Calm shuffling could be heard nearby, the soft brush of fabric against bark indicating that he had placed my clothes down. Tentative hands took up the ivory strings, his rough fingers gently caressing the thin white fabric of my shirt.

“How tight?”

“As tight as you can make it. Use all of your strength.”

The strings slackened as his hands loosened their firm grip. “Are…you sure?” His voice was filled with uncertainty.

“Yes.”

Silence enveloped us before he asked hesitantly, “But… Won’t it be hard for you to breathe?” There was a brief pause. “I-I mean… I know this is meant to accentuate your waist, and women wear it all the time, but… They need to breathe. If I use all of my strength, then you might not be able to breathe at all…”

With a heavy and irritable sigh, and without giving him any time to react, I twisted on the spot, now fully facing him. The sudden movement yanked the strings from his hands, leaving him standing there with a stunned expression, both hands raised in a placating manner as I mildly glared up at him. Grabbing his upper right arm in a vice-like grip, I forced his hand underneath the corset, never giving him a moment to contemplate what was happening, refusing to release him as I pushed his hand into the hardened muscles of my abdomen.

“What do you feel?” I demanded mildly, my tone laced with irritability, but still remaining cold and distant.

After exclaiming at my sudden movements, and now at our incredibly close proximity, the young man’s expression flushed a deep scarlet as he blinked uncomfortably down at me.

“U-uh…” He gently tugged his hand, feebly attempting to draw his right hand back.

Tightening my grip, I take a step closer to him. “Do you feel anything?” I insisted firmly, digging his fingers deeper into my flesh.

Pursing his lips, his face shifted from a bright scarlet to a dark crimson. He tensely shook his head. With my right hand still guiding his, I moved his hand to the other side of my torso.

“Do you feel anything here?”

He shook his head once more, his discomfort obvious. With a single nod, I began moving his hand to just below my belly button. His hand immediately grew resistant as it drew near, but with a firm tug, I pressed his fingers into my lower abdomen.

“What about here…? Do you feel anything here?” I asked quietly, finally breaking eye contact and lowering my head, focusing on the leaf strewn forest floor.

As I pushed his fingers into my lower abdomen, his immediate response was to quickly look away and shut his eyes. Moments ticked by, and his fingers wiggled tentatively. He glanced at me uncertainly, before shifting his gaze to where his fingers were in my stomach. Releasing his hand, I very quietly murmured, “Tell me what you feel.”

Though still very obviously hesitant, he continued to prod my stomach, slowly but surely increasing the pressure. Casting him occasional glances, it didn’t take long to notice his shifts in expression. From his tentative first prods that then progressed to confusion, then disbelief, and finally alarm that coated his features in an ashen color. After a while of silent palpating, he lifted his worry filled gaze to mine.

Despite trying to control any outward emotions as I stared back at him, I was more than positive some of my resigned anxiety could be seen. I have to say something... “Well?” …Welp. That’s better than nothing…

He shook his head. “Nothing.” Passing a hand wearily through his hair, he closed his eyes briefly as he released a shaky breath. Shortly after the exhale, he reopened his eyes, studying me uneasily. “I…don’t feel anything… At all…”

With a weary sigh, I take a few steps away from him as I nodded gravely. “I’m not like other people.” I glanced up at him before focusing my gaze on a flower located across the clearing. “I don’t have organs or anything inside of me.” After a moment, I tilted my head to the side. “Actually, no. I still have a few, but, not as many as I once had.” I huffed a dry, humorless laugh. “Hell, I think I may have had a few extra ones thrown in there.” As I returned my attention to the young man, I found him still staring at me worriedly, his complexion incredibly pale. I crossed my arms, more for comfort than anything else. “What?”

It took a few moments of clear discomfort, but he finally managed to ask, “H-how…are you even alive right now…?”