Growth in a Bottle

This is the Voted on story for the month, and as such it will be for the Supporters and up until a month from now.  (This will come to DA and when it does Official Patrons will get access as well)  New poll will go up around Feb 1st.  

Growth in a bottle.

Carien stretched her arms and laid down onto her beach blanket, her blue bikini shining in the sunlight. “What a beautiful day. So glad I decided to treat myself to a vacation.” She closed her eyes and put her hands behind her head. “Only thing that would make it better is if Sarah could be here. Alas, she is spending the week house hunting. I will have to send her a postcard along with something else nice. She must be freezing back home in Michigan.”

Carien crossed her legs. “I still can’t believe that I won that sweepstakes competition to come out here, though. I am usually never so lucky.” She laughed. “Though Sarah is going to kill me if she finds out that the competition was sponsored by Fredricks Fancy. I know she hates them and all, but I don’t know. They aren’t all that bad.”

“Hey, miss, look out.”

Carien opened her eyes to see a giant blue beach ball. She threw up her arms, but it was too late. “Oww.” The ball bounced off of her face and landed on her cooler. Carien sat up as she rubbed her forehead. “Who threw that at me?”

A young lady with long red hair and a red swimsuit to match ran up. “Oh, I am sorry.” She turned her head at a tan-skinned man in blazing red shorts. “Patrick, I told you to be careful.”

He sighed. “Sorry, Karen.” He turned his head. “Carien? Is that you?”

Carien raised an eyebrow. “Umm, yes?”

He walked over. “Don’t you remember me? I was at Sarah’s birthday party?”

Carien crossed her arms. “Umm ya. That. . .” She shook her head at the memory that was Sarah’s failed surprise party. “I didn’t get much chance to know you there.”

“Ya.” He pulled at his arm. “Anyways, it is nice to see another familiar face around here. Have you met Karen?”

“Not really.”

“Oh, she is great.” He pulled Carien to her feet. “I just met her when I got here, but she is great. You just have to get to know her.”

Carien gulped.  I just hardly met this guy once, and he is acting like my long-lost brother.

“Karen.” She turned around with the giant beach ball in her hand. “I would like you to meet my friend Carien.”

She dropped the toy and extended out her hand.

“Hello. It is nice to meet you.”

Carien took her hand. “Hello.”

“Are you another contest winner?”

Carien slowly nodded her head. “Umm, yes.” She crossed her arms. “Yes, I am.”

Karen clasped her hands together. “Great. Then I hope to see you later today. All contest winners are invited to an outing on the company boat.”

Patrick pulled at Karen’s arm. “Hey, why are you telling me this now?” He wrapped his arms around her. “Think I can join you out there?”

Karen laughed. “Sorry. Only people who won the contest can take the boat ride.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But we can see each other after. Don’t worry.”

“Fine. Fine. Well, let’s spend what time we have together, shall we?”

“Sounds good.” She pulled him away down the beach and waved at Carien. “So you later tonight.”

“Umm ya. Later.” She sighed and sat back down. “I wish they had told me ahead of time about this boat ride but ok.” Carien closed her eyes and dozed off.

***

When she opened her eyes, the sun was low in the sky. “Ugh, how long did I nod off for?” She sat up and dusted the sand off her body. “Dammnit, who took my cooler?” She slammed her fist into the sand. “Last time, I decide to take a nap in the middle of the beach.”

“Everything alright, Carien?”

She turned her head to see Karen walk towards her. “Umm ya.” Carien scratched at the back of her head. “Just missing a few things.”

“I can help you look for them if that is ok?” She held out her hand and pulled Carien to her feet. “I am sure they are around here somewhere.”

Carien shook her head. “No, it’s alright. It was all stuff courtesy of the people who organized the event.” She shrugged her shoulders. “At most, I will just have to pay extra before I leave.”

Karen laughed. “I am sure we can work something out, of course. Well, we should hurry after all. We don’t want to miss the boat ride.”

Carien nodded her head. “Of course.” She sighed as she followed Karen down the beach. “Once we do this, can we head up to the hotel? I have been looking forward to step inside there. It is a five-star resort, after all.”

“Of course.” Karen laughed. “After our trip around the bay, we can relax all you want.”

They walked down towards a wooden pier where a few boats were docked. The pier was slick with water and was slippery, unlike the sandy beach. Karen rushed ahead towards a vessel filled with people at the end of the dock. “Hey, wait up.” Carien slowly made her way down the pier. “I don’t want to slip onto my rear end.”

Karen laughed as she jumped onto the boat. “Don’t worry so much, and hurry up.”

