Chapter 6: The next day

More dialog and character building

The campus felt quieter today. The usual buzz of voices was more subdued as the tinies moved through the paths, their heads down, steps hurried. The tiny lanes were emptier than normal, and Mel couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that something was wrong.

She walked with Bella, their pace slower than usual as they made their way to class. Bella’s eyes kept darting to the empty spaces between groups of tinies, where familiar faces should have been.

“You noticed, right?” Bella murmured, her voice tight.

Mel nodded, her gaze scanning the crowd, searching for something she couldn’t quite identify. “A few are missing.”

Bella swallowed, her expression grim. “People are talking. Rosa and Elena—nobody’s seen them since last night.”

Mel’s stomach twisted, and she forced herself to keep walking, though the images of the party resurfaced in her mind. “Maybe they just skipped,” Mel said, but even she knew how hollow her words sounded.

Bella shook her head. “You really think they’d just leave without a word? You know what happens to the ones who disappear.”

Before Mel could respond, she caught the sound of voices rising from behind a group of giants just up ahead. One of them—a familiar, rough voice—spoke loud enough for anyone within earshot to hear, but with a glance over his shoulder, it was clear he was checking to make sure nobody else was listening.

“Man, that tiny girl? She didn’t know what hit her,” he chuckled. “Almost swallowed her, you know? Was a damn close call.”

Another giant’s voice, lower and more cautious, responded. “Yeah, she was fighting so hard. You should’ve seen it—had her squirming like crazy. Damn fun.” The giant’s grin was audible in his tone, though he made a subtle glance to the side as if to ensure the conversation remained private.

Mel’s heart skipped, but she couldn’t pull herself away. Her eyes involuntarily followed the direction of the conversation, but the two giants hadn’t noticed her yet.

One of the giants looked down and caught Mel’s eye. He winked at her, a grin stretching across his face. “Did you hear that, little one? Sounds like fun, huh?” His voice was low, but his tone was unmistakably lecherous.

Mel’s stomach churned as she quickly turned her attention back to the ground, but the giant’s chuckle still lingered in her ears. Bella’s face had gone pale, and she lowered her voice.

“Don’t listen to them. Don’t let it get to you.”

Mel nodded but didn’t respond. The conversation had already dug itself into her mind, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread creeping up on her.

The rest of class passed in a blur. Mel tried to focus on the lecture, but her mind kept drifting back to those voices, to the implications of what had been said. When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, she packed her things quickly, eager to leave. The halls seemed suffocating today, and she couldn’t wait to see Greg.

She stepped into the tiny lane leading toward the courtyard where he’d be waiting. The familiar faces of other tinies passed by, all with downcast expressions, their eyes avoiding her gaze.

As she neared the courtyard, Mel’s eyes immediately sought Greg out. His tall form stood by the fountain, unmistakable even among the crowd of giants. When he saw her approaching, he turned, his smile warm and genuine, as he reached out for her.

“Hey,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring despite the tension in the air.

Mel climbed into his hand, instantly feeling the familiar comfort of his touch. “Hey,” she replied, her voice steadier now that she was with him.

“You alright?” Greg asked, concern lining his features.

Mel hesitated for just a moment, her fingers curling against the edge of his palm. “Just… it’s weird today. A lot of the others didn’t show up.”

Greg’s expression tightened, his eyes darkening, though he didn’t press her for more details. “I’ll look into it,” he said softly, his tone hard.

They walked in silence for a moment, the usual comfort between them mingled with a quiet undercurrent of tension. As they approached the entrance to the cafeteria, Greg slowed his steps. The tiny-only section was ahead, but even the smallest spaces couldn’t help the way Mel always felt under the judgmental stares of the other tinies.

He stopped just outside the door. “I’ll check on you after lunch,” he said, his hand hovering near her, fingers brushing her back in a protective gesture.

Mel looked up at him, a small smile curving her lips. “Okay,” she said softly, but her eyes searched his for a moment longer. “I know you’ll figure it out, Greg.”

Greg smiled back, the warm reassurance of it making her feel safer than she had all day. “I will. And Mel… don’t worry. You’re not alone in this.”

She nodded, though her stomach still twisted slightly as she watched him walk away. But unlike before, she didn’t feel the same dread. She felt a quiet certainty that Greg would find out what happened to the missing tinies. She trusted him.

As she settled into her seat, the usual stares and murmurs greeted her. The other tinies whispered to each other in hushed tones, and Mel could sense the fear and confusion in the air. Some eyed her with envy, while others looked at her with pity. It didn’t bother her as much as it had before. She knew what they thought, and part of her knew they assumed she was just another one of Greg’s toys. But she wasn’t. She was something more to him. She was important. And no one else needed to understand that.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice behind her.

