Stress Less

Nina was burnt out.

Life as a producer at one of the city's top ad agencies was demanding in ways that a lot of people might not expect. It paid well, she was good at it, but it chipped away at her over the years and - much to the chagrin of her friends - she rarely took any time off. Most of her friends knew her as a relentless workaholic, save one of her closest companions, Laura.

It was Laura that worried the most for Nina's work-life balance, and it was she who tried in whatever ways she could to get her overworked friend to step away from her professional life at times. Laura hold told her friend many times that she wished she would take better care for herself, or at the very least let others take care of her. Nina was resistant to that idea, but Laura knew her friend very well - and knew that she had a not-so secret love of being pampered.

So, when Laura discovered through a series of discrete individuals the existence of Carcosa Hotel, and the treatments it offered - she felt that nothing would be better suited for Nina. As an early birthday present, Laura presented her friend with an all expenses paid trip to the mysterious hotel. Nina had never heard of the place before, but Laura insisted she keep what awaited her a surprise.

So the fated weekend arrived, Nina was shocked at the establishment, it felt like the trip there had been both long and arduous and no time at all. What was more, as she made herself comfortable in her room, enjoyed the food, the beauty treatments... she found herself unable to actually determine whether this hotel was packed with people, or she was one of the only people here. At times it seemed like both things were true.

Still, Nina couldn't deny how relaxed she felt, and took her generous friend's advice and simply revelled. On her last day there, the producer saw she had been afforded some alone time in the hotel's spa - surrounded by gorgeous greenery, it felt like she was the only person for miles. As she sunk into the waters, Nina couldn't help but feel all her anxieties and stresses truly melting away. A calm came over unlike she had ever felt, it was as though literal weight was being stripped away from her as she felt utterly present in the moment.

Was it the water? The drink? The calming surrounds? Nina could barely worry about it if she tried. She lay there for what felt like hours, even days? Surely an exaggeration. In that peace, she went to reach for her glass and found it empty. What was more, as her hand hovered inches away from it, the container seemed... larger? The walls of the spa seemed higher as well. The woman sat up and looked herself over. Just what was happening here?

Confused, the woman stood to her feet and looked at the rim of the spa - it sat at her stomach! How was that possible... She remembered stepping easily into these waters, the rim had been only slightly above her knees!

Panic returned to the previously at peace woman, as voices suddenly drifted to her ears, they were getting closer and sounded... familiar?

"She'll be all ready for you, just as you requested." Came one voice. That was... the hotel caretaker? Nina had met the eccentric woman when she had arrived... And that second voice...

"I'm so excited. Nina just doesn't take care of herself - now she'll have me to do that for her." 

That was Laura!

Nina's eyes darted about her surroundings, everything was so big or... she was so small! She had to run but... as she came to the edge of the spa, desperate to climb free, she noticed something terrifying.

Her eyes were fixed on the stone wall, it was rising higher against her. Nina was still shrinking...

Panic and fear set in as two towering silhouettes rose into view, smiles upon both their faces.