"I can't believe I fuckin' agreed to this." Chris sighed as he shifted uncomfortably on the hard, plastic chair, "This is definitely overkill."
The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the makeshift dunk tank setup in the middle of the bustling tailgate party. Laughter and chatter filled the air as fans milled about, while eyeing the football star perched precariously above the water.
Chris couldn't meet their gazes. After his drunken social media rant went viral and pissed off the entire town, he'd been forced to agree to this humiliating spectacle as penance. But as he gazed out at the sea of camouflage hats, flannel shirts, and pickup trucks, he couldn't help but think that maybe he hadn't been entirely wrong in his assessment of this place. The whole damn town reeked of pig shit and ignorance.
"Step right up to say hello to our resident football star!" The dunk tank operator's voice boomed out over the crackling loudspeaker, "Chris Mason is here and ready! Y'all know what he said last weekend!" The crowd booed, "That's right folks, this city slicker thinks he's too good for us!" The operator continued, clearly relishing the opportunity to publicly humiliate the disgraced athlete. "So step on up and show him how we do things 'round these parts!"
A line quickly formed- one by one they stepped up to the mark, sizes ranging from wiry farmhands to barrel-chested factory workers.
"Hah! Look at 'im squirm!" Cackled one patron.
Chris watched as it hit the target dead-on. He could feel the chair underneath him to give way.
"Oh shi…!" Chris plunged into the cold water beneath him.
Chris surfaced from the frigid dunk tank water, sputtering indignantly as he hauled himself back onto the seat. His lean, muscular frame glistened in the sunlight, water streaming down his handsome features.
"Whatever." he muttered under his breath, trying to ignore their laughter. "Think they're so fuckin' clever." Despite the embarrassment of the public humiliation, he knew he looked good- his toned physique on full display, "Let them laugh." A smirk played across his lips as he scanned the crowd, "Bunch of…"
Chris's thoughts were interrupted as his gaze landed on some nearby cars. He was expecting to spot his sleek sports car among the sea of pickup trucks, yet there was no sign of his ride. In the spot that he knew he parked his car was instead an old, rusty pick-up truck.
"Hey! Where's my car?" Chris called out to the dunk tank operator, his brow furrowed in confusion. "It was right there, I swear!"
"Don't you worry none 'bout that, son. We gotcha covered. Ain't nobody gonna be needin' a fancy sports car 'round these parts anyway."
Something about the man's tone set Chris on edge, "What does that even mean? Seriously man, my car…" He can't even finish a sentence as the chair gives out from under him once again, "Oh fuck!" He plunged into the icy water beneath him.
"Ahhh, fuck me," Chris groaned as he resurfaced for the second time, shaking the water from his hair, "Seriously, my car..." His voice trailed off as a new desire filled his mind, "What...?"
He couldn't name it, but as his eyes drifted over the crowd, taking in the sight of the locals guzzling from cans of cheap lager and lighting up cigarettes with practiced ease- to his shock, he found himself almost salivating at the thought of joining them. He looked over at the dunk tank operator, who was lighting up a cigarette of his own.
"Hey uh…" Chris paused, unable to process what he was about to ask, "… you got a spare smoke?" The words felt foreign on his tongue. Wrong. His body was a temple. Smoking? He didn't smoke.
The operator just grinned, "Thought ya might be askin'. Here ya go, son." He tossed a cig and a cheap lighter over to Chris.
"No no no no.." Chris fumbled with the lighter, his hands unsteady. "What am I doing?" he muttered, the confusion and dread rising inside him. He lit the cigarette, brought it to his lips, and inhaled deeply. The harsh smoke filled his lungs, burning like fire.
But somehow, it also felt strangely comforting, like coming home. He coughed slightly, then exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it dissipate, "Shit," he whispered, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of it all.
But he didn't have much time to process as he was once again plunged into the icy waters below.
"Goddamn it!" Chris cursed as he broke the surface once more, gasping for air, "Ugh fuck..."
His stomach hurt. Bad. And as he ran a hand over his abdomen, he froze. His abs... gone? He looked down, confirming what he was feeling- a soft paunch instead of his rock-hard abdominals. His chest felt different too, slightly hairier than usual. Hadn't he just shaved yesterday morning? Confusion swirled in his mind as he tried to rationalize the changes.
"Looks like someone's lettin' themselves go!" One of the locals jeered, pointing at Chris's now pudgy midsection. His buddies snickered in agreement, the sound grating on Chris's nerves.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Chris snapped, his voice laced with irritation. "I'm in peak condition, asshole."
