Charity 6

Whispers of a Former Life: Episode 6

Charity sat in the shadow of the desk chair, her legs tucked beneath her, arms wrapped around herself for warmth and reassurance. The nightmare had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. The image of Sara’s face, so large, so calm, so in control, still lingered behind her eyes. She blinked hard and tried to force it away. 

But the real world wasn’t much better. 

The quiet in the room was oppressive. No humming of devices. No distant footsteps. Just the muffled tick of the wall clock above, so slow and thunderous it might as well have been the sound of time grinding her down. 

She pushed herself upright. 

Her limbs ached in protest; muscles sore from disuse and distortion. Everything inside her still felt wrong. Like her proportions didn’t quite make sense yet. Like her center of balance hadn’t been reestablished. She moved slowly, deliberately, steadying herself with a hand against one of the desk chair’s legs. 

She looked toward the gap between the desk and the rest of the room. 

It was just open carpet. Maybe six feet to the dresser. Eight to the door. Ten, maybe twelve, to the far wall where her vanity stood like a distant city skyline. She would have laughed if it didn’t hurt, ten feet. At normal size, she could have crossed it in three strides. Now? It was a journey. An expedition across terrain thick with hazards and uncertainty. 

She needed to prepare. 

Not that she had gear. She wasn’t exactly outfitted with a backpack or supplies. But preparation, in this case, meant mental focus. Choosing her path. Understanding her limits. Accepting the risk. Everything she had prepared was near the door. 

She glanced down. 

Her clothes, once form-fitting athletic wear, now hung awkwardly on her reduced frame, the  fabrics were expensive, and this set hadn’t been built for a five to six-inch body. The waistband of her leggings drooped, and the top had twisted halfway around her in her sleep. She adjusted them as best she could, tying the waistband into a makeshift knot to keep it from tripping her. 

Her bare feet padded carefully over the cool carpet. Every thread offered resistance. She had to step high, knees lifting like a soldier on parade, or risk tripping. Her breath grew uneven after just a few steps. 

She took a moment to rest, standing beside the curve of the chair base, using it like a railing. 

Then she knelt. 

With effort, she broke a small piece of loose thread from the carpet edge, something to use as rope if she needed it. Useless, probably. But having it in her hand made her feel a little less helpless. 

Her eyes locked on the door. 

From here, the gap beneath it was a rectangle of shadow, maybe a quarter inch tall, but to her, it was like the narrow entrance to a cave. If she could reach it, squeeze beneath it, she might make it into the hall. And if she made it into the hall, then maybe the kitchen. Water. Maybe someone would see her. 

Or maybe some critter or creature will. The thought crept in, unwanted. 

She swallowed hard. 

Charity forced herself to her feet again and took a deep breath. 

This wasn’t her world anymore. 

It was still her house. Still her room. But everything about it had changed. 

She was prey in a place that had once belonged to her. 

With a final glance back at the base of the chair, her shelter, her cradle of fear, she stepped forward, threading her way through the maze of towering carpet fibers. 

Each step took effort. Each breath was deliberate. 

She was no longer moving across a room. 

She was leaving behind a life. 

And whatever came next… would be earned one inch at a time. 

 

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Nodqfan
1 day ago

I love this story and the development of Charity as a character. I have a feeling her life as a little will be very humbling.

I also have my top two choices for Charity’s guardian, and they would be.

(1) Dayton Harris.

If this story goes the way that I think it will, with Charity and Sara interacting after Charity’s transformation into a little. Then Dayton would be the perfect choice as Charity’s guardian, as it would allow Sara to interact with Charity when she babysits Dayton.

(2) Sydney Goodman

Sydney is my wildcard pick as Charity’s guardian. While she’s friends with Dayton after guardian training, Sydney would give Charity a life away from Sara and her group. It could be interesting to see those two characters interact with one another.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  Nodqfan
1 day ago

(1) I still hope Dayton is forever unable to attain a Little of her own, forever forced to see them but never owned one.

(2) Syd already has a Little lined up for herself to claim.

(3) Maisy was someone I’d suggested previously as Charaty’s potential guardian.

washsnowghost
Reply to  Nodqfan
1 day ago

I would like to see how the once tall and intimidating charity deals with the physical interaction with the once smaller and younger Dayton being a Giant that she has to crawl around on and do what she says. Interesting dynamic physically and mentally

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  washsnowghost
1 day ago

Except there’s no reason to believe Charity’s ever met Dayton.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

That’s what I’m saying.

