The
streets were bustling, much to Mayas annoyance. Too many people, too
many witnesses. She hated working in broad daylight but also knew the
streets would all be empty by night. That fault fell on her. Too many
bodies have popped up, some because she didn't properly hide them. It
made Lyzas list all but pointless since she couldn’t find a single
Beta.
"I’ve
gotten sloppy..."
With
a sigh she surveyed the area as she walked amongst the crowd of
people, none of them wise to the plans her and Lyza had in
store.
"It's
not like I'd be able to ask anyone..." She thought. "Really
they should all be grateful for that kind of opportunity. If they
continued to live like this..." Maya watched as people talked
and bickered over pointless things. She watched as the homeless were
ignored and forgotten. She saw people go about mundane lives for
pointless reasons. "Whatever happens to them is pretty much a
mercy."
Los
Demonios, a beautiful city only on the outside. Walk through its
streets and you'll see just how dirty it really was. How else could a
killer like her have managed to escape capture for so long?
She
saw a businessman on what was no doubt an important call and already
knew just where to cut to get him to bleed out. She saw an old
elderly couple and knew just how hard she needed to turn their necks
to hear the snap.
She
knew how to kill and how to do it well. She's killed so many people
in so many ways and she'd be the first to admit that it's begun to
get repetitive. Not to the point where she'd stop but just enough
that she was getting bored.
It
was hard to find enjoyment in killing regular sized people now. Her
interests continued to fall upon the diminished. Those who were most
affected by the epidemic. The Betas.
Low
on the social ladder, it didn't matter if they were rich or poor,
young, or old, obese or fit. If you were a Beta you were soon to be a
victim of criticism. But if you were a Beta and only a few inches
tall, then your old life was effectively over. You'd always need to
treat yourself with Antilirin, the miraculous pink powder that
reverses the effects of shrinking. Doesn't do away with the pale skin
and strange lines upon it. Nor did it turn the bleached hair and red
eyes of a Beta back to normal. All it did was give someone their
height back, but only for a time. Some needed to take it once a
month, others once a week. Rarer still were those who took it once a
day, like Lyza.
Such
a miraculous little drug- concocted by Saint Minerva, the miracle
mind behind the "cure". Maya wondered how the world would
react if they the beloved martyr Josephine Minerva was behind the
epidemic several years ago, or what they would think if they found
out Saint Minerva was strangled to death by a certain blue haired
killer.
Mayas
lips curled upwards into a smile. Back them she had lost herself in
the moment and killed what would have potentially been an amazing
little toy. The rich ones, the powerful ones, always struggled the
best. As though their statuses still held some sort of merit when so
small.
Maya
almost drooled when recall how she kept a lawyer trapped in her shoes
after she took up running thanks to a shrewd commit by Lyza in regard
to her weight. Poor little girl suffered through a heat stroke.
Must've never been active before in her life.
Another,
a CEO, she tossed in her mouth and sucked on him ad though he were
candy. Didn't taste like anything sure, Betas never do, but his
struggles kept her entertained for hours on end. Even up until the
point where she had effectively licked him raw and red.
But
those were kind kills, at least in her eyes. The kind of kills where
she barely did anything other than exist around them. Fun to recall
but dreadfully dull when enacting, especially when you’re as busy
as her.
Her
favored forms on executions came when her victims refused to settle
down, only thrashing around more when she warned them.
And
when those warnings went ignored she'd tear off a limb or two to gain
the compliance of others. Heads would be crushed with the most
minimal of squeezes and she even go so far as to chew any that still
had fight alive before presenting their mashed remains to their
friends. The expressions that always followed never failed to elicit
a laugh from Maya.
Apparently
the simple act of reminiscing was enough to force one from between
Mayas lips as she noticed the concerned gazes of a few unaware
passerby’s.
She
waved them off, saying that all she recalled was a funny joke. Just
like drones they went back to their daily lives, none even giving the
blue haired woman a second thought as to why she laughed in the
middle of the sidewalk.
Maya
exhaled, the notion that she's failed to capture even a single Beta
weighing down heavily on her mind.
