"Right. You're on."
When they spoke these fateful words, Abi's heart skipped a beat. Despite the Compliance, her nerves had not completely settled yet.
On unsteady legs, she walked on stage. Cheers greeted her. She stopped.
"A little closer, please," the deep voice of Judge Hope urged her.
Slowly, she moved forward.
"Little closer," Judge Charity added. "Into the light, love."
She finally reached the front of the stage, right into the spotlight.
"Who do we have here?" Judge Hope asked.
"A-Abi Khan."
"Abi Khan," he repeated. "What are you going to do for us today, Abi Khan?"
"I-I'm going to sing," Abi stammered.
"Speak up, love," Judge Hope said. "We don't bite."
"Speak for yourself," Wraith added with a wolfish smile.
The audience chuckled.
"I'm going to sing," Abi said, a little louder.
"Good," Judge Charity said. "When-"
"Hey," Wraith interrupted her. "Would you mind lifting up your top for me?"
Abi's breath caught in her throat.
D-Did he just ask her to-
"Take off your top," Wraith smirked. "I want to check out those titties."
The audience cheered and laughed.
"Come on," he urged her. "Take it off."
Abi opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She was completely frozen.
"Ah," Wraith complained. "No titties?"
The audience booed loudly.
"She says she's here to sing," Judge Hope reminded his colleague.
Wraith chuckled. "I got to see those titties, though. Come on, girl. I mean, damn, you're hot."
More cheers.
Abi was taking shallow breaths now. This was not at all how she had imagined it. She looked at the female Judge Charity with pleading eyes.
"Please," Judge Charity released her. "Just sing for us."
Abi let out a breath of relief.
The music started.
She closed her eyes briefly.
She could do this.
Her beautiful voice reverberated through the hall. The audience went quiet. The bright lights made her unable to see most of them. And she felt the Compliance really kicking in.
Abi sang her heart out.
However, halfway through the so-
"OK. I'm going to stop you there," Judge Hope said.
The music cut off.
Everyone fell silent.
This was it.
The Verdict.
"That was…" he said. "Without a doubt…"
Abi held her breath.
"The best piece of singing we've had this season."
Loud cheers went up. Abi found herself smiling.
She threw a glance at Bing. He was smiling back at her.
The cheers lowered.
"But I have to say," Judge Hope continued.
The audience complained.
"No, no. I have to say," Judge Hope insisted. "Actually, I'm with Wraith on this one."
What?
"Good though your voice is," he continued. "And it is good, it's not the most magical sound in the world. It's just... good. I don't think anyone's really hearing it. Certainly not the guys in the audience. Am I right?"
Loud male cheers affirmed his comment.
"These looks you got," he droned on. "Kind of get in the way. Men will want you. Women will hate you. All the time you're on stage. I couldn't help picturing you in a more… erotic scenario."
Abi swallowed hard.
Loud cheers went through the audience.
"Getting pretty turned on if I'm honest."
She heard wolf whistles from the audience.
"Right," Abi said.
"You've got this pure beauty. What seems to be a knockout figure. And this sort of interesting," he paused briefly. "Innocence, going on."
No.
"That's something I think Wraith's erotica channels could really play with."
"Absolutely," Wraith confirmed. "That's what I thought the moment I saw you."
"I'd watch," Judge Hope said. "I don't know a man here who wouldn't."
If there was any doubt about that, the audience quickly dispelled it by cheering.
"To be honest, some of us girls might join you," Judge Charity said.
They chuckled.
The crowd went wild.
She looked to the side. Bing was trying to get to her, but the staff dragged him away.
"Don't," he protested. "Abi!"
Abi turned back to the Judges. "I don't think that's quite-"
"Shh," Wraith shushed her. "You will never have to pedal again. Not one minute. We could really work with you."
She looked down at the floor.
"Last year we had singers, singers, singers," Judge Hope added. "So many singers. So, to be a singer you have to be truly exceptional. There's just no slots left for an above average singer. Not for the next few years at least. Charity?
"No," she confirmed. "Saturation point, singer-wise."
"Listen," Hope said. "We said right from the start. We're gonna go with something different this season. That's why he's on the panel." He nodded to Wraith.
"She would be a star on our stream," Wraith said. "A star."
"Realistically, sweetheart," Charity said. "It is that or the bike."
Abi touched her forehead. "I-I don't think…"
"This is starting to annoy me," Hope cut her off. "Who do you think is powering that spotlight? Millions of people. That's who. All of them, out there, right now. Putting in an honest day on the bike, while you stand in the light they're generating and dither. You know what? They would give anything. Do anything to be where you are now. Am I right?!"
The audience cheered loudly.
"You want to stand there as if it's nothing. As if they are nothing. And that makes me sick."
"Now now," Wraith said. "Her innocence is an asset."
"Of course," Hope agreed. "But I've run out of patience. It's time to decide, love."
