by Jessie Ash
"Tell us where your friends are or I am going to...ahhhh!"
The man fell down in pain, grabbing his leg. I looked up and couldn’t believe who was standing over him. Casey? She's real. She had on the same black spandex suit I remembered. It wasn't a dream? But how is this…
"Stevie!" a familiar British accent called out. “Catch!”
I looked up towards the door just in time to see Mr. Brigs run in and toss an object my way. It was the syringe that helped me change into…
“NO!” I screamed as I totally missed catching it and helplessly watched as the syringe rolled to the center of the room. Total chaos had erupted all around me in the pizza place. Casey was busy fighting off two crazies. While two other guys grabbed Pete and Ryan, who looked terrified. Surprisingly I wasn't frightened at all. I was determined. I could do this. I lunged forward and got my fingertips on the...
"Ahhh!" I screamed as one of the psychos grabbed me, lifted me up and... "Uhhhh!”
He slammed me right into the wall. By some miracle I managed not to pass out. I couldn’t. I had to help Peter, and yes, even Ryan. I fumbled with the syringe and managed to remove the cap so I could…
"Seriously?" the guy barked in my face. “You think you’re gonna jab that needle in me?”
"Not you. Me. Ahhh!" I screamed as I stuck the needle in my neck and pressed down. I just hope it...
"Stevie?!" Pete shouted as I started shaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop which freaked the guy out so much he dropped me. Right away I felt my tee expand in my chest area as my jeans became loose. As I moved, long blonde hair cascaded down my back. I looked up and saw the guy was in total shock, which gave me a few seconds to react. I ripped off my belt and used it as a whip to hit him hard in the face. He fell down screaming, so I immediately ran to help Pete and Ryan.
"Leave him alone!" I yelled as I kicked a big, burly guy off of Ryan. He looked at me in shock. “This doesn't mean I like you. It just means...LOOK OUT!"
I pushed Ryan out of the way as I kicked the muscle-heads off of Pete and grabbed him just as a chair came flying towards us. Without thinking I managed to smash the chair and use the wooden leg to free Mr. Brigs from his captors. There were just too many of these psychos to...
"FREEZE! POLICE!"
BAM! BAM!
Shots fired, and a sea of blue suddenly entered the room. All hell broke loose, but I was able to grab Ryan and Pete and lead us out the back where we met up with Mr. Brigs. We were all safe from...
"Hey! Where's Casey?"
Chapter 21
Tracked
"You did this Stephen!" Mr. Brigs screamed. Pete, Ryan and myself were by the van now. I was back in my male form. "You got her kidnapped trying to rescue you!"
"I didn't ask for those nuts to attack me! I don't even know how they found..."
"A tracking device was attached to you Stephen while you were doing such a poor job of catching the Cook."
"So how did you find me?”
"We installed a tracking device on the Cook. We were hoping to get more information about that name, but all we got dragged into is this mess!"
"Look, I'm not with these two losers. So I'm just going to..."
"Sit Ryan! Yes, I know your name. Don’t ask me how!” Mr. Brigs yelled as he took out his dart gun. No! I wasn’t letting him do this to me again.
"Please! Don't make me forget! I can help you! I was able to turn back into her. Maybe I could turn back one more time to…”
“What, Stephen?! Screw up even more than you did? NO! This is done!”
"What the hell are you..."
BAM!
He shot a dart into Ryan’s neck. Immediately he passed out. As Mr. Brigs aimed his gun at Pete, I ripped off a piece of a pizza box I found on the ground and...
Chapter 22
Taken
“What happened?” Pete grumbled as he slowly got up. “Why am I in your bedroom on the floor?”
“I don’t know,” I muttered as I sat up in my bed. I had this weird feeling we experienced something major. I just didn’t remember what it…
“Did we drink anything, Stevie? I remember us talking about hanging out for my b-b-birthday and after that…”
“I got nothing too,” I said as I got out of my bed. Oddly we were both still fully-dressed.
“Hey, at least I know we had p-p-pizza last night,” Pete said as he grabbed his jacket.
“How do you know?
“’Cause of this,” he said as he pulled a piece of a cardboard pizza container out of the pocket. “Seriously? I can even remember eating at Little Vincent’s last…wait…that’s weird.”
“What?”
“Does this message make sense to you? Is that a joke?” Pete asked as he handed me the ripped cardboard piece stained with grease. I flipped it over, and I was in total shock. The message was scribbled in my exact handwriting.
CASEY TAKEN HOSTAGE.
Oh god. I remember.
Chapter 23
Different
“Wait. Stevie, you’re not making any s-s-sense,” Pete muttered while I started rummaging through my closet. Something has to be able to help make me… “We were in a fight?”