She turned around and jumped onto the second deck.”

Carien shook her head. “I am coming.” She neared the luxury boat, lights gleaming in the waning sun. Carien pulled herself onboard and was greeted by a man she hadn’t met before in a suit.

“Welcome to the Galestorm. Head up to the second level for the party.”

“Thank you.” She walked past him and raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what his deal is.” She shrugged her shoulders and did as she was told. She made her way up a spiral crystal staircase to find a group of three other women sitting at a glass table having sweets.

Karen waved at Carien. “Hey. Come on. There is free food.”

“Thanks.” She sat down on a velvet couch. “What about drinks?”

A tall and broad-shouldered woman with amber hair and red binki crossed her arms. “Been here for an hour. They haven’t produced any kind of drinks for us.”

Karen laughed. “I mean, they have to right.” She threw chocolate with two lines of white frosting and a strawberry in the center into her mouth. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Amy.”

“Well, Amy, now that we are all here, maybe we can get something to drink.” Karen raised her voice. “Hello. Hey. Who is in charge here? We want some beverages, and we want it now?”

The man in the suit who had greeted Carien walked up the crystal staircase. “Don’t worry. Your drinks are coming, ladies. We have something special planned for the contest winners here.”

The blonde-haired woman in a blue and black swimsuit stood up. “Hey, don’t hold out.” She crossed her dark-skinned arms. “You have been making some of us wait for over an hour now.”

He turned around. “Just wait a few more moments, please. I will go and check on the status of your drinks.” He walked into the cabin.

Carien sighed. “Anyone find it strange that they have been holding back on the drinks?”

Karen threw another small candy into her mouth. “No. I am sure they were just getting the brew ready. Must be something special.” She smiled and extended her hand out to the blonde-haired woman. “Hi, I am Karen.”

“Lora.”

“Well, it is nice to meet you.”

Lora cracked a small smile. “Sure. I didn’t know anyone else was going to be here. From what my sweepstakes ticket said, I would enjoy a weekend getaway. It said nothing about having to share the experience with others.”

Carien laughed. “Funny. I didn’t even know it was for the weekend. I thought it was just for tonight.”

Lora crossed her arms. “Well, someone should explain something to us. Don’t you think?”

“I am sure we can get some questions answered when they finally bring us our beverages.” Carien crossed her legs. “Now that we are all here, it shouldn’t be too much longer.”

Amy walked to the railing and looked out of the sparkling water. “I hope so.

And I hope they bring us something more than just candy. I want something like pasta or a nice steak to eat.” She looked up at the sky. “Or maybe some chicken.”

Karen laughed. “You came all the way out here for chicken?”

Amy turned her head. “Hey, don’t judge me. I love chicken. Especially grilled.”

Karen shrugged her shoulders. “Ok then.”

“Ok, drinks are served.” Carien and the others turned their heads at once to see the young man in the suit walking towards them; he held a tray in his hand, and on the tray were four bottles with blue liquid. “Specially of the house.”

Karen took one of the bottles. “Thank you.” She held it above her head and examined it. “Is it some fancy type of liquor?”

He shook his head. “Not exactly. My employer, Fredricks Fancy, is experimenting with a new type of wine, and as part of your winnings, we would love for you to try it.”

Karen smiled. “I love wine.” She drank the contents of the bottle.

Amy and Lora took the wine and slowly drank the contents as Carien took her bottle off the tray. “Thank you.”

The man nodded his head. “I will be back in a few moments, and we can discuss dinner.”

Amy smiled. “Swell. I want to ask if you have steak. Or chicken. Please tell me you have chicken.”

He smiled and turned around. “We can discuss this when I get back. Just enjoy yourselves until then.” He ducked back inside the cabin.”

Carien sighed. “I can’t help but get a weird feeling from all this.”

Karen put her arm around her. “Loosen up. We have some wine now. Drink up.

This is a celebration after all.” She stretched her arms. “Let’s start treating it like one.”

Carien held the bottle in her hands.  If Sarah was here, she would tell me to throw this thing overboard. She doesn’t trust Fredricks Fancy at all. I don’t see the harm in this, it is nothing but a nice vacation that I have earned, but at the same time, this is very weird.  She looked up at the others.  And nothing has happened. Maybe Sarah’s experiences with them have just been a bit bad.  Carien pulled off the cork and set it to the side.  I just have to be careful not to drink too much. If this is a Fredricks Fancy product, who knows what it could do to me.

Carien took a tentative sip.  This is good.

Karen slapped her hand onto Carien’s back. “There you go. Good, isn’t it?” The sudden slap onto her back caused Carien to gulp down the entirety of the potion. Carien bent over and coughed. “Crap, I am sorry, Carien.” Karen held Carien’s arm. “Are you alright?”

