Everett Man

Welcome to the case files of Everett Man, Private Supernatural Investigator known to get in a little too over his head.

[everettman]

Masterpost

Hi, thanks for reading my little stories. See below for a full list of Case Files (so far). Case File 001 - Spot Me

Case File 002 - Playin’ Cowboy

Case File 003 - It’s About Time

Case File Vignette - Bearly Super

[everettman]

Case File Vignette - Bearly Super

This side case is special collaboration with @superbear-chronicles. Be sure to head over there and read all the amazing adventures of Superbear. ________

Chapter 1

Skyscrapers towered outside the taxi. The metal and glass rose to dizzying heights as a thousand signs flashed this way and that. Along the street was a cavalcade of cars, bikes, and buses. Motorcycles and scooters zipped between the cars in dangerous turns. An even heavier mob of people darted this way and that on concrete sidewalks. Only the local hot dog sellers stood firm as islands in a sea of people. I absentmindedly fiddled with my bag. This was the largest city I had ever been in. After Jamie and I had broken up, I realized that I had never traveled further than a few states over. This was my first time traveling to a large city. THE big city, and now I was here.

The taxi lazily chugged through traffic before finally landing at the intake of the hotel with marble columns and green rounded planter beds.  I entered through the large golden turnstiles and left the gas fumes behind to be greeted by a perfumed lobby. Flowers and decorative rugs abounded and a cheerful face at the front desk got me set up and on my way up the elevator to the sixth floor.

Walking into the hotel room was disappointing. I sighed as I saw the cramped room stuffed with a bed, a small cabinet that hosted a TV and a bathroom that really was miscategorized as a toilet with a door. However, when I opened the heavy drapes to let some light in; the magnificent view stretched out revealing the city to me. I gasped and quickly took out my phone to take a picture.

“Take a look at the view! Better than anything back home!” I typed away a caption before sending it. A moment later my phone vibrated and I saw the profile picture of a blond man doing a duck face. It was Jamie’s private line.

“Eh, I've seen better.” Jamie responded with a winky face. I chuckled and sat down on the small bed.

“How has the body been?” I asked.

“Hey! he’s got a name remember, we aren’t objectifying him unless it benefits me. Ryan’s been doing better. I’ve been pulling double duty convincing him to go to all the bars in town while also making sure he doesn’t make a fool of himself when we are there. It’s tiring but he’s come a long way since I hitched a ride in him.”

“I’m glad it’s working out. Say hi from me, well I guess just leave it in his subconscious or something that someone is thinking about him. Oh that’s kind of creepy. Eh, he’ll be fine.”

“Pfft, you think that’s how it works? I can’t just make his mind do anything.” Jamie said.

“Yet you can have a completely separate chat on his phone that he mysteriously is unable to notice?” “Oh I’m good for sure, just not that good. Anyway have fun, make out with someone while you are there please. I’d say it more sexily but I’m honestly too tired to make it risque so do that part yourself.”

“Haha, sounds good. See you soon.” I set my phone down and stared out the window. The sun was beginning to set and the long golden light was dancing searingly on the windows across the street. In the back of my mind came a thought, at first I thought it was Jamie till I remembered he wasn’t mentally there with me. It came from the same portion of my brain he liked to occupy. Something was telling me that I was in for something crazy here. I could hardly wait.

I started my day going through the busy streets and learning the fast paced flow of the city. Five blocks should have been a cakewalk but I found the short distance full of more adventure than anything I’d experienced back home. 

When I got to the art museum, it felt like days had passed. The sun was high and beat down on the concrete sidewalk as I climbed the steps outside. Thankful that I could relax for a moment, I paid for my ticket and joined the other tourists in a jaunt around the hallways. A perky tour guide was waving their flag around and talking loudly about what famous paintings could be seen in the various halls. In contrast a rather short and grumpy man who spoke in tight, sharp tones double stepped towards the guide. 

“Miss! Please read the various signs stating the rules of our museum. Notably I’d like to inform you of rule number THREE, ‘No shouting or excessive noise in the museum’!”

The tour guide traded a cordial smile at the man who in turn pierced his eyes through her soul.

“I’m sorry sir, you know how it is. Don’t know how to turn it off!” The tour guide laughed whimsically as the tour joined in. The small man stood steadfast and unflinching.

“Please see to it you follow the rules; else I will have you escorted off the premises.” He turned on his heels and strode away, leaving the tour guide stunned enough for her smile to falter slightly.

Deciding to break off from the group, I looked through a few Rembrandts and a George Braque with a collection of impressionist paintings when I turned a corner and saw something odd. My sense of direction had become mixed rounding the halls and I found myself looking at a back hallway that was for museum staff. That was when I saw the man. There, further down the hall, stood a beefy giant. Tall enough to have to bend down without saying anything of his width. The sheer volume this man took up cleared the air around him. He had a thick wild beard and wore a black ensemble. A pretty sight but nothing too out of the ordinary. That is, until I noticed the harness around his chest. The gleam from the silver circlet caught my eye and I gave the man a harder look. His black pants and shirt were leather with a matte shine that dimmed the harsh white lights that lined the hallway doors. His face, extremely handsome I’ll admit, but also set in a steady expression. 

Humans are terrible at keeping a poker face. One of the easiest ways to first spot if something is escaping the realms of the ordinary is to find what simple facial cues are not happening. The way an eyebrow twitches or eyes that dart to the nearest shiny object. How we move our bodies around obstacles to ensure we don’t stub our toes are all unique yet sure fire ways to tell we all think from the same brains.

 I noted either this was not a man or that he simply did not have the ability to change his expression at will. A bored face I could believe, but not this. I give myself some credit but really the fact that the man was also firmly directing a smaller, blond, confused man down the hallway was another clue that something was amiss. My senses told me something was wrong with this whole picture and my extra sense was faintly telling me something beyond the ordinary was going down. The hallway all but thrummed with a strange energy.

 I checked around for any uptight museum staff and ducked down the hallway. For a bright and spacious museum, the back hallway was tight and winding. A dark paint coated the walls with harsh white fluorescent lights giving ample light.  Carts of equipment and a myriad of doors filled the space and made it hard to keep up with the man. After a minute I reached out to see if I could feel any residual energy. Sure I can sense supernatural energy but I’m bad at pinpointing it. At best I can feel the energy similar to a strong odor that seems to seep from everywhere at once. I stopped and closed my eyes, focusing on anything that might lead me in the right direction. The faint buzz still remained. Suddenly it grew louder. I could feel the energy building. Shoot! Was he coming back this way? I turned to make a hasty retreat back up the hallway when the door closest to me burst open, letting in a barrage of wind. 

Standing in the doorway was a man. Tall and hefty with a face that betrayed one's age by having a youthful glow adorned with a sizable beard that led into a short haircut of reddish brown hair. I’ll admit the man was attractive but what caught my attention was what was under his face. A Blue and red spandex suit followed the curves of his wide shoulders and burly chest that rose and sank gently with his breath. A paw print emblem was set on his chest. Red accents wrapped his wrists where his large hands squeezed through. A cape blew gently in the wind as he entered. I was staring directly at a superhero.

