Titanic Holiday

Titanic Holiday.

Carien closed the gates to the Jenny Downs Department store and sighed. “What a day.

I can’t wait to get home and relax with Sarah.”

“Excuse me miss.”

Carien turned around to see a young lady who had to be just a year younger than Carien staring at her. “Can I get inside for a moment? I just need to buy something real quick.”

“I am sorry, but we are closed.”

The young lady clasped her hands together. “Please. I just need one thing.”

Carien shook her head. “We are closed.”

“Hey, where is your holiday spirit?” She looked at Carien’s nametag. “Carien. It is almost Christmas, and don’t you want to make some little kids' days bright?”

“We are a clothing store.” Carien crossed her arms. “When I was a kid, it was a nightmare to get clothes for Christmas.”

The lady sighed. “Look, I just need to get in there to buy a gift, ok.” She grabbed Carien’s hands. “My name is Vess. I would have been here earlier, but I just have been running all over town and couldn’t find what I needed.”

“I just can’t. . .”

Vess smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled in the dim mall light. “Hey, it will be our little secret, ok?”

Carien sighed. “Fine.” She turned around and opened the gate to the store. “But you are in and out in a few minutes. My boss would have me work for the entire holiday season if he realized I did this for you.”

Vess smiled. “Thank you so much.” She shook Carien’s hand. “Thank you and thank you again. Merry Christmas.” She rushed into the store.

Carien crossed her arms. “Just hurry up.” She looked out into the mall. “I am ready to head home for the weekend.”

She tapped her foot as she waited on Vess; minute after minute passed. Still, she didn’t see the young lady emerge from the store. “Vess? Where are you?” Carien took a step into the store. “I thought you said you were going to get what you needed and go. I am not going to play hide and seek.”

Carien covered her hands as a loud crash erupted from the back of the store, and a dust cloud flew into her face. “Ugh.” Carien shook her head and spat the loose debris from her face. “What in the world was that?”

Carien rushed into the store towards the source of the explosion. “Gregory is going to flip when he finds out someone walked into the store after hours, let alone trashed it.” She gulped. “I am so dead.”

Once she reached the back of the store, she discovered a strange hole behind the children's clothing section. She slowly walked towards the gap and scratched at her head.

“I swear I have seen something like this before.” Carien took a deep breath. “It is almost as if something or someone knocked over the wall. There are even handprints here.” She shook her head. “But that is absurd. Vess couldn’t do that.”

Carien threw out her arms as another tremor rocked the building, this time coming from beyond the hole in the wall. She narrowed her eyes and realized that the gap led to their neighboring store, The Toy Barn. “But I have been wrong before.” She stepped over a giant piece of debris and walked into the tunnel.

She stepped on an overturned giant nutcracker when she came to the other side. “Opps.” Carien sighed. “My bad.” She looked around. “Vess?”

A massive thirty-foot woman stood behind the rows of toys in torn clothing. Carien’s eyes went wide as she recognized Vess as she turned her head back and forth. “Hmm, what else should I get?”

“Vess!”

She turned around and knocked over a massive stack of toy trains. “You followed me?”

Carien rushed up towards her. “Yes. You can’t do this.”

Vess took a few steps towards Carien. “And who is going to stop me? You?”

“Of course me. I am not going to let you do this and ruin people’s holidays.”

Vess reached over and grabbed a decorative Christmas tree. “You are not even worth the trouble of growing any larger.” She hit Carien square in the chest and sent her flying across the room. “I am going to give myself a merry Xmas, and I won’t let you get in my way.”

Carien shook her head and then tried to push the tree off her body. “Ugh, what did they make this out of. Uhhhgg.”

Vess walked over and bent down next to Carien.

“Well, I guess I do need someone to be here.” She ran her giant fingers along Carien’s face. “So that someone can be caught instead of me. Thank you again for letting me in.” She turned around and grabbed her sack of toys. “Happy holidays.” She made her way through the broken hole she had used to enter the store and let loose a laugh.

