“Come on, no one is looking.” Emery nudged his girlfriend Lyla in his continued badgering. Lyla in turn rolled her eyes at the fact he hasn’t dropped the subject.

“Are you really going on about escaping still?”

“Absolutely!” Emery declared. “What do we have to lose?”

“What do we have to lose?!” Lyla gasped. “You know what happens to US out there.”

Emery wanted to dismiss her as a worrywart, but the faint voice in his conscience knew her concerns were well justified. The Micro Republic was famous for having the smallest people on the planet, with an adult Micronian averaging around 2-3 inches tall. 

Their path to sovereignty was paved through the pain of exploitation and slavery that left many in modern generations wary of traveling to foreign countries. This was in large part from the stigma that many Micronians believed foreigners had towards them, thinking lesser of them because of their size. The other that Lyla was referring was the casualty rates of Micronian tourists. The most common incident? Being stepped on.

“We won’t be careless like the others. Now’s the perfect chance, none of the other tourists are looking and our guide is too busy blowing her nose to pay attention. Besides, there won’t be as many people out now that the sun is setting. All we have to do is slip out and back in between the bars of the railing.” Emery laid out.

Lyla swayed her head in contemplation, the timing was admittedly ideal. There was also truth that many instances of their people being crushed were by accident and featured some degree of self-endangerment on the Micronian’s part. 

Those incidents were variants of the same story. A Micronian straying too far from their group, meandered about in a populated area, and the last thing they saw was the shadow of someone’s shoe. Despite the educational efforts it still wasn’t uncommon to hear a story of a Micronian being trampled by a passerby who was dabbling on their phone. 

A more well-known incident in recent memory occurred at a gift shop when a tourist attempted to get an employee’s attention by tapping on her ankle from behind. The startled employee shrieked and kicked the tourist halfway across the floor with a reflexive jerk of her leg.  It was miraculous he survived albeit at the cost of his spine being damaged beyond repair. The crippled Micronian attempted to sue and lost on the basis that he was too far from his group and went about getting the woman’s attention the worst way possible.

“Look, all I’m saying is that it took a lot of hard work to get all the vaccinations, take the classes, and gather all the papers just to visit the States. All of that just to look at some old buildings, visit gift shops, and be chauffeured in a glorified fish tank attached to a bike!”

Lyla bit her lower lip unable to deny the bitter truth that the trip has been uneventful. Their current recess at the hotel pool to unwind before heading in was as much independence as they’ve had and even that came with the caveat that they weren’t allowed to swim in it. She didn’t expect complete unsupervised freedom, but after the numerous hurdles it took to get here there was much to be desired in their travels.

Emery continued his persuasive efforts noticing Lyla’s reluctance waning. “It’ll be easy. We’ll sneak out, do a little sightseeing on our own for a bit, turn around, and sneak back in before free time is over. No harm done.”

It sounded fine in theory, but Lyla was torn and also aware that a decision must be made while everyone’s attention was still occupied. Remaining together with their group no matter what the circumstance was drilled into them ad nauseum. Maybe Emery was right though, if they were fast and smart about it they would be fine. With a heavy sigh she made her decision. “Let’s do it.”

The couple took a final glimpse of their guide who was now using some nasal spray and the rest of their group mingling with each other to make sure the coast was clear before making their way to the fence undetected. As anticipated their diminutive statures allowed them to maneuver sideways between the bars of the railing barrier, it was a done deal and they were out!

“Holy shit, we’re free! We’re out! We’re out!” Lyla raced onto the sidewalk, reveling in the uninhibited freedom to move on her own accord.

Emery caught up bearing a wide grin. “Your mood sure changed fast. Beats the hell out of being watched and carried around all day, huh?” He gloated.

“Oh please, don’t get me started. Talk about false advertisement.” Lyla huffed, emboldened now that they weren’t with their peers. “I was scared for my health every time that ticking time bomb of mucus was holding us and I saw her nose above us.”

