Been trying to write but it's hopeless, finally gave in and tried AI. Totally unedited output posted because I'm that lazy.
Shrinking College Students (ChatGPT)
1-12Show
1.
Tara and Mia were lounging in their dorm room on a lazy afternoon, sprawled out on their beds, scrolling through their phones without a care in the world. The sun streamed through the half-open blinds, casting a warm, golden glow over the room filled with posters, clothes strewn about, and the usual clutter of college life.
Tara, the more outgoing of the two, was halfway through a text message to her latest fling when she felt something strange—like the world had tilted just slightly. She frowned, shook her head, and resumed typing. But the feeling only grew stronger, an odd sensation that made her dizzy. She looked over at Mia, who was lying on her bed, engrossed in some video.
"Hey, do you feel—"
Before Tara could finish, she felt a sudden rush, as if the floor had dropped out from under her. She gasped, her phone slipping from her fingers and landing with a thud on the carpet. Tara tried to stand, but her jeans felt impossibly heavy, pulling her down. She blinked in confusion, looking around, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw her room... growing.
Mia, now noticing the change, sat up, only to feel the same dizzying sensation. Her tank top, which had fit perfectly a moment ago, was now sagging around her shoulders. She glanced at Tara, eyes wide with panic.
"Tara, what the hell is happening?"
"I-I don't know!" Tara stammered, trying to pull herself free from her own oversized clothes. But the more she struggled, the faster she seemed to shrink. Within moments, her once snug jeans were a crumpled heap on the floor, and her tank top had slipped off her shoulders, leaving her drowning in fabric.
Mia was faring no better. Her shorts had slipped off entirely, pooling around her ankles as she fought to stay upright. Her once tight tank top was now more like a dress, hanging loosely as she shrank inside it.
They both scrambled to make sense of what was happening, but there was no time. Within seconds, they were no more than a foot tall, then half that, still shrinking uncontrollably. The room around them loomed larger and larger until they were nothing more than tiny, naked figures lost in a sea of their own clothing.
Tara finally managed to crawl out from under her now gigantic shirt, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She looked up at the towering landscape of their dorm room, every piece of furniture now a massive structure. The sight made her dizzy all over again.
Mia crawled out beside her, looking just as shaken. "How... how did this happen?" she whispered, hugging her arms around her tiny, exposed body.
Tara had no answer. All she could do was stare up at the enormous world around them, trying to wrap her mind around the impossible reality they were now trapped in.
2.
Tara and Mia eventually stopped shrinking, but by then, they were no more than a few inches tall, standing on the cold, hard floor surrounded by heaps of their clothes. The once familiar dorm room now looked like an alien landscape, with their beds towering over them like mountains, the furniture casting long, ominous shadows across the floor.
Tara was the first to move, her instincts kicking in despite the overwhelming fear. “We need to get help,” she said, her voice trembling as she looked over at Mia, who was still staring up at their massive surroundings in disbelief.
“How?” Mia replied, her voice small and shaky. “We’re so... tiny.”
Tara spotted her phone buried under the pile of her now oversized jeans. “There,” she pointed. “We can use my phone.”
They scrambled over to the heap of clothing, their bare feet slipping on the fabric as they climbed. Tara’s heart pounded in her chest as she dug through the layers of denim and cotton until she finally felt the smooth, familiar surface of her phone. It felt huge in her hands, but it still worked. She fumbled with it, her tiny fingers struggling to unlock the screen.
She managed to get the phone on and immediately tried to call someone—anyone. But every attempt went straight to voicemail. She tried calling her mom, her friends, even the campus security, but there was no answer.
“No one’s picking up,” she said, her voice tinged with panic.
Mia climbed up beside her, watching anxiously. “Try the internet, maybe someone’s posted about this, or... or there’s some news.”
Tara nodded, her fingers shaking as she switched over to social media. But when she opened the app, she was met with an eerie silence. No new posts, no messages. It was as if the world had suddenly gone dark. She tried refreshing the page, but nothing changed. It was like time had frozen the moment they shrunk.
Mia looked over Tara’s shoulder, her fear deepening. “Why isn’t anyone saying anything? It’s like everyone just... disappeared.”
Tara tried other apps, checking the news, messaging platforms—anything that could connect them to the outside world. But it was all the same. No updates, no notifications, nothing. The world beyond their dorm room seemed to have stopped.
“What if... what if whatever happened to us happened to everyone else too?” Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.
Tara didn’t want to believe it, but the thought had already crossed her mind. If they had shrunk without warning, who was to say the same thing hadn’t happened to others? Maybe everyone in the dorm—or even beyond—was in the same terrifying situation.
“We need to figure out what’s going on,” Tara said, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic. “Maybe... maybe we can find someone else, someone who can help.”
Mia nodded, though she looked far from convinced. “But what if we’re the only ones left?”
Tara had no answer for that. All she knew was they couldn’t just sit there and wait for something else to happen. They needed to move, to find help, or at least figure out what had happened to them before it was too late.
3.
Ethan groaned as he blinked his eyes open, his head throbbing like he’d just been hit with a hammer. He was lying on the pavement just outside the ladies' dorm, the pizza delivery bag still slung over his shoulder. He squinted against the bright sunlight, trying to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was walking up to the dorm’s front door with a pizza delivery when he saw something strange in the sky—an odd, shimmering light, like the aurora, only it was broad daylight. Then everything went black.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. The dorm was eerily silent, not a soul in sight. The street was empty too, not even the usual hum of distant traffic. It was as if the world had gone quiet in the few minutes he’d been out.
Instinctively, Ethan reached for his phone, pulling it out of his pocket. He tried calling his boss, then his roommate, but every call went straight to voicemail. A chill ran down his spine as he switched to social media, only to find the same unsettling silence. No updates, no messages—nothing. It was as if time had stopped.
“What the hell is going on?” he muttered to himself, standing up and looking around, trying to spot anyone—someone—who could explain what had happened. But all he saw was a pile of clothing on the lawn, the colorful fabric strewn about as if someone had just dropped them.
Ethan’s brow furrowed as he approached the pile. He remembered talking to one of the residents—a cute girl with dark hair and a bright smile. She’d been outside when he arrived, and they’d exchanged a few words before he walked up to the door. But now she was nowhere to be seen, only her clothes lying there as if she’d vanished into thin air.
He was about to head back to his delivery van, more than ready to get out of there and figure out what was happening, when he heard a faint sound. At first, he thought he was imagining it, but then he heard it again—a small, desperate voice pleading for help.
Ethan froze, his eyes darting around. The voice was coming from the pile of clothes. Heart pounding, he knelt down and began sifting through the fabric, his hands trembling as he uncovered the source of the voice. His eyes widened in shock when he finally saw her—the same cute girl he’d been talking to, only now she was no more than a few inches tall, naked and clutching a piece of fabric around herself for cover.
“Help me, please,” she begged, her tiny voice quivering with fear.
Ethan could hardly believe his eyes. He stared at her, his mind racing to make sense of what he was seeing. “W-What happened to you?” he stammered, still in disbelief.
“I don’t know,” she replied, tears welling up in her eyes. “One moment I was normal, and the next... I started shrinking. Please, you have to help me!”
Ethan gently scooped her up, his hands shaking as he held the tiny, trembling girl. He could feel her heart racing under his fingers, her fear palpable. Everything about the situation screamed impossible, but there she was, real and in desperate need of help.
“Okay, okay, I’ve got you,” he said, trying to steady his voice despite the panic rising in his chest. “We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
But as he looked around at the empty street and the silent dorm, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that they were alone in whatever strange, terrifying nightmare they’d stumbled into.
4.
As Ethan cradled the tiny girl in his hands, his mind still racing, he suddenly heard the familiar sound of a cellphone ringing. He glanced around, startled, until he spotted a phone lying on the lawn, half-hidden beneath another pile of clothes. The ringtone cut through the eerie silence, making his heart jump.
“That’s mine,” the tiny girl in his hands squeaked, her eyes wide as she pointed to the phone. “Please, I need to answer it!”
Ethan hesitated only a moment before carefully lowering her back onto the ground beside the phone. She scrambled over to it, her tiny hands struggling to lift the device that was now almost as big as she was. Ethan knelt beside her, his fingers deftly tapping the screen to help her answer the call.
The screen lit up, and Ethan’s breath caught in his throat when he saw what appeared on it. It wasn’t just a voice call—it was a video call. And staring back at him were two more shrunken, naked girls, both no more than a few inches tall, just like the one he had rescued.
“Help us!” one of them cried, her voice tiny but desperate. It was clear from the background that they were inside a dorm room, huddled together on what looked like a giant bedspread.
Ethan’s mind spun as he tried to process what he was seeing. “Tara? Mia?” the girl beside him whispered, recognizing her friends on the screen. “What happened to you?”
“We don’t know!” Tara, the one on the left, replied, her tiny face filled with panic. “One minute we were normal, and the next... this! We’ve tried calling everyone, but no one’s answering, and we can’t get out of the room!”
Mia, the other girl, nodded frantically. “Everything’s stopped! We can’t reach anyone, and it’s like the whole world just froze when this happened.”
Ethan swallowed hard, his gaze shifting between the screen and the tiny girl beside him. “This... this is insane,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. But there was no denying the reality of the situation. Somehow, these girls had all been inexplicably shrunk, and now they were trapped, terrified, and desperate for help.