Carien nodded her head. “Yes. Just don’t do that again.”

“Good.” She stood up. “I am going to see what is going on with our food. I am tired of waiting.” She turned around and walked towards the cabin door.

Carien shook her head. “Well, that was just great.” She felt a jolt shoot through her body. “Please tell me I didn’t make a mistake.”

Lora turned her head towards Carien. “What are you talking about?”

Carien shrugged her shoulders. “Umm, I just mean made the mistake of forgetting to lock my hotel room.” She took a deep breath as her skin began to crawl. “Maybe I should go and make sure I locked it.”

Lora crossed her arms. “Are you nuts? We are in the middle of the bay. Do you really want to swim all the way back to shore?”

Carien walked to the edge of the ship and gulped. Crap, I am trapped on this boat, and I can feel my body about to change in size. This isn’t good.  Carien clenched her fists as the tightening sensations coursing through her body intensified.  I need to do something.

Karen slowly walked back towards the lounge. “The cabin is locked. I tried knocking, but no one answered.” She turned her head. “Carien, are you alright?”

Carien nodded. “Yes. I umm.” She rubbed her hands together as she suddenly grew two feet. “I am just a feeling a bit hot right now.”

The others moved to the other side of the ship; Amy pointed her finger directly at Carien. “You. . . you just grew.”

Carien gulped. “No, I didn’t. You must be imagining things.” She grew another foot and the boat tilted due to her new weight. Carien tugged at her arm as the table began to slide towards her. “Umm, we hit a wave?”

Lora slid one leg over the railing. “Maybe swimming back to the shore isn’t so crazy.”

Karen grabbed onto her arm. “Hey, it isn’t that bad.”

Lora laughed hysterically. “That bad? One of the four of us is growing out of control due to the strange wine we drank.” Lora slammed her hand onto Karen’s shoulder. “Do you get what that means?” She shook her head as Carien grew another foot. “It means that any one of us could start growing like that next. I, for one, don’t want to be here if that happens to me.” Lora looked over the side of the boat. “It is already apparent that one giant woman is barely enough for this vessel; we don’t need more.”

As she threw her other leg over the railing, Carien grew again, and the extra weight was enough to tilt the boat to send Lora, Amy, and Karen tumbling down to the other side of the ship. Carien shook her head, “This is just great.” She took a step backwards, her foot falling onto the railing behind her. Due to her new size, it snapped under her like a twig. “Uuff.”

Carien fell flat onto the deck, the boat rocking back and forth violently. Karen and the others flew in the air like ping pong balls. Thankfully the deck, though the same, couldn’t be said for Carien’s swimsuit. As she pushed herself up off the sides of the boat, rips and tears appeared on the sides of her bikini, and moments later, it ripped in two. She used one arm to shield herself. “Crap.”

“What is going on out here?” The man who had brought them their drinks walked out from the cabin door, directly under Carien’s chest. “What are you ladies doing?” He looked up. “What the hell?”

Amy slowly stood up and walked towards him. “You creep. You gave us poisoned drinks.”

“I did not.”

Amy shook her head. “Then explain her.” She pointed up and poked Carien in the stomach.

“Oww.”

He crossed his arms. “I doubt that my drinks would have done that. But, if that is so, why is she the only one who grew?”

Amy shrugged her shoulders. “How would I know?” She wiped her forehead. “It is bad enough that it is hot here, and my skin is crawling.” She took a deep breath. “Look, you just get us back to shore and apologize, ok.” Her body grew a few feet and her head brushed against Carien’s chest. “Now.”

He shook his head. “This is nuts.” He stepped back into the cabin and closed the door.

“Hey, you can’t just.” Amy grabbed onto the locked door and pulled. “Come back here.”

Lora ran to the other side of the deck. “Screw this. I am swimming to shore before this becomes any worse.”

Karen grabbed her arm. “You can’t just go. What about Carien and Amy? They need our help.”

Lora pulled her arm away. “Are you nuts? Look around us. We are slowly sinking into the sea.” Lora took a few steps back and forth as Carien’s body grew once more, the deck creaking from her massive weight. Water began to wash up onto the deck as the ship slowly inched downward. “We need to get off this thing while we can before they grow anymore and sink the vessel altogether.” Lora stepped forward and almost fell onto the ground as her right leg slipped out from under her. “And if one of us starts to grow as well, all hope is lost.”

Amy turned her head. “Hey. Things are not that bad.” She bent over and winced as she grew another foot. “The ship is not going to sink, so don’t worry, ok.” She took a few steps forward, and the ship began to rock.