***

Carien awoke in a hospital bed with a burly officer snoozing next to her. She tried to sit up but was stopped short by the handcuff around her arms.

“Ouff.” She shook her head and lowered her voice to not wake the officer who was still asleep next to her. “You have got to be kidding me.” She sighed. “I can’t believe they thought I robbed that store.”

She looked down at her chest. “I would think that with a giant woman-sized hole in the wall, they would figure out something else happened, then the young lady stuck under the tree did it. Moran’s.”

The officer beside her jumped awake.

“Huh?” He looked over at Carien and blinked his green eyes. “Oh, you are finally awake, huh?”

Carien blew her bangs to the side. “You noticed?”

He stood up. “Don’t get short with me. Just tell me what you did with those toys, and I can see what I can do to get you a good deal.”

Carien slammed her hands down on the bed. “I didn’t steal any toys.”

“You were the only person we found at the scene of the crime.” He put his pale pudgy finger on her chest. “The tunnel leads to the store you work from. You had easy access and just slipped out on your return trip. We saw the bag next to you.”

Carien narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t do it. I am being set up. Seriously go and look around. There should be giant footprints, and look at the tunnel. Doesn’t anything look suspicious there?”

He slammed his hand down. “Quiet. All I want is the location of the toys.” He stood up.

“And you won’t be going anywhere until you give me that information.”

Carien sighed. “Well, can I at least have some water?”

The officer threw his hands up. “Ugh, fine.” He walked to the door.

“Fredricks Fancy Sparkling Water?”

He turned around and narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t a drive-through.”

“I promise I will tell you what happened to the toys.”

He took a deep breath. “Fine.” He turned around and began to talk to himself. “I hate having to watch these criminals who go and get themselves hurt.

So demanding, and I can’t do anything about it.”

Carien sighed. “This is just great. I am stuck here while Vess is out free and clear.” She shook her head. “She might even be stealing from more stores.”

A few minutes later, the officer returned with a Fredricks Fancy Sparkling water. “Here.”

Carien shook her hands. “I can’t really drink it all tied up and all.”

He sighed. “Hold on. I will uncuff your right hand.” He pointed at her. “Don’t try anything, or I will beat you.” He reached down and unlocked her handcuff.

“Don’t worry.” She grabbed the bottle. “I won’t.” Carien took quick and rapid gulps.

I have other plans to get out of here.

After a few moments, the officer snatched the bottle out of her hand. “Ok, that is enough.” He sighed. “Ok, now tell me where the toys are.”

She reached up to scratch at her chin. “Hmm, let me see.” Her body began to throb. “I don’t know.”

The officer clenched his fists. “You little. . .” He grabbed her arm. “Remember you asked for this.” He tried to recuff her, but the handcuff wouldn’t fit around her arm. “What in the world?” He tried multiple times, but the handcuff covered less and less of her arm each time. “What is going on?”

Carien stretched as her body started to grow. “Oh, just a bit of a growth spurt.”

Her other handcuff popped off her body, and she sat up. “Nothing to worry about.”

He stepped backward. “Nothing to worry about? You are a good foot bigger than you were a minute ago.” He shook his head and reached for the nightstick at his belt. “Stop growing at once.”

She threw her legs over the side of the bed and narrowed her eyes. “Ya, I can’t really control my growth, so umm, no.”

Carien’s head hit the ceiling, and her feet pushed the officer to the ground. “Ouff.”

She bent over as she pulled her hospital gown down to try and stretch over her body. “Growing a bit faster than I would like, though.”

The officer crawled out from under her foot. “Can I have some help—

She slammed him down again. “Sorry, can’t let you finish that sentence.” She crawled onto her knees and crushed the bed beneath her thighs. “I don’t want any more trouble than I already have.” She tried to turn around to face the door; her elbow pierced the television in the upper corner of the room, and her foot slammed the officer against the far wall.  Carien sighed. “My bad.” She squeezed her shoulders through the doorway and pulled her body through. “Ugh.”

