looking knots of her bikini bounce and jerk before the onslaught. Long dark hair, threaded now with electric blue gloop, lay plastered against Lena's back and hung sodden at the sides of her face, one strand clinging to Lucy's cheek as though seeking shelter.

Not even pressing together could spare their fronts from the gunge, which swept up their sides and spurted against the sides of their breasts, producing little squeaks of laughter, or else poured in majestic torrents over their shoulders before dribbling downward. Lena clutched a hand to her top, which looked in danger of slipping under the sheer weight of gunk coursing over and under it. Successfully containing herself, she gave an exhilarated sigh and then shifted her posture slightly.

As Lena's head tilted, Lucy noticed something over her shoulder. "What's that up there?" she asked, her voice scarcely a whisper over the constant splattering.

Easing back from the embrace, Lena followed her gaze. The ghouls wasted no time in coating her exposed chest and midriff. Grinning at the surreal sensation, Lena looked up at the oblong opening set at least six feet above the ground on the northern wall. "Huh? Was that there before?"

Lucy wiped mess from her face, though more arrived with each passing second. "Think it's a way out?" she said, having to raise her voice to be heard.

"Must be," Lena replied, before cooing rapturously as a vast salvo of syrupy pink ooze engulfed her back. Any that missed - and there was plenty that did - flew on to douse Lucy's left arm and scatter pink freckles over her face. With slimy rivers creeping over her collarbones and locks of hair clumping into gooey strands, it took Lena a few moments to regain her composure. "Only, ha-ha, only we can't get to it."

Lucy paused for a better look, custard painting half her face as she did so. An idea came. Spinning back, she rested her forehead against Lena's while using the back of her hand to shield their mouths. "You know what might work? If one of us gives the other a bunk up."

Lena's dark eyes narrowed in confusion, then widened with understanding. "But how would the other one get through?"

Lucy's voice dropped to a playful murmur. "They wouldn't."

Slowly Lena smiled. "Nice plan. So who goes and who stays?"

While Lucy tried to think, a blast of blue gloop, thick and glistening, coated her side from hip to cheek. Lena tried to stifle a snigger. "Yeah, yeah, laugh away," Lucy said amiably. "You're gunged too, you know."

Lena nodded. "I know, I'm laughing at that, too. What about rock, paper, scissors?"

"Sounds good."

This was it. Someone's fate was about to be sealed. Lena loosened her shoulders and let her hands fall to her sides. A shiver ran down Lucy's spine as she did likewise. With gunge still showering them, the two women faced each other as though about to duel. Each stretched out an arm, fist clenched.

"Good luck!" Lena chirped.

Lucy's smile broadened. She means it, as well. "You too," she replied with similar sentiment.

Maintaining eye contact, they shook their fists in rhythm - once, twice, thrice. Arm rigid, Lucy laid her palm flat, but didn't dare look down to see the result. For a few seconds they stood motionless, grinning at each other, until Lena's eyes finally flicked downward. Her eyes twinkled at what she saw. Is that because she's won or because she's lost? Taking a deep breath, Lucy looked down.

Lena's fist was clenched... with the index and middle fingers protruding.

A rush of horrified delight filled Lucy. Scissors beats paper. Elimination, here I come!

Feeling suddenly lightheaded, she embraced Lena tightly before skipping to the bulkhead and cupping her hands at waist height. The ghouls could easily have surged in and eliminated them both, but one guaranteed playmate seemed enough for them.

Lena approached slowly, seeming a little guilty for having won. She glanced back at the dozens of advancing ghouls. "Are you sure about this? I really don't mind staying with you."

"It's okay, you won fair and square. Come on - quick, before they catch us."

Still Lena looked unsure. "If it's any consolation," she said, "it's not like I'm escaping. Not really. More like delaying the inevitable."

"I'll hold onto that thought when they're gunging me. Come on, milady, your carriage awaits."

Using her companion's shoulders for support, Lena placed a slime-covered foot in Lucy's hands and began to reach upward. She almost slipped sideways when a pulse of sunset orange splashed across her stomach, and took a moment to calm her simmering chuckles before addressing her doomed comrade.

"You're sure you're okay?"

No sooner had Lena spoken than an emerald spout made contact with her abdomen and coursed upwards, gliding past her navel before eventually sputtering out over her face. With a self-deprecating moan, Lena wiped at her brow. Lucy gave her a smirk, but then yelped as a similar spout worked its way up the furrow of her spine. She was soaked, and something told her the ghouls had barely started with her. She nodded toward the hatch. "Go on, scram!"

"Thanks, I owe you."

With that Lena hauled herself towards the opening. Moving higher, however, attracted a barrage from the ghouls at the rear of the mob, who now finally had a target for their sprayers. Powerless to deflect any of it, Lena could only yelp and fumble for the ledge, her body twisting and writhing as a dozen spouts slimed her at once. Lucy cheered at the sight, even though much of what splashed off Lena tumbled right onto her. More came from the ghouls behind her, tickling her back and squirting through her hair, but still her mirth rang out.

