Slimy Expansion extended preview.

Slimy Expansion.

              “Welcome to Fredrick’s Fancy Kia.”  Norman leads the young woman through the darkened halls. “I hear you want a job here?”

              The young woman nodded her head as she tugged at her curls.  “Yes. Even despite your recent allegations of causing people to grow.”

              “I umm. . .”  The man’s eyes darted back and forth.  “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

              Kia laughed.  “Oh, come on.  I saw the news.”  She smirked. “I don’t care.  I think changing in size could be fun.”

              Norman snorted, “Is that so? Well, welcome aboard. But you are going to have to sign a waiver and some other documents stating that such things are not possible outside the walls of this building.”

              “Sure, sure.”  She giggled.  “But it was on the—”

              “Drop it!” she sighed. “Look, you are going to try an experimental new product.  We can’t guarantee what will happen.  We are trying to copy a competitor in a nearby city.  I am sure you have heard of the blueberry products?”  Kia nodded her head.  “Good. We want to get into that market but try to avoid some of the messier blueberry inflation issues.”

              “So you aren’t going to turn me into a giant blueberry.  Good.”

              “Oh, we want people to grow, don’t worry.  Just not in that way.”  He led her into a lab room.  “But the blueberry is a flavor market that we just can’t lose.  And the fact that people will be afraid of turning into giant fruits will be all the better.  We will be the safe alternative.”

              “Safe?  So. . . nothing fun?”

              Norman grabbed a syringe filled with blue liquid. “I didn’t say anything.  Now, hold still.”

              Kia backed away.  “Hey, now.  Did I ever tell you that I hate needles?  And what about those waivers I had to sign?”  She giggled.  “Can we go and do that?”

              “After this.”

              Kia gulped. “No, I think that can wait until after.”  He grabbed her arm and slid the syringe into her arm. After all, the advancement of science waits for no one.”

              “Ahhhh!”  Kia cried out in pain.  “Fuck!”  She rubbed her arm.  “This isn’t what I signed up for.  I am out of here.”  She snorted at the man.

              As she walked out of the room, her body began to bubble and heat up. Kia put her hand on her chest, trying to act as if everything was okay. “Come back. We need to make sure everything is okay. If you leave now, who knows what could happen?” He waved his hand as Kia quickened her pace. “If you leave and something crazy happens, we can’t help you!”

              “You did quite enough already, thank you very much.”  She stepped onto the elevator.  “I thought this would be a dream job, but instead, you just pumped a bunch of random chemicals into my system.  You will be hearing from my layer.”  The elevator door shut in Norman’s face.  “I guess I should have been a bit more cautious.  But I did want to grow.”  She sighed.  “Though how were they going to make me grow?”  She wiped the sweat from her brow.  “I guess the first warning sign should have been when they talked about a new project.  Stupid, stupid,” She slapped herself on the forehead.  “Why didn’t I realize this before?  Kia, you never think these things, though.”

              As the elevator descended, Kia hugged herself.  “Ugh, I am really feeling. . . hot.”  She shivered.  “Maybe I should go back up there.  I mean, I did say I was going to do this.  I think this is just the fear of needles talking.  I do want to grow and all.”  She giggled.  “I just don’t want to have a FUCKING NEEDLE IN MY ARM.”  She sighed.  “I mean, what have needles ever done for the world?  They could do such horrible, horrible. . .”