chapter 2 - new role

“I- I-” she couldn’t form a complete thought, let alone a sentence. How was this possible? Wasn’t Town Pig a punishment? Why were they assigning this as a Role, and to her of all people! Beth looked at Ellie in disbelief, who stared back without blinking.

“Please report to Building 4, Room 8. Thank you everyone. Welcome to your new lives!”

Everyone shuffled out. No one seemed particularly worried about Ellie’s predicament. There had been gasps in the crowd during the initial announcement, but everyone else was so preoccupied with this moment that they all had waited so long for, they scurried off to their assigned rooms.

“This has to be a mistake. I haven’t done anything wrong, why would they do this?” She sat still in her seat. Beth rested her hand on Ellie’s shoulder to try and comfort her, but before she could say anything—

“Ellie Greene? I’m here to escort you to your orientation.” A disinterested man holding a large pink envelope with “Rolls” printed in fancy calligraphy stood next to her. “Please follow me.”

Ellie walked behind in silence, unable to look anyone she passed in the eyes. It had to be a mistake. It just had to. She clenched her eyes shut, hoping this was true, desperately trying to convince herself that it was all a mistake and they were bringing her in to fix it straight away.

But she knew better. The State does not make mistakes.

“Ow!”

“Miss, please watch where you are going. In any case, we are here.” He handed her the pink “Rolls” orientation packet. “Please wait inside in that seat, and someone will see you shortly.”

The room was small, but not cramped. The only pieces of furniture were a love seat and a slipper chair facing the front. She sat on the couch and once again clenched her eyes shut. She worked so hard, as hard as anyone else. Everyone helped build this town, each house, storefront, city building. It was long, difficult work, but everyone grew closer in their suffering. They had to if they were going to build a society here. How would they survive otherwise?

So why was everyone turning their backs on her?

The door opened, and it was the same older woman who had led the stage. She was tall, with short black curly hair. She must have been in her late 30’s, maybe even in her early 40s, if she had her reading glasses on. She had a more defined muscular build than the young men and women that populated the settlement. Whatever her Role was back in her hometown, it kept her active and fit enough to hold the huge bag over her right shoulder. The woman entered, preoccupied with whatever was on her clipboard, adjusting her glasses with one hand as she closed the door with the other.

“Ellie, my name is Brandi. I’ll be in charge of your orientation until we get you settled into your permanent Role. You can go ahead and open your envelope and get acquainted with your new life and routine.”

Ellie sat there with her shoulders slumped forward, not opening it, just staring at the ornate letters on pink.

“Why? Why are you punishing me?”

Brandi placed her bag down and took a seat in the empty chair, “Ellie. This is not a punishment! Quite the contrary, this Role helps insure your society will function, even flourish.”

“But I thought this is what you did to people who didn’t follow the rules, who make life worse for everyone!” She tightened her fist and pressed them into her thighs. She began to cry. “What have I done wrong? I thought I’ve done good work!”

Placing her hand on Ellie’s shoulder, Brandi leaned forward, “Ellie, I know this is a lot to take in, but every Role is essential for a society to succeed. There is nothing different about this one.

“It is true, in the past this was a punishment, reserved for those who’d steal or hoard resources, those who harmed others. But as you can imagine, it was such an overwhelming deterrent against these…” she removed her hand and reached for the inside of her bag, “...undesirable behaviors that we’ve had to resort to assigning this as a Role. How else will people know what they have, appreciate their youth and athletic bodies without a reminder? This is where you come in.”

She was holding a gallon jar of what appeared to be… pudding? It had been so long since Ellie had anything sweet, let alone pudding. Their rations were strict, they only ate what is essential in keeping a happy healthy body. But her mouth started watering, she was so hungry. She reached for the spoon in Brandi’s hand.

“No no no, sweetie. I’m going to start you on your new diet, but you won’t be the one feeding yourself. When you are placed in your permanent home, expect this to be the norm.”

Ellie’s arms fell back to her side. She opened her mouth, and the coldness of the spoon surprised Ellie at first, but the smooth, chocolatey goo excited her tongue.

“Mmmmm”

“Good girl, good girl. Now just lie back, and I’ll take care of everything.”

At first it was slow, she'd accept the spoon, moan in pleasure, and swallow. But soon Ellie became more ravenous, so Brandi increased her speed. She couldn’t get enough, Ellie never remembered ever eating this much before, and certainly never enjoying it this much. She took in more and more, and as she did, her belly became more and more round, hiding the abs she worked so hard for. Her shirt began to betray her, exposing just the tiniest morsel of belly.

It was at this point that she was feeling satiated. It was a nice feeling, being full. But before she could properly bask in this feeling, Brandi brought another spoonful to her lips.

“No no no, you’re not done yet. We have to work hard to fatten you if you’re going to be this town’s Pig.” Brandi reached into her bag yet again, this time pulling out a red funnel, and a quart heavy whipping cream.

“You’re gonna finish this up, then I’ll take you to your room so you can rest.”

Ellie’s eyes remained closed and she opened her mouth. She felt the sweet, cool liquid pour in. She swallowed, grabbing the sides of her swollen belly and groaning. She was already so full, so what was this new sensation? If she kept this up, Ellie knew that her belly would pop, and that’s be the end of her. But her belly pushed out and tightened, fully distended. It hurt so much, she started rubbing the sides of her belly in short back and forth motions. She needed relief, her belly couldn’t push out anymore, she was going to burst…

“There we go, sweetie. You were such a good girl!” Brandi leaned over, kissed Ellie on her forehead, pulled up her shirt, and started massaging this basketball of a belly. “See? This isn’t so bad, I know you enjoyed yourself.”

That was the worst part, Ellie thought.

She wasn't wrong.