His eyes had a determined look as he scanned around the hallway. For a moment, he looked past me, focused his gaze on the doors of the hallway. I fell back into an equipment cart and yelped as my back smacked an empty display case. He turned and looked at me and his heroic demeanor melted into an awkward stumble.

“Oh I didn’t see you there, sorry to startle you.” The superhero bent down and offered me a hand.

“What, is there a cosplay exhibit at this museum?” I grabbed his hand and was hoisted up to stand in an effortless pull..

“Sorry again, but I’m in the middle of trying to find someone.” The hero resumed his focused search of the hallway.

“Yeah same, someone tall, dark and handsome with a knack for leather just came through here. Is he dressing up as the villain or something?” I rubbed my back and looked down the deserted hallway.

The hero gave me a curious look. “Actually yes, someone matching that description is who I’m looking for. Any idea which way he went?”

“I saw him come down this hallway but I lost the trail around here, I couldn’t sense anything around here anyway.” It was at this point that I realized that Mr. Super was staring beyond the walls in the corridor. He wasn’t looking at the doors, he was trying to feel through them. I felt even more the fool for coming down the hallway in the first place.

“So does this hero have X-ray vision or something? you are really focused there.” I said.

The hero grinned. “Oh sorry, this…man and myself share a special bond that I can sense. It’s hard to explain.” He smiled.

“Oh I think I know what you mean, like a buzzing or pulling towards them?” I thought briefly of Jamie and how I could always sense when he was close. “Something like that.” The bear held out an oversized hand. “The name’s Superbear.” He said brightly, Cheeks crinkling in warm waves.

“Uh, Everett. Nice to meet you.” I took his hand and felt a deep warmth inside like a small bear hug.

I felt a slight surge in the supernatural and turned my head down the hall. Simultaneously, Superbear had done the same. I noted that he really was able to feel the same connections like I could.

“I’ll see you around Everett, right now I have something to take care of.” Superbear said as he set off with a determined step.

I stood where I was, unsure what to do. Realizing I was a bit out of my depth I slipped back up the hallway to return to the museum. That’s when I ran face to face with a certain short man. “What are you doing back here! This is for museum staff only!” He squealed. His foot tapped faster than a rabbit.

“Oh sorry, I was just looking for the bathroom. I could have sworn I saw a sign pointing this way!” I feigned. It was everything I could to hold my expression as the man’s face turned five shades more red. He then took a long and calculated breath.

“Please return to the museum, I am too busy trying to track down a missing museum staff who is slacking off his post to deal with you.” The man said. I quickly stepped in front of him as he tried to walk past.

“A missing person? I believe I saw someone in a museum uniform down this very hallway with a non-affiliated companion. As luck would have it I’m available to take on the case!” I quickly pulled my business card from my leather bag and handed it to the confused man. As he began to read it I made sure to tap the small text that read ‘for a fee’ under ‘Professional Detective’. Hey, what can I say? always got to be on that grind even on vacation.

The man’s face contorted, somewhere between pure rage and desperation. “Very well! I haven’t got the time to be tracking down slacking employees. Get him back here pronto!” The man turned back and headed through the museum, loudly telling a woman not to take pictures of the artwork. I chuckled as the woman all but leapt out of her skin, dropping the camera with a loud crash.

I sighed and did my best to hide a big smile at booking a case so quickly. It definitely was a new record for me. I followed the trail through the cramped hallway once more. I had the fleeting thought of ducks in a line. In order to find our missing employee I had to find the man in the harness, and if I was going to find him I’d need to find Superbear. The real question was how do you find a superhero in the modern day? Put out the bat signal?

Chapter 2

I stumbled out into the daylight and cursed to myself. It had taken an hour to check every door in the back of the museum and the trio were not in a single one. The final door led to the rear fire escape of the building where I could see loading docks and a skeleton crew bringing equipment into the building. If the missing man had left the building the only clear direction he could have gone was down to the lake or more likely blended into the staff. I looked over at the trucks parked next to the building and approached the nearest one. I kept low so the driver and loading crews wouldn’t see me. The first truck was boxy and orange. I pressed my back against the side of the trailer and tried to sense anything. The metal was cold on my back but nothing came to me. I circled to a gray long truck with tarps with similar results. Finally, I came to the final truck. A tall sturdy trailer that was painted matte black. Before I even touched the trailer I could sense something was inside.

“Alright time to find out what’s inside curtain number 3!” I thought to myself. I checked the back door of the trailer but found a sizable lock. I listened closely and thought I heard a deep breath from inside the trailer. Before I could react there was a scuff of footsteps as a couple men approached. I ducked down and crept towards the driver side door, hoping there was a key stashed in the cab somewhere. I was lucky that the door was unlocked and I quickly slid  into the driver’s seat. That was when my luck ran out and the passenger door opened to reveal a very confused truck driver staring up at me.

“Hey! Get out of there!” He yelled.

I put my hands up in surrender, that was before the whole truck lifted up off the ground. I grabbed the steering wheel out of habit and matched the driver’s scream as he ran away. I held on for dear life, knuckles white and instinctively putting my seat belt on for better or worse. I checked for oxygen masks as well before realizing I was in a delivery truck and not an airliner. looking out the windshield to find the view of the lake became more majestic and terrifying as the truck soared over to an abandoned parking lot on the other side. When the wheels gently landed on the cracked asphalt, I fumbled with the seatbelt and stumbled out of the truck. I slinked away from the vehicle just as it was beginning to shake. I circled around back to find a certain bear themed superhero examining the back door.

“What are you doing here?” My shaking voice stammered.

Superbear looked at me confused. He glanced at the driver’s door still ajar and put two and two together. 

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were in there!” He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yeah well, whatever that was, I'm getting out of here. I don’t know how-” My words were cut short as with a simple tug, Superbear cranked open the back door, the lock falling in pieces at his feet. He looked inside the trailer and frowned.

“I thought they’d be in here.” He sighed.

I picked up the lock from the ground. The sharp metal twisted and jagged but unmistakingly heavy in my hand. I refused to believe what I was seeing. Here was a man who must have been an actor of some kind. I must have stumbled onto a movie set! I looked around for a crane that could lift a delivery truck over a lake and saw nothing but peaceful clouds floating lazily across the horizon.

“So how  did you do this?” I gestured to the lock. Is it a soft metal that breaks with the right leverage?”

Superbear stared at me. “What do you mean?”

“The door was locked on the other side of the lake and yet you just tore it off like it was nothing! How did you do that?”

“Well, I’m a superhero…” He said plainly. 

“Yeah I get that you are a cosplayer or an actor or something but how…” 

A man appeared from the side. Moving fast enough to close in mid sentence to land a punch squarely on Superbear's jaw. With a grunt and tumble Superbear crashed into the back of the truck and dented the far wall. Eyes wide, I turned to the attacker and flinched as he moved towards me. The man towered above me. With black leather pants ,a dark shirt, and a harness that curved around his chiseled physique, I recognized him as the man I’d seen earlier in the hallway. He had a light beard and enough muscle to be a Mr. Olympian or two..