Almost unrecognisable now, Lena reached the opening. "Have fun!" she called, then pulled herself through. Jets of gunge tracked her until the last possible moment, eliciting a shriek as the rear of her bikini bottoms disappeared beneath a welter of purple ooze. Then she was through.

The gunge stopped instantly. In the eerie respite that followed, Lucy straightened. Even facing the bulkhead, she could sense the eyes trained on her. Now it was just her and the ghouls. Heart pounding, she turned to face the music.

*****

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Darting amid the root like pillars, Annabelle plucked gunk-filled balloons from the hanging vines and tossed them wildly towards Kirsty, who was doing the same to her, though so far neither had scored a hit. Around and around they raced, squealing with each near miss and pausing every so often to yell ironic boasts. Pulsating alien eggs lay dotted around, each with purple and yellow ichor churning like lava lamps within them, the colours rising and falling in an endless dance.

Springing from cover, the two bikini-clad women hurled another volley of balloons at each other. Mess splattered across the floor, but still the combatants remained clean.

"Starting to think that this might not be a high-skill game," Annabelle observed.

"Sure looking that way."

Tucking a rogue strand of hair behind her ear, Annabelle turned sideways, plucked another balloon and bounced it on her palm. They'd already used up a good amount of the available ammunition. "You know, there must be a better way of-"

She gasped as a spinning orb whooshed past her stomach, passing just beneath her breasts. A half-second later and something splattered behind her. Kirsty had made her throw and missed.

"Like that, is it? Take that!" Annabelle threw with all her might... and saw her balloon burst beside Kirsty's foot with a gentle plop. Abashed, they exchanged a coy smirk. "We're not very good at this, are we?"

The farce resumed. The pair chased each other in circles around the chamber, by turns squeaking, yelling and laughing as they went. At length Kirsty peeked out from behind a pillar and waved for Annabelle to stop.

"Alright, alright, time out, time out," called Kirsty, making a T-shape with her hands.

Annabelle tensed, expecting another trick. "This had better be good."

Kirsty gestured to the now half-empty vines. "Look, if we go through all this and don't land a single hit, we're never going to hear the end of it. It'll be more embarrassing than getting slimed."

Annabelle glanced around. Can't really argue with that. "What are you suggesting?"

Kirsty's trademark impish grin returned. "I say, let's do this properly. No more taking cover." She gestured to where the glow from the eggs marked an inner portion of the chamber. "How about we stick to the centre? Close range only. No hiding. No running away. How about it? Ready to get messy?"

She had to admit that the prospect of splattering Kirsty was awfully tempting. Annabelle glanced down at herself, then at her opponent. Reading her expression, the Aussie's smile widened. Realising what she was about to let herself in for, Annabelle rolled her eyes and fussed with her hair before nodding.

"Alright then, you're on. Let's get messy."

Each still expecting a trick, the two women edged out of cover and, giggling nervously, began to advance.

Kirsty made as if to speak - then from nowhere lobbed a balloon that she'd been holding behind her back. Once again her aim was off, the projectile popping harmlessly against a pillar. Undeterred, she retrieved another, but squealed as thick purple gunk burst across her side. Annabelle had been hiding a balloon too.

Yes! Guess that puts me in the lead. In her excitement, however, she forgot to dodge away, and gasped as oily yellow slime burst over her chest, lurid blobs flying like sparks.

With gunge dribbling through her cleavage and trailing in swaying strands from the left triangle of her bikini top, Annabelle shuddered before rushing to rearm. Something landed between her shoulder blades, spilling smooth liquid down her back and making her yelp. Kirsty must have raced after her, and judging by the impact wasn't far behind. Snatching two balloons, Annabelle spun and threw. She didn't bother to aim, but she didn't need to. Kirsty was exactly where she thought she'd be. Her foe could only gasp as the balloons hit home, one glancing off the edge of her bikini top before bursting against her arm, the other erupting over the side of her head like a blossoming flower.

Growing in confidence, Annabelle grabbed more ammo. In a flash, though, a smiling Kirsty had popped up beside her, snatched the goo-filled ball from her fingers, and then dropped it on her head. For a moment she hoped it might bounce off without breaking, but then slime came squirming through her hair. After a few seconds of disoriented stumbling, accompanied by her foe's raucous laughter, she managed to wipe her eyes. It was then she had a brainwave.

If ghouls 'hatch' from these eggs, what would happen if...? She looked again at the mounds. It was stupid, it was crazy, it would be insanely messy, but it was worth a try.

Ignoring the next gunge-filled orb, which flew harmlessly past her face, Annabelle knelt beside one of the eggs. It seemed to quiver beneath her fingertips, its surface clammy to the touch. Her hesitation was only momentary; when Annabelle set her mind to something, there was little on Earth that could deter her. Mouth pursing in grim determination, she dug her thumbs into the rubbery membrane. I am so going to regret this.

