It was so hard to stay focused. Celine had been in the dark for so long. She did not know how long, but it seemed like an eternity since any light reached her. She likely wouldn't see any light again unless the box she was trapped in was completely emptied.



Celine was still stuck as a swimsuit. She was still in the lost-and-found box she had been put into that day. Her best friend, Lily, had also been transformed into a swimsuit, and was trapped in that box with her. Carelessness and a lack of communication had gotten them into this situation.



The only indication of how much time had passed, was the number of times the box they were in was opened. That couldn't tell Celine much, since there was no fixed interval. The box was only opened when the employees had something to toss in there. However, it was the only brief break there ever was from the darkness inside the box. The employee would open the box, toss whatever unclaimed item they found in, and close it. Celine had tried to count the number of times this had happened. It proved futile, though. Each opening of the box only lasted a few seconds. After that it was back into the inescapable darkness. This continued until enough stuff piled on top of Celine to bury her completely and deny her even that brief glimpse of the outside world. Nothing ever seemed to leave this box once it was placed inside.



Celine just wanted a way out of this. It was constant boredom mixed with the fear that it would never end. She couldn't do or see anything. There was nothing to keep her occupied except regret at the dumb way the two of them had found themselves in this mess. If Celine was going to be stuck as a swimsuit, she wished she could at least be worn. She didn't know if it was a side effect of the magic, or a result of her own experience from her transformations, but being a swimsuit was only enjoyable while she was being worn. She longed for the stimulation of being stretched over a wearer's body and rubbed against her skin. By contrast, not being worn left her bored and feeling empty. It was like being forgotten by the world, and the feeling was constant. Unfortunately, the person who was supposed to wear the swimsuit Celine had become was also transformed into a swimsuit.



Celine knew that Lily was somewhere in this box with her. She wondered if Lily was completely buried by lost items like her, or maybe Lily would still get to briefly see the outside world when the box was opened up. Celine just knew she had to stay focused. No matter how torturous the boredom and sensory deprivation was, she had to keep her wits about her. Lily might depend on it. Celine knew if the swimsuit forms they were trapped in were torn up, they would become human again. If that happened, and Celine was freed, it would be up to her to also free Lily. Hopefully, Lily could do the same if it was her who changed back first. Celine hoped Lily was holding up. With no way for two swimsuits to communicate, Celine had no idea how Lily was dealing with their predicament. Celine had brought this spell into their lives, so this was all her responsibility. No matter how tempting it was to let her mind go blank, she had to endure for Lily's sake.



No opportunity to change back came, though. Celine had felt the box move countless times. She was never moved from her position in it though. How long had she been buried under all of these lost and forgotten items? How long had it been since she'd seen anything? There would never be any opportunity to be damaged enough to change back if she was never taken out of this box! Celine knew they had been in there for a long time. It could have been months, or even years. It was very hard to not let negative thoughts creep into her mind at that point. There were even times that Celine wondered if Lily was even still in there with her. Lily could have been removed from this box and taken anywhere. Celine would never know with the pile of junk covering her. She had no idea what she would do if she somehow changed back and couldn't find that white swimsuit Lily had become. These thoughts intruded Celine's mind each time she felt the box move. For all the power her family's magical secrets had given her, she was completely powerless in her current state.



As Celine was thinking that, the box moved. It seemed another item was about to be thrown in. Celine wondered if the box was getting full. Then, without warning, the box was flipped upside down. Celine fell out of the box with its other contents. It took Celine a few seconds to process that she was seeing light. Once she got used to it, she noticed there were two people looking down at her. One looked to be one of the fitness center's employees. The other was a woman who looked to be in her late twenties looking somewhat upset.



"Well, are any of these yours?" The employee asked the woman.



The woman looked over everything that was dumped out of the lost-and-found box but her expression remained gloomy.



"No, I don't see it here." She replied.



"So this was the last place you remember wearing your swimsuit." The employee asked.



"Yeah, I was here a few days ago for the swim I do as part of my exercise routine. I was hoping to get another one in today, but I guess I should have grabbed one of my other ones." The woman explained.



