Despite her frustration Susan turned her attention back to her cooking. She still had to prepare and now she had to pick one of the females not to eat. Surely her other self would realize how hard that would be with her mind fogged by such frustration. To make the situation more upsetting she knew that mini Susan was as much her as she could be. It wasn't as if her natures had split into different beings. They were both the complete person just using different bodies. She couldn't even be sure if it was Devin who had put her up to such treachery or if she had encouraged Devin to keep hiding for the game.

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Devin, “You're enjoying pushing your buttons aren't you?”

Rita, “Yeah! It's always been kind of fun and infuriating. I wonder what's going to happen when the memories of the frustration and fun mix together. That has me taken care of for now so you said we should find a path of retreat earlier. How about we move to slightly under the pillows near the head board now?”

Devin, “That sounds like a plan.” As he stood up Devin tried to lift what material he could to help Susan along. He soon found that wasn't going to happen as while the material was soft with plenty of give it had far too much mass for him to truly influence. “I'm kind of surprised you don't want to find a better spot to watch the happenings. I figured you'd be all for seeing your body improving.”

Rita, “Oh! I like that idea even more. Quick we need to find another place to hide where we can also see what's happening.” As she spoke Susan stood up and began to quickly moved toward the entrance of the pillow case. She didn't have any clear idea of where they were going to hide but she knew this wasn't the location. As she was nearing the exit a delighted squeal escaped her. “The mirrors!”

Devin, “What about them?”

Rita, “We can find a spot where we can watch the room using the mirrors without revealing ourselves. There isn't much time to explore so we need to pick carefully.” As she spoke Susan looked towards the headboard of the bed. The pillows would be too much of an obstruction for them to watch from there even using the mirrors.

Devin, “Well couldn't you do something like fly us around so that we can pick out a spot.”

Rita, “Nope. No magic for the hiding otherwise I'll end up using magic for the finding and that would end the game very quickly. Darn! If only I situated the pillows differently it would be easy to find a hiding spot and a warm comfortable one at that.”

Devin, “Well we could hide in the carpet under the bed. At this size the carpet is taller then we are after all.”

Rita, “Where did you spend most of your time hiding?”

Devin, “Typically we moved along the edges of the room and hid underneath the carpet when you began searching for us. You seemed to catch those moving through the center of the room rather early but the edges worked pretty well. A lot of the time was spent staying still or moving very slowly as well. I was kind of horrified how you would frighten people out of hiding.”

Rita, “I'm not sure if that was due to them moving through the center of the room but rather those being the most obvious. Devin even if you didn't mean to you got a lot of help from the people who made themselves easy to capture. Have you ever heard the saying you don't have to out run the bear just the slowest person? I believe that you had a lot of help from the slower people.”

The memory of how Gretchen had used some of the other escaping people flashed into Devin's mind almost immediately. It made him nod. “I believe that some of the people I was traveling with tended to trip others as well. At least the bear chasing them is a very cute bear even if they don't see it that way.”

Rita, “Ah! Thank you! Okay back on topic we need to find a place to hide that doesn't involve using magic. A place that we can see what's happening at least through the mirrors but we also have a good path of retreat.”

Devin, “I don't think under the bed offers a quick path of retreat at our size. We really need a place that we can quickly drop from. The top of the bed is too exposed for that and for us to have a good view so the only other choice I can think of is your dresser.” As he spoke Devin looked to the dresser. Susan kept it clean but they were a few things wresting atop the dresser.

Rita, “I don't believe those pictures would give us the cover that we need to remain safely hidden.”

Devin, “We might not be able to find something that offers all three and the path of retreat is really only good for a short time. Once we've been located then we can probably only remain free for three to five minutes. That estimate might be a little too generous as well.”

Susan, “Devin how could you side with me against me! I know that I'm beautiful but blast it I'm gorgeous and going to be improving even more. Don't you want to see the end result?”

Upon hearing Susan's voice Devin was made to chuckle. She wasn't doing anything to separate her two bodies but referred to either of them as I. “You really don't see your two bodies as different existences do you?”

Rita, “Nope.”

