Trapped

Carefully, not making a peep, Effy snuck through the backyard, keeping to the shadows cast by the moon, looking and judging her from above. She pulled up her long, well-worn but otherwise clean white skirt and tiptoed inside the mansion by using the doors she had left unlocked before leaving.
Inside, the sounds of a distant clock greeted her – swinging its pendulum, counting all the moments she had been out for too long. Effy longingly looked in the pantry’s direction before turning towards her small chamber, barely big enough for her to lie down.
Everything was peaceful, and she felt a relief wash over her before her stomach growl tensed her up again. “Shh…” Effy held her empty tummy, glad there was no one to hear it.
After a moment of standing still, Effy resumed sneaking, tiptoeing around the squeaking floor planks she knew were there. Slowly, she inched her way to her room. Carefully. Silently. Encountering or alerting anyone would be a disaster.
But luck was on her side. Effy relaxed, stopping before her room, hidden behind a stairway, and stepped inside the almost complete darkness that was her place in the mansion. The small window above her bed barely cast the moonlight to make out the contours of the room. But something wasn’t right. There was someone in her bed.
“M-miss Head Maid!” Effy recognised the figure immediately. She froze, unsure of how to react.
Technically, she was an adult, and there was nothing stopping her from using her free time as she wished. But since she was-
“Young Effy”. The stern woman stood up, lighting up a candle, revealing her wrinkled face. “I am sure you understand that any actions you take reflect on Madame and this household. We have spoken about this before. You live under the Sorkos family’s roof, and you have to follow the rules set by them. I must insist you do not wander around during the night doing God knows what.”
Effy looked at her feet, squeezing her hands together in front of her, waiting for the lecture to end. “...it was just a walk…” She let out the smallest whisper, partly hoping and fearing the head maid would hear.
But of course, it didn’t happen. She had been too quiet. Her tiny revolt went by unnoticed as the head maid continued her tirade. For ten more minutes, she held her head low and listened, wishing she was braver.
“Listen,” the head maid sighed. “This can’t continue. You are clumsy and airheaded. You like to wander around and never listen. I have tried again and again to get you to act as a proper young girl should.”
“... I am sorry…” Effy felt all the negativity she had left with Elfy rush back. “I will do better.” She mumbled a promise, wanting to rush out and go back to her only friend.
“No, Effy. This can’t continue. You need a man. You need someone who can take control of your life. You are adrift and need a harbour where you can anchor yourself.” The old woman spoke with surety.
“W-what?” For the first time since entering her room, Effy raised her head and looked at the head maid. Actually looked – not just passing her eyes over the woman’s features. “W-what do you mean?” She was scared. So, so scared. Despite asking, she didn’t want to hear the answer.
“I have made the necessary arrangements. Tomorrow, you will have a meeting with Eric. You will have a delightful meal and get to know each other better. You will talk and decide what to do about your futures.” The old lady’s eyes flashed with resoluteness, asking if the young girl had anything to add.
For the first time in what felt like years, Effy felt the bad emotions bubble over. She hated this! “N-no!”
The head maid frowned, her patronising expression turning into a judgemental one. “This is not arguable, Effy. You need a purpose in life. A future. Children. A husband. Family. With how you—" She shook her head. “-Are, there is nothing else. That is your destiny.”
“No!” Effy felt heat spread through her body. She wouldn’t. She didn’t belong to these people. They couldn’t dictate her fate. “I won’t!”
The refusal came unexpectedly to the old woman. She blinked before her expression hardened. “Then you won’t live here any longer. You will have to join the rest of the beggars at the side of the streets. You will end up in someone's bed sooner rather than later, wishing Eric was the one to hold you. That is what young women without family or backing end up doing. They become cheap whores, Effy.”
“I-I can’t. I won’t.” Effy shook like a leaf. She knew she was crying again – her sobs growing stronger with each passing moment. “No. No, no. I don’t want to!”
“Don’t raise your voice, girl!” The headmaid snapped, her hand raising in a practised motion. “You know better than to act this way.”
Effy flinched and bit her lip, large, burning tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t want to get hit. It hurt. But… Would that still not be better than the pain inside her chest? To that, she had no answer as her resistance petered out, all courage leaving her.
“Good. Now!” The head maid’s arm smoothly moved from the slapping motion into a clap. “I left you some food. I know you didn’t have any before. Eat. Sleep. And I will have a clean dress ready for you tomorrow.”
Just like that, Effy found herself alone in her chamber – the small room becoming the prison it was. She dragged her feet to the small nightstand and looked at the plate of stale bread with dried fruits on the side.
“Eat, she says… You took my dinner from me and now give me this. Do you think I am thankful?” She considered throwing the plate against the wall and stomping the meal onto the ground.
But the pang in her tummy reminded her she needed it. “I… I can’t stay here… Leave… I have to leave. And I will need strength. I have to eat.” She whispered to herself. “But to where? Where should I go…?”
Sadly, there was no place for her. She couldn’t stay in the town; that was for sure. The head maid’s words might have been unpleasant, but Effy knew there was a kernel of truth to them. Without protection, she would soon end up dead or worse.
