Carrie’s Science project… a story by TinyDan

“Carrie no! I’ve seen to many of your crazy ‘experiments’ blow up, burn, implode or  down right not work! There’s no WAY I’m gonna let you do this!”

Daniel turned his back on Carrie folding his arms tightly across his chest. There was nothing Carrie could say on God’s green earth that would convince him this time. Not since the pink hair incident.

Carrie was the science type, always trying new things, mixing this and that, and Daniel was always the one she would go to for results. That was the penalty that came with being best friends.

“Come on Dan, you have to, who else am I going to get?”

Carrie spoke with a pout, her bottom lip curling down in that tricky little way only a woman could perfect. She always knew how to get her way with Dan. Her right hand came to rest on his shoulder, giving him a motivational squeeze before slapping his back and pulling away.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“What’s the…wha..wha…what’s the…WO..WORST! Carrie think about what you just said! You always say that and then I end up with some god forsaken illness, pink hair or a third nipple. No not this time, I will not be your human gunny pig, not a chance!” He shrugged her hand away and moved away from her, his arms tightly across his chest in a huff.

Carrie’s bright freckled face dropped even more as she listened to Dan’s cutting words. The slow progression from pleading to downright hurt took over after not to long. She quickly turned on her chair and let her face drop into her hands, her shoulder length auburn hair draping over her face, masking her tears. Soft sobs escaped her petite frame as her body trembled.

“Nothing I do ever works out, who was I to think I could get this scholarship anyhow. Dan your right, I’m nothing but a loser…a failure…I…”

Dan quickly cut in, moving over to Carrie. Low self esteem was something Carrie Ellis had always struggled with through grade school and high school. Dan had always been there to talk her down, to calm her. Even talk her out of suicide on one occasion. The torment of low self esteem was nothing anyone ever should have to deal with, Dan knew the pain all to well, and he would never allow her to convince her self she was worthless. She was science fair winner 3 years running, editor of the school newsletter since gr 10 and her most recent achievement, Gr 12 Valedictorian. Carrie was anything but a failure and the last thing she was in his mind was a loser. It ate him up inside how someone so perfect could ever view herself like that. He himself had never won anything, was never anything better then a C student and knew he’d never make it half as far as Carrie. Why was he the one that had to talk her down? By all rights it should be her talking him down, but that was never the case. Dan always had that chipper and optimistic personality, always there for a smile. That was why he and Carrie seemed to get along so well; their personalities were so different. It was like they worked off each other, Daniel was there for motivational support and comforting and Carrie could always make Dan laugh with her sarcastic and cynical remarks. Just like Abbott and Costello, like Sunny and Cheir…they were a match made for the history books. Which was why he would never let Carrie get away with treating her self like that, it was a crime.

“Sure Carrie you’re a failure…because only a failure would hold the blue ribbon for three years running, and it has to be the LOSER in you that got you voted Valedictorian right? Wake up kid, your smart! In fact you’re the smartest! Stop treating your self like this!” He approached her as he spoke, resting his hands firmly on her shoulders and gently pushing her back so she would look towards him. He then rose his right hand up to brush her hair from her face and to also pry her hands down so she would see him.

A devilish grin greeted him however as she looked to him. Jolting from her chair she went at him, knocking him down onto his butt, and then his back. Even though Carrie was a tiny girl, and Dan was at least twice her weight, she could always get him down if given enough of a charge. Carrie let out a laugh as she pinned him, with a giggle she spoke. Always an actor…yet another of her accomplishments…voted Drama queen 2 years running.

“Well you said it yourself, I’m perfect so therefore nothing could go wrong and YOU have nothing to worry about!”

Dan frowned, yet again lulled in by one of her traps. How could he resist now, after that motivational speech about how confident he was in her abilities? He let out a defeated sigh and blew gently at her face, causing her to pull back a bit and laugh. He didn’t have to say anything, she knew that sigh.

“I knew you’d come around boyio, now trust me; NOTHING bad is going to happen, I’m your best friend…I’d never do ANYTHING to hurt you Dan…no matter what…ok?” Carrie excitedly pulled back and stood up, standing over Dan with a friendly smile, holding her hand down to him to help him stand.

“I know…you would never do anything INTENTIONALY to hurt me…” He took her hand and pulled himself up, nearly taking her down in the process. Once up he shook his head and once again crossed his arms. He may have agreed to do this, but he didn’t have to like it. “So what are you gonna do to me anyhow?”

Carrie jolted to her desk, franticly running through a series of calculations on her laptop before turning to face her friend with an eccentric grin. She stopped a moment to flick rebellious strands of auburn hair from her face before speaking.

“Dannieboy, were going to make history, THAT’S what were going to do. If this works we’ll be RICH. Me for thinking it, and of course YOU for…well…you’ll see….but trust me you’ll be fine, there is NO REASON this shouldn’t work…now come here I need to get you ready…” Before Daniel could give much along the lines of protest of even a reply Carrie hurried off into the basement, leaving Dan wondering. What had he gotten himself into?

Part 2

Carrie’s basement looked like a cut scene from a science fiction movie; test tubes and Bunsen burners all over the place, computers attached to other computers that seemingly did nothing but sit there and compute calculations all the live long day. There were rat’s in cages, hamsters in mazes and mice running wheels. It was dark and the walls were cement, giving an errie Mad scientist feel to the room. As Daniel descended down creaky old wooden stairs Carrie appeared seemingly out of nowhere to greet him. No longer in her blue Garfield shirt and jeans, but draped in a white lab coat with latex gloves on and a pair of goggles strapped to the top of her head. In her pocket was a number of pen’s and a note pad and in her left hand was a remote control. Her right hand rose to take Daniel’s hand and before he could say hello she was leading him through the cluttered mess of papers, tubes and weird intricate patterns of glass bottles all connected and flowing with various patterns of liquid for what ever purpose.

“Dan imagine a world where energy consumption was little but output was huge. A world of little waste, no side effects…the very law’s of physics broken. They say for every action there is an equal reaction. Cause and effect…it’s impossible to use something, energy, paper, food, water, with out creating some sort of waste that is of equal mass to what you had consumed right?” Her words spun in Dan’s head as she stopped at an interesting looking contraption; a machine that looked like a cross between a phone booth and a microwave. Opening it she began coaxing her friend inside, speaking on as she did, “well what if I told you I could change that…alter the laws of physics? Manipulate atoms…change your atomic structure?” Pulling a vile of green stuff from her pocket in a test tube, she handed it to Dan, commenting quickly, “here drink this, this is very important, if you don’t you could die…”

“What do you mean…how can…and….wha…WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT…die? Carrie I don’t…”

Before he could offer another word in protest, Carrie’s glove clad hand whisked up and covered his mouth, taking the vile she opened it and then moved her hand to plug his nose. Once he opened his mouth for air she quickly dumped the vile into his mouth. After a series of coughs and sputters she stepped back and smiled excitedly at him. “

“No going back now…If I don’t proceed with the process now your not gonna like what will happen….”

“CARRIE WHA…” Before Dan could finish the large steel door of the contraption closed, encasing him inside. Fear gripped him as he began to feel short breath, and a little dizzy. It was as if he couldn’t breathe, but the air was flowing into his lungs, it felt like he wasn’t breathing Oxygen. Furiously he pounded on the door, screaming a silent scream, but none could hear.

Carrie moved hastily over to the computer and furiously began to type things in, mumbling to her self as she did.

“No time, have to commence….” Her fingers raced along the keyboard and then she lowered her eyewear over her eyes and looked to the contraption. She bit her lip and crossed her fingers as she timidly hit the enter key. “Oh God I hope this works…”

The chamber began to fill with a noxious gas, Daniel at this point was gasping for air, however as the gas hit him, he began to catch his breath. He was still in a panic, however after not to long the room filled with the purple gas, and a strange humming tune could be heard. Dan’s eyes began to role back into his head as he fell to the floor. Clawing at the door to the cage as he closes his eyes and passed out, the last thing he could see through the chamber window was Carrie watching him with a pleading hopeful look on her face, and then all went dark.

Part 3

           His head felt like it had a brick tossed at it, and his whole body felt cold, shivering and exposed. As his eyes came into focus at first he could see nothing but a light and a shadow of a figure moving about, but as things cleared up, his vision came into focus, he could tell then where he was. Everything around him was so different. He was in Carrie’s lab, or at lease he thought he was. But why was he naked? And where was Carrie? He appeared to be in some sort of room, a poorly lit room, and there was nothing but walls and a light, and he was on a bed. There was seemingly no door to the room, but the ceiling had what appeared to be a crack that ran all along the wall and stopped at the back. He was very much still groggy, and the taste from the weird green juice was rancid in his mouth. What ever Carrie had done he couldn’t see any difference. Had her project failed? It must have, because to him he looked no different, other then the fact that he was naked.