Devin, “I believe we should hide under the bed. It may seem childish but at our size the carpet provides plenty of cover so long as we set down and don't move too much. We can watch whats happening from under the bed and using the mirrors as well providing you stay in your bedroom. I know that you're going to end up going into your training room but I can't think of a way to stay hidden and watch what's happening in there.”

Rita, “That sounds good and at least we'll be able to think once we're hidden.”

Nodding his head Devin proceeded to follow Susan out onto the bed and quickly dash towards the edge. This would actually be his first time falling over one hundred centimeters at his shrunken size having started on the floor. He knew that it wouldn't be like jumping from a skyscraper no matter how high up they looked the fall would be too short. “Susan do you believe you really feel like I've betray you?”

Rita, “No. I don't feel like you've betray me. If I was thinking that way then you're choosing to help the others in their escape attempt would have shaken me more. How could I feel like you've betray me when you're with me after all? I'm just upset because I'm losing a game and I don't know how I can change it so that I win.”

Devin, “Aren't you winning because you're with me right now?”

Rita, “That's the funny part! I'm both winning and losing at the same time when I had expected only to win! It's such a moment of conflicting interest that's only going to come to an end whenever I rejoined bodies and then I don't know what the result will be! Even now even while I'm with you I have no idea what all these emotions are going to do when they collide back together!” It was impossible for Susan to keep from laughing as she neared the edge. “I know I'm going to feel all the frustration despite the fun I'm having now. I also know that I'm going to enjoy all the excitement despite the frustration I'm feeling yet I continue. What's going to happen whenever all of this collides?”

At first Devin said nothing but looked at Susan. “I believe I might have done a bad thing.”

Rita, “Isn't that exciting?”

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Susan, “Good morning Burton, Lidia are you doing alright?”

A low groan escaped Burton as he looked up at Susan. “Hey I'm suppose to be dead.”

Susan, “Yes it's my fault you're still alive and for that I apologize. It wasn't my intentions but bed time came faster then I thought it would. I guess you don't remember our little talk last night with how you were taunting me to hurry up and eat you. Lidia how are you doing?”

A slight snort escaped Lidia as she looked at Susan. “How do you expect someone who knows they're going to die in a few hours to be doing?”

Susan, “I suppose that would put a damper on my day.” As she spoke Susan began to lay out several tiny plates and bowls. “Well I don't plan on eating you sober so I made you a nice breakfast and brought you some fresh cups of alcohol. Oh and here you go a little something extra to show that I didn't mean to prolong your situation.” As she spoke Susan placed a tiny played of carefully powdered medication before the two people. It was less then a tenth of a pill but to the tiny group it was a huge pile of narcotics.

Lidia, “I swear. You're going to murder us and yet you're apologizing for delaying that murder with food and drugs?” A slight chuckle escaped Lidia as she shook her head at the entire situation. It was ridiculous on so many levels. “You're a strange one.”

Susan, “I've heard as much. Okay you two enjoy your breakfast and medication. I'll be back in a while to eat you.” As she finished speaking Susan opened the cage she had placed Lidia and Burton in for the night. She had to restrain herself from running out of the room as she prepared to resume the hunt.

Burton couldn't help but grin as he looked at Lidia. “You know she's the most considerate murdering sociopath that I've ever met and I've met a few of them.”

Lidia, “Oh please. You probably are one from the way you acted up while you were drunk. How many times have you woken up with the blood of someone else on you?”

Burton, “I never counted. Okay let's get into that breakfast while it's still warm. I'd rather be too drunk to see strait when she comes back then sober.”

***********************************************************************************

Rita, “So that's what I look like from the carpet? You spent a lot of time looking at the underside of my breast didn't you?” As she spoke Susan raised up slightly so that she could see her main body better. Her face was obscured by her chest given her proximity to the bed. The feeling of her foot steps racing throughout the ground was a new experience as well. Being carried by her main body and feeling the influence those feet had on the ground was to different experiences.

Devin, “Well your chest wasn't that dominate in the beginning. So I had some time to watch your face. Any ideas on where she's going to begin the search first?”

