The Shadow Girl

The Magician bowed amidst the menagerie of volunteers and assistants on the stage, in various assorted predicaments- impaled, sliced to pieces (or missing some altogether,) compressed in tiny boxes or bottles...

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I know some of you consider the restoration to be the most boring part of the illusion- so if you're worried that I've saved all of them for last, I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to skip them entirely! Good night, everyone!"

As the applauds died down, Ashley, the dark haired young volunteer inside the vase, waved her exposed hand. "Umm? I'd kind of like being restored?"

The Magician turned and regarded her. "Oh, yes- my volunteers. It would be inconsiderate of me to leave them in this state." He turned back to the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you stay in your seats, I'll give you an encore. I'll even see if I can grant one lucky volunteer a wish, to make it worth your while." He smiled, as there were more applauds. "Hitomi, stagehand Bob, could you help clear my assistants off the stage while I see to Ashley and Lisa here?"

The two helpers came out and started clearing away props and people as the Magician pushed the box containing the myriad chunks of Lisa- sliced by sharp wire (ref. Parts 4 and 6)- towards the clear vase containing Ashley, who was curled up in the most improbable position, her wrist sticking out of, and barely fitting through, the tiny mouth of the vase- the only way in or out of the container (ref. Part 5.)

"Now, here, it looks like we have a problem. Obviously, Ashley can't slide out. I'd break the vase, but I'm afraid she'd be cut by glass shards, and I'd rather not risk submitting her to that... Bob would not be happy cleaning the blood off the stage. So, what shall we do?... Ah!" The Magician began to rub his hands together, and quickly, some silk cloth started to emerge from between them, growing bigger as he continued, until he held up a 3' by 3' cloth. He draped it over the box containing Lisa's pieces, then walked over to Ashley, and removed his coat. He placed the collar in her hand, allowing the garment to cover the vase, while still leaving her fingers visible. He walked back over to the clear box, and put his hand on the cloth. "One... two... three!"

The Magician whipped the cloth off the box. The lid sprang open as Ashley jumped out grinning, both arms raised. "Ta da!" The Magician helped her out of the box and set her down on the stage, and she turned around and gave him a quick hug. "Thanks! I was getting uncomfortable in there!" She made her way down the steps and back to her seat.

Meanwhile, the Magician walked back to the vase, where a hand was still holding his coat. "Lisa. Can you wiggle your fingers?" The fingers wiggled, without dropping the coat. The Magician looked behind it, and turned to the audience.

"Um, well, her hand's restored, at least. I don't think you need to see what's behind the coat. Stagehand Bob, can you give me some help with this?"

The Magician's stagehand came out, and the two of them picked up the vase, with Lisa's hand still holding the coat to cover it. Carefully, they placed it inside the box that Ashley had just emerged from, and the Magician draped the cloth over the whole thing, since the vase was taller than the box. "I didn't want to do this with Ashley, but it won't matter much for Lisa, given her current state," the Magician said as he pulled a device from his pocket. "I always keep a glass breaker handy, in case of emergencies. Don't worry, Robert, I promise there won't be a mess to clean up."

He reached under the cloth, and there was an almost explosive shattering sound. The cloth fell level with the edges of the box, and the Magician whipped it off, uncovering the occupant- Lisa, sitting inside amidst shards of glass, wearing the Magician's coat and looking first surprised, then relieved. The Magician offered his hands, and she took them. Carefully he helped her stand up. "There we go, none the worse for wear," he smiled. "Given the glass, Bob, can you just carefully wheel her off stage and help her out. Lisa, Hitomi can point you to your clothes."

Lisa smiled, "Thank you. It's good to be back."

"Stick around after the show, I may have something for you, for all the trouble you went through."

The lady grinned. "Really? Can I take Marisol home? It'd be fun to have a girl in a jewelry box!"