Mandatory for each Micronian tour group was a local guide responsible for taking them from place to place and acting as a chaperone to ensure their general well-being. Compared to the ads with actors who looked the part of trained professionals, what they had in reality was a highly allergenic college student who took the job for some quick cash. Time after time she had to stop cycling whenever she had to sneeze, blow her nose, or take a puff from her inhaler.

Emery took exaggerated intakes of air. “AH-AH-AH-CHOO!”

“Oh my god, that was so gross!” Lyla shook her head at the horrific memory.

“Be happy you weren’t the one she sneezed on.” Emery laughed. After several close calls it was after leaving one of many shops and she was about to place the last person back onto the bike when a sudden sneeze escaped without warning. The others looked up after hearing the noise followed by the repeated apologies and pleas of their mortified guide to not tell anyone. The mishap caused a 30-minute delay in schedule while she took the group to the nearest public restroom to help clean off the poor victim.

“She probably sneezed half that lady’s life away.” Lyla groaned, morbidly wondering how many millions of germs she was assaulted by.

“Oh boy, check this out.” Lyla stopped and gestured above to a street sign featuring the black silhouette of a woman walking. Below was the much smaller silhouette of a man under the woman’s ascended foot. “Watch Where You Step”, was printed at the bottom. “You’d think they could make a sign that didn’t imply us getting crushed.”

“I heard the commercial version was even worse and got removed after a ton of online backlash.” Emery added as they continued to pace forward.

“Hey look over there it’s a McDonalds.” Emery pointed. Neither were too privy on American history and didn’t care for the historical sites they were taken and instead found it more engaging to recognize the similarities their countries shared. While they weren’t going to risk going inside any of them it was still interesting to compare them.

“I can’t get over how big everything is here.” Lyla said. In a broad sense there wasn’t a drastic difference between what home and the states offered, but what hadn’t ceased amazing her was the sheer scale of it all. Everything down to the dingiest trashcan became an incredible spectacle and that didn’t even begin to describe the people themselves.

While both were average height for a Micronian man and woman, that was meaningless in this foreign land of giants. Everything they’ve seen online or on television were nothing compared to the real experience. The first encounter the group had with a foreigner was their guide shortly after boarding off the plane. None of them paid attention to the long-winded introduction and ground rules that she sniffled her way through reading from a piece of paper. Instead, all focus was on sizing up the physical specimen.

“So uh, does anyone have any questions?” She asked at the end.

“H-how tall are you?” One of their groupmates asked.

“I’m pretty short… about 5’2 I think?” Her answer yielded some dumbfounded looks and gasps.

Lyla had no idea (nor did anyone else) what 5’2 converted to, what did resonate was their guide saying she was short!  It was one thing to be small, but in that moment for the first time she actually felt small while standing in this girl’s larger than life aura. And to think she was only a meek college student!

“I heard about this one place called Texas I think, they said everything is bigger there.” Emery mentioned.

“Say what? “Lyla questioned. “Do you really think that’s true?

Emery shrugged. “Beats me, could you imagine the size of the food though!”

“I could barely wrap my mind around that slice of pizza that guy walked by with during lunch. It was as big as a car!” Lyla recalled.

“We should’ve taken a souvenir photo of it.”

“No thanks. I think I had enough photography for one day.” To some credit their guide did warn them that they may encounter several locals who have never seen a Micronian before and may be approached for pictures. Usually, it was young women that asked to hold them for a selfie. It was harmless enough but being called adorable and marveled at while hearing similar comments of how tiny they were became grew tiring once the novelty was gone and led to her declining photos thereon. The same couldn’t be said for her boyfriend who jumped at every opportunity.

“You snooze you lose. I’m going to wake up tomorrow with a million new followers.”

“You wish- …”

The couple froze in silence upon seeing a woman from several yards away heading in their direction with rapid momentum. They watched her form grow larger as she drew closer, showing no signs of slowing, and most concerning no signs that she registered the tourists on the ground.