“Where are you?” Ethan asked, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m right outside the dorm. I can come get you.”
“We’re in our room on the third floor,” Tara answered quickly. “Please hurry. We don’t know what to do!”
Ethan nodded, determination settling in despite the surreal nightmare he found himself in. “I’m on my way. Just hang on.”
He ended the call, his mind racing with questions that had no easy answers. How had this happened? Why was it happening? And most importantly, how could he help these girls when he had no idea what they were dealing with?
But one thing was clear—he couldn’t just leave them. Taking a deep breath, Ethan gently scooped up the tiny girl beside him again, cradling her in one hand while holding her phone in the other. He glanced down at her, giving her a reassuring nod.
“Let’s go get your friends,” he said, and with that, he headed toward the dorm’s entrance, determined to do whatever it took to get them all to safety.
5.
Ethan pushed open the door to the dorm, the creak echoing eerily in the stillness. The girl in his hand clung to him, her tiny fingers digging into his palm as they entered the common living room on the first floor. The place was deserted, the usual hustle and bustle of college life replaced by an unsettling silence. No sign of activity, no other students milling about—just an empty, almost lifeless room.
But as he stepped further inside, Ethan suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him, a foreboding sense that something wasn’t right. His heart pounded in his chest, his instincts screaming at him to stop. He hesitated, standing in the middle of the room, his eyes scanning the area for anything out of place.
The room looked normal at first glance—same worn-out couches, coffee tables, and scattered textbooks. But something gnawed at him, a strange sensation keeping him from moving forward. He was about to shake it off and head for the stairs when a faint movement caught his eye.
There, by one of the couches, a cat was pawing at something beneath it, its tail flicking back and forth in agitation. Ethan’s brow furrowed as he watched the cat, its claws scraping against the floor as it tried to reach whatever was hiding under the couch. The animal seemed unusually focused, almost desperate to get at whatever was there.
Ethan glanced around the room, his confusion deepening. There was nothing unusual—until his gaze landed on the couch itself. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a pile of women's clothing resting on the cushions, the fabric draped haphazardly as if someone had just tossed them aside.
And it was right above where the cat was clawing.
A chill ran down his spine as the pieces started to come together in his mind. The tiny girl in his hand shifted, sensing his tension. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her small voice trembling.
Ethan didn’t answer immediately, his eyes locked on the clothing and the cat below. A sickening realization crept over him, his blood running cold. “Stay here,” he whispered to the girl, carefully placing her down on the arm of a nearby chair, well out of the cat’s reach.
He approached the couch slowly, his footsteps almost silent on the carpeted floor. The cat hissed and swiped its paw under the couch again, clearly trying to get at something—no, someone—hiding there.
Ethan crouched down, his heart in his throat, and peered beneath the couch. His stomach turned when he saw a small, naked figure cowering in the shadows, trembling as the cat’s claws came dangerously close to her tiny body. It was another shrunken girl, her eyes wide with terror as she tried to back further away from the cat’s relentless assault.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Ethan whispered, reaching out carefully. The cat hissed again, but Ethan gently shooed it away, making sure it didn’t get another chance to strike. The cat backed off, still eyeing the tiny girl hungrily but retreating as Ethan’s hand came closer.
The girl looked up at Ethan, her face streaked with tears, clearly terrified but too frozen with fear to move. Ethan’s hand trembled as he carefully reached under the couch, his fingers brushing against her tiny form. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, his voice as soothing as he could manage despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
He gently lifted her out from under the couch, cradling her in his palm as she shivered uncontrollably. Her tiny hands gripped his thumb, her face pressed against his skin as she sobbed in relief.
Ethan stood up slowly, his mind reeling as he looked down at the two tiny girls he was now holding. Whatever had happened here, it was far worse than he’d initially realized. The sight of the cat nearly attacking the girl made him painfully aware of just how vulnerable they were in this state.
“We need to get out of here,” Ethan muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. But the foreboding feeling in the pit of his stomach only grew, warning him that leaving might not be as simple as it seemed.
6.
As soon as Ethan had the second shrunken girl safely in his hand, the heavy sense of dread that had been weighing on him began to lift. It was as if finding her had somehow eased the tension, though he couldn’t explain why. The danger wasn’t gone—the cat’s presence was a stark reminder of that—but at least he’d prevented something horrible from happening.
But holding both girls in his hands, he quickly realized he couldn’t keep carrying them like this, especially with a curious cat prowling around. They needed a safer place, something more secure. As he scanned the room, his eyes landed on a backpack resting on top of the couch. It looked like one of those backpacks designed to carry pets, complete with mesh panels and a padded interior.
“That’s mine,” the second shrunken girl piped up, her tiny voice barely audible. “I brought my cat in it.”
Ethan nodded, relieved. It seemed like the perfect solution. He gently placed the first girl on the couch, then set the second girl beside her, making sure they were both out of the cat’s reach. He grabbed the backpack and quickly unzipped it, checking the inside to make sure it was empty.
“It’s not exactly ideal,” he murmured, “but it’s better than having you out in the open.”
The first girl, still clutching the piece of fabric she’d wrapped around herself, looked at the backpack and nodded. “Anything’s better than that cat,” she whispered, glancing nervously at the feline, which had taken to sulking in the corner after being shooed away.
Ethan carefully helped the girls climb into the backpack, one at a time. The interior was spacious enough for them to move around a little, and the padded walls offered some protection. He zipped it up most of the way, leaving just enough of an opening for them to breathe comfortably.
As the girls settled in, Ethan became painfully aware of their current state—they were both still completely naked, save for the makeshift cover the first girl had managed to fashion. His cheeks flushed, realizing that while he’d been focused on getting them to safety, he hadn’t thought about how vulnerable they must feel.
“Hold on, I’ll find something for you to wear,” he said, glancing around the room. His eyes fell on the pile of clothes on the couch. “These must be yours, right?” he asked, looking down at the second girl, who nodded.
“Yeah, but they’re way too big now,” she said with a sigh, her tiny shoulders slumping.
Ethan thought for a moment, then grabbed a T-shirt from the pile. “This might work,” he said, tearing a strip of fabric from the shirt. He quickly fashioned a couple of simple dresses, just enough to give them some modesty. He handed the fabric to the girls, who gratefully wrapped themselves up, the makeshift garments hanging loosely but providing some comfort.
As they adjusted their new clothes, Ethan took a moment to get to know them better. “I’m Ethan, by the way,” he said, offering a small smile. “What are your names?”
“I’m Lily,” the first girl said, her voice a bit stronger now that she was feeling more secure. “And that’s Amber,” she added, gesturing to the second girl, who gave a small wave.
“Nice to meet you, even under these... unusual circumstances,” Ethan said, trying to lighten the mood a little.
“Thanks for saving us,” Amber said softly, glancing up at him with a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
Ethan nodded, his expression serious. “I’m just glad I got here in time. But we’re not out of the woods yet. I still need to get you both to safety—and we need to figure out what’s going on.”
He carefully slung the backpack over his shoulder, making sure it was secure. The cat watched him warily from the corner but made no move to approach. With Lily and Amber sheltered inside, Ethan felt a little more confident as he headed for the stairs, ready to find Tara and Mia.
7.
As Ethan climbed the stairs to the second floor, that ominous feeling crept back into his mind, stronger than before. It was as if a dark cloud had settled over him, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that made his every instinct scream to be on high alert. He paused at the top of the stairs, his heart pounding, and looked around, trying to pinpoint where the unease was coming from.
It was strange—unlike anything he’d felt before. The sensation seemed to intensify or fade depending on which direction he faced, almost like a metal detector picking up on something hidden. He turned slowly, his eyes scanning the hallway. When he faced one direction, the feeling grew weaker, almost tolerable. But when he turned the opposite way, it intensified, hitting him like a wave.
“What is this?” he muttered under his breath, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Amber and Lily, tucked away in the backpack, must have sensed his tension. “What’s wrong?” Amber asked, her tiny voice laced with concern.
“I’m... not sure,” Ethan replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “Something feels off. I think I’m being... guided, somehow.”
He started walking, following the sensation’s cues like a compass. As he moved, the ominous feeling fluctuated—growing stronger or weaker depending on the direction he chose. He passed a few doors, each one giving off different levels of intensity until he finally found himself standing in front of one that made the sensation almost unbearable.
This was it. Whatever was causing that feeling was behind this door. The overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe, like a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he grasped the doorknob.
It didn’t budge. The door was locked.
“Damn it,” Ethan muttered, frustration mingling with his anxiety. He stepped back, considering his options. The girls had said they were on the third floor, but something about this room felt crucial—like there was something here he needed to see.
“Can you open it?” Lily asked from inside the backpack, her voice tinged with nervousness.
“No, it’s locked,” Ethan replied, gritting his teeth. “But whatever’s behind this door... I think it’s important.”
Amber spoke up, her voice urgent. “There’s an office on this floor! The dorm staff should have keys to every room. If you can find it, maybe you can get the key for this door.”
Ethan nodded, grateful for the suggestion. “Good idea. I’ll find the office and get the key.”
He turned away from the door, the oppressive feeling still lingering as he made his way down the hall. He knew he had to act fast—whatever was behind that door, it was significant, and he had to find out what it was.
Moving quickly but cautiously, Ethan followed the hallway until he found the office Amber had mentioned. The door was slightly ajar, and he slipped inside, scanning the room. It was a small, functional space—desk, filing cabinets, a few chairs—but most importantly, there was a key ring hanging on the wall.
