Giantess World
Chapter Three
Nell pulled the blankets over herself, then peered over the edge of them to watch Winston rummaging through her closet. She already felt her feet reaching farther than they had before - nowhere near the end of the bed yet, but still past the familiar indents where the foam had shaped itself around her sleeping form. She hadn't had a chance to get a feel for her new size yet - as soon as she'd grown, Winston had tugged her out of the living room and through the corridors back to her bedroom, keeping his eyes politely averted the whole time. Nell understood why he'd done it and was fairly grateful, but was also impatient to compare herself to Daniel - who was really the only person who would change very much at her current size, which she guessed was a few inches over five feet.
The clothes she'd been wearing were in tatters on the floor. She and Winston both had the distinct feeling that most of her clothes wouldn't fit now that she was seven inches taller, and equally bigger all around.
"I'm sorry this is taking me so long, madam," Winston called from somewhere kneedeep in the wardrobe. "Unfortunately, most of your clothes appear to be quite form-fitting."
Nell sighed. Winston didn't know the first thing about fashion. Of course he wouldn't, he'd been wearing the same suit since she'd known him. "There might be some pyjamas or something I could wear..."
"Hmmm," Winston emerged from the closet with a plush nightrobe. "This seems like it would cover you while remaining loose enough to fit. If it suits you, m'am." He handed Nell the garment then turned away so she could change.
Nell slipped the robe over her shoulders. The fabric felt nice against her bare skin. The sleeves, which used to hang baggily over her hands, were now a little bit tight, and an inch or two too short. But the robe tied up around her waist, and it covered her up. Definitely better than nothing. "All done, Winston."
"Yes, madam," Winston turned with a slight bow. "Your father will want to see you."
Nell frowned. She hadn't really thought about what Dad would say when he found out. Honestly, she hadn't been sure the treatment would work. There was a world of difference between seeing the results on the simulator screen and feeling them in her body. So far, the only really bad part had been the fever. And she already liked being taller. Hopefully he would see that there was no harm done.
***
"How could this have happened?" Winthrop asked semi-rhetorically.
"The elements of the serum were completely contained while Nell was working with them," Daniel asserted. "And I never saw her tampering with them while I was in the lab."
"But I called you away..." Bill clapped a hand to his forehead. "She was alone in the lab. And Nell can sometimes be very willful."
"She was definitely waiting for a working serum..." Daniel responded. "I warned her that any untested combination could be dangerous."
"She's a teenager," Winthrop muttered. "And she's my daughter. Small wonder she was impatient."
The double doors to the office opened. "May Nell come in, sir?" Winston asked.
"Yes, you can both come in here." Winthrop said hurriedly. "Come on, come on." He waved them in.
Daniel looked to the doors. Where Nell had previously come up to Winston's top buttons on his overcoat, she now reached his shoulder. She wore a purple fleece robe that looked a little too small for her currently enlarged form - not only were the sleeves too short, but her curves were very obvious under the fabric. Her expression was solemn, even penitent, but she couldn't quite hide the gleam in her eyes. She was overjoyed. For now at least. Daniel knew she wouldn't have used the formula if the simulator hadn't shown uniform growth. He could only hope that was right; if this trial worked perfectly, than there was no harm, no foul, and both Nell and Bill had exactly what they wanted of him. But if anything went wrong...
"You wanted to see me, Daddy?" Nell asked. She walked across the room to stand next to Daniel - very close to him, in fact. The plush fleece on her sleeve brushed against his arm. He couldn't help but glance sideways at her. He hadn't known her for very long, but still expected to see the top of her head when he stood near to her. Now he found himself looking right into the side of her elegant neck; he had to straighten up from his usual slouch to be level with her face. The whole situation felt vaguely unreal.
"Nell, I need to know," Bill said seriously, "How were you exposed to the treatment?"
"Well..." Nell started, before launching into a rush of words. In the middle of her torrent of explanation, Daniel caught the words "simulator","uniform", "test", and "injected myself".