Darkone
Darkone
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

IF … Dayton becomes the Guardian and someone tells her about how Charity treated Sara, I could see Dayton wanting to mete out a bit of justice on Sara’s behalf.

Lethal Ledgend
1 day ago

1) “The nightmare had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. The image of Sara’s face, so large, so calm, so in control, still lingered behind her eyes. She blinked hard and tried to force it away” A fair enough reaction.

2) “Not that she had gear. She wasn’t exactly outfitted with a backpack or supplies” but she could have been, there’s no reason she couldn’t have had little devises ready for this eventuality.

3) “Her clothes, once form-fitting athletic wear, now hung awkwardly on her reduced frame, the fabrics were expensive, and this set hadn’t been built for a five to six-inch body” I like that the clothes didn’t shrink to her exact new proportions, feels more realistic.

4.1)  “And if she made it into the hall, then maybe the kitchen. Water. Maybe someone would see her.” is there someone else in the house?
4.2) “Or maybe some critter or creature will. The thought crept in, unwanted” that feels more likely, especially if there isn’t anyone else there.

5) “This wasn’t her world anymore. It was still her house. Still her room. But everything about it had changed. She was prey in a place that had once belonged to her.” That’d be the case for many Littles.

6) “She was leaving behind a life. And whatever came next… would be earned one inch at a time.” That’d be particularly hard for someone who’s grown up with privilege.

washsnowghost
Reply to  Lethal Ledgend
1 day ago

I always wounder why people that know they will become littles are not more prepared with little phones to call for help even people you are not on the best of terms with. EG SARA. or food and water in small prepared little shelters. Nothing fancy just a square safety box to call out of.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  washsnowghost
1 day ago

You can’t tell me Genritech wouldn’t sell something like that.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

It’s not like she’d need to personally purchase it from the gracewoods, I’m saying something that could be sold at Littlemart and other Genristores.

washsnowghost
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

2) This is why I write boring stories lol, I was trained to murphy proof very complicated designs for over 20 years and its hard for me do write something that should be easy to plan for lol. I loved solving problems and preventing issues. I am a lost cause lol.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

2) Round the clock observation, like where Tonya was set up prior to her infection in R&J 23. It would mess with suspense I agree.

3) I appreciate that, I really do like that this story isn’t just Micro/Macrophillia porn. Your sex scenes are typically of sex not involving Littles, which makes sense for this world. As much as I do appreciate a good “I’m big and your small so worship me.” Story, I like that I can take this one more seriously

4.1) That sounds like at least one person is available to save her.
4.2) Indeed,

5) Like most things.

6) Indeed, conversely a homeless/refugee Little could find getting a guardian to be an “all their wishes granted” type deal.

Nodqfan
Reply to  Lethal Ledgend
1 day ago

(6) I’ve been wanting to see a homeless little in this universe or at least come up with a story for one.

washsnowghost
Reply to  Nodqfan
1 day ago

I think they call them wild littles. I have heard that a few times.

Nodqfan
Reply to  washsnowghost
1 day ago

I think you’re right.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  washsnowghost
22 hours ago

No, wild Littles are the name of the free littles prior to shrinking.

“There are littles who were bred in the wild and didn’t know they were littles pre-smallara; however, those littles are what the official term is semi-domesticated or what others call Wild Littles.” Dayton: TJG 2

Dlege
Dlege
1 day ago

The suspense!!! We need to know!

Darkone
Darkone
1 day ago

Asuka,

I’ve been giving some thought to setting up an actual Wiki, but I did not want to do so without your permission.

Lethal,

If Asuka gives me the green light, I would certainly want to make you an editor. So let me know if this is something that would interest you.

Lethal Ledgend
Reply to  Darkone
1 day ago

I’m good with that idea.

Darkone
Darkone
Reply to  Asukafan2001
1 day ago

Thanks for the green light! Now “I” have to find the time 🙂

C M
C M
Reply to  Darkone
1 day ago

Look like batman and Bruce Wayne are teaming up!

Terminal Tale
Terminal Tale
Reply to  C M
1 day ago

That’s a historic team up to be sure!

Nodqfan
Reply to  Terminal Tale
1 day ago

A world’s finest team up.