"They're
hiding particularly well today."
Or
at least the little ones were. There were many large Betas about, but
those weren't her target. Usually they were our scavenging at night,
those who couldn't find a place to live. Again though, even that was
starting to become difficult.
Maya
was beginning to think this day would probe fruitless, that was until
she saw, several yards in front of her, a man almost trip over
himself before he started cussing at his feet. He took on large step
forward, stepping over the seemingly three-inch beta that nearly
cause him to fall over.
They
were shaken up by the near death experience apparently, having
remained in the same spot up until Maya walked towards them.
Female
and young. A teenager perhaps. And judging by their tattered clothes
homeless as well. Poor thing must've lost her home or couldn't find
her way back to it. The possibility that she was thrown out was also
on the table. So many ways this Beta could have ended up here.
Not
like it mattered, however. Right now she was exactly where she needed
to be.
The
young girl was frightened at first upon seeing Maya bend down,
offering her an open hand to stand on. But once she saw Mayas smile
that fear seemed to melt away.
"Are
you alright?"
Mayas
blue eyes lulled the Beta into an odd sense of peace, her smile
seemed to sooth her spirit. She seemed different from the people who
looked at her. They saw her as though she were an insect. But when
she looked into Mayas eyes she found that wasn't the case her. Maya
saw her as something else.
"I-i'm
good..." The Beta answered through a shakey
voice. Even as she was lifted into the air she kept her calm.
Maya
seemed different when compared to the other citizens of Los Demonios,
and that wasn't just cause of her attire. A red button up shirt and
black jeans, along with matching dress shoes. Paired with her tied
back hair and Maya gave off a professional look while also
maintaining to appear kind and considerate.
"I'm
so glad to hear that." Maya had already continued her walk, now
with a prize in hand. "You poor little things are always
in so much danger. You must be insane to walk about in such a crowded
area?"
"Not
insane..." The woman corrected. "Starving"
Maya
showed genuine concern when she saw just how emaciated they were.
Through what little clothing they had Maya could see ribs and bones.
A shame as upon looking at the Beta Maya could easily tell that they
were very beautiful once.
"Poor
dear, you really are starving." Maya pondered for a moment
before smiling. "Lucky for you I know an incredible little
restaurant that serves an amazing crab bisque."
The
teenage Beta quickly found herself salivating at the thought of real
food and not the scraps she was usually forced to scavenge for. So
lost was she in the thought that she didn't have time to even think
about refusing Mayas invitation as the giantess quickly shot that
down.
"I
won't take no as an answer mind you. You're nothing but skin and
bones right now. Why, we just need to do something about
that."
Mayas
voice was as soothing as can be, filling the Beta with only a sense
of security.
"Do
you have a name?" Maya asked. "Or should I just call you
little thing?"
"I-it's
Caroline." The Beta answered. "Caroline Marks."
"Delilah
Basque" Maya replied as she extended a finger towards Caroline
for them to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you Caroline. You
have a lovely name."
Over
an hour later Maya was happily watching as Caroline helped herself to
a spoonful of bisque, the three-inch Beta slurping up the large
quantity before she was offered more. She didn't refuse, the food
being more then she's had in weeks.
"Is
it good?" Maya asked with a smile. She truly did enjoy watching
as Caroline gorged herself.
"Amazing!"
Caroline shouted in between mouthfuls. "Thank you Delilah! Thank
you so much!"
As
Coraline continued with her meal Maya could only reminisce over how
she had acquired her current name. Delilah Basque, the real one, was
a cruel woman. Someone from Mayas own childhood in fact. Old,
vindictive, and took joy in bringing misfortune upon a young Maya and
her family.
Maya
smiled as she remembered the last time she saw the old hag. She was
older by then, of course. And she had a better understanding of how
to dispose of evidence by then.
The
old hag's still reported as missing.
"So,
what's your story Caroline?" Maya asked, breaking her own train
of thought. "Judging by the way you eat I'd imagine you've been
on your own for a very long time."
