Chapter 3

A week had passed since her encounter with Mr. Smith, and Alice felt like she'd eaten nonstop. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the heap of food containers on the floor. Chinese takeout, pizza boxes, and leftover burger wrappers. She sighed, her stomach gurgling in protest.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, frowning at the changes she saw. Her hips had widened, her thighs were starting to touch when she walked, and her belly was constantly bloated; she had no idea what was food and what was fat. She wasn't used to seeing herself like this, and she didn't like it. But what choice did she have? Her father's life was at stake.

Alice picked up her phone and dialed Rose's number. Her best friend answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Alice! I was just thinking about you. How are you holding up?"

Alice hesitated, picking at a stray thread on her pajama pants. "I've had better weeks, to be honest. Mr. Smith is making me do this thing. He's making me gain weight to pay off my father's debt." She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I feel like I'm losing myself, Rose. I don't know what to do."

There was silence on the other end of the line before Rose sighed.

"Okay, first of all, deep breaths. This isn't your fault, Alice. You're in a tough situation, but we'll figure it out together."

Rose had been Alice's rock through everything. She had been there when their friend group abandoned Alice in high school. She had been there when Alice's mother died and her father fell apart. She would be there now.

Alice pushed her blond hair out of her face and glanced down at her stomach again. "It's just hard, you know? I feel so gross. I've gained like ten pounds already, and he wants me to keep going. Rose, he has me on this meal schedule, it's like I'm a puppet and he's the puppeteer. I don't know if I can do this anymore."

Alice heard Rose let out a frustrated sigh. "Listen to me. You are not alone in this. I'm serious, you have me. I'll help you every step of the way. Let's start by focusing on the positive. You're doing this to help your dad, and that is a beautiful thing. He’s alive still! And as for Mr. Smith, we'll handle him together. He can't control you forever.”

Alice nodded, even though Rose couldn't see her. "You're right, I guess I just needed to hear that. I feel so alone. I'm surrounded by food all the time, and the strange thing is that I really am still hungry." Alice murmured, her voice low.

Rose laughed softly, "Alice, you don't have to prove anything to me. I know it's challenging, but sometimes we have to do scary things for the people we love. Your father is alive, and that's what matters. Plus, you’ve always had an unparalleled appetite."

Alice smiled faintly, "I know, Rose. I just wish there were another way. I don't want to lose my health and body like this."

Rose sighed gently, "I understand, Alice, but right now, we need to focus on getting your father back safely. You can deal with the rest later."

Alice knew Rose was right. Her father's life was in danger, and she needed to help. She just wished it didn't involve gaining weight.

"You're right, Rose. I'll try to focus on the end goal." Alice shifted, trying to find a comfortable position. Her body was starting to feel lethargic from all the food.

Rose paused before speaking again, "Alice, I know this isn't the ideal situation. But, I want you to know that I'll help you gain weight. I'll be with you every step of the way, just like I always have been. We'll do this together, as a team."

Alice blinked in surprise, unsure of how to respond. "Rose, I don't know what to say. I mean, I appreciate the offer, but I don't know if I can do this. Gaining weight isn't as simple as it sounds. It's not just about eating more food; it's about changing my entire lifestyle. And I don't know if I'm ready for that."
Rose took a deep breath before responding, "Alice, I understand your concerns. But, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I want to help you in any way that I can. We can work together, make it fun, and exciting. We can cook delicious meals and explore new foods. I'll be there to support you when you're feeling down or want to give up. Together, we'll navigate this new world of food, body image, and kidnapping/blackmail."

Alice blinked back tears, a lump forming in her throat. "Rose, I don't deserve you. But, I just can't seem to shake off this feeling of despair. I can't seem to find the motivation to gain weight. I feel like I'm betraying myself, my body. It sounds ridiculous, I know. But I've always taken pride in my appearance. I've always been active and fit, and now, I feel like I'm slowly losing myself. My body is changing, and I hate it. But what choice do I have? My father's life is at stake, and I can't bear the thought of losing him.” Alice sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of her situation.


“Exactly, Alice. That's why we have to stay focused and positive. And I'm going to help you every step of the way,” Rose reassured her. “In fact, I'll be over shortly with something heavy and ready to make that belly grow in the name of saving your father.”

Alice furrowed her brow in confusion. “What do you mean, something heavy? What are you bringing over?”

Rose chuckled. “Just trust me, Alice. I promise it's for a good cause.”

A few minutes later, there was a knock at Alice's door. She opened it to find Rose standing there, holding a large box that looked like it was filled with doughnuts.

“Rose, what is that?” Alice asked, incredulous.

She hadn’t been able to resist eating the meals Mr. Smith sent, but she hadn’t given much thought to consuming pastries.

Rose gave her a mischievous smile, “Just what the doctor ordered! I know it seems unconventional, but hear me out. These aren’t just any doughnuts. They’re filled with cream and topped with sprinkles. I figured they’re the perfect way to help you gain weight while indulging our sweet tooth. And besides, I thought it would be a fun way to make this journey a bit more exciting, rather than just eating bland meals and moping around all day.”

