The never ending kind

21- Normal Shrinkage

It wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare.

"What the fuck have you guys done to my body?!"

_____________

Everything had been weird, and I couldn't place what it was. I also blamed my weakness and slowly clearing mind that I hadn't noticed the changes fully before. I had blamed it merely on shrinkage due to the water, mystery liquid and long submersion. That is, until I finally saw myself in a hanging mirror. 

I glumly accepted Reinen's help in getting to the kitchen, eating my fill of soft, light foods. Razel was being annoying again, talking about naps and cute outfits and crap like that. I wanted to smack her... Him? My head hurts, "Shut up, Razel."

We had been walking- well, they had, and that was when I saw myself in the oval mirror, "Is that me?! Reinen, stop! Go back!"

Reinen, instead, walked faster up the stairs, "Hey! What are you doing?"

"I'll notify Alpha Darien," Razel whipped out her phone, texting like the teen she is. I decided to consider Razel a her while in girl clothes. 

"Notify him of what? That I found out what that witch's brew did to me?" I was squirming on Reinen, probably making it difficult to walk, but that didn't last long. My body was weak, so doing that took a lot out of me. "What happened to my body?"

I was really tired, but not tired enough to sleep after what I caught a glimpse of. Once we reached the alpha's room, I demanded to be placed down by the mirror. I crawled over to the being reflected there, placing my hand to the glass and looking at myself; touching my face and body. The reflected person did the same. Finally I turned to look at them, just noticing that the stupid alpha had also appeared, "What the hell, guys!"

I tried to stand, but that didn't work out so well. I didn't think I would even be able to crawl, my body was already to weakened and tired. Instead I sat there and glared at them, "Why the hell did I turn back into a short shrimp?!"

"A cute short shrimp!"

"Not helpful, Razel," Alpha Da Man muttered to her before focusing back to my question, "We aren't quite positive. We think that it's because Gryphen's still a child himself which affected the change, and probably why all this happened in general. The physician said that it actually made some form of sense as to why your body had required the bath infusion. Mostly, it's become a study that several other people have become curious about."

"Does that mean I'm going to be stuck like this and go through puberty all over again?!" I couldn't help but yell my frustration out at the unfairness. "It sucked before and during and after until just a couple years ago! I don't wanna go through it again!"

What's the matter with me? I felt like I was having a tantrum, but I couldn't help myself. What the hell is wrong with these people and this life? I had finally become free and comfortable with my life... And it was taken away just like that, all because of a good deed. And then I was almost murdered, treated like shit in general, then like a baby, then I got sick and all this other crap happened. 

I put the palms of my hands to my eyes, rubbing at them as I leaned back onto the mirror. Suddenly I shot up, "Wait, what about the chemicals that crazy murdering mad scientist put in me? That also probably messed with that process or whatever, right? Maybe if we figure out what he did, we can change me back?"

My hopeful eyes darkened in anger at the varying emotions on their faces, "What, you think I should just accept this crap?"

"Drey, you could have died," Reinen. I was surprised he was the first to speak up. "You'll need to probably have regular weekly checkups as is. Don't offer yourself up as a guinea pig just for the hope of suddenly looking your age again."

"Yeah, a lot of girls would be jealous," Razel, unhelpful as ever, "and you get to be spoiled like a little kid again! You should be happy and excited!"

Uh huh, what utter bullshit. Like anyone ever treated me like that as a kid. Rather than reply, I merely glared in her direction before pointedly staring at her phone. She shut up immediately, hiding it behind her back. Yeah, weakness captured right there.

"You're now fully a child of this pack in looks and a snarky attitude," My glare sharpened, landing on the stupid assh-alpha. "Good thing I have everything I need for when I have to put you on time out."

He laughed while I cursed in my head at him, having to remind myself to pick my own battles. Instead, I frowned, worried about how tall I now was. I'd always had a little height envy until I reached the low average height not too long ago. I had been hoping that I would get a couple more inches before my luck fully gave out. Now, I wondered how 'old' I was and how 'tall' I was. This was gonna take a while to assimilate and accept. 

And my little me! That was really making me upset. It shrank, and not from the usual things. It was now kid-sized as well. I mean, it probably wasn't the biggest, but I personally was pretty proud of it. I sighed, rubbing my muscleless body in discontent. I'll have to start working on it all over again.

"Okay, you guys can stop staring at me as though I might go crazy or become hysterical," I made a motion toward my face. "I'm tired and don't think I can move on my own. And now that I'm human again, I want my own room. I promise not to jump out of the window with this one. Okay?"

"No," The alpha's blunt one word response had me growling in irritation.

"Why not? I already said I wasn't going to run away or anything. You and I both know I can't," I sighed in annoyance, having trouble keeping my eyes open.

"You could have died. You're lucky you were even able to link with me finally, or you would have probably been found dead," That was really blunt, and caused my heart to beat once harshly, "You're either staying with the twins-"

I looked at Razel, whose gaze put fear into my soul, "-or with me."

I scrubbed my face, "Can I have my own bed?"

Razel smiled wider as Darien replied, "Maybe in the future. I'm not positive if the twins have their own beds or share, though."

"We share," They said in tandem, Reinen adding, "Sadly."

"Hey, I'm not that bad of a sleeping partner!"

"Yeah, when tied down," Reinen replied, surprisingly. He was often so quiet, that one often forgot he could even talk. "Razel has terrible sleeping habits. I bought a long body pillow to protect myself for the most part."

I shivered at the thought, "Is there anyone more... Sane, that I can share a room with? Someone with another bed already there?"

No response whatsoever aside from crossed arms and raised eyebrows, "I'm sarcastic. It was a joke. Get over it."

"Fine, I'm too tired. I'll just sleep here," I shut my eyes uncaringly. We were already in Darien's room.

I refused to open my eyes to see who picked me up. I didn't want to admit that I had needed the help, and the way I was being held sucked in general. I sighed, getting comfortable as the covers were placed over me.