Caroline
ceased eating the moment Maya asked. The next second she was shaking,
as though the memories that arose in regard to Mayas question
terrified her.
"Oh
no no, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to!" Maya
assured. "I didn't know it was such a sensitive topic for you. I
didn't think."
It
took Caroline quite a few minutes to calm herself down, the whole
while Maya looked on in worry. When finally the Beta looked up at her
the blue haired giantess felt her spirits lift.
"I...
was thrown out." Caroline revealed. "By my own family. My
aunt and uncle."
"Not
your parents?" Maya wondered.
"No...
they were shrunk too. My dad was two inches, my mother one."
Maya
was taken aback by that. The mothers height nearly put her on even
footing with Six. Maya couldn't help but wonder if there were some
even smaller than her one and only.
"We
lived in an apartment complex with my aunt and uncle. They owned the
building but we all never really got along."
Maya
noticed Caroline tense up again and placed her index finger atop the
Betas head, gently moving to her cheek to stroke it. She was calming
Caroline and doing an excellent job of it. Any fear of recalling the
past melted away just as it had before.
"Once...once
my parents and I shrunk my aunt us all gone. She said she didn't want
to take care of bugs. My dad's always been a headstrong guy. Nice,
but doesn't always think things through. He argued with my aunt for a
few minutes before she...she..."
"Took
care of him like a bug." Maya finished. She already knew the
ending to this story. It's one she's already heard dozens of
times.
A
slow nod confirmed Mayas suspicions.
"I
imagine at that point you and your mother knew it was best to run
away right?
Another
nod signified another confirmation.
"It's
only been us two ever since. We've managed to live for the few months
we've on the streets but only barely. My mother's been too weak to
leave the bed and I've barely been able to find any real food. At
least until i met you..."
Maya
felt her heart skip a beat when she heard that. It was adorable to
her. "Oh spare me please. It could've been someone else that
helped you.
"But
you were the only one that did!" Caroline said as she stood up.
She crossed her arms, seemingly determined to have what she felt she
should heard. "You were the only one who offered a helping hand
after all these months. To me that places you leagues above the
assholes in this city."
Maya
visibly blushed, not having expected any sort of compliments from
anyone other than her Six and Lyza. "Oh, you wouldn't say that
if you knew me more. But please do go on. I like hearing your
praise."
The
two continued talking, enjoying each other’s company a great deal
and both sharing details about themselves. Their pasts, their hopes
and their desired futures. Maya of course saw that it was best to
withhold any sensitive information but for the most part she was
truthful. And as such she learned a great deal from Caroline as well,
including the location of a certain aunt and uncle that cared so
little for family. Two people she made certain to see before the days
end.
"Caroline
I must say you are a sparkling conversationalist!"
"And
you Delilah live such an incredible life! You sound like you have an
amazing girlfriend."
Maya
chuckled at all the luxuries she was afforded thanks to her
relationship with Lyza. "She spoils me I know. And I love her
for it. It's just..."
"You
don't know what to expect from your boyfriend right?" Caroline
asked. "I'll be honest the thought of a three-person
relationship doesn't seem like the best idea."
"I
know!" Maya exasperated. "But I love them both so much! And
they're both aware of the situation it's just that I don't think they
get along all too well."
"Well
how can you be certain?" Caroline asked. "Maybe they just
need to find common ground in something?"
Maya
recalled back to the recent days. How Six has both insulted and
angered Lyza while the latter belittled him. "Yeah that may be a
bit difficult..."
Maya
bit the nail of her thumb in frustration as Caroline looked on in
silent amusement. She felt that all Maya needed was for all three of
them to find something they shared interest in. She also believed
that this was something Maya needed to understand herself.
"Whatever
it is Maya I'm sure they'll come around." Caroline said with a
yawn following after. "You're an amazing woman. They'll see how
lucky they both are."
Maya
saw the young Beta struggle to keep her eyes open. A good meal is
likely to do that to one so small. And seeing as the two have enjoyed
each other's company for quite some time Maya saw it fit to ready
herself to leave.
But
not without offering a helping hand.