“Carrie….?” He called out to her, but there was only an echo in reply. Silence took over after not to long. He sat up on the bed and draped the blanket around his naked frame; its then he heard something. A loud vibration, the whole room seemed to shake violently. Earthquakes were not common around here, but this had to be one. He clinched to the bed as the vibration got heavier and more violent. Then it stopped with one very loud clump. The room stopped shaking almost instantly and all was quiet. Its then everything began to make its self clear, as the ceiling it’s self began to rise. A bright light blinded him, causing him to look away quickly and shield his eyes from the brightness.

“Carrie turn of the…..l…i…g…h……..t”

His eyes soon adjusted to the light, but he almost wished they hadn’t. He stood quickly and backed up a little, holding the blanket around him still. Things were totally confusing at this point, noting made sense. Before him or rather above him, in all her glory was Carrie…but it couldent be her? Peering down at him with a concerned yet friendly smile was Carrie, but she was HUGE. Her face covered his view; blocking out the light after not to long. But what happened and how did she get so big?

“DAN, IT’S OK, ITS NORMAL TO BE CONFUSED, ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN SOME THINGS…”

Her voice was thunderous, he could tell she was trying to speak low, but it did no good. Her voice struck fear into him as he let the blanket drop and him with it. His knees were like Jell-O, un able to hold him. His whole body shock with fear, he had no idea what was going on. Tears streamed down his face as he looked up to the giant ominous figure of his once half pint best friend, who was now, to him anyhow, larger then life.

“SHH, NONON, DAN IT’S OK! IT’S ME…CARRIE…DON’T BE SCARED…I’M NOT GONNA HURT YOU…I PROMISE…” Carrie moved back a bit and then slowly lowered her hand into the box, resting it beside Dan, palm open for him to climb in. The last thing she wanted was for him to fear her. She was his best friend, and right now the only one he COULD trust. The last thing on her mind was hurting him, why was it the first thing on his?

“PLEASE DAN, JUST STEP ON, I SWEAR I’LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING…BUT PLEASE DON’T BE AFRAID OF ME…IT’S ONLY ME…CARRIE…”

Despite the fact that he was still paralyzed with fear, her words did bring comfort to him. This was Carrie…his best friend, he had nothing to worry about…or did he?

“C…c..carrie what happened…what did you do to me?” Dan timidly stepped into her hand. Even her hand was huge. Her fingers were like the trunks of trees. Just about as thick anyhow. He was hardly as tall as her thumb in comparison.

Carrie smiled as Dan stepped onto her hand. It tickled but she kept in the laugh. Slowly she raised him out of the box and brought him closer to her face. There was a sympathetic half smile on her face as she watched her trembling friend look up at her in totally confusion and fear. He was so scared he didn’t seem to mind the fact that he was naked. He looked so cold and frightened, her heart broke. How could she have done this to her best friend? Her only friend at that?

“DAN I’M SOOO SORRY, I SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE THIS TO YOU. PLEASE DON’T HATE ME…BUT I NEEDED A HUMAN SPECIMEN…AND I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO WORK…I JUST HAD TO BE SURE….PLEASE DON’T HATE ME…” Her eyes pleaded with him as she whispered, feeling horrid for what she had done. Her voice must be like thunder to him, she thought.

“You know I can’t stay mad at you Carrie…” After what seemed like forever his tiny voice broke the silence. Things were starting to make sense. Her little speech before the fact. But why did she choose him? What had he done to deserve this? He was feeling hurt and used, but more then anything vulnerable and helpless. Why was his best friend treating him like a lab rat? With a stuttering sigh he looked to her, un able to hold back tears anymore. He was cold, scared and smaller then a mouse...enough for any man to give in and cry. “Carrie you know how to reverse this right?”

Carrie bit her lip at his comment and turned away from him. Tears began to flow down her own face now. How could she break this to him? She couldn’t…he would hate her for ever. The truth was Carrie didn’t believe there WAS a cure, not according to her theory anyhow. Reducing matter was one thing, but re sizing it was like stretching a picture out on Photoshop. The more you searched it out the more contorted it got until you couldn’t even tell what it was. There was chemical changes in his body that were created when the green mixture met with the purple gas, it all worked together to make him what he was now. She couldn’t tell him this, she couldn’t even tell herself why she did it. So with an attempt at a reassuring smile, she turned to him, her eyes wet from tears.

“WOULD I LET YOU DOWN DANNO? I’LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. YOUR IN MY HANDS NOW KIDDO, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT…AND….REMEMBER…I’LL NEVER HURT YOU…SO YOU HAVE TO TRUST ME…PLEASE NEVER LOSE TRUST IN ME. WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER FOR A WILE…I CAN’T REVERSE THIS RIGHT AWAY…YOUR BODY IS STILL IN SHOCK…I’LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT…BUT WILE IT DOES PLEASE…PROMISE ME YOU’LL TRUST ME…BECAUSE..”, she paused as she brought her lips down to deliver a gentle kiss to Daniel, covering half his body with her soft red lips as she did, her fingers curling up behind him so he could lean against them. “BECAUSE I DON’T WANT YOU GETTING HURT…AND IF YOU DON’T TRUST ME THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT’LL HAPPEN….”

Part 4

           “What do you mean look on the bright side? I’m a fucken doll Carrie…I mean…how could you do this to me? I thought I was your friend?” Dan’s tiny voice interrupted Carrie as she attempted to explain the situation in more depth for her miniaturized companion.

Daniel was having significant difficulty looking at the ‘bright side’ of this rather grim situation. His arms came to a tight fold across his chest. Carrie stood hovering over him as he sat on the edge of the table. He was no longer in his birthday suit. Carrie had provided for him suitable clothes, a little loose, but they were sufficient. The material was awkward, like it was made out of cheap cloth. But it is hard to find good quality doll clothes.

Carrie’s heart sank as Dan’s words cut her deep. It was never her intention to harm him or turn him into some glorified lab rat. Truth was she hadn’t thought the procedure through all the way first, she was actually not convinced it would even work, thus a cure was not really needed. Her heart sank to a new form of pain as she looked down at her tear stricken best friend…only friend for that matter. Why couldn’t he see how great this was? The two of them had successfully broken just about every law of physics, and together discovered a revolutionary procedure that would lift mankind into a new era? Why couldn’t he see that?

“DAN, HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT? OF COURSE IM YOUR FRIEND! LISTEN DAN, I DIDN’T DO THIS TO HURT YOU OR TO CONTROL YOU...PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT.”

Dan watched as Carrie stood up and looked down onto him, her arms crossing over her chest. She was wearing the same white lab coat, but underneath she had had on a long sleeved white Garfield shirt and a pair of blue navy Jeans. She was starting to sound upset, but that was nothing new, Dan and Carrie fought like cats and dogs all the time. Carrie would get worked up into a huff really quickly and Dan would use that to manipulate her. She was easy to get going, and once she was off on a huff it was hard to get her down. Carrie was known for her temper.

“Well you could have fooled me…I mean best friends don’t go around doing THIS to their friends. I mean….well…maybe you didn’t mean to hurt me physically…but you did a number on me emotionally Carrie…I can’t believe you would do something so cruel to me…some friend you are.”

Dan turned his back on her once more, crossing his own arms. Looking her face to face was very intimidating at this height. He still couldn’t get over how big she was. He didn’t want to let her know how frightened he was, so not looking was a smart move. After all, ignorance is bliss.

“OH LIKE YOUR MR PERFICT! GET OFF YOUR CROSS THERE JESUS! YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT CRULE? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEAL WITH CONSTANT LIP, BAGERING AND DOWNTALK FROM YOUR SO CALLED BEST FRIEND EHH? I GET MORE SUPPORT FROM A VACCUME CLEANER THEN FROM YOU!” Carrie’s voice was starting to rise, and that causes Daniel to wince slightly, looking back to her with a scowl.

“Why do you always have to yell…you make it seem like you’re a victim. I don’t talk down to you Carrie, I just tell you the TRUTH…..I mean do you want me to lie to you? When something is STUPID what am I suppose to do? Encourage you? Sometimes you just don’t know when to GIVE UP!” His voice stops as he mutters this last word, the look on Carrie’s face changes slowly from an angry scowl to a look of pain. His words cut her deeply, and her facial expression shows it.

“BUT YOU SAID…”Her voice starts at a low whisper, to him still quite loud. However no where near what it was about to get. “YOU TOLD ME YOU TRUSTED ME? YOU SAID YOU HAD FAITH IN ME? DIDN’T YOU SAY THAT?” Slowly Carrie’s demeanour changed once more, no longer hurt but more so angry. “OR WAS THAT A LIE? DANIEL AND HIS LIES…FIRST YOU TELL ME YOU TRUST ME, THEN YOU PULL THIS CRAP ABOUT ME BEING SO SMART. FUCK YOUR JUST AS BAD AS THE REST OF THEM…AND YOU KNOW WHAT…COMING FROM YOU DAN…”her voice cracks as tears well up in Carrie’s brilliant green eyes. Quickly she turns her back on Dan and takes a step away from him. Normally their quarrels get about this far, Dan apologises and normally everything is a.o.k. However this time would be quite different.