Lora held her hand up. “Hey. Stop that.”

Amy stopped in her tracks. “Holy crap. I am not even that big.” She looked up at Carien. “Hey, you up there. Stabilize the ship.”

Carien narrowed her eyes as she grasped onto the hull of the ship. “What do you think I am?”

Amy crossed her arms. “Hey, you are the biggest person here. The ship sinks; it is your fault.”

Carien took a deep breath. “This isn’t anyone’s fault.” The entire ship rocked as she grew another few feet. Carien’s toes plunged into the cold, dark water and caused her to shiver.

Karen put her hands onto Carien’s thigh. “Hey. Calm down. You shake too much, you will capsize the ship. Careful.”

Carien shook her arms. “The water is just so cold.” She lifted her legs out of the water, and the entire ship tilted towards her head.

Lora and Karen slid down into Carien’s breasts as Amy grabbed onto the cabin doorframe. Karen slammed onto Carien’s bosom. “Hey, level yourself out before we all go for a swim.”

Lora kicked Carien in the chest. “If I am going into the bay, you better be tall enough to carry me back to land.”

Carien slammed her legs back down, but it sent the other end of the boat flying upward. “Crap!” She slammed the others against the deck before sending them flying into the air.

Lora screamed as Karen extended her arms out with a look of glee on her face. On the other hand, Amy bounced off of Carien’s back and bounced along the water towards the shore like a ping pong ball, growing with every skip along the water.

The boat landed on top of Carien and slammed her to the bottom of the bay. With another growth spurt, she was just able to keep her head above the water, but the ship kept her pinned on the sea bed. “Ugh.” She pushed against what had been a pleasure ship just a few minutes ago with all her might. “Get off me.”

She turned her head to see Amy wading through the water towards her, her bikini now ripped entirely apart. “Need a hand?”

Carien winced as she grew another foot. “Go get the others first.” Carien pointed behind her. “Get them to shore, and then we can get this damn thing off me.”

“Are you sure? That thing looks kind of painful.” She stretched her arms as her growing body rose out of the water. “The two of us working together could—

“Help the tiny people first!” Carien raised her voice as high as possible and caused the water around her to form into waves. “Don’t let the change in size go to your head.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “Ok, ok. Sheesh.” She walked past Carien. “I am pretty sure they would be ok but whatever.”

Carien sighed. “This is why I prefer size changing to be a more private matter.

People get weird when this stuff happens.” She shook her head and pushed against the hull of the ship. “Everyone but Sarah.”

A few moments later, Amy walked back and made sure to show Carien that she had Lora and Karen in her hands. “Happy?”

Carien sighed. “Yes. Now go set them down on the beach.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She took a few steps towards the shore and tossed Lora towards the sand.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Carien tried to grab Amy.

She turned her head as she tossed Karen towards the shore. “Umm, helping?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Like you told me to.”

Carien slapped herself on the face. “I don’t even know what to say. Just get me out of here.”

Amy waded over. “Well, finally. It is what I wanted to do from the start.” She bent over and slipped her hands between Carien and the ship. “Ready?”

Carien took a deep breath. “Yes. Three, two. .”

“Go.”

Carien grunted as she pushed against the ship. Even with Amy helping, the vessel barely moved. “Come on.” Her skin crawled once more, and her body swelled once more, the sudden growth spurt being the last needed bit of strength to help slid the ship up and off her body. Finally, with a sigh of relief, Carien made her way to her feet and then jumped into the air. “Yesss!” She sent water flying into the air and a massive wave towards the shore when she landed. “Opps.” Carien scratched at her head as she realized just how large she was. “Maybe I should tone down on the celebration.”

Amy laughed and hugged her chest. “It’s alright. Everyone will manage.”

Carien pushed Amy away. She came up to Carien’s breasts. “They won’t just manage.” Carien sighed. “Still, I wish I knew why this happened.” She shivered as a cold wind blew over her. “And I wish I hadn’t grown so large. The water comes up to my knees and this wind. Ugh.”

Amy laughed. “So what?”

“Well, I am not going to be able to sleep in my nice cozy hotel room, that is what.”

Amy began to walk towards the shore. “Well, I am going to have fun.” She suddenly grew another few feet. “See you later.”

Carien sighed and sat down. “This isn’t what I expected at all from my holiday retreat.”

She ran her hand through the water like she would a bathtub. “I wish Sarah were here. She would know what to do.” Carien sighed. “I don’t know if I should let Amy just walk off, though. Maybe that isn’t the best idea in the world.”