"You did this to yourself? Intentionally?" Bill's eyebrows were raised about as high as they could go. "Didn't you know how dangerous -"
"Daddy," Nell said earnestly. "The simulator results looked perfect. And I didn't want Daniel to have to worry about things that were missing or the right proportions. I just wanted to grow."
Daniel cleared his throat. Now for the moment of truth. "Nell... Was there anything missing from the formula?"
Nell looked at her feet, as if afraid to meet his eyes. "Um. I kind of forgot to put in the isotope." Both Bill and Daniel's jaws must have dropped at once, because Nell quickly added, "Everything else about it was just perfect though, and I didn't want you to have to throw away all that hard work just because one little thing was missing."
Bill looked over at Daniel. "So? What does this mean? Is she just going to keep growing?"
Daniel gulped. "It'll flush out eventually. But while the compound is in her system..."
"Well then," Bill gripped a handful of his graying hair. "Winston, I want you to take Nell back to her room for now. Find some clothing catalogs she can look through. We'll all just stay calm about this until we know more." Bill seemed to say this to maintain his own cool as much as anyone else's.
"Sir," Winston began, but Bill waved him off.
"Not now, Winston. You and Nell need to work out clothing, call me on the office line when you have an idea. Maybe you can look through some of her mother's things. Daniel, you stay here and talk to me."
***
Nell lay back on the bed again and sighed. She hated it when people talked about her as if she wasn't there. Her father had been doing it since she was little, but she'd never been able to tell him to stop. She was his little girl, after all - he'd always done everything for her, gone to any lengths to make her happy and she thought it was almost ungrateful to annoy him with a stupid detail like that.
But now, when something really important had happened, something that had everything to do with her well-being and safety, he'd sent her away to her room while the adults talked about it. Like she hadn't seen the looks of concern on their faces. What were they so worried about? The simulator had shown uniform growth. She wasn't in any danger of dying or anything. Was she? What if the results had been wrong? And did the isotope matter as much as they thought?
Nell stood back up, and walked over to the doll house. Just yesterday the model mansion had stood as high as her waist; now the roof barely grazed the tops of her thighs. She undid the hinges, her newly larger fingers slipping a little as she lifted the clasps. The front of the house swung away, revealing the inner workings of the house. There was the study on the second floor, her room on the third... Lenette's bedroom down the hallway. She'd made little miniature figures of everyone who came to the house when she was in second grade. Lenette's figure sat in the schoolroom on the first floor. Her father was behind the desk in his office. Winston waited patiently outside her room. Some immature part of her wished she had a miniature of Daniel, to complete her collection.
Nell reached into the model, plucked Winston up and placed him in the closet on the fourth floor. Her mother's old chambers, where her father didn't go anymore. His ordering Winston to search about there was highly unusual. Especially since her mother had been a rather tall woman, standing around 5' 9".
Did that mean that Dad thought she was going to grow more? Nell, distracted by the thought, slipped as she held Winston's model. He tumbled over, landing at an awkward angle on his side. She was lucky she hadn't broken the figurine. Even a few inches of growth had made her so much more clumsy with small things. If she grew much taller, she wouldn't be able to play with the miniatures anymore - her fingers would be too big to hold them with the care they required.
Nell bit her lip. In her dreams the mansion had been the size of a dollhouse to her, but in real life she wouldn't be able to just pry off the front of the house. She carefully swung the front of the model shut, and closed the hinges. Peering through the picture windows, she could still see most of the first floor. The windows of the bedrooms on the third floor were smaller, so she could only get glimpses of the inside. She thought of what the scene must look like to the miniatures inside. A huge blue-green eye filling most of the window.
She pulled back, and gently patted the roof. "Don't worry little guys, I'm just curious," She giggled.
***
"You're saying it's completely unpredictable?" Bill Winthrop groaned.
Daniel nodded. "One of the side effects of the isotope was controlling the rate of osmosis for the growth-inducing part of the serum. With that missing, there's no telling when she'll grow."
"But you said it'll keep happening in spurts. How big will those spurts be?"
"Well, this first one was seven inches. I have no idea how large future spurts will be. I've honestly never tested the formula without the isotope. Of course I knew in theory that it would work, but what would be the point of virtually unchecked growth -" Daniel caught himself mid-sentence. He didn't want to tell Bill Winthrop that his daughter's growth was completely out of control. Even he had a little more tact than that.