“There we go,” Ethan murmured, grabbing the key ring and flipping through the keys. They were all labeled, and it didn’t take long to find the one for the room he needed.
He headed back to the locked door, the ominous sensation growing stronger with every step. When he reached the door, his hand trembled slightly as he slid the key into the lock, the cold metal fitting perfectly.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan turned the key and heard the satisfying click of the lock disengaging. He hesitated for just a moment, then pushed the door open, bracing himself for whatever he might find inside.
8.
Ethan stepped into the dorm room, his heart pounding in his chest as he scanned the space. At first glance, it looked just like any other college dorm—neatly made beds, posters on the walls, a couple of desks cluttered with books and papers. But the room was eerily silent, and there was no sign of anyone.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted it—a pile of clothing on the floor near one of the beds, just like the others he had found. His breath caught in his throat as he approached, his gaze shifting from the discarded clothes to the small figure huddled beside them.
There, standing no more than a few inches tall, was another girl, completely naked and trembling with fear. Her wide eyes locked onto Ethan's towering form, and he could see the sheer terror in her expression.
Before he could say anything, the girl let out a blood-curdling scream, the sound tiny but filled with raw panic. She bolted, running for the nearest bed, her tiny feet pattering against the floor. Ethan’s instinct was to reach out and stop her, but he hesitated, not wanting to scare her even more.
“Wait—” he started, but the girl was already scrambling under the bed, disappearing from sight. Ethan dropped to his knees, trying to peer under the bed, but all he could see was the faint outline of her tiny form huddled against the wall, as far from him as she could get.
“It’s okay,” Ethan said softly, trying to soothe her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
But his words seemed to have no effect. The girl stayed hidden, her small frame shaking with fear. Ethan felt a pang of guilt, realizing just how terrifying this must be for her. He was a giant to her—an enormous, unfamiliar presence in a world that had suddenly become vast and incomprehensible.
He glanced back at the backpack, where Amber and Lily were sheltered. Maybe if she saw the other girls, she’d realize he wasn’t a threat. But how could he coax her out without making things worse?
“Amber, Lily,” he whispered, unzipping the backpack just enough for them to hear him. “There’s another girl here, but she’s scared out of her mind. I think she’ll trust you more than she trusts me. Can you help?”
Amber’s tiny face appeared at the opening of the backpack, her expression serious. “We’ll try,” she said, her voice determined despite the circumstances.
Ethan gently set the backpack on the floor near the bed, making sure the opening faced the space where the girl was hiding. Lily peeked out as well, and together, the two tiny girls crawled out of the backpack, making their way toward the bed.
“Hey,” Amber called softly as she approached the other girl’s hiding spot. “It’s okay, we’re here to help. You’re not alone.”
There was a pause, the shuffling under the bed stopping as the girl likely registered the voices of others her size. A moment later, a small face peeked out from the shadows, her wide eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope.
“We were scared too,” Lily added, her voice gentle. “But Ethan—he’s the guy who found us—he’s really nice. He’s been protecting us from a cat and trying to figure out what’s going on.”
The girl hesitated, glancing between Amber, Lily, and the massive figure of Ethan looming in the background. Slowly, she edged closer, still wary but clearly desperate for comfort.
“What’s your name?” Amber asked, holding out her hand as she crouched near the bed.
The girl’s voice was barely a whisper. “Jenna.”
“Nice to meet you, Jenna,” Amber said, smiling. “We’re going to get through this together, okay? You’re safe with us.”
Jenna looked at Amber’s outstretched hand, then tentatively reached out to take it. Ethan felt a wave of relief as Jenna allowed herself to be led out from under the bed, her trust slowly starting to form.
Ethan offered a reassuring smile. “Let’s get you somewhere safe, Jenna. We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
9.
As Jenna slowly calmed down, thanks to the comforting efforts of Amber and Lily, Ethan felt the foreboding sensation that had been gnawing at him begin to diminish. But it didn’t disappear completely. It still lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder that something was very, very wrong.
The girls, now huddled together, exchanged worried glances. “There are over two dozen girls who live here,” Amber said, her voice trembling. “Many of them should be in their rooms right now. If this has happened to us...”
Ethan’s stomach tightened. The realization hit him hard—he couldn’t just leave the floor without checking each room. What if there were more girls trapped or in danger, shrunken and helpless like the ones he’d already found?
“I need to check the other rooms,” he said, determination hardening his voice. He glanced at the key ring in his hand, knowing it was the only way to find out if anyone else needed help. “Stay close to me.”
Amber, Lily, and Jenna nodded, their trust in him growing, though their fear for their friends was palpable. Ethan felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as he began methodically unlocking and entering each room on the floor.
Room after room, the story was the same—no girls to be found, only eerily empty spaces with clothes discarded as if their occupants had simply vanished. The girls huddled closer together, their tears silently falling as the hope of finding their friends unharmed began to dwindle.
Ethan’s heart ached as he watched them, feeling helpless. He knew he had to keep searching, but with each empty room, his anxiety grew. Then, as he reached the end of the hallway, that ominous sensation surged back, stronger than before.
It was pulling him again, guiding him like a beacon, and this time it led him to the door of the common bathroom. His hand trembled as he reached for the handle, the fear of what he might find gnawing at his nerves. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At first, everything seemed normal—the bathroom was clean, the tiles pristine, the air heavy with the scent of soap and shampoo. But then he heard it—a faint, weak voice calling out for help, barely audible above the hum of the fluorescent lights.
“Help... please...”
Ethan’s eyes darted around the room until they locked onto the source of the voice. In the bathtub, he saw another girl, much like the others he’d found—shrunken to a mere few inches in height. But this girl wasn’t just sitting there. She was perched precariously atop a small rubber duck, her tiny body shivering as she tried to keep her head above water.
Ethan’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. The girl was stunning, even in her tiny form, with a body that would have had any guy blushing. Ethan could feel the heat rise in his cheeks as he tried to focus on the urgent situation rather than her looks.
Her skin had turned a worrying shade of pale, her lips almost blue from the cold water that had likely drained her strength. She looked up at him with desperate eyes, her voice barely a whisper. “Please... help me... I’m so cold...”
Ethan snapped into action, his embarrassment forgotten as concern flooded his senses. He had to get her out of the water and warmed up, fast, or the cold could become a deadly threat to her tiny body.
Carefully, he reached into the tub and scooped her up, rubber duck and all. The girl was so light in his hands, almost fragile, and her shivering intensified as she left the water’s surface. Ethan held her close, trying to share his warmth, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice gentle as he cradled her. “I’m going to warm you up, okay? Just hang in there.”
He quickly scanned the bathroom for anything he could use. Towels were hanging by the sink, and he grabbed one, wrapping it around her tiny form to help insulate her from the cold. But it was clear she needed more than just a towel—her body was weak, her energy drained by the frigid water.
Ethan looked around the room, his mind racing. The only solution he could think of was to get her near something warm, but the dorm didn’t have any heaters or anything similar in sight.
Then it hit him. The closest thing to a warm, constant source of heat would be his own body. It was a drastic measure, but he couldn’t think of anything else that could work quickly enough.
With the tiny girl still shivering in his hands, Ethan gently pressed her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her to share his body heat. He could feel her trembling gradually begin to slow as she absorbed the warmth, but he knew she needed more time.
“Stay with me,” he whispered, his voice a mix of concern and determination. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
10.
Cradling the tiny girl against his chest, Ethan felt a warmth spread through him, different from the ominous feeling that had guided him earlier. This new sensation was gentle, soothing, like a wave of peace washing over him. It was as if the fear and anxiety of the past hour were melting away, replaced by a deep, calming reassurance.
The girl in his arms, still shivering slightly, began to settle as she absorbed the warmth of his body. Ethan could feel the tension in her tiny muscles ease, her trembling slowing as she relaxed into his embrace. But as the seconds ticked by, that soothing sensation started to shift into something else, something more intimate.
Ethan became acutely aware of the small, delicate form pressed against his chest, the softness of her skin, the curve of her body. The sensation was oddly pleasurable, a gentle hum of contentment that lulled him into a state of restful tranquility. His eyelids grew heavy, the stress of the situation fading as he succumbed to the peacefulness enveloping him.
Time seemed to blur. He didn’t know how long he stood there, holding her, but it felt like a moment suspended in time, a brief escape from the chaos that had overtaken the dorm. The warmth, the quiet, the feel of her in his arms—it all melded into a comforting embrace that he didn’t want to let go of.
But then, a faint giggle pierced through the haze, followed by a playful poke at his side. “Ethan,” Amber’s voice called, teasing and light. “You look really pleased with yourself over there.”
Ethan’s eyes snapped open, the peaceful trance shattering as he blinked down at the girls in his arms. The girl he was holding—the one who had been so weak and cold—was now staring up at him with wide, embarrassed eyes. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she realized how close she was to him, how intimately he was holding her.
She quickly pushed herself away from his chest, but not without a fleeting look that Ethan could only describe as flustered. The sensation that had lulled him earlier was gone, replaced by an awkward tension that hung in the air between them.
“Are you okay?” he asked, trying to cover his own embarrassment with concern.
The girl nodded quickly, avoiding his gaze as she adjusted the towel he had wrapped around her. “I’m fine now, thanks,” she mumbled, her voice soft and shy. She glanced up at him, then looked away just as fast, the blush in her cheeks deepening.