As always when approached when danger I let my mouth run as much as my legs. “Sorry man, I think I’ve stumbled into your movie set. How about I just get out of the shot of wherever the camera is and you can keep up this incredibly realistic fight scene.” I scrambled.

The man was calm, stonefaced and stared at me emotionless. His hands moved with deliberate energy. One hand reached behind and grasped the back of my neck, keeping me in place. The other hand reached behind him and pulled out a black harness that matched his own.

“Oh hey, are you showing me your collection or something? I don’t really think that would match my outfit.”

The harness was steadily put to my chest. I immediately could sense something was wrong. From within the harness I felt a cold but persistent energy, one that flowed out quickly through my clothes and seeped into my skin. I groaned and tried to shake my way out of the man’s grip but he held steadfast. I reached out with my sense and realized the man was glowing with energy that matched the same energy that was now being focused through the harness and was quickly overtaking me. My chest was the first to expand, absorbing energy and turning it into muscle that expanded my chest and flowed out. My arms were changing, strengthening and thickening at the same time. 

I quickly began to remember the sensations of when I was changed into a meathead on a previous case. This felt different. I could sense the strength and power from the transformation but I also felt a girth and fattening that was absent before. I was thickening up as my belly softened and my arms and legs packed on fat along with the muscle. The feeling of my body expanding and weighing down began to overwhelm me. That’s when it began, I could feel a deeper energy flowing in that went up through my spine and began to seep into my brain. I expected a rush of energy and overpowering nature. Instead I felt a calm yet strong power push my thoughts aside, I quickly lost fear and any desire to move. Any thoughts that came to the surface were quickly covered in a cool blanket of ease and sank back down. I could feel my mind open and become receptive to the energy as it quickly took hold of the place. My mind fought back as best it could but I felt like I was stuck in jello as more of me slipped under the surface. Faintly I could hear something move, I knew I could see and hear it if I could only focus for one moment. There was a slight burst of consciousness as the man and harness were quickly removed from me and the mental clarity gave me just enough time to see Superbear grab onto me. 

“Hey! Hey Everett, snap out of it!” He yelled.

“What? I…I’m fine.”

“Stay with me, don’t let that harness control you.”

“It feels calm.”

Superbear looked concerned but I couldn’t put my thoughts together to figure out why. 

“I’m not losing you. I’ve never done this before, but I’m going to try to save you.” Superbear said as he stepped back and began to faintly glow.

What an odd thing to say. I didn’t need saving; I was right where I wanted to be. Even odder was the feeling as Superbear wrapped his strong arms around mine and began to squeeze. Yet again I felt an energy move in. My brain began to light up as the two energies flowed and crashed through my consciousness. Everything grew to a crescendo of light and sound that blocked out all my senses and I fell back into the embrace. I floated for some time, neither controlled nor thinking on my own.

I woke up looking up at the blue sky. Distant clouds stretched and folded into one another, streaking the sky in white dollops. I felt like a million dollars. I must have woken up from a nap but it felt like when you wake up energized five minutes before your alarm goes off. I sat up slowly and pulled in a strong breath of fresh air. A slight whimper came from the side. I turned to see a scrawny looking guy in a blue button up shirt that hung loosely on his frame and skinny jeans that on him felt more straight than constricting. He was laid out on the ground same as I with muffled breaths coming in between his dreams. Faintly I could hear him murmur ‘Nick’ over and over. He pitched this way and that, clearly not having the best of time. I reached a hand out to steady the guy and paused as I took in my arm. I was conscious enough during the transformation to notice the strong arms and bit of hair growing through but the neon blue and red spandex suit was a surprise. I looked down to see a similar pattern on boots that straddled my feet and pants that hugged my thick thighs. I tried to see my chest but found the large beard in the way a hassle. Was it more red than usual or was it just the brightness of the suit? I carefully stood up and wobbled at the new mass that grounded me firmly but made movement clumsy. I twirled in place to try to glimpse the cape on my back when I noticed my reflection in a puddle. Typically when I’d been involved in a transformation of any kind I could sense myself in my reflection, no matter how distorted I looked. This time however the face staring back at me was someone else’s completely. If I didn’t know any better I’d say I looked just like-.

There was a groan below me. I was so swept up in myself I forgot the man. I reached down a hand as he came to.

Chapter 3

The man slowly turned over as he blinked awake. I realized I may startle him so I tried to stand back a bit. Still, his eyes widened and his face paled as he scrambled up on wobbly legs. “What! No, no what happened to me? What happened to you!” He screamed.

“Calm down, I know this is weird but I fortunately have some experience in situations like this.” I said.

The air in the abandoned parking lot was thick as crickets chirped from the far off trees. I motioned to the truck and the man begrudgingly walked towards it. I looked away as he struggled to get a good grip to haul himself into the back and sit down. Once he was settled, I continued. “I have a special connection to the supernatural that can have some adverse effects on people, especially when they already exhibit certain levels of energy containment and disbursement. I believe that having our two cases in such close quarters caused a reversal with the energy that connected through me being rerouted back through the source but unintentionally pulling my psyche with it. That plus the nature of the mixed signal would cause a large portion of energy to entangle within myself, stripping that essence from you.”

The man stared at me with a thousand yard stare.

“Well it’s only a theory. I'd be happy to hear one of yours.” I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest, unintentionally in a powerstance that overshadowed the smaller man. He gave a sour expression and looked away. I sighed deeply and felt like a dad for a moment dealing with an unruly teen. “Let’s start with names.” I said. “I’m Everett.” I reached down a hand as a gesture of good will.

“I’m Superbear, I mean, Mike.” He said as he shook my hand.. “Hi Mike, nice to meet you. Now how am I a superhero?!?” I said.

Mike thought to himself as he cupped his chin with a hand. “That harness he used on you, it’s connected to someone I’ve been trying to track down. When he put it on you it started to take over. I had to act fast or you would have ended up just like him. You know, power estrangement or whatever you said.”

“Entanglement.” I corrected with a grit. Mike continued on ignoring me. “You'd have been a perfect soldier without a desire to disobey. I’ve seen it happen many times with my own eyes. When I saw it touch you, I panicked. I tried to overpower the change on you by, well, by changing you myself. “Your superpower is to transform men?” I asked. “I have the ability to transform men into more than they were before, to expand them into something bigger, something greater.”

“Something more, bear?” I added.

“Well, yeah. I can’t help it if your full potential happens to be the best looking version of yourself.” Mike said. A faint smile touched the edge of his mouth as he looked me over. I realized he was checking me out. Well more accurately he was checking himself out. Either way I blushed and pushed on.

“Alright, let me get this straight. The bad guy was trying to convert me with a one-way ticket zombie soldier routine and you stepped in and tried to change me into a bear. That, mixed with my connection to the supernatural probably threw everything out of whack and we ended up like this.”

Mike tapped his foot impatiently on the truck and kept adjusting his shirt absentmindedly. 

“Yeah that’s about it.  Honestly, I hate being this small and helpless.” “I’m honestly confused about that part. I appear to have bodyswapped with you and yet you don’t seem to be inhabiting my body? Honestly I don’t know whose it is.” I said. “Oh this is me, well before I became Superbear. It feels so foreign and yet this is how I used to be. I thought I was past this when I drank that coffee and became Superbear.”

