The sounds were deafening and Nathan put his hands over his ear to block them out. He rested against the back of his cage, tears falling freely and staring out at the world through the bars. “What have I done to deserve this?” he wondered to himself as he continuously sobbed. He didn’t try to stop because there was no reason for him to. He had no more dignity. He wasn’t a real live person to anyone other than himself. The only thing that he was to others was a pet. An object to be used, then disposed of.
To his previous owner, he had been a sex toy. Shoved in and out of her vagina and forced to help her masturbate, then lick and hump her nipples. She hadn’t even considered it cheating with her boyfriend because he was so small. To the one before her, he had been nothing but a peasant. He had to worship her body, kiss her toes, and refer to her as Goddess. And there were plenty before that. Just the thought of these previous owners hurt Nathan even more, and he started sobbing harder.
***
Ariana stood at the table with a giant grin on her face. She winked at Stephanie and blew out all the candles on her 14th birthday cake. There were camera shots and videos being recorded. After all, when your parents are millionaires, their children’s birthdays don’t go by unnoticed. Add that to the fact that Ariana was an only child and you get paparazzi everywhere.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Ariana. Happy birthday to you,” everyone (besides Ariana) sung.
“Get this over with. Where’s my present,” Ariana thought and couldn’t wait. Last year she had gotten an Xbox One with 7 games. The year before she had gotten a $1000 Visa Gift Card to spend on anything and everything she wanted to. So naturally she was excited.
“Ariana, we know how long you’ve wanted a human pet to call your own. Both me and your father have been lending you ours, but we thought that it was finally time that we gave you your own,” Ariana’s mother said to Ariana.
“A...human?” Ariana said in disbelief.
“Yes my darling, a human.”
“Oh my god! Thank you so much!” Ariana yelled as she hugged her mom. She could feel tears of joy coming to her eyes. She was finally getting a human. All the things to do with one.
“The limo is ready Ariana!” her mother called and Ariana walked out the front door with her parents (and a lot of commotion of course). A reporter walked up in front of Ariana and started questioning her.
“How do you feel like getting a pet?”
“This feels like the best day of my life. I am so damn thankful to my parents for this!” Ariana exclaimed. She received a slight nudge from her mother after using the world “damn” but she didn’t care. Nothing could ruin this perfect day.
“Out of the way people,” Ariana’s mother called as the family finally reached the limousine. Ariana’s father, who had been quiet until now, got in the car first letting Ariana sit between him and her mother. His face shone with happiness when he saw his only girl happy. Ariana was often a very moody girl, and had fits of depression occasionally, which he was unable to help her with. This moment made him feel very happy and he almost started crying. But decided against it since he knew Ariana might mistake them as tears of sadness, and he did not want to ruin her birthday.
The limo drove off, with Ariana sitting inside, eyes shining in anticipation, and hardly able to keep still.
***
“Now listen you little shits. We have the daughter of a multi-millionaire coming over. I don’t want to see none of you bitches acting up or making her displeased. If a single one of you acts up and she doesn’t adopt you, you’re coming home with me. And maybe not back to the shelter tomorrow,” Maria yelled at the humans. She was the owner of the animal shelter in which the pets lived. And she was not very well liked.
She walked down the aisle of the shelter, looking at the cages and making sure every human had a smile on their face. When she walked over to Nathan’s cage in the back she grinned. She opened the cage and poked Nathan, who was sitting with his head between his knees. He looked up, and she saw that he had been crying.
“Get that fucking frown off your face before I do it for you!” Maria yelled at him. Nathan looked at her with a mixture of anger and hatred. But he did not want to die just yet. So he stared at her and smiled his best fake smile, which was passed of as real by Maria. So she left him alone for now.
“I swear if that little son of a b-,” she started to mutter to herself when she heard the RING! the door made when someone came in.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath as she walked towards the front of the shelter. She left the room in which the pets were kept in, and walked to the front desk, putting on her best smile.
As soon as the door closed again, Nathan put his head down and closed his eyes. And hoped with all his might that whoever this person was didn’t choose him, multi-millionaire or not.
***
Ariana walked through the sliding doors of the shelter, then instantly crinkled her nose. “This place is a mess,” she thought, and watched as a rather chubby woman walked up to her with a bright smile on her face.
“Hi, I’m Maria. Nice to meet you!” she said to Ariana, then held out her hand. Ariana hesitantly shook it, then quickly broke contact. Maria’s grin faltered just a little at that incident.
“Let’s go see the humans, shall we,” Ariana’s mother said cheerfully, noticing the awkwardness and trying to get it over with.
“Sure,” Maria said, noticing the attempt and internally feeling grateful for it.
