#tiny lady

The thick latch barely budged under her four-inch frame. She gritted her teeth, throwing her whole weight against the unyielding barrier. "Come on, come on," she grunted through clenched jaws.

With a cry of frustration, Lucy collapsed backward, wincing as her shoulder slammed against the hard floor. A dull ache radiated down her arm now. "Useless," she muttered, glaring up at the door that towered above her. She wouldn't be getting out tonight. Exhaustion crept over her as she curled up in the corner, shivering against the cold that permeated the cage.

Lucy awoke early the next morning, her back sore and muscles stiff from a night spent on the hard cage floor. She paced the confines of her tiny prison, trying to psych herself up.

"You can do this," she muttered under her breath. "Don't let him intimidate you just because he's huge."

She steeled herself, ready to give Mike a piece of her mind when he showed up. She would not be cowed or treated like a pet!

But all of Lucy's courage evaporated when the giant lumbered into the kitchen, still half-asleep and scratching his messy hair. He was just so massive compared to her four-inch frame, like a lumbering bear next to a mouse.

"Morning already?" Mike yawned loudly, oblivious to the storm brewing inside the tiny girl.

As he set about making his coffee. She stood motionless, watching Mike drop heavily into a chair, his presence dominating the small space. He wrapped his hands around the steaming mug and brought it to his lips, his gaze settling on the cage – on her.

"Damn, what's this?" Mike's voice rumbled through the room as his brow furrowed, noticing the mottled bruise coloring her shoulder.

The room seemed to lurch as Mike's hand reached towards her, the cage door swinging open with ease under his touch. "How did you even get hurt?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern and confusion.

Panic surged through Lucy as his fingers, thick as tree trunks compared to her fragile form, encircled her, lifting her from the cage. The world tilted, and suddenly, she was airborne, face-to-face with the giant who held her fate between his fingertips.

"Mi-Mike..." Her protest died in her throat, swallowed by the overwhelming fear of being so completely at his mercy.

Lucy's tiny body trembled as she was suspended before Mike's massive visage. His eyes were bigger than her whole head, and they studied her intently. She flinched as one thick finger gently probed her bruised arm.

"Looks like you're more breakable than I thought," Mike muttered, almost to himself. "We'll get you a proper setup soon."

The condescension in his tone was the last straw. Lucy's fear gave way to a fiery surge of defiance. "Oh, geez, don't bother, that cage right there was a five-star experience!" she spat out, each word laced with scorn. "I was cold, the floor was hard, and there was nowhere to take a whiz!"

Mike's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by her outburst. He exhaled slowly, the warm puff of his breath washing over her like a polluted breeze.

"I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me," he said gently. "After breakfast, we'll go to the pet store. You can pick out something better."

"You think I want another cage?" Lucy yelled, incensed. "I don't need a cage at all! I'm not a pet!"

Mike's expression turned somber, a shadow of doubt passing over his features. "I'm just doing what's best for you! I don't think you'll be safe if you free roam." He looked away, troubled by the situation, by her resistance, or perhaps by his own doubts about what he was doing.

Lucy's tiny chest heaved with each breath, her voice escalating to a piercing pitch that belied her minuscule stature. "No, no, no, look—I've survived 20 years without you in my life; I don't want to be locked up!"

Mike's jaw clenched, his eyes a stormy sea of frustration as they bore down into Lucy's defiant gaze. "You're being ungrateful about this; I saved your life!" His voice rumbled like distant thunder, his irritation clear, yet his ears seemed deaf to the desperate plea in her tone.

"Saving me doesn't mean you own me," Lucy shot back.

Mike's brow furrowed, a silent admission that her words struck deeper than expected. But then Mike's expression hardened, the lines of his face setting like concrete as he towered above her. "I'm done with this conversation," he declared, the finality in his tone leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for her reply, he deposited her into the pocket of his boxer shorts.

"Hey!" she protested, the fabric walls of her new prison muffling her outcry. She pushed against the cotton expanse.

Ignoring her, Mike strode across the kitchen, the motion causing Lucy to sway precariously. The scent of his soap, mixed with the smell of that, was undeniably Mike's; it clung to the material.

The sizzle of bacon meeting the hot pan reached Lucy's ears, followed by the crackle of eggs as they were added to the mix.

"Keep it together, Lucy," she whispered, drawing a slow, steadying breath. Her fingers, nimble and practiced, grasped the hunting knife handle strapped to her thigh.

She inserted the blade into the cotton with surgical precision, feeling the resistance before it gave way, thread by thread. Sawing gently, she carved an escape route, mindful of Mike’s movements as he turned from the stove to retrieve something from the fridge.

The hole grew wider, a window to freedom. And then, with the grace of an acrobat, she eased herself through the gap, dangling momentarily. Her legs swung free, searching for purchase in the air.

"Here goes nothing." With a gulp, she released her hold on the torn fabric, plummeting downward in a controlled fall.

The ground rushed up to meet her, but she rolled with the impact, muscles absorbing the shock. Her triumph was short-lived; the bellow from above signaled that Mike had caught a glimpse of her daring descent.

"Lucy!" His voice boomed, laden with betrayal and concern.

She didn't hesitate, darting across the tiled floor with the speed that only desperate adrenaline could fuel. Mike's shadow loomed, his hands like clumsy cranes swooping down to snatch her back.

"Damn it, Lucy, stop!"

Her world narrowed to the safe wedge of darkness between the counter and fridge. She slipped into the crevice just as his fingers grazed her back.

"Please, come out. We can talk about this!"

Lucy pressed herself further into the shadows. She was no pet, no doll to be tucked away in a grown man's pocket.

"Talk? Like you listened before?" Her voice was a defiant hiss. "I'm not coming out."

"Lucy, I just want to—"

"Save it!"

Mike sighed heavily, "Fine, Lucy," he muttered, though his voice boomed like distant thunder. "Stay there if you want."

It wasn't until the front door closed with a finality that echoed through the empty space that she dared to move.

Creeping out from her sanctuary, Lucy's gaze landed on the plate left on the floor. It was a feast by any borrower's standards, piled high with bacon and eggs, steam still curling up from the freshly cooked meal. Her stomach growled.

"Thinks he can bribe me with breakfast," she scoffed quietly, eyes narrowing as she approached the offering with suspicion etched into her features.

Yet, as she poked at the eggs, she found no sign of tampering. Just the rich aroma of yolk and the savory tang of bacon.

"Ugh, damn it," she grumbled, giving in to her hunger. Biting into the bacon, the crunch was satisfyingly loud in her ears. Next, she tore off a piece of egg with her hands.

With her belly full, Lucy pondered her next move. Part of her wanted to flee this place and never look back. But the indignity of how Mike had treated her still burned. She wouldn't let him get away with it that easily.

No, she would stay right here, in the walls and crevices of Mike's home. She'd show him just how capable she was of caring for herself. And maybe she'd play a trick or two just to teach him a lesson about caging up borrowers.

Lucy smiled to herself. This could be fun. With that, she slipped into a nearby vent, ready to begin her new life of borrowing and pranking. Mike had no idea what was coming.

Sneaking through the vents and walls, Lucy scoped out the perfect spots to set up her new home. She located places to store food, make a cozy sleeping area, and peek into the rooms without being seen.

As she explored, Lucy daydreamed about the mischief she could cause. Filling Mike's shoes with thumbtacks would serve him right for trying to lock her up.

Lucy knew she'd have to be careful, though. Mike was aware of her presence. He would likely set traps or try to catch her if given the chance. But Lucy was confident in her abilities. After all, she had survived on her own much longer than this giant had even known she existed.