Emily walked briskly, actually starting to enjoy the summer heat as her ponytail swung around. A light sweat had formed on her entire body, a result of the scorching sun beating down on her rosy skin.

She continued walking down the bustling streets of her town, having a simple goal in mind; make it back home in time to grab her things, then head down to the locker room to get changed for the upcoming game. Speaking of, what time was that again?

“Shit!” Emily cursed, checking the time on her phone. She was going to be late!

“Not if I book it!” she muttered, picking up her pace and breaking out into a steady jog, her feet pounding the pavement in her beaten-up ASICS as she felt the wind break across her body…

-

“EMILY!” David called out, catching another mouthful of salty sweat as he screamed his friend's name at the top of his lungs, the sound quickly dissipating into the scorching chamber. Emily’s foot-skin was soaking wet, slapping and sliding against his body with each step. His brain was rattled by the impact, and his sense of direction was skewed as each lift and slam tossed him around.

The smell was downright horrific, the ripe, cheesy odor leaking out from the soaked insole and damp appendage burning a hole into his nose as each sharp breath threatened to choke him. He was helpless, trapped deep within her nasty shoe.

It happened so fast; one minute he was pinned under her tapping foot, getting beaten to all hell by its repeated slams, then within an instant it lifted, but the sticky dried sweat adhered him to the rough skin of her fetid foot, causing him to soar into the air. He was afraid of heights, but at least in some twisted sense of kindness from the gods above, he couldn’t even observe his rapidly rising surroundings, as his face was wedged tight between her clenched toes. All he could observe was Emily’s innocent face, as he was dragged to an obvious destination.

He heard what was discussed between the two, and he wasn’t an idiot; Emily was about to put her shoe back on, and he clearly was along for the ride.

“CAITLIN! CAITLIN!” he screamed, hoping that for once, the morally questionable researcher would gain some semblance of care for him in this vulnerable state, but it was clear his pleas were falling on deaf ears, as the monitoring tools were inside the chamber, not on his person. All she could see were his vitals, so unless she noticed the continuing spike despite the removal of Emily’s feet in time, he wasn’t being saved.

As if with intentional timing, the universe confirmed this to him, as he began to feel an oppressive, humid heat rise among him; not only that, but a familiar stench, only dialed to 11, filled his nose.

“NO! NO NO NO!” he yelled, realizing Emily was already lowering her foot into her shoe, with him in tow. He pleaded and screamed at the top of his lungs, but it was for nought, as within moments his view was suddenly encompassed by the once-pink interior of the nearly-dead ASICS sneaker. In the instant his body entered the shoe, a blaring heat blew across his face, accompanied by perhaps the worst, most pungent, sickly sweet smell he’d ever had forced into his nose.

It was as if the air was liquid, the saturation of humidity and stench slapping David across his face as he was plunged deep into the shoe alongside Emily’s slick toes, brought all the way into the breeding ground for the horrific odor that clung to her feet. The accumulated sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria thrived in the dark, damp environment, creating a breeding ground for an otherworldly stench. It seeped into every crevice, invading David's lungs with each breath and threatening to suffocate him despite the abundance of available air.

David’s eyes had long been watering, but now it was because he couldn’t help but weep in reaction to the pure suffering inflicted upon him. “Please Emily… please!” he pleaded, as his naked body hit the bottom of the shoe, the insole pouring out soupy liquid with each impact against the oversaturated surface.

Eventually, the dragging stopped, and with a sudden halt, Emily’s foot settled, resting upon David as her toes ceased their activity, giving a final squeeze upon David’s body as they found their comfortable spots, forcing an ooze of toejam to squeeze out onto his awaiting face. He couldn’t help but scream as it covered his mouth and nose, the only way to avoid suffocation in its wake being to swallow it with disgust and shame.

David’s body trembled with revulsion, his entire world being consumed by Emily’s feet in every way possible. He only hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d step in the right way, crushing his tiny body and putting him out of his misery.

In a way, his wish was granted, but only in the fact that she began to step, sending the shoe soaring up into the air, bringing David along with it as the world began to spin.

*SLAM*

Emily’s foot hit the ground with intense pressure, forcing gallons of sickly sweet, vinegary sweat out from the insole. David was instantly dunked under its water line, causing him to instinctively gasp for air, catching a mouthful before being brought back out of the fluid as the foot lifted once more.

*SLAM*

Emily's foot crashed against the ground again and again, each impact rattling David's fragile body. The soupy concoction within the shoe sloshed violently, drenching him in a putrid mixture of sweat, dirt, and decaying skin cells. It filled his nostrils, his mouth, and his throat, suffocating him with its repulsive viscosity.

