Tiny Troubles..

The soft morning light filtered through the attic window, warming Aria’s face. She groaned, her body heavy with sleep. But something felt... off. Her limbs ached in a strange way, and when she tried to shift, her blanket seemed unusually heavy, like it had turned into a lead sheet overnight.

“What the...?” she muttered, her voice cracking as she struggled to push the covers off.

It took more effort than usual to wriggle free, and when she finally sat up, the sight before her stole the breath from her lungs. Her bed, once barely large enough for her, now stretched endlessly like a vast plain. The familiar surroundings of her attic room were unrecognizable—her dresser loomed like a skyscraper, and her nightstand looked impossibly far away.

Aria’s heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet, her body trembling. “This can’t be real. I must still be dreaming.”

She pinched her arm, hard. The sharp sting confirmed her worst fear—this was no dream. She staggered back, nearly tripping over the folds of her oversized pajama pants, which now pooled around her tiny legs.

“No, no, no,” she whispered, panic rising like a tidal wave. “T-This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening!”

A loud thudding noise echoed from the hallway. Her dog, Max, burst into the room, his tail wagging enthusiastically. But to Aria, it felt like a freight train barreling toward her.

“Max!” she screamed, her voice barely louder than a squeak.

Max skidded to a halt, his massive paws sending tremors through the floor. His head cocked to the side, his curious eyes scanning the room. When his gaze finally landed on Aria, his ears perked up, and he let out a thunderous bark that made her cover her ears.

“Calm down, boy! It’s me, Aria!” she shouted, though her tiny voice was almost lost in the chaos.

Max bounded closer, his nose nearly knocking her over as he sniffed her curiously. Aria stumbled backward, her heart racing as the enormous dog loomed over her. She raised her hands, trying to shield herself.

“Easy, Max! Easy!” she begged.

To her relief, Max seemed to recognize her scent. His tail wagged furiously, and he let out a happy whine. But his excitement was almost as dangerous as his confusion—his playful nudge sent her tumbling onto her back.

“Okay, okay, I get it! You’re happy to see me, but you’re going to squash me!”

Aria scrambled to her feet and darted under the bed, narrowly avoiding Max’s massive paw. She crouched there, breathing heavily, as Max barked and pawed at the floor above her.

“This is insane,” she muttered to herself, her voice shaking. “I’m... I’m tiny. How is this even possible?”

Her mind raced, replaying the events of the previous night. She remembered the strange light in her room—the warmth that had spread through her body as she drifted off to sleep. Could that have been the cause of this? But how? Why?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Max’s nose poking under the bed, sniffing at her hiding spot.

“Max, stop!” she scolded, trying to sound firm despite her fear. “You’re going to give me a heart attack!”

Max whimpered but backed away, his tail thumping against the floor like a drumbeat. Aria crawled out cautiously, keeping a wary eye on the giant dog.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself, her hands shaking as she clutched the hem of her oversized pajama top. “Think, Aria. You need to figure this out.”

Her first instinct was to call for help, but her phone was on the nightstand—an impossible climb away. She glanced around the room, trying to form a plan. Everything felt overwhelming, from the towering furniture to the vast expanse of the floor.

“First step,” she muttered, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “Find a way to get someone’s attention. Second step... figure out how to fix this.....” She said as she thought for a second.

“Great,” she sighed. “My only ally is a dog who thinks I’m a chew toy.”

She turned to Max, who was now lying on the floor with his head resting on his paws, watching her intently.

“Max, Geez.....” she said, her voice wavering, “You’re going to help me get out of here as long as you don't kill me....”

Max tilted his head, his tail wagging slightly.

Using a piece of string from her pajama top, Aria fashioned a makeshift harness around Max’s collar. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. She climbed onto his back, gripping the string tightly as Max stood and shook himself.

“Okay, boy,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Take me outside.”

Max didn’t need further encouragement. With a joyful bark, he trotted toward the door. Aria clung to his fur as he nudged the attic door open and bounded down the stairs. The world blurred past her in a dizzying rush, the sounds and sights amplified by her new perspective.

But Max, ever the energetic companion, had his own ideas about where to go. Instead of heading for the back door, he made a beeline for the street, his excitement carrying them outside.

“Max, stop!” Aria shouted, but the dog was unstoppable.

As they reached the curb, a sleek black car appeared, its headlights cutting through the morning mist. The driver slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching to a halt mere inches from Max.

Aria’s heart pounded in her chest as the car door opened and a shadowy figure stepped out. She froze, her tiny hands clutching Max’s fur as the towering man approached.

The mafia boss, Mikhail Kuznetsov, surveyed the scene with a mixture of irritation and curiosity. His piercing gray eyes locked onto the unusual sight before him—a dog with a tiny woman clinging to its collar.

“Well,” he murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “This is interesting.”

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