Amber and Lily exchanged knowing looks, grinning at the obvious awkwardness between the two. “She’s fine,” Lily teased, her tone light. “But you looked like you were having the best nap ever just now.”
Ethan felt his face heat up, realizing how content he must have appeared, cradling the girl so closely. “I wasn’t... I mean, I was just... making sure she was warm,” he stammered, trying to explain, but the other girls just giggled more.
The girl in his arms, now regaining her strength, pulled away further, her tiny hands clutching the towel to cover herself as best she could. “Thank you,” she said, her voice still tinged with embarrassment. “But... I think I’m good now. Really.”
Ethan nodded, equally flustered, as he gently set her down beside the other girls. She quickly stepped away, her gaze darting to the side as if trying to shake off whatever strange sensation they had both felt.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Amber broke it with a smile. “Looks like she’s back to full strength. What’s your name, by the way?”
The girl hesitated, still obviously flustered, before finally answering, “Isabella.”
“Well, Isabella,” Amber said with a wink, “Welcome to the team. Now that you’re warmed up, we need to figure out our next move.”
Isabella nodded, still avoiding Ethan’s gaze, though she couldn’t seem to stop herself from glancing at him now and then, as if trying to make sense of what they had both felt. Ethan, equally baffled, tried to shake off the lingering traces of that strange, peaceful sensation, focusing instead on what they had to do next. But even as he turned his attention back to the task at hand, the memory of that warmth and contentment stayed with him, confusing and oddly comforting all at once.
11.
Tara and Mia had managed to keep themselves busy while waiting for Ethan. After calling out to the other shrunken residents on the third floor, they'd found a few more girls trapped in their rooms, just as desperate and scared as they had been. It had taken some effort, but they'd promised to do whatever they could to help—at least, once they figured out what help might even look like in their current state.
They'd just finished another round of checking in with the other girls when they heard heavy footsteps approaching their door. Their hearts leaped, and they quickly turned toward the entrance as it creaked open. The sight of a giant Ethan, filling the doorway, made them both exhale in relief. But their amazement grew as they noticed the cat carrier in his hand, small faces peeking out from behind the mesh.
Tara and Mia watched in awe as Ethan gently set the carrier down on the bed beside them. One by one, the tiny figures inside clambered out, each wearing a makeshift towel or bit of fabric for modesty. They recognized Lily and Amber immediately, followed by Jenna and Isabella. The group was larger now, a mix of familiar faces, all sharing the same strange fate.
But as their initial excitement wore off, Tara noticed something concerning. Ethan’s hand, the one he’d used to carry the girls, was marked with angry red scratches, clearly from the cat's earlier attack. The wounds weren’t deep, but they were enough to worry her. “Ethan, your hand,” she said, pointing at the injury. “You should’ve taken care of this sooner!”
The other girls turned their attention to Ethan’s hand, concern immediately washing over their faces. Mia, ever practical, didn’t waste any time. “You need to clean that up before it gets infected. There should be a first aid kit in one of these rooms. Ethan, can you get it?”
Ethan blinked, a little taken aback by the sudden shift in attention. The scratches hadn’t seemed like a big deal to him, not with everything else going on. But seeing the worry in their tiny faces, he nodded and went to search for the kit.
While he rummaged through drawers, the girls chatted quietly amongst themselves, the conversation shifting from their own predicament to their concern for Ethan. Mia glanced back at the group, a mixture of emotions in her eyes. “We’re all in this together now,” she said softly, almost as if trying to convince herself. “The least we can do is make sure he’s okay, too.”
When Ethan returned with the first aid kit, the girls immediately took over. Even at their small size, they were surprisingly efficient, directing him to sit on the edge of the bed so they could tend to his hand. Tara and Mia took charge, carefully cleaning the scratches with antiseptic wipes that were nearly as big as they were.
Lily and Amber busied themselves with unrolling a bandage, while Jenna and Isabella hovered close by, ready to help. It was an odd sight—six tiny girls working together to clean and bandage his hand, their movements small but precise. Ethan watched in silence, his emotions tangled as he felt their tiny hands gently tending to his wounds.
He couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. Gratitude, certainly, for their care and attention. But there was something else, too—a strange mix of protectiveness and responsibility. These girls, all of whom had been living their lives normally just hours ago, were now in his care, depending on him to keep them safe. The weight of that realization pressed down on him, making his chest tighten.
As the last bandage was carefully placed and secured, Tara looked up at Ethan, a small smile on her face. “There. That should keep it clean for now.”
“Thanks,” Ethan murmured, his voice thick with unspoken emotion. He glanced at the bandaged hand, then back at the six girls who had worked so hard to help him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Mia grinned, her earlier seriousness giving way to a playful tone. “Well, you’re stuck with us now, so you better get used to it.”
The other girls giggled, the tension easing just a bit as they shared in the moment. But even as they laughed, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling of the burden now literally in his hands. These girls had been thrust into a situation none of them could have ever imagined, and now they were relying on him, trusting him to figure out a way to keep them safe. It was overwhelming, but he knew he couldn’t let them down.
The weight of responsibility settled over him like a heavy cloak, but as he looked down at their hopeful faces, he also felt a spark of determination. They were all in this together, and somehow, they’d find a way through it. For now, that meant taking care of each other, one step at a time.
12.
After the girls finished bandaging his hand, Ethan took a deep breath, his mind racing with everything that had happened. He knew he needed to keep moving, to check on the other trapped residents Tara and Mia had mentioned. But before he left, he wanted to do something for the girls who had just helped him.
“Hey,” Ethan said, catching their attention as he unslung the pizza delivery bag from his shoulder. “I’ve got something for you all.”
The girls watched curiously as Ethan unzipped the bag, revealing the steaming pizza inside. The smell hit them first, a warm, cheesy aroma that made their tiny stomachs growl in anticipation. But when he pulled out the pizza, their eyes widened in shock and delight. To them, the pizza looked massive—each slice could have been the size of a small bed in their current state.
“Oh my gosh,” Mia gasped, staring at the pizza in awe. “It’s huge!”
Ethan chuckled at their reactions, carefully placing a slice onto a plate for them. “Figured you might be hungry,” he said, his voice warm with affection. “And I’ve got more where that came from.”
He reached into the bag again, pulling out plastic cups filled with side dishes—macaroni, coleslaw, and a few other treats. He set them down on the bed, arranging them around the pizza slice like a little feast. The girls gathered around, their earlier concerns momentarily forgotten as they marveled at the impromptu party Ethan had created for them.
“This is amazing!” Lily exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she reached for a piece of pepperoni as big as her hand. “I haven’t eaten since this morning!”
The other girls quickly joined in, grabbing pieces of pizza and small forkfuls of the side dishes. They laughed and chatted, their voices filling the room with a sense of camaraderie that eased some of the tension that had been hanging over them.
Ethan watched them for a moment, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Seeing them happy, even for just a little while, made the weight on his shoulders feel a bit lighter. But he couldn’t stay. He knew there were other girls still trapped, still scared, and he needed to find them.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Ethan said, standing up and slinging the now-empty delivery bag over his shoulder. “But I’ve got to go check on the others. I’ll be back soon.”
The girls looked up at him, their expressions a mix of gratitude and concern. Tara nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “Be careful, Ethan.”
“I will,” he promised, giving them one last smile before heading toward the door. As he left, the girls turned back to their meal, the room filling with the sounds of their chatter and laughter.
But as the initial excitement of the pizza wore off, a more serious conversation began to take shape. Tara took a bite of macaroni, her expression thoughtful. “Do you think… do you think Ethan will keep seeing us the same way?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Mia looked up, chewing slowly as she considered the question. “What do you mean?”
Tara hesitated, glancing around at the other girls. “I mean, we’re so small now. It’s like… we’re not people anymore. What if he starts seeing us more like pets or something?”
The room grew quiet as the girls mulled over Tara’s words. It was a fear that had been lurking in the back of their minds since they’d first shrunk—a fear that their size would change the way others saw them, that they’d lose their personhood in the eyes of the people around them.
Isabella frowned, her fingers idly toying with a piece of coleslaw. “He’s been really nice to us,” she pointed out. “But yeah, I get what you’re saying. It’s kind of scary to think about.”
“We have to make sure he doesn’t start seeing us that way,” Mia said firmly, setting down her piece of pizza. “We need to remind him that we’re still us—still the same people we were before this happened.”
“But how?” Jenna asked, her voice small. “I mean, look at us. We’re tiny, we’re helpless… it’s hard not to feel like we’re less than we were.”
Lily bit her lip, thinking hard. “Maybe we need to show him that we’re still capable, even at this size. Like, helping him out with things, making decisions… stuff like that. If we prove we’re not just helpless little things, maybe he’ll keep seeing us as equals.”
Tara nodded slowly, her worry easing just a bit as they talked. “Yeah, that makes sense. We can’t just rely on him for everything—we have to stay involved, stay proactive. That way, he won’t forget who we are.”
The girls murmured their agreement, feeling a bit better now that they had a plan. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. They didn’t know what the future held or how long they’d be stuck in their shrunken state, but one thing was clear—they weren’t going to let their size define them. And they weren’t going to let anyone, not even Ethan, see them as anything less than the strong, capable people they were.
As they continued their meal, the conversation turned to lighter topics, but the underlying resolve remained. They would face this together, and they would remind the world—starting with Ethan—that they were still the same girls they had always been, no matter how small they might be now.
