You run. Not looking back or hesitating, you continue moving as quickly as your little legs can carry you. The group of slaves around you is thinned out as some of them fall over and under the shadow of Kate's foot, destined to be squished.
After what feels like a marathon, you are finally able to take a moment of rest. Putting your hand against the warm fabric of your sister’s sock for support, you take deep breaths of the humid air. You can only imagine how many of the tinies have perished in the process of Kate putting on her sneaker.
Looking up, you find yourself flanked on either side by her two toes. They appear like impossibly large pillars, the little gap between them being your only refuge. All it would take is for Kate to scrunch her toes for you to disappear. The thought both disturbs and fascinates you. Trying to calm yourself, you think about how popping a boner inside of your sister’s smelly shoes would be pathetic.
Kate begins moving, pushing you deeper into the little wedge each time her foot is raised, with your body forced into the grimy gap between her toes. Fortunately, her heavy white socks provide a little cushioning despite the unpleasant roughness of their fabric. Over time, you learn to adapt to her movements, bracing and moving in rhythm with her titaness footsteps.
When the march finally stops, fresh air and light seep into the prison for the first time in hours. You look upon the lightbulb above as if it were some sign from a greater power, your time as a shrunken slave slowly destroying your perception of reality.
Your goddess leans into the shoebox where you are currently stationed, the sight of her face filling you with a degree of hope. “Alright, bugs.” Kate orders, whispering into her sneaker. Even a gentle whisper sounds like a roaring thunder when it comes from her powerful mouth. “I am going to class. I expect my outdoor shoes to be cleaned when I get back in a few hours. Do you understand, slaves?” With that, she disappears, with only the distant sound of her footsteps booming in the distance.
Looking around you, there aren’t many slaves left. The sole is plastered with the squished bodies of those who did not make it, now appearing like many small red dots which the goddess surely expects you to clean up. The few still able to walk gather into small groups. They are already dividing the work, with an older woman amongst the group taking the initiative to designate herself as the leader.
Sitting down for the moment, you take in the surroundings before you will be inevitably forced back to work by one of the other servants. What catches your attention is Kate’s white shoelace drooping down into the chasm. It looks to be very easy to climb, with the interlocking fabrics providing ample support for you to hoist yourself up.
You hesitate, feeling your lower lip quivering. Another such opportunity may not appear ever again. This is a one-way ticket out of Kate’s grasp.
But would escaping even be worth it? If you somehow did make it out, you would now be stuck as a bug in Kate’s college. Also, leaving means abandoning the rest of the slaves. There is no way that they will be able to clean the entire sole alone, with even the full group requiring everyone to work overtime.