Chapter 6 by c1ph4r

What's next?

Erica has to take an escalator to the top floor.

Originally posted to Writing.com - Erica's Great Adventure; ID#1291973 on 03-10-12 - 8:04am

Peering out between the coats, she was able to see the sign hanging near the "up" escalator, which showed that Carrie's department, Petite Women, was located two floors up on the top floor of the store! Erica hugged her bare midriff as she pondered her next move. She couldn't stay in this coat rack the whole time, but she also didn't want anyone to see her in such a revealing outfit. She was about to grab a coat to cover herself when an idea occurred to her.

"I've been more exposed in public than this. I've even worn my underwear as a swimsuit. Even though this outfit isn't ideal for shopping, it covers my important bits completely, which is more than I could say for some other days. I can do this. If anyone sees me, it won't matter, right? I should just act nonchalant. Okay, on three..."

She slowly counted to three, but didn't move. "I can't do this! My nipples are poking through this poor excuse for a top, and my bottom is all but exposed! I can't go out there like...like this!" she thought to herself.

Erica calmed down a bit and then slipped on one of the coats from the rack. Being a men's jacket, it covered her completely from her neck to her knees. She walked as casually as she could over to the escalator and stepped on. As she was whisked upward, she caught a glimpse of herself on the mirrored walls of the escalator. She looked above and below her before opening the coat, flashing the mirror. She imagined what it would be like when she showed Carrie her outfit, and she'd see her in just the bikini cover. She closed the coat as she imagined what Carrie would look like wearing nothing but the bikini cover riding down the escalator. Erica was lost in a reverie as she approached the top of the escalator. Not seeing the end coming near, she stood perfectly still until her shoes caught on the platform and she fell. She luckily had her hands out to cushion her fall, and she was back up with no problem.

Feeling foolish after her fall, she strolled onto the next escalator without looking around. She rode about halfway up when she felt something odd under her coat. She looked at her reflection in the mirrored wall and saw a small pink thread trailing behind her. She gasped as she opened the coat to see what was happening.