[Original Author: pressure]

You need to stop. Val repeated the command in her mind. She found it took considerable mental effort just to form the thought. Her body wasn't heeding her advice. Her small hand went to break off another piece of the popcorn kernel, bringing the buttery chunk into her mouth almost involuntarily. She was so frustrated with herself. Why couldn't she stop? What was wrong with her? She broke off another piece, choking down the damp styrofoam. Thank god nobody had noticed her. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear right now. But even that thought was fleeting. It was as if the only place her mind felt comfortable resting its focus on is in the flavor coating her mouth.

It was salty and oily. Hard to swallow down completely. She felt her stomach churning, and her head buzzing. She tried to convince herself it was just butter. A bad batch of whatever fake, high sodium coconut oil they pour on movie theater popcorn. She couldn't truly get herself to believe that. Breaking off another piece, she looks forward at the towering, oppressive soles before her. The now drying layer of foot sweat reflects the light of the movie screen, creating colorful highlights on the wrinkles and curves of his heavy appendage. This piece of popcorn was carelessly trampled beneath there. Compressed under the bulky flesh. And now it was in her mouth. In her stomach. She broke off another piece.

An intrusive thought entered her addled brain. What if he wasn't doing this absent-mindedly? Surely he knew she was there. She wasn't that small, was she? He HAD to have seen her. She wasn't that small... He had dropped that popcorn FOR her. Was he just messing with her? Was he trying to... be nice? Maybe it was a test. Maybe-

Val's thoughts were interrupted. She had been semi-consciously snacking on the piece of discarded junk food for almost an entire chase scene. Now it's gone. Val kneeled, looking down at her abdomen, trying to anchor herself. She was having a seriously difficult time coming to terms with the fact that the piece of trash that had fallen off this man's foot was now resting in her stomach. She felt hollow- sick with herself, and from the empty calories. She looks up at her tormentor. He still hasn't even seen her.

Face it, Val, he doesn't even know you exist. You ARE that small. Completely beneath anyone's notice. Anything you just did, you did entirely of your own volition.

But that wasn't true. It can't be. Her mind was pulling herself in different directions. Trying to rationalize the position she's found herself in with whatever details she could. And the hollow feeling wasn't going away. Actually, it was getting worse, fast. Val has never felt a compulsion like this before. She needed more. More what?

She slumped forward to the "floor" of the armrest. Her stomach growled. It was becoming impossible to bear. Impossible to deny. She needed to taste more foot sweat. She carried herself forward on unsteady hands and knees. The masculine, leathery heel now took up her entire field of vision. A feeling of depraved relief washes over her as the more detailed lines and wrinkles appear against the base of the fleshy wall. There's still plenty to lick up. Even just a taste should be able to stave off this feeling.

VAL, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?

The thought pierced her mind. Her true self was trying desperately to save her somewhere in her cerebral cortex. Oh god. What is she going to do? The feeling had only gotten worse. She's started to breathe heavy, feel hot. But if she places her tongue against that foot, there's no way she could forgive herself. And there's no way he wouldn't notice her! She might be easily missable, but nobody's going to just overlook some random woman lapping sweat off their foot.

But maybe she didn't have to! As she now stood only arms-length from his foot, her hand landed in something wet. There was a small pool of sweat on the armrest! There's no way he'd notice if she just...

CALL SOPHIA RIGHT NOW.

Her rational mind was trying to fight back. But it might be too late. She needed to take action. She was about to fall apart.