Under The Dome

A quick story about a sorceress keeping shrunken people captures at her home.

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"And how are my little sweethearts doing?" Belinda strolled into her living room after a grueling day at work, where she had to hide her true identity and blend in as an ordinary human. She longed for the comfort of her home, where she could finally release her magical abilities without fear of exposure. As a secretary, she often found herself itching to use just a sliver of her power to make menial tasks easier.

Sometimes, she did, though, but not too much. Of course, she had to be careful not to draw too much attention before regaining her full strength.

In this sanctuary, her home, Belinda could let go of the façade she had to maintain during the day and revel in being her true self – a powerful witch with endless potential.

She gently thud placed her worn leather bag on the sturdy wooden table. Her glossy brunette hair was hastily pulled back into a messy bun, stray strands escaping and framing her face in soft wisps. With eager strides, she reached the small white table that stood proudly in the corner of her spacious living room. A majestic palm tree towered next to it, its vibrant green leaves rustling softly in the breeze from an open window. This particular plant was her favorite, with its regal stature and graceful fronds that seemed to dance with every movement of air.

            An electric jolt of anticipation coursed through her stomach as she laid eyes on the tiny homes. Each one, no bigger than the palm of her hand, stood out starkly against the pristine white surface they were perched upon.

Ten homes stood in a perfectly symmetrical circle, each representing a different region from across the country. Belinda had spent countless nights scouring for these miniature masterpieces, whether a humble cottage or an opulent mansion; she was drawn to them all. Above all else, she hoped to find one that was occupied, with bustling activity and lively inhabitants she could shrink and bring home.

Belinda crouched before the table, tucking her white dress between her legs. She watched, her chin resting on her hand, as the little residents emerged from cute, shrunken homes, just as she knew they would upon her return home.

            With squinted eyes, Belinda carefully counted the shrunken figures before her. Her sharp gaze swept over their tiny forms, ensuring each was accounted for.

"Thirty-one," she declared with a hint of disapproval. "I only count thirty-one! Where is the rest?"

The shrunken people cringed at the sound of her thundering voice, shrinking even smaller as if to avoid her wrath. One of the miniature homes' backdoors, a Grant mansion, swung open, and two more figures scurried out. A woman and a man joined the line formed by the others, their faces filled with fear and resignation.

Belinda's lips formed thin lines as she looked down at them, her imposing figure casting a shadow over their tiny bodies. "Unacceptable," she said coldly. "Being late for a line-up is a major sign of disrespect to your host. Punishment is definitely in order."

            Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the group as Belinda's colossal hand emerged before them. 

Her index finger, easily the size of several houses stacked upon one another, stretched out and effortlessly pierced through the magical barrier surrounding their village.

The dome had been deemed impenetrable by their captor, and she had warned them that any attempts to breach it would result in instant death. But one foolhardy man grew tired of being cooped up inside and dared to test her words, proclaiming loudly to the others that their captor was full of lies. With a cocky smirk on his face, he reached out to touch the dome; his body convulsed with painful electric currents the moment he touched it before collapsing into a lifeless heap on the ground. 

The others watched in horror and knew better than ever questioning Belinda's warnings again. The dome shimmered with an otherworldly energy, pulsating with an unknown power and constantly reminding them of their captivity. 

As days turned into weeks, it became clear that Belinda did not intend to return them to their homes. They were just pawns in her game, tools for her to sharpen and hone her magical abilities. Each day, she brought new challenges and tests for the villagers, pushing them beyond their limits to strengthen her own powers. It was a never-ending cycle of fear and manipulation under the control of an all-powerful sorceress.

Belinda had dreamed of this day for so long when she would finally have the confidence and strength to reveal herself to the public. But for now, she operated in stealth, only taking on small groups of people at a time. Eventually, Belinda was sure that she could take over the world.

Her immense power was palpable as Belinda's monumental hand moved through the dome. The villagers' eyes widened with awe as they craned their necks to glimpse it. Large enough to engulf them all, her hand glided over their heads like a soaring shadow, casting an ominous presence over the humble town.

Belinda's perfectly manicured nail painted a deep burgundy, descended upon the roof of a grand 19th-century manor. The sprawling estate belonged to the two high-net-worth couple who arrived late for their scheduled line-up with Belinda. 

As her finger gently scratched the surface, the once pristine roof began to show signs of damage. The tiles, carefully placed and boasting a beautiful slate pattern, were starting to peel away under the force of Belinda's nail. The man, who had built his fortune as a successful businessman before being reduced in size, begged and pleaded for Belinda to stop before she caused any more destruction. 

His frantic pleas for her to stop were ignored as she continued to wreak havoc on their once-pristine home.

Pleas for leniency fell from the man's lips as he stumbled forward, only to be yanked back by his trembling wife. She knew all too well the consequences of trying to intervene in Belinda's punishments - they were swift and brutal. The man frantically tried to bargain with Belinda, offering her his vast wealth and shares in profitable companies, even having a large sum of money tucked away in an offshore bank account. He promised that he could transfer it all to her with one phone call before the sun rose tomorrow. But Belinda remained unmoved, her steely gaze fixed on her target as she prepared to mete out justice.

Belinda's perfectly manicured nail dug deeper, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it sliced through the upper floor of the building. With a powerful thrust of her finger, she pulverized the entire structure with a deafening crack that echoed throughout the village. The startled villagers instinctively stepped back as Belinda's imposing face loomed closer, her expression dripping with contempt. The sound of her heavy breathing drowned out the cries and sobs of the little woman who had just lost her home to Belinda's wrath. 

"If any of you failures dare to aid them, your house will be next to be demolished, with you still in it." The harsh words spilled from Belinda's mouth with the force of a raging river, cutting through the tense silence that had fallen over the community.

A man who had established himself as the community leader stepped forward. He removed his hat, a symbol of surrender and acceptance of his pitiful position compared to the gigantic woman, and bowed his head in submission.

"I hereby ask permission to speak."

"Permission granted. What's on your mind? And be quick about it. I have a pedicure scheduled soon." Belinda said.

"I will miss." The man said. "Firstly, I must express my gratitude for allowing us to keep our residence and..."

            Belinda rolled her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I said quick, Alfred. If you're only going to thank me, then I'd rather you not speak at all. I don't want to hear it."

Alfred raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture and gave a sheepish grin. "No, no, Miss. It's not just an apology I have for you. I also have a request."

Belinda arched a skeptical eyebrow, intrigued by his words.

"Go on, Alfred. But this better not be another of your schemes to get close to my feet again."

"Absolutely not, Miss. This is completely different. All I'm asking for is materials and tools to create a statue."

            "Of what?"

"Of…" Alfred's cheeks turned red as he avoided eye contact. "O-of your feet, miss."

"For Christ's sake, Alfred!" Belinda slammed her fist on the table, causing the tiny houses around them to shake and the villagers to cower in fear. "Do you realize how inappropriate and embarrassing this is? What will the others think when they have to work on this with you?"

Alfred nervously glanced at the other villagers, sensing their disapproval of his request since they would also be involved in creating the statue. However, he couldn't help but smile at Belinda's reaction. "I believe they are just happy I made such a unique request."