The Magician chuckled, "That's up to her, of course- you can ask, but I wouldn't expect an answer at the moment, given her current circumstances." Stagehand Bob wheeled Lisa off the stage.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I'm so glad the rest of you stayed in your seats. I promised to grant a wish, so let's see if I can." He smiled and continued, "Check under those seats you stayed in. There's an envelope taped to each one- go ahead and open them." The Magician raised his voice over the rustling of paper. "One has a sheet of paper with a star on. Whoever finds it, raise your hand!"

The Magician chuckled as he watched his audience. "Now, I know there was only one star, so some of you are trying to pull a fast one. How about whoever has the star, hold up the paper so I can see it." The house lights brightened a bit, and the Magician shaded his eyes from the stage lights.

"You- yes you, sir... are a liar." The audience laughed. "Ah, the lady in the brown floral blouse near the back. What's your name? Sorry- I can't hear... hold on." The spotlight followed the Magician as he stepped off the stage and walked down the aisle, while the woman made her way through the crowded seats. "There we go. What's your name, miss?"

"Elise," she said. The audience turned, trying to look. As well as her blouse, she was wearing loose black slacks- nice, but a bit form concealing, as she was quite a bit on the heavy side. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"Well, Elise, what would you like me to do tonight? Keeping it appropriate, of course." There were chuckles.

"Um, I kind of don't want to... can I whisper it to you, sir?"

"So formal! Certainly! A moment, ladies and gentlemen. I'm going to turn off the mike."

Only those closest could hear as the woman whispered to him. He appeared to think for a moment, then smiled, and replied to her just as quietly. She giggled and blushed, and whispered to him again. He nodded and placed his hand gently on her shoulder, whispering back. The crowd started to murmur, but he held up his hand, and they grew quiet. He bowed to Elise, and kissed her on the hand, then holding hers in his, turned his microphone back on.

"Robert- can you go to the workshop and bring out the big one we've been working on. Get Hitomi to help you, maybe Lisa if she's dressed." Stagehand Bob called back something from off stage. The Magician replied, "Yes, it's workable. But hurry, we've people waiting."

The Magician looked around as he led Elise towards the front of the theatre. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being patient. Miss Elise has placed a great deal of trust in me, and asked me for something very personal to her. I ask you all to be respectful, and not embarrass her, because she's chosen to share it with you, despite my option to perform it after the show." They reached the steps, and the Magician helped his volunteer onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, please, a big round of applauds for our very brave volunteer, Elise!"

Once the noise died down, the Magician waved off stage, and gave a thumbs up. Bob entered, pulling a large box, white in front, with black sides, on a high platform with built in steps. Not including the platform, it was probably about seven feet tall and four feet wide. An intact and fully dressed Lisa helped push the prop to the center of the stage, to some subdued applauds. The Magician left Elise standing and watching, and stepped over to Lisa, whispering in her ear. She smiled, curtsied, and hopped off the stage to return to her seat.

Hitomi arrived on stage next, pushing a bank of lights on a stand. She placed it behind the large box, and turned it on. The front of the box began to glow. The Magician hopped up onto the narrow platform that surrounded the box, and pushed his hand in through the side, which was made of stretchy fabric. The silhouette of his arm appeared dark and defined through the translucent plastic on the front of the box. The front panel opened, lowering forwards, to show his arm, and then the back panel lowered as well- the lights dimming to not blind the audience. The Magician stepped around, then through the shallow frame.

"Elise, come on up if you're ready!"

The chubby girl climbed up the steps on the platform- thin strips of metal allowing the audience to see behind them, and carefully stepped around the front of the frame to stand inside it. She turned and looked at the Magician.

"Well, go ahead and wave," he prompted.

Elise looked at the audience and smiled, waving. The front of the box was raised, and she kept waving, visible as a silhouette as the back lights turned up again.

"This is the part we talked about. Are you ready?" The audience watched her silhouette nod, and the Magician turned back to them, as, in highlighted shadow, the girl removed her blouse. The Magician raised his hand to silence any noise, and reached his other hand inside to take her top from her. She then took off her slacks, also handing them to the Magician.

