Zoe got up and left without a word. Jack called after her, asked where she was going and even threw in a couple “fuck you’s” and “bitch’s” for good measure. He was ready for whatever she was about to do to him, he just couldn’t bare the waiting. He listened to the sounds of her collecting her keys and leaving through the front door. She was gone. Had he gotten through to her? Maybe she was off to retrieve the antidote!

Jack tried to keep his hopes down; it was equally - if not, more - likely that she’s on her way to purchase a nice new hammer to smash him to pieces with. He sat on the desk and waited, reasoning that whether it was the antidote or the instrument of his demise, this nightmare would soon be over. One way or another…

Zoe returned a couple of hours later. Jack stood up as she entered the bedroom, holding something in her cupped hand.

“Hey you.” she said in a weirdly friendly manner as she sat down. “While you were having your little tantrum earlier, I was thinking of how I can make your life a bit better; so you don’t try to run off again, y’know? I figured, maybe what you need is a little friend…”

She tilted her cupped hand until a tiny, naked woman came spilling out. She landed on the desk with a thud and Jack rushed to tend her. To his horror, he realised the woman was Lydia.

“No…” Jack whispered. He brushed Lydia’s hair out of her face, revealing a bruise on her cheek and a cut lip. He looked up at Zoe with tears in his eyes. “Why?! How?!”

Zoe scoffed, “Oh please, like you’re the only people who can buy shrinking formula’s online. I ordered one a couple days ago. I was planning on shrinking some other sap when I was done with you, but then I had the idea of snatching up Lydia here…” She prodded at Lydia’s unconscious body.

“Get off her!” Jack swiped at the enormous finger as he pulled Lydia closer. “What did you do to her? She’s hurt!”

“She’ll be fine. She wouldn’t take the shrinking serum on her own when I asked her to, so I had to force her.” Zoe shrugged. “We scuffled.”

Jack couldn’t believe this was happening. He was prepared to die for the mistake of shrinking himself, but he never imagined Lydia would get caught up in this. Tears fell down his cheek, dripping on to Lydia’s bare chest, as he wondered what hellish existence he had condemned her to. 

“Please, Zoe…” he said, “Let her go. I’ll never run away again. I’ll do anything for you. Please… my goddess.”