David coughed and sputtered as lungfuls of sweat left his body, the appendage that had become his oppressor having lifted out of the shoe. At this point, the cool chill of the open air stung his skin, the sheen of boiling hot sweat quickly evaporating off of him. His bones felt sore, having been mashed into the unforgiving insole of the shoes that should’ve been thrown out years ago.
He slowly rose to his feet, forcing a sickening ooze of sweat to seep out from beneath his feet. As he got secure footing, he looked out into the locker room. An involuntary look away overtook him, as he got an eyeful of girls removing their tops and changing into their softball attire. One of those was Emily.
“Wait…” he thought to himself, as he couldn’t help but allow his eyes to shift back to her; yes, even in this perilous situation, our hero was subject to the terrible condition of being a man.
In all honesty, she was a goddess. Her body was perfectly toned, her stomach occupied by a soft outline of a six pack, while her now freed chest was glistening in the fluorescent lighting, a bust of olympic design. Her sweat-soaked hair hung down her shoulders, the ponytail frayed and loose, and from David’s view, her legs rose above him like skyscrapers, not a single sign of imperfection across her entire body.
As David continued to ogle, he realized the situation he was in. Emily was going to put the shoe back on, that was inevitable. The question was, what could he do about it? Realistically, climbing out of the shoe was impossible. Even if he could get a foothold on the walls, he was far too worn down to attempt a climb. In all regards, he was fucked, doomed to once more be worn alongside the shoe, attached to the ghastly-smelling (and tasting) appendage…
-
“So… Emily… you ready for the game- woah, how are you already this sweaty?” Emily’s friend and fellow player Courtney asked her as she began to remove her own clothing.
“Yeah, I had a thing… a clinical trial or whatever, went a little late so I had to jet over here.” Emily responded, pulling off her shorts with a sickening plop as the waterlogged attire made contact with the ground.
“Clinical trial?” Courtney inquired with curiosity, slowly pulling on her jersey.
“Get this, they paid me because my feet stink. I had to prep and make them all nasty beforehand which sucked, but your girl is several hundred dollars richer!” Emily laughed, sliding her legs into her pants.
“I didn’t want to say anything, but yeah holy shit it reeks!” Courtney returned a laugh, pinching at her nose with her free hand as she too slid her own pants on.
“I know, I know, trust me I’m dying to shower and be free of it myself.” Emily replied, settling her uniform into place as she got all the pieces on.
“Surprised Coach still lets you play with those old things, you gonna get rid of them soon?” Courtney exclaimed, pointing towards Emily’s Asics.
“Well, at first she was super against it and made me get the same ones for uniform, but I played a lot worse without them. I like to say they’re lucky. I’ll let them get rid of themselves whenever it’s time.” Emily explained fondly, understanding it wasn’t typical for a college softball player to be wearing shoes out of uniform.
“Hey, if it works it works. I used to do the lucky-socks thing back in high-school, but my mom eventually threw them out. I don’t blame her in all honesty, they were rock-solid after a while!” Courtney laughed, slipping her blue cleats on and bouncing in place to make sure the fit was secure.
“I’d say that’s gross, but I can’t judge, these babies are older than a toddler…” Emily giggled, sitting down on the bench to put the final piece on; her shoes.
She grabbed the heel of the right shoe, lifting her foot towards it, holding it in place as the toes of her foot started to lower into the gaping maw of the footwear. With a slight sigh, she slid her foot in further, until she felt it hit the toe-section. She lowered her heel down, until a slight sensation of suction indicated her foot was fully in the shoe. She leaned down further to tie her laces, looping them around and pulling tight until she was sure the fit was snug.
“There ya go.” she mumbled to herself, eventually standing up and following Courtney’s ritual of bouncing in place, feeling the shoes stay tight onto her feet, ready for the game.
“Let’s do this.” Emily said to Courtney, tapping her teammate on the shoulder as the two made their way to the field…
-
David groaned as he once again found himself beneath a giant foot. This time, Emily’s toes quickly overcame him, pinning him longways beneath him so that his head was between her first and second toes, and his lower body stayed trapped beneath her others.
Movement was impossible, as he remained pinned beneath the toes as they lifted and slammed back down repeatedly, Emily clearly having broken out into a light jog as she continued towards the field…
-
The game finally began, and Emily had fully engaged with the task of being an active center-fielder, taking her position and being prepared to catch any potential hits that came her way. She could feel the grass giving under her shoes, the material thin enough to allow her to feel the cool sensation of the slightly dewy flora, a relief against the sweltering interior of the ruined footwear. She shifted her feet, enjoying the sensation as she awaited the first pitch.