Rita, “Last night I searched the floor of my bedroom. The only thing remaining was the dresser then I would move on to another room. With me and you hiding that sort of got thrown off. I know that we would either be in the bedroom or training room just from knowing myself. I can't be certain of anything else so starting over is possible.”

Devin, “So what one are you going to do? Start over or go search the areas you haven't been to yet?”

Rita, “It's hard to say. I'm having trouble making up my mind what I would so which means I'm having trouble making up my mind what to do. It's up to me to act however so I'm going to have to make a choice.” As she spoke Susan shifted her head slightly as she watched herself take a few steps back. Clearly the decision wasn't an easy one after having all the time she spent making breakfast to decide.

Devin, “It looks like you're going to resume the hunt where you left of.”

Susan, “Okay you little sneaks you just watch. I don't expect anything as dramatic as yesterday but you watch as this body continues to improve and grow in all the right places.” As she walked over to her dresser Susan bent over making certain to stick her firm rump in the air. It wasn't her usual position for opening a dresser drawer but she wanted to put on a show. “Oh and I hope that I'm ready for this. Just watch while Devin can't take his eyes off me.”

For a moment little Susan felt her head go a little foggy as she tried to think of what her larger self was talking about. The answer came quickly and was confirmed whenever she turned to Devin and noted him looking at her larger self. Big Susan intended to put on a show for Devin so that she would get all his attention if indirectly. Little Susan felt her cheeks warming up and a feeling of annoyance. “Devin you shouldn't stand that far out you might get noticed.”

Little Susan's words didn't really reach Devin at first. Instead he focused on the way Susan's rear shifted while she searched the drawer. It wasn't just her rump that he found himself watching. Those wonderfully sculpted legs flexed, swelled and relaxed from moment to moment. It was only when little Susan spoke up a second time that he noticed her. “What? Sorry I guess I got distracted.”

Rita, “If you let yourself get distracted like that you're going to get caught. I'm surprised you were able to resist running to me yesterday after that little display.”

Devin, “I nearly went to you a few times honestly. Having others depend on me gave me strength to resist. It's still a little upsetting whenever I consider the type of people I was traveling with. Thinking back now they were plenty of warning signs. I wasn't entirely certain about them and turning them into you was an absolute so I pushed them to the back of my mind.”

Rita, “Without thinking of the danger you were putting yourself in. You see? That's why you need to be shrunken and with me all the time. You make silly choices like that. This way I can keep you warm, safe and probably kind of damp most of the time.”

There was no immediate response from Devin. He had a decent idea of how Susan intended to get him wet. His body responded to the thought a bit more readily then he would have expected. What was it about keeping him small that turned Susan on so much? Could she even give an answer or had she even considered why it appealed to her so much? Would he be happier if he knew the answer? What answers could she give that would make him more worried? It was the last two questions that kept Devin from asking her. He needed to decide on how many answers she could give that would worry him as compared to how many would relax him.

Erich took in a deep breath as he listened to those around him. Apparently everyone was uncertain of what was going on. With no alarm or sun light to tell them how much time had passed all they had was Susan's words. It was clear from the way she had spoken that they had been out for a while but how? It wasn't beyond reason that she had gassed the room. This image wasn't one he liked as it brought up disturbing images of how easily she could kill them all. A few bug bombs in the house and they would all be dead.

There was movement above Erich as Allen and his group began to climb. It was clear she had opened the bottom shelf and was no searching it. Once she finished they would need to drop down from the second drawer and take up new hiding places. Hopefully she wouldn't search the same drawer twice or at least not after some time had passed. Allen for his part looked to where Erich and those who chose to remain hidden with him where hiding. He hoped they would be alright but wished they would listen to him. Part of him was fearful though. He couldn't help but worry they would give away his plan once captured in order to reduce their own suffering.

In total Susan's dresser contained five drawers. The top one belonged to Devin and was used to store little items he brought to her house. The second contained her panties, the third her bras, the fourth her socks and the final drawer contained what Susan considered her at home wear. A small collection of old, naughty or comfortable clothing that she only wore in her own house. As she looked threw the bottom drawer she lifted the items from it. “Devin do you remember how big this shirt used to be on me? I bet it wouldn't even cover my crotch with how I've increased in height and width. Oh and what about this little number.” As she spoke Susan picked up a nighty that had been small on her before.

