Chapter Eighty-Four: The Maze

[ D A R R I C K] The recreation room buzzed with low murmurs and the occasional clang of tools as giants and humans worked on their bonding tasks. The overhead lights cast a harsh, sterile glow that made the room feel more like a laboratory than a classroom. Darrick sat hunched over his table, his massive frame crowding the space as he leaned over the miniature maze laid out in front of him.

Tess stood at the entrance of the maze, her small figure dwarfed by the towering walls of the tiny structure. She looked determined, her arms crossed and her stance firm despite her exhaustion from the past few weeks. Her face, framed by loose strands of hair that had slipped from her ponytail, was set in concentration as she glanced up at Darrick.

"Okay, Darrick," Tess said, her voice clear and steady despite her size. He smiled at her before him, how she looked so happily back at him, in her small blue jumpsuit . She was cute "I'm ready. Just tell me where to go."

Darrick nodded, his hazel eyes scanning the maze. It was a simple task on paper: guide Tess through the intricate paths without letting her take a wrong turn. Yet, even as he studied the layout, his body betrayed him. A loud, guttural growl erupted from his stomach, cutting through the quiet hum of the room. The sound was deep, almost animalistic, and loud enough to make Tess tilt her head up in alarm.

"Uh... Darrick?" she asked, her tiny voice tinged with concern and amusement. "Are you hungry?"

Darrick rubbed the back of his neck, heat rising to his cheeks. "Yeah, I'm fine," he muttered, though his stomach gurgled again, louder this time. He shifted uncomfortably, willing his body to settle.

The hunger was relentless. It gnawed at him, a constant pressure in the pit of his stomach that no amount of food seemed to satisfy. Ever since he'd started taking the pills three days ago, the ache in his body had eased, and his size had stabilized, but the hunger—it was something else entirely. It felt primal, insatiable, as if his body had unlocked a new level of need that he couldn't control.

"You sure?" Tess teased, her small hands resting on her hips. "Because it sounds like your stomach might have other ideas."

Darrick forced a chuckle, shaking his head. "I guess I skipped lunch," he lied. He hadn't skipped anything. If anything, he'd eaten more in the last few days than he had in weeks, yet the gnawing emptiness remained, louder and more demanding with each passing moment.

"Alright," Tess said, letting it go for now. She turned back to the maze, her tiny figure framed against the complex grid of walls. "Let's do this. Tell me where to go."

"First left," Darrick said, his voice low but steady. He tried to focus, to push the hunger to the back of his mind, but his body wouldn't let him. His stomach let out another growl, and his mouth watered uncontrollably. He swallowed hard, shifting in his seat as he leaned closer to the maze.

Tess moved carefully, her small legs taking deliberate steps as she followed his direction. Darrick's eyes followed her every movement, but his mind kept drifting. Images of food—rich, warm, satisfying—flashed through his thoughts. The smell, the taste, the feeling of it filling the void inside him. His jaw clenched as saliva pooled in his mouth, forcing him to swallow again.

"Darrick," Tess's voice snapped him back to reality. She had stopped, standing at a dead end with her arms crossed. She looked up at him, exasperated. "You were supposed to tell me to go left back there."

"Right," Darrick muttered, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Sorry. Go back and take the left."

Tess sighed but turned around, retracing her steps. "You're really off today," she said, her voice softer now. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Darrick said quickly, his tone sharper than he intended. He took a deep breath, softening his voice. "Just... distracted. Go straight, then another left."

Tess hesitated for a moment before continuing. Her tiny frame disappeared around the corner of the maze, and Darrick's gaze lingered on her. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and he clenched his fists against the edge of the table. His body felt out of control, his thoughts spiraling into a primal, almost feral hunger that he couldn't shake.

It wasn't just food. He didn't know how to explain it, didn't want to admit it even to himself, but the feeling was there—gnawing at the edges of his mind. He was ravenous, not just for sustenance, but for something more.

"Darrick," Tess called again, her voice pulling him back. She was standing at another fork in the maze, her tiny arms waving to catch his attention. "Focus, will you?"

"Right," he said, forcing himself to concentrate. "Go right, then straight."

Tess moved forward, her steps careful and precise. Darrick leaned closer, his massive hands resting on either side of the maze as he watched her progress. His eyes followed the way her small frame navigated the tight corridors, her determination evident in every step. And yet, even as he admired her, the hunger clawed at him, relentless and demanding.

By the time she reached the end of the maze, Darrick let out a sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair. Tess climbed out, brushing off her jumpsuit as she looked up at him with a triumphant smile.

"See? We did it," she said, beaming. "Even with your stomach trying to sabotage us."

Darrick chuckled, though the sound was hollow. He reached down, scooping her up gently and lifting her to eye level. Her tiny frame fit perfectly in his palm, her warmth seeping into his skin as she leaned against his thumb.

"You did great," he said softly, his voice tinged with pride and something deeper—something he didn't want to name.

Tess smiled up at him, her trust in him evident despite his distracted state. She leaned against his thumb, her tiny hand resting on the pad of his finger. "So did you," she said lightly. "Even with all the growling."

Darrick managed a small smile, but his chest felt tight. The hunger, the aching need—it wasn't normal. He could feel it in his bones, in the way his body responded to the pills, to the tasks, to Tess. Something was wrong.

As he cradled Tess in his hand, her small form radiating warmth and trust, he couldn't help but wonder how much longer he could hold himself together. Because deep down, he knew this wasn't just about food. He was starting to lose it.