Her gown fell to the floor as her hips hit the side of the doorway. “No.” She twisted around and pushed on the walls. “I can’t be stuck already.”

She felt a pounding on her left foot. “Stop this growing now. You are under arrest, you toy thief.”

Carien sighed. “I don’t have time to worry about you.” She pushed him up against the wall again. “Now stop bothering me.” She winced as her growing waist pressed against the foundation of the building.

Carien slammed her hand down onto the tile floor, her hand leaving a small crater. “Let me out of here.”

She pressed against the walls with all her might. The building around her shook as it closed in on her. “I am not going to get out in time.” Suddenly she snapped out of the door frame and slid through the hallway. “Oww, oww.” The ceiling scratched at her body as she slid into the far wall, and her head burst through the barrier. Carien blinked as she looked out over the street below. “Why did they have to put me on the twenty floor?”

She tried to move, but she couldn’t move her body; she was stuck tight in the hallway. “Ugh, come on.” She twisted around as the building closed in on her like shrink wrap. “This isn’t funny.”

Carien heard a sudden massive crack, and she fell a few feet. “I hope that isn’t what I think it was.” She took a deep breath, and she fell down another few feet. “Ok, don’t do anything.” The building creaked and groaned.

Suddenly the floor beneath her crumbled, and she fell downwards. Her body struck the ground a few seconds later, and a dust cloud flew up into the air. She slowly sat up and shook her head. “That isn’t exactly what I had planned. Ugh.”

She felt a prickling sensation from her left ankle. She lifted her leg to see the young officer as he still tried to use his handcuffs on her. “I said you are under arrest.” His voice was raspy. “Please stop.”

She picked him up, so he was in front of her massive face. “Hey, listen.” His eyes went wide when he saw her massive head. “Do you see any way you are bringing me in?” He shook his head. “You want to get the toys back, right?” He nodded his head. “Good.” She gently set him down on a big slab of concrete. “You follow me, and I will find your toy thief. I promise.”

“But!”

Carien pressed her foot down, so her toes were inches from the officer. “No buts.

I am here to help both get that thief and clear my name.” She bent down and narrowed her eyes. “Either you come along and get the real perp, or you stay here.” She touched him with her giant index finger. “Your choice.”

He adjusted his hat. “Fine. At least it shouldn't be hard to follow some giant growing lady.”

Carien narrowed her eyes. “Just keep up.”

She took a step across the street and bent down. “I need something to wear before I go searching for this thief through first.” She ripped off the roof of the nearby building and wrapped it around her. “That is better.”

In the distance, she could see a dust cloud rise.

Carien pulled her make-shift shirt around her body and began to walk towards the source of the disturbance. Cries rose up as she walked. She slowly waved her hand as she tried not to step on the people below. “Hello. Sorry.” She gulped. “Happy holidays everyone.”

Carien turned the corner and spotted a twenty-foot woman as she loaded a massive sack onto a flatbed truck. “You!”

The lady turned around, and Carien could see it was Vess.

She clenched her fists. “You have got to be kidding me. How did you get so big?”

Carien walked over and put her hands on Vess’s shoulders. “It isn’t anything you need to know. Just put those stolen toys back.” Carien turned around to see the officer as he rounded the corner. “I found the real thief.”

He looked up and took a few deep breaths. “Oh, swell. Another giant lady.”

Carien smiled. “It’s ok. She may be big, but I can still handle her.” She felt Vess’s shoulders rising. “Vess here didn’t grow large enough, it seems.”

Carien felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned her head. She now looked up to see Vess was fifteen feet taller than Carien, and the tight clothing she had on before was now ripped entirely apart. “Oh really?” Vess slammed Carien into the nearby skyscraper.

Carien shook her head as her body grew another foot. “Whoa.” She pushed up against the building as it crumbled down around her. “We can settle this without out more violence.”

Vess grabbed Carien as she stood back up. “That depends.”

Carien gulped. “On what?”

“Are you going to try and still stop me from taking these umm. . .” Vess rolled her hand. “Holiday treats, as I would say.”