“The short answer? Yes.”
“How come you remember everything and I don’t?” he asked as he plopped on my bed.
“’Cause I’m um, different,” I muttered. I looked all over and couldn’t find my pills anywhere. “Brigs must’ve taken my supply when he dropped us off.”
“Who the hell is Brigs? And what do you mean you’re d-d-different?”
Chapter 24
Steroids
I told Pete everything…well at least everything I could remember. When I was done, he had the weirdest look. Almost like he started to remember what…
“You’re insane, d-d-dude.” Guess not.
“I’m not lying, Pete. We have to figure out a way to get Casey back.”
“Your ridiculously hot girlfriend with super strength that works for a covert government team? That’s the Casey you’re t-t-talking about?”
“I swear this is true,” I cried as I kicked my knapsack in frustration, which hurt.
“Hey, I’m sorry Stevie,” Pete said as he edged closer to me. “I get that you had this dream that seems so real. But that’s all it is. There’s no way it really…”
“I was there Pete. I remember changing. Fighting those psychos. I just wish I could prove it to you. I just don’t know how I…”
“Steroids?”
“What?”
“You told me your pulse rate went crazy after that guy Brigs jabbed you with the n-n-needle, right?” Pete pointed out as he hopped off my bed.
“Yeah, I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest. So you think all I have to do is get a concentrated form of steroids to change?”
“No. I’m definitely not saying that. I was being hypothetical. Trying to figure out what you thought you felt. Do you know what that could do to you?”
“Your inhaler!” I yelled as I grabbed his jacket and fished it out. Taking five puffs of this could really get my blood flowing.”
“Yeah, and give you a heart attack! This is all made up!” Pete snapped as he tried to get it back, but I held on. I needed it. Besides, he has an extra inhaler at home.
“Look, Pete, I need you to trust me and to help me get some stuff,” I said as I shoved the inhaler in my pocket.
“Stuff?”
“A whole mess of duct tape and your dad’s high-powered riding mower.”
“Are you crazy, Stevie?”
“If my idea doesn’t work I swear I’ll drop it. And I promise I won’t do anything stupid…um, until you’re with me,” I said as I put on my sneakers.
“Where are you going?”
“I got to pick up a few things too. I’ll text you the address later.”
Chapter 25
Muscle
“Hey!” I yelled as I pulled into the abandoned lot on my bike where I had change
d before. Thankfully Pete kept his promise. He had his dad’s power mower and about two rolls of duct tape. Three would be better. Oh well.
I parked my bike and lugged my huge duffel bag filled with the stuff I had bought. Pete looked even more confused and upset.
“What do you need all this for?” he asked as he rummaged through the bag.
“That depends.”
“On?”
“How fast that mower can go.”
“About thirty. Maybe forty, tops,” Pete oddly bragged.
“Not fast enough. Guess we’ll need it all,” I said as I handed the stuff to Pete. “Just duct tape ‘em right here.”
"Okay. But what are you gonna do?" Pete asked as he looked at the other bags I was holding.
“I’m going to go change,” I said as I took out the inhaler and a giant plastic container of Muscle Bulk powder.
"Taking all of that is g-g-gonna give you a heart attack."
"I know what I'm doing," I called out as I ran around to the other side of the old wooden fence. "And Pete?”
“Yeah?”
“If I scream, don’t come over here.”
Chapter 26
Scream
"Here goes nothing," I mumbled as I started ingesting as much powder as I could. It tasted awful. How do guys like Ryan live on this stuff? After about the sixth mouthful I started getting jittery. I took a swig of water and then I took out the inhaler. I did five puffs and didn’t feel much different. I guess I need more...
"Ahhh!"
"Stevie! Are you..."
"Don't come back here, Pete! I'm...ahhhh!" I screamed again as I doubled over in pain. It's working. I could feel my... "Ahhhhh!"
No. Something is wrong.
Chapter 27
Back
My eyes fluttered open. As I looked around, a clump of blonde hair fell in my face. I also felt that familiar heavy weight on my chest.
“It worked! I’m a…” I stopped my celebration as soon as I saw Pete sitting against this wall. He had this shocked, nervous look.
"You...you're a..."
"A woman. I know Pete. I told you I wasn't...ahhhhh!" I screamed as I felt myself suddenly changing.
“NO!” I continued to yell as I watched myself turn back to my male form and then right back to being a female. "The chemical. I don't have enough to keep me stable.
“That happened to you a few times when you passed out! You have to stop…”
“No! We stick with the plan! Just finish up, and I’ll join you…ahhh!" I screamed as I grabbed my outfit and ran into the shed. I felt the change starting again. I quickly took a puff from the inhaler, which seemed to stop the transformation—for now.
