The Mannequin was content with its plastic existence. It stood proudly in The Closet’s large display window watching the steady stream of people flowing past the glass. Every now and then someone in the crowd would slow down for a better look at it and what it was displaying. And it would experience an almost orgasmic thrill, making it feel as though its existence had meaning and it was fulfilling its true purpose.

But beneath the feeling of contentment, there was something nagging at it. Something that was not quite right. Something that was growing and pushing. That thing was Jane’s knowledge that there was something she needed to do. She needed to pay her phone bill.

Late one night something changed. When the darkness outside made the glass act almost as a mirror and there were no passers-by to reinforce its plastic existence. The mannequins simple pleasure filled exhibitionist mind was slowly being pushed aside by the complex mind of a human woman. A mind that knew that there were more to existing than just being on display. A mind that knew of responsibilities and obligations. And of course penalties for late payments.

The first solid though Jane’s emerging consciousness had was “Wow, Owner really knows how to push the right buttons”. The second one was of a more practical nature. “Now then, how to move”. Realising that it was, in fact, more than just a normal plastic display figure was just the first step. Now it had to figure out how to make its body, that currently were no more than a woman shaped piece of segmented plastic, change back to normal.

It was actually nice and relaxing being just a thing. But it had stuff to do. Which it distinctly remembered telling Owner when she had pushed it into doing this to itself. And thinking of that made it remember how it happened. It had actually used magic. And it had been so easy. So easy in fact that it had happened by accident out of boredom. It had just imagined feeling the sensations of transforming and it had just happened.

So if that’s how it happened the first time it should work a second time. So it tried to do that same again. Imagining the tingling feeling of the transformation engulfing it. After a minute or two, it was certain it was not just imagining it any more, that the feeling was actually there. But then, nothing.

“Now what? Am I stuck like this?”, it thought in a slight panic.

It kept trying but still, nothing happened. After a while, its concentration started to waver and it started to give up. As it did it could feel the mind of the mannequin oozing up from the back of its mind and start to engulf it again. But then something hit her.

“That’s what I’m doing wrong! I see myself as a mannequin so the change doesn’t do anything. But I am not just a mannequin. I am Ja... Damn it, I know this. Jane! Yes, my name is Jane! And I need to be a woman, a human”.

And with that thought fixed in her mind, she pushed down the encroaching simplistic mannequin mind as far as she could and tried again. This time focusing on what it felt like to be a human, to have soft pliable skin, to move, to breathe. She directed all her attention on moving her fingers. And this time it worked. But unlike every other time she had transformed from mannequin to human she could feel the change start in the fingers she had focused on trying to move.

The change moved up her hand and soon she could move those fingers, and soon after that the elbow and shoulder. Having full control of her arm again she could not help herself from exploring a bit.

She brought her hand up to touch her still frozen plastic face. It was so surreal. Feeling those familiar features frozen in place. But after a little while of her focusing her attention on those features, she felt them soften under her fingers. She had shifted her concentration and as a result, the change had stopped at her shoulder and moved to her face.

“Ops. Need to be careful about that. Just think if I had focused on my vig.. No no no, don’t think about it. Stick to the face, yes the face, face good”

The change kept moving over her face and head and she could feel a slight prickling sensation as the red nylon wig stuck to her head and became her own actual hair again. It kept moving down her neck making it feeling wonderfully relaxed and soon she could move her head.

She looked down and saw that Sarah had dressed her in a dark green knitted sweater over a suede skirt. After noting that they looked quite good on her she forgot about them as the slowly advancing change passed over her shoulder.

Something was wrong, or at least not completely as it should. She looked down at her left arm in confusion. The sleeve of the sweater looked disconcertingly empty. She grabbed at her left shoulder and what meet her fingers was not the nice rounded shoulder she was expecting. Instead, she felt a hard edge and a flat vertical surface.

Jane was stunned by the fact that one of her arms were gone. She probably would have been quite upset a second later. But when her mind stumbled her mannequin sense of self, flowed in and filled the gap. For a mannequin, there is nothing strange about being disassembled and having its parts spread about. So its sense of normality overrode any realization its human counterpart could come to with the thought. “Oh, Owner must have needed it for something. That is all right. It belongs to her after all.”