Devin felt his body respond as he remembered the first night that he had seen Susan wearing that outfit. She had been practicing martial arts whenever he came in and he could hear her fist and feet striking the punching back. Despite the power in those little feet and fist he had found himself pulled to her especially while watching her body work. In some ways he felt like a moth being pulled to a flame. It was dangerous but the light was too lovely to resist. Fortunately for him this flame was welcoming of his attention. “It's a shame you won't be able to fit into that anymore.”

Rita, “Yeah but there is no way I'm going to throw that out. I wonder what I could make from it. Perhaps some nice curtains for your home or a nice sofa wrap. There is enough material there that I'm sure I could make both given your size.”

Allen had to keep from screaming in frustration as he waited for Susan to finish searching the drawer. They had expected a thorough search but nothing like her removing one peace of clothing at a time. Hopefully she would put those items back once she was finished or they would have a whole new problem. All she would have to do is look in the drawer quickly after she was finished and they would be found. They didn't have to stop at the bottom drawer however as he looked down further. They could always get down to the floor and try their chances their.

As she removed her clothing Susan was separating the clothing into two piles. The first pile she had a use for the clothing. There was nothing she could wear comfortably anymore but the material could serve a purpose. The second pile was disposable material that she didn't plan on keeping any longer. “I guess there is no point in even hoping these shirts would fit me whenever I consider my breasts as well. I hope my spare clothing fits me well enough to go shopping or I might be confined to the house for a while. Confined to the house with just me and you Devin. Won't that be so much fun?”

By now Susan had began to change her position and bent at the knees so that she was in a crouched position. This brought her lower to the ground but still meant she was towering over him and her smaller body. It also made it easier for to organize her clothing it seemed but he wasn't watching that very closely. Devin found himself more interested in the way her rump jiggled every once in a while whenever she would lean forward or to the side to deposit an item. “Susan do you know what the second pile is for?”

Rita, “Clothes that I'm going to use to make things for you and clothes that I'm going to dispose of. I don't intend to just make use of the nighty.”

Every once in a while the dresser would shift due to Susan cleaning it out. This was proving to be a problem for those who had climbed up in preparations to jump down. “Hold tight.” Even as the words left his lips Allen felt another shudder. A sharp yelp reaching his ears was not what he wanted to hear as he turned to see what had happened. Patrick one of the people who had sided with Allen's plan was hanging on the edge apparently having been caught unprepared for the last vibration. “Shit someone help him.”

Patrick had been leaning forward ready to dive down at any moment. His jump from the table had removed his fear of falling from such heights. He had trouble maintaining his balance but had managed so far. Then the last shock had hit them and he'd slipped. Now he found himself not relying on his legs but rather his arms. He could see Benny reaching to help him but then another shock had struck the dresser and he'd felt himself give.

Susan, “Hey Devin do you remember this? It's my naughty judogi. As she spoke Susan held the tiny outfit up against her chest and had to keep herself from bursting into laughter. “The whole thing barely covers my breast now!” With those words Susan shifted from side to side holding the tiny bit of material up for Devin to see. Unfortunately she didn't realize he was behind her so his ability to see was limited. Fortunately the mirrors served nicely as his eyes to the side.

Devin didn't know what to think not because of the outfit but because little Susan had grabbed his head and forced him to look towards the mirrors before he could think. Apparently even if little Susan wanted his attention she didn't want him to miss out on her displaying her clothes. Susan was right the outfit didn't look like it would even begin to cover her new breasts especially with her overall increase in size. “I remember you had that made whenever I mentioned it'd be nice if you had some unique outfits for at home training.”

Rita, “You became a lot more willing to watch me train once I got it.”