"Yeah, sure ya are," another local chimed in, his words slurred from too many beers. "Peak condition for a lazy good ol' boy, maybe!"
The insults stung more than Chris cared to admit. He was used to being admired for his athletic physique, not ridiculed for it. But this wasn't him. Something was definitely off about his body.
The dunk tank operator seemed to read his mind, a knowing smirk playing across his weathered face. "Best get used to it, son."
Chris stared at the operator in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. Get used to what exactly? Before he could demand an explanation, the chair gave way once more, plunging him into the icy depths below.
"Fuckin' bullshit!" Chris exclaimed, as he came back up, his arms flailing in frustration. He could feel a hot flush of embarrassment spreading across his cheeks as he sputtered, spitting out water. He was done with this. Done with the jeering, the mockery, the bizarre changes to his body.
"I want the hell outta here, ya hear?" Chris demanded, turning to the dunk tank operator, "Ya better lemme outa here real quick-like or… or…" His words trailed off, "No, wait…"
"Or what, son?" The operator drawled, leaning back against the side of the tank, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Whatchu gonna do 'bout it?"
Chris opened his mouth to retort, but the words that came out sounded foreign to his own ears, "I… I ain't gonna take this no more, ya hear? This here's… this here's bullshit!" He cringed internally at the twang in his voice, the odd phrasing. What the hell was happening to him?
The operator just laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "Sounds like somebody's gettin' awful worked up. Might wanna settle down 'fore ya say somethin' yer gonna regret, y'hear?"
Chris clenched his fists, anger and confusion warring within him.
"I ain't settlin' fer nuthin'," Chris growled, his voice low and threatening. Or at least, it would've been threatening if it weren't for the pronounced Southern drawl that colored every word. "Now ya best git me outta here 'fore I…"
Before he could finish the threat, the chair gave way once more, sending him plummeting into the icy depths below. Chris crashed into the water with a splutter, his breath stolen by the force of the impact. When he finally surfaced, gasping for air, his whole body felt… different. He glanced down, horror dawning on his face as he saw the unmistakable signs of change—his once-taut, chiseled muscles had grown bulkier, but not in the way he wanted. His arms had certainly grown larger, swelling obscenely, now sporting an excess of hair and girth that would rival even the largest of the local farm boys.
"Wha… wha's happenin' to me?!"
He ran trembling fingers over his chest, feeling an unfamiliar layer of softness atop his pectoral muscles. His meaty hands traveled south, where he cautiously poked at his belly. There was a distinct, rounded curve to his lower belly now, a noticeable gut that jutted outward. He gasped as his fingers sunk into the pliable flesh of his gut.
"This ain't… this cain't be happenin'." Chris muttered, panic seizing his chest. "What the fuck's goin' on?"
His stomach gurgled, demanding sustenance, and suddenly all he could think about was sinking his teeth into a greasy double bacon cheeseburger, followed by a thick slice of apple pie, and finishing it off with a couple of beers. This new body had no cravings for his carefully planned out macros.
"Oh mah god." Tears stung at his eyes.
He stared into the water as his face broadened- his features aging and settling into a rougher, coarser look. His stubble had thickened too, blanketing his cheeks in the beginnings of a small beard. Finally, the weight of his situation started to sink in. Gone was the chiseled, sculpted physique he had prided himself on. In its place was the body of a stereotypical redneck - big, burly, and unkempt. The type of man he had always scoffed at- the type of man who lived in this town.
"Please… Please lemme outta here!" Chris pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice as he turned to the dunk tank operator. "I don't… I don't wanna do this no more!"
"Aww, but we're just gettin' started, ain't we?" he drawled, his tone mocking.
Chris felt a chill run down his spine at those ominous words. What else could possibly happen to him? He was already a far cry from the person he had been mere hours ago. As if in answer to his silent question, the chair beneath him gave way once more, plunging him back into the icy depths.
Chris burst forth from the water, his skin flushed and burning. As he wiped the droplets from his eyes, he caught sight of his arms—and froze. Intricate tattoos adorned his flesh, twisting and curling in elaborate designs. Skulls, snakes, and flames danced across his skin, the colors vivid and bold.
"No… No, this ain't right!" Chris cried out, his voice cracking with emotion. "These ain't mine! I ain't never had no tattoos!"
He frantically searched his body, only to find more of the same. His chest, his back, even his neck—they were all covered in the same garish ink.
"Please, I'm beggin' ya," Chris sobbed, his words heavy with desperation. "Is this 'cause of what I said? I didn't mean none of it, honest! It was stupid and I'm sorry, I'm so fuckin' sorry!"
