Monique Champlain stood next to a rack of clothes, wondering which ones the models were going to be trying on. Her models, of course, were Kelli Anderson, Melissa Maddock, and Lori Racine, the only women being held captive at the Highwind Resort by Tom King. Tom, a local writer from Marquette Cove, had kidnapped the souls of seven people and placed them in the fictional world of St. Laurent, which he had created for one of his trashy airport thriller novels.

Now, all seven victims existed within the Highwind Resort as captives, while their counterparts in Marquette Cove were none the wiser. Monique frowned as Kelli and Melissa entered the office, ready to change into their clothes.

"This fashion show is going to be the biggest event in St. Laurent, and you're already late," Monique said.

"We're sorry," Kelli apologized. "But really, this is all amazing. Who knew that on top of being an employee here at the Highwind, a coke addict, an employee at a strip club, and being legally retarded, you were also a fashion designer."

"Still, it is a little odd putting on a fashion show when we're all being held prisoner here," Melissa muttered. "This doesn't seem like the most productive thing to do with our time."

"Oh please," Monique said. "What else are you going to do, sit in your room and mope all day? That doesn't get the ratings, honey!"

Kelli and Melissa exchanges bewildered glances as Monique grabbed something for each of them to wear for their initial walk down the runway.

"Time to get dressed, bitches!" Monique exclaimed, grinning as she envisioned everyone in St. Laurent being amazed by her new fashion line, Champlain!.

As she handed off their outfits, Monique glanced around the office angrily.

"Something wrong?" Kelli asked.

"Yeah, something's wrong!" Monique cried. "Where is that whore Lori Racine?"


OUTSKIRTS OF ST. LAURENT

Lori Racine hurried through the mounds of snow lying on the ground as she went for her morning jog. Though she was being held prisoner in a cage like a gerbil, even gerbils found time to run around on a wheel to keep in shape.

As she ran, her thoughts floated her interactions with Duncan Kincaid, someone she was finding herself attracted to on the island. Maybe it had something to do with them all "dying" and ending up in the same place together. Lori only wished she remembered more of what happened and how they'd gotten to the Highwind.

"That Monique woman has certainly been no help," Lori muttered. "Trying to interrogate her is like interrogating a dishrag."

Lori continued to jog, dressed warmly in the clothes that had been provided her in her new hotel room. She was listening to the iPod that had also been provided for her. It was honestly a musical dream come true, and Lori was thankful that the fourth-generation iPod featured a voluminous capacity that allowed her to place up to 10,000 songs in her pocket.

As Lori listened to an Avril Lavigne album, she didn't notice as the ground suddenly became a lot less firm that it had been seconds earlier. A few moments later, Lori's right foot crashed through the ground, which appeared to be pure ice. Lori cried out and screamed, dropping her iPod through the icy surface and letting it sink into the water below.

"Oh my God!" Lori screamed, as her second foot crashed through the ice and she began to cling onto the surface for dear life. "Someone please help me! God, someone please help me!"


THE HIGHWIND RESORT
JOEL KINCAID'S ROOM

"And so it appears that we've all been taken and placed in some type of town by the name of St. Laurent, where we're all being held prisoner in a ski resort by the name of the Highwind," Detective Joel Kincaid said, speaking into the tape recorder that had been left on his dresser when he awoke. He sat next to the window, recapping what led him to the Highwind while wondering how his room was on the ground level of the hotel, even though he had climbed three flights of stairs to reach his room.

As he glanced outside, he could see Lori jogging past his window, listening to her iPod. Joel frowned as she passed by, thinking of how he was responsible for bringing her to the island…rather, the ski resort in the first place. He was responsible for her "death" in Marquette Cove, as well as his brother, Duncan's.

Joel would still like to know, however, who was responsible for bringing them back to life or faking their deaths so perfectly that they were able to fool the residents of Marquette Cove into believing they were all dead, when in fact all six of them had been buried alive.

"This is nuts," Joel muttered. "I have no idea what we're doing here, how we got here, and if we're ever going to leave this place."

Before he had another chance to think of it, he heard someone screaming loudly. Joel quickly turned his head and found that it was Lori crying out from the distance. His police officer instincts quickly kicked in, and Joel rose to his feet to rush to her rescue.

As he raced out the door, he ran into Duncan walking past the room. Duncan cried out as Joel bumped into him.

"Watch where you're going," Duncan snapped.

"Duncan, I need you to come with me," Joel said.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Duncan said. "What, are you planning on killing me again?"

"No, I need your help," Joel replied. "Lori's life is in danger."


LOBBY

"Okay, looks like that bitch Lori isn't showing up," Monique said, speaking to Kelli and Melissa from behind the curtain outside. "Luckily, I called in the modeling cavalry."