“Wait, you became this…” I gestured down at my physique, “By drinking coffee?”

“Well it was special coffee from a daddy bear… Look it doesn’t matter, we need to figure out how to reverse this so I can stop those harnessed men.” “What were they trying to do? Kidnap Daddy Bear?” I mocked.

“No!” Mike glared at me. If he was his usual superhero self it may have been intimidating, right now it just looked cute. “I’ve been tracking their operations . Typically they stay in the same area, recruiting and changing those close to their base. They like to use nightclubs and dark alleys mostly. Then a month ago I noticed they had expanded into a more mobile unit. Some of the harnessed men had acquired a truck and were headed out of the city. I followed them and ended up on a roadtrip till they settled here.”

“Maybe they just wanted to site-see.”

“I wish. They were setting up a mini-base in the heart of the city and using these moving vans to transport men they’d changed in and out without drawing too much attention to themselves. Once a truck is full, they can send reinforcements back home. That’s why I’m here, to stop them before they end up spreading like a virus.”

“Sorry but I don’t see how you are going to be able to do that looking like that.” I said.

Mike tilted his head slightly and took a deep breath.

“You are right,” he said. “Right now I can’t. But I know someone who can.”

Chapter 4

“Hey, would you mind not doing that?”

I slowly removed my groping hands from my pecs and set them gently in my lap. I coughed lightly and feigned confusion.

“Sorry, this must be really uncomfortable for you.” I looked away and tried my best not to notice Mike’s pants.

Mike adjusted in his seat a few times. I noted that he was fiddling more with his clothes. He’d been messing with them the whole way as we snuck back to my apartment. Mike or “Superbear” had flown in and didn’t have a place to stay. I now sat on the same hotel bed I had arrived at hours before, a hundred pounds heavier and a whole lot more super. Mike sat in the small chair next to the desk. You could tell he was used to taking up more space. His stance showed his legs wide and head high even though he could probably have fit into a thimble if I pushed hard enough.

“It just doesn’t feel right?” Mike said quietly.

“Tell me about it, suddenly being in a different body is a weird experience.” I tried to reason.

“No, it’s not that. It’s …” Mike stood up and walked around the hotel room slowly and gazed out the window. His eyes unfocused as he looked more at his own reflection than the bustling city beneath. “This is what I used to look like.”

“Oh.” Was all I could get out.

 Mike gestured towards me.“See before I was Superbear. I was just like this. Small, scrawny, weak…helpless. Then something amazing happened and I suddenly felt like I was who I was supposed to be. I ‘fit’ into my body instead of just being trapped in it.” Mike looked downcast and sighed.

“That must have been crazy, waking up like this one day, you know, after being bitten by a radioactive spider’s cup of coffee.”

Mike pushed past me and headed for the door. “Nevermind, let’s just get to the roof. We have training to do.” 

I tried my best to dodge the venom in his voice as I followed him out into the hallway and up the stairs.

The door to the roof was fixed with a padlock. Mike looked at me expectantly. “Well, go on.”

“Oh sure, you want me to?” I hesitated.

“Look, if you are going to be a superhero you can’t be timid. We don’t have time for this.” Mike said impatiently.

“Alright! Alright, fine.” I squeezed past Mike, pressing him awkwardly into the handrail as I reached out for the door and cupped the padlock in my hands. The thing looked tiny and I was surprised that it felt like chalk as with barely any pressure I snapped it clean off. With a gentle push the door swung open and we were outside on the bright sunny day.

The rooftop thankfully was empty. A few rooftop units and a spare lawn chair sat abandoned by some longlost  repair man. I blinked as the bright sun beat down on the white roof and let my eyes adjust to see the far reaches of the city. Either it was some superhuman sight ability or maybe just being in the body of someone without glasses. The sheer edge of the building pushed against the rational part of my brain and I took a step back from the edge.

“I have to admit I’m having second thoughts about this.” I said with a gulp.

“Once you see how fun flying is you will be jumping off roofs like a natural.” Mike instructed as he stood a foot from the edge. He motioned for me to come closer.

“So what do we do first?” I asked

“You stretch, you look so stiff right now. How are you going to fly if you already look like a rock?” Mike chuckled.

I shook out my arms and hopped on my toes for a moment. A rock was a good description for how I felt. I was bigger, heavier, and this suit was giving me a wedgie.”

“Alright then how do I fly? To infinity….yadda yadda yadda?”

Mike walked over and grabbed my arm, settling my legs. I hadn’t realized I was still hopping.

“All power comes from inside. If you are going to use it, you have to tap deep into yourself.”

I closed my eyes and tried to find my core, I focused on the deep breaths Superbear’s lungs could hold and the beating heart within. I tried searching deeper and felt that familiar energy. I focused the energy down and felt it push me up as it was released downwards. I opened my eyes to Mike smiling at me, looking even shorter than before. I was floating a foot off the ground.

“Woah, this is fun!” I said flying around slowly, still terrified to go too close to the edge.

“Feels like you're dreaming right!” Mike laughed.

I took my time and tried a few positions beforeI settling into a steady floating forward dive and looked at Mike expectantly. He stood facing away, posture suddenly serious.

“Uh Mike? You ok there?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just that seeing you get so excited reminded me of someone. Someone I’m trying to find.”

I settled down to the ground and steadied myself. “You seem like you really miss them. You ok?”

“I’ll be fine, it’s just sometimes it’s like I can feel him.” Mike took a step, eyes closed

A sudden warmth filled my chest. “Woah, what are you doing?”

“Just hang on, I’m trying something. I just want to see if I can sense him.”

The warmth spread through my body and tears dotted the corners of my eyes. I could feel the connection Mike was trying to connect to. Superbear’s body was still connected somehow. A deep protective yearning for someone I had never met.

“I can do this.” Mike grunted in effort. “I can find him.”

The feeling overcame me and I gave in to this body's emotion. I grabbed Mike and brought him in for a bear hug. He gasped slightly as my arms wrapped around and squeezed firmly. We stood that way for a long moment. The wind gently rustling my cape. I let the feeling overtake me. This connection was so different from what I had felt with Jamie and yet he came to my mind. “Are you crying?” I heard a voice call from between my pecs.

I let go and tried my best to reposition Mike back to a standing position. “Nah, it’s nothing.” I lied.

Mike stared at me until I felt my cheeks burn. “It’s hard when you can’t be with someone. I know the feeling.”

“Mine’s moved on, it was for the best.” My eyes stung.

Mike mulled this over for a minute. I interrupted his thought before he could shower any more wisdom on my situation.

“Let’s get this figured out. We both have people to get back to.”

Chapter 5

My macho charisma got me to the rooftop edge. Then my upside down stomach took over and let my quivering knees knock.

“I don’t get it. This body has done this before. Why can’t I fly?” I grumbled.

I felt Mike’s body wrap around my neck from behind. 

“I told you we were done with the hugging.” I stated.

“The body knows how to fly, but fear is in your mind. You can do this.” Mike reassured me.

