Experiment 76 Part 2 (Scenes 60-70)

Scene 60 and 61:

Ivana's gaze flickered to the seat, her mind calculating the logistics of climbing onto the booster seat that was about at the height of her hip. She determined that using the armrest as leverage would be her best bet. As she began to advance towards the open door, she was abruptly stopped as Aurora's arms swiftly slid under her, lifting her clear off the ground. 

Taken by surprise, Ivana's arms instinctively wrapped around Aurora's shoulders, her fingers clutching onto the fabric of Aurora's flannel. "Aurora!" Ivana exclaimed, the indignation filling her voice weaving a palpable tension between the two women. "Put me down at this instant!"

Ignoring Ivana's protests, Aurora couldn’t help but comment, "You are much heavier than you look." 

Ivana scowled at her, a sharp retort emerging. "Well maybe you're just weak."

Aurora spun Ivana around and set her into the car seat. The seat made an embarrassingly cute 'squeak' as it took Ivana's weight. Ivana squirmed uncomfortably in the seat, her legs dangling off the edge, not able to reach the car floor. She crossed her arms over her chest, shooting Aurora a look that could have melted steel.

Scene 62 and 63:

Aurora, her eyes scanning the shorter woman’s face. "Ivana, why are you so against getting help? Especially now, when you clearly need it?"

Ivana knew the answer, of course. She'd always felt secure in her height, towering above others, feeling superior; but now with her new size, she felt desperately vulnerable. This sudden role reversal was uncomfortable, it stripped her of all her authority and made her feel insignificant. But of course, Ivana wouldn't admit that out loud.

Ivana retorted, her voice tight with suppressed anger. "I'm used to handling situations myself."

Aurora rolled her eyes slightly, her lips curving into a grin. "Well, your 'handling' seems to have landed you in a bit of a pickle, hasn't it?" she stated as a matter of fact, Ivana not responding. Aurora, with a hint of amusement in her voice. "You sure you're still a scientist and not a preschooler who got into the lab?"

Ivana, not taking it as a joke but as an attack on her fragile authoritative personality. "I am not a child, Aurora!" she shot back, her words carrying a hint of desperation. "I am a grown woman, a professional, and nearly twice your age. You will not speak to me as if I'm some unruly child!"

Aurora didn't expect such a response. "Ivana... I was just making a joke. Of course, you are the same as you were, just smaller. I guess I'm sorry..." she said weakly.

Ivana, feeling a bit of power coming back to her from Aurora's response. "You better be sorry! Alright, let’s get back to my house." Ivana realized her initial response might have let her true feelings show a bit. She just hoped that Aurora wouldn't pick up on it.

Scene 64 and 65 and 66:

As Aurora moved to the driver's side, she couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the bizarre sight of Ivana, a 34-year-old professional, sitting in a booster seat wearing a face that could kill. Aurora felt some confidence return to her. It was almost if Ivana's words didn't carry as much weight as they did when she was her original height. Aurora, now being so much larger than Ivana, was helping her confidence bounce back quickly in this situation.

Once inside, Aurora turned herself and showed a sarcastic smile. "All comfy back there, kiddo?"

Ivana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, shrinking back into the booster seat. “Drive the car, Aurora,” she retorted, her annoyance clear in every word as the car lurched into motion. However, as Aurora looked at her in the rear-view mirror, Ivana's face resembled a high level of embarrassment.

The sound of the engine starting echoed in the silence of the car.

Ivana looked around the interior of the car. Everything seemed larger, more imposing from her new height. She glanced down at her legs, her feet dangling high above the floor of the car. The sight was almost comical, reminding her of the countless times she had seen small children swinging their legs in their highchairs, unable to touch the ground. But there was nothing funny about it now. It was a stark, humiliating reminder of her predicament.

Ivana’s gaze shifted to Aurora, who was busy fiddling with the radio. From her new perspective, Aurora appeared larger, stronger, more authoritative. Ivana's mind involuntarily played out the scene if they were to be spotted by a passerby – they would definitely mistake her to be Aurora's little sister, or even worse, her child.