"I…"
"You know what? Maybe you do belong on the bike. Because you don't seem to be very willing to step off it."
"I do want to," Abi mumbled.
"Do we have a decision then?" he asked.
The crowd started to chant.
"Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!"
Over and over, they chanted. The sound was getting more and more intense.
"Do it! DO IT! DO IT!"
She could not go back to that bike. Not again. She couldn't take it anymore.
Abi swallowed hard. Her fingers were playing with the zipper of her sweatshirt.
"I-I suppose."
The audience cheered loudly.
"Now, now," Wraith said when they had calmed down again. "That won't do at all. We haven't actually seen you perform."
"He's right," Hope said. "We should start over with the audition."
"What?"
"You should count yourself lucky," Wraith said. "We don't often give second chances. Now come back here and convince us you want to be on Wraith Babes."
On unsteady legs, she walked off the stage.
"Better lose the sweatshirt," the stage aide said.
"Huh?"
"Come on. Hurry."
She helped her take off the sweatshirt, which left Abi only in her tank-top and pants. And her underwear of course.
"Lose the bra," the aide continued. "Quickly."
"But-"
"Do you want to go back on the bike?"
"No."
"Then you know what you have to do."
Abi took a deep breath. She was right. This was the only way to get ahead.
Abi unhooked her bra and pulled it out from under her clothes. Then, she walked back on stage.
With slow, nervous steps, she walked into the light.
"What is your name, love?" Wraith asked.
"Abi."
"Abi," he smiled. "And what are you gonna do for us today, Abi?"
She took a deep breath. "I don't know." She bit her lip. "What would you like me to do, Sir?"
His smile broadened. "Show us your tits."
She grabbed her tank top and pulled it up to her chin in one smooth move.
The audience went wild.
Abi bit her lip. There was a shy smile playing on her face. She wasn't sure how much of it was an act. But she was certain of one thing. She was never getting on that bike again.
Abi took off her tank top entirely, leaving her topless in front of the Judges. The cheers intensified.
It took a while before they calmed down again. No one had ever taken off their top during this show.
"Anything else you desire," she asked. "Sir?"
Another cheer went through the crowd. Abi found herself smiling slightly.
She was getting a little excited herself.
"Keep going," he said. "Let us see all of it."
"Yes, Sir."
Abi sat down on the ground and removed her shoes and socks. Then, she got back up.
"Come on, honey," Wraith urged her. "Make it sexy. Let's give her some music."
A sexy tune started. Abi began to sway her hips. She had no idea what she was doing, but they seemed to enjoy it. And she enjoyed them enjoying it. The attention felt good.
She slowly unzipped her pants. Then, she turned around, stuck out her ass and slowly pulled them down, all the way swaying her hips.
"There we go," Hope said.
It wasn't the most convenient outfit for a striptease, but after this, she would have plenty of sexy clothes.
Abi vowed she would never wear pants again.
She kicked off the pants, leaving her only in her underwear.
They were simple black shorts. She hated them. She should be in the most delicate lace underwear.
Even so, she tried to strip them off as best as she could.
The audience cheered her on.
Finally, she stepped out of them. Abi stood there, completely naked.
"I really want to be on Wraith Babes," she said. "I think I'd be really good. Look."
She spread her pussy lips. Luckily, she had shaved herself before this. Just in case she had a 'celebration' afterwards with… uh… what was his name again?
Oh what did it matter?
"Can you see how wet I am?" Abi purred. "I'm practically dripping."
It was not a lie. She actually got wet from this.
"Come closer, babe," Wraith said. "Let's have a taste."
She sauntered over to him. Wraith pushed two fingers into her pussy without any preparation.
She let out a grunt which she managed to disguise as a moan.
"Nice and tight," Wraith said. He pushed his fingers deep inside her.
"Thank you, Sir." Fuck that felt good.
"For now at least," Wraith smirked. He pulled back his fingers and popped them into his mouth. "Oh that's delicious."
"Thank you, Sir. Any chance I could taste your cock?" She licked her lips.
"Maybe," he said. "But not here."
The audience booed.
"Now, now," Charity said. "I think the audience deserves a little preview. Just a little more."
"Alright then." Wraith unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock. He was huge. Abi felt a strange mix of fear and excitement.
"On your knees," he ordered.
She complied instantly.
"Crawl to me."
Slowly, she crawled to him. Her heavy breasts swayed beneath her.
"Now lick it. Have a taste."
She reached out with her tongue.
Before she could reach him though, the feed cut off.
[The rest can be seen exclusively on Wraith Babes,] the screen displayed.
Wraith looked sideways at a screen showing their stats.
Their subscribers had never gone up this fast.
"Don't worry," he patted her on the head. "You'll never have to paddle again. I'll buy you a car."
Abi found herself giggling. "I'd like that, Sir."
She was surprised to find it was true.