Quickly finishing the modest meal, Effy gathered every belonging she had in her bed. There was not much. Some old clothes and underwear. A few copper coins she had saved up by working. A beautiful rock she had found while splashing on the Elfy’s shores and some other knickknacks.
It was all she had. And it would have to be enough. “Just… I just have to get away.” She trembled, still not believing she was about to do it. Those idle fantasies she carried in the depths of her heart…
Effy’s hand reached for the door handle and pressed down. She was about to head into a new stage of her life and…
“Why…”
The doors remained closed. She pressed the handle down and rammed her shoulder against the thing that stood before her and freedom. But they didn’t budge.
“Why? Please… I want to leave…”
As the realisation she was locked in hit her, Elfy’s legs gave out. She limply collapsed on the ground, this time not holding back her tears. Her body was so cold. She wanted to go back to the river and let it wash away all the bad that was happening.
“Please… Someone… Please…” She wrapped her hands around her knees and pulled herself into a ball. There was no strength left in her to crawl back to the bed. And there was no escape. “Please… someone. Come and save me.” She closed her eyes, hoping the world around her would vanish into nothingness.
*****
Sliding through the forest, Elfy flashed a smile towards a tree, finding her old friend still around. “Forrest’s daughter.” She bowed her head. “I am glad you are still here. It has been a long time since I have seen you.”
The tree shifted and changed as a willowy woman with brown, leaf-covered skin stepped out of its bark. She frowned, studying her peer. “River daughter. What has brought you out of your slumber? It has been hundreds of cycles since you grew tired of worldly matters.”
Elfy’s smile turned shy as she wiggled from the feelings bubbling in her chest. “I now have a name. Call me Elfy.” She happily announced, enjoying how similar the name was to her darling.
“Elfy. I see.” The forest nymph lazily nodded. “Then call me Sitry. That is how this forest is now called, and I am a part of it. Do you wish to join me for a drink? I have an excellent mead prepared from a few summers ago. Tell me what has brought you out of your rest.”
“Another time, perhaps.” Elfy shook her head. “I am heading for the city, you see. Finally, I have found someone who is dear to me. The most beautiful girl the world has been graced with!” She boasted.
Sitry hummed before tilting her head. “I have seen her pass through my domain. You now have her form. But is it wise? Apart from your eyes and hair, which are as blue as your old appearance had, you are the same as that girl. Humans will find it strange.”
“Is that so?” Elfy looked down at her naked body, tingles running through it as she imagined her darling standing before her just as bare. “But this is perfect. My darling’s body is the most sexy.”
“Most s-sexy?” Sitry sputtered. “You horny water nymph! How are you still the same as when you were just formed? Think a bit before acting! You can’t just copy someone and expect them to be fine with it. You have to have a discerning quality of your own. It is not wise to be a copy of someone else.”
Regretfully, what the forest nymph said made sense. Elfy’s shoulders slumped, realising she had almost erred with her looks. “But this is cute.” She pouted. “And I don’t want to change.”
“It is indeed a very nice body.” Sitry agreed, her eyes wandering all over her friend’s body. “I would not have guessed. You can’t tell with the baggy clothes she always wears while passing by.”
“Right! Effy is the best!” Elfy wriggled, her desire to meet her destiny growing stronger. “I have to go. I will figure out something while I look for her; she couldn’t linger.
“Wait, wait, wait!” The forest nymph floated closer to Elfy and grabbed her arm. “I have an idea!”
“Really?” Elfy was delighted. “You were always very smart, Sitry. What is it?”
Seeing her friend being receptive, Sitry spoke sagely, bobbing her head up and down. “I know you won’t change your face or the height and such, right?” She waited for the water nymph to nod and continued. “Then how about you make your breasts bigger and maybe your bottom a bit rounder? You know, humans like it when there is more plumpness in those places. And it would make it easy to see the difference between you two.” She proudly concluded. “What do you think?”
It indeed sounded right. Elfy looked down at her body and changed it. She enlarged her breasts more and more before consideration struck her. “How big should I make them?”
“What do you mean?” Sitry watched the process. “Wouldn’t bigger be better? Humans like big breasts. Many hunters have said they do while searching for game in this forest. It must be true.”
“Mhmm… You are right. I will make them even bigger.” Elfy felt somewhat uncomfortable with the weight increasing so much in the front of her. Her breasts were now two veritable mountains, bouncy and squishy at the same time. “Heavy.” She stopped when it became impossible to hug her front.
“You are a nymph. It’s not like it will hurt you.” Sitry poked her friend's newfound perkiness. “You probably need to wear something, too.”
“So many things! I just want to meet my darling! It will be morning soon. Where would I find something to wear?”
“Don’t worry, Elfy. I will make something out of the leaves, flowers and vines. It will be splendid!”
Hearing her friend’s offer, Elfy stopped. “Then be quick. I want to hug my girl. She is waiting for me. I am sure of it.”
“Of course, of course. Aye, these breasts are impressive. I am sure Effy will be happy.” The forest nymph began working – growing and weaving various plants into a summery dress.
And an hour later, Elfy was heading towards the town once again. With spring in her step, she rushed towards her destiny.