"Do
you have someplace to live?" Maya asked as she placed her palm
besides the now extremely calm Caroline. "You said you live with
your mother right."
"I
did." Caroline confirmed as she found herself yawning again.
"Actually, we live in a small community with other Betas. All
homeless with barely enough food to share. It's a few blocks away
from where we met."
Maya
didn't even have time to offer Caroline the choice of being taken
there. Already the little Beta was sitting cross legged in her palm
with a smile on her face. She trusted Maya completely.
"Bolder
now are we? Alright, just show me where I need to go then."
Caroline navigated as though she were on a ship, holding onto Mayas thumb as she guided the giantess. In Mayas other hand was a Styrofoam cup filled with Bisque, the leftovers she hadn’t eaten. She was certain she could use it for something.
Caroline had not trouble relaying the directions Maya needed to find the little Betas home. A task that only took half an hour. It was Mayas first time seeing a Beta settlement and as such she didn’t know what to expect. Needless to say her first viewing of it was rather underwhelming.
It was hidden away, this home of theirs, resting between two buildings so deep in an alleyway that no one was bound to look here. To keep safe from anyone wishing to invite harm upon the minuscule community. And it worked for the most part, at least until now.
It was trash. Literally. They used garbage to not only cloth themselves but also to build makeshift homes. Cardboard boxes seemed the most common but there were also a fair amount of cartons and newspapers being used as homes and tents as well. It was disgusting, enough to make Mayas nose curl. She did have to admit though, they were rather inspiring to have managed for as long as they did.
It was simply amazing how many Betas could be found in the hard-to-reach places. It made Maya realize that she was going about her search wrong. Of course they wouldn’t be out in the open, they’d be hidden away. All it took to find them was the trust of an oh so innocent teenage girl.
“Where’s your mother?” Maya asked the still sitting Beta. There was a crowd forming at her feet, all looking up in awe. “She’s not here is she?”
Caroline looked down to the people at Mayas feet before pointing towards a house right at the very edge of the little settlement. “My mom stays in doors most days. Like I said, she’s usually too weak to walk.”
Maya practically beamed down at the young Beta. She really did make things too easy. She helped to turn a fruitless day into a bountiful one.
“Sweet little Caroline. You truly are a gem.” Maya praised. “Such a sweet soul. A life like this doesn’t deserve someone like you. I hope in your next one you get the kind life you deserve.”
Caroline, while at first was bashful, didn’t quite understand what Maya meant by her last statement. No, whatever thoughts she had were quickly silenced once Maya closed her fingers around the Beta and crushed her before she even had time to realize what was happening.
It was a kind kill. Quick, with the last words being heard were those of genuine praise. Poor little Caroline was too good for this cruel world and as such Maya saw it best to kill her quickly. The blue haired giantess allowed the body to fall from her hand with an oh so tiny tilt of it, letting gravity bring it down on two terrified onlookers within the crowd. Just as the crowd was beginning to disperse Maya brought her foot down on three more, not even offering them the time to resist.
“Anyone tries to run away, and I’ll make my next kill last longer.” she explained with a calmness that almost bordered boredom. When another was beginning to run away a simple step proved her threat as she didn’t outright crush them. Instead Maya dragged the poor soul across the ground, leaving behind a red streak as she did. The Beta proved to be a fighter, trying to crawl out from underneath Mayas shoe even as their skin was torn apart from the constant dragging. It was entertaining, if only for a moment, but soon enough and with one final drag the Beta was little more than another, far messier, streak that proved to be just what Maya needed to instill obedience in the now motionless crowd.
Maya silently counted each and every Beta, wondering if perhaps there were too many.
“Thirty-seven in total...” Maya thought. “Bit too many to carry on me. May have to cull the numbers. It’s a good thing I don’t mind leftovers.”
At that Maya opened the styrofoam cup she’s held on to, a meal for later she’s glad she had brought with her now. By her estimate she believed she could carry six, maybe seven if she forced an extra one in. The rest though she’d have to deal with. They’d likely move should they live; warn others if they came across any.
