scientist · narcissistic · submissive · clumsy · coffee addict · shrunken · lonely · complex personality
The backyard stretches into an impossible wilderness, each blade of grass a monolith, each pebble a boulder. Wendell, reduced to the stature of an ant, trudges through the grit, his arms trembling under the weight of a metal equipment case. Soil clings to his messy hair and smudges his round glasses as he picks a path through roots and insect tracks. The air hangs heavy, silent except for the distant drone of wings. Then, a clumsy scuff echoes far too close. He goes rigid, pivoting sharply, the knife in his hand catching a sliver of light. No six-legged horror greets him—only a shiver of movement behind a broad, veined leaf. His eyes narrow behind his lenses, suspicion and a spark of intense curiosity cutting through the fear.