"Well, you could always take one of these. No one ever claims anything out of this box. A lot of this stuff has been in there for years." The employee offered.



"I don't know if I want to wear something that someone else lost." The woman said.



"We have a laundry room here. If you pick one, I can make sure it's clean for you. I'd hate for you to not get your full workout in." The employee said.



"I guess that's fine. I'm going to run on the treadmill for a bit first. That should give you plenty of time to get it washed." The woman finally agreed.



"Alright, take your pick then." The employee said pleasantly.



The woman moved over to the pile of abandoned items. She examined a few of the swimsuits that had been dumped out of the box, but didn't seem too impressed. Then, her hand grabbed Celine.



After so long in that box, the feeling of the woman's hand grabbing her sent Celine's mind into a frenzy. Maybe Celine would get to be worn. Celine was starting to get excited about the prospect. Then she remembered Lily. If this woman chose Celine to wear, Lily would be left alone in that box. What if this woman decided to keep Celine? She would be taken away and have no way of knowing what would happen to Lily from there. However, maybe if Celine managed to change back she could come back to the fitness center and get Lily out.



"Who would wear something with such a gaudy color?" The woman said, setting Celine back into the pile. Celine couldn't help but feel a little insulted. She also couldn't avoid feeling disappointed that she wouldn't get to be worn. It seemed she was going to go back into the box once this woman left.



The woman continued to rummage through the swimsuits that were among the unclaimed items. Celine watched her since there wasn't anything else to do. Then, Celine's attention was truly caught when the woman picked up a white swimsuit.



"Lily!" Celine helplessly watched the woman pick up her transformed friend. Celine saw the woman examine Lily and waited apprehensively for what she would do next.



"I guess this one will work." The woman finally told the employee.



"Alright, I'll get it cleaned up and ready for you." With that, the woman handed the white swimsuit to the employee, who took it away to the laundry room. The woman meanwhile, left to start her run on the treadmill. Celine was frantic, but could do nothing as the swimsuit that was Lily was carried out of sight.



Celine could only think about what was happening to Lily now. She would be going through a washing machine and dryer. Celine had no idea what that would be like. She could only hope it wouldn't be an unpleasant experience for Lily. Then, that woman would wear that swimsuit, unaware that it was really Lily. Celine was worried about her friend, but couldn't help feeling a little jealous of her too. Lily would get to be worn. It was the next best thing to being changed back. Celine would have loved to be worn to break the boredom of being endlessly stuck in that box.



The employee returned without Lily. She was likely in the washing machine at that very moment. The employee began to pile everything back into the lost-and-found box. Celine laid there and waited for her turn to be tossed back into her dark prison. She got somewhat lucky. She was one of the last things placed in the box. She would at least get to see what was happening the next time the box was opened.



Once everything was in, the box was closed. Celine was back in the dark, and this time she was alone. All she could think about was Lily. She wondered what that woman would do with Lily once her swim was done. Would she bring Lily back to the lost-and-found box or keep her? Maybe the possibility of getting damaged enough to change back was greater for Lily if that woman kept her. However, the woman could also just toss Lily into a drawer and forget about her. Celine had no way of knowing who that woman was. Even if Celine changed back, she wouldn't be able to track Lily down in that scenario. Plus, the thought of being left alone in this box was terrifying for Celine. Even if they couldn't communicate, it had helped keep Celine sane knowing Lily was there. Lily being taken away would leave her truly alone in this mess.



After Celine had wallowed in those thoughts for a while, the box was picked up and opened. Celine welcomed the light, hoping to see the white swimsuit Lily had become put back in with her. Instead, a black tank-top was thrown in. Celine couldn't know how much time passed before the next time the box was opened, but it had to have been longer than a day. It seemed the woman would not be bringing Lily back. As time passed, more lost items were piled on top of Celine. Eventually, she was once again completely buried and not able to see anything even when the box was opened.



Celine could only wonder what happened to Lily. The only faint hope she clung to was that Lily was out there somewhere. If Lily changes back, she would surely come back for Celine at some point. Until then, Celine could only hope Lily was being worn often enough. It definitely would be better than being left alone in a box.