Jamie looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. The fluorescent light of the company restrooms did her face no favors, and she could tell she needed a break. Her makeup was barely able to contain the dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a mess. She’d pulled an all-nighter the previous day. Volunteered for it. She needed this job, she wasn’t sure how to make rent next month if she didn’t get it. Thankfully this was her last day with Leadership Solutions Group. She and twelve others had been accepted as interns for some kind of gauntlet. They were being tested, and only the best would be offered permanent work. Jamie was happy to even get in, not really expecting much when she used LSG’s automated application form.
It started innocuously enough, with a lengthy NDA and boilerplate corporate rules. But then the addendums began to arrive, and she realized this wasn’t a standard data entry position. First, there was the uniform. She and the rest of the interns were required to wear black nylons with heels and skirts. Their tops were restricted to one of a dozen styles. It was oppressive, and if it weren’t for the NDA people would complain. Jaime knew that most of the other applicants were also high-school dropouts like her. It’s not like they knew what they could do even if they wanted to do something. The interns were all pretty but none had much more going for them. This was the last stop on the capitalism train before much worse.
Ultimately if people were not able to work they were simply removed from society. Shrinking was common for much of the lower class, as small goods were so much more affordable. But the tiny folk were relegated to odd jobs and cramped complexes. They retained their rights but gave up their choices in life. It was better than living on the streets but it was a permanent change. You were shrunk only after you had nothing left to lose. The municipal government basically owned them. Some were unlucky to be contracted out, cheap and often meaningless labor.
Jaime sometimes felt like her body had already been sold to LSG. Her bosses taunted her relentlessly, and even the nice ones expected so much. She went everywhere in these ridiculous heels, it was too much. She gently lifted her foot from her shoe and raised it behind her, steadying herself on the counter. She rubbed her sole, pressing firmly into the sweaty nylon. Days on her feet made her soles ache, and the pressure was a small reprieve.
The other applicants were displeased with the mandatory footwear but their outfits were the least of their worries. Over the past month, their office responsibilities had swelled. Jaime was just bringing coffee to the software engineers at first but then was asked to help fix minor technical issues. She spent all weekend watching coding tutorials just so she could troubleshoot a minor programming error. The program was eventually scrapped, despite lengthy days spent fixing it.
Jamie tried to straighten her skirt, composing herself in the mirror. Her foot reluctantly slipped back into the oppressive heel. She checked her phone and loaded the LSG app. She had exactly three hundred and ninety-three seconds left for her “break” if anyone could call it that. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as the bathroom door opened. She knew who it was by the thud of her boots. Her eyes met those of Alex, one of the software engineers. One of her bosses. She was allowed to wear boots. Jamie feigned a smile and tried to hide her jealousy. Her feet ached, and she tried to steady herself on the bathroom tile.
“Time’s almost up for the hopefuls, isn’t it?” Alex said flatly.
Alex walked to the mirror to admire herself. Jamie tried to make a show of washing her hands but couldn’t help but admire her as well. Alex was feminine, her curves even more pronounced than Jamie’s. Alex wore black nylons as well but they terminated into black Doc Marten boots instead of heels. Her skirt was tantalizing, and she usually wore black with grey. She had a tomboy attitude and short-cropped hair to match. Her creamy skin was something Jamie had only read about in magazines. She looked barely over twenty, though Jaime knew her to be in her thirties. Alex ran her fingers through her hair, short black fingernails gently massaging her scalp.
“Talking to you, fresh meat,” Alex added coldly, still looking at herself.
“Oh, y-yeah. Last day, I guess.” Jaime offered.
“Guessing isn’t what LSG is looking for.”
“Right. Sorry. I hope I’m selected.”
“Hope is for religion. This place will eat you alive, you know?” Alex still didn’t look at her, instead leaning in close to the mirror to check her teeth.
“I have what it takes” Jaime tried to muster enough confidence to lie.
Her bosses were like sharks, jumping all over anyone that showed weakness. Jaime knew in the back of her mind that all of these were just tests. Nobody really cared that she was a little late bringing the coffee. Her bosses didn’t care all that much about the shoes. This was all part of the test. They were separating the weak from the strong. They were weeding out the people who couldn’t handle corporate life. Each intern was clearly on the brink of shrinking to stay alive. This test wasn’t just for a job, it was to decide if they remained in society. They were proving they deserved to remain as people. Worse still, the procedure was permanent.
“I have something stuck in my molar. Back there on the left,” Alex ignored her, running her tongue around her mouth. She turned to Jaime for the first time, looking her in the eyes, “See?” She opened her mouth wide, rolling her tongue down to her chin. One finger hooked inside her cheek and pulled the skin aside. Jaime dared not look away, knowing Alex’s temper. She stared into her boss’s gaping maw to see her tongue working around a tooth near the back of her throat. Her humid breath carried the scent of coffee, and Jaime shuddered in place as her boss tried to dislodge whatever was bothering her.
“Ahhh,” Alex’s throat vibrated as she managed to remove a small chunk from her tooth. Jaime couldn’t tell what it was but before she could say anything it was gone. Without even closing her mouth, Alex swallowed.
“Never mind, I got it. Anything else in there?” She leaned in a little closer, her mouth agape once again. Jaime could feel the warmth and humidity emanating from Alex’s tongue. Jaime tried not to look away, despite her apparent disgust. Any sign of weakness would be a step in the wrong direction.
“N-No. You got it.”
“Good,” Alex smiled, her jaws snapping shut, “knew you interns were good for something.”
Jaime smiled, looking down so as to avoid further conversation. Alex ignored her, washing her hands and then turning to leave. Her thick boots thudded along the tile as her hips swayed elegantly. Alex opened the door and spoke as she exited, not turning away.
“Your break is more than a minute over, you’ll need to stay late today. If you’re selected, that is.” Her dispassionate voice trailed off into the hall.
“Understood” Jaime reflexively said to herself in the mirror, as Alex was already gone.