“Carrie I didn’t mean that…I…I’m sorry…you know I didn’t mean it that way.” There was an awkward pause as Carrie kept her back turned. Dan could not see her face, but if he could have he would have noticed a deviant smirk grow on her face, and then quickly drop as she turned around sharply.

“LIKE HELL YOU DIDN’T! YOUR NOTHING BUT A TWO FACED LITTLE LEACH….A FUCKEN LEACH!” Then Carrie did something she would later regret; as she always does when she loses her temper, her fists clinched tightly into a fist and with lightning reflexes came down hard into the table top, millimetres away from where Dan stood.

The shock wave sent Dan into his buttox rather quickly. He watched in horror from the very start as her larger then life sized fist came down onto him, stopping so close it made him wet his pants. It was like watching a building fall down into you, only to stop within a hair’s length of you. This was a normal thing for her. She would hit the table or the wall or sometimes even him when she got mad. Sometimes they would get into petty wrestling matches. He would only try to calm her down, obviously he could never actually wrestle her, he was more then twice her weight…rather WAS twice her weight.

“Oh God….” Was all Dan could mutter as he stared in shock at the fist in front of him. His eyes slowly moved up to meet with hers. On her face was a scowl to beat all scowls. She was still very angry. He shimmied back as much as he could, but the edge of the table cut off his track. “Carrie calm down…I didn’t mean it like that I swear…”

“‘CRAZZY CARRIE’….THATS WHAT THEY CALLED ME DAN…REMEMBER…AND YOU’D COME OVER AND MAKE THEM STOP…THEN YOU’D TURN TO ME AND PINCH MY NOSE AND TELL ME NOT TO LET IT GET TO ME.  NOT TO LET IT GET TO ME…REAL CUTE…YOU WERE PROBALY THE ONE TO GIVE THEM THAT NIC NAME…” Her hand slowly unclenches and lays palm down on the table. Her sharp green eyes narrow on Dan’s tiny cowering form. Her nails drumming against the table top as she slithered her hand towards him, slowly.

“No..nono Carrie you know that’s not true…I’d never do something like that” Dan knew something was wrong as Carrie’s hand drew closer and closer. Her face drenched in tears, and an angry frown on her lips. “Carrie please…your scaring me….Carrie…..”, her hand  stopes before him as her fingers snaked out to him, her thumb and four finger gripping tightly across his waist.

“DON’T YOU PLEASE CARRIE ME…I’VE HAD IT WITH YOU…IM KINDA GLAD I DID THIS TO YOU…IT’LL MAKE THIS SO MUCH EASIER…” Quickly she lifted her hand to face level, bringing him close to her thin pink lips. A devious smile creeps onto her face as she pinches Dan a little harder.

Tears streak down his face as he winces and struggles, starring at Carrie in totally horror. How could this be happening? They were so close? More then best friends, closer then lovers…they were like one being…they put brothers and sisters to shame, and now she was going to pinch him out of existence? His tears were not tears of hate or pain, they were tears of sorrow. The idea of her doing this to him was unbelievable.

“…why…” he whispered as Carrie pinched a little harder, his ribs feeling the pressure from her over sized fingers against both sides of his rib cage. “Carrie please…”

“DOES IT HURT DAN? AWWW…MAYBE I SHOULD MAKE IT QUICK THEN? YOU DESERVE AT LEAST THAT.” Carrie opened her thin lips to reveal a dark and damp carnivorous cavern. She began to then move Dan slightly closer to her mouth.

“CARRIE! What are you doing? Think this through…please god damnet I’m sorry Carrie I’m sorry, your not dumb your not cruel your not mean you’re a genius…you’re a god damn genious…god Carrie please!  I don’t wanna die Carrie PLEASE!” his unearthly screams were loud even for his size as he closes his eyes tight, holding his arms out and pissing his pants like a school boy. Any and all dignity totally drained from his body.

“YOU’VE EARNED THIS DANNIEBOE…NOW STOP CRYING AND TAKE WHATS COMING TO YOU.” Carrie’s voice spoke slightly calmer now as she stopped her fingers directly before her open mouth. Then just when it seemed she was going to pop him in, she delivered a big wet kiss to his frail little body and placed him gently onto her palm. Carrie’s amazing acting skills pay off once more.

“YOU DIDN’T REALLY THINK I’D EAT MY BEST FRIEND…DIDCHA DAN?” Carrie winked at Dan who now sat awe stricken up at Carrie.

“All that…the whole thing…” Dan stared up at her for a long long wile before bursting into tears. Her little joke found no humour in him. Like a leach he clinched to her thumb, hugging as tight as his little arms could, shaking violently as all the stress and fear that had built up let its self out. He hugged her thumb also in relief. He could not believe Carrie would do that to him. If he couldn’t trust her then who could he trust? He has always had amazing faith in her. His trust in Carrie has even gone so far as to overpass that trust he has in his parents. His tears are tears of relief, relief that Carrie really wouldn’t do that to him. As he leached to her thumb he looked up at her and screamed as loud as he could. “Don’t do that to me…ever ever ever again! I hate you…you know that…I hate you I hate you I HATE you!”

Carrie knew he wasn’t serious; he was just embarrassed and scared. She watched with pity in her eyes as her friend leached to her thumb and lay in a withered ball in her palm. She didn’t mean to make him that scared. She just wanted to have a little fun. Like they always did, only this time she went too far.

“WE’D BETTER GET YOU SOME NEW CLOTHES EHH…” Carrie flashed Dan a half smile. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get his trust again. She wasn’t even sure why she played such a cruel joke on him. Hell she wasn’t even sure why she shrunk her only friend in the universe with an irreversible process that she didn’t even know would work. Her mind was racing a mile a minute; inside she knew she would never harm a hair on his head. She knew this, and she knew he was safe with her, even if he didn’t know that right now. Despite her actions, her bond with Dan was still as strong as it ever was. Despite her actions, he still trusted her, he had no choice. So many years of friendship is not so easily broken by one little fight…or in his case even being shrunk and humiliated like a bug.

Her humour was no different then it was when he was normal, this kind of joke was normal…not this EXACT joke, but along the lines of scaring the hell out of one another. But problem was now it actually worked.

“CONSIDER THAT PAY BACK FOR THE FAKE HORSE HEAD IN MY BED….WHAT WAS IT YOU CALLED YOUR SELF? ‘THE KING PRANKSTER’? THE KIND IS DEAD…LONG LIVE THE QUEEN…” Carrie ruffled Dan’s hair as she made her way up stairs. It would take a lot of getting use to, and for Dan, a little longer then he would like.

 Part 5

“DAN…COME ON…DAN DON’T BE LIKE THAT…YOU KNOW I WAS ONLY KIDDING RIGHT?”   Carrie let out a frustrated sigh as she sat down in a huff on the end of her bed. Dan sat at the head near her pillow. She had just given him fresh clothes and was now attempting to reconcile with him after her little joke; unsuccessfully at that. “DAN ARE YOU GOING TO POUT LIKE THIS ALL DAY? LISTEN… IT WAS A JOKE…THAT’S ALL…I DIDN’T MEAN TO MAKE YOU SO UPSET…IF I HAD KNOWN YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE IT SEARIOUSLY I’D HAVE MADE IT A LITTLE LESS CONVINCING…AND I SAID I WAS SORRY FOR HURTING YOUR SIDES…SO FOR WHAT ITS WORTH, AGAIN IM SORRY.”

Carrie stood from the end of the bed and made her way towards her dresser top. She didn’t have time to argue with him at the moment. At the rate she was going, she would be late for work. Two late shifts in one week meant a pay dock, and she could not handle another one of those.

Dan remained unresponsively stubborn as he sat at the pillow end of the bed. He had not been amused by her antics one little bit, in fact he was down right pissed off. But then again that’s how it always went when Carrie would get the best of him. This one was a dilly of a scare. Not only was his pride hurt, but his sides still ached where she had pinched down on him. It however did force him to think deeply about his current situation. He had been speaking with her rather harshly, for someone his size that is. The truth was he knew Carrie didn’t mean any harm. She hadn’t even really meant to pinch so hard. All and all, he knew he couldn’t remain angry with her forever, but his pride was standing strong.

“DAN I REALLY DON’T WANT TO LEAVE FOR WORK ON SUCH A NEGATIVE NOTE…” Carrie had just slipped her white lab coat off and had changed into her Harvies uniform. The curse of a young college student was the curse of the minimum wage dead end job. After she had slipped into her shit, she made her way towards Dan, kneeling down beside the bed so she could speak with him. Her voice lowered to a gentle whisper as she raised her hand to gently wrap around Dan’s petite frame. Her fingers engulfed his entire being, leaving only his head poking out from the top of her hand. “DAN….YOUR NOT SCARED OF ME…ARE YOU…BECAUSE…YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID RIGHT…I NEED YOU TO TRUST ME...YOU DO TRUST ME…DON’T YOU?” Carrie voiced her concern as she retracted her hand before her face. Dan made no attempt to look her in the eyes; his face was downcast as he wiggled in protest to being handled.