Chapter 28
Gift
"Are you okay in..." Pete lost his power of speech when he saw me walk out in my red spandex bodysuit. The material seemed a bit flimsier than my old outfit, but it still is stretchy enough for me to... "You're her. I saw you before."
"I know, Pete," I muttered as I walked closer to him while feeling my chest jiggle a bit. Such a weird yet familiar sensation. "You okay? I get that this whole thing must be um, intense."
“This is certainly crazy, but I’m good...I think. What about you? You’re not changing back, so that’s good. Right?”
"Yeah. The inhaler keeps my pulse rate up, which stops me from changing. Though I'm not sure for how much longer I’ll last in um this female form," I said as I folded my arms over my ample chest. I now felt a bit self-conscious with him seeing me like…
"Sorry," Pete muttered.
“What for?”
“For not b-b-believing you.”
“Hey, I get it. The whole thing sounds insane,” I said as I caught him checking out my body. I couldn't blame him. Hell, if I saw a woman who looked like me I'd want to get a good eyeful too.
"I wanted to b-b-believe you. I just…”
"No apology necessary. I'm just sorry Brigs mind wiped you so you don’t remember your birthday. And the worst thing is I never got your gift. Some best friend I turn out to be."
"It's okay. I know you're..." Pete ceased to speak as my lips met his for a moment.
"W-W-Why did you….”
"I figured since I didn't get you anything, a kiss from a hot blonde super government spy would be the next best..." Now it was my turn to be stunned as Pete kissed me. I felt my body press into his surprisingly solid frame as we continued our lip lock embrace. He even pleasantly surprised me by giving my pert butt a squeeze.
"S-S-Sorry," he whispered. "That kiss was for um good luck. Are you mad?"
"Um, no. It's um cool," I stammered as I took another puff of the inhaler. Wow.
I like guys now?
Chapter 29
Return
Once again I was standing in front of that same rundown bar. This time the bouncer was way bigger than the last one.
"You think this is gonna work?" I heard Pete whisper from the bushes right behind me. “How do you know Casey will even be here?”
"I don’t, but this is where the Cook hangs out. So I'm hoping..."
"You wanna come in here, darling? I need to see ID," the bouncer barked in my direction. I totally froze. There's no way I could pull this... "Hey! I know you. You're that chick who..."
My adrenaline kicked in as I punched the bouncer in the face and tossed him right through the door. Everyone inside was totally stunned, which I used to my advantage. I jumped on a table and kicked two guys lunging at me. I then dived out of the way just as a chair whizzed by my…
BAM!
A gunshot echoed through the room, which totally caught me off guard.
“Now I know you’re tough, but I’m pretty sure you’re not bulletproof,” one of the psychos said as he pointed the gun at me. “Get off the table right now!”
"Christ! Seriously Mike? You just put a hole in my bar. Someone better pay me for…”
"Shut up and call the Cook," psycho Mike yelled as two guys grabbed me. I recognized one of them from the pizza place. "So you mind telling us why you're dumb enough to prance in here?"
"Let Casey go and take me instead!" I fired back in my best superhero voice, but instead of scaring these guys, they just laughed.
"Fair enough request," Mike said as he grabbed the phone from the bartender. "Hi. Yep. She's here. What should we do? Uh huh. Okay. Sounds good."
“Sorry, darling. I tried, but the Cook wants you dead. Okay, boys, she’s all yours.” Slowly the guys walked towards me with their knives out.
"Wait!" I yelled which didn’t seem to stop the gang members. I guess I have one last card to play. "Tell the Cook I can give him the transformation formula!"
The bald guy from the pizza place suddenly grabbed the phone and went in the back room while the goons had their knives right at my throat ready to…
“STOP!” the guy with the phone yelled. “The Cook says don’t kill her…yet. He has a question about the formula.”
“Um, okay?” I muttered while making sure I didn’t lean too close to the knives jabbing my throat. “Shoot. Not literally.”
“Cook wants to know if this formula just turns you into the girl or does it also give you super strength?”
“It does both.”
“Hold on a sec,” the guy said as he whispered something into the phone. “Okay, the Cook also wants to know if that formula gives you anything extra.”
“Extra?”
“Powers. Stuff like flying, shooting fire, ESP—crap like that.”
“I think it’s just super strength.” The guy then disappeared in the back room. A few minutes later the Cook actually came out holding Casey. He had his gun firmly pressed against her head.
“Are you okay?”
“Why the hell would you be dumb enough to come here?!” Casey yelled at me.
“I missed you too!”
“Okay ladies, chat time is over,” the Cook said as he handed Casey off to his henchmen and walked over to me. “Give me the formula now, and I’ll le
t your girlfriend go.”