Maya chugged the whole cup of Bisque, uncaring for whatever crab chunks were in it. They just slid past her throat, each time a lump passed that gave the Betas below an idea of what could happen to them. It seemed an eternity before Maya finally finished, the giantess pulling away the cup as she exhaled a terrifying amount of steam.
“Hot!” Maya breathed heavily as she tried to cool her burning mouth. “Fuckers! I told them I wanted it warm! This isn’t going to sit well later I just know it!”
Maya clutched her stomach and then her throat, the hot soup clearly having left its mark on both. “Oh yeah, that’s gonna start hurting in an hour. I better wrap things up.”
Maya wasted no time in scooping up two Betas, each about two inches. Both female and both screaming as though they were in a contest to see who could tear their vocal cords first. One of their heads was easily popped in between Mayas finger, silencing the other as she understood what would happen if she continued. Even as she was lowered into the still steaming cup she didn’t produce so much as a single decibel.
Two more came after, one three inches while the other was four. These were far more silent then the previous, but they did possess more spirit, trying with all their little might to break free from Mayas grasp. With how they were positioned it was easy for Maya to hold a leg from each in between two fingers from her other hand. Even while holding the cup she had no trouble breaking their legs and inducing shock on them.
“That makes three~” Maya chuckled. Only now was the crowd beginning to disperse once more, the fear from the example made before effectively being replaced by the fear they felt now. Maya was untroubled by this, targeting the biggest Betas to step down on with effort so that the resulting gore would instill more fear in the crowd, and by extension error.
They practically killed each other in their panic, with family and friends trampling over their own kin in an effort to escape. It made Mayas job easier in thinning them out.
She collected another one, lifting the Beta by their leg as they tripped over a far larger one. Maya was almost certain she dislocated the limb as the little thing immediately went limp. Thankfully he was alive and as such he went right into the cup.
“That makes four~”
Another addition, this time trying to hide within what could only have been her cardboard home. The roof was easily torn away and without much fight there was another addition to the collection.
“Five~”
Maya was enjoying herself, even allowing a few to run a considerable distance before jumping right on top of them. She felt like a child again when she did that, playing hopscotch as her parents watched. Only now the game was bloodier.
A Beta tried to run in between her legs. An awful idea really, one that only ended with him being lifted by his head. Fear did what Maya already planned to and immediately knock the poor guy out cold. Maya did like the cowardly ones. They were fun to play with.
“And that makes Six.” Maya looked to see who remained, her own efforts and the efforts of the terrified Betas having killed just about everyone. All that remained was the house at the very end.
Caroline's house, where her mother still was. It’d be cruel to leave someone so frail alone in an abandoned community. She wouldn’t offer as much fun as the rest, but with their size of only a single inch they’d fit in the container no problem.
Unfortunately, as soon as Maya tore away the roof of the cardboard house, they found the frail woman in bed, unmoving and silent. Maya placed a finger on the woman's chest to garnish some kind of reaction but found that it didn’t work. She wasn’t even breathing.
“Weaker then Caroline thought. Poor thing must have passed some time ago...”
It made Maya question just how long Caroline was out scavenging for food before coming across her. With how their mother looked it could have been weeks. Maybe even a few days if they were already weak before.
Maya couldn’t explain it but she felt sad. Horrible even, and that feeling only grew worse once she saw Caroline's crushed body.
“She never really had a home to come back to. At least she died thinking that she did.”
Looking at the cup in her hand Maya forced a smile, trying to cheer herself up at the thought of the fun she and Lyza would have.
It didn’t work and before long Maya held no desire to stay in this now dead settlement.
Maya was so lost in thought that she didn’t even see a Beta crawling away, his lower legs crushed as a result on getting trampled on by two larger individuals as they fled. Both were dead now, crushed by Maya. Unfortunately the crawling Beta was doomed to join them as Maya never even registered that they were beneath her shoe.
Despite the rather audible crunch Maya was still oblivious to what she did. Instead she hoped that Lyza and Six would be able to better her mood once she saw them. That is, if they were getting along.