Tara and Mia were lounging in their dorm room on a lazy afternoon, sprawled out on their beds, scrolling through their phones without a care in the world. The sun streamed through the half-open blinds, casting a warm, golden glow over the room filled with posters, clothes strewn about, and the usual clutter of college life.
Tara, the more outgoing of the two, was halfway through a text message to her latest fling when she felt something strange—like the world had tilted just slightly. She frowned, shook her head, and resumed typing. But the feeling only grew stronger, an odd sensation that made her dizzy. She looked over at Mia, who was lying on her bed, engrossed in some video.
"Hey, do you feel—"
Before Tara could finish, she felt a sudden rush, as if the floor had dropped out from under her. She gasped, her phone slipping from her fingers and landing with a thud on the carpet. Tara tried to stand, but her jeans felt impossibly heavy, pulling her down. She blinked in confusion, looking around, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw her room... growing.
Mia, now noticing the change, sat up, only to feel the same dizzying sensation. Her tank top, which had fit perfectly a moment ago, was now sagging around her shoulders. She glanced at Tara, eyes wide with panic.
"Tara, what the hell is happening?"
"I-I don't know!" Tara stammered, trying to pull herself free from her own oversized clothes. But the more she struggled, the faster she seemed to shrink. Within moments, her once snug jeans were a crumpled heap on the floor, and her tank top had slipped off her shoulders, leaving her drowning in fabric.
Mia was faring no better. Her shorts had slipped off entirely, pooling around her ankles as she fought to stay upright. Her once tight tank top was now more like a dress, hanging loosely as she shrank inside it.
They both scrambled to make sense of what was happening, but there was no time. Within seconds, they were no more than a foot tall, then half that, still shrinking uncontrollably. The room around them loomed larger and larger until they were nothing more than tiny, naked figures lost in a sea of their own clothing.
Tara finally managed to crawl out from under her now gigantic shirt, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She looked up at the towering landscape of their dorm room, every piece of furniture now a massive structure. The sight made her dizzy all over again.
Mia crawled out beside her, looking just as shaken. "How... how did this happen?" she whispered, hugging her arms around her tiny, exposed body.
Tara had no answer. All she could do was stare up at the enormous world around them, trying to wrap her mind around the impossible reality they were now trapped in.
2.
Tara and Mia eventually stopped shrinking, but by then, they were no more than a few inches tall, standing on the cold, hard floor surrounded by heaps of their clothes. The once familiar dorm room now looked like an alien landscape, with their beds towering over them like mountains, the furniture casting long, ominous shadows across the floor.
Tara was the first to move, her instincts kicking in despite the overwhelming fear. “We need to get help,” she said, her voice trembling as she looked over at Mia, who was still staring up at their massive surroundings in disbelief.
“How?” Mia replied, her voice small and shaky. “We’re so... tiny.”
Tara spotted her phone buried under the pile of her now oversized jeans. “There,” she pointed. “We can use my phone.”
They scrambled over to the heap of clothing, their bare feet slipping on the fabric as they climbed. Tara’s heart pounded in her chest as she dug through the layers of denim and cotton until she finally felt the smooth, familiar surface of her phone. It felt huge in her hands, but it still worked. She fumbled with it, her tiny fingers struggling to unlock the screen.
She managed to get the phone on and immediately tried to call someone—anyone. But every attempt went straight to voicemail. She tried calling her mom, her friends, even the campus security, but there was no answer.
“No one’s picking up,” she said, her voice tinged with panic.
Mia climbed up beside her, watching anxiously. “Try the internet, maybe someone’s posted about this, or... or there’s some news.”
Tara nodded, her fingers shaking as she switched over to social media. But when she opened the app, she was met with an eerie silence. No new posts, no messages. It was as if the world had suddenly gone dark. She tried refreshing the page, but nothing changed. It was like time had frozen the moment they shrunk.
Mia looked over Tara’s shoulder, her fear deepening. “Why isn’t anyone saying anything? It’s like everyone just... disappeared.”
Tara tried other apps, checking the news, messaging platforms—anything that could connect them to the outside world. But it was all the same. No updates, no notifications, nothing. The world beyond their dorm room seemed to have stopped.
“What if... what if whatever happened to us happened to everyone else too?” Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.
Tara didn’t want to believe it, but the thought had already crossed her mind. If they had shrunk without warning, who was to say the same thing hadn’t happened to others? Maybe everyone in the dorm—or even beyond—was in the same terrifying situation.
“We need to figure out what’s going on,” Tara said, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic. “Maybe... maybe we can find someone else, someone who can help.”
Mia nodded, though she looked far from convinced. “But what if we’re the only ones left?”
Tara had no answer for that. All she knew was they couldn’t just sit there and wait for something else to happen. They needed to move, to find help, or at least figure out what had happened to them before it was too late.
3.
Ethan groaned as he blinked his eyes open, his head throbbing like he’d just been hit with a hammer. He was lying on the pavement just outside the ladies' dorm, the pizza delivery bag still slung over his shoulder. He squinted against the bright sunlight, trying to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was walking up to the dorm’s front door with a pizza delivery when he saw something strange in the sky—an odd, shimmering light, like the aurora, only it was broad daylight. Then everything went black.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. The dorm was eerily silent, not a soul in sight. The street was empty too, not even the usual hum of distant traffic. It was as if the world had gone quiet in the few minutes he’d been out.
Instinctively, Ethan reached for his phone, pulling it out of his pocket. He tried calling his boss, then his roommate, but every call went straight to voicemail. A chill ran down his spine as he switched to social media, only to find the same unsettling silence. No updates, no messages—nothing. It was as if time had stopped.
“What the hell is going on?” he muttered to himself, standing up and looking around, trying to spot anyone—someone—who could explain what had happened. But all he saw was a pile of clothing on the lawn, the colorful fabric strewn about as if someone had just dropped them.
Ethan’s brow furrowed as he approached the pile. He remembered talking to one of the residents—a cute girl with dark hair and a bright smile. She’d been outside when he arrived, and they’d exchanged a few words before he walked up to the door. But now she was nowhere to be seen, only her clothes lying there as if she’d vanished into thin air.
He was about to head back to his delivery van, more than ready to get out of there and figure out what was happening, when he heard a faint sound. At first, he thought he was imagining it, but then he heard it again—a small, desperate voice pleading for help.
Ethan froze, his eyes darting around. The voice was coming from the pile of clothes. Heart pounding, he knelt down and began sifting through the fabric, his hands trembling as he uncovered the source of the voice. His eyes widened in shock when he finally saw her—the same cute girl he’d been talking to, only now she was no more than a few inches tall, naked and clutching a piece of fabric around herself for cover.
“Help me, please,” she begged, her tiny voice quivering with fear.
Ethan could hardly believe his eyes. He stared at her, his mind racing to make sense of what he was seeing. “W-What happened to you?” he stammered, still in disbelief.
“I don’t know,” she replied, tears welling up in her eyes. “One moment I was normal, and the next... I started shrinking. Please, you have to help me!”
Ethan gently scooped her up, his hands shaking as he held the tiny, trembling girl. He could feel her heart racing under his fingers, her fear palpable. Everything about the situation screamed impossible, but there she was, real and in desperate need of help.
“Okay, okay, I’ve got you,” he said, trying to steady his voice despite the panic rising in his chest. “We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
But as he looked around at the empty street and the silent dorm, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that they were alone in whatever strange, terrifying nightmare they’d stumbled into.
4.
As Ethan cradled the tiny girl in his hands, his mind still racing, he suddenly heard the familiar sound of a cellphone ringing. He glanced around, startled, until he spotted a phone lying on the lawn, half-hidden beneath another pile of clothes. The ringtone cut through the eerie silence, making his heart jump.
“That’s mine,” the tiny girl in his hands squeaked, her eyes wide as she pointed to the phone. “Please, I need to answer it!”
Ethan hesitated only a moment before carefully lowering her back onto the ground beside the phone. She scrambled over to it, her tiny hands struggling to lift the device that was now almost as big as she was. Ethan knelt beside her, his fingers deftly tapping the screen to help her answer the call.
The screen lit up, and Ethan’s breath caught in his throat when he saw what appeared on it. It wasn’t just a voice call—it was a video call. And staring back at him were two more shrunken, naked girls, both no more than a few inches tall, just like the one he had rescued.
“Help us!” one of them cried, her voice tiny but desperate. It was clear from the background that they were inside a dorm room, huddled together on what looked like a giant bedspread.
Ethan’s mind spun as he tried to process what he was seeing. “Tara? Mia?” the girl beside him whispered, recognizing her friends on the screen. “What happened to you?”
“We don’t know!” Tara, the one on the left, replied, her tiny face filled with panic. “One minute we were normal, and the next... this! We’ve tried calling everyone, but no one’s answering, and we can’t get out of the room!”
Mia, the other girl, nodded frantically. “Everything’s stopped! We can’t reach anyone, and it’s like the whole world just froze when this happened.”
Ethan swallowed hard, his gaze shifting between the screen and the tiny girl beside him. “This... this is insane,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. But there was no denying the reality of the situation. Somehow, these girls had all been inexplicably shrunk, and now they were trapped, terrified, and desperate for help.
“Where are you?” Ethan asked, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m right outside the dorm. I can come get you.”