“Ugh ok, let go.” “No, I’m going with you.”

“Going with me? You don’t have powers right now.”

“And you don’t know how to fly. Face it, we need each other.” Mike countered.

“FINE! just don’t blame me if we both end up flat on the pavement. “You aren’t going to drop me.” 

“The day is young. Here we go!”

I ran to the edge and pushed off before my mind had a chance to back down. The safety of the roof fell behind me and I felt the air give way as I started to fall. Mike’s arms wrapped tight. Not in fear, he held on fast in a way that showed that he was there. That I wasn’t alone.

The air whizzed by. The rushing ground that was flying up at us was now a blurry river of street as we zoomed above. I was flying! I let the scream I hadn’t noticed come from my lips dissolve into a hearty laugh as I felt my body move and adjust as I sped through the tight streets and dodged every manner of wall, rooftop, and sign. I launched up high over the buildings and let the sun hit me full force as I levitated over the city. Heavy breath came from me as I yelled in triumph. It was then that I remembered my passenger. With a careful swing of my arm I carried Mike over and held him as I laughed deeply. 

“This is amazing!” I screamed.

Mike appeared a little green in the face. “Yeah it’s great, I just remembered how motion sick I got before.”

I carefully navigated back to the rooftop and gently set Mike down. He caught his breath and smiled up at me. 

“That was fun.”

“That was amazing! You get to do that all the time?”

“Well, I used to.” Mike shrugged.

I did my best to get things off the topic.

“God I’m going to need a change of clothes or something, there’s no way I’m going to fit into any of my clothes before and walking around in this spandex number is going to turn too many heads. Did you have a stash of clothes previously?”

Mike looked me up and down. “Actually, the suit manifests with the power. Here, try something for me.” Mike held my hand up in his and took a deep breath, instructing me to do the same. My burly hands dwarfed his but I kept pace. “Feel the energy flowing through you and out, flow with it and bring that energy back into you. Calm yourself and let everything that’s pouring out come back.”

“Yes Jedi master.” I smiled.

I steadied my breath and closed my eyes. With time I could feel immense power flowing through Superbear’s body. I imagined them as tendrils of light that ebbed with my breath and cascaded out from my core. As I focused on this area and relaxed, the offshooting energy began to circle back in on itself. The energy collapsed into a black hole, pulling everything into a tight package. There was still power pulsing and forming but it felt asleep and contained. “Hey I think it worked!” I stared at my hands. They were back at their normal size, Mike’s hands had flipped and were massive holding onto mine. I followed the trail of Mike’s burly arms up to his surprised face. There no longer was the twink with the patchy beard and sunken cheeks. But a bear of a man. Mike let go of my hands and patted his beard and chest.

“It worked! I don’t know how but It worked! I’m back to being me!”

Before I could process that my body had shifted back to normal, Mike brought me in for a bear hug. I gasped lightly as his returned strength pushed the air from my lungs. “So that’s…what that feels like” I muttered. “Alright get off!” I pushed Mike away and he soared through the air before crashing down and tumbling into a rooftop vent.

“Oh my god, are you ok?” I said as I ran to Mike.

Mike stood up wobbly and cracked his neck. He looked at his large hands and turned his head in confusion. Grabbing low on the vent, Mike pulled up with all of his might but the thing wouldn’t budge.

“You still have Superbear’s power.” Mike said, dismayed. “Wait, what about Superbear?” 

“We will have to see, but maybe it’s best to just wait and-”

Mike closed his eyes and for a moment his body lit up like a firework. The same energy I had just controlled burst out of him. Before I could even finish my sentence I felt a sudden burst of energy within me. When my eyes adjusted to the light. I stood back in the body of Superbear looking down at Mike in his twink form.

“Sorry bud, but I think we are far from recovered.” I said.

“Figures,” Mike said with disdain. “I can be back in my body but only when it doesn’t count, as soon as someone needs help I’m back to this useless size.”

It took me a moment to collect myself and transform back.

“If I still have power while looking like myself then we can stay like this. You are back to yourself and we can figure out the Superbear portion as we go.”

Mike rubbed his shoulder. His large hand massaging and feeling his frame and size.

“You really think it would work to have a flying librarian?” He said more defeated than insulting.

“That is a good point.” I conceded. “Plus I don’t think I could hop off a rooftop looking like this. I think looking like a superhero helped my brain overlook the insanity of it all.”

Mike looked more dejected than ever. I felt bad for the guy. It was hard enough not being in your own body. Trust me I know. Mike had lost both his identity and his secret identity in one day. No matter how weird this got I wanted to follow through, for Mike’s sake.

“The fact that we are still changing back and forth means that the transformation must be unstable or still sorting itself out.” I pondered.

Mike looked at me befuddled.

“You sound like you know a lot about this for a guy who thought I was just a cosplayer.”

“Touche, but I’ve had my fair share of transformations and bodyswaps to get a feel for what’s going on at least. My work tends to lean into those areas and other unexplainable shifts.”

“Really? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen, or I guess experienced?”

“There was one case where I was transformed into someone’s underwear for a week.” I said after some thought. ‘Weird’ is subjective.

Mike shifted as he stood, I assume noticing the pull of his underwear across his nether regions more than a moment ago. I knew the feeling. Since that case I hadn’t worn underwear the same.

“Alright, we don’t have time to sit around and wait for this to fix itself. Those harnessed men are still going along with their plan and we have to stop them.” Mike said determined.

“We? I know I had my first flying lesson but I’m definitely more of a lover not a fighter.” I replied.

“Yes ‘WE’, because we are in this for better or worse at the moment. Might as well make use of it.”

Chapter 6

The harnessed men were easy to find now that I knew to look for muscular or enormous men with harnesses on with a penchant for black leather shirts. We found a group with three moving vans behind the old theater district. I wanted to stay and read up on the history of the place but Mike was in a hurry for some reason. Some people just don’t appreciate good architecture.

“Alright, looks like this is where they regrouped after we interrupted their little get together by the lake. Mike said.

“Woah!” I exclaimed.

“What, did you find something?”

“No, this plaque says that this block contains more theaters than any other city in the world.” I said.

Mike gave me an unamused look and put the train back on the tracks.

“They’ve closed the three trunk doors, likely with another group of guys or harnesses in each truck.”

The trucks rumbled to life and began to move towards the alley exit that was the only way in or out of the small square. Mike jumped up and began to run after them.

“Wait! Mike!” I yelled. I did my best to catch up.

“If they get out of the square they’ll split up and we’ll never be able to track all three. Go stop them.” Mike called back.

I burst into a rainbow light and felt my legs stretch as I ran. I looked down to confirm I was really a superhero again before I did something really stupid. With a shake I let loose the rational part of my brain that was telling me the multiple dangers of large motor vehicles and how fragile the human body was. With that out of the way, I crouched down and leapt up over the square. Windows of the nearby buildings blurred as I ascended up and streaked as I crashed down at the alley entrance. I barely had time to twist and shove my hands down on the hood of the first truck speeding towards the small exit. My hands grasped the hood and the metal began to buckle as the momentum of the truck warped the metal and engine of the vehicle around my arms. The back of the truck lifted off the ground slightly as I held the truck in place before it crashed down, bouncing on the tires. The other two trucks veered in time to prevent a pileup. 