Bill let the comment slide, and began massaging his temples with his index fingers. "What can we do to stop her growth?"
Daniel shrugged. As soon as he saw Winthrop's reaction, he realized that might not have been the best response. He racked his brain. The isotope had both degraded the molecule and controlled its rate of osmosis, but to do so it had been bound to the molecule; now that it was in Nell's system he wouldn't be able to bind anything to the original formula. But perhaps the receptor sites...
"If I can find a molecule that's antagonistic to the growth molecule, that blocks the places where it interfaces with the cells, then that would stop Nell's growth." Daniel concluded.
"I hear a 'but' coming," Bill said unhappily. "What's the bad news?"
"The antidote would need to work consistently throughout Nell's system, for the same reasons the growth serum requires uniform growth." Daniel ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't done any research on this whatsoever. And Nell's first growth spurt had occurred within hours of her injecting the formula. He didn't have much time.
"Well then, what are you waiting for?" Bill snapped. "If this antidote is going to be so hard to find, then you better get cracking."
Daniel couldn't have agreed more.
***
As soon as Nell stood up from the dollhouse, she felt it again. A wave of warmth passed over her, and she could feel the blood pumping through her veins, like her heartbeat was suddenly everywhere, throughout her body.
She quickly fell back on the bed. Dad said she fainted the last time this happened, and she'd rather do that on the soft bed than the hard wooden floor. Taking a handful of sheets in each hand, she closed her eyes and tried to stay focused. In her daydreams, Nell had always been fully grown, transformed as if by magic. Now that she was actually growing, though, she thought it might be interesting to stay awake and see what it felt like. Her head was spinning, but she forced herself to keep her eyes open.
She could see the room around her, but it felt like she was looking at her surroundings from far away - like everything was distant. She could feel the satin sheets slide against her as her body expanded. Looking towards the foot of the bed, she could see the bulge in the covers where her feet lay slowly expanding, almost like rising bread. She turned to look sideways, and the view past her outstretched arm just looked like her room was slowly compressing, like a really slow zoom in a movie. Nell swore the side table got smaller as she stared at it. That was really what it felt like; the whole world getting smaller around her.
Nell couldn't help but gasp aloud. "This is so... cool," She exhaled.
Only after she stopped growing did Nell realize Winston was standing in the doorway, one of her mother's dresses in hand. She quickly pulled the sheets up around herself.
***
Daniel had just walked into the lab when his cell phone rang for the third time that day. He fumbled it open. "Hello?"
"Nell's room, right now. She's grown again," Winthrop said tersely.
Daniel closed the phone, and pulled out a tape measure from his desk. The first time he'd been unprepared, but now it was time to start taking measurements. Assuming Nell had taken a standard dose of the formula, he might be able to use this data to eventually figure out how much was diffusing into her cells. Also, he was just kind of curious as to her exact height.
As he walked down the corridor, Daniel wondered what he'd see when he reached Nell's room. Had the growth turned exponential? He could find himself face to face with one of the tallest women alive if that was the case. Alternatively, the initial spurt could have absorbed much more than he thought - perhaps she'd only grown a few inches this time. Given Bill's tone when he'd called, Daniel rather doubted that was the case.
He gave the large, ornate wooden door a firm knock. Winston opened the door just a crack. "Miss Nell is changing into her new wardrobe. Please excuse us for a moment while she does so." He closed the door firmly in Daniel's face.
Daniel turned and breathed a small sigh of relief. If they still had clothes for Nell, she couldn't be too much taller.
Moments later, Winston opened the door. Nell was standing next to her father, draped in a pretty sundress with a floral pattern that seemed to fit her naturally. Daniel gulped. She was now up to Bill's shoulders. She turned, giggling, as Winston fixed a button on the back of her dress. She was easily an inch or two taller than the butler.
"Does it mean anything that she grew again so soon?" Bill asked, looking genuinely concerned.