“We’re in our room on the third floor,” Tara answered quickly. “Please hurry. We don’t know what to do!”
Ethan nodded, determination settling in despite the surreal nightmare he found himself in. “I’m on my way. Just hang on.”
He ended the call, his mind racing with questions that had no easy answers. How had this happened? Why was it happening? And most importantly, how could he help these girls when he had no idea what they were dealing with?
But one thing was clear—he couldn’t just leave them. Taking a deep breath, Ethan gently scooped up the tiny girl beside him again, cradling her in one hand while holding her phone in the other. He glanced down at her, giving her a reassuring nod.
“Let’s go get your friends,” he said, and with that, he headed toward the dorm’s entrance, determined to do whatever it took to get them all to safety.
5.
Ethan pushed open the door to the dorm, the creak echoing eerily in the stillness. The girl in his hand clung to him, her tiny fingers digging into his palm as they entered the common living room on the first floor. The place was deserted, the usual hustle and bustle of college life replaced by an unsettling silence. No sign of activity, no other students milling about—just an empty, almost lifeless room.
But as he stepped further inside, Ethan suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him, a foreboding sense that something wasn’t right. His heart pounded in his chest, his instincts screaming at him to stop. He hesitated, standing in the middle of the room, his eyes scanning the area for anything out of place.
The room looked normal at first glance—same worn-out couches, coffee tables, and scattered textbooks. But something gnawed at him, a strange sensation keeping him from moving forward. He was about to shake it off and head for the stairs when a faint movement caught his eye.
There, by one of the couches, a cat was pawing at something beneath it, its tail flicking back and forth in agitation. Ethan’s brow furrowed as he watched the cat, its claws scraping against the floor as it tried to reach whatever was hiding under the couch. The animal seemed unusually focused, almost desperate to get at whatever was there.
Ethan glanced around the room, his confusion deepening. There was nothing unusual—until his gaze landed on the couch itself. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a pile of women's clothing resting on the cushions, the fabric draped haphazardly as if someone had just tossed them aside.
And it was right above where the cat was clawing.
A chill ran down his spine as the pieces started to come together in his mind. The tiny girl in his hand shifted, sensing his tension. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her small voice trembling.
Ethan didn’t answer immediately, his eyes locked on the clothing and the cat below. A sickening realization crept over him, his blood running cold. “Stay here,” he whispered to the girl, carefully placing her down on the arm of a nearby chair, well out of the cat’s reach.
He approached the couch slowly, his footsteps almost silent on the carpeted floor. The cat hissed and swiped its paw under the couch again, clearly trying to get at something—no, someone—hiding there.
Ethan crouched down, his heart in his throat, and peered beneath the couch. His stomach turned when he saw a small, naked figure cowering in the shadows, trembling as the cat’s claws came dangerously close to her tiny body. It was another shrunken girl, her eyes wide with terror as she tried to back further away from the cat’s relentless assault.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Ethan whispered, reaching out carefully. The cat hissed again, but Ethan gently shooed it away, making sure it didn’t get another chance to strike. The cat backed off, still eyeing the tiny girl hungrily but retreating as Ethan’s hand came closer.
The girl looked up at Ethan, her face streaked with tears, clearly terrified but too frozen with fear to move. Ethan’s hand trembled as he carefully reached under the couch, his fingers brushing against her tiny form. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, his voice as soothing as he could manage despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
He gently lifted her out from under the couch, cradling her in his palm as she shivered uncontrollably. Her tiny hands gripped his thumb, her face pressed against his skin as she sobbed in relief.
Ethan stood up slowly, his mind reeling as he looked down at the two tiny girls he was now holding. Whatever had happened here, it was far worse than he’d initially realized. The sight of the cat nearly attacking the girl made him painfully aware of just how vulnerable they were in this state.
“We need to get out of here,” Ethan muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. But the foreboding feeling in the pit of his stomach only grew, warning him that leaving might not be as simple as it seemed.
6.
As soon as Ethan had the second shrunken girl safely in his hand, the heavy sense of dread that had been weighing on him began to lift. It was as if finding her had somehow eased the tension, though he couldn’t explain why. The danger wasn’t gone—the cat’s presence was a stark reminder of that—but at least he’d prevented something horrible from happening.
But holding both girls in his hands, he quickly realized he couldn’t keep carrying them like this, especially with a curious cat prowling around. They needed a safer place, something more secure. As he scanned the room, his eyes landed on a backpack resting on top of the couch. It looked like one of those backpacks designed to carry pets, complete with mesh panels and a padded interior.
“That’s mine,” the second shrunken girl piped up, her tiny voice barely audible. “I brought my cat in it.”
Ethan nodded, relieved. It seemed like the perfect solution. He gently placed the first girl on the couch, then set the second girl beside her, making sure they were both out of the cat’s reach. He grabbed the backpack and quickly unzipped it, checking the inside to make sure it was empty.
“It’s not exactly ideal,” he murmured, “but it’s better than having you out in the open.”
The first girl, still clutching the piece of fabric she’d wrapped around herself, looked at the backpack and nodded. “Anything’s better than that cat,” she whispered, glancing nervously at the feline, which had taken to sulking in the corner after being shooed away.
Ethan carefully helped the girls climb into the backpack, one at a time. The interior was spacious enough for them to move around a little, and the padded walls offered some protection. He zipped it up most of the way, leaving just enough of an opening for them to breathe comfortably.
As the girls settled in, Ethan became painfully aware of their current state—they were both still completely naked, save for the makeshift cover the first girl had managed to fashion. His cheeks flushed, realizing that while he’d been focused on getting them to safety, he hadn’t thought about how vulnerable they must feel.
“Hold on, I’ll find something for you to wear,” he said, glancing around the room. His eyes fell on the pile of clothes on the couch. “These must be yours, right?” he asked, looking down at the second girl, who nodded.
“Yeah, but they’re way too big now,” she said with a sigh, her tiny shoulders slumping.
Ethan thought for a moment, then grabbed a T-shirt from the pile. “This might work,” he said, tearing a strip of fabric from the shirt. He quickly fashioned a couple of simple dresses, just enough to give them some modesty. He handed the fabric to the girls, who gratefully wrapped themselves up, the makeshift garments hanging loosely but providing some comfort.
As they adjusted their new clothes, Ethan took a moment to get to know them better. “I’m Ethan, by the way,” he said, offering a small smile. “What are your names?”
“I’m Lily,” the first girl said, her voice a bit stronger now that she was feeling more secure. “And that’s Amber,” she added, gesturing to the second girl, who gave a small wave.
“Nice to meet you, even under these... unusual circumstances,” Ethan said, trying to lighten the mood a little.
“Thanks for saving us,” Amber said softly, glancing up at him with a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
Ethan nodded, his expression serious. “I’m just glad I got here in time. But we’re not out of the woods yet. I still need to get you both to safety—and we need to figure out what’s going on.”
He carefully slung the backpack over his shoulder, making sure it was secure. The cat watched him warily from the corner but made no move to approach. With Lily and Amber sheltered inside, Ethan felt a little more confident as he headed for the stairs, ready to find Tara and Mia.
7.
As Ethan climbed the stairs to the second floor, that ominous feeling crept back into his mind, stronger than before. It was as if a dark cloud had settled over him, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that made his every instinct scream to be on high alert. He paused at the top of the stairs, his heart pounding, and looked around, trying to pinpoint where the unease was coming from.
It was strange—unlike anything he’d felt before. The sensation seemed to intensify or fade depending on which direction he faced, almost like a metal detector picking up on something hidden. He turned slowly, his eyes scanning the hallway. When he faced one direction, the feeling grew weaker, almost tolerable. But when he turned the opposite way, it intensified, hitting him like a wave.
“What is this?” he muttered under his breath, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Amber and Lily, tucked away in the backpack, must have sensed his tension. “What’s wrong?” Amber asked, her tiny voice laced with concern.
“I’m... not sure,” Ethan replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “Something feels off. I think I’m being... guided, somehow.”
He started walking, following the sensation’s cues like a compass. As he moved, the ominous feeling fluctuated—growing stronger or weaker depending on the direction he chose. He passed a few doors, each one giving off different levels of intensity until he finally found himself standing in front of one that made the sensation almost unbearable.
This was it. Whatever was causing that feeling was behind this door. The overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe, like a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he grasped the doorknob.
It didn’t budge. The door was locked.
“Damn it,” Ethan muttered, frustration mingling with his anxiety. He stepped back, considering his options. The girls had said they were on the third floor, but something about this room felt crucial—like there was something here he needed to see.
“Can you open it?” Lily asked from inside the backpack, her voice tinged with nervousness.
“No, it’s locked,” Ethan replied, gritting his teeth. “But whatever’s behind this door... I think it’s important.”
Amber spoke up, her voice urgent. “There’s an office on this floor! The dorm staff should have keys to every room. If you can find it, maybe you can get the key for this door.”
Ethan nodded, grateful for the suggestion. “Good idea. I’ll find the office and get the key.”
He turned away from the door, the oppressive feeling still lingering as he made his way down the hall. He knew he had to act fast—whatever was behind that door, it was significant, and he had to find out what it was.
Moving quickly but cautiously, Ethan followed the hallway until he found the office Amber had mentioned. The door was slightly ajar, and he slipped inside, scanning the room. It was a small, functional space—desk, filing cabinets, a few chairs—but most importantly, there was a key ring hanging on the wall.