"Excellent. Now, sleep." The shadow figure's arms dropped to her sides, and her head leaned to the left. The Magician turned back to the audience. The front of the box lowered, revealing the chubby Elise standing in her bra and panties, eyes closed, in the same position her shadow had been. Someone in the audience started laughing, and the Magician shot a look. The laughter cut off, turning to coughing, as if he'd been elbowed sharply in the ribs by his neighbor.

Gently, the Magician straightened her head, then helped her spread her legs a bit more than shoulder width. Then he raised her arms and had her grasp two ropes that were on the sides of the frame, gently winding them around her wrists. The back panel of the frame rose, then the front panel closed, and she was silhouetted in shadow again.

The Magician turned to the audience and clapped his hands together. When he pulled them apart, there was a bulky metal rod between them. "That reminds me, I can't recall the last time I used a magic wand. However, this happens to be a high powered hand laser- better suited to the task at hand." He aimed the rod at the plastic front of the box and a purple dot appeared between the head and left arm of the shadow. He quickly zipped the beam of light down across the shoulder of the silhouette, then turned the laser off. With a quick smile to the audience, he stepped onto the small platform beside the box, and rapped his hand against the plastic. The silhouette's arm suddenly detached from its body, swinging down, the hand held up by the rope around its wrist. The Magician reached in through the side, and the audience watched as the shadow of his hand grasped the dangling limb. He pulled his arm out the side, holding what appeared to be a flat black cardboard cutout of an arm. After showing it to the audience, he set it on top of the box, then opened the front panel.

Elise still stood inside, motionless, but the glowing white rear panel behind her made it very obvious that her left arm was gone. Her bra strap hung loose on her side, without her shoulder to hold it up. The Magician hopped down, and his stagehand helped him turn the box to the left and right, showing there was skin seamlessly covering the stump. The Magician hopped up again, opened the back panel, and stepped behind to wave his hand through the space where Elise's arm should have been. Then he stepped away and closed the panels again, back then front.

Again, he aimed his laser, and the bright purple dot moved through the shadow's right arm. Another rap on the front, and he pulled the limb away, placing it with her left arm on top of the box.

Without opening the front, the Magician aimed and sliced with the laser again, a cut low on the shadow's neck, right at her collarbone. He reached in with his right arm, and placed the shadow of his hand on the shadow of her left collar. With his left hand, the Magician rapped the front panel. The shadow's head rolled into his palm, and he removed his hand, leaving a headless silhouette behind.

Putting it on top of the box, he stepped away, and the front panel opened. Behind it was Elise's body, without arms or a head- her torso perched atop her thick thighs, belly hanging over the top of her panties. The Magician opened the back panel and stepped behind again, waving his hands where the missing parts used to be. He reached behind her back with one hand, and one wing of her under-wire bra swung around her chest. He pulled the garment away, letting her naked breasts flop free. "My best trick yet- removing a bra, one-handed, in less than a second!" There was laughter from the audience, and once again, he turned the box to the left and right, showing the smooth skin where Elise's limbs and neck used to be. Her boobs jiggled a bit as her body turned, and somehow rose and fell with her chest. Free of their covering, her nipples hardened in the cold air, leaving no doubt that they were quite real.

"All right, let's keep the leering to a minimum," the Magician stated as he closed the panels, leaving, once again, only the silhouette of her bulky torso on top of her heavy thighs and thick calves.

The Magician stepped forward again, and the purple laser dot flashed twice. He returned to the box, and, without tapping the front, pulled first the left leg, then the right, off the silhouette, leaving behind only the shadow of a torso. He placed the legs on top of the box, and opened the front panel. In the middle of the box were Elise's chest, belly, and hips, her panties still covering her pubic area, though there was smooth skin where her legs should have emerged from them. The Magician opened the back panel, and Stagehand Bob tossed a silver hoop to him, which he twirled around the torso in all directions to prove it was floating without support. The Magician tossed the ring back, and closed the back panel. As the front one began to shut, he reached out and touched Elise's panties. Without her legs to hold the elastic on her hips, the underwear sprung into his hand, allowing the audience a brief glance of pubic hair before the panel closed.