“We have to move!”

Grabbing hands, they darted to the far end of the sidewalk into the grass. Time slowed to a halt as the jogger passed, producing thunderous rumbles as her feet struck the concrete. The couple stood mouths agape, envisioning themselves still standing in the path of destruction of the jogger where their remains in the aftermath would’ve been left either mangled on the pavement or smeared underneath her running shoes.  In real time the woman just whisked by them still unaware that she was inches away from making a statistic out of two Micronians during her evening jog.

With trepid breaths Emery and Lyla watched until the runner was beyond their line of sight before feeling comfortable enough to step back onto the sidewalk.

“O-o-okay… that’s my near-death experience off my bucket list…” 

Lyla minced no words about the close call and ignored the forced quip. “Enough messing around, we need to go back. Now.”

“F-fine, fine. Let’s go.” Emery’s chattering teeth betrayed his calm façade.

Neither were in a jovial mood as they backtracked towards the hotel and remained on high alert incase evasive action was necessary again. It was a near fatal lesson on how quickly disaster could happen.

“Do you think it was an accident?” Lyla asked after a few minutes of walking in silence.

"Don't talk like that...she just didn't see us." Emery said to both encourage her and convince himself. Apathetic people did exist who believed they weren’t obligated to tip toe around making sure there wasn't any Micronians in the area. On the contrary some thought if they decide to come to a country where everyone was so much bigger, they should take it upon themselves to not get squashed.

Controversial standpoint aside, intentional acts of violence towards Micronians unless blatant were hard to distinguish given how easy it was for ‘accidents’ to happen.

About halfway to the hotel tensions rose again, viewing the form of another woman heading opposite towards them. To minor relief, she was approaching at walking speed and her lace up sandals, denim shorts, purse, and mid-riff were good indicators that they wouldn’t have to worry about her sprinting towards them. Playing it safe the couple opted to stand near the side and let the woman to pass them before continuing.

They waited with bated breath and rigid posture, trying to disassociate each quake generated from her drawing closer from them being crushed. Their hearts pounded with the force of a battering ram when she locked eyes on the two. They tried remaining optimistic believing she was only noticing the uncommon sight and would be on her merry way. She reached where they stood and the couple were ready for the ultimate sigh of relief when she passed by. They wouldn’t be so lucky, the woman stopped and turned square to face them.

The two scaled up the pillars of the woman’s bronze legs until they reached her face framed by her dark brown hair. Unlike every other local they’ve encountered who has expressed some level of bewilderment or interest; her intent was not as easy to read.

“You two must be Micronians right?”

The duo exchanged a glance seeking an answer within the other. Respond? Ignore her? Run for it?

Emery bit the bullet. “Yeah, we are.”

“So, you’re tourists?” She inquired further.

Again, every other local was straightforward and cut to the chase asking for pictures, general questions about themselves, or country. These roundabout questions were putting them further on edge.

“…Yeah.” Emery tightened his grasp on Lyla’s palm.

The woman’s eyes drifted left and right of her periphery before setting sights back down at them. “Are you two alone?”

Something was wrong, the questions were too pointed and this time they remained silent, unwilling to divulge further information of their circumstance.

Sensing the apprehension in the air the gigantic woman spoke again. “Oye, oye. Don’t be nervous, I’m just saying, don’t you guys usually travel in groups?”

“We’re heading to them right now.” Lyla answered this time.

“So, you ARE alone.” The woman perked up.

They didn’t listen to another word and broke into a sprint. Despite their best efforts, their miniscule statures only equated to one or two paces of the woman's. With one stride a monolithic sandal clad foot navigated over their bodies and obstructed their paths. I should look after you guys.” The woman unzipped the bag hanging across her shoulder.

The couple stood up to attempt running again, but the woman with the advantage of size plus a head start was all too prepared to stoop over and intercept them.

By the time they saw her hand in their path, it was already too late for them to change path and were snatched in her grasp.