“Yea…” His voice was soft, not quite as defiant as his actions may have suggested. His half hearted answer was backed up with a half smile, however short lived.

           “WELL…I HOPE SO…DAN…YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU RIGHT…YOU’RE LIKE A BROTHER TO ME…NO MATTER HOW ANGRY I GET WITH YOU, I’LL NEVER HURT YOU…EVER…AND THAT’S A PROMISE…YOU’VE BEEN THERE FOR ME FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER…OUR FRIENDSHIP KNOWS NO BOUNDS RIGHT?” Carrie stood and began her trek out of the room and down the stairs, Dan in hand. Her movements careful as not to cause too much shock for her tiny travel mate.

“Carrie…I….”His words couldn’t figure out how to flow from his lips as they moved. Her titanic fingers wrapped firmly around him acted as a sort of shock absorber, so the ride was anything but uncomfortable. On the contrary, for the first time since this had happened to him, he felt safe. Her hand was warm, like a thick woollen blanket. He felt as if he was being hugged in a mother’s warm embrace. Of course he knew Carrie loved him, she was practically his sister, it was almost a given. “I forgive you…I suppose…” He managed a smile as he finally looked up to her big green eyes. She looked so worried, as if she honestly feared losing his friendship over this. He knew she was sorry, for scaring him, hurting his sides, and even for this whole situation. So despite his anger, he forgave her.

“I KNEW YOU WOULD…” Carrie’s voice perked up as she once again delivered a soft kiss to Dan’s head. She couldn’t help her self. He looked so adorable all tucked into her hand like that.

There was something weird about being able to hold her best friend in the palm of her hand like this; something very liberating. The trust he had for her even when he was angry with her was amazing. Not once did he complain, cry or even show concern as she held him. He submitted him self to her so willingly. It actually seemed as if he was happier now that she was holding him, it just about brought her to tears. Carrie knew she wouldn’t hurt Dan. She cared too much for him to ever think of betraying him. Sure she could make millions, the owner of the world’s smallest man, the possibilities were great; but her loyalty to him was fierce, and she would protect him with all she had. She had done this to him, she knew that, and she was sorry for it. The guilt would haunt her for the rest of her life, but there was no way she was going to lose his trust again. She would be sure of that.

“NOW I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. I KNOW YOU PROBALY DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE…BUT I’LL ONLY BE GONE FOR 5 HOURS. I’LL LEAVE YOU IN MY STUDY SO YOU’LL BE SAFE AND SOUND OK? MAYBE YOU CAN CHECK YOUR E MAIL OR SURF THE NET…I’LL LEAVE THE COMPUTER ON FOR YOU OK?” Carrie half smiled knowing very well Dan would have a very hard time checking his e mail, or doing much of anything. But her computer desk was always full of nic nacks and stuff of the sort that would no doubt keep him occupied for a long wile. Most importantly, she felt he would be safe there as nothing or no one ever entered her computer room…it was just the way it was. “AND DAN…PLEASE…UMM…WELL…PLEASE DON’T GET INTO ANY TROUBLE…”

“Me…get into trouble…Carrie I’m offended…” Dan offered a sarcastic grin as Carrie entered her study. On first glance Dan could see the cluttered soft oak computer desk, with the sharp black IBM PC, LCD screen and optical mouse in the midst of the chaos. A smile creped onto his face as Carrie placed him on the hard wooden surface of the desk. Her arms moved to her hips as she bent over slightly to narrow her eyes to him.

“5 HOURS DAN…I’LL BE BACK IN 5 HOURS…PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PPLLEEAASSEE DON’T GET INTO ANY TROUBLE…IM ALREADY NOT SURE I SHOULD BE LEAVEING YOU ALONE YET…BUT I REALLY DON’T HAVE A CHOICE…”    Carrie’s stern look moulded away to make room for a softer apologetic half smile. “I’M SORRY…FOR EVERYTHING DAN….I SWEAR I’LL MAKE IT ALL RIGHT AGAIN…DAN…I WONT ABNDON YOU…EVER…WERE IN THIS TOGETHER.”   Carrie once more delivered a kiss to Dan’s upper body. It caused him to once again blush and scrunch his face. Why was she being so kissy lately? Normally she would shiver at the idea of kissing him…why was she so comfortable with it now?

“Hey its no problem…I’m a big boy…I can handle being left alone for 5 hours…” Dan let out a sigh, ‘a big boy’…who was he fooling…he wasn’t anything close to a big boy. “Now get outta here, your going to be late for work…” Dan waved his hand aggregately at Carrie as she kissed him. He wasn’t upset, just bashfully reacting the only way a male knew how.

“YOU’R A BIG BOY EHH….COULDDA FOOLED ME…” Her wide mouthed grin let him on to her joke as she messed his hair up with her thumb before standing and flashing him a tenderer smile. “DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE THIS ROOM BOYIO…I’LL SEE YOU SOON.” With that she moved out of the study, closing the door firmly behind her. A faint click could be heard as it appeared she was locking the door from the outside. Then all was silent, minus the dull hum of the computer behind him.

Dan let out a sigh as he flopped down to sit Indian style on the glossy oak of the desk. This was the first time he had to him self since this incident; his first real chance to contemplate his predicament. “Gulliver’s Travels…the incredible shrinking man…hmmm…all the good names are taken….guess I’ll have to settle for Carrie’s Science project…”, A faint chuckle escaped Dan’s lips as he rested his head softly in his hands. He was scared beyond all belief of what was to come. But his salvation, his saving grace, the light at the end of the tunnel was Carrie. He knew she’d stick by him. Right now she was the only thing standing between him and a total nervous breakdown. “Remind me never to volunteer for anything like this again…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the blissful silence was cut short by the sound of the door knob turning. It was a broken sound as it appeared the person was unaware the door would be locked. There were a few violent jiggles and twists before all was once again silent.

“What the…” Dan stood quickly as he narrowed his eyes at the door. Did Carrie forget she had locked it? Why was she coming back? Did she forget something?

The silence once more broke as small clicking sounds could be heard. Like something scratching against a metal object. That sound was ended with a loud and noticeable CLICK. Someone had just picked the lock.

A sinking feeling gripped Dan’s stomach as he took a step back. Who was there? Was it Carrie? Was it an intruder…what the hell was going on? The thought that it was probably Carrie in another attempt to scare the living Jesus out of him, but she had already left in a rush, she was going to be late enough as it was. No it couldn’t be Carrie. The question was, who was it? Dan backed up slightly more as the dull silver door knob slowly began to turn, the door opening sending a wave of bright light into the otherwise dully lit study, Dan would soon know the answer to his question, who exactly it was paying him a visit.

Part 6

“THERE WE GO… A familiar female voice penetrated the ghastly silence that filled the computer room.

The figure that moved into the darkened room remained shrouded from Dan’s vision, but he knew who it was; the voice was all too familiar to him. His chest tightened as his stomach made gripping lurching jolts. The click of the light switch send a wave of florescent light flowing through the room, the gentle hum of the long white florescent tubes trickled gently around.

 The figure was now in clear view, and his suspicions were confirmed. The individual was dressed in a creative and impressive ensemble of black. A pair of baggy black Jeans accented with a khakis pattern, loaded with deep pockets where ever a pocket could find its self placed, chains hung from the belt loops to the pockets on each side and swung along creating a distinct jingle with each step. The next article of clothing to be noticed was the long sleeved fishnet shirt, exposing the pale white flesh of the intruder’s stomach, further up was an exposed black undershirt reaching barley lower then the navel. A navel covered in piercing, loops and the bottom half of what appears to be a very decorative serpent tattoo wrapped around a black cross. Around the neck of the figure hung a black Egyptian Ankh, beside that hung a pentagram. The intruder was Elise Ellis, Carrie’s not so social and quite well known younger sister.

Elise had a reputation that was not to be laughed at. The shrew, the bitch, castrator of Jocks, the nerds feared her and the preps loathed her. Even her fellow gothic enthusiasts fell victim to the ever growing myth and rumours that darkened her demeanour all the more. Elise was the type of girl nobody wanted anything to do with, not because of any particular reason other than the simple fact that Elise Ellis was a FREAK. Rumours had it she was heavily into the occult; others believed she was associated with cultic rituals and Satanism. In grade 9 she carried with her through school a dead rat, naming it Melvin, she would stroke its fur and hiss at anyone who attempted to touch it. Later Melvin disappeared…rumour has it she ate it. Then there was the small unmentioned detail that Elise was a sadist….heavily into pain and inflicting it heavily onto others…or so the rumours said. Dan knew half of what was said about Elise was not true; she was not nearly as horrible as she tried to make people believe. But the rumours feed her ego and caused her outrageous lifestyle to grow all the more.

