Thia

This one is something original, based, in part, on the character by that name in “Predator; Badlands.” If you’ve seen the trailer and know the name of the character, you’ll get it.

I have to give respect to the Fanning sisters, both great actresses.  Now, I don’t know them personally as this is just a supposition.

Elle had no idea what she was doing here.  The role seemed so fun, being the next step on that fantastic Predator franchise, began long before she was born.  So exciting, so dangerous.

When she read the script and saw what she was auditioning to be, she thought, for sure, it would be entirely special effects.  An artificial being who spent much of the movie with her top half strapped to the Predator’s back.

But they said it wouldn’t be that.  As she questioned how they were going to do that, another girl, one that was just in the background, stepped forward. “Hi Elle, I’m Carlie.”

As they shook hands, Elle smiled as she did so.  It was only polite. “Let me show you how we’re going to make it happen.”

At that, Carlie stood next to the desk, leaning down a little before pushing down on it.  With no sound at all, her entire upper half separated from her lower half, moving to settle on the desk where she’d separated. “How?”

As Carlie’s legs moved to sit, the half on the desk proceeded. “It’s been known for a while how to use real magic to divide women at the waist.  That’s how we’re going to make Thia be only a top half for a while.”

Elle paused. “You’re going to cut me in half?”

The producer put a hand forward as if to reassure her. “Only if you’re comfortable with it.”

Carlie spoke in a calming voice. “It doesn’t hurt if done right.  In fact, you’ll feel great when you’re divided.”

That was a week ago.  She’d considered everything, talking with Carlie a lot.  She’d been cut in half for a while, able to move around as if still together but then separate at will.  Carlie told her she’d let her in on the secret, but, as Elle went into the warehouse, she still wasn’t sure.

What if something went wrong?  What if she couldn’t manage to make it work?

But she was an actress.  If it were to happen for a role, she’d see if she could make it work.

As she went into the room, she expected a box and a huge buzz-saw or something dramatic like that.  Instead, just a table, a guy she hadn’t met before and Carlie.  With a big smile, Carlie welcomed her and introduced the guy as the magician that would make it happen.

After introductions, he asked if she had any questions, acknowledging that it was a surreal experience.  She had a thousand, but, at the time, she couldn’t think of a single one.

He instructed her to lay on the table and lift up her top.  He had to have access to her waist.  She did so, breathing fast as she just looked over at Carlie, encouraging her.  From somewhere, he produced a sword, a scimitar that appeared very sharp. “Breathe in and hold it.”

Elle obeyed and, as she held it, he touched the sharp end of the blade to her waist.  She felt it, felt how sharp it was before he drew it towards himself.

The blade cut into her body right away.  She gasped, feeling it halfway through her waist.  No pain, none, just a good feeling.  The next slice cut through her spine and out the other side.

Elle lay there, wondering at the sensation.  She felt great, kicking her feet and laughing, knowing they were, somehow, still connected although she knew her body was in two pieces.  As Carlie smiled, she had an excited look in her eyes. “Watch this.”

They pulled her body apart, officially in two pieces, and Elle squealed in delight.  After a moment, she had to ask. “So how do I do what you do?”

Carlie helped her up onto her cut end. “It’s pretty simple.  As you’re going to stay in two, just try to picture your body back in one piece.  Imagine it doing that.  Then, when you want to separate again, do the same.  Imagine yourself back in half.”

Elle set her upper half on her lower half, imagining that.  She didn’t feel herself rejoining, but she was able to get off the table no problem.  She could still feel she was halved, feel it.  She had to keep her mind on being like that, not falling apart as she got used to it.  The question came up. “Why now?  We don’t start shooting for a month.”

The magician informed her why.  It took some getting used to, being like that.  It’d give her plenty of time to get used to being able to separate at will. “So what would happen if I don’t want it anymore?”

Carlie laughed. “It’s a simple matter.  Just picture your body sticking back together and staying together.  But believe me, after a while you won’t want it.”

So Elle Fanning was going to be a backpack in a movie.  It seemed like a role to get her back on top.  Still, she’d have to see if Carlie was right, but so far, she was.  It felt so good knowing she could separate at will.