“Of course”, Jane thought. “Owner can’t be expected to keep all her things in the same place.”

Deep down Jane knew there was something wrong with this way of thinking, but she decided not to try and figure out why. What she did want to figure out, however, was how her missing arm would affect her transformation back into a flesh and blood woman.

The sweater didn’t let her see much so she decided to pull it off. An exercise that was made somewhat complicated by the fact that she had just one hand. Not to mention the sensations of it sliding over her plastic abdomen and breasts. If she would have had lungs her orgasmic moans would have made the window shake.

Once she managed to get the sweater off she let it fall from her limp fingers. Her mind was unable to handle what had literally been a mind-numbing experience. And with any semblance of concentration thoroughly obliterated the transformation ground to a halt.  

Quite sometime later Jane managed to get a hold of herself. “Wow, just wow. I need a cigarette after that. And I don't even smoke”.

After remembering why she took the sweater off in the first place she inspected her abbreviated shoulder. And what she found was that closest to the sharp edge there was a thin line of plastic bordering her newly transformed skin and the vertical surface looked like any mannequin where its arm had been removed.

“Well, that is good. At least it doesn’t look like someone took a sword to it and neither am I bleeding to death. And by the looks of it, Owner should be able to put it back once she is done with it.”

Now that she was sure everything was fine she redoubled her efforts and the change started moving again. She did get distracted a few times. Such as when her nipples came back or when she started breathing again, both of which felt really, really good. She even managed to lower the pole of her stand before she got her vagina back. And she was really proud of herself that she didn’t fall over from the massive orgasm doing it gave her. But if it hadn't been for mostly still having a mannequins view of the world she would have been really embarrassed. Because leaning like she had on the window she would have given anyone walking past the show of their life. But just as the street light started to go out a somewhat wobbly but fully human Jane stepped out of the window.

***

Sara had just been about to head out the door and head down to work when she realized she forgot to grab Jane's arm from the bedside table. So now with the arm in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, she pushed the door open and...

“What date is it?”

Thump “Ghaaaa, oh ouch hot, HOT!”

“Hey, be careful with that. If it wasn't plastic falling like that could have hurt. And my brain is still a little scrambled from having been plastic but I am fairly sure coffee is supposed to go on the inside and not the outside”.

“Geeeez Jane. You scared the crap out of me.”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

“That’s why, what?”

“Why you didn't answer my question. What date is it?”

“Eh, the 26th.”

“Good I’m not too late then.”

“Well that's good I guess but you’ve lost me.”

“I just need to pay a bill is all. You all done with that?” Jane said pointing at the plastic mannequin arm lying on the floor between them.

Sarah couldn’t help herself but blush. “No I’m quite done, I was just borrowing it for a bit.”

Jane smiled brightly at her. “You can’t borrow something that is already yours silly. And like I told you, I was just a thing and to use me like one. But I’m repossessing it now though. I kind of need it.”

And with that Jane picked the arm up and reattached it and the seam almost immediately disappeared. And soon the change was flowing down from her shoulder.

Before it finished Sarah took her hand in hers and marvelled as she felt the cool plastic soften and starting to move.

“That just never gets old,” she said looking up at Jane again.

“No it doesn't”,  Jane agreed while flexing her fingers.

“Right, anyway. I need to get down to the store. Veronica should show up any minute. Why don’t you pay that bill, put something on and come down.”

“Put something on?”

“Yes, Jane. Wearing nothing but a skirt is not really considered proper work attire.”

“Oh… Sorry. I guess I'm a little out of practice dressing myself”

***

When Jane had supplemented her suede skirt with a suitable blouse and come back down the stairs Veronica had indeed arrived and was in fine form and greeted her with,“Well what ya know, looks who’s back among the animated,” followed by one of her patented crooked smiles.

“Yup, still getting used to here whole moving thing but I’m getting there.”

“Well come and sit down before you fall down then.”