The Magician reached back inside, rapped the front, and the shadow torso fell into his hand. He pulled it out the side as he'd done for the rest of the pieces, and opened the front and back of the now empty box, stepping through it to grab the black cut-outs from the top. He wheeled the box around, back to front, and stepped away, leaving it open. The base was definitely too thin to conceal a person.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you may be wondering why Elise wished to be cut to pieces and stripped in front of a full audience... or you might not- I believe I know a few of you who would line up for the privilege." Both Ann and Lisa jumped up from their seats and waved to the auditorium, to much laughter from the audience. The Magician smiled. "There was, however, a purpose to all this." He nodded to someone off stage.

Hitomi walked on, still in her silk robe, carrying two pairs of large silver shears. She handed one to the Magician, and he handed her the cut out arms. He took the legs, and held the backs to each other. "Bear with us a moment," he smiled to the audience, "I'll try to be quick, but we need to be precise." The Magician and Hitomi began to trim away at the cut outs, holding them up to each other, conferring quietly. Soon there was a pile of cuttings on the stage floor, and they had taken the scissors to every piece.

The Magician stepped back up to the box, and closed the front panel, which was now in the back. Hitomi handed him each piece, and he placed them, one by one, on the inside of the box, until, once again, a black silhouette stood in the frame. He closed the open panel and turned the box around front to back again, then turned the light on. The silhouette was standing, arms up, legs apart, much as Elise had stood when she'd first entered the box.

Once again, the Magician stepped onto the base, and rapped his fist against the front panel. He lowered it. Behind it stood Elise- same dirty blonde hair, arms raised, legs apart, but with a much slimmer body to match the slimmer silhouette. Her naked breasts, still large, rose and fell as she breathed in and out. The Magician stepped down to the stage, snapped his fingers and said, "Awaken." The lady lowered her arms and opened her eyes, blinking. She looked out to the audience, then looked down at herself, and audibly gasped. She looked around again, making no move to cover herself, but jumped off the platform, grabbing the Magician in a hug in mid-air. He caught her and set her feet down on the stage, as she kept hugging him. He gently wrapped an arm around her back.

From the side of the stage, Hitomi brought out a full length mirror, and the Magician gently turned Elise so she could look at herself in it. She squeaked, and turned, looking at her sides and rear, then just looked at the Magician, smiling, her eyes tearing up.

"Hitomi, your robe, please," the Magician stated. The assistant took off her robe, and, now wearing only a black silk thong, handed it to the Magician, who wrapped it over Elise's shoulders and helped her tie it into the front. He pulled a card from his coat and slipped it into the pocket of the robe. "Call me later- I'm sure Laurel will be happy to help you shop for a new wardrobe... once she's ready to face the world again."

The Magician took her hand, and turned her to face the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's have a big hand for Elise!" The applauds sounded like thunder, and the young lady, a little embarrassed, bowed, and headed back to her seat on unsteady legs, as if unfamiliar with her body. Back on the stage, Bob finished sweeping up and leaned the dustpan and broom against the box.

The Magician stopped clapping as well, and spoke again- "A hand for the lovely Hitomi, as well!" He reached towards his mostly nude assistant, took her hand, and they both bowed. "That reminds me, you seem to be the only one of my girls who's somehow avoided any bodily alterations tonight." He walked over and picked up the dustpan full of clippings. "Here, Hitomi, could you please step into the box, so I can fix that?... Hitomi?"

He looked around the stage. His assistant had performed a decidedly unmagical vanishing act of her own.

"All right then, let's hear it for stagehand Bob!" There were applauds as Robert stepped briefly from the wings onto the stage, bowed quickly, and stepped off again. The Magician turned to the audience one last time. "And that's all for tonight, ladies and gentlemen!" He bowed deeply to the applauds. "You've been a wonderful audience! Have a great evening!"