I laughed triumphantly before pulling my arms free of the twisted metal stump that used to be the engine. Looking up, I expected the frown of a thwarted henchman. Instead, that cold stare made it seem like I was little more than an inconvenience. He opened the door and thumped to the ground. Two other similar statured men hopped out of the other trucks and began their approach to me.

“Uh oh.” was all I had time to say before the closest man screeched towards me and threw a decent punch. Thankfully I stepped back just in time to miss the blow. I was unfortunately not able to dodge the kick from behind as one of his friends snuck up behind me. I fell to the ground with a thud and rolled to the side nearly avoiding a fist that came crashing down where my face was a moment before. The cobblestones smashed to pieces as bits trickled over my face. I skirted around the three and kept my distance.

“Mike! What do I do here? I don’t know how to fight!” I screamed. With three against one it was everything I could do to keep a few steps between my attackers.

“Don’t think, just move!” I heard Mike’s voice call as he ran to keep up.

I fought off my brain. Everett didn’t know how to fight these people. Everett didn’t even know what time his flight home was. Everett realized he had missed his flight. Everett needed to shut up. Superbear knew how to handle this.

I jumped back and pressed my feet against the nearby brick wall. Crouching into a ball as tight as I could and shooting off like a rocket into the nearest goon. He sailed back and crashed into goon number two, both rolling to the floor. I raised a fist in victory when the square filled with stars for a moment as I vaguely became aware of a boot making contact with the back of my head. The ground hit as hard as the shoe and I struggled to press up to my hands and knees.

“Everett!” Mike yelled from the nearest car. I blinked up and saw the two goons get back to their feet. The two joined their final musketeer and they all closed in ready to finish the job. Worst first day of being a superhero ever.

 I needed help. I needed Mike. I blinked up and while superbear took a breather I let Everett the brain do some quick math. Superbear plus three powerful harnessed men equaled failure. Mike plus sizable truck times ramming into men equals hurting lots.

“Mike!” I called out. “I need help! Get the truck.” 

It figures that he didn’t hear me. Instead of running in the direction of the truck he ran straight for the closest man. With a warrior cry reserved for small birds, Mike launched himself with a low flying kick at the goons exposed back. Without breaking a sweat or a real emotion the harnessed man simply turned and grabbed Mike, slamming him onto the ground. Mike wheezed as the breath evacuated his lungs.

A sudden clarity came to me. I could see the rise and fall of Mike’s chest, I could hear the squeak of leather from the three men, I could smell the restaurant outside the square. All my senses opened up at once before honing in on Mike. He was helpless, hurting. Damn it, he had put himself into this position. Why had he thought he could take on these guys in his current state? I watched as a harness was produced and held up over Mike. The clarity became fury. Heat radiated from my skin, I pressed a firm hand into the ground and pushed myself up onto one knee.

“Hey!” I barked, catching the three men’s attention. “Leave him alone!” I dug into the baritone of Superbear’s voice and thrust out the command. The men held their blank emotion but their eyes stayed fixated on me. “No one touches him.”

The nearest soldier got one step towards me before I closed the distance. I grabbed around him hard in the tightest hug I possibly could and spun. He grunted as the spin pulled at him where my arms did not restrict. With a well timed throw, I let his body fly out and careen into the harnessed man standing above Mike. The two crashed back and smacked into the truck. The slumped forward heads indicated they would be out for the count. Mike caught his breath and ran towards them. Great, NOW he goes for the truck, I thought. I turned my attention to the final goon. For his credit he threw a solid punch that I caught in my hand.

“I said, no one touches him.”

Chapter 7

I’d never done an uppercut. To be fair, most of the moves I’d pulled out today I hadn’t performed before. The uppercut felt the most satisfying as I watched the floating body of the final man sail weightless through the air and crash down next to his comrades. Mike, having reached the truck, pulled out a few harnesses and tied the men quickly in place. 

“There, that should hold them. You had me worried for a second there when they smacked-”

I cut Mike’s words off as I wrapped him in a hug. He pushed off my chest and looked up at me in shock.

“I…I was so worried about you.” I said through teary eyes.”If they had gotten you I don’t know what I would do.”

“Everett, it’s ok. Put me down.” Mike pleaded.

I pushed past my resistance and let Mike slide back to the ground.

“It’s ok, I’ve got this. I’m just going to get a few more harnesses to make sure these three aren’t going anywhere.” Mike rounded the corner and I felt a tug of worry when he slipped out of view. I hated how attached I felt to him when really we barely knew each other. I’d chalk it up to just some deep psychological need for human connection after a breakup but I could tell there was something else at play. Moments later he returned with another pair of harnesses. My relief was immense, more than I’d like to admit. I turned away blushing, trying not to show how upset I was.

Mike set about ensuring the three men were tied up and I carried each man into the back of the truck. We opened the other two trailers and collected all the harnesses we could find. The final truck contained a myriad of people, dazed and possibly drugged; they stood lethargic and unresponsive. We helped them out of the trailer and more or less sent them out of the alley and towards the center of town. The further they got the more confused and responsive they became. 

As one particular man passed by I noted the uniform he was wearing, it reminded me of a certain uptight museum staff. I grabbed him and shook him slightly to try to get him to come to his senses. “Hey, when you go to work tomorrow. Tell your boss that EVERETT MAN  found you, ok? It’s very important that you remember.”

The man stared at me with crossed eyes before he stumbled down the road repeating the name “Everest can”. So much for my payment. With the last man down the alley, we took a breath and sat atop the roof of the truck. Looking out over the small square.

‘I can’t believe this is what you do every day.” I said to Mike.

“Yeah well, I’d like to be doing a lot more helping people and a lot less tracking down shadowy harnessed men.” Mike swung his legs. I noted that even though his clothes still fit him four sizes too big, he seemed more confident in himself somehow. I reached an arm around his shoulder and squeezed gently.

“Each harnessed man you stop does save someone I suppose. Any idea where they are coming from?” 

“I have an idea. But It’s not as easy as I thought it would be to get to the bottom of this.” Mike sighed. 

I hated to see him so unhappy. “What? a strong man like this can’t get the job done?” I stretched my arms up into a double bicep pose and gave my cheesiest grin.

Mike pushed me gently. “I’m going to stop all this.”

I looked Mike in his eyes. “I believe you. Heck I believe you could do it  just as you are now but something tells me it will save time if we figure out how to get you back to being Superbear.”

“I think I’d like that. Any ideas of how? You said you experienced weird stuff like this before, how did you get back to normal?”

Thoughts of threesomes and explicit encounters flared through my mind. “Uuuuh you know, it’s different every case.” I blushed.

“So how do we figure out how to reverse this one?”

“I think it has something to do with this protective instinct.” I said. “Ever since we’ve switched I’ve felt this urge to watch over you or make sure you are safe.”

“Oh,” Mike said in surprise. “Yeah it feels like you have a duty to watch over someone. I’ve felt it a lot as Superbear.”