"Oh no," Kirsty said mockingly, her hands at the side of her face, "you mustn't do that!"

Feeling the egg start to bulge, Annabelle gritted her teeth. She knew what was coming. Suddenly her hands jerked inwards, into warm slime. The next instant seemed to unfold in slow motion. The egg trembled, squirting miniature geysers up her wrists, and then disappeared in a yin-yang explosion of yellow and purple goo. Head tilted upward, Annabelle felt it splurge up her front. As stray blobs rained into her hair, she heard Kirsty cackling nearby.

Even with so much gunk slithering down her, it was hard not to see the funny side. Tittering, Annabelle clambered to her feet - only for another balloon to pop against her upper arm. "You're not getting away with that!" Kirsty chided.

'Get away with'? Aha! So I'm on the right track. Wasting no time, Annabelle dashed to the next egg, and was only a few paces away when Kirsty intercepted her. Arms wrapped around her waist, dragging her down, but Annabelle, surprised by her own calmness, simply took hold of Kirsty's wrists and slid sideways. Momentum sent the giggling Australian rolling onward, coming to rest with her back against an egg. Annabelle saw her chance.

"Don't you even - argh!" Kirsty's voice rose in pitch as Annabelle reached across her prone form and punched the egg. It burst like an erupting volcano, drenching Kirsty's back and spilling bands of runny yoghurt over her toned midriff.

While Kirsty moaned and squirmed, falling globules still spattering her bikini-clad body, Annabelle scrambled away. Spotting another egg near a twisted pillar, she crawled over, only to hesitate on reaching it. There must be a cleaner way of breaking these things. Maybe if I use a toe or something?

A laughing battle-cry interrupted her thoughts just as a prod sent her sprawling forward. Before Annabelle knew it her bosom was pressed against the egg. There was a split second of awful yet somehow delightful anticipation as the thing compressed, then burst with an audible pop. Annabelle fell through the resulting slime-burst, coming to rest amid an expanding puddle with falling globs raining around her. Ewww.

With a groaning laugh she rolled over, lukewarm muck claiming her back, and found Kirsty cavorting a few paces away. The Aussie was too busy chuckling to notice Annabelle's arm reach sideways, and so the balloon that exploded against her forehead took her completely unawares. With a muffled yelp Kirsty tottered back, lost her balance - and sat squarely on another egg.

Their eyes met. A smiling whimper escaped Kirsty's lips. She knew what was about to happen. The egg dipped beneath her weight, its sides straining, and then thin spouts began shooting out, swamping her bikini bottoms like a liquid tutu. A slimy peacock tail splash jetted up behind her, and then the egg was gone. Syrupy gunge wrapped around Kirsty's legs and surged on up, streaking her belly and splashing against the outbound curve of her bikini top. She landed in a daze, still in a sitting position, amid a hail of falling blobs. Now it was Annabelle's turn to laugh.

Recovering her wits, Kirsty pointed accusingly. "Think that's funny, do you?"

"Yes," Annabelle replied instantly.

"Then you'll love this." Looking up, Kirsty clapped her hands twice.

"And what does that do?" Annabelle's voice was tailing-off by the time she finished. There was movement near the ceiling. Translucent, yellowish gunge drooled from hidden apertures, descending in countless oozing threads like honey from a spoon. "Oh, you have got to be joking!"

*****

The opening in the wall had led to a short vent ending in a steep slide. Lena couldn't see where it led, but presumably it came out in the vault. Her first instinct was to slide straight down, but the urge to see what happened to Lucy got the better of her. The vent was just wide enough for her to turn around. Pulling herself back to the opening, Lena gripped the edge and peered down into the hall.

Lucy hadn't moved far. She stood somewhat sheepishly, clearly unused to being the centre of attention, and looked to have wiped herself down a little - at least so that she now looked like a woman with gunge on her, rather than gunge with a woman underneath. Her chestnut hair and slinky gold bikini had re-emerged, but not for long.

The ghouls watched silently. Their commander, Joanna, was clearly relishing what was about to happen. Lucy fidgeted, glancing downward and twirling the gold strings behind her neck.

"Now Lucy, you needn't worry," said Joanna, her voice low and teasing. "I mean, just look at the state you're in. You've had more than enough gunge to warrant being eliminated. All you need is that last helping of green goo and you'll..."

Lucy murmured in surprise as crystal clear water began raining down on her. For a few seconds she stood blinking, before letting out an amused groan on realising what this meant. Tilting her head into the spray, she began cleaning herself off and wringing out her hair.

Jo's expression was all faux-innocence. "Oh dear, would you look at that? Seems you're almost clean again. I guess we'll have to do this properly." She gestured for Lucy to approach. "Don't be shy, come closer."