Chris's mind raced with thoughts of his future—of going pro, of making a name for himself in the NFL. How could he do any of that now, looking like this? Like some backwoods hick instead of the promising young athlete he was meant to be?
"Nobody's gonna recognize me like this. I'll lose everythin' I worked for!" Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the tank water. The thought terrified him- his friends, family? Did he even want them to see him now? "I swear, I'll change. I'll do anythin', just please…"
The dunk tank operator's grin widened as he savored Chris's despair. "Ya know, we could just wipe that pretty lil' brain of yours clean. Make ya forget all about bein' some bigshot football star. Make ya just another dumbass redneck, content as a pig in shit." Chris whimpered, watching as the dunk tank operator casually tossed a baseball between his hands, "Just one more plunge."
"No… I'll do anythin'." The thought of totally losing himself made him sick.
He chuckled darkly, reveling in the power he held over the once-proud athlete. "But maybe… maybe we can work somethin' out. Ya seem like a reasonable fella, all things considered. So here's the deal…"
The dimly lit bar was filled with the raucous cheers and jeers of its patrons as they watched the football game playing on the mounted TVs.
"Didja see that play? That new quarterback just ain't cuttin' it no more!" Jed slurred, downing his beer in one gulp.
"Aw, quit yer bellyachin'!" his buddy replied, elbowing Jed in the ribs. "Least he ain't as bad as that pansy-ass pretty boy."
"That city boy who done thought he was too good for us?" Jed scratched his beard and belched loudly.
"That's the one! Chris Mason, or whatever his fancy pants name was." Another of the group chimed in, "Done dropped out. Serves 'em right."
Jed nodded sagely, a faraway look in his bloodshot eyes as memories surfaced, "Well, I reckon that boy learned his lesson real quick-like."
"Ah enough about that prick. Say Jed, whatchu doin' this weekend?" one of the men asked, taking a swig of his beer. "We was fixin' to head out to the lake for some fishin' and drinkin'. You oughta come along!"
Jed mulled it over for a moment, his mind sluggish from the alcohol. Fishing did sound mighty fine right about now. "Reckon I could stand to spend a day out on the water," he drawled, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Count me in, boys!"
The group erupted in whoops and hollers, raising their bottles in a toast. "To beer, fish, and good company!" one declared, and the others echoed the sentiment. Jed clinked his bottle against theirs.
As the group stumbled out of the bar, Jed's eyes locked onto a familiar figure loitering near the exit. The dunk tank operator. Curiosity piqued, he excused himself from his friends with a mumbled "Be right back, y'all."
Jed ambled over to the operator, swaying slightly on his feet. "Evenin' there, sir," he drawled, tipping his cap. "Can't help but notice you lookin' mighty pleased with yourself."
The operator's grin widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "Well, well, if it ain't my favorite customer from last week's festivities. Enjoyin' your new life, Jed?"
Chris scowled, crossing his burly arms, "It ain't exactly paradise, if ya catch my drift."
"Now, now, don't go complainin' to me. You made a deal, remember? Live as Jed, maybe one day you can go back to yer ol' life. Just gotta give this one a chance." His voice lowered to a menacing whisper. "But trust me, boy, I can make this here arrangement a whole lot more…permanent, if'n you keep gripein'."
Chris's blood ran cold at the threat, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. He knew all too well the power this man held over him. "N-no, sir, I ain't complainin' no more. Just…just feelin' mighty homesick is all."
The operator patted Chris's shoulder condescendingly. "Aw, you'll get used to it soon enough." He grinned, "Besides," the operator continued, his eyes gleaming with malicious amusement, "you're doin' just fine as Jed. Why, I heard tell of your grand plans for the weekend - fishin', drinkin', carryin' on like a proper redneck. Ain't that just what the doctor ordered?"
Chris couldn't argue with that. As much as he loathed to admit it, he had fallen into the role of Jed with a frightening ease. The beer, the camaraderie, the simple pleasures of a life far removed from his old one - it was becoming... comfortable. Terrifying, but comfortable nonetheless.
And as Chris lay in bed that night, in a body that was becoming increasingly more comfortable and familiar, with a new name increasingly becoming his own, he grappled with the unsettling realization that perhaps...he didn't want to go back. The aches in his muscles from a hard day's labor on the farm, the burn of whiskey on his tongue, the smell of tobacco clinging to his clothes, drivin' his pick-up while blastin' country music - it all felt so right, so natural. Was he really contemplating throwing away everything he had worked for, everything he thought he wanted?
"I reckon I am." Jed mumbled to himself, as sleep threatened to overtake him, "Ain't nothin' wrong with that, is there?"