“How you talked about it was more a connection between two people who care about each other very much. Even without being a superhero I’ve felt that,but this is different.”

“Do you think it is a side effect of whatever happened to us?” Mike asked.

“No, Your powers play strong with a certain attitude that feels wholly you. Your jovial nature, your head on thinking, even your zeal for the spotlight all amplify and contribute to your powers. I know I’m not a superhero but the times I’ve felt most in control of your body was when I wasn’t acting like myself. I was acting like you. This ‘bear instinct’ is the same.”

“What do you mean?” Mike said, eyeing me thoughtfully.

“Maybe this instinct doesn’t affect you because you already have someone to look after. You naturally protect and care for someone else so the instinct simply amplifies that impulse.”

“That’s how I track him.” Mike explained.

“Exactly! but imagine if you had no one. Imagine you are some lonely private detective who explores things at the fringe of human understanding. You care about some people, sure, but between getting over a decade-long relationship and trying to open up again to another person you find yourself caught in an awkward space. Let’s say for this argument that you are bookish and have a brown sweater.” I hinted down at Mike.

“Oddly specific example you’ve got there.” He smirked.

“Yeah, that guy would be a loser. Anyway, if someone like that suddenly was given the power to feel a close connection, it would go haywire. It might over-react and make you feel extreme jealousy or fear over someone who you’ve in all honesty have barely gotten to know.” I said.

“I see what you mean. I wonder what a power like that would do for someone who wanted a connection so bad they focused on taking control of others.” Mike’s eyes wandered past the cab of the truck toward where the three harnessed men still slept peacefully.

“Awfully specific example as well.” I said.

Mike hopped off the truck and stood in the open air.

“Regardless of how it works, I need that power back to keep these men from terrorizing this city and find a way to stop them from coming in the first place.” I smirked and floated down dramatically. “And I need to get back to my boring old life instead of playing spandex dress up.”

“Yeah but HOW?” Mike demanded.

“Hey don’t look at me!” I grumbled. “I already have the amazing superhero body! You tell me how to take it back.”

Then it dawned on me. He couldn’t take it back. I had to give it to him. I gave Mike a mischievous grin as I reached out and grasped him one last time and pulled him into the biggest bear hug I possibly could.

“This…isn’t…helping” Mike choked. “It will, trust me. Try not to focus on what you want. Focus on who you are already. It wasn’t Superbear’s body that flew off that roof, it was your courage behind it. It wasn’t Superbear alone who could have taken on those three henchmen, it was you who stood up to them. It’s cliche but It’s not the body that counts, it’s what’s on the inside. Remember what you told me, you don’t just change people, you make them into the best version of themselves. You are already pretty great, I’m just helping the outside match the inside.”

I closed my eyes and focused on that energy flowing out of me. I collected the energy down into the black hole but forced it out of myself and into Mike next to me. The transformation was noticeably slower. The first feeling was a bit of shrinking as I lost height and sank closer to the floor. In turn soon Mike’s dangling legs pushed against the ground and he began to pick me up. His struggling arms quickly filled in as mine deflated, followed by his chest jutting out and his legs filling in substantially to anchor himself. Our clothes began to meld together as the spandex stretched and pulled off of me and covered Mike’s growing frame. I was glad that my sweater and slacks quickly formed their way onto my body. I looked up to see how peculiar Mike’s face looked without that beard on it. Suddenly my entire body itched as I felt thousands of hairs pull into my body. Mike grunted as a spreading of hair poked out of his chest and showed slightly out of his suit near his neck, the rest growing unseen beneath the suit. Finally the big beard filled in before puffing out to its substantial size as mine retracted to a more modest nature. I felt the last of Superbear’s energy flow from my core and become consumed in Mike.

“Uh, can you let go of me now, this is kind of uncomfortable.” I said with a voice higher than I expected. “Hey you started it.” Mike grinned down. His deep baritone reverberated through his chest.

He let go and I slid to the ground with a gasp. The weight was the first thing I noticed. I suddenly felt lighter than air. Even as Superbear when I was flying I still had a dense center that seemed to be propelled around. Now I felt like I had just spent the whole day swimming and now each movement was fast and exaggerated.

Superbear looked like he was enjoying himself again. He stretched the spandex wherever he could and gave off a few flexes into the side mirror of the truck.

“I’m back! He yelled.”

Superbear jumped high and spiraled in the air. His cloak spun with a dramatic twist and he floated above the square with his hands firmly on his hips and his chin pointed out and strong.

“Show off!” I called out from below.

With a blur, Superbear raced over the city. I could see him spinning and looping in pure excitement. I sat back on the truck and enjoyed being myself again while he got his energy out. I had to admit it was nice being back in my own skin, super or not. 

When Superbear came back down he was glowing in more ways than one. He walked with a spring in his step towards me.

“You know Everett, I’ve been thinking. I do really think the swap came about from the harnessed energy mixing with mine.” Superbear said. His eyes traced the side wall and I could tell he was avoiding my gaze. “I could believe that. What else do you have on your mind?” I pressed.

“I just wanted to say thank you for helping me. I know it wasn’t what you were expecting but you did well playing the role. If you want, I could change you into something more than you currently are. Something a little more, super?”

The thought crossed my mind comfortably. Flying through the air, feeling strong, having a weight of purpose, feeling the tight pull of a wedgie on your nether regions. I looked at Superbear and saw his sincerity.

“Thanks, but I think I still have a lot to learn being how I am now. I’ve spent enough time playing someone else’s role, it’s time for me to live my own for a while” I said.

Superbear nodded his head. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.” 

“I literally have no idea how to contact you.”

A hearty laugh erupted from Superbear as he flew off out of the square and out of sight. 

I chuckled to myself and walked down the alley. I glanced back briefly at the truck and thought of the three men inside. I’d seen a lot of weird things in my time but something so quick and effective in controlling people was unheard of. Those men moved with one goal and one thought in mind. If that spread throughout the world, we’d all be in big trouble.

That’s when I noticed the door was ajar. With a sinking feeling I searched the back of the truck and found it empty.

“They got away.” I heard behind me as I leapt out of my skin and bounced back into the truck door.

“Damn it Mike!” Don’t scare me like that. Superbear chuckled. “Sorry I came back to help clean up my mess. I’m not surprised, they are very slippery.”

“This means they are back loose in the city though!” I said.

I’ve stashed away their spare harnesses. I’m sure they’ll head back to restock before they cause any more trouble.” Superbear stood heroically. “And I’ll be ready for them.”

“Do you need any help?” I asked, suddenly aware I had no real way to help the situation.

Superbear chuckled and shook his head down at me.

 I sighed. “Fair enough, hey not to add onto your todo list but I do have a favor to ask. See, I kind of missed my flight home and I was wondering if…”

Before I could finish my sentence I was soaring up over the city. I grabbed down onto Superbear’s hands as he steadied me on his shoulders and we flew on out of the city.

“You weren’t kidding, this does make you motion sick.” I laughed through a slight green face.

“Sorry about that! I’ll slow down.” Superbear said as we reached a nice cruising altitude.

“The view sure is pretty up here.” I gasped at the low flying rolling clouds passing by underneath. “Of course the view is probably just as nice in that direction. You know, the way back to my town.” I sneered.