“Let us go! Stop! You can’t do this!  Let us go!” They flailed and screamed. All being ignored by the unphased woman who smiled and lowered them into her bag.

“You’re coming with me pequeños.”

“Jim, Jim! You’ll never believe what I got, come to the kitchen!”

“Urrgh, huh?” Jim rubbed his face and groggily rose from the couch.

“Can’t I get some sleep without you screaming about something?” He plodded over.

“Quit your bitching, check this out.” Dari giddily reached into her bag, already anticipating the reaction her haul would garner.

Still hunched over Jim looked down, unimpressed by the two dolls she placed on the table. That is until he saw their frantic stares and skittish motions sizing up their surroundings, from which point his brows and posture rose. Those are not dolls!

“Oh shit… OH SHIT! It’s those little people! How did you get them, where did you find them- did anyone see you?” He stammered with more questions than his mouth could keep pace with.  He shifted his head side to side to get different angles of the two specimens.

“Nope, I found them wandering the streets alone!”

“Say what?” He turned around to Dari. Initial impression had him assume she pulled the hustle of her life, when on the contrary it was a stroke of dumb luck. “You gotta be kidding me.” Jim set his sights back on the tiny humans. “Are you two stupid or what?”

The Micronians shrunk back under roaring cackles above. The man’s gaze was particularly frightening. It never left their bodies, beyond his laughter the gears in his mind were turning.

“S-someone will look for us once our group realizes we’re gone. Just let us go and we won’t tell anyone.” Every crack and stutter furthered his regret for opening his mouth. His hasty move was met with an additional round of raucous and a quick jab from Lyla to his arm.

“Uhuh.” Dari sneered.

“Face it, you’re S-O-L.” Jim snickered.

There wasn’t a more fitting acronym. Separated from their group, in an unknown location, and in the clutches of two kidnappers. The odds appeared insurmountable. All they had was each other and as such took refuge in the other’s hands.

“Aww, don’t be scared. I promise we’re not so bad.” Dari cooed.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Jim chimed in focusing on the female captive. “We’re not so bad, I didn’t know your country had pretty little things like you. Why don’t you come here so I can get a good look at your fine little ass?” He whistled.

Lyla gripped Emery’s hand tighter. “Fuck off.” She muttered.

“Ey, we got a feisty one! I like that little girl.” Emboldened, Jim came forward.

“Leave her alone.” Emery stepped in front against Lyla’s resistance to pull him back.

Jim sucked his teeth. “Tch, my bad peewee. One question though…” He smirked and loomed in. “What’re YOU going to do about it?”

Emery’s instincts begged him to standdown but that wasn’t an option with his girlfriend being demeaned. Inch by inch he stared up at the never-ending goliath of a man until his legs were sapped of all strength.

One prolonged look at the quivering legs of the small man answered Jim’s question and his cocky grin etched further. “I thought so. Here’s what happens when you bite off more than you can chew pipsqueak.”

Emery braced for the worst.

“Don’t hurt him, I’ll do what you want!”

“Ohoho. I knew she’d come around.” Jim gloated. “But now I’ll need something extra to make it worth my while.”

Lyla held her tongue, the last thing they needed was her backtalk digging their hole deeper.

“You’ve got a nice rack too. How about you stop being so modest and let me have a feel?”

“I’d rather chew glass.” Lyla internalized. Survival was paramount though and if this was what it took to placate this prick then so be it. With her head hung Lyla unguarded herself and put her hands behind her back.

“Lyla n-”

“Hush!” Lyla interjected at Emery’s protest. “I’m ready.” She sighed and Emery averted his head.

“That’s more like it, now relax. This’ll only take a minute... maybe.” Jim’s cackling was cut short by his bell being rung courtesy of a stinging slap.

“Shit!” Jim howled. “The fuck was that for!”

“Stop it!” Dari barked.

“Come on, I was just playing and…you know what forget it. I need to go out.” Jim stepped away and grabbed a hoodie off the floor.