The pitcher wound up, and Emily watched diligently as she awaited the inevitable crack of the bat. She focused on clearing her mind of any distractions. “I hope David’s okay…” she thought, nervously tapping her toes as she tried to force it out of her mind. “He would want me to give it my all.” she reasoned, shaking away the unease and immersing herself into the mindset.
Suddenly, a loud crack reverberated throughout the field. Emily quickly ascertained the direction of the ball, and began to break into a sprint…
-
David's perspective during the events in Emily's shoe was nothing short of a nightmare. From the moment he was trapped under Emily's foot, he felt the world spin around him as he was mercilessly dragged along the rough skin of her foot. The oppressive smell of her sweaty, cheesy feet invaded his senses, making each breath a struggle.
He screamed and pleaded for help, but his voice was drowned out by the chaotic noise of Emily's footsteps and the stifling environment of the shoe. The smell intensified as Emily's foot settled on him, squeezing him between her toes. The toejam oozed out, covering his face and making him gag in revulsion.
David's misery persisted as Emily played the softball game. With each movement she made on the field, her shoes pressed and rubbed against him, making him wince with pain. The heat, sweat, and stench inside the shoe remained constant, amplifying his suffering with each passing minute.
As she sprinted across the field, her feet pounded against the insole, jostling him around and making him feel like a ragdoll. Each impact sent shockwaves of pain through his body, and he clung desperately to the fabric of the shoe to avoid being tossed around too much.
The constant movement and pressure from Emily's feet were unbearable. He could feel her toes curl and flex with every step, sometimes squeezing him tightly and other times releasing the pressure, only to repeat the process. The sweat inside the shoe soaked him to the bone, and he felt like he was drowning in the putrid mixture of bodily fluids.
Emily's feet seemed to be in constant motion, sliding and shifting within the confines of the shoe. David had no control over his position, and he was forced to endure the suffocating environment, praying for the game to end.
The noise from the game and the cheers of the crowd were muffled by the shoe's thick material, making David feel even more isolated and trapped. He couldn't see anything beyond the darkness of the shoe, and his senses were overwhelmed by the intense heat, smell, and pressure surrounding him.
As Emily made sharp turns and sudden stops during the game, David was tossed and jolted around, his body colliding with the walls of the shoe. Each impact left him bruised and sore, and he could only wonder how much more he could endure…
-
Emily's breaths came in ragged gasps as she raced across the outfield, tracking down the softball that sailed through the air. The game had entered its later stages, and the tension on the field was palpable. Her teammates relied on her as the center-fielder to make critical plays, and she was determined not to disappoint them.
With each stride, her feet pounded against the ground, the familiar sensation of her old ASICS shoes hugging her feet tightly. She could feel something bouncing around in them, some kind of pebble or something, and it was awfully distracting…
"Focus, Emily!" she reminded herself, shaking off any distractions. The game was too important to be preoccupied with thoughts about her shoes or anything else. She kept her eyes locked on the ball, her heart pounding in anticipation.
The softball soared through the sky, hurtling towards the outfield. Emily sprinted towards it, her eyes never leaving its trajectory. In that moment, nothing else mattered – not the heat, not the sweat, not the rock in her shoe.
She dove forward, stretching her arm as far as she could, and with a satisfying thud, the ball landed securely in her glove. Cheers erupted from her teammates and the spectators, and Emily felt a surge of pride and relief. It was a crucial catch that could make all the difference in the game.
As the inning came to an end, Emily jogged back to the dugout, her breath still heavy but her spirits lifted by the successful play. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Emily glanced down at her trusty shoes. They were slightly scuffed and stained from years of use, but she couldn't help but smile. They had been through so much together – countless practices, games, and now, even a clinical trial.
“Last inning girls, make it count!” her coach shouted, signaling to Emily that it was time to return to the field.
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. The game was tied, and it all came down to this last inning. She knew she needed to give it her all, to make every play count, and to trust in herself and her teammates.
Emily stepped back onto the field, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took her position in center field, her eyes scanning the field for any signs of movement. The crowd's cheers and the coach's encouragement echoed in her ears, pushing her to focus on the task at hand.
As the first batter stepped up to the plate, Emily crouched down, ready to react to any hit that came her way. Her shoes felt a bit loose now, the constant pounding during the game had probably loosened the laces. She wanted to fix it, but for now, she had to stay focused…
-
David's nightmare continued as he found himself trapped inside Emily's shoe, crushed and contorted like a mere pebble. The oppressive heat and pungent stench assaulted his senses, making it difficult to breathe. He felt each footfall as Emily raced across the field, her foot slamming into the ground with each step, and he was tossed around inside the confines of her shoe.
It was pure torment, as he struggled to find some semblance of comfort in the cramped and humid space. The sweat-soaked insole rubbed against his skin, causing chafing and discomfort. He tried to call out for help, but his voice was drowned out by the noise of the game and the relentless pounding of Emily's feet.