Daniel’s mind set off into a state of total and complete panic as Elise made her way to the computer, pulling back the wheeled leather black office chair and carelessly sinking into its soft reclining seat. She seemed focused on the computer at the moment, enough to not notice the diminutive Dan standing slightly in front of the left speaker.

“BOYAJA BABY! LETS SEE WHAT YOU GOT FOR MOMMA YOU BIG HUNK OF COMPUTER YOU…”. Elise said.

Dan’s entire body locked up on him as he watched Elise recline before him. He figured he was only about a foot or two from her, so any movement would be detected. Dan was unsure why in she hadn’t noticed him already, but her attention was locked firmly on the computer screen and not him. Her black painted fingers drummed off the keyboard as she leaned in slightly to get a better look at the screen. A smile graced her crimson smeared lips as she reclined back and raised her left foot up to rest on the computer desk followed by her right crossing slightly over the left. For the time being, she was oblivious to Dan’s presence. This did little to bring rest to the frozen Dan, who watched Elise’s every move like a hawk. The last thing he wanted was to expose him self to someone, let alone Elise. Elise was never openly cruel or mean to Dan, for the most part she simply left him be and went about her business. She was never the sort to go out of her way to notice anyone, Elise waited till you confronter HER to tell you off…it was just her style. Their relationship for the most part remained civil…a live and let live sort of existence, but that was about it. None the less, the idea of allowing her to spot him was out of the question, she was not as trust worthy as her sister.

“SHOW ME THE MONEY…KAZAA DON’T FAIL ME NOW …SWEET!” Elise’s piercing green eyes lit up as she franticly searched the web for what ever it was she wanted to find. After a few clicks and words typed into the screen, Elise pulled away from the computer and let her feet drop hastily to the floor. Her attention seemed unfocused now as she allowed her song to download. Her fingers drummed impatiently off the hard wooden surface of the desk rapidly to some tune she must have had running through her mind, she rocked back and forth to the rhythm if what ever song she had in her mind, and then began to hum quietly to her self as she awaited her download.

Dan’s arms were starting to hurt; his legs were beginning to shake and his nose itch. But he remained still. So far so good, but there was no telling just how long Elise would stay, and the question ran through his mind, would she spot him? Should he try and hide, or keep totally still?

Elise’s massive size was more then frightening to Dan, it was breathtaking. Other then Carrie, Elise was the first normal sized person he had came into contact with since his experience. There was something about this situation that sent Dan’s heart racing. There was a thrill to it, like he was standing before some great object of mythic stature; the great Sphinx, the Statue of Liberty, or the great Roman Colossus. His mind raced to try and make sense of everything, his focus moving away from Elise and onto his own thoughts. Thoughts of grander and voyeur raced through his mind. Everything was so different at this size, a messy room was like a vast wilderness…a normal insect was the size of a racoon some even the size of a large Dog. People, they were colossal; monstrous godlike entities that towered over him ominously. A sick feeling overtook him as his thoughts began to lead him asunder. He was nothing more then a bug…doomed to scurry underfoot and life at the ominous mercy of the titans that went about their normal lives with out any knowledge of his existence. His eyes closed tight as to prevent tears from falling once more. Now he understood what Carrie meant when she said he had to trust her…she was the only one who knew what had happened…she was the only one who he knew for sure would never hurt him…everything else was a gamble.

“HELL YA, I THOUGHT IT’D NEVER DOWNLOAD…DAMN SONG...” Elise’s voice quickly interrupted Dan’s line of thought, causing him to gaze back up at her form as she typed. “MALICE MIZER HERE WE GO….”.

With a click of the mouse button Elise leaned back in eager expiation; excited for her song to no doubt blare at a deafening volume over the computer speakers he stood in front of.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” Elise’s eyes scanned the screen quickly as her brow furrowed. “BLOODY HELL…THE VOLUME…YOU’RE A GENIOUS ELISE…”

Dan’s whole body sunk as he heard her speak those words, he knew what was coming now. He watched as her eyes shifted from the computer screen to the speaker, the main speaker, the one he just happened to be standing in front of. Almost right away she noticed him, her eyes scanned over Dan’s body carelessly at first, her hand focused on turning the speaker on. He still managed to keep totally still. With out much Elise had figured him for a doll or something.

Dan’s whole body shivered for all he was worth as Elise’s hand grazed past him, gliding towards the speaker to quickly press the on button. Sound shock the computer desk he stood on as the gothic sounds of Malice Mizer flooded the room. The sound was intense for Dan, piercing his eardrums to the point of pain. It felt as if his whole body was about to burst, his eardrums were begging to burst under the stress. Dan could no longer hold still. His knees gave way, leaving him in a crouching position, his hands clinching his ears tightly.

“Oh God please turn it down…God it hurts…dammit Elise stop!” Dan cries in vain as the music continued its unforgiving pounding.

Dan’s voice did not manage to get his attention, however his movement achieved what his pleas could not. Elise re focused on his little form, widening suddenly. It appeared he had been seen, however given the circumstance…it was more of a blessing then a curse…or at least he could only hope.

Chapter 7

Dan’s whole body convulsed with fear as Elise stared down at him in complete and utter shock. Her expression remained one of confusion as she slowly leaned forward to get a better look at the odd little being she had just encountered.

“WHAT THE FUCK…YOU’RE ALIVE AREN’T YOU…” her right hand reached forward slowly in Dan’s direction, Elise was not quite sure how to react to Dan. Her hand moved towards him and then timidly back to her side. This curious indecisive action was not taken well by Dan. Seeing Elise reach out towards him sent him crawling back as far as he could, ending him up leaning against the computer speaker.

“Pl..please don’t hurt me…”, was all Dan could manage to speak in-between sobbing breath’s. Hearing the little critter talk sent Elise back a bit, but soon after her eyes narrowed onto him and she leaned in to almost eye level with him.

“HOLY CRAP…YOU CAN TALK…WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU…ARE YOU SOME KINDA…DEMON OR SOMETHING?” Elise seemed unconcerned about the simple fact that her mere presence was unwanted and feared beyond all possible belief, she was more interested in what ever it was she had come across. The voice, the appearance…all seemed familiar to her somehow; as if she had seen it all somewhere before. The idea had not registered in her mind that this little being before her was none other then Dan, best friend of her sister. “ARE YOU…LIKE….A LEPERACHAUN… OR A GNOME…”,Elise gathered up the courage and once again reached out towards Dan, the onix tips of her black painted fingernail brushing timidly against Dan’s face. “WHAT EVER YOU ARE…YOUR KINDA CUTE….”.

Dan was dumbfounded, was he really so small that she couldent figure out what or who he was, and what was with everyone and thinking him cute? First Carrie goes crazy with the kissing and now Elise Ellis was calling him cute? Had the world gone completely mad? Dan’s whole body tensed up when Elise reached out and touched him, he was suppressed at how gentle she was being, her voice was slightly loud but she had yet to pound him or eat him, so things were going well.

“Elise…it’s me…Dan…only…well…smaller.” His voice trembled as Dan attempted to gain some composure. He was still very unsure as to how he should approach Elise.

“DANIEL?? DANIEL ANDREWS? DAN AS IN CARRIE’S LITTLE LAP DOG DAN? HOLY FREEKEN HELL HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET SO…WELL…SMALL?” Elise demeanour completely changed once she realized what, or rather who this was. She was no longer confused but now totally interested in what she saw before her. This sent Dan’s stomach for a ride as he realized she was quite amused at his currant predicament. He could tell she was holding in the urge to laugh.

“Carrie…well I mean I let her do it…I suppose. See she needed to see one of her ideas would work…and so…well…I…umm…let her test it on me…she knows how to reverse it…she just has to wait a wile.” Dan spoke with little confidence, leaving out key details, such as the fact that he was kind of forced into it. But Elise hung off his every word, leaning back in her chair, her eyes still very much locked on Dan.

“YOU LET HER DO THIS TO YOU? ARE YOU FUCKEN MAD? HOLY CRAP I KNEW YOU WERE A BIRD BRAIN DAN BUT THIS BEATS ALL…”As her words finished, Elise’s boldness reached a new level, she leaned in closer to Dan, and once more reached her hand towards him, however this time with her thumb and forefinger gripping him around the waist, she lifted him up and whisked him close to her face. “        CARRIE’S LITTLE LAP DOG…NOW IN CONVIENT TRAVLE SIZE…” Dan felt as if he would lose his lunch, the rollercoaster ride from the table top to his uncomfortable position dangling in front of the pale faced Elise, was anything but pleasant. She hadn’t even asked if she could pick him up, but then again Carrie never asked either. But unlike Carrie, Elise was rough and her grip squeezed his sides, causing him to wheeze for air.

“E…lis…e let go your hur…ting me…”Dan coughed as Elise looked him over, like he was some sort of fancy new toy, examining him carefully.