For a moment Lucy stared at the ghouls, seeming a little intimidated, but then she noticed their welcoming smiles and the eagerness in their eyes. Summoning her courage, she strutted along the catwalk, into the midst of the swarm, until she faced Joanna.

"Well well well, here we are," said the ghoul. "So, Lucy, do you by any chance recall a message you sent to me a while back?"

A nervous smile played at the corners of Lucy's mouth as she glanced at the surrounding horde. "Nooo, I don't remember any message," she joked. "You must be mistaken."

Joanna lifted an eyebrow. "Really? So you didn't say that you'd happily take us all on?"

"...Oh, that."

"Yes, that. In light of current developments, would you care to rethink any of your earlier remarks?"

Again Lucy peered at her opponents. She stood higher than many of the ghouls, most of whom were standing in the shallow pools on each side of the walkway, making her look almost like a conductor standing before an orchestra. The brunette looked momentarily spooked, but then noticed Lena watching her and grinned in relief at having some moral support. Beaming, Lena nodded encouragement and waved a thumbs-up sign.

Her nerves steadying, Lucy checked the knots of her little gold bikini, swept her hair behind her shoulders, and then looked Joanna in the eye. "Nope, I stand by every word. Do your worst!"

Every ghoul looked to Joanna, waiting for her signal. Lucy shivered with nervous excitement as dozens of sprayers pointed in her direction. The icy blonde took a long look at Lucy, savouring the moment, and nodded.

"Ladies... slime her."

Gunge leapt forth. Lucy tipped back her head and squealed. Emerald green painted her bikini bottoms, sky blue threaded her hair, buttercup yellow burst over her chest like a summer sunrise. Everywhere colours whirled and melded, transforming her into a living rainbow. Lena watched, entranced. That could've been me.

Turning her back toward the worst of the onslaught, Lucy shook slimy streamers from her hair, tittered bashfully, and waved up at Lena. "Sticking around to watch, are you?"

Lena waved back - or rather wiggled her fingers; letting go of the hatch's edge would send her sliding down the chute. "You think I'd miss this? Oh by the way, you've got a little something just here."

"No, really?" replied Lucy, pretending to be mortified. She dabbed a single finger to her gunge-smeared face. "Did I get it?"

Lena smirked. "You might've missed a bit."

Lucy's giggle became a shriek as a volley of custard pies landed. Doing a rather creditable impression of Liz, she feigned moral outrage, stamping a foot and snorting indignantly while flicking away a few clinging pie bases. The charade didn't last long, however, with Lucy's trademark cheeriness returning as a pair of ghouls led her off the walkway and deeper into the hall. The others pulled back cordially, forming a ring around her. Realising their intentions, Lucy twirled gracefully the instant the sprayers fired. From Lena's vantage point it was almost like watching a maypole. Splashing ribbons streamed in from all sides, painting slithering bands the length of Lucy's body.

The orderly ring soon disintegrated, the ghouls breaking ranks and crowding in. Clearly they loved it when their victim played along so willingly. Lena nibbled her lip, feeling almost envious, as Lucy turned this way and that, jovially pretending to plead for leniency even as florid patterns blossomed upon her skin.

It was becoming ever more difficult for Lena to stay in place. The slime that coated much of her body had smeared the chute, making it increasingly treacherous. Down below, Lucy laughed and hunched over, strawberry pudding splattering her stomach even as she banished rows of slimy icicles from her top. From here Lena could see surreal chain gangs forming around the hall. Several ghouls looked to have run out of gunge to shoot and now waded to openings in the walls, returning with buckets of goo, pies, wobbling trifles and all manner of mess. Gunge flew indiscriminately, much of it hitting the ghouls themselves, but they were so fixated on Lucy that they seemed not to notice.

Lucy stretched and peered upward, jets of pink and green painting a zigzag over her middle. Finding Lena, she waved with both hands. "Enjoying the show?"

Lena nodded emphatically. "How is it down there?"

Lucy extended a hand, on which a dollop of whipped cream tinged with amethyst perched like some insane engagement ring. Letting it drip through her fingers, she watched in land with a satisfying plop. "Wish you were here."

"Just so you know, you might see me disappear in a second. I'm on a slide, and I don't think I can hold on much longer."

A knot of ghouls closed around Lucy, each carrying enormous, wobbling trifles. Watching them from the corners of her eyes, Lucy fidgeted a little but spared Lena a quick glance. "Yeah? A slide? Well I hope there's a massive vat of gunge at the bottom!"

The trifles arrived from all angles. Cream and custard splurged everywhere, and for a second even Lucy seemed taken aback, able only to paw at the drooling slush before beams of neon pink arrived, swishing over her body and sweeping away most of the cream. The sight left Lena tittering so much that she lost her grip, and with a shrill squeak the chute swallowed her up. Whatever lay at the other end, she was about to find out.