Alice couldn’t help but laugh. Rose had always had a knack for making her smile, even during the darkest of times. “Okay, you win. I’ll eat some. But only because it’s you bringing them to me.”

Rose beamed. “That’s the spirit! Now come on, let’s go sit down and enjoy these delicious doughnuts together. But, once we’re done with these, I promise we’ll start looking into more nutritious, calorie-dense meals. We might as well make the gaining weight process enjoyable for you. It’s essential to find joy in life, even during the hardest of times.”

Rose followed Alice into her small kitchen, setting the bakery box on the table. The sweet aroma of fried dough and sugar filled the air. Alice hesitated but sat across from Rose, and they shared a moment of silence before digging in.

The doughnuts were as delicious as Rose promised, a perfect mixture of sweet and fluffy. Even though it went against everything Alice believed in, she found comfort in this act of rebellion against Mr. Smith's tyranny.

As they ate, Alice shared more about Mr. Smith, the man who forced her to gain weight. She described how she met him at his casino, and how he told her about the debt that her father had accumulated that had put him under Mr. Smith's control.

Mr. Smith had threatened to harm her father unless she accepted his unusual demands. Alice swallowed hard, her heart clenching at the very thought of her father being in danger. She didn't have any choice but to comply with his demands, even if it meant betraying her body, her wardrobe, and her lifestyle. Alice had always been a petite woman, but now, she was on a mission to become something else.

As she finished relaying the story, Alice glanced up to find Rose staring at her, a look of pity and empathy in her eyes. She reached across the table and squeezed her hand, lending silent strength.

"I can't imagine what it must feel like to be forced into such a situation, but I'm here for you, Alice," she murmured. "We'll get through this together."

The two of them returned to the doughnuts with renewed determination, Rose telling Alice that the remaining ones are for her. Alice frowned and shook her head, "No way, I have to share those with you."

Rose's voice broke through Alice's thoughts, bringing her back to the present moment. "No, come on, let's get you finishing these doughnuts."

"But, Rose, I can't eat all of them," Alice protested, gesturing towards the half-eaten box on the table. "I'll be sick if I do."

"Nonsense," Rose said, waving a hand dismissively. "You need to gain weight, right? And these doughnuts are packed with calories. Besides, I made a promise to help you, and I intend to keep it."

Alice hesitated for a moment before sighing in resignation. "Fine, I'll eat them all. But you have to help me."

"Of course," Rose said, smiling warmly.

They settled back into their seats, and Alice picked up a doughnut, taking a small bite. It tasted like sugar and despair, but she forced herself to finish it, knowing that this was her reality now.

"Here, let me help you with that," Rose said, picking up a doughnut and bringing it to Alice’s lips.

Alice chuckled weakly.

"Okay, fine," she conceded, opening her mouth and allowing Rose to feed her the remainder of the doughnut. She couldn't help but feel grateful for her best friend's support during this difficult time.

As they continued to indulge in the sinfully sweet pastries, Rose began to reminisce about their shared experiences throughout the years. They laughed about their high school exploits and their various attempts at dieting together in college. "What I wouldn't give for a good ol' salad detox right now," Rose murmured wistfully.

Alice managed a weak chuckle in response. She was starting to feel the effects of her doughnut binge, her stomach swelling with each passing moment. Her mind felt heavy, and her eyes drooped with fatigue. It wasn't long before she found herself drifting off into a food coma, the sweet doughnuts lulling her into a deep sleep.

Hours passed before Alice jolted awake, her body trembling as if she had just woken up from a nightmare. She looked around, disoriented and confused. The apartment was dark and silent, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator. Her vision cleared, and she realized that she was still at the kitchen table, surrounded by empty doughnut boxes and dirty plates.

She groaned as she pushed herself up from the chair, feeling a dull throbbing pain in her head and stomach.

A wave of nausea washed over her, and she quickly shuffled to the bathroom, praying that she wouldn't be sick.

Alice barely made it to the toilet before her stomach heaved, but nothing came out. Rose came in from the living room, awakened by Alice’s unsuccessful retching. “How’re you holding up?” Rose asked her friend. Alice leaned weakly against the cold porcelain of the toilet, her breathing uneven. “I’m fine, Rose. I just need a minute” she replied, her voice husky from retching while her hands cradled her still bloated belly.

“Do you want me to get you some water or something? I can make you some toast if you want,” Rose said, concern etched on her face.

“No, I don’t think I can eat anything right now. I just need some air,” Alice said as she slowly got up from the floor and walked shakily towards the window in the living room.

The night air was cool against her heated skin, and she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

As she looked out into the darkness, she couldn't help but feel a sense of hopelessness creeping in. She had always taken pride in her appearance, but now, she was being forced to change her body in ways she never imagined. It felt like a betrayal, and she didn't know if she could handle it.

But then she remembered her father. She cupped her bloat and said to Rose, “I’ll take that toast. Could you butter it too, please?” She asked Rose.