Daniel, trying to avoid shrugging, answered, "There's no way of knowing with just two data points. But if it's all the same to you, I'd like to measure Nell and see just how much she's grown, just to keep track of everything."
Bill waved his hand. "Go ahead." He turned to look at his daughter, and Daniel noticed he had to lift his head - he was so used to looking downwards. "You're sure you're feeling okay, Nell-bell."
"I'm fine, Daddy," Nell insisted. "I even stayed awake this time. I feel great." Bill didn't look quite convinced, but he didn't reply.
Daniel pulled out his tape measure, and knelt next to Nell's feet. She wore sparkly pink nail polish on her toes, but she obviously hadn't reapplied it since before her first growth - there was a ring of bare toenail around each painted portion. Her toes were elegantly narrow near the instep, but bubbled out nicely at the ends. Daniel tugged out the first length of tape measure. "Could you step on the metal piece?" He called up to Nell.
"Sure," She said, gazing down at him with a wide smile. She held the edge of the metal down with the side of her pale sole.
Daniel proceeded to pull the tape measure with him as he stood up. "Stand up straight now," he told Nell, as he reached up to bring the tape measure even with the top of her head. "Five feet, nine and one quarter inches," He read aloud. Daniel realized he was craning his head to look up at the top of the tape. He looked over at Nell, to see she was still looking down at him, her eyes wide, but a grin on her face. Just two days ago he'd been taller than her, but now his eyes were level with her shoulder. She stood seven inches taller than him.
Daniel took a step back. "When did you start growing again, Nell?"
"My bedside clock said 4:25," Nell said.
"That's around two hours after the first growth. Roughly two-hour intervals so far... interesting..." Daniel said to himself. Bill looked like he wanted to interject, but was holding himself back. Daniel paced around the room. Perhaps the rate of diffusion was uniform anyway - but wasn't it too early to tell?... Maybe the molecule's form was creating a constant...
"Sir -" Winston began.
"What do you mean 'interesting?'" Bill finally burst out.
"Um, I've got ideas," Daniel admitted. "Nothing solid yet, but we'll see if what I'm thinking bears through in the next few hours."
"Work through what you need to," Bill sighed. "Just, come up with something quickly. This much, this fast... it's worrying."
"You shouldn't worry, Daddy," Nell said, taking her father's hand. "So far everything's been fine. I'm growing evenly, and there's nothing wrong with me so far."
Winthrop's tone softened as he looked at his daughter. "I know it's fine so far, Nell-bell. I'm just worried about what could happen..."
"I might still get bigger," Nell offered. She didn't seem too displeased at the thought. "That could happen, I guess."
"Sir, I really must tell you something." Winston had been looking increasingly anxious throughout the evening.
"Well, fine then, Winston, go ahead." Bill said impatiently.
"We're due to have visitors this evening, sir," Winston said evenly. "Mister Joseph Frankenson and his daughter, Linda."
Bill clapped a palm to his forehead. "Nuts. Joe was scheduled to come tonight, wasn't he? I should just cancel, but they're probably taking the chopper from Arlington already..."
"I wouldn't mind seeing Linda, Daddy," Nell said cheerfully.
"Hmph," Bill grunted. "The last thing we need is to have you growing in front of them..."
"Please, Daddy," Nell's voice rose in pitch as she begged. "I haven't seen Linda in forever."
Bill looked uncharacteristically indecisive. "I do think it's good that you two see each other," He acknowledged. "You don't always get enough time with kids your own age..." He snapped his fingers. "If you feel the symptoms coming on, you tell Winston. He'll help you back to your room. We tell the Frankensons you've been having an on-and-off fever. That should do just fine."
"I can do that!" Nell exclaimed. "No problem."
"As for you, Daniel," Winthrop said more gravely. "You get cracking on those antidote ideas. We'll call you if we need you."
***
Six years. That was how long it had been since the last time Nell had stood taller than Linda Frankenson. While Linda had always been short growing up, puberty took her to the perfectly ordinary size of 5'6". And she'd been lording it over Nell every time she'd seen her since.