Ivana's stomach twisted in indignation at the thought. The idea of being mistaken for a child was abhorrent, offensive even. She already got a taste of that at the college dorm. She had worked long and hard to establish her authority. And now, she was the size of a child and sitting in a booster seat.

Ivana felt her cheeks heat up, her heartbeat faster. The sensation of being so small, so powerless was overwhelming. And to make matters worse, she was in this embarrassing situation because of her own doing. Her confident facade was slipping, her sense of authority evaporating.

As Aurora drove the car away from the warehouse, Ivana was left to stew in her anger and humiliation. She was an accomplished physicist, a woman who had always been in control of her environment. But now, shrunken and sitting in a booster seat like a child, she felt like anything but.

Scene 67 and 68:

Upon arriving at Ivana's house, Aurora was the first to disembark from the car, her sneakers echoing on the paved driveway in the quiet evening. Ivana, on the other hand, was struggling to maneuver herself out of the booster seat. She was already feeling the effects of her new, smaller stature, exacerbating her feelings of frustration and helplessness.

When Ivana finally managed to free herself, she was met with the daunting sight of her own home. Everything about it seemed larger, more imposing. With a deep breath, she ascended the steps, her small feet barely making a sound.

The moment Ivana's front door swung open; Aurora's attention was immediately drawn to the immaculate state of Ivana's living quarters. It was a stark contrast to Ivana's current state of being, the pristine cleanliness of her home a testament to the meticulous nature of its owner. 

"Wow, Ivana, your house is so clean!" Aurora commented. "You could literally eat off the floor."

But Ivana wasn't paying attention to Aurora's comments about her house. She was too absorbed in her own observation of her home. She'd spent years living here, getting to know every corner and every piece of furniture in detail. But now, everything looked alien, looming high above her, much more so than after her first shrink. She wasn't sure if it was due to the fact that another shrink took away more of her available height, or the fact that she was becoming small enough that she would be unable to do common tasks that an adult, or even an older child, could do.

The front door seemed to tower over her, the doorknob almost at her shoulder height. The ceiling, which she could reach with a jump before, now appeared to be a vast expanse of white, miles away from her reach. Everything seemed so much larger, more intimidating. It was like she was seeing everything from a child's perspective.

"Are you okay, Ivana?" Aurora's voice broke through Ivana's thoughts, making her look over at the younger woman. She saw Aurora's gaze follow hers, her eyes widening slightly as she observed the measuring stick that Ivana had left leaning against the wall.

The "52" marking that had once been just above her head was now much higher. "I was 52 inches tall after my first shrink," Ivana admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. "But now... I don't know how much more I've shrunk."

Aurora frowned slightly, her gaze flicking between Ivana and the measuring stick. "Maybe we should measure you again," she suggested. "It could give us some insight on how much the shrinking has progressed."

Ivana hesitated, her gaze locked on the measuring stick. She knew that information was vital. It could potentially help her reverse the effects of her experiment. But the idea of knowing just how much smaller she'd become was daunting. "For once, you're right," she finally said, reluctantly moving towards the measuring stick. "Let’s do it."

As Aurora helped Ivana align herself next to the measuring stick, the reality of Ivana's situation set in even more. If they didn't find a solution soon, she would be stuck this size, and each trial of trying to restore her height could keep making her smaller. But for now, all she could do was face the facts, no matter how hard they were to accept.

Scene 69:

Ivana stood rigidly against the wall, her back pressed against the cold surface as she awaited her verdict. As Aurora approached from her right side, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor, Ivana was taken aback by the stark reminder of their size difference. Her eyes were level with Aurora’s belly button. It was unnerving, to say the least.

"Wow, Ivana, you are just..." Aurora said, pausing, her eyes wide as she looked down at Ivana. "I mean, I'm only five feet tall and you're barely reaching my belly button."

Ivana swallowed, her throat dry. "Height is not indicative of my authority, Aurora. Just remember that" she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the tremors of unease coursing through her.