Elise eyes returned to Dan when she heard him speak, she seemed as if she hadn’t even heard him at first. However once she noticed his pain stricken appearance and his lack of breathing, an apologetic look snaked its way to her face and she shifted him in her hand so that he came to rest in her palm.

“SORRY THERE MINNI-JO, DIDN’T MEAN TO HURT YA…GOD BUT YOU’RE SO SMALL, AND KINDA HELPLESS TOO EHH. THIS IS TOTALLY UN REAL.” Elise said as she stood up from the computer desk and began to make her way for the door. Dan was still recovering from the uncomfortable little pinch, and did not like where things seemed to be moving. Dan was paralyzed with fear as Elise stepped out of the safety of the computer room and began to head for the kitchen. Where was she taking him, what was she going to do and why was she taking HIM with her?

“Wait…Elise where are you going…Carrie told me not to leave this room…I don’t think this is a very goo….” Before Dan could finish, Elise finger rose and covered his lips, rather his face.

“STOP YER WHINING…I’M ONLY GOING TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT…BUT I CAN’T LEAVE YOU HERE ALONE OR YOU’LL RUN OFF ON ME BESIDES…CARRIE WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO LEAVE YOU RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN…IT’LL DO HER GOOD TO SWEAT A BIT WHEN SHE HAPPENS TO COME BACK AND YOUR NOT THERE…” There was a calm tone to Elise voice, it did little to bring re assurance to Dan, as he was well aware that at this point he was totally and completely at Elise mercy. Elise Ellis…girl rumoured to have castrated any man that made so much as a odd look in her direction, and he was at her complete and totally mercy. “NOW CALM YOUR ANTSEY LITTLE SELF DOWN…IM NOT GONNA EAT YOU OR ANYTHING…IM JUST A LITTLE COURIOUS…I MEAN IT’S NOT EVERY DAY I COME ACROSS A MAN SMALLER THEN MY…WELL…YOU GET THE POIT…”.

Dan couldn’t think of anything to say in reply, he just sat in Elise’s hand as she carried him towards her destination. Things were out of his control now, and what did she mean when she said ‘and your not there’? She was planning on returning him wasn’t she?  All Dan could do was look up at his captor and pray she was not as cruel as the rumours had made her out to be. 

  Chapter 8

Dan sat still in the center of Elise’s palm, her tree trunk sized fingers sprawled out before him, looming above him in a half curled fashion. He felt like a cornered mouse. Everything that happened now was out of his control; it left Dan feeling helpless and weak.

There was an awkward silence as Elise rummaged through the icebox, holding the white fridge door open with her hip, and keeping Dan securely sitting in the palm of her hand. Her brow scrunched as she began to move things aside to peer deeper into the chilled box in hopes that something would make its self known, something perhaps unseen before, something that would sedate her hunger for the moment. After what seemed like a few minutes, Elise pulled away from the fridge and made her way to the counter top.

“YOU HUNGRY MINI-JO?”  ,Elise lowered her palm to the counter top and leaned it forward slightly sending Dan sliding off onto the counter. Something close to a smile peeked through her pale face and accented by her crimson painted lips. Her tongue snaked out from its confines and continued to run a small beaded tongue ring across her front teeth. She stared down at him with a somewhat impatient look, waiting for him to reply, her pose suggesting her eagerness for his answer sooner rather then later.

“I umm well you see, ok…just a little…” Dan felt foolish as he stumbled to stand up, and then once he did, speaking was now proving it’s self rather difficult. “You don’t have to feed me Elise…I mean if you don’t want to…I don’t want to trouble you…”, Dan’s cheeks fell a deep red from embarrassment. Looking up at Elise imposing form was breath taking. He was embarrassed that she was having such an effect on him. His knees felt weak, his stomach was lurching…he was starting to feel a little dizzy, and this was all caused by her mere presence. He desperately wanted to keep this from her, but his actions screamed it. He felt like a bumbling love struck high school student, but being in the presence of a woman so much bigger then you, so larger then life, was not only intimidating, but extremely erotic. 

“WHAT? WANT ME TO LET YOU STARVE? CARRIE WONT BE HOME FOR ANOTHER FOUR AND A HALF HOURS SO IF YOU WANNA WAIT FOR HER BE MY GUEST.” Elise voice was apathetic as always, it was just her nature. Elise was never the type of person to become overly excited about anything. “LISTEN, JUST STAY HERE…DON’T MOVE…I DON’T NEED YOU WONDERING OFF AND GETTING LOST ON ME…STAY RIGHT HERE….GOT ME?”

Elise moved off leaving Dan by him self on the kitchen counter. The sites before him were massive. He felt as if he were exploring some strange new lands. Regular house hold objects were now massive structures to him. The microwave stood befog him like a two story house, beside it a mixing bowl stood larger then life. But the biggest Marvel was the size of the room it’s self. Peering around, he felt as if he was standing in the center of a football stadium. Everything around him was so far away. The fridge was a few yards away, the stove was a good 5 min walk, the door to the living room seemed to be a few city blocks away. Dan was awestruck once more by his surroundings, and took his attention off Elise. He began to explore the counter top despite Elise’s warnings. He decided to make his way to the stove as Elise busied her self elsewhere in the kitchen preparing something for her self to eat. Who was she to give him orders?

Dan’s trip to the stove area was cut short as he reached the edge of the counter. He looked back to where Elise had placed him and then his eyes scanned out to see where she was. Elise was still buried in the Fridge, not to emerge until her hunt for food turned out profitable. His eyes peeked downwards after this, looking at the rather large distance from where he stood and the floor. A dizzying feeling overcame Dan as he scurried back almost right away.

“Holy crap…holy crap holy crap holy crap….” He muttered as he landed on his tushie a few inches from the counters edge. The view reminded him of the view from his apartment, the 5^th floor of a Toronto apartment building. But he wasn’t on the fifth floor of an apartment building looking out over a balcony; he was on a kitchen counter…a bloody kitchen counter! A look of determination creped onto Dan’s face as he slowly stood and walked back to the gap that stood between him and his destination; the stove, he would have to reach the stove and cross it if he wanted to continue to explore this newly discovered territory he found him self in. But the gap that lay between the counter and the stove was at least a few inches in width, and ran from the wall to the edge of the counter. Below was nothing but darkness, a thick eerie pit of black morass that led to nowhere. A fall there would mean death…and no one would ever look for him there.

“I can do this…no problem…” Dan said with a smile.

“I HOPE YOUR BEING GOOD OVER THERE MINI-JO…”Elise voice penetrated the silence as she spoke with out even looking at it. It was as if she KNEW what he was going to do with out even seeing him do it.

“yyeesss mother.…”Dan said, even though he knew she wouldn’t have a chance to hear him, his voice was to small and would never carry that far.

Dan began to back step, his eyes focused on the stove before him. A smile creped onto his lips as he began a slow jog towards the stove, this picked up into a fast run and then evolved into a full scale sprint towards the stove. He continued to move towards the surface of the stove, until it would seem he was going to run straight into the darkened gap and the lonely depth it lead to. But at the last possible moment, when his feet could move no longer, Dan lunged himself towards the stove, pushing him self as much as he could, his arms stretched out as he moved through the air. The sensation was incredible; it felt as if he was flying. His eyes looked down over the canyon below him. Time its self seemed to slow down as he flew towards the stove. The ground quickly began to come upon him, he closes his eyes and braces for impact, a hard impact that would no doubt leave its burses. The impact was surprisingly soft however, nothing like he thought it would be. He opened his eyes to check things out, and realized he was not on the stoves white surface, but something pale and soft, like a mattress. His eyes scanned the area, the familiar surface of Elise’s palm.

“BLOODY HELL, I CAN’T LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR A SECOND CAN I MINI-JO!?” Elise scorned. Her voice sent chills down Dan’s spine. She never yelled and hardly ever raised the tone of her voice, but this time there was a chilling annoyed tone to her words, Dan could tell she was not to happy.

“I was just…looking around…”Dan squeaked.

“LOOKING AROUND, YOU WERE LOOKING AROUND? HERE’S AN IDEA…WHY DON’T YOU STAY PUT SO I DON’T HAVE TO HUNT FOR YOU OK…BLOODY MIDGET…I SWEAR YOUR JUST LIKE A KID…SO I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO TREAT YOU LIKE ONE…” Elise wrapped her fingers around Dan’s tiny frame; her grip was anything but gentle and welcoming. Darkness covered him completely as he found him self palmed. Not even his head stuck out from her clenched fist. “FUCK, IF I LOSE YOU MY SISTER WILL HAVE A FIT…SHE’S NOT EVEN SUPPOSE TO KNOW I HAVE YOU…LAST THING I NEED IS FOR HER TO GO AWALL ON ME…”

Dan could hardly hear Elise voice from the cramped and stuffy confines of her fist. But he could tell she was upset. All he wanted to do was look around, express his basic right to move about freely like any normal human being. Why was she getting so angry with him? The Darkness lasted for what seemed like an eternity, he could hear the faint sound of Elise moving about, but that was about it. Her hand was warm and there was little to no air moving about to refresh him. Dan was starting to perspire from the heat that was building up, but just when he thought he couldn’t take it any more, cool air accompanied by light flooded in as her fingers sprawled out slightly. They were still pointed up, acting as sort of a cage for him. He could see Elise’s billboard sized face peering down onto him, her normal bored and apathetic look smeared across her skin. Dan just stared up at her, his skin clammy and damp, a worried look on his face.

