The Shrinker

CHAPTER SIX (PART-2)

Jamie's first reaction was to rush to the opposite end of the room and turn on the light switch, absurdly hoping if the light returned Trudy would come back too. After ten seconds of flicking the switch on and off, she finally realised the futility of it and with a curse slammed a fist against the wall.

Ignoring the pain in her knuckles, Jamie opened her right hand and stared at the palm, focusing hard as she could in an attempt to summon the blue light she now knew to be a shrink ray. She used the exact method she'd used when shrinking the cut on her wrist. This time nothing happened; not a flicker of any unusual tingling sensations in her blood.

After twenty minutes of repeated fruitless tries, Jamie finally lowered her hand and gave up. She shook with fury as she tried the last option she had; Trudy! Come on Trudy, I know you can bloody hear me in there! Don't you dare pretend you're not listening to my thoughts! ANSWER ME! NOW!

No response. Jamie thought about the one thing terrifying her most.

Trudy, are you refusing to answer my question about my mum because it's your fault somehow? Did you wake up and show yourself when I was four? Is that why she ran, because you scared her off? TELL ME!

No response. Jamie kicked her bed in frustration, causing a loud creak. She looked to the door and saw her reflection in the mirror hung upon it.

Alright, let's try an easier question. While I was...'developing', did you shrink my breasts? Maybe I had my hands over them as I was sleeping, and you saw a chance to screw me over. Come on Trudy, at least fess up to that one!

...Still  nothing? You know what...FINE! You go ahead and get your 'ugly' sleep! Don't bother waking up again! Not like I ever asked for your presence anyway! I guess we're both equally disappointed in each other! Who the bloody hell gave you the right to occupy my insides like a bloody freeloading squatter anyway? What fucking good have you ever been to me my whole life?

Still no answer. Jamie's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of scratching at the other side of the door. Giving up, she let an impatient Senna inside.

"Least I can rely on you, little buddy," said Jamie, her mood lifting whilst she patted her purring Sphynx. Closing the door, she got ready for sleep whilst Senna stepped into his cardboard box and curled himself up inside. Stripped, Jamie got into her bed, thinking hard about the day's events.

It was beyond surreal to find out there'd been another life-form inside her throughout her life, let alone that she'd gained an unusual power because of this. Jamie kept expecting to feel the bizarre sensation of another life lurking within her, but felt nothing out of the ordinary. But most of all, she thought of her unanswered question; What the hell happened to my mother?

It was a half hour past midnight. It'd take Jamie a couple more hours to finally sleep. And then she dreamed.

*****

The meat was absolutely delicious, providing an explosion of flavour with each bite. The flesh was delightfully tasty, giving her a squirm of pleasure with each chew. The blood was the sweetest nectar, soothing her thirst with a shower of bliss. Even the bones were wonderfully pleasant to crunch.

Due to circumstances beyond her control, she couldn't feast as often as she'd like. If she had her way, she'd have one every mealtime of every day, and still make time to snack on a few more. It fulfilled her completely, making her feel the happiest luckiest person in the world. Being without it was how a hopeless addict would feel if deprived of their special drug or how a besotted lover would feel if driven apart from their true love. Her heart ached in longing, kept going only by blissful memories of all the meals she had.