*****

Over in the egg chamber, the ropes of honey-like slime had begun pooling on the floor. Some had tangled in mid-air, forming vast, sticky cobwebs, while others had caught like rigging on the twisted pillars. Kirsty and Annabelle cavorted amidst the mess, sliding and splashing amid drizzling gunk.

With the whole room awash with slippery yellow and purple ooze, Kirsty was finding it difficult to even kneel without sliding around. Annabelle saw this and pounced, and together they skidded happily through the mulch. On coming to rest, Annabelle - by accident, it seemed - tore another of those flimsy eggs with her toe. Warm muck slurped over their feet, but Annabelle managed to roll away just before the thing burst, leaving Kirsty stranded on her back amid a gooey meteor shower. Murmuring softly, pudding-like splodges spattering her front, she noticed Annabelle crawling to one of the last unbroken eggs.

There was no need for the contestant to rush, really, for Kirsty fully intended to let her win whatever happened. After all, if Annabelle were to fail then the team probably wouldn't make it much further, meaning her friend Lisa, who waited in the Splatter Dome's final stage, might end up getting away clean. That wouldn't do at all.

It's for Lisa's benefit, really. Otherwise she'd have come all this way for nothing. Nope, I'm fooling no-one, not even myself.

Losing meant certain... consequences, of course, but ones Kirsty was more than happy to face. Flopping onto her front, she saw Annabelle reach the egg. The plucky Brit's dark hair, slick with slime, clung to her neck and lay in wet strands across her face. She was virtually coated in the stuff, bands of yellow and purple seeming to melt as they slid down her back. Eyes shut and nose crinkling, Annabelle sank her fingers into the membrane. Gunge flew like a geyser, straight into her face, and then a daffodil-shaped splash radiated from where the egg had been. Annabelle held her pose even as the mess engulfed her, and only when it was over did she wipe her eyes, peer at Kirsty, and grin proudly.

"Not bad," Kirsty observed, adding a little ironic applause.

Annabelle's gaze swept the room. Her smile broadened. "Seems there's only one left. You know what? I think you should do the honours."

"Wha-? No!" Kirsty struggled to get up, but Annabelle was already sliding over, knees skidding through the slush. Arms wrapped round Kirsty's waist, and before she knew it she was being guided toward the final egg. Despite making a show of trying to wriggle away, she let herself be swept along. This way was more fun. Kirsty came to a halt with one knee on each side of the mound. The pulsating mass ended just below her bosom. When it burst...

Hearing Kirsty's tittered whimper, Annabelle laughed. "Don't worry, it's really easy. All you have to do is squeeze." With that she took hold of Kirsty's hands and began pressing them into the egg. All the while, threads of honeyed slime were drooling down over both of them.

In fits of giggles, Kirsty groaned and arched her back, resting her nape on Annabelle's shoulder. "Nonononono," she moaned, feeling the egg start to bulge.

The contestant's slippery body pressed against Kirsty's back, and a cheery voice whispered into her ear. "You're doing great. Almost there. Out of interest, have you ever seen the pottery scene from 'Ghost'?"

"Have I ever whatted the what?"

While Annabelle regaled her with a jokey rendition of 'Unchained Melody' in what Kirsty presumed was some reference she didn't get, her attention switched back to the egg. Nudged forward by Annabelle's considerable chest and with the contestant's hands guiding her own, Kirsty felt the egg touch her stomach. It wobbled like jelly, and she gave a start as first one finger broke the surface, then another. The egg began to convulse.

At least I look good in yellow.

A shriek rent the air. It look a moment for Kirsty to realise it came from her. A thin yet of goo had shot out laterally, spraying just below her navel. Annabelle spoke again, her voice thick with laughter, this time doing an impression of a sailor. "Tharr she blows!"

Time slowed to a crawl. The first rush of gunk wrapped around Kirsty's hips and sloshed over her legs. Her eyes widened as the egg disappeared beneath her fingers, replaced by a compact ball of gunge that promptly shattered, huge spurts coiling round her arms and spurting up her chest. Her bikini top disappeared beneath the shooting ooze, and the main spout passed within centimetres of her face before spreading out like a palm tree and tumbling back down. Vast spinning globules doused her face or went squirming through her hair. She grinned on feeling some slide down her back; if the gunk had reached that far, it meant Annabelle was getting messy.

Shaking glutinous streams from around her eyes, she looked back at Annabelle, who was laughing uncontrollably, a fresh helping of slop rolling down her face and streaming through her cleavage. Just then an alarm blared briefly, followed by an announcement from the intercom.

"Egg chamber destroyed. Egg chamber destroyed."

Releasing her grip on Kirsty, Annabelle flung her arms in the air. "Yay, I did it! I'm not exactly sure what I did, but I did it!"

Kirsty took a deep breath. Folding her slippery legs, she rolled onto her haunches and turned to Annabelle. "And what makes you think I'm done with you?" she said teasingly.