After a few minutes of being caught up on recent events over coffee Jane could tell that Sarah was trying to say something but having some trouble getting it out.

“Oh come out with it already. I can tell you have something on your mind.”

Sara sighed but then she got to it.

“I was just hoping you weren't mad about the whole me pushing you into the window and sort of squatting in you apartment thing. It was just that I had it out with my mom and she kicked me out on my ass. And there was a perfectly good bed upstairs. And I thought that if you were staying in the window it was up for grabs.”

“You don’t have to worry I’m not mad.”

After hearing that Sarah visibly relaxed “Oh good, I was a little worried. I have been looking for a place I can afford on my own but... Well you know. But now that you are real again I’ll guess I will…”

“Oh no, you don't. “ Jane said with feeling.

“I don't what?” Sarah asked confused.

“I won't let you be without a place to live on my account. You will stay right here with me. I have been homeless and I can tell you that it is not something I will ever let any of my friends go through if I can help it. It might be a small place but we’ll manage.”

Then she had a thought. “Hell, the way you push my buttons if you tire of the couch you can always just put me in a corner and let me collect dust for a bit and the bed will be all yours again.”

Sarah laughed a bit at that. “I will be quite happy with sleeping on the couch. Heck, I would even sleep in that freaky wardrobe if it meant having a place to stay.”

“I would not do that if I were you.” Veronica chimed in.

“Do what?” both Jane and Sarah asked in unison.

“Try to sleep in the wardrobe upstairs. I doubt that you would… well actually come to think of it you probably wouldn't mind too much.”

“What do you mean? Mind what?” A confused Sarah asked.

“Well see the thing is, that wardrobe is technically cursed.”

“Cursed? All this time there has been a cursed item in my apartment and you never thought to mention it?” Jane said.

“Yes. It used to belong to my great grandmother whose husband at the time was sleeping around, a lot. It is a bit of a corny story to hide a mistress in the closet but apparently, he did that on more than one occasion. So my great gran who is quite the artificer in her own right cursed the wardrobe.”

“Hold on a second” Jane cut in. “Did you say that your great gran ‘is’ an artificer and she made that wardrobe? Don’t you mean was? I mean it looks to be at least 100 years old.”

“Yes that right, on both counts. My great gran is still around. Last I heard she was at some college in Europe working on her computer science degree.”

“How is that even pos… No, don’t tell me. Magic”

“Got it in one.”

“So exactly what does this curse do?” Sarah asked. “It can’t be too bad since you said I might not mind.”

“It is not too bad now,” Veronica said emphasizing the now. “But I have done some work on it to negate the effect. Mostly since the enchantment that makes it tardis like is very nice. But it originally anyone who got inside and locked in it would belong there.”

“What do you mean ‘Belong there’?” A confused Sarah said.

“Well, when you turn the key to lock the door the magic detect what the person holding the key need in the ways of ‘garments’, as great gran’s label on the back described it. Then the enchantment would change the person inside to fill that need, permanently.”

“Permanently? You mean until someone changes them back?” Jane asked.

“No. The Transformation was irreversible. It erased the old form so there was nothing to turn back to. Even if someone would transform the resulting piece of clothing into a person it would have no memories of ever being human.”

“That is kind of scary. But you said you changed something, so what does it do now?”

“All I managed to do and still keep the internal dimension spell was to tweak the parameters a bit. Anyone locked in will still be changed into clothing according to the needs of the key holder. But it is no longer permanent. The transformation will reverse itself after 12 hours if there is nothing obstructing it.”

“I take it ‘Obstructed’ means that there needs to be enough space for the person to fit to be able to change back?” Jane asked.

“Yes. Or that there isn't anyone in it at the time. We are talking about clothing after all. And to answer your next question, If it is obstructed it will last about another hour before the next cycle ends and another attempt to change back is made”

“You are right,” Sarah said. “That doesn't sound so bad. But I think I’ll stick to the couch all the same.”

“Well ladies”, Veronica said while looking at her watch. “I believe that the fat is thoroughly chewed and it is time to open our doors for the day.”

“I will join you in a minute,” Jane said as she headed for the stairs.