Dari followed behind him. “Where’re you going?”

“I’m going to make a few calls and grab some things for them. We need to keep them in good condition.” Jim whispered, peeking back at their spoils.

“You want to sell them?” Dari questioned.

“What else are we gonna do with them?”

“Anything we want! We can have them do like chores and other cute stuff!”

“I have you for that- I mean.” The damage was already done and Dari’s leer made him switch tactics.

“This is too good to pass up. Not only do we have two of them, they’re young, and one’s a girl. Do you know how much money we could be looking at?  Think of everything we can do, you won’t have to steal shit from your job anymore, clear some debts, it’ll be great.”

 “We can at least play with them a bit.” Dari argued.

Jim furrowed his brows and glanced at the girl. It was oh so tempting to explore every bit of her dainty frame and have a thorough examination of what lied under her sundress.  His penis twitched in his pants, boy would it be great to swat her little boyfriend away and let her get acquainted with a real man.

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to chance anything happening to them. Just keep watch until I get back and don’t touch.”

“Excuse me?” Dari rebuked.

“You heard what I said, don’t touch them!” Jim reiterated before slamming the door.

“Ugh! Hijo de puta!” Dari shouted before stomping to another room.

The captive couple weren’t sure what the bickering in the distance was about. For what it was worth it gave them a much-needed reprieve.

After avoiding that confrontation by the skin of their teeth a drained Lyla sat with her knees clutched. Emery meanwhile paced back and forth to avoid getting lost in his anxious thoughts.

“What do you think they’re going to do with us?” He asked.

Lyla lifted her head. “…Sell us probably.”

They refrained from researching stories and statistics that would dishearten them before their trip. But after all the harrowing cautionary videos and rumors they heard disregarding it all was impossible.

What scared many Micronians more than being squashed was their tendency to go missing in foreign countries. By the time it’s noticed or reported it was often too late.

What became of them varied. From being blown away by a gust of wind in a storm or attacked by an animal, most were mundane happenings that regular sized locals would never think about. The worst fear came from instances where they were never found. It’s suspected that many of them were kidnapped.

At that juncture the rabbit hole of theories opened.  A few of the most popular were that they were kept or sold as personal toys for their captor/buyer’s whims. Others believed companies bought them for experimentation or forced them to complete dangerous and intricate labor. No matter how plausible or outlandish it was all hearsay.

“We need to find a way out of here. Maybe we can climb down from the table and-”

“And then what!” Lyla snapped. “How do you propose we get down without falling to the floor? Say we do get down; how would we even get the door open? And might I add that assumes that woman doesn’t catch us! Then the cherry on top, if we did pull all of that off, we don’t know where we are! I should’ve never listened to your stupid idea and now we’re trapped here.”

“Y-yeah…” Emery hung his head.  Hearing it from Lyla herself added salt to the gaping wound of knowing he made them both into the perfect victims.

“I’m sorry, I know you only agreed because I kept egging you on about it. We’ll find a way out of this, maybe they’ll be fine with just one of us if I beg them to keep me…”

“No, no, no.” Lyla was hearing none of it and approached Emery resting her hand on his back. “We both should’ve known better. If nothing else our best chance is sticking together.”

“Right.” Emery sighed, hardly believing his own rashness before Lyla reigned him in. “Then what now?”

That was the million-dollar question with no favorable answer. The unpleasant truth was that escaping and getting back to safety would take a miracle. Knowing their lives were at risk made every choice vital.

“If selling us is their endgame they at least won’t needlessly hurt us if they’re smart.” Lyla contemplated.

“True, but if escaping on our own is impossible what does that leave us with?”

“We have to persuade them somehow.” Lyla further speculated and sighed. It was indeed easier said than done, what could they do or offer that was more valuable than themselves?

“I was afraid you’d say that. I don’t want to talk to that giant buffoon again.” Emery lamented as he thought of the passes he made at his girlfriend.

“You and I both.” Lyla shuddered.