Maria walked towards the back of the shelter and opened the door leading to the animals’ room. It was dead quiet, as Maria’s threat had obviously worked. But Ariana and her family did know anything about that. They just thought the humans were very well behaved.
***
Nathan walked up to the bars of his cage and watched with mild interest as a family walked in. Expensive clothes and accessories easily allowed Nathan to identify them as “the” multi-millionaire family. And the little girl must have wanted a human.
Nathan grinned to himself as he caught himself calling the girl little. She looked strangely familiar, but he couldn’t place his finger on exactly where he had seen her before. He watched as the girl walked down the aisle, looking into cages and shaking her head because she didn’t see what she wanted to.
Nathan stepped toward the back of his cage, and leaned on the back. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Then he heard the highest-pitched squeal he had ever heard in his life.
“This one mom! I want this one!” she called out.
Nathan opened his eyes, only to have a heart attack. It was everything he could do to not faint on the spot. A giant eye was staring at him through the bars, and he felt his heart rate increase.
***
Ariana looked through the cage bars and loved what she saw. Here was a perfect pet to her! He was handsome compared to Brod. standards. He has a very fine-toned body. And very muscular arms, Ariana thought to herself.
She was snapped out of her daze as she saw Maria walking towards her with a frown on her face. “You know, you might not want him. He just got returned today for not behaving properly,” Maria started.
“Look, if I want him, I’ll get him! Okay?!” Ariana practically yelled at Maria, who instinctively took a step back. Maria bit her lip and nodded.
Maria proceeded to retrieve the cage from the shelf. “If you want, you could get to know him. We have a private room so you can see if he is really the perfect pet you want,” Maria said gently, trying not to provoke Ariana even more than she already had.
Ariana thought for a minute, nodded to Maria, then looked at her mom for approval. Her mom, who had been silently monitoring this conversation, nodded to Ariana.
Maria showed Ariana to a room in the back with a steel door. “It is soundproof,” Maria said, and showed Ariana inside. There was a table and a chair inside, with a bright light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Maria walked to the table and
Ariana nodded to Maria, and Maria stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Ariana wasted no time in going to the chair and sitting down.
***
Nathan waited inside his cage, waiting to be taken out and fondled. Like a little toy. He smashed his fist against the wall in anger, knowing full well that it wouldn’t do anything.
“Come on outside,” the giant girl called out in a cheerful voice, and Nathan slowly walked out of the cage and onto the open table. He stared up at the girl who was about to become his owner. She really was very pretty. But he knew very well that looks could be deceiving, and looked away quickly. He didn’t want to become attracted.
***
“So, what’s your name?” Ariana asked the little human in front of her. She noticed as he stared at her, then quickly averted his eyes.
“My name is Nathan,” he spat. Ariana couldn’t help but feel rage at the tone in which he said this. Here she was, willing to give him a home, but he wouldn’t accept it. She grabbed him and lifted him quickly, ignoring his struggles.
“Who do you think you are?! Talking to me like that! I’m trying to help you but you’re being a total bitch to me. I should just return you and pick a different pet. One that is more cooperative,” Ariana yelled at Nathan. Then her anger changed to shock as she watched a single tear roll down his cheek.
“Are-are you crying? But why?” Ariana asked softly. Nathan looked away quickly, breaking eye contact with Ariana.
“Because of my one and only brother killed today. Giving himself up to save me. From one of your kind. Betting his life on my freedom,” Nathan replied simply, then looking at Ariana once more.
The intensity of Nathan’s gaze surprised Ariana, and she felt her heart break inside. His brother had just died today, and here she was, yelling at him when he didn’t deserve any of it. She gently placed him back on the table top.
“I...I...I’m sorry,” Ariana whispered to Nathan as she saw Nathan walk over to the cage and lean against it. She could see the hurt look on Nathan’s face and she knew she had already gotten off to a bad start with her possibly new pet. Yet Ariana couldn’t help but feel doubts. She had been brought up her whole life thinking that the shrunken people weren’t actual people. Yet here she had one, and he behaved like any other full-sized human would.
“I know it was a bit abrupt last time, but can I pick you up?” Ariana softly asked Nathan, trying to make him feel better.
“Do whatever you want. It’s not like I can do anything to stop it,” Nathan responded quietly, making Ariana have to strain her ears to hear him. She could feel herself starting to shake, not in anger, but in sadness. She gulped down a sob. She didn’t need to admit any weakness. And crying would probably make him feel worse.
***
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know, honest! Please, just let me try to make it up to you. Let me get to know you,” she cried. Nathan looked up at her in surprise. Here she was, not only apologizing for the second time today, but also trying to get to know him.
“Maybe this will work out,” Nathan thought to himself. “Just maybe.”
“My name is Nathan…”