"Your stripper friends from the Diamond Doll?" Kelli asked.

"No, not them," Monique remarked snidely. "I rounded up some real classy bitches to help you whores out."

Monique snapped her fingers, allowing her new models to enter from the Highwind Resort's Café. Elena Halstrom, Kerrigan Guthrie, Josie Singer, and Martine Guthrie filed into the lobby behind the curtain. Each were decked out in the latest fashions from Monique's Champlain! line, advertised as classy stripper-wear.

Melissa took Kelli by the arm and pulled her to the side. "Why are we doing this again?"

"To get closer to Monique and find out what's really going on behind the scenes here at the Highwind?" Kelli suggested.

"Oh, right," Monique said. "But still…I feel like I should be grieving or something. Or trying to escape. My mind's a little blank at the moment."

"It's okay," Kelli said. "Just get out there and dance like you want it, bitch!"

Melissa slapped Kelli across the face. "Excuse me?"

"Sorry, I was just trying to blend in," Kelli said.

"No, it's okay…fashion shows tend to bring out the bitch in me too," Melissa said. "Sorry I slapped you."

"Are you two done with your Oprah moment?" Kerrigan demanded, cutting in between them. "Let's get this show on the road."

"Stop being so bossy, Kerri," Elena muttered.

"Did you say something, bitch?" Kerrigan asked, spinning around and shooting Elena an icy cold glare.

"Bitches, please!" Monique cried. "You're all bitches! So get out there and get your bitch on, and drop it like it's fashion!"

Standing near the bar that had been set up in the lobby, the Highwind's Mystery Guest watched as everyone gathered for the fashion show that was about to go up. He took a sip from the glass of vodka he was drinking and tried calming his nerves as he prepared to watch Kelli Anderson take the runway.

"Looking forward to seeing some hot pieces of ass, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

The Mystery Guest turned to see the bartender, Beau Ormand, standing behind the bar shirtless and mixing a martini. He moved closer to the Mystery Guest, showing off his glistening chest and six-pack abs. He flashed his biceps and winked at the Mystery Guest.

"My girlfriend's up there," Beau said. "Kerri, she's a hot one."

"I hope that's the only reason you're dating her," the Mystery Guest muttered, his response dripping with sarcasm.

"Man, it is," Beau laughed. "One of the reasons, anyway. She's amazing in bed, let me tell you. And when she's around my ex-girlfriend and they get into one of their fights, it's like, let them rip off their clothes and take each other while I watch, man."

"Can I get another drink?"

"No problem, man," Beau said, turning away to grab the glass of vodka.

The Mystery Guest rolled his eyes and walked away from the bar with his glass in hand. "What a cad."


OUTSKIRTS OF ST. LAURENT

Joel buttoned the jacket from Banana Republic that he was now wearing, as he attempted to keep warm while the wind smacked him across the face. It was also snowing outside now, so he and Duncan had to be careful while searching for Lori. He just hoped they would be able to find her in the storm.

"I'm amazed you're so desperate to find her," Duncan said, following behind Joel. "Seeing as how you're the one who put us both here."

"Must you keep reminding me of that?" Joel demanded.

"Well…yes," Duncan said. "But mostly because you generally act like an asshole."

Joel ignored Duncan's comment.

"Why so silent?" Duncan asked. "Did I strike a chord?"

Joel kept walking, hoping to find Lori before Duncan could. As he walked, he heard Lori screaming again. As he turned his head to see where the screams were coming from, he slipped and slid onto the icy ground.

"Joel!" Duncan cried, watching as his brother crashed through the ice and was submerged beneath a pool of water. "Joel, hold on!"

Duncan ran and leapt forward, sliding across the ice on his chest to stick his hands beneath the surface of the water. He tried grabbing at his brother desperately, now not only hoping he had the strength to save one person, but his brother as well.


THE HIGHWIND RESORT
LOBBY

"Dance like you want it, bitches!" Monique cried out, as Melissa strode down the runway, showing off the hot pink number she was wearing. It perfectly matched her pink choker, pink stiletto heels, and a visible pink push-up bra.

Meanwhile, backstage Kelli prepared to go on while standing next to Josie. She turned to her and smiled, while Josie shot her an evil look. Taken aback, Kelli stepped away from the girl.

"Josie, don't be mean," Martine said, approaching her daughter. "I want us to bond while working on this fashion show together, that's sure to win me the praise of everyone in St. Laurent and stick it to that stupid ex-husband of mine, Vincent."

"Screw you, mom," Josie snapped, slapping her mother. "She's after Remy! Me, me, me!"