Their deliberation was cut short at the emerging sound of footsteps on the ground. Given they witnessed the guy leave it meant the woman was returning from her hiatus. As she entered viewing distance her intent was already locked on them.

Jim’s voice hollered in Dari’s mind of his orders. Who cares what he said, she refused to deny herself a rare opportunity with the two Micronians and besides, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

The excited woman sauntered over to the tiny couple bringing a nearby chair to the table’s edge to sit down.

“Hey there cuties.”

They both took an instinctive step backwards, neither eager to respond.

Dari huffed. Though expected, their apprehension was disappointing. “I just want to get to know you guys better. “My name is Dari. What are your names?”

Again, they were hesitant to answer. While true that was in large part from paranoia they were also confused. She already had them right where she wanted, yet was going out of her way to make small talk? What is the ulterior motive?

Emery heard Lyla’s criticism coming from a mile away for thinking about entertaining her. At this point though what did they have to lose? Going mute while tempting wasn’t going to improve their standing and building some rapport might be the most productive thing they can do right now. Besides, she still had the power to force their hands if she chose to. He looked to Lyla who after some thought nodded.

“I’m Emery.”

“Lyla.”

Despite their answers being the bare minimum, it was at least a start. “See? That wasn’t so hard, why don’t you come closer?”

Both stood frozen unable to will themselves to oblige in stepping closer to the unknown. For all they knew each step could be their last.

“… We’re scared.” Emery admitted. “What are you going to do with us?”

Dari rolled her eyes. “My idiot partner wants to sell you guys asap.”

Their hearts skipped. The reason for the guy’s abrupt exit was confirmed. They knew they were on borrowed time, but that time constraint narrowed considerably knowing the guy was on the move finding a buyer as they speak.

Lyla was curious though at the apparent dismissal and irritation in Dari’s tone. “And you don’t?”

“If it were up to me, I’d like us to have some fun together.” A smirk formed on Dari’s lips. “Is everything all cute and little like you guys where you’re from?”

It was an earnest albeit demeaning question, but one they received often enough. Lyla supposed there was no harm in answering. 

“More or less, it’s normal to us. We were taught early in school that size is relative. So, everything that looks normal to you-”

“That is so cool!” Dari squeed drowning out Lyla. “I’d love to visit someday! I’d look like your queen standing around you pequeños! Oh my gosh you all would be so freaked out while I went around peeking into all your teeny tiny houses!”

“Um well… it’s not that easy to visit.” Emery interjected to deaf ears.

“To keep lunatics like you out.” Lyla thought to herself. As if their home needed dozens of Dari’s stomping around turning their cities into their personal playground.

“Then I’d pick one of you guys up.” Dari’s probing digit was on the move towards Emery. He flinched as her nail tip tickled the fabric of his shirt.

“Just like this.” With a mere twitch her finger curled underneath his shirt hooking him like a fish. “Up you go!”

“Woah! Hey, hey!” Emery yelped and flailed as he was reeled up above her head.

“Emery!” Lyla cried.

“Better stop wiggling or you’ll fall.” Dari teased, swaying her catch midair.

“No, no, no! Please, don’t drop me!” Emery’s limbs continued flailing until they clasped around the very index finger that launched him into his unrequested joyride.

“Don’t worry baby I’ve got you.” Dari lowered him until they were face to face. “Right around my little finger.” She grinned.

“You know I think it was really sweet how you stood up for your girlfriend earlier.” Dari pursed her lips blowing a cool gust of air on her catch. “How about a little kiss for a reward?”

Emery barely mustered the nerve to look down in half second intervals before getting nauseous viewing his precarious height from the ground. The cherry on top of his troubles was Dari imposing her will. 

“Don’t worry I’ll be super gentle.” She whispered and smacked her lips just short of the finest hairs on his body before backing away until she built adequate suspense. She then moved in for the first of several dotting pecks on his face.