“Forget something?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, I did,” Jane said blushing. “Mannequins might not wear underwear but humans usually do.”

***

The rest of the day passed uneventfully apart from Sara having to nudge Jane a few times before lunch when she forgot to move, blink or as she put it ‘acting generally creepy’.

But before long it was closing time. And after finishing up the usual post-closing chores Veronica said her goodbyes and headed home.

Jane and Sarah headed out for some food and ended up hanging around the restaurant all night talking before heading back.

When starting to get ready for bed Jane pulled rank as the original occupant to get the first turn in the bathroom. While she waited her turn Sarah busied herself with preparing the sofa for duty as her bed. When she was done she sat down and listened to Jane humming something that sounded vaguely like Aqua's Barbie girl while brushing her teeth. Looking around her eyes was soon drawn to the wardrobe.

Seeing it made her think about those poor women that had lost their humanity in there. Becoming nothing but clothing end having their minds permanently changed. Not that being clothing part was a bad thing, she thought. Blushing slightly as she remembered when Veronica had transformed her into a robe. How compleat she had felt fulfilling her new purpose. Both when she had been placed on the mannequin Jane had been. And later that week when Veronica herself had worn her for her date night with Erik.

She did not have the same reaction to being changed that Jane had. She remembered how her mind had changed when becoming the robe. Adapting itself to match her new form so perfectly that she found it normal and all she wanted to do was being worn. But when she turned back she did not seem to have the mind of a robe living in the back of her had like Jane described her mannequin alter ego doing.

Thinking about this made her confess something to herself. She might not have the mind of a robe in her head trying to talk her into letting someone add her to their wardrobe. That didn’t mean she was not interested in experience it again. Which brought her thoughts back to the wardrobe. Veronica seemed to think it was safe so…

“Do you find this awkward too?” Jane asked shattering Sarah’s train of thought.

“Hu? Awkward, what's awkward?”

“This”, Jane said while making a vague gesture in the air between them. “Sharing a room. I have not shared a bedroom with anyone  in a very long time.”

“Oh. Well, this is your apartment. If you want I can just…”

“No! I don't want you to leave. It’s just you know… Awkward.”

Sarah looked at the wardrobe and thought ‘fuck it’, and dived head first.

“OK, I won’t leave. But what if I wasn't really here any more.”

“What are you talking about? How could you stay and not be here at the same time?”

“By you locking me in there,” Sarah said and nodding in the direction of the wardrobe. “That way I would not really be here anymore. And you will have a something new to wear made just for you, me.

“That's an interesting thought I guess. But Vee said it was cursed. Are you sure you’d want to get in it?”

“Actually, what she said was that it was only ‘technically’ cursed. But I guess before I do maybe we should call Vee and make sure it is safe.”

A quick phone call to Veronica confirmed that it was indeed perfectly safe. After being locked in Sara would transform into a piece of clothing for Jane for the next 12 hours. After those 12 hours, she would change back, as long as she had space to do so, was not being worn and there were no foreign objects stuck through it.

The last bit Veronica was very adamant that Jane understood. She even went so far as to point out that a small safety pin would definitely stop her changing back until it was removed. Sarah was pretty sure that sounded more like a “How To” rather than a safety brief but did not mention it.

So after getting an official a ‘what could go wrong’ from Veronica they where now both standing in front of the open wardrobe.

“Last chance to back out. You ready.” Jane asked

Sarah did not know what to feel. She was both excited and a little worried. But she did know she was truly looking forward to being clothing again. More importantly, she would be Janes clothing and that she would not let anything happen to her. And after what Sarah had done to her to borrow her apartment… Let's just say it was her turn.

She took a deep breath and said “Yes. let's do this.”

And with that, she stripped naked and stepped inside of the wardrobe. She smiled reassuringly at Jane until she closed the door and locked her in. Once the door closed Sarah was left in almost complete darkness. With the only light coming through the narrow gaps around the not quite tight fitting door.

Sarah stood there alone in the dark for a little while surrounded by Janes cloths. “Or Janes other clothes I guess.” Sarah thought. “Since I’m locked in now I might as well count myself as clothing already.”

