"Okay, Sonya," Derek said in a voice that tried to sound commanding but was really quite hesitant. He didn't want to do this to her, but there was no other way to get her out of the house without risking trouble. "You're going to become a duffel bag that matches the one I own."
Sonya's half-awake eyes blinked rapidly and then widened into saucers as Derek's plan became clear to her. "A duffel bag?"
"Shh!" Derek said, putting a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, it's all I could think of. I'll carry you out of here as soon as I get the chance." He could feel the texture of her skin drying up and becoming coarse as her overall color faded slowly into the maroon dye of his duffel bag.
The sheets covering most of her body shifted, hinting at the transformation occurring beneath them. Sonya's head flattened and melted together with her neck and shoulders. Her face became circular and was forced into an upward position as the upper end of her became the end of the cylindrical bag. Her arms came together as if she was hugging an invisible body. They merged, shrank and flattened until they formed a black strap. Her hands became a maroon shoulder pad set in the middle.
Lying where Sonya's human figure had been, there was now an innocent-looking duffel bag. Derek noticed that it was exactly like his, including the indicators of wear and tear such as unraveling seams and dark smudges. The only exception was a thick black leather band circling the end of the bag that had once been Sonya's head and neck. At the top was the ruby set into the magic collar, though it was looking much larger in proportion with the band it was fixed to. He upended the bag and found a large golden buckle on the underside.
"It looks like the collar can't make itself change into something else or disappear. It can only get bigger or smaller. I don't know if you can hear me, but I promise to change you back as soon as possible. He carefully lifted the bag out of the bed. He wasn't sure if Sonya could be hurt if he handled her too roughly. He set her down by his desk and then gathered up Sonya's clothes and shoes. He piled the clothes into Sonya and slowly zipped her up, wondering what being zipped up must feel like. "I've got to go greet my parents or they'll think something's up. Be back soon." He quickly kissed her, then headed downstairs.