“There we go,” Ethan murmured, grabbing the key ring and flipping through the keys. They were all labeled, and it didn’t take long to find the one for the room he needed.
He headed back to the locked door, the ominous sensation growing stronger with every step. When he reached the door, his hand trembled slightly as he slid the key into the lock, the cold metal fitting perfectly.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan turned the key and heard the satisfying click of the lock disengaging. He hesitated for just a moment, then pushed the door open, bracing himself for whatever he might find inside.
8.
Ethan stepped into the dorm room, his heart pounding in his chest as he scanned the space. At first glance, it looked just like any other college dorm—neatly made beds, posters on the walls, a couple of desks cluttered with books and papers. But the room was eerily silent, and there was no sign of anyone.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted it—a pile of clothing on the floor near one of the beds, just like the others he had found. His breath caught in his throat as he approached, his gaze shifting from the discarded clothes to the small figure huddled beside them.
There, standing no more than a few inches tall, was another girl, completely naked and trembling with fear. Her wide eyes locked onto Ethan's towering form, and he could see the sheer terror in her expression.
Before he could say anything, the girl let out a blood-curdling scream, the sound tiny but filled with raw panic. She bolted, running for the nearest bed, her tiny feet pattering against the floor. Ethan’s instinct was to reach out and stop her, but he hesitated, not wanting to scare her even more.
“Wait—” he started, but the girl was already scrambling under the bed, disappearing from sight. Ethan dropped to his knees, trying to peer under the bed, but all he could see was the faint outline of her tiny form huddled against the wall, as far from him as she could get.
“It’s okay,” Ethan said softly, trying to soothe her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
But his words seemed to have no effect. The girl stayed hidden, her small frame shaking with fear. Ethan felt a pang of guilt, realizing just how terrifying this must be for her. He was a giant to her—an enormous, unfamiliar presence in a world that had suddenly become vast and incomprehensible.
He glanced back at the backpack, where Amber and Lily were sheltered. Maybe if she saw the other girls, she’d realize he wasn’t a threat. But how could he coax her out without making things worse?
“Amber, Lily,” he whispered, unzipping the backpack just enough for them to hear him. “There’s another girl here, but she’s scared out of her mind. I think she’ll trust you more than she trusts me. Can you help?”
Amber’s tiny face appeared at the opening of the backpack, her expression serious. “We’ll try,” she said, her voice determined despite the circumstances.
Ethan gently set the backpack on the floor near the bed, making sure the opening faced the space where the girl was hiding. Lily peeked out as well, and together, the two tiny girls crawled out of the backpack, making their way toward the bed.
“Hey,” Amber called softly as she approached the other girl’s hiding spot. “It’s okay, we’re here to help. You’re not alone.”
There was a pause, the shuffling under the bed stopping as the girl likely registered the voices of others her size. A moment later, a small face peeked out from the shadows, her wide eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope.
“We were scared too,” Lily added, her voice gentle. “But Ethan—he’s the guy who found us—he’s really nice. He’s been protecting us from a cat and trying to figure out what’s going on.”
The girl hesitated, glancing between Amber, Lily, and the massive figure of Ethan looming in the background. Slowly, she edged closer, still wary but clearly desperate for comfort.
“What’s your name?” Amber asked, holding out her hand as she crouched near the bed.
The girl’s voice was barely a whisper. “Jenna.”
“Nice to meet you, Jenna,” Amber said, smiling. “We’re going to get through this together, okay? You’re safe with us.”
Jenna looked at Amber’s outstretched hand, then tentatively reached out to take it. Ethan felt a wave of relief as Jenna allowed herself to be led out from under the bed, her trust slowly starting to form.
Ethan offered a reassuring smile. “Let’s get you somewhere safe, Jenna. We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
9.
As Jenna slowly calmed down, thanks to the comforting efforts of Amber and Lily, Ethan felt the foreboding sensation that had been gnawing at him begin to diminish. But it didn’t disappear completely. It still lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder that something was very, very wrong.
The girls, now huddled together, exchanged worried glances. “There are over two dozen girls who live here,” Amber said, her voice trembling. “Many of them should be in their rooms right now. If this has happened to us...”
Ethan’s stomach tightened. The realization hit him hard—he couldn’t just leave the floor without checking each room. What if there were more girls trapped or in danger, shrunken and helpless like the ones he’d already found?
“I need to check the other rooms,” he said, determination hardening his voice. He glanced at the key ring in his hand, knowing it was the only way to find out if anyone else needed help. “Stay close to me.”
Amber, Lily, and Jenna nodded, their trust in him growing, though their fear for their friends was palpable. Ethan felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as he began methodically unlocking and entering each room on the floor.
Room after room, the story was the same—no girls to be found, only eerily empty spaces with clothes discarded as if their occupants had simply vanished. The girls huddled closer together, their tears silently falling as the hope of finding their friends unharmed began to dwindle.
Ethan’s heart ached as he watched them, feeling helpless. He knew he had to keep searching, but with each empty room, his anxiety grew. Then, as he reached the end of the hallway, that ominous sensation surged back, stronger than before.
It was pulling him again, guiding him like a beacon, and this time it led him to the door of the common bathroom. His hand trembled as he reached for the handle, the fear of what he might find gnawing at his nerves. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At first, everything seemed normal—the bathroom was clean, the tiles pristine, the air heavy with the scent of soap and shampoo. But then he heard it—a faint, weak voice calling out for help, barely audible above the hum of the fluorescent lights.
“Help... please...”
Ethan’s eyes darted around the room until they locked onto the source of the voice. In the bathtub, he saw another girl, much like the others he’d found—shrunken to a mere few inches in height. But this girl wasn’t just sitting there. She was perched precariously atop a small rubber duck, her tiny body shivering as she tried to keep her head above water.
Ethan’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. The girl was stunning, even in her tiny form, with a body that would have had any guy blushing. Ethan could feel the heat rise in his cheeks as he tried to focus on the urgent situation rather than her looks.
Her skin had turned a worrying shade of pale, her lips almost blue from the cold water that had likely drained her strength. She looked up at him with desperate eyes, her voice barely a whisper. “Please... help me... I’m so cold...”
Ethan snapped into action, his embarrassment forgotten as concern flooded his senses. He had to get her out of the water and warmed up, fast, or the cold could become a deadly threat to her tiny body.
Carefully, he reached into the tub and scooped her up, rubber duck and all. The girl was so light in his hands, almost fragile, and her shivering intensified as she left the water’s surface. Ethan held her close, trying to share his warmth, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice gentle as he cradled her. “I’m going to warm you up, okay? Just hang in there.”
He quickly scanned the bathroom for anything he could use. Towels were hanging by the sink, and he grabbed one, wrapping it around her tiny form to help insulate her from the cold. But it was clear she needed more than just a towel—her body was weak, her energy drained by the frigid water.
Ethan looked around the room, his mind racing. The only solution he could think of was to get her near something warm, but the dorm didn’t have any heaters or anything similar in sight.
Then it hit him. The closest thing to a warm, constant source of heat would be his own body. It was a drastic measure, but he couldn’t think of anything else that could work quickly enough.
With the tiny girl still shivering in his hands, Ethan gently pressed her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her to share his body heat. He could feel her trembling gradually begin to slow as she absorbed the warmth, but he knew she needed more time.
“Stay with me,” he whispered, his voice a mix of concern and determination. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
10.
Cradling the tiny girl against his chest, Ethan felt a warmth spread through him, different from the ominous feeling that had guided him earlier. This new sensation was gentle, soothing, like a wave of peace washing over him. It was as if the fear and anxiety of the past hour were melting away, replaced by a deep, calming reassurance.
The girl in his arms, still shivering slightly, began to settle as she absorbed the warmth of his body. Ethan could feel the tension in her tiny muscles ease, her trembling slowing as she relaxed into his embrace. But as the seconds ticked by, that soothing sensation started to shift into something else, something more intimate.
Ethan became acutely aware of the small, delicate form pressed against his chest, the softness of her skin, the curve of her body. The sensation was oddly pleasurable, a gentle hum of contentment that lulled him into a state of restful tranquility. His eyelids grew heavy, the stress of the situation fading as he succumbed to the peacefulness enveloping him.
Time seemed to blur. He didn’t know how long he stood there, holding her, but it felt like a moment suspended in time, a brief escape from the chaos that had overtaken the dorm. The warmth, the quiet, the feel of her in his arms—it all melded into a comforting embrace that he didn’t want to let go of.
But then, a faint giggle pierced through the haze, followed by a playful poke at his side. “Ethan,” Amber’s voice called, teasing and light. “You look really pleased with yourself over there.”
Ethan’s eyes snapped open, the peaceful trance shattering as he blinked down at the girls in his arms. The girl he was holding—the one who had been so weak and cold—was now staring up at him with wide, embarrassed eyes. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she realized how close she was to him, how intimately he was holding her.
She quickly pushed herself away from his chest, but not without a fleeting look that Ethan could only describe as flustered. The sensation that had lulled him earlier was gone, replaced by an awkward tension that hung in the air between them.
“Are you okay?” he asked, trying to cover his own embarrassment with concern.
The girl nodded quickly, avoiding his gaze as she adjusted the towel he had wrapped around her. “I’m fine now, thanks,” she mumbled, her voice soft and shy. She glanced up at him, then looked away just as fast, the blush in her cheeks deepening.