A gentle prod between Annabelle's collarbones was enough to tip her onto her back. Kirsty was beaten, she knew that much, but that only meant she had nothing to lose. Grabbing a balloon from a nearby pillar, she held it over the still-cheering contestant.

"Look what I found. Wouldn't it be a shame if I were to accidentally..." She clapped suddenly, popping the balloon above Annabelle. While the contestant squirmed, Kirsty grabbed another of the goo-filled balls. "So delicate, aren't they?" she mused, rolling it back and forth on her palm.

Sweeping wet strands of hair from her forehead, Annabelle peered up. "Oh no!" she pleaded, pretending to be horrified.

"Oh yes." Grinning wickedly, Kirsty let the ball roll off her hand. It burst between Annabelle's breasts with a wet splat. "Oops." She reached for another balloon, but then a better idea arrived. Tracing the vines back to their source, she hopped to the nearest pillar. "Such flimsy scenery. I mean, what would happen if someone were to..."

Realising what was about to happen, Annabelle yelled a laughing, "Nooo!"

Kirsty shook the pillar violently. The vines above Annabelle jangled, and down came a whole helping of goo-filled orbs. Arms lifting in a futile attempt to deflect them, Annabelle squealed as they splattered all over her, blasts of purple and yellow flying in all directions.

While her opponent curled into a ball, shaking with ticklish laughter, Kirsty surveyed her handiwork proudly. The cascade of custard took her completely by surprise, sending her sliding to her knees. For a second it domed off the top of her head, forming a bell-shaped waterfall which doused them both, but then closed in to pour down her in slick rivers. Too startled to react, Kirsty simply stared, mouth agape, until the gunge abated. Similar downpours were occurring all around the chamber, oozing down the walls and swamping the eggs' mangled remains.

The torrents kept on coming. Gunge was collecting on the floor, and before long lapped against the backs of Kirsty's thighs where she remained kneeling. Annabelle squirmed onto her front and sat up, gelatinous strings trailing from her arms. Still the gunge poured. Though still dazed, Kirsty dimly remembered that she needed to say something. What was it? Oh yeah.

"There's something you should - ah!" A handful of custard had engulfed her face.

"Whoops," Annabelle said with a smirk, "my hand must've slipped. Don't mind me."

Suppressing a smirk, Kirsty tried again. "No really, this is important." She paused. "Okay, so not important important, but you know what I mean."

Annabelle licked her lips and nodded, pretending to be enthralled. "Mmmm, this is real custard. They're spoiling us. Sorry, you were saying?"

"You need to tell the others something. I know what'll happen when Lisa appears. If you're ready you might stand a chance. If not, it's game over."

Now she had Annabelle's attention. "So why would you tell me?" she asked warily.

"Because I want to see Lisa slimed."

Annabelle chuckled. "Okay, that I can believe."

"Good, now listen." Leaning in, Kirsty began whispering. Once she'd done, Annabelle sat back and stared, incredulous. Kirsty could hardly blame her. Just then Annabelle's gaze drifted; she blinked away some goo, looked again - and froze.

The sound of splashing footsteps sent adrenaline surging through Kirsty's system. "They're here, aren't they?"

Annabelle twisted this way and that, having apparently lost her bearings. "Where's the way out?" she demanded, a touch hysterically.

Kirsty knelt up straight, made a show of arranging her hair, rested hands on her thighs, and only then nodded toward the ramp Annabelle had entered from. "No need to panic," she said, "they're not here for you. Not yet, at least."

"But..."

A grim smile lit Kirsty's face. "I was sent here to guard the eggs. I failed. The powers that be don't look too kindly on that sort of thing. Best not wait too long, though, or you'll be next on the menu."

Annabelle didn't need telling twice. The dip before the ramp was now a knee-high pool, but she waded through regardless. Before leaving, she glanced back at Kirsty. "Have fun," she called, "and thanks. Later!"

Kirsty gave the departing contestant a friendly wave. The splashing was awfully close now. Still she remained kneeling, shoulders taut with anticipation. Gunge churned around her hips, with more streaming down her sides and dripping lazily from her chin. She nibbled her lip as the first ghoul crouched beside her.

"Well then," said the newcomer, "looks like we've got a double traitor on our hands. What do you suppose we do with them?"

Kirsty deployed her most innocent smile. "Given a cuppa and let off with a warning?"

"Not exactly."

Ghouls were all around her now, fussing her hair and massaging her shoulders. It was the calm before the storm. As the seconds dragged, Kirsty peeked expectantly to their leader, who leaned close and in a soft voice said, "Lisa sends her regards."

Kirsty was laughing even before the sprayers activated. With rainbows of gunge exploding over her curves, her fun-filled shrieks chased Annabelle up the slope.