Aurora reached out and gently placed her hand on top of Ivana’s head. She squinted at the measuring stick, her brows furrowed in concentration. "43... maybe 44 inches at most," she announced after a moment, her voice echoing in the silent room.

"That's... that's three feet and eight inches tall," Ivana clarified, her voice barely more than a whisper. The number sounded so small. So insignificant.

Aurora blinked, her gaze sweeping over Ivana's small form. "Wow, that's... that's small, Ivana," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and concern. "My cousin Cindy is eight years old, and she's a bit taller than you. She's around three feet ten inches, at least the last time she told me."

Ivana felt a pang of something akin to shame. She was an adult, a respected scientist, and yet her size now matched that of an eight-year-old child. It was humiliating. She forced a chuckle, using it to mask the crying she felt coming on, her lips stretching into a tight smile. "Well, it seems I'd fit right into a second-grade classroom now, wouldn't I?" she said, trying to inject a note of humor into the situation.

Aurora grinned, her eyes sparkling with mirth, considering Ivana never cracked jokes. "From up here, you sure look like you would," she said, tilting her head and looking down at Ivana.

Ivana quickly snapped back to her serious self. "But you won't find me there. I will be tall again."

Aurora simply smiled, shaking her head. As Ivana watched her, she felt a surge of irritation. She was a scientist, a professional, and she deserved respect - regardless of her current stature. But as she looked up at Aurora, the younger woman towering over her, Ivana couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever be able to command that respect again, especially from her.

Scene 70:

After the sobering realization of her current height, Ivana knew it was time to focus on what truly mattered: restoring her size. But to do that, she had to be comfortable. Her formal wear, while professional and elegant, was far from being cozy. And at her current size, none of her usual PJs would fit. But she did have one option - the 'Yeah right!' shirt she'd gotten after her first shrink. 

With a sigh, Ivana turned towards her stairs, her hand coming up to unbutton her blouse. "I need to change, Aurora. I can barely think clearly in these clothes," Ivana stated, heading up the stairs towards her bedroom. 

As she stripped off her formal shirt, leaving the skirt on, she couldn't help but stare at the shirt that had previously been a bit loose - a shirt sized for a seven-year-old. The shirt was now even larger, the material hanging loose around her smaller frame. She held up the small shorts that came with the shirt, the waistband so wide it would surely slip down her hips.

"This won't work," she murmured to herself, her eyes scanning her room for other options. But before she could come up with a solution, she decided to consult Aurora. Heading downstairs, she walked over to where Aurora was standing, looking slightly sheepish in the oversized shirt with her skirt, a hodgepodge of an outfit. 

Aurora couldn't suppress a giggle at the sight of Ivana in the loose shirt and skirt. "Ivana, you wore that in public?" she asked incredulously, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle another giggle.

"I needed something that would fit, Aurora. I didn't have much choice." Ivana retorted, crossing her arms over her chest in defense. 

Looking down at the shirt that was hanging off her, the bottom hem falling past her hips, but not by much, Ivana sighed. "I need to find something else to wear, but I don't know what." she said, almost in a defeated tone.

Aurora bit her lip, thinking outside of the box. "What about one of your normal-sized shirts? It might work as a long dress," she suggested, her tone slowly becoming uncertain as she said the words aloud.

Ivana blinked, her mind reeling at the suggestion. One of her regular shirts... as a dress? That only further highlighted just how small she had become. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the suggestion. "A... a dress? My shirt as a dress?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aurora nodded, her gaze sympathetic. "It's worth a try, Ivana. At least until we find a way to get you back to your normal size."

The thought of her regular shirts serving as dresses was a painful reminder of her current predicament. But she had to remain practical. "Alright, Aurora. Let's see what I can find," she said, her tone more resolved. "But I'm not sure I'm sold on that idea.", acting as though she had numerous of options to choose from.

With that, Ivana turned back to head upstairs, Aurora's words ringing in her ears. Her clothing situation was just one more problem to be dealt with, and she needed to deal with it now so she could think clearly about the bigger problems... or rather, smaller ones.