Patrick could hardly believe how unfortunate he had been. He had ended up in the bottom drawer as planned but while Susan was still searching it. He needed to either get out of the drawer or hide. From the way she was searching the drawer it didn't seem likely that he would be able to hide so climbing out was the only choice. Susan's interest in showing off her clothing bought him enough time to resolve this and make his way towards the back of the drawer. Patrick could feel his heart beating against his chest as he ran. It seemed as if every bit of thread was trying to grab his feet to slow him down and the tilt of the drawer was increasing.

As he looked towards the back of the drawer he tried to find some defect in the material. Something that he could take hold of and climb out with. As he was moving closer he was having more and more trouble finding such a defect. When they had climbed out of the sock drawer they had been standing on a vast pile of Susan's socks. This drawer had been partly emptied however and he had no one to help him climb out. So he did what came natural. “Help! Someone toss me down a rope before she sees me!”

Susan, “Someone?” Susan was actually quite surprised by how sharp hear hearing had become. Between the changes to the structure of her brain and her ears themselves they had greatly improved. This wasn't the only reason she had heard the little man's screams of course. The shrunken bodies weren't simply a human body in reduced form that wasn't mechanically sound. Their voices carried differently then a human's voice a fact they didn't seem to appreciate.

Patrick felt his heart leap into his throat but didn't dare look behind him. Rather he pressed his hands against the back of the drawer desperately trying to find a grove deep enough to fit his fingers into. “Help! I can't get out!”

Susan, “That's you isn't it Patrick? You know you don't have to act like that if you want out. I'll be happy to help you out of that drawer.” As she spoke Susan pulled the drawer out just a little further so she could better see Patrick. He was scraping at the back of the drawer desperately trying to climb out. “I thought I'd eaten all of the panicky ones.”

Patrick, “You fucking bitch! Keep the hell away from me!” As he spoke Patrick finally turned to face Susan who was looking at him intently.

Susan, “Patrick that's just not reasonable. I can't eat and absorb you without getting close to you. I'm also a little short on the time I can spend talking to you as well. I'm wondering though do you have other friends in the dresser? It sure sounded like you did a moment ago whenever you were screaming for help.”

Patrick, “Help me you fucks she's going to eat me!”

Susan, “That's no way to speak to your friends little mister! You know they're not abandoning you because they don't care for you. I'm sure they just know that confronting me will only end with them dieing sooner. Of course if you can't avoid something it might make more sense to confront it head on. Still that doesn't mean you should speak to them like that.”

Patrick, “You fucking cannibalistic bitch!” As Patrick listened to Susan he could hardly believe how she was talking. He had heard it yesterday numerous times but to have her talk to him like that was infuriating. “If I was half your size I'd fucking gut you!”

Susan, “If you were half my size? That's just not realistic Patrick but you'll get to experience my guts soon enough. Why don't you come on over here and I'll swallow you?” As she spoke Susan lowered her hand into the drawer and held it palm up right for Patrick to climb onto. She didn't truly expected him to climb into her hand but it was a fun gesture. “Now don't be rude we both know how this is going to end.”

Patrick, “Bitch, cunt, whore fucking devil!” As Patrick screamed at the top of his lunges this was the only response he could think of. He had seen the results of begging and hadn't considered offering something to diminish his pain. He still continued to scream as he felt the warmth of Susan's hand as it neared him. It was surprising whenever he felt her fingers press into his sides. Rather then squeeze him to force his silence her grip was gentle but secure. Immediately Patrick began to push against her fingers and try to squirm free from her grasp.

Susan, “How mean!” As Susan lifted Patrick to her mouth she opened up well before she needed to in order to let him see inside. His profanities continued to fly even as she brought him closer and probably would continue all the way down. His hands pressed against her fingers while she watched his legs kicking in the air as they were unable to actually reach her. She felt her heart rate speeding up as she prepared to swallow the little person wondering what she might gain from him. She couldn't see anything that stood out but that didn't mean his insides had nothing to offer. At the very least she would gain some power from him.

What Susan saw was a funny kicking man. What Patrick saw was a massive void opening up for him. Her hand was warm and he felt the heat engulf him the moment she picked him up. As Patrick was brought closer to her mouth however the heat became oppressive and his struggles more violent. He could feel the humidity engulfing him as he drew closer to that mouth. Looking into the void he could have sworn Susan was beginning to salivate more rapidly the closer he got to her mouth and even noticed a few strands of her saliva.

