Three Days (2023)

Cory's diminutive form was lost in the vastness of Brad's living room, a stark contrast to his once familiar setting. It's been 3 days since he somehow shrunk in Brad's studio apartment without Brad's knowledge or concern. His 3mm stature was overshadowed by the mountains of furniture and valleys of flat land of the hardwood floor surrounding him, not to mention his now giant best friend in this new world and perspective he found himself in.

Brad, Cory's best friend and the now unintentional titan in Cory's world, moved with an earth-shaking slowness and delicacy, yet each step was marked by seismic rumbles and great distances traveled with one single step. The giant's presence was always heralded by a deep rumble, signalling the approach of feet that could spell either salvation or doom.
As far as Brad knew, Cory suddenly went home without telling him, and since the two could go days without texting, he naturally thought nothing was amiss, though it was annoying when he did that. Far from his thoughts was the reality: 3mm tall, Cory was in his apartment, vying for his attention and help.

In the three days Cory has been trapped, he has seen aspects of Brad’s life he wished he hadn’t. Every morning, with Brad coming out of his room in just his underwear for breakfast, to his travel to and from the bathroom of each shower, his naked form giving Cory an unwitting show. Every burp, fart, and bodily function was amplified on the tiny man’s tiny ears, and Brad was oblivious that he ever had an audience.

On the third fateful day, after numerous close calls with Brad's feet and deafening actions, Cory's desperation peaked as he made himself noticeable against the hardwood floor to get Brad's attention. With Brad gone to work, Cory worked to cover himself in what he hoped was spilled coffee from the kitchen, making him slightly sticky but hopefully darker enough to see against the yellowed and aged hardwood.

He heard a thunderous tinkering of metal, followed by a rumble in the air that he now recognized as a cough. Brad was home now. The booming footsteps preceded his arrival as he continued through the house. Brad, previously a steadfast companion, was still oblivious to his tiny friend, and loomed like an indifferent god as he entered the room, t-shirt on and jeans, and had removed his socks upon taking his shoes off.

His every movement was an act of nature that Cory could only hope to influence. Cory began screaming Brad’s name and waving his arms, hopeful that his movements were enough to gain his eye’s attention. Cory's tiny voice was lost beneath the din of the giant's world, his shouts as futile as whispers against a storm. Cory's heart raced, hoping to be seen.

As Brad walked in, he noticed nothing on the ground and even if he did, his mind would only dismiss it as another piece of dirt like any other.

With a slow, inexorable motion, Brad's feet ascended and descended, approaching Cory. It wasn’t until Brad was literally on top of Cory that he realized his plan wasn’t going to work. Cory found himself under the shadow of Brad’s sweaty feet, in the path of the descending pinky toe. Cory screamed and threw himself to the ground as Brad's giant foot boomed above him. He wasn't killed, but he was now under Brad's massive pinky toe. The toe settled upon Cory as the foot took its next step, pinning him against the floor painfully in a moment that stretched like an eternity. The coffee ensured his adhesive form to the toe.

Panic surged as the pinky toe curled, scooping Cory into the dark crevice beneath, carrying him up into the high arch as Brad took another step, the g forces in the air trapping him firmly in the skin folds.

Cory was trapped by the oppressive scent of skin, the musky odour of a day's wear, and the inescapable heat. His world was reduced to the confines of lint and grime that littered the depths between Brad's toes. The intimacy of the space was suffocating. He quickly developed a layer of sweat on his own body as the skin warmed him up. Brad, on the other hand, didn’t feel Cory’s tiny form join the multitudes of debris already stuck to his feet as he continued to his favourite chair to relax.

Each of Brad’s steps nearly shook Cory from his perch, but with another squeeze of the giant toes, he remained in place.

"Brad-mmmmph!" Cory tried to yell, but Brad silenced him with another step.

When Brad finally came to rest in his favourite chair, he placed his feet up on the ottoman. With the foot now vertical, the toe's grip eased, and Cory saw his chance as he tumbled down to the precipice of the pinky toe, where it met with the sole. He gasped for air, as he saw his chance and began crawling towards the curvature of the sole. He strained against the scorching hot skin and his aching body as he pulled himself forward, hoping to fall to the ottoman. The toe inflicted much damage upon him, his limbs flailing for freedom. However, Cory was unaware of Brad’s actions with his feet when relaxing; he never paid attention at his normal size.

Just as escape seemed within reach, Brad, ever the unpredictable force, flexed his foot, his pinky toe stretching out over the tiny man, curling down once more over Cory, coming down and dragging Cory back into the shadows. Cory screamed, clawing at the harsh, calloused skin as he was pulled back into the confines of his best friend’s smelly toes.

Meanwhile, the giant Brad remained blissfully unaware of the tiny life trapped in the crevices of his skin and finally began wondering why his best friend Cory hadn't sent a text in a few days. He figured he'd send one tomorrow to see how he was doing.