After about a minute she could not help but think “Sooo, should not something have happened by now?”

She was just about to call out to Jane saying that it did not seem to work when she felt something wrap around her. It wasn’t anything physical rather she felt as if she was floating in the air that had thickened and become syrupy around her. When she tried to move it took a lot more effort than normal. She tried to cry out in surprise but not a sound escaped her lips. And then she started to glow.

There was a mirror mounted on the inside of the wardrobe door. Sarah remembered thinking that having the mirror on the inside of the door was a little strange but now she realized why. It made perfect sense. She could see herself floating in midair glowing with a soft white light.

“Vee’s great-grandmother must be some piece of work. Not only did she turn those poor  girls into clothing permanently, but she had them watching it too.” Sarah thought.

But she had to admit it was an eerily beautiful sight and she found herself thinking she wished she had her phone to take a picture of it. Then she felt something at the back of her neck. She reached up with her hand slowly through the thick air to feel what was causing it. As soon as she touched it she knew what it was. It was the hook of a clothes hanger sprouting from the back of her neck. And it had hooked itself around the bar at the top. And now Sarah was hanging from it.

Before she could really process the fact that she was hung up in the wardrobe rather than magically floating in it, the change continued. She felt her arms and legs start to feel tight. Just as if they were being compressed. And as she moved her hand up to look at it she could see why. Her hand and arm were shrinking. And it was starting to feel… good… real good.

“I guess it would not be one of Veronica's magic things if it wasn't trying to soak your panties at some point.” Sara thought with a big smile on her face as the pleasure kept building. Just as if the less there was left of her the hornier it would be.

Soon there was almost nothing left of her arms or legs. Everything below the middle of her upper arms was gone. And her dripping sex was the lowest part of her body.

“Oh, gods that feel good! But I I still have no idea what I'm becoming. Can't say that I care though as long as Owner will ware me.” Even in her pleasure muffled mind Sarah did a double take at that. “Owner? Well, I guess whatever it is I'm going to be is starting to affect my mind. Well, I knew this was going to happen so no point in fighting it. I guess”

And that was about as far as she got before her train of thought was derailed by a wave of pleasure that drowned her mind in orgasmic bliss. Her vagina had suddenly widened to the point of stretching al along her lower half. And then it turns into what looked like the hem of a skin coloured t-shirt.

“That's it!” Jane thought when she could think more or less coherently again. “Owner is going to bed and need a shirt to sleep in. I'm going to be the best and softest shirt ever for Owner.”

The change kept moving and soon Jane's entire torso started to deflate. Her breasts first looking like empty bags of cloth before being absorbed into the rest of the shirt front. And the ratio between waist and hip that Sarah had been quite proud of, disappeared to a straight line.

And before long Sarah’s head collapsed down into the neckline of what looked like a perfectly normal flesh coloured T-shirt. Then it darkened, turning a faded black and sprouted a very worn set of letters spelling out Metallica.

***

Jane tried to sit calmly and not fidget. Veronica had said that the transformation would take about ten minutes after she locked the door. It had been nine. The second the timer on her phone turned over to ten she was off the couch and grabbed the wardrobe door yanking it open. Sarah was gone.

But that was after all expected. But what had she turned into. Jane started to look through her clothes to see what did not belong. And it did not take long to find it.

Hanging in front of her was her favourite sleeping shirt. An old Metallica shirt she had liberated from an old boyfriend close to seven years ago. Only it could not be her shirt, because that she had been forced to leave behind when she lost her apartment.

She picked it off its hanger and she could feel the worn soft cotton.

“Wow Sarah, this is amassing. You are perfect.”

And not wanting to waste any time Jane put the shirt down on the bed and stripped down to her panties. And after a short hesitation, she stepped out of those as well.

Might as well limit the competition don't you think.” She said to the shirt as she picked it up and pulled it over her head. It felt just like she remembered it. She even stood there for a few seconds hugging herself in it.

“Well I guess this is good night then,” she said and walked over to the wall switch and turned out the lights and then crawled into bed wearing her best friend. That was not technically there.