*****

All was a blur. Lucy danced amidst fountains of slime, thick gloop claiming every inch of her. Stumbling and wobbling, she no longer knew which direction she faced. Around her the horde ebbed and flowed, sometimes standing back to hose her, other times rushing in for an insanely messy group-hug. She hopped about, flailing at each fresh splatter, only for another to arrive from a different angle, always catching her off guard. Peeking down at herself, she laughed again. All she could see was a psychedelic whirl.

The entire hall was one vast, messy monsoon, all floating foam and flying sludge. It was almost beautiful. A pea-green spray slanted across Lucy's face and chest, dappling her skin like raindrops on silk. Her every sense grew heightened. A melange of scents filled the air: strawberries and vanilla, cinnamon and coconut, and behind it all a tang of citrus. Still the sensations came. A column of cool-whip slid gloriously down her back. Custard, thick and smooth, smeared the side of her face. Cold foam brocaded her flank, tickling the side of her neck and making her gasp. Her clothing, such that it was, was a memory of burnished gold beneath seeping layers of ooze, and her long hair - usually lustrous and flowing - fell slick and saturated at her back.

At first she'd been a little unnerved at facing so many ghouls, and had been acutely conscious of being the only person in the room in a bikini, but her confidence had grown as the gunging unfolded. Similarly she had come to realise that, while she was undoubtedly the one getting eliminated, she wasn't exactly a victim. She was a willing participant, as were they all, and the contestants and ghouls played a far more intricate game than tag you're out. No, they were engaged in something else, a dance almost; one in which the two groups fed off each others' enjoyment, in which the game's success or otherwise rested on the 'gungers' and 'gungees' finding that delicate balance - where the contestants felt compelled to win but comfortable enough to lose; where the mess became both forfeit and reward.

Success, of course, could mean different things to different people. In the Splatter Dome some focussed on the destination, others on the ride. Many began in the first group, but most eventually gravitated to the second. There was never any doubt to which camp Lucy belonged. Some might have regarded elimination as defeat, but to her it was a form of triumph.

With a carefree yelp she slipped off the walkway and into one of the slimy lagoons. The ghouls eased off while she cleared muck from her brow; one even helped her to her feet. "How're you doing?" the woman asked. "I've never seen anyone get this messy before."

"It's okay," Lucy assured her. "People didn't sponsor me to stay clean. Slime me."

"You're sure?"

"Don't worry. Seriously, I want you to."

"If you say so."

The gunging began anew. Playing along, Lucy moved around the horde, trying not to leave anyone out. Squeaking with astonishment, she bounced like a pinball between a cluster of sumo-ghouls, welters of slime punctuating each impact. Spying a group brandishing pies, she deftly manoeuvred amidst them, setting herself up for a synchronised splattering. Once she'd shaken pie crust from her face, she noticed another trio approaching with buckets of purple gloop, and graciously remained where she was while they moved into position. With the last one shimmying into place, she tipped back her head and yelped as all three buckets emptied in unison, turning her world purple.

She was wiping gunk from her face when the announcement came. "Huh? Egg chamber destroyed? What does that mean?"

She was addressing nobody in particular, which was as well, since the ghouls were too preoccupied to respond. Exchanging glances, they drew back a little. They seemed rattled.

A strange calm descended. Buzzing, Lucy breathed deep and glanced around. The pool slurped gently at her shins. A glimpse of a familiar face caught her eye, and straightaway she plunged into the crowd. Her! Gunk sprayed from left and right, green and orange and pink, but still she pressed on, squirming between the confused ghouls. Grabbing hold of an elbow, she drew her target forward. It was Joanna.

"We have unfinished business," Lucy said with a grin.

There was a flash of uncertainty in Joanna's usually steely expression, but she soon recovered. With a proud snort she straightened, ice-blue eyes studying Lucy as a cat would a ball of string. "Do you really think you have a chance?" she purred.

"Nope," Lucy replied cheerfully, "but perhaps I can take you with me."

With that she pounced. In a flash both women were down in the pool, laughing and wriggling. The other ghouls ringed them, their sprayers pelting friend and foe alike. Any without a clear shot simply raised their arms, fired, and hoped for the best. The ensuing spouts weakened on sailing through the air, arriving as a glistening rain that spattered everyone.

Joanna lifted her head to address the unseen observers. "Belle, get ready! On my signal, press the button!"

The pool roiled tempestuously. Utterly covered, Lucy threw herself into the contest with blissful abandon. It didn't matter how much custard Joanna poured over her, if only she could get that ripcord. Sitting up, she swept hair away from her face - and saw the first drop of green gunge fall from the ceiling. It landed on her knee, thick and creamy, and while it was just one blob among many, Lucy knew what it meant. Belle was adjusting her aim. She didn't have long.

Seizing on her distraction, Joanna rushed in and hugged her. With tides of custard pouring down her front, Lucy squirmed happily. After all they'd been through, it seemed only proper that Joanna should be the one to finish her. Yellow blobs tickled Lucy's chin while a slippery torrent gushed down her front, pooling briefly in her lap before spilling into the lagoon.