Carien narrowed her eyes. “Of course. It is either that I go to jail.”

Vess tightened her grip around Carien’s makeshift shirt. “Well, let me help you with your decision to go back to the slammer then.” She threw Carien down the street; her shoulders ripped out the street lights. “If they can even make a cell big enough for you.”

Carien pushed herself off the ground, her hand crushing a car. “It isn’t just that.” She turned around. “You are stealing toys. What kind of heartless monster does that?”

Vess shugged. “I have to fund this size-changing device somehow.” She laughed. “I would think you would understand.”

Carien clenched her fists and charged at Vess. She knocked her down, right into another building. “This is all about money?” She held down Vess’s arms. “You are stealing toys for money?”

Vess squirmed in Carien’s grip. “Let me go.” She twisted her head. “Turn off that growth device of yours.”

“I don’t have one.” Carien sighed as her body finally stopped growing. “I can’t believe someone would use such technology to hurt people on the holidays.”

Vess sighed. “I am just trying to get back what is owed to me. Those toys are rightfully mine. My parents never gave me gifts on the holidays, nor did your Santa or anyone else visit.” She spat. “We weren’t even poor. My family believed that giving gifts to each other was an outdated tradition.” She sighed. “When I went to my boyfriends for the holidays for the first time, it hit me. Something isn’t right, so I did something about it.” She squirmed. “And I will get out of here and finish what I started.”

Vess blinked. “What the? It feels like there is some strange worm crawling up my leg? Oh no.” She suddenly began to shrink down, and she was back to her standard size in a few moments.

Carien looked down in confusion. “What just happened?” She bent down to see the officer as he held up a black box.

“Umm, I found this while I was climbing up one of you two to try and do something. I pressed something, and I got her to come down to my size.” He pulled out the handcuffs. “Ok, you have the right to remain silent.”

Vess sighed and sivered. “It is a bit late for that.” She shook her head. “I need to hide that thing in a better place next time.” She turned her head to the officer. “Umm, can I have some clothes?”

Carien sighed. “I am going to return these toys.”

The officer waved his hand. “Ya, whatever.” He forced Vess into his squad car with a dented roof. “Look, thank you for helping out here.” He started the vehicle and drove down the broken street.

Carien smiled and turned around. “Well, I guess things have turned out for the best.”

She walked over to the flatbed truck, and the sack of toys stood. “Time to return you to where you belong.” She bent over and picked up the bag in her hand, and a thought came to her mind.

“Or maybe.”

***

Maxwell rushed to the door as the floorboards began to tremble. “Get down under the beds' kid. It is an earthquake.” He gulped as he bounced around. “A series of earthquakes.” He slid down against the door as the strange trembling stooped. “Phew.”

The building shook as a knocking sounded from the door. “Hello?

Is someone there?” He covered his ear to try and drown out the loudest voice he had heard in his life. “I would like to donate some toys to the orphanage.”

Maxwell opened the door and stumbled outside. “Umm, thank you?” He scratched at his bald head. “But did you have to use the speakerphone?” He blinked his eyes as he looked at a massive heel. “Umm.” He looked up to see a skyscraper of a woman. “Holy crap.”

She bent down and set a sack down next to the doorway.

“Sorry. I didn’t have a chance to shrink down before I came here.” She pulled at what appeared to be a section of roof that covered her body. “But I found these toys and thought the kids here would like them.”

“Wait here, just a minute.” Maxwell lifted his finger at her. “You can’t just.”

“Oh my god. Look at these, you guys.” Jeremy emerged from the building and dove into the sack. “Some magical spirit lady just dropped a boatload of goodies on our doorstep.”

Maxwell turned around. “Hey, get out of there. We can’t accept these.” The pavement shook as Carien walked away. “Hey, you come back here. Ugh.” He threw up his arms. He turned around to see the kids jumping into the giant linen sack. Maxwell smiled. “Well, I am not sure what happened, but merry Christmas, everyone. Let’s get these toys inside. It is freezing out here.”