Every few months their fathers would get together, have a beer or two and maybe watch some football on the projection TV. Nell and Linda would play around the house, and Linda would tell her all about private school. They got along well enough, but every time they saw each other Linda would get in at least one dig about Nell's short stature. Sometimes they were subtle, like when she'd talked about her Dad's new car, and said that if Nell wanted a ride she'd probably have to sit in the back with a carseat. Sometimes they were outright insulting, like saying Nell would have trouble finding a date if she attended the high school prom, and would have better luck at a middle school dance. Not that Nell was going to dances anyway; she was perfectly fine with Lenette teaching her instead of going to private school. The other girls Linda talked about sounded perfectly dreadful.
The important thing, Nell thought to herself, was that now the tables had turned. Linda couldn't make any more jokes about Nell being short, that much was certain. She'd probably be able to see clear over the other girl's head.
The doorbell rang, and Nell raced forward to answer it. Sure enough, Linda Frankenson was standing with her father on the doorstep. Linda was wearing black high heels, but she still stood slightly shorter than Nell. Her eyes seemed to bulge out of her head at the sight of Nell, who suppressed a giggle. Linda used to seem so imposing, but now that her curly blond head was level with her instead of looming above her, Nell thought she was little more than average.
Winston rushed to the door. "Mister Frankenson, madam," He said, bowing to each of the guests in turn. "You are welcome to come in."
Joe Frankenson pushed back his salt-and-pepper hair. He stood a little shorter than her father, but still certainly taller than Nell. Even so, he seemed shocked to see her. "Goodness, Nell, you've sure grown up since I saw you last."
"Yeah, I had a definite growth spurt," Nell said, incapable of stopping herself from smiling.
"Yep, Nell's finally caught up," Dad said, stepping around her to shake Mr. Frankenson's hand. "How've you been, you old pirate?"
"Well, you know, mergers and acquisitions and the like," Frankenson said with a knowing look.
Linda was peering at Nell's dress. "Wow, this dress must be old," she scoffed. "Did you get it in the 19th Century?"
Bill frowned. "It's her mother's dress."
"I've kind of been out of clothes since growing," Nell said softly.
"Well, you should get some new ones then! We could probably go to the mall and back before dinner. Isn't there a mall around here, Winston?"
Nell's heart leaped in her chest. She'd only ever heard about malls. Her dad didn't like the number of people there, he was always worried she could get lost in the throngs of people. Of course, she'd been more difficult to find when she was four and a half feet tall. Now that she was 5'9", she'd be easier to spot in a crowd. "Could we go to the mall, Winston?"
"Yes, m'am," Winston acknowledged. "But without Mr. Winthrop's approval..."
"Please, Daddy?" Nell knew she was pushing her luck with her father, who'd already bent just to allow the Frankensons over, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity. And she needed new clothes anyway.
Dad looked more uncomfortable than she'd seen him in a long time. "You have to be back before dinner," He said, after a long pause. "And you need to have someone chaperone you."
Winston gave a slight bow. "I am fine with escorting the young ladies," Winston said.
Bill furrowed his brow. "I'd like more than one person. But this is Lenette's night off... Perhaps Mr. Farmer could go with you." He flipped out his cell phone and looked prepared to dial. "On second thought, I'll just text him," Winthrop grumbled.
***
As soon as he heard the cell phone buzz, Daniel closed up his binders and stepped out of the lab. Sure enough, it was Winthrop, texting him to meet him in his office. At least he didn't have to run this time.
"My daughter wants to go to the mall," Winthrop said, looking none too pleased about this development. "I need someone there with medical expertise, in case she grows again. You know about her condition. You're going to be the girls' chaperone."
Daniel had never been terribly good with girls in high school. Now he was being asked to supervise two teenage girls, both of whom were taller than him? "With all due respect, Mr. Winthrop, are you sure I shouldn't be spending more time in the lab?"
"I told you, Daniel. I want an expert with my daughter. No ifs or buts. The limo is already waiting outside. Tell the driver to make sure everyone is back by 8 PM."
Daniel stood, shoulders slightly slumped, and left the office. Eighteen-year-old girls at the mall. Science was a piece of cake compared to this.