Before Christina could explore any further the somewhat inscrutable looking shopkeeper set down her book and slowly approached her. Christina couldn't help but feel a little nervous in this woman's presence. She was a striking looking older woman with a real air of authority about her and, though she didn't seem unfriendly, it was obvious that she was not somebody you would want to upset.
"Can I help you Madam?" the proprietor asked with a faint smile.
"Um, no, I'm okay thank you" Christina replied a little timidly.
The woman nodded and turned to walk away when...
"Um, actually.." Christina blurted out against her will.
"Yes?" the store keeper turned back and regarded her customer with interest.
Christina's heart sank as she realised that other people could put words in her mouth here, and that the chances were whatever she said was not going to be good for her, Nonetheless she opened her mouth and was unable to stop herself from saying it.
"I'd like to volunteer as a test subject for you"
"Excuse me?" the shop keepers eyes seemed to light up at this offer despite her best attempts at remaining impassive.
"You can test any products on me, whatever their effects. For free, of course. I'm willing to be your human guinea pig for as long as you want me to be."
Christina's heart raced as the words came out against her will. There was an element of excitement, but also dread.
The shopkeeper looked Christina up and down and allowed herself to smile openly at this unexpected turn of events.
"Well, I'm hardly going to turn down an offer like that" she admitted "I just need you to sign something. Just in case any of the effects of our products turn out to be more permanent than intended."
"Of course!" Christina found herself agreeing as she scribbled her signature across the dotted line of the scroll that suddenly appeared in front of her without even reading what she was committing herself to.
"Well, thank you. I suppose you are my test subject now" the shopkeeper grasped the contract from Christina's hands keenly, unable to believe her luck at this turn of events "I have many products I have yet to test on a consenting human. Where shall we start I wonder?"