Amber and Lily exchanged knowing looks, grinning at the obvious awkwardness between the two. “She’s fine,” Lily teased, her tone light. “But you looked like you were having the best nap ever just now.”
Ethan felt his face heat up, realizing how content he must have appeared, cradling the girl so closely. “I wasn’t... I mean, I was just... making sure she was warm,” he stammered, trying to explain, but the other girls just giggled more.
The girl in his arms, now regaining her strength, pulled away further, her tiny hands clutching the towel to cover herself as best she could. “Thank you,” she said, her voice still tinged with embarrassment. “But... I think I’m good now. Really.”
Ethan nodded, equally flustered, as he gently set her down beside the other girls. She quickly stepped away, her gaze darting to the side as if trying to shake off whatever strange sensation they had both felt.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Amber broke it with a smile. “Looks like she’s back to full strength. What’s your name, by the way?”
The girl hesitated, still obviously flustered, before finally answering, “Isabella.”
“Well, Isabella,” Amber said with a wink, “Welcome to the team. Now that you’re warmed up, we need to figure out our next move.”
Isabella nodded, still avoiding Ethan’s gaze, though she couldn’t seem to stop herself from glancing at him now and then, as if trying to make sense of what they had both felt. Ethan, equally baffled, tried to shake off the lingering traces of that strange, peaceful sensation, focusing instead on what they had to do next. But even as he turned his attention back to the task at hand, the memory of that warmth and contentment stayed with him, confusing and oddly comforting all at once.
11.
Tara and Mia had managed to keep themselves busy while waiting for Ethan. After calling out to the other shrunken residents on the third floor, they'd found a few more girls trapped in their rooms, just as desperate and scared as they had been. It had taken some effort, but they'd promised to do whatever they could to help—at least, once they figured out what help might even look like in their current state.
They'd just finished another round of checking in with the other girls when they heard heavy footsteps approaching their door. Their hearts leaped, and they quickly turned toward the entrance as it creaked open. The sight of a giant Ethan, filling the doorway, made them both exhale in relief. But their amazement grew as they noticed the cat carrier in his hand, small faces peeking out from behind the mesh.
Tara and Mia watched in awe as Ethan gently set the carrier down on the bed beside them. One by one, the tiny figures inside clambered out, each wearing a makeshift towel or bit of fabric for modesty. They recognized Lily and Amber immediately, followed by Jenna and Isabella. The group was larger now, a mix of familiar faces, all sharing the same strange fate.
But as their initial excitement wore off, Tara noticed something concerning. Ethan’s hand, the one he’d used to carry the girls, was marked with angry red scratches, clearly from the cat's earlier attack. The wounds weren’t deep, but they were enough to worry her. “Ethan, your hand,” she said, pointing at the injury. “You should’ve taken care of this sooner!”
The other girls turned their attention to Ethan’s hand, concern immediately washing over their faces. Mia, ever practical, didn’t waste any time. “You need to clean that up before it gets infected. There should be a first aid kit in one of these rooms. Ethan, can you get it?”
Ethan blinked, a little taken aback by the sudden shift in attention. The scratches hadn’t seemed like a big deal to him, not with everything else going on. But seeing the worry in their tiny faces, he nodded and went to search for the kit.
While he rummaged through drawers, the girls chatted quietly amongst themselves, the conversation shifting from their own predicament to their concern for Ethan. Mia glanced back at the group, a mixture of emotions in her eyes. “We’re all in this together now,” she said softly, almost as if trying to convince herself. “The least we can do is make sure he’s okay, too.”
When Ethan returned with the first aid kit, the girls immediately took over. Even at their small size, they were surprisingly efficient, directing him to sit on the edge of the bed so they could tend to his hand. Tara and Mia took charge, carefully cleaning the scratches with antiseptic wipes that were nearly as big as they were.
Lily and Amber busied themselves with unrolling a bandage, while Jenna and Isabella hovered close by, ready to help. It was an odd sight—six tiny girls working together to clean and bandage his hand, their movements small but precise. Ethan watched in silence, his emotions tangled as he felt their tiny hands gently tending to his wounds.
He couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. Gratitude, certainly, for their care and attention. But there was something else, too—a strange mix of protectiveness and responsibility. These girls, all of whom had been living their lives normally just hours ago, were now in his care, depending on him to keep them safe. The weight of that realization pressed down on him, making his chest tighten.
As the last bandage was carefully placed and secured, Tara looked up at Ethan, a small smile on her face. “There. That should keep it clean for now.”
“Thanks,” Ethan murmured, his voice thick with unspoken emotion. He glanced at the bandaged hand, then back at the six girls who had worked so hard to help him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Mia grinned, her earlier seriousness giving way to a playful tone. “Well, you’re stuck with us now, so you better get used to it.”
The other girls giggled, the tension easing just a bit as they shared in the moment. But even as they laughed, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling of the burden now literally in his hands. These girls had been thrust into a situation none of them could have ever imagined, and now they were relying on him, trusting him to figure out a way to keep them safe. It was overwhelming, but he knew he couldn’t let them down.
The weight of responsibility settled over him like a heavy cloak, but as he looked down at their hopeful faces, he also felt a spark of determination. They were all in this together, and somehow, they’d find a way through it. For now, that meant taking care of each other, one step at a time.
12.
After the girls finished bandaging his hand, Ethan took a deep breath, his mind racing with everything that had happened. He knew he needed to keep moving, to check on the other trapped residents Tara and Mia had mentioned. But before he left, he wanted to do something for the girls who had just helped him.
“Hey,” Ethan said, catching their attention as he unslung the pizza delivery bag from his shoulder. “I’ve got something for you all.”
The girls watched curiously as Ethan unzipped the bag, revealing the steaming pizza inside. The smell hit them first, a warm, cheesy aroma that made their tiny stomachs growl in anticipation. But when he pulled out the pizza, their eyes widened in shock and delight. To them, the pizza looked massive—each slice could have been the size of a small bed in their current state.
“Oh my gosh,” Mia gasped, staring at the pizza in awe. “It’s huge!”
Ethan chuckled at their reactions, carefully placing a slice onto a plate for them. “Figured you might be hungry,” he said, his voice warm with affection. “And I’ve got more where that came from.”
He reached into the bag again, pulling out plastic cups filled with side dishes—macaroni, coleslaw, and a few other treats. He set them down on the bed, arranging them around the pizza slice like a little feast. The girls gathered around, their earlier concerns momentarily forgotten as they marveled at the impromptu party Ethan had created for them.
“This is amazing!” Lily exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she reached for a piece of pepperoni as big as her hand. “I haven’t eaten since this morning!”
The other girls quickly joined in, grabbing pieces of pizza and small forkfuls of the side dishes. They laughed and chatted, their voices filling the room with a sense of camaraderie that eased some of the tension that had been hanging over them.
Ethan watched them for a moment, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Seeing them happy, even for just a little while, made the weight on his shoulders feel a bit lighter. But he couldn’t stay. He knew there were other girls still trapped, still scared, and he needed to find them.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Ethan said, standing up and slinging the now-empty delivery bag over his shoulder. “But I’ve got to go check on the others. I’ll be back soon.”
The girls looked up at him, their expressions a mix of gratitude and concern. Tara nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “Be careful, Ethan.”
“I will,” he promised, giving them one last smile before heading toward the door. As he left, the girls turned back to their meal, the room filling with the sounds of their chatter and laughter.
But as the initial excitement of the pizza wore off, a more serious conversation began to take shape. Tara took a bite of macaroni, her expression thoughtful. “Do you think… do you think Ethan will keep seeing us the same way?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Mia looked up, chewing slowly as she considered the question. “What do you mean?”
Tara hesitated, glancing around at the other girls. “I mean, we’re so small now. It’s like… we’re not people anymore. What if he starts seeing us more like pets or something?”
The room grew quiet as the girls mulled over Tara’s words. It was a fear that had been lurking in the back of their minds since they’d first shrunk—a fear that their size would change the way others saw them, that they’d lose their personhood in the eyes of the people around them.
Isabella frowned, her fingers idly toying with a piece of coleslaw. “He’s been really nice to us,” she pointed out. “But yeah, I get what you’re saying. It’s kind of scary to think about.”
“We have to make sure he doesn’t start seeing us that way,” Mia said firmly, setting down her piece of pizza. “We need to remind him that we’re still us—still the same people we were before this happened.”
“But how?” Jenna asked, her voice small. “I mean, look at us. We’re tiny, we’re helpless… it’s hard not to feel like we’re less than we were.”
Lily bit her lip, thinking hard. “Maybe we need to show him that we’re still capable, even at this size. Like, helping him out with things, making decisions… stuff like that. If we prove we’re not just helpless little things, maybe he’ll keep seeing us as equals.”
Tara nodded slowly, her worry easing just a bit as they talked. “Yeah, that makes sense. We can’t just rely on him for everything—we have to stay involved, stay proactive. That way, he won’t forget who we are.”
The girls murmured their agreement, feeling a bit better now that they had a plan. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. They didn’t know what the future held or how long they’d be stuck in their shrunken state, but one thing was clear—they weren’t going to let their size define them. And they weren’t going to let anyone, not even Ethan, see them as anything less than the strong, capable people they were.
As they continued their meal, the conversation turned to lighter topics, but the underlying resolve remained. They would face this together, and they would remind the world—starting with Ethan—that they were still the same girls they had always been, no matter how small they might be now.