Lyla squeezed her jittering palms and cursed her powerlessness. Did she dare interject to confront her? They already tried the odds once with the man and if she pissed Dari off, she would’ve signed their death certificates!

For every whisper of her heart to help Emery, her primal brain roared at her to stay put. Each time she was on cusp of summoning the bravery to move her heavy legs, staring up the mountainous torso of the woman destroyed her courage. What the hell should she do, what CAN she do? Yeah, size is relative sounded great in a textbook or lecture. But here in real time, Dari was a freaking giant who she stood no chance against.

Dari meanwhile was having the time of her life, relenting from the barrage of kisses, and instead prodded and caressed his body with her free hand. To think if she listened to Jim, she would have missed out on this. There was so much to do, so many ways to enjoy her playthings. Fuck what he wanted.

“You are so adorable.” Dari winked. “I could just eat you up don’t you think?” She flashed her tongue letting it run across her mouth.

In a calmer state of mind Lyla may have differentiated the figure of speech from literal intent. Given the dire straits they were in why wouldn’t she assume the worst? She was going to going to eat Emery!

“Just a little taste.” Dari said, sliding her tongue free from her mouth and resting it on her bottom lip drawing closer to him again.

“NO!” Pure instinct compelled Lyla to action enabling her to enter the fray. The instant Dari’s gaze fell to her the fleeting surge of adrenaline vanished and left her petrified. Having Emery at her side made the enormity of her presence and direct attention bearable, without him Dari’s stare snatched the soul from her body.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I didn’t forget about you.” Dari beamed down at her.

Lyla blinked and when she opened her eyes, she was looking at… herself. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Dumbfounded she watched the scene unfold while her lifeless husk stood immobile. Not only was Dari’s size exaggerated to where it nearly took up the whole room, her own body was so diminished it could be mistaken as a speck of dirt on the table.

Her husk remained inanimate during the slow-motion descent of Dari’s hand.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Dari jumped at Lyla’s sudden shriek as the latter fell on all fours panting.

“Hey, easy now-” Dari gestured steadily towards her and Lyla yelped again scooting away. That was the least of both their problems once the door knob jingled.

“Mierda!” Priorities shifting, Dari hastily fumbled to free Emery from her own finger and return him to the table, all the while still trying to get Lyla under control as she flinched and scurried away at her every motion. The door opened.

“Alright, I got everything we need and I have great news!” Jim hollered making his way straight to the kitchen. One look at the scene told him all he needed to know. Dari was in a frenzy with one Micronian in her palm, and the other fetal.

“What the fuck!?” He dropped the crate in hand and rushed to the scene.

Forget daggers, Jim’s eyes were staring heat seeking missiles at Dari which demanded an explanation.

“Look I know what you’re going to say, I didn’t hurt them!”

“You had one job dumbass! Shit, just tell me they’re alright!” He snapped.

“I just said they’re fine, quit being so dramatic!”

“I told you in plain English not to do anything and you almost fuck the deal up before it even started!”

“I’m the one who found them, I’m the one who should…” Dari paused to backtrack. “Wait, the deal?”

“Someone is coming tomorrow to check them out.  I told them they are perfectly healthy and able bodied. So, they need to stay that way until the buyer comes.”

“…That was fast.” Dari said, disheartened that her time with them already appeared to be reaching an end.

“They’re coming with me for the night, I can’t trust you to do shit.” Jim spat.

“Oh please, not even 5 minutes in with them you tried to cop a feel!”

“T-that was different, I was just playing!”

“Oh so, it’s just playing when you fuck up?” Dari pressed. “Like hell I’m trusting you alone with both of them.”

“You’re such a pain in the ass, fine then we’ll both look after one!”

“Then I’ll take her.” With a swift glide of her hand Dari swiped Lyla into her palm much to Jim’s poorly hidden chagrin.

“Fine… whatever.” Jim sucked his teeth. “They’ll be here at 9:00 sharp tomorrow, don’t fuck up this time.

“¡Cállate!” Dari barked and stomped away.