Chapter 9

“YA KNOW…YOU’RE KINDA LIKE A PET MOUSE…SO DEFIANT AND CARELESS, UNTILL SOMEONE SCOLDS YOU, THEN YOU WITHER UP AND COWER.” Elise narrowed her eyes and tilted her head a bit, then let out a small laugh. “OH COMMON DAN, RELAX…IM NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING…YOU JUST HAD ME WORRIED THAT’S ALL…I MEAN I LEFT YOU THERE AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND YOU WERE GONE…YOU’RE A LITTLE HARD TO TRACK AT THIS SIZE YOU KNOW.” Elise mussed Dan’s hair with her thumb as she stuck a carrot stick into her mouth, speaking wile she ate, “LIGHTEN UP!”

           Dan winced as Elise thumb rubbed his hair, messing it up even more. He was not at all pleased with Elise over protective treatment, he was also a little concerned with these random mood swings. Carrie and Elise both seemed very grabby around him lately; he didn’t like that one bit. But there was little he could do about it.

“Yea well don’t be so grabby next time…your worse then Carrie…”Dan snapped.

“DON’T HUMOUR ME…CARRIE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER LITTLE LAP DOG…YOU KNOW THAT MINI-JO.”, Elise replied.

“Wanna bet…”Dan snapped once more.

“WHAT’D SHE DO TO GET YOU SO ANGRY?”

“Nothing…it…it was nothing”, Dan turned his head and crossed his arms, his face beginning to turn red from from embarrassment.

“TELL ME, COME ON DAN…I PROMISE I WON’T LAUGH.” Elise prodded Dan slightly with her index finger.

“Well asides from turning me into THIS…she…played a little….joke…on me.” Dan debated over telling her the whole story. It was embarrassing enough having Carrie know about it, he knew Elise would just die laughing, but he had gone this far, there was no turning back now. He explained to her what had happened, how Carrie had screamed at him and then pretended she was going to eat him, no detail was to small, he left nothing out.

“WELL…THAT’S…INTERESTING…”Elise was fighting back spurts of laughter, but managed to control herself wile by shoving carrot sticks into her mouth. But eventually she gave in and a deep belly laugh escaped her.

“You said you wouldn’t laugh!”

“IM SORRY…ITS JUST…AND THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE…F**K I WISH I COULD HAVE SEEN THAT…”Elise took a moment to breath before looking down at the rather un happy little Dan in her hand. “OH LIGHTEN UP…IT WAS ONLY A JOKE…JUST GET HER BACK…THAT’S WHAT YOU TWO ALWAYS DO ANYHOW RIGHT?”

“It’s not as easy as that Elise…how do I scare the pants off her when I’m a freeken bug boy!” Dan’s arms crosses over his chest tightly as he turned away from Elise once more. “Its impossible…that’s what it is…anything I do she can match…I’m helpless…”

Elise munched on another carrot stick before breaking a piece off and laying it beside Dan, nudging him towards it as if she were trying to coax him into eating. Elise had gotten over her laughing fit, and replaced her sarcastic, overbearing glance with a calmer and somewhat contemplative look. It didn’t much appear that she was paying much attention to what Dan was saying. Her free hand rose to stoke her chin and then moved nonchalantly to her hair where it her fingers begun spinning and twirling her long black hair about.

“LETS SEE…HOW CAN LITTLE DAN GET CARRIE BACK…THERE’S GOTTA BE A WAY…I MEAN THERE HAS TO BE A GREAT NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REALLY PISS HER OFF….” Elise voice was dark and sinister, her eyes gleamed with thought.

“No…no no no! Elise no, I don’t want to get Carrie pissed off, I don’t want revenge I don’t want to get her back I just want to get back to a half decent height so I can go home and sleep this horrible day off, do you understand me? No plotting…” Dan stood up in Elise Palm and his hands moved to his hips as he screamed up to Elise who was not even so much as looking at him. “Elise…Elise are you listening to me….Elise!!”

           “OH MAN, HAVE I GOT THE PERFICT IDEA…DANNIE-BOY THIS IS REALLY GOING TO GET HER GOING…THIS’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY…”Elise eyes narrowed down to Dan, a deviant look covered her face as her fingers curled in slightly surrounding Dan completely.

           Dan sulked slowly back to a sitting position, the sight of Elise fingers curling above him sent a terrifying shiver down his spine and paralyzed him with fear. He knew what ever she was planning was out of his control, just like everything else was. He was just an unwilling little Ginny-pig.

To be cont…

Chapter 10

“NOW LISTEN SHRIMP, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT AND KEEP YOUR LITTLE TRAP SHUT AND EVERYTHING WILL GO ALRIGHT, YA GET ME?” Elise voice left little room for question argument or protest; her eyes were intimidating and her tone clear. None the less Daniel felt the need to speak in his own defence one more time.

“Elise please I don’t think this is a good idea!”

“OH IT’S A GOOD IDEA DANNIEBOY, I KNOW SO BECAUSE IT’S MY IDEA…THAT MAKES IT NOT A GOOD IDEA…BUT A GREAT IDEA…NOW STOP WHINING.”

“Carrie told me to stay in the computer lab, when she sees me gone she is gonna be so mad, and really I don’t want to see that again, so please just put be back!”

“PUT YOU BACK?” Elise fingers curled up just a little to linger over Dan’s frame, and a shadow began to engulf him, Elise knew just how to send shivers down mini-Dan’s back. “DON’T YOU WANNA PLAY WITH ME MINI-JO?” Elise bit her bottom lip and sent Dan a pouting look. It really didn’t suit her, she was horrid at trying to look cute and harmless.

“I…but…it..er….arg! Elise please!”

“PLEASE WHAT? PLEASE GO AHEAD WITH MY PLAN? THANK’S DANNI I KNEW YOU’D COME THROUTH!” Before Daniel could peep a single syllable, Elise’s fingers concluded their decent into a lightly balled fist around Dan. His protests could only be heard as tiny muffled yells and screams. She could feel his tiny body pressing against her fingers as if trying to move them, his tiny struggles un able to even budge her, it was like pushing as hard as you could against a 20 story building, you weren’t gonna get anywhere. This sent a smile across her black painted lips.

Her plan was quite simple and yet, horribly cruel. She was going to play a little game of hide and seek with Carrie. Only Elise was not the one who would be hiding, that would be Dan. When Carrie came home Elise would play innocent, the computer room would be locked just as it was before, and then the fun would begin.

Daniel didn’t bother to struggle much, although Elise grip was gentle, her titanic fingers were unmoveable; they formed a solid wall encasing him in her palm. Thoughts of anger flooded Dan’s mind as Elise moved about. He had no idea where Elise was going, or what she was planning. He wished Carrie had not left him alone now; sitting in her back pack wile she worked now did not seem like such a bad idea. Her words rang through his head, almost mocking him now “Dan you have to trust me…because…I’m the only one you can trust…” He had been so rude with Carrie, so angry at her, he dismissed any attempt she made to apologise and wished she would just leave him alone, but now when he was in trouble and in unwelcoming cold hands, he found him self wishing Carrie was here. In fact, he wanted her more then anything, things were scary enough as a half pint midget, with out Elise messing things around like this. Carrie really was the only person he could trust, with or with out her sick sense of humour.

“OK I THINK I GOT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT, NOT EVEN YOU CAN MESS THIS ONE UP DANNO.” Elise fingers retracted from their hold on Dan leaving him smack dab in the middle of her palm, in sort of a  half sitting half laying position with his arms supporting him from behind.

“W...w...what do I have to do?” It took a wile for Dan’s eyes to re adjust to the light, so he really couldn’t see where she was just yet.

“DON’T YOU LISTEN DUMMIE? LIKE I SAID BEFORE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT QUIETLY AND NOT MOVE FROM WHERE I PUT YOU, AND LEAVE ME DO THE REST.”

“Where you…where…where are you going to put me?”

“SEE THAT WAS THE HARD PART, I THOUGHT IT THROUGH, FIRST I WAS GONNA LEAVE YOU IN MY POCKET, BUT THAT MAY NOT WORK OUT TO WELL AND IT MAY BE THE FIRST PLACE SHE LOOKS, SOOO THAT’S A NO…THEN I THOUGHT SOMEWHERE IN MY ROOM…BUT THAT’S ALSO TO PERDEICTABLE…AND KEEP IN MIND I HAVE TO PUT YOU SOMEWHERE CONFINING AS WE DON’T WANT YOU WANDERING AROUND TRYING TO GET CARRIE’S ATTENTION…THAT COULD BE DANGERIOUS TO YOUR HEALTH…SO I HAD TO REALY THINK ON THIS ONE…BUT I FOUND THE PERFICT PLACE.” Elise flashed Dan a deviant smile, one that sent fear into his very soul.