He felt like he was being crushed under the weight of her foot, and the pressure on his tiny body was unbearable. The smell of her rancid feet filled the limited air within the shoe, making him gag with revulsion.
As Emily made a crucial catch, the impact sent shockwaves through the shoe, jostling David even more. He felt like he was being tossed around in a violent storm, with no escape in sight. The sweat sloshed around him, and he could do nothing but endure the relentless torture.
Each passing moment felt like an eternity, and David lost track of time as he struggled to survive in the suffocating darkness. He longed for the game to end, for Emily to take off her shoes and set him free…
-
Emily's focus intensified. She could feel the fatigue in her muscles, but she pushed it aside, determined to give her all until the very end. The score was tied, and every play counted.
With each pitch and every hit, Emily's heart raced. She moved swiftly across the outfield, her trusty old shoes supporting her with every stride. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off inside her right shoe, but the game demanded her full attention, and she couldn't afford to be distracted.
As the final moments of the game approached, the tension in the air was palpable. Emily's team managed to score a run, putting them in the lead by a single point. But the opposing team was not backing down; they were determined to turn the tables.
With a fierce determination, Emily tracked down a deep fly ball, making yet another crucial catch. Her heart pounded in her chest as the cheers from her teammates and supporters echoed around her. The pressure was intense, but she thrived in these high-stakes moments.
The final out came down to a close call at first base. The runner sprinted towards the bag, and Emily's teammate at first base stretched out to make the play. The umpire's voice boomed across the field as he called the runner out, ending the game in a nail-biting victory for Emily's team.
Exhilaration surged through Emily's veins as her teammates rushed towards her, celebrating the hard-fought win. The cheers and high-fives filled the air, and Emily couldn't help but smile. It was a well-earned victory, and she was proud of her team's effort.
Now it was time to return to the locker room, and check out whatever was bothering her foot all game…
-
David heaved with great strain as he struggled to breath within the rapidly diminishing oxygen supply remaining within the shoe. He’d long since abandoned any care of avoiding the toejam pouring into his mouth, unavoidable if he still wanted to breathe.
He was beyond sore, and knew if the game kept going, he wouldn’t. He could only hope the cheering sounds he heard meant the game was over, as the shoe continued to rise and fall with sickening velocity…
-
As the team made their way back to the locker room, Emily's mind was still filled with a mix of elation from the victory and curiosity about the strange sensation in her right shoe. The adrenaline from the game began to subside, allowing her to focus more on the discomfort that had nagged her throughout the match.
"Hey, great game, Emily! You really saved us out there!" Courtney exclaimed, giving Emily a high-five as they walked together.
"Thanks, Courtney! You played amazing too!" Emily replied, genuinely proud of her friend's performance.
As they entered the locker room, Emily couldn't wait to take off her sweaty uniform and finally address the issue with her shoe. She quickly slipped off her jersey, sitting down and looking down at the old ASICS that had been with her through so much.
"What's going on with this pebble?" Emily mumbled to herself. She turned the shoe upside down and gave it a little shake. Nothing came out. She smacked the back of the shoe, and a small, beige looking object came out.
“What is…” she mumbled, looking closer at it...
-
David winced in pain as he went from choking on sweat in the harsh confines of the overworn shoe, to falling onto a solid plane with no give for his impact, causing him to land harshly on his arm, hearing an instant snap.
“FUCK!” he screamed, rolling around the floor in extreme pain as his arm bent in an awkward angle. He looked through teared eyes at his giant best friend, who seemed to finally be aware of his presence. She was staring right at him, pulling her ponytail to the side as her eyes squinted, trying to get a better view of his miniscule form.
“Please… Emily… help…” David begged, growing weary from shock.
Within moments, a shadow appeared over him, causing him to look to the source.
“WAIT!” he yelled with a hoarse voice, his heart dropping out of his chest as he observed an object rapidly heading his way…
-
“Is that…” Emily began, noticing a familiar face in the miniscule object, making her think she was crazy.
“David?” she muttered in disbelief.
Suddenly, a blue cleat appeared with a rapid slam, pressing down hard into whatever fell out of Emily’s shoe as the shoe twisted in place violently.
“Jeez Em, you had a bug in your shoe? Maybe you SHOULD chuck those things out…” Courtney laughed, slamming her foot down in place a few more times to make sure the bug was dead.
“Oh, it was a bug?” Emily asked with blinking eyes, continuing to view Courtney's merciless execution.
“Yeah. At least, it was wiggling around after you shook it out of your shoe. You’re lucky I was paying attention. God, I hate bugs…” Courtney shuddered as she ground her foot back and forth.
Emily nervously giggled, watching as her friend showed the bug no mercy… she paused for a moment. She didn’t really see David… did she?