She and Joanna were nose to nose now. "You enjoy your job, don't you?" said Lucy. It was more a statement than a question.

The ghoul's answering smirk was somehow both friendly and triumphant. "Noticed that, did you? My compliments, by the way, I wish everyone took gunge as well as you."

Green gunk was spattering from the ceiling now. Lucy shifted position, viscous rivulets twitching where they changed course, and grinned modestly. "Glad to be of service." All the while her hand was reaching behind Joanna's back.

Is she really going to fall for the same trick twice? Lucy's fingers curled around the ripcord, but Joanna must have spotted the mischief in her eyes. Recoiling in fright, the ghoul squirmed out of the embrace and tried to rejoin the encircling crowd. The cheering ghouls would have none of it, though, and the ring tightened, leaving her nowhere to go. At bay, Jo turned. There was a wildness in her eyes now; she sensed she was no longer in complete control. Laughing, Lucy sprang to her feet and leapt forward, the green torrent shifting to follow her.

Wherever Joanna went, Lucy was there. Spurts of custard radiated from the ghoul's costume, splattering Lucy's bare midriff, but she just yelped excitedly and pressed closer. Custard gushed through her bikini top and banded her face, but she refused to relent. The ghouls redoubled their efforts, bathing the wriggling pair in an impossible barrage, but Lucy was unshakeable.

Joanna began chuckling nervously, but then forced herself back into character. "Face it, Lucy - it's over!" she roared. "You can't win."

"Can't I?" For all her bravado though, Lucy knew she was so slippery that she couldn't stay upright for long. Remembering her first words to Joanna back at the briefing, the ones that had got her into this mess, she smiled. "We'll see about that."

With a defiant cheer she lunged forward one final time. Staggering against Jo, their grinning faces mere inches from each other, she wrapped her arms behind the blonde's shoulders. Fingers reached blindly for the ripcord, but at that moment her foot slipped and she went toppling back, landing in the seething mess with a squelch. There would be no more chances.

Panting with exertion, Joanna nodded proudly, placed her hands on her hips, and looked down at her vanquished prey. Lips twisted into the beginnings of a sneer. Then she froze. A yellow trickle was seeping from the sleeve of her wetsuit. Mystified, the ghoul stared at it in disbelief, then gasped as another trickle appeared at her collar. With the streams multiplying, she looked at Lucy with horrified respect.

Like light striking a glitter-ball, custard erupted from Joanna in every direction. The ghoul's shrieks shredded the air. Lucy splashed her arms through the pool, cheering wildly, while Joanna clawed at the air and flailed about. At last, laughing now, she flopped down opposite Lucy, wide-eyed but exuberant.

For a moment the ghouls stood silent, jaws slack, sprayers dormant. Even the flow of green gunge spilling over Lucy stopped.

Panting, Lucy leaned back, propped herself against the raised walkway, and casually arranged her hair. "I think that's your cue," she said to the ghouls. "What are you waiting for?" She winked at Joanna. "Care to do the honours?"

At first Joanna seemed not to hear, but then she lifted her head, pointed to Lucy, and addressed her minions. "Finish her!"

Lucy had thought she couldn't possibly get any messier. She was wrong.

Ghouls rushed in from all sides. The emerald downpour returned just as they reached her, falling in broad splashes as though through a vast colander. Shaking with self-deprecating giggles, Lucy lifted her arms. Slime of every hue slathered her, seemingly from every direction at once. Shimmering ribbons caressed her curves. Locks of hair swung and skittered. Coloured tides swept over her face. It was like being caught in a thousand liquid nets.

Impossibly messy, Lucy shrieked excitedly as the downpour rose to one final crescendo that almost muted the sound of the intercom.

"Lucy has been eliminated."

At last the green torrent eased off. Wiping her eyes, Lucy beamed. All around her the ghouls laughed and clapped. Struggling to her feet, she took a mock bow before mingling among them, joking with some former foes, hugging others. It wasn't long before she slipped back into the quagmire, and again the ghouls crowded round, still eager to massage her with whipped cream and handfuls of goo.

Gradually the pace slowed, leaving her murmuring contentedly amidst slimy devastation. Watching gunge filter between her fingers, she sighed gently. Whatever was currently being smeared between her shoulder blades felt strangely soothing.

After a short while Joanna appeared above her. "Hey there."

Lucy waved up at her. "Hey. I guess you got me."

"And you got me," the ghoul replied with a smile. "Hell, I'm not even annoyed. I'm weirdly proud of you right now. How do you feel?"

"I feel... gunged."

"And that's what you came here for, right?"

Lucy smirked. "Right."

"Then I guess you've won."

Wallowing in the mess, Lucy glanced around at the gooey chaos. "Hah. I guess I have."

To Be Continued....