*SLAM*

The cycle continued, leaving David feeling broken and defeated as the simple motions of Emily’s walking was enough to torture him more than he’d ever been.

*SLAM*

“This can’t get any worse…” he thought, being proved wrong immediately as Emily clearly had stepped out into the summer heat, a new film of perspiration forming on her foot, and the heat in the shoe increased tenfold.

*SLAM*

“EMILY, FOR FUCKS SAKE!” he cursed, his skin growing raw from the hardened calluses and frayed insole rubbing against his bare skin.

Suddenly, the shoe stopped its motion.

“What is she doing?” David pondered, before hearing Emily’s faint voice…

“Not if I book it!” she called out, making David’s heart drop. He didn’t even have time to grieve his impending doom, before the shoe lifted and slammed within an instant, beginning a tortuous cycle as Emily broke out into a jog…

-

Emily panted, keeping pace as she continued her jog with one goal in mind - making it back to her dorm in time to grab her things and head to the locker room. Her feet continued to pound against the pavement, propelling her forward with great determination as she passed pedestrians with haste.

Many of them looked at the perspiring athlete with intrigue, as she glistened with sweat and her ponytail bounced behind her with each hard step against the pavement. None of them had any clue that she had a tiny prisoner fighting for his life within her damp, fetid shoe.

The sun continued to beat down on Emily, intensifying the already suffocating heat of the summer day. Drops of sweat formed rivulets on her forehead, trickling down her temples and mingling with the moisture that clung to her hair. 

The saltiness of her sweat became more pronounced with each passing moment, coating her skin and mingling with the natural oils of her body. It formed a glistening sheen on her exposed arms and legs, adding a slickness to her movements. Emily's breaths grew heavier, intermingling with the rhythm of her footfalls as she maintained a steady pace.

Her nose wrinkled as she began to catch a whiff of her own sweat. “Ew.” she grumbled, as she smelled its tangy, almost sickly sweet aroma, a mix of her deodorant and the intense odor wafting not only from her body, but all the way down in her shoes, her unwashed feet unable to be fully contained by the material.

As Emily continued her jog, the combination of the heat and her exertion caused her body to release even more sweat. It pooled in the crevices between her toes, sloshing around with each heavy step. For that matter, her feet were boiling in her confining footwear, and she couldn’t wait to take them off and finally wash her feet after the game finished. “Only a few more hours…” she mumbled, as she began to slow her pace, her dorm coming into view.

Reaching her building's door, Emily's heart raced with a mix of anticipation and fatigue. She could feel the dampness within her shoes, the clammy sensation as her feet slid against the moist insoles. The odor emanating from her feet intensified, their exertion creating an almost rancid fragrance that assailed her senses.

With a sigh of relief, Emily pushed open the door and stepped into the cool, air-conditioned lobby of her dormitory. The contrast in temperature brought a momentary respite from the heat that had enveloped her during her jog. She couldn't help but wiggle her toes inside her shoes, feeling the slight squelching sensation as they shifted in the dampness.

She huffed and puffed as she continued up the stairs, checking her phone and cursing under her breath as she knew there wasn’t any time to stop and take a break. Her legs protested with every step, muscles aching and limbs heavy with fatigue.

Finally reaching her room, Emily fumbled with her keys, her trembling fingers struggling to find the right one. With a sigh of relief, she unlocked the door and stepped inside, momentarily shutting out the world outside. The coolness of the room embraced her, providing a much-needed respite from the sweltering heat.

“Phew. Abby isn’t here.” she sighed with relief, knowing she’d catch an earful for sweating all over the dorm if she was around.

She quickly grabbed her gym bag and tossed in the necessary items, her mind racing with a sense of urgency. Time was slipping away, and she couldn't afford to waste a second. With a final glance around the room, she turned and headed out, closing the door behind her.

The journey to the locker room was a blur of motion and noise. Emily's thoughts were consumed by the upcoming game, her focus honed on the task at hand. She weaved through the crowded hallways, dodging fellow students and staff with ease as she rapidly exchanged apologies for her blunt movements.

Emily's heart pounded in her chest as she finally arrived at the locker room, pushing the door open with an exhausted groan. The familiar scent of sweat and anticipation filled the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and excited chatter, as she stepped into the bustling atmosphere that greeted her like a second home.

She lazily flung herself on to an open bench, wasting no time as she untied the laces on her sweltering shoes. She hooked her finger into the back, then released her damp foot with a sickening pop. The relief was instant as her foot was exposed to the open air, the wind sliding between her toes and rapidly cooling her foot down. But just as fast, its vile stench was thrown out into the room, making even Emily herself gag.

“EMILY!” the athletes in the room called out in disgusted groans, knowing all too well the familiar odor that was invading their nose…