“Tell you what - you’ve got till I’m done with my cigarette to convince me. Make it real good and I might let you go back to that bug life of yours. Whaddaya say, huh?”
Maria’s thoughts raced faster than she could process them. She hadn’t felt such a rush of adrenaline since the day she had shrunk all those months ago. Just like then, this was a moment that would define whether she would cease to exist within the next five minutes. Seconds felt like hours as she collapsed on her knees. Her survival instincts had now taken the wheel, and she could only hope the words she uttered would be enough to convince this 20-something year old to go on with her day without making a puddle out of her.
The shrunken woman barely heard herself speak. She was trying everything, hoping that something - anything - would stick. Surely her tormentor was a great person, able to exceptionally offer a shrinky some mercy. And if she wasn’t, then surely Maria was so far beneath her that she wouldn’t be worth the trouble of dirtying her sneakers with her guts.
As her plea went on, Maria needed to fight off all the emotions waging war within her. She couldn’t slip in any way, and the rising frustration she felt was an immediate threat to her survival. The shrunken woman’s thoughts traveled back to before she had dwindled in size. To the days when she used to be a college student on this campus - just like the woman pondering whether to let her live or not. Perhaps, they had even shared classes at some point. Truth be told, she wasn’t the kind of person Maria would have paid much attention to back then. It felt like a terrible crime of hubris now. Manic questions fused in her mind, all getting her to spiral further into an adrenaline-fueled insanity.
What if you hadn’t been so judgemental of others?
I never troubled anyone. I just hung out with my friends and that was it…
But what if you had been nicer to this girl?
I… Maybe… No, I didn’t even know her!
Are you sure? How can you be sure?
I don’t know. I don’t know anymore. I didn’t deserve this!
Tell her that then.
I keep doing it! I just keep saying it. I’ve been saying it for months!
And yet, she doesn’t seem convinced.
Another jolt of adrenaline cursed through Maria’s veins, allowing the shrunken woman to catch herself spiralling. She realized she was fully sobbing now, something that seemed to at least amuse her tormentor. She watched as the titaness brought the cigarette to her lips for the 4th time, her smug smile hugging the yellow-tinted filter.
Why do I even have to convince her? She gets to live in a way she’ll never feel an ounce of the fear I feel every single day. I’m just a bug compared to her - why does she even care? I’ll never get to enjoy anything again. Isn’t that punishment enough?
You’re basically a bug.
I’m…
C’mon say it. It’s okay.
I’m basically a bug.
Not to me. You’re thinking to yourself, dumbass. To her.
Maria could feel a sharp pain in her knees as the sharp edges of the blacktop dug into her skin. Her thighs trembled under the weight of her body. Exhaustion was getting the best of her. She was ready to collapse, to let it all go and give up this life she abhorred. Why did it matter anyway? To live this way was no way to live at all. It had been a matter of time since her clothes had piled around her diminished form and she had run for the nearest bush, desperate to avoid being found.
Before she could start a new sentence, Maria was abruptly interrupted by an intimidating chuckle coming from above. She looked up to see the lit cigarette butt get flicked by her dexterous fingers, flying for what felt like miles to the shrunken woman.
“Alright, I’m done. You ready?” the giantess said, uncrossing her leg and bringing her grimy sole as close to Maria’s puny form to pin her without crushing her.
In a manic frenzy and with renewed energy, Maria wriggled and banged her fist against the rubber.
“WHY?!” she screamed. She had done everything she’d been told. She had begged. She had admitted she was nothing but a bug unworthy of the giant’s time and efforts. She had degraded and prostrated herself lower than she could have thought possible. Light flooded Maria’s sight as the student lifted her shoe off of her.
The titaness bent down to inspect the little critter closer. She was frantic - filled with a level of fear she had only seen in shrinkies about to meet their end.
“Because it never gets old. And cause I could use the entertainment. Hope that’s enough closure, bug. It’s been fun…” the giantess smiled smugly before standing to her full height and bringing her sole back above Maria’s puny body. She paused for a moment, enjoying the faint bangs of her tiny fists and feet desperately hitting her sole, before bringing her weight down. The teeny screams immediately stopped, as blood slightly oozed around her shoe. She quickly slid her foot backward, pulverizing Maria’s body against the pavement, and sending what was left of it under the bench.
“I hope to see you tomorrow, you little coward…” she chuckled, lightly kicking the discarded styrofoam cup that had been used as a makeshift ashtray by so many, before taking off.
Inside, Kelly continued to sob uncontrollably, frozen in terror - mourning the only friend she had in this hellish life.
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It feels good to have finally produced something I'm happy with! I hope you'll enjoy it :)
Special shoutout to Diccard, who helped me with technical issues on the shoes. He's one of the best size artists out there, and if you don't follow his work yet, you really should 🙌