The Shrinking App.pdf

Alarmed, Jill came running into the kitchen, chased by frantically buzzing alarms. Confused, she stared at the old-fashioned digital display reading "CRITICAL". Scrolling down, she read a disturbing message: "Sister's foot crushes. Brother's heart stops."

Jill's heart sank. The Shrinking App indicated her younger brother Tim was in grave danger from an accidental crush by one of their female relatives. Assuming the worst, Jill called her father to pick up their mother from the church potluck dinner before disaster struck.

Facial recognition showed Aunt Natalie's face. Jill's eyes went wide - Natalie was notorious for her fetish for tight, revealing clothing and her sadistic glee in crushing tiny insects under her sexy wooden clog heels.

Heart pounding, Jill rushed into the living room. She gasped at the horrific scene - a tiny figure lay motionless on the rug, surrounded by a dark stain. Natalie stood frozen, one high-heeled clog dripping.

"T-That's not mine, I swear! T-The little guy must've been here when I came in!" Natalie stammered, ashen-faced.

"Shrinking App, who's the victim?" Jill demanded, hands shaking.

T-I-M, the robotic voice replied solemnly.

Jill felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Her baby brother, gone in an instant, never to giggle or tease her again. A primal scream tore from Jill's throat as she launched herself at Natalie in a frenzy, hands clawing.

Natalie staggered back, clogs slipping in the blood. She lost her balance and fell backwards with a sickening crunch - straight onto the bug-sized, trembling figure that was Tim.

A blood-curdling shriek ripped from Jill as she wrenched Natalie off Tim's mangled remains. They stared in horror at the unrecognizable smear.

In that moment, the church bell tolled - signaling the end of the potluck. Any second now, their parents would return, and the nightmare would become a waking hell...

Jill and Natalie locked eyes - both thinking the same thing. This never happened. There would be no answers for Tim's disappearance. Only suspicions, accusations, and a lifetime of guilt.

Shaking, Jill crouched down and, with a sob, opened her palm. She gently scooped up her baby brother. Closing her eyes, she brought her hand to her lips and whispered one final word.

"Goodbye."