Dan could see very well where they were now, they were in the front hall, the entry to the house. This was a little confusing at first, but when Dan saw her open the front closet, he began to understand where she was going with this.

“Elise…where are you going to put me?”

“SOMEWHERE DARK…SAFE…AND SOMEPLACE NO ONE WOULD EVER THINK TO LOOK…RIGHT…” Elise knelt down and began to pull something out of the closet. A pair of knee high, somewhat dressy boots with closed toes. They were black and looked like they haven’t been worn in some time. “THERE!”

Dan’s eyes widened and he shimmied back as far as he could away from the boots with out falling off Elise hands. Was she serious? Shoes? She called THAT safe?

“Elise no..no…nono..nnooo! Can’t we talk this over? I mean shoes smell…and there totally not safe…what if someone decided to put these on? Plus its dark and only God knows what’s crawling around in there! Please Elise…I don’t think this is a very good idea!” Daniel’s voice sounded of Panic as he looked up to Elise shaking his head furiously to signal his protest to this idea.

“CALM DOWN, THOSE THERE BELONG TO ME, AND I SOO NEVER WEAR THEM ANYMORE, AND NO BODY ELSE DOES, SO NO ONE WILL PUT THEM ON, AND I PROMISE YOU THERE’S NOTHING IN THERE THAT BITES.” Elise stuck her free hand into the boot and a few seconds later pulled it out. “SEE!”

“But…but..it..it’s a shoe, shoe’s smell!”

“HEH, WELL THAT’S NOT A VERY NICE THING TO SAY TO A GIRL…MY FEET DON’T SMELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” Elise did not look at all happy after hearing the smelly feet comment. “IT’S THE BEST PLACE FOR NOW, AND SHE’LL NEVER FIND YOU HERE…SOO…INN YOU GO…”

Elise tilted her hand over the shoe entrance, but found Dan fastened as hard as he could hold to her ring finger.  “OH STOP BEING SUCH A BABY!” Elise shock her hand a bit but Dan was not willing to move. “OK WE’LL DO THIS THE HARD WAY.” Elise plucked Daniel up from the palm of her hand using her thumb and forefinger and gave him a gentle little squeeze as she brought him up to face level. “DON’T BE SCARED DAN, IM NOT OUT TO HURT YOU YOUR GONNA BE FINE! I WONT LEAVE YOU HERE TO LONG!”

“Elise please don’t do this!” Dan was on the verge of tears as he wiggled in Elise grip, partly from fear of what she was doing and partly because her grip on him was hurting his already cracked and bruised ribs. Try as she may, Dan was beginning to think it was impossible for her to hold him with out squeezing the daylights out of him.

“CIAO JAZZ KAT…”With that Elise lowered Daniel into the confines of his new prison, waved and blew him a kiss before leaving his area of sight.

“Elise! Wait! Don’t go….don’t…leave….me.” Dan sulked back against the heal of the shoe, there was a dim light in the area as Elise left the shoes out of the closet with the rest of the normally worn shoes. This was not turning out to be a very good day. On the verge of tears, he allowed his head to rest in his hands, as a shaky sigh emitted from his body, Daniel could tell he was in for a very long, very uneventful day. However he really had no idea just what he was in for.

The majority of the afternoon passed rather slowly. Daniel had no idea what time it was or for how long he had been in his stale smelling prison. Dan had made a game out of attempting to identify small sounds he would hear every now and then. It did little to take his mind off his present situation, but it passed the time.

Hours passed but to Dan they felt like days. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he was able to see quite well now. The inner liner of the boot looked like some sort of cave wall, and the thick soul was like a smooth limestone flat. Being able to see brought comport, as he no longer had to worry about things that went bump in the darkness. But the ominous sounds…they still sent a shiver down his spine. Some no doubt were caused by Elise as she stumbled about, but what of the others? Not knowing is what really killed him, it ate at his patents and sent waves of panic down his spine. What was she doing? What time was it? When would Carrie be home? This whole situation was growing old fast.

A sound that somewhat resembled the great chimes of Big Ben broke Dan from his trance rather abruptly.

“Holy crap that’s loud” Dan muttered as he stood, moving towards the heal of the boot where the light was brightest.

“ELISE? CARRIE? ANYONE HOME?”

The voice came out of no where, but it was still quite loud and annoying just like all the rest. It was a female voice that much Dan could tell and there was a slight southern sound to it not overly strong but noticeable just the same. Silence took over once more, total silence…what was going on?

“EEEELLLLIIIISSSSEEEE!” The voice amplified.

The voice was now accompanied by the opening of a door, who ever this was had now entered the front hall. Daniel could hear the distant sound of foot steps quickly approaching.

“ELISE ITS JOY ARE YOU HOME?” The voice was louder this time then ever before, Daniel figured she had to be close to him, perhaps close enough to hear his screams?

“Hello! In here! Look down! Hey! I’m in here, over here! I’m trapped down here in the black boot!” Daniel shouted for all he was worth, flailing his arms against the side of the boot, attempting to make as much commotion as he could, but it didn’t seem to be working.

           The earth shaking footsteps began once more, and Daniel could see a figure now far above him trough the tub like inference to the boot. The intruder had short black hair and glasses, she wore a plain black shirt that was long at the sleeves. Seeing the stranger from this vantage point was outrageous, truly it reminded him of his insignificance. How would she hear him? She was the size of an apartment building? Dan couldn’t tell much more as she moved quickly past him, paying no heed to the black dress boots that sat with the rest of the household footwear.

           “Damit!” Dan sunk down to his knees and then flopped back onto his buttocks, leaning against the heal of the shoe; his head craned back looking up at the light hole so many miles above him. Freedom so close yet so far.

“She said she’d be home…this is strange I…” Joy moved through the front hall to the kitchen, only silence to greet her.

Joy Johnston was a friend of Elise, and had come by to collect a few things for the school rummage sale. Elise had tons of useless stuff lying around. Joy was one of Elise few real friends, partly because she was just as weird and twisted as Elise. Joy was one of the so called “Vampire Freaks”, heavily into the occult and vampire mythology. One of many outcasts that found sanctuary only with those equally as twisted and…unique.  Joy was not quite as vocal and outstanding as Elise, but she was well known none the less. Daniel and joy were acquainted from various internet message boards, and when Joy moved down to Toronto they had spoke for a wile, but they were not exactly the best of friends, not that they were on bad terms, they were just different…violently opposite as far as personality went.

Joy moved towards the kitchen table, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of life, falling into the table where there was a small pad of paper with a pen next to it.

“Well I’ll just leave her a note then…she said the stuff would be by the door anyhow…” Joy quickly scribbled on the paper and made her way back towards the hall.

“Let’s see where could it be?” Joy looked about in the closet and the main hall until she spotted a medium sized box filled with various things shoes, a coat, discarded clothes and a pair of grey thigh boots similar to the black ones that sat in the hall. She smiled and picked the box up checking out its contents. Once satisfied she made her way to the door. “I wonder where she iss aak!”

The pair of boot Elise had trapped Daniel in lay sloppy in the middle of the hall with the rest of the shoes, but because Joy had not taken notice to them, she did not see them until she has tripped over them, unfortunately for Dan the one she fell over and knocked over was not the one he was trapped in.

Joy had managed to dump the contents of the box all over the front hall, mixing them with the boots and such. Joy caught her footing and managed to save her self a nasty fall. But there was still the small matter of cleaning up the mess.

Dan had witnessed the whole thing from his smelly prison and was screaming to get her attention. However her loud voice dwarfed his and his diminutive size destroyed any chance of being seen or heard.

“OH I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS…” Joy snapped as she began to scoop the contents of the box back in. Once everything was in she stood and looked to make sure she had everything. That was when she caught eye of the two pairs of boots; one black pair, one slightly off black grey pair. Which one was which?

“HMMM, IM PRITTY SURE IT WAS THE BLACK ONES…YEA SHE NEVER WEARS THESE ANYMORE....” Joy plucked the pair of black thigh boots up and dumped them in the box and headed out the door.

           Daniel was in a bad state as the boot prison around shuck violently. The light from above grew dimmer and dimmer as Joy began to close the lips of the box, the last thing Daniel saw before the darkness engulfed him was Joy she seemed to be looking right at him, but still couldn’t see him. Panic overtook Dan as he began to scream louder, but this time for other reasons. He recognised her now…her face he knew her from school. Joy Johnston…she was just about the last person he wanted to find him at this size…not because he didn’t like her, but because he knew her, and she knew him. This would be awkward…and more then a little frightening.  None the less, he had to get her attention…somehow.