How should she swallow Patrick? She could swallow him quickly or she could take her time. Should she put him in her mouth immediately or tease him some? There were other people hiding in the dresser she was certain of that now so perhaps it would be best to swallow him quickly. She also wanted to find Devin as soon as possible and herself. The final thought gave Susan the answer as she released her hold on Patrick and felt him impact with her tongue. Her jaw didn't snap shut rapidly however but rather Susan turned her head upwards and began to close her mouth a few millimeters a second.

As he struck Susan's tongue Patrick was saturated in her saliva and could taste her breath as he inhaled. His hands shot out attempting to grasp anything that he could find in order to stop his fall. The incline of Susan's tongue wasn't as great as his panic told him and he soon found himself coming to a stop as she grasped Susan's tongue to the best of his ability. His body knew what to do before his mind did and he found himself scrambling near the light. As he crawled though he could see Susan's teeth coming together. What was several millimeters a second to Susan seemed several decimeters a second to him.

Erich took in a deep breath uncertain of what he should do. He could hear something happening outside of the dresser but by no means was he certain of what was happening. Staying hidden still seemed like a good choice upon hearing Patrick's screams for help. Now he found himself worrying that their location had been revealed and it would make Susan all the more thorough in her search of the dresser. It was an unsettling thought and he considered running. The notion of running or someone running seemed like a better idea as he imagined one person buying them time to find a new hiding spot. Unless one of them became so panicked that they tried to flee however he didn't see that happening.

Patrick was frantically trying to climb out of her mouth. As Susan felt his hands and feet moving against her tongue she couldn't help but chuckle. The vibrations seemed to cause him even more problems as she felt the shrunken man slide back towards her throat. The incline of her tongue alone wasn't enough to send him down to her throat but it was enough to hinder his escape. As she felt her teeth growing together she could hear his screams.

Patrick, “No! Please don't eat me! Please! I can. I can! Just stop this!” Defying Susan had left Patrick's mind as he tried to make his way out of her mouth. He wasn't even certain that he could fit between those teeth anymore or that she could hear him. Then he felt the ground vibrate and it became all the more difficult to maintain his progress. He lost his hand holds and felt his feet slip sending him backwards towards her through nearly one body length. A horrified scream escaped him even as he managed to regain his hand holds and push forward. There was very little light coming from between those teeth now. “You cunt!”

Upon closing her mouth on Patrick Susan waited for a moment then gave a quick swallow feeling the little person pulled into her throat. After a moment she turned back to the dresser. “I suppose you're all pretty angry at Patrick for revealing your location or at least some aspect of it. I want to tell you now that you shouldn't be too upset with him for that. I intended to be very thorough in my search and this information doesn't change anything. Now if you're angry with him for all the mean things he said about you that I can understand. Even if he was frightened that wasn't nice. If you'd like you can reveal yourself now and I swallow you so that you can have a nice talk inside my stomach. Remember the longer you wait the less time you have to say your words to Patrick.”

Devin, “You really get a kick out of swallowing people. What's the appeal? You're a bit on the sadistic side you know that?”

For a moment Rita didn't respond but continued to look on. Missing out on the feeling of Patrick and the others sliding down her throat was a cost she hadn't planned on. She would get to enjoy the memories later but that wasn't the same as the moment. Devin's words made her smile despite missing the moment. She was getting to watch the show with Devin and that was worth more to her. “Their is some physical pleasure to it but in truth its a power rush and receiving something. Whenever I swallow a person I can feel them fighting their hardest and yet it means so little. My will completely dominates theirs as I have power over them. It's also the anticipation of what that person is bringing me. The potential increases to my body's performance and the power that comes with absorbing them. These own blind together into a moment that I want to last. It's even worse with women as they have the greatest potential to better my body.”