“Did you hear? That giant—Craig, Grant, or whatever his name is—supposedly saved a bunch of tinies last night. Dropped them off at the dorm, made a big show of taking care of them.” The voice was low, but there was an edge of skepticism as the speaker glanced nervously around, checking for any giants within earshot.

Another tiny scoffed, her tone sharp with distrust. “Yeah, sure. Maybe he’s better than the rest, but don’t kid yourself—giants are giants. At the end of the day, they all see us as toys.”

Mel’s heart sank slightly at the second voice, but she didn’t let it stop her. She knew Greg was different. She’d seen the way he looked after her, the way he protected her even when no one else cared. He had saved those tinies last night, and hadn’t left them behind. He made sure they were safe.

She sat back, watching the other tinies as they whispered and shifted nervously. She had no doubt that Greg would figure things oue. He wasn’t just going to let this go. The thought of him coming to her rescue again, like he had at the party, filled her with warmth. It was more than protection. It was care. It was love. And she was starting to realize just how much she needed him—not just for safety, but for everything.

Greg stood outside the cafeteria for a moment, his brow furrowed. The day had already felt off, and hearing about the missing tinies only sharpened his unease. He had dropped Mel off in the tiny-only section, the usual sense of unease settling in as he heard whispers of the tinies’ fear and discomfort. He tried not to let it get to him, but the atmosphere was thick with judgment, and Mel had been visibly shaken earlier.

He had promised her he would figure out what happened, and he intended to do just that. He turned and made his way toward the main courtyard, his eyes scanning the crowd of giants, looking for anyone who might have information. His heart clenched as he realized he didn’t actually know most of the tinies that hadn’t shown up today. He knew their faces—some of them had been in Mel’s circle of friends—but none of them had names he could recall.

A few of his friends from the party were lingering nearby, laughing and joking among themselves. He approached them, trying to keep his tone casual as he joined their group. He could feel their eyes on him, but they quickly looked away, knowing he wasn’t the type to get involved in their usual games.

“Hey, guys,” Greg started, forcing a nonchalant smile. “You know, I had a great time at the party last night. Pretty wild, huh?” He felt the fake enthusiasm slip from his mouth, but he pushed on, trying to sound like he wasn’t bothered by what had happened.

One of his friends, a broad-shouldered giant with a cocky grin, chuckled. “Yeah, man, you were having fun, huh? Grabbed a few tinies for yourself?” He gave Greg a knowing wink.

Greg hesitated, but he couldn’t back down now. “Yeah,” he said slowly, “But, uh, some of the others didn’t make it back. Anyone know what happened to them?”

A different giant shrugged casually, taking a sip of his drink. “Eh, some of ‘em didn’t leave the party, I guess. You know how it is, right? Some of ‘em got stuck in the fun for a bit longer. A few of 'em didn’t even make it back to the dorms last night.”

Greg narrowed his eyes, but the giant was already dismissing the situation, his grin widening. “They’re probably still passed out somewhere. Doesn’t matter much, right? It’s not like they have anywhere else to go.” He chuckled again, then added, “Some of them got grabbed up by others, but nothing too serious. It’s just a game, after all.”

“Yeah,” Greg muttered, his fists clenching. “A game. Sure.” He was finding it harder to keep his temper in check, but he forced himself to stay calm. “You guys know who exactly didn’t show up today? Some of them were regulars. Just curious.”

His friend paused for a second, then looked around at the others, all of them just shrugging or exchanging half-hearted glances. “Nah, not really. You know how it goes. We all just grab whoever’s there and keep it moving. You were busy last night, right? Don’t remember who was still around or whatever.”

Greg pressed, trying to maintain his composure. “Do you know if anyone else took them? Or where they ended up?”

The friend’s smirk didn’t falter as he wiped his mouth. “Maybe they got left at the dorms or the party or something. Nothing to freak out over, man. If they’re not here, they’re probably somewhere else, having a good time. No one’s complaining about it.”

Greg could hear the dismissiveness in his friend’s voice, and the nonchalance gnawed at him. The lack of concern for what had happened to the tinies made his stomach churn. He couldn’t just let this slide. These weren’t just objects to be tossed around for amusement. He needed to find out more.

“Right,” Greg said, his voice flat. “I’ll check on them. You guys don’t mind if I drop by, right?”

The broad-shouldered giant shrugged, clearly uninterested. “Sure, whatever, man. But you might wanna check the party first, yeah? I think some of ‘em are still there, but don’t get all weird about it. You know how it goes.”

Greg nodded, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t going to let this go. He had to do something.

As he turned to leave, he could hear the distant laughter of the other giants fading behind him. But it didn’t matter. His mind was already set on what he had to do next. He had failed to notice the other tinies last time, but that would change now. He couldn’t be the type of giant that ignored what was happening to them. And he certainly wasn’t going to let this pass without taking action.

Finger-Sized Steampunker