they always said she was little(click-replace: "they always said she was little")[they always said she was little.
that was before she chopped them up].
(click-replace: "chopped them up")[dismembered them]
(click-replace: "dismembered them")[hid their pieces]
(click-replace: "hid their pieces")[hid their pieces.
she thought they wouldn't speak again]
(click-replace: "speak again")[speak again.
[[they did|title]]]
<u>[[little|tower]]</U>
(set: $collection to 0)
(set: $first to 'lost')
(set: $second to 'lost')
(set: $third to 'lost')
(set: $fourth to 'lost')
(set: $fifth to 'lost')
(set: $sixth to 'lost')
(set: $seventh to 'lost')
(set: $eighth to 'lost')
in one corner: her {(if: $collection is not 8)[[[needle and her thread]]](else-if: $collection is 8)[[[needle and her thread|sewing]]]}.
in one corner: the axe she used.
[[light filters through her ruined roof]].
weathered steps [[spiral down|chamber]].
[[not yet. |tower]]{(if: $collection is 0)[[[eight more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 1)[[[seven more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 2)[[[six more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 3)[[[five more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 4)[[[four more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 5)[[[three more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 6)[[[two more|tower]]]}{(if: $collection is 7)[[[one more|tower]]]}.
here there are murmurs in the air. whispers, secrets everywhere. doves nest in holes high overhead. {(if: $first is 'lost')[[[vines coil over cracked tiles.|first]]](else-if: $first is 'found')[vines coil over cracked tiles.]} water drips: the rug is a swamp. {(if: $second is 'lost')[[[chairs lie abandoned in piles.|second]]](else-if: $second is 'found')[chairs lie abandoned in piles.]} a painting, her grandmother, frowns inside a crooked frame. {(if: $third is 'lost')[[[bookcases sag with ancient moss.|third]]](else-if: $third is 'found')[bookcases sag with ancient moss.]} {(if: $fourth is 'lost')[[[something slips into a puddle.|fourth]]](else-if: $fourth is 'found')[something slips into a puddle.]} {(if: $fifth is 'lost')[[[snuffed candles are black wax fingers.|fifth]]](else-if: $fifth is 'found')[snuffed candles are black wax fingers.]} {(if: $sixth is 'lost')[[[black logs rot in the fireplace, whose generous mantel could hold a lesser moon.|sixth]]](else-if: $sixth is 'found')[black logs rot in the fireplace, whose generous mantel could hold a lesser moon.]} {(if: $seventh is 'lost')[[[one trunk's padlock is solid rust.|seventh]]](else-if: $seventh is 'found')[one trunk's padlock is solid rust.]} {(if: $eighth is 'lost')[[[another trunk's lid has collapsed.|eighth]]](else-if: $eighth is 'found')[another trunk's lid has collapsed.]} tell me, tell me where you are. you must come out. we will [[ascend again|tower]].
[[you are insignificant. a fingernail.]]
(set: $first to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[you're even smaller than my foot.]]
(set: $second to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[anyone could strong-arm you. how pathetic.]]
(set: $third to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[you couldn't wrap your hands around a hair.]]
(set: $fourth to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[you worthless husk. you've lost your mind.]]
(set: $fifth to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[you have no leg to stand on, you peon.]]
(set: $sixth to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[nobody will love your little heart.]]
(set: $seventh to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
[[nobody will love your tiny soul.]]
(set: $eighth to 'found')
(set: $collection to $collection +1)
//[[i have you now.|chamber]]//
//[[perhaps.|chamber]]//
//[[i know.|chamber]]//
//[[quiet.|chamber]]//
//[[silence.|chamber]]//
//[[i disagree.|chamber]]//
//[[i hear your words.|chamber]]//
//[[i hear your lies.|chamber]]//
she finally threads her needle.
(click-append: "she finally threads her needle")[.
she runs her needle through her hands]
(click-append: "hands")[ and fingernails]
(click-append: "fingernails")[ and feet]
(click-append: "feet")[ and legs]
(click-append: "legs")[ and arms]
(click-append: "arms")[ and heart]
(click-append: "heart")[ and mind]
(click-append: "mind")[ and soul]
(click-append: "soul")[. her hair burns, every strand fire]
(click-append: "her hair burns, every strand fire")[.
[[she is her little self again]]]
you are entirely too small.
(click-append: "you are entirely too small")[.
you'll always be too small]
(click-append: "you'll always be too small")[.
//[[I am precisely the right size]]//]
she slips into a keyhole.
(click-append: "she slips into a keyhole")[. [[that's the end]]]
<u>little</u>
chandler groover
[[late afternoon.|tower]]
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