Allen wasn't certain what to do as he continued to look down below. He could see Susan's hands and held his breath until she took hold of another bit of clothing and took it out of the drawer. She was continuing with the drawer despite finding Patrick. It shouldn't have been surprising she had been very thorough in her search since she had began hunting for them. He only wondered if she would put the clothing back in the drawer when she finished. She had also proven herself to be very clean.

Susan, “Devin didn't this used to be your shirt? I believe you might have left it over here a while back and somehow I ended up claiming it.” As she spoke Susan held the garment up. It was a rather simple shirt though it had been rather large on her originally. “It's really not soft enough for me to make you something from it now but perhaps it'll still fit me.”

Devin, “I doubt that. That shirt was large on me but you're taller then I am now and with those breast that shirt just wasn't meant for you. You should probably throw the old thing out anyway.” As Devin spoke he knew that Susan's main body couldn't hear him but her smaller one could.

Rita, “Do you remember how I ended up having that shirt?”

Devin, “Yes. You won a bet and made me spend the weekend shirtless. For some reason you decided to wear it around as I couldn't. I guess you decided that you liked it and I never bothered trying to get it back after the weekend. Besides it looked cute on you.”

Rita, “How do you believe it would look now?”

Devin, “Ripped.”

Unable to hear Devin's words Susan found herself placing the shirt in make use of pile. She wasn't certain what she could do with it at the moment but she wanted to give it a try still. “Oh! I hadn't even thought about this.” As she spoke Susan reached into the drawer and brought out a black lace choker with several strands of crimson running throughout forming into a heart shaped section in the middle. “You haven't seen this have you? I picked it up whenever I first imagined shrinking you and thought about how much fun it would be. I wanted something comfortable to carry you and picked this up while I was out shopping. My neck has thickened a bit since I began augmenting my body but I believe I could still use this.”

Rita, “I wonder if there is room enough for two of us in there or if I'm going to have to get another. That centerpiece is actually something I added on. It's a little pouch that could easily accommodate you. It might need some adjusting of course as I meant for the occupant to be able to see out of the pouch while others wouldn't be able to see inside of it.”

This actually surprised Devin. Susan had mentioned her bra, panties and even vagina for carrying him but made no mention of something more conservative. “You mean you don't want me in contact with your intimates all the time?”

Rita, “Not all the time. You're going to need some time to rest after all. Me being here sort of complicates things of course. I was going to feed you some excuse that it's too dangerous to leave you home alone whenever I leave the house but with a second body to keep you company that doesn't hold true. It wouldn't be fair to keep you in the choker when I'm out shopping either and it would just be inconsiderate to have you there while dining. You might be hungry to after all. Without the excuse of keeping you safe I actually lose my justification for a lot of things.”

As Susan spoke Devin couldn't help but be suspicious. “You're plotting something. You don't tell me why you can't do something unless you're preparing to tell me what you can and should do.”

Rita, “It's mean of you to be so suspicious of me. I was honest with you when I told you that I didn't want to tell you about how I made my money and asked you to promise to stay out of my office. I never told you everything that I have going on but I was honest about wanting to keep secrets.”

Devin, “True but this isn't a matter of trust. This is a matter of knowing how you work.”

Before speaking Susan moved a bit closer to Devin while her eyes held his. “Well. Just because I don't have to take you with me at all times doesn't mean that I don't want to. It doesn't mean that I won't be able to convince you to stay with me during these times either. That or I can just make sure you're so board staying home that you want to go with me.”

A slight chuckle escaped Devin at Susan's last comment. “I was waiting for you to say something along those lines. I'm not sure if I'm getting the entire story but then again I haven't even seen this cage you had set up just for me. I hope you didn't go for the bachelor pad look.”

For a moment Susan said nothing. In truth she had designed the cage so it would be comfortable and safe but not too comfortable. She didn't want Devin spending all of his time in there. So she hadn't designed it with two people in mind and while there was space enough to accommodate two it would be something of a stretch. If she was going to stay with Devin using a smaller version of herself then she would have to have adjustments made. “I might have to put in another order once I find you and me. Then again they're an awful lot I can think of trying with you at this size as well. Oh! That fixes that problem. I had worried that you might retreat to your cage a little too often but with a little body of my own I can just give chase.”