Josie turned around and flounced away from her mother, but Monique grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving. Josie spun around to slap Monique, but Monique quickly slapped her first and pushed her into Kerrigan.

"Don't mess with me, bitch!" Monique shouted. "Get on the runway, whore!"

"Did Elena send you to knock me around?" Kerrigan demanded, grabbing Josie. "That bitch, she's so rude! I ought to teach her a lesson, because it's such a damn pity she's not at my perfect level of perfection, you know?"

"I think the word bitch is being tossed around much too freely," Kelli muttered.

"Shove it, bitch," Monique said, slapping Kelli. "Get on the runway!"

Stepping past the ensuing catfight between Elena and Kerrigan, Kelli started toward the runway and smiled at Melissa as she passed by. As Kelli began walking, she noticed someone familiar standing near the end of the runway. Their back was turned to her, however, so she couldn't place their face…she just knew they seemed familiar.

Kelli moved quickly toward the end of the runway, but the person kept walking away from her. She stopped at the runway and tried glancing at the person's face, but she was soon knocked to the floor as Elena bumped into her. It appeared that Elena and Kerrigan had taken their catfight to the runway.

"God, what is wrong with these bitches?!" Kelli cried.

"Man, did I tell you my girl was hot, or what?" Beau cried, noticing the Mystery Guest passing by the bar once more. "She's smoking, man!"

"Yeah, she's great," the Mystery Guest said, setting his glass down on the bar. "She was actually quite useful in keeping Kelli from seeing my face and figuring out that I'm here at the Highwind as well."

"What, she an ex-girlfriend or something?"

The Mystery Guest sighed. "In a sense. I just…I can never allow Kelli Anderson to know that her ex-boyfriend…is still alive. Give me another drink."

Beau placed a shot glass of vodka onto the bar. Michael Thomas reached forward and grabbed the glass, downing the drinking and then slamming the glass back onto the bar. He took one last look at the runway, where Kelli was still lying on the floor, and then exited the lobby.


OUTSKIRTS OF ST. LAURENT

"Joel, hold on!" Duncan cried, grasping his brother's hand and stopping him from sinking any further into the water. He had no idea where St. Laurent was, but he knew that in some regions of the world, his brother would already have frozen to death underneath the water. He just hoped it hadn't come to that.

He stuck his shoes into the ice, hoping to anchor himself, and then he tried dragging his brother out of the water. It took all of his strength, but Duncan was able to pull Joel onto the ice. Du ncan breathed a heavy sigh of relief and turned over onto his back, trying to gather enough strength to save Lori.

Duncan climbed to his feet and staggered to where Lori was resting. He reached out and grabbed her hand, and tried pulling her while standing. Luckily, Lori was in enough of a position to push against the ice and hoist herself out of the water.

Lori collapsed onto the ice and cried out, thanking Duncan for saving her life. "Oh God, Duncan. Thank God you were here to save me!"

Duncan crouched down on his knees and lifted Lori to her own, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. As he did so, Lori leaned forward and kissed Duncan on his lips. They remained kissing until Joel managed to reach them.

"Hey, what's going on?" Joel demanded.

"I saved her," Duncan said quickly, pulling away from Lori.

"Nice job, rookie," Joel muttered.

"Didn't I just save your ass out there —"

Before Duncan was able to finish his sentence, Joel cut him off and stared straight ahead. "What in God's name is that?"

Duncan and Lori turned their attention to what Joel was staring at. It appeared to be a large ice wall, and behind it there appeared to be no storm at all. In fact, they couldn't see anything beyond the wall was snow lying on the ground.

"What the hell is that?" Lori demanded.

"Looks like the wall to our cage," Duncan said.

"I wonder what's out there we're not supposed to see," Joel said, approaching the wall.

"Joel, don't!" Duncan cried. "You don't know what that is!"

"It's a goddamn wall of ice, Duncan," Joel snapped. "What else could it be?"

He reached out to touch the wall, hoping that there was some way to get past it. As Joel's fingers pressed against the wall, he suddenly felt a surge of electricity hit his skin. Joel screamed in pain as his hands and then his entire body was electrocuted by an incredibly strong current.

Joel flew back into the air, sailing nearly ten feet before he fell onto his back in a mound of snow. Duncan and Lori jumped to their feet in surprise and turned to look at Joel first, then at the wall which was now showing signs of surging with electricity.

"Joel!" Duncan cried, rushing to his brother's aid.

He dropped to his knees and tried to snap his brother back into consciousness, but it didn't appear to be working. He screamed and turned back to Lori, a defeated look in his face.

"Duncan, what's wrong?" Lori demanded.

"He's not breathing," Duncan announced. "My brother…he's dead!"