Melody awoke to the rhythmic ticking, her eyes adjusting to the harsh light. Anna beside her, fidgeted with her ropes, her expression a mix of confusion and determination. Erika sat silently, her mind racing. Lily and Zyleia exchanged nervous glances, acknowledging the bizarre nature of their predicament. "What kind of contest is this?" Melody murmured, her voice echoing in the sterile room.
"Welcome, contestants. To earn your freedom, you must prove who among you has the deepest belly button," the voice declared, a hint of amusement in its tone. Zyleia scoffed, her skepticism evident. "This can't be serious!" Erika exclaimed, disbelief mingling with anxiety.
"I've heard that pressing around the navel can help measure depth," Anna suggested, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her fear. Zyleia nodded thoughtfully, while Lily looked contemplative, her fingers testing her own navel. [@ch_1]Melody[/@ch_1_d]"I guess it's time to find out,"[/@ch_1_d] she said, her courage shining through her uncertainty.
"You know, a shallower navel can mean less chance of infection," Lily whispered conspiratorially to Erika, who nodded, intrigued by the information. Zyleia leaned closer to Anna, her voice low. "Have you ever thought about how belly buttons are like fingerprints?"
<span data-type="mention" class="mention" data-id="1" data-label="" style="background-color: hsla(137, 100%, 90%, 0.3); color: hsl(137, 100%, 40%)"></span> Melody finally declared, her voice filled with a newfound confidence. Anna sighed, accepting the challenge, while Erika, Lily, and Zyleia each took a breath, ready to make their final case and fight for why they think their navel was the deepest.