Apparently Devin's cage was becoming less of a place of wrest the more he spoke with Susan. “I think I might be talking myself into a corner. So if the house is fully furnished what do you intend to do with the crafting clothes you've kept?”

Rita, “Oh I had a few fun ideas. Like a bathrobe made from my nighty and covers to. With the way things are going it looks like I may be making myself some clothing as well.”

This was hard for Allen to take. She knew that they were in the dresser but she wasn't coming strait after them. Susan just intended to go about her searching examining one item at a time until she got them. Was she doing this just to taunt them? Letting them watch as their hiding places vanished one after another.

Tina, “Allen I've had enough.”

Allen, “What? What are you talking about?”

Tina, “I've had enough of this game. I've had enough waiting. I'm going to go on down there. If there is something you want to do while I distract her you'd best tell me now otherwise I'm just going to go. This game it's just. I'm tired of it and besides I don't believe that we can win. Anyway I don't know what happened but it's clear she put us to sleep somehow. This whole thing is just a game to her she knows that she's going to win.”

As he listened to Tina Allen felt his heart rate speed up. He knew what she was saying was true but he still had to try. The fact that she was offering him a valuable resource in the form of a sacrifice and a willing one at that also meant he had to think quickly. “Okay everyone I'm going to make for the upper level drawers before going down. Right now she's probably expecting us to run. Tina if you're willing to go down there and buy us some time. Well I guess me being grateful wouldn't matter but if you do this we might be able to upset her some more.”

Tina, “I'll chat her up.” Instead of waiting for a response Tina leaned to the side and relaxed her hold on the drawer. The feeling of herself falling was rather strange considering what waited for her below but it was too late to worry about that. She didn't know how long she had been caged and the previous days hunt had given her time to steady her resolve and make her decision. The fall wasn't long enough for her to really think of such things either. She was looking up at Susan less then two seconds after she release and she knew what to say. “Hello.”

There had been some people who were composed when she found them. However even they had remained silent whenever they were found. For another shrunken person to appear before and speak first was a bit surprising. The lack of profanity was nice as well so that Susan felt a little surprised. “Hello Tina.”

Tina, “So did you really take the time to remember all of our names and faces or are you using some kind of magic to gather the information.”

Susan's feeling of surprise was only increased upon hearing Tina's response. “I studied all of your files very carefully so I learned how you look and your names as well. I would be a little scared to use magic to influence my mind like that with my limited studies. I could end up erasing something important or moving things around which could be just as bad if not worse.”

Tina, “So all of this really is magic then. I've heard you say as much but well it's not really hard to believe after being shrunken for so long. When did you begin to believe this was happening though? This magic thing was sort of forced upon all of us after all but I don't know about you.”

For a moment Susan was silent. This wasn't the type of conversation she was used to and it had caught her off guard. Her body was more responding on instinct then actual thought. “I can't say I was given much of a choice to believe or not. Unless I was to assume that I had gone crazy or been drugged which seemed possible at the time. The existence that gave me the.” As Susan spoke the word to describe what she had been given escaped her for a moment. “The existence that gave me the program needed to use magic also made me very aware of it.”

Tina, “You mean it isn't like some magic item or the such?”

Susan, “Ah well. I suppose the existence might be considered an item but well. As for magic humans already have the hardware that's needed to use magic. We're even connected to it already as well but we lack a certain bit of knowledge that can't be conveyed in words you see. That or it might be impossible to convey them in words. Speaking and reading aren't sufficient teaching methods and I'm not even sure if feeling would work as well given our limited range of feeling. Our input devices are entirely lacking for this program but the existence also served as an input device. Since the existence gave me the program magic takes on a very different meaning for me.”

As Tina listened to Susan she actually found herself more interested in the conversation then she expected to be. Given that she would be dead soon it wasn't as if the information would do her any good. It might do others some good though and she could do them a last favor before she died. As she considered this Tina drew herself to a standing position though the incline of the drawer made it somewhat awkward. Instead of standing her ground she began to walk towards Susan. “So did it change anything else other then your awareness and ability to use magic?”