This choice: Unfortunately, there is no cure, you're cursed with this new size. • Go Back...Chapter #6Bad news! This is permanent, deal with it by: Paul Ostertag   Emma sighs, and in a grieved tone she replied:
"Sorry Denis but this...is permanent. Despite the Institute's best attempts over the many, many decades of its existence studying "The Shrinking" they have been unable to find a cure, and by the looks of it, at best is going to be like that for a long while more...while at worst they will never find one. I'm not saying that hope is lost: the most recent pair of researchers is both the most capable and determined yet, but even they don't seem to have hopes to find a cure anytime soon or ever for that matter."
"What?! Noo! It can't be! So...I'm goddamm dammed to remain like this? Forever? Just because I was unlucky to get near a peculiar area of a foreign country? But...if this "shrinking" is as common as you say it is, why it's not more widely known? If had I known of it I would have never gotten near this place!" you said, in an angry and also sad tone.
"I know that is unfair, and I agree that this should be informed more openly. But you see, Chicania’s main source of income is Tourism, and despite the Institute's best efforts, they have been unable to find at least a way for males to prevent or become immune to "The Shrinking". Because of that, it has long since been stated that this info doesn't get out, and if needed only in a controllable manner as to ensure it doesn't disturb the tourism this town depends on for its living. Other measures have been taken, like having all mixed and male-only centers be located as far as possible from the main town, and making every possible measure to ensure no male gets near unsupervised and in many cases appropriately informed of the consequences." replied Emma, giving you a quick explanation as to why this is not a widespread knowledge.
So, this is it. Due to policies made to ensure this Town's livelihood you are now cursed to remain this size, forever. You thought you were powerless before when you were at the mercy of Lucy's "game", but this; this is on a whole new level. You start crying again, you have always been quite the emotional guy. But even if you weren't, you can't imagine not crying at least something for this. Life is hard and unfair but, come on! Was that fact to be taken to this extreme? You would rather die if you had a choice in this matter. It would mean that at the very least you had enjoyed your normal life until that point, and never got to lose it just because of bad luck.
Once again, Emma hugs you against her chest. She can not only feel and hear your cries and your flowing tears but also your fists as you punch her chest like a wall, letting go of the anger you were overwhelmed by. She could feel it, and even if you weren't so tiny as your punches not hurting her, she could have accepted something similar had you been normal size: sure, no punches whatsoever, but a tighter hug? She could've endured it for your sake.
All the while, Lucy watches this, not understanding one bit of the conversation you and her best friend had. But she could see your reactions, and was worried, and also sad. She asked Emma:
"¿Amiga, que paso? ¿Porque Denis está llorando desconsolado?"("Friend, what happened? Why is Denis crying uncontrollably?")
Emma quickly explains the situation to Lucy, which not only saddens her but also inspires her to try something. You can't see what she is trying to do, for you have your head plastered against Emma's chest. But you can hear the girl asking:
"¿P-puedo intentar...?"("C-can I try...?")
She doesn't say more, keeping you in the shadows intentionally or otherwise. But whatever it is, you feel that the pressure on your whole body diminishes, and the finger carrying your head stops moving. You can then feel other hands grabbing you, which for a second alarm you before you are plastered against another chest, this one is way bigger and wobblier. You look up, and that action confirms what you were suspecting: now is Lucy the one hugging you? The pressure she puts behind you is a bit too strong that needed, and her caresses on your head are a bit too rougher for your liking. But despite this, you can see on her face and that slowly and steadily, her actions are getting a tiny bit more controlled and right, she's trying her absolute best to comfort you.
He, it funny. This is the same girl who giggled and found highly entertaining both stepping and farting on the tiny you. And now, she's trying to emulate her friend and comfort your sadness and emotions away. Emma was right: this girl is indeed good. Klutzy and reckless but still good was what Emma called her to be like; the description couldn't be more fitting. Not only that, this act, and the way that she looks at you...you're getting closer and closer to forgiving her for her prior treatment of you, for is clear she did it more because she didn't think about the actual consequences and implications of her actions rather than out of pure malice against you.
Once you're calmed down again, Lucy gives you back to Emma, trusting that her friend is going to handle you better than she can right now, and perhaps could ever do. You look up, and you clean from your face the last remaining tears. Emma smiles at the sight of this and says:
"Well, now that you've recovered and let go of all your pent-up feelings...not everything is bad for you right now. Sure, you're forever reduced to be a 1cm boy and eventually man, but with that also come quite a lot of several benefits, for "The Shrinking" does WAY more to your body than simply reducing you in size, and most of the things it changes about it are quite the boons. If you get to know them and especially if you develop the more complex ones, your new way of life is going to be quite good, way better than you could possible imagine right now."
"Really? Is that so? And...Is this info secret, or is there not an issue for me to easily learn it?" you asked, in an intrigued, and a tiny bit hopeful manner.
Emma chuckled before she then replied in a happy tone:
"Don't worry Denis, not only is the info I'm about to inform you not a secret; for the contrary, is expected that all the shrunken ones get to know this, for the sake of themselves and the ones who take care of them. I say inform and not tell because is quite an extensive and detailed list, the greatest product of The Institute's long research. My mom has told me that thanks to it, all males that live here in Chicania proper have managed not to only live good lives but also prosper despite the circumstances of their common affliction. I've read parts of it in my free time, and I can confirm that is not an overblown statement."
Oh my, that sounds good, really good indeed. Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel, you thought to yourself while starting to smile. This action took Lucy by surprise and she, unable yet to solve the language barrier, asked:
"Lo siento si estoy interrumpiendo pero, ¿me podrían explicar de que están charlando ustedes dos? Hace solo unos segundos Denis estaba llorando, pero ahora está sonriendo feliz."("Sorry if I'm interrupting, but could you explain to me what you two are talking about? Just a few seconds ago Denis was crying, but now he's smiling happy.")
Emma again, not judging her best friend for her absolute lack of knowledge of the subject of the English language, explained the situation to her. When she learn this, her eyes gleamed with interest and curiosity. And with a tone matching her face, she asked:
"¿En serio? ¡Por favor, enséñame a mí también! ¡Algo me dice que será información muy importante que necesito aprender! ¡Por favor!"("Really? Please teach me too! Something tells me this will be some very important information I need to learn! Please!")
"Jeje, me alegra que estés tan ansiosa de aprender esto, y tienes razón: te será una información muy útil, tanto en general en tus interacciones con otras personas de nuestro pueblo como cosas más especializadas: te explicare a que me refiero con esto cuando y si es que llegue el momento."("Hehe, I'm glad you're so eager to learn this, and you're right: it will be very useful information, both in general in your interactions with other people in our town and more specialized things: I'll explain what I mean by this when and if the time comes.") Replied Emma to the begging of her friend, while giggling happily at the interest she was showing in the matter. Deep down, she suspected the main reason for it, and if her intuition was correct, she was more than happy to help her friend get to...
She then looked at you and said:
"Well Denis, get ready, and stay focused, for the class is in session, hehe!"
She then started walking towards her home, ready to open the door, and went straight towards her room where her PC was located, with Lucy following her close behind. As for you...you couldn't wait to know what kind of benefits you got from this. After all, if they are as good as Emma says they are, perhaps your life as a shrunken guy could be quite enjoyable in the end. | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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