Superbear just chuckled as we made a wide turn and flew off into the sky.

The End

[everettman]

Case File 003 - It’s About Time

Chapter One

A rhythmic thump beat against the inside of my skull. Groaning as I lifted my tired head. A cool breeze wafted over me.

“Where’s my blanket?” I asked no one. I touched my chest and felt bare skin.

“And where’s my shirt?”

My hands drifted down to where my underwear should be. I dropped my head back in realization. I drug a hand over my torso feeling the dried and sticky coating on my skin, trailing up from my groin to my neck.

“Welcome back Jamie.” I closed my eyes and listened into myself.

“Oh hey EV, you finally decided to wake up.” 

I twisted to my side and pulled the blanket off of the floor and reminded myself I’d need to do laundry later; After I had a very thorough bath.

“I figured you would pop up today, but I expected you later tonight.” I said.

“What can I say? I missed you. Plus I learned a new trick that I wanted to try out!”

I opened my mouth wide and loudly moaned in a needy tone. I slapped a hand over my mouth and rolled over burying my face in my pillow to dampen the sound. Once my voice subsided I turned my confusion into anger and hurled it towards Jamie.

“What the hell jamie!” The sound of laughter filled my ears. I felt my skin burn with embarrassment but refused to raise my head.

“The new trick is… I can control people even when they are slightly awake! It doesn’t work once they’ve had coffee though, not sure why.”

Jamie was a kid with a new toy, one he couldn’t wait to play with on his birthday. Unfortunately for me, I found myself in the wrapping paper.

“Jamie you ass! Someone is going to hear us, keep it down.”

Jamie switch from pure puppy fun to offended.

“EV I can assure you that what the neighbors just heard is nothing compared to the sounds I’ve been making for hours now.”

My head rocketed up as I looked at my clock.

“How long have you been back?” I demanded.

“Oh just since 4. I hopped a ride on that cute DILF living down the road till I was bored; then I piloted him to your front door and hopped up to you.”

Great, I could just imagine the rumors that were going to start spreading of men being pulled to the haunted house down the street in the middle of night. At least no one should have been out to see the sleepwalker that early.

“Wait, Since four? But you don’t sleep. What have you been doing for..” I moved the cover off and really took a look at how much dried cum was seeped into my chest hair.

“Ugh, I’m taking a shower.” I grumpily stated.

“Noooooo” came back Jamie’s reply. I was still sleepy enough that he kept my legs buckling so I’d fall back into bed.”I want to spend some more time with you.” Jamie pleaded.

“And I want to spend less time cleaning my house whenever you are here.”

I felt a warmth rise in the back of my head. 

“Don’t do this.” I said. ”I have to help cal with something in a bit, we can reconnect later.”

Jamie didn’t respond but the warmth strengthened and I found myself breathing heavy. I could feel the warm spreading down my spine, over my stomach and right down between my legs.

“Ugh fine!” I caved. “but I’m driving. You just enjoy yourself.”

“Yay!” Jamie squealed. 

I flipped over onto my back and laid an arm behind my head. Then I started to fondle myself. 

“You look good EV,” Jamie whispered to me.

“You feel good…idiot “ I sounded back.

I fell into a rhythm with Jamie helping. As the pressure started to build, I sensed a silent chuckle from Jamie. Suddenly my head threw back involuntarily. I screamed as shot after shot released from my dick. I would be worried about the mess if I wasn’t already writhing in my own filth. At least this filth I had a hand in making. As the moan subsided I panted out, 

“Fuck you Jamie”

“If only you could EV”

After taking the longest shower of my life I entered my kitchen robed and starving. I went for my usual bowl of oatmeal when Jamie chimed in. 

“Oh can we do those red sugar cereal things, no one else seems to buy them!”

“That’s because no one else likes to eat dessert for breakfast except you.” I poured my bowl of oatmeal and heated it up. Rubbing my eyes to finish waking up. I’d have to wait till later for coffee.

“It’s not my fault I don’t gain weight.” Jamie said.

“Yeah but I do”

“An unfortunate side effect” Jamie brushed off. I moved to the table and got ready to eat my exciting meal.

“Makes it real nice to be able to eat whatever you want when you’re…” I stopped myself and set down my spoon.

“When iiiii’m….dead?” Jamie teased.

“Don’t say that” my mood soured and I pushed my bowl to the side the same way a toddler would.

“Come on EV it’s been a few years, you can say it now. I don’t mind.” Jamie tickled the back of my head and I scratched it away.

“It’s been ten years Jamie.” I stated matter of fact.

Jamie went quiet for a minute and the tickling stopped. I sighed and reached for my bowl and took a few bites.

“It’s really been that long?” I heard his quiet voice.

“Last Tuesday. I was hoping you’d be around to talk about it but I didn’t realize the schedule until you mentioned it and I didn’t want to bring you back early for…” I trailed off. Jamie sat silent a minute longer as I chewed the same spoonful before his chipper voice rang in my ears.

“Welp, no matter. Along with not gaining weight I look as good as ever!”

I don’t know how Jamie did it, but I could always tell he was checking himself out even when there was nothing to see. I could also tell he was distracting himself.

“Look maybe we should…” I felt Jamie turn around and give me his attention. I grabbed the honey from the counter and did a dollop in the middle of the oatmeal and took a big bite. Jamie shivered as the sugar rush reached my brain..

“Mmmm it’s no cereal bites, but that sugary zing still hits great.” I felt a warmth on the tip of my nose. That was Jamie’s way of giving me a kiss. 

“So what are you helping Cal with? He needs someone to stand around and watch him do real work?”

 I feigned a laugh. “He said something about this guy he read about in the paper. Wanted me to check it out.”

“The paper? What is he eighty?”

“He’s only 43” I corrected. 

“Sheesh that might as well be 80, he’s going to have to pack it up soon. Good thing we are still young right?” Jamie said.

“I turned thirty last week.” A hint of venom touched my voice. I tried to reel it back, I had no qualm with Jamie about my age but I was struggling with it myself.

“Oh, you… “ I could feel Jamie trying to come up with a witty remark. for once I was leaving him speechless.

“That’s right, because it was your birthday when we took the drive to the diner and…” it was Jamie’s turn to trail off to nowhere. I heard his version of clearing his throat. Another sign of his to keep the conversation moving. I hated how this minefield had slowly been forming between us.

Jamie continued. “Well look, 30 ain’t bad and I’m a little late, but let’s get out and celebrate! I’m here now and there is this new club I tried out on fifth street where the guys ,if you pay them enough, will actually let you sit on…”

“Look Jamie, I have work to do and I don’t really feel like celebrating my birthday in some dingy club. I hung out with George and we had some drinks behind the cafe, I’m good.”

“Oooooh George is it? Is he that hippie that was convinced he could levitate?” Jamie asked.

“No, George owns the cafe down the street remember?”

“Hmmm not picturing a face. Is he hot?” 

“If he was, I’m sure you would have been intimate with him already.” I took my bowl back to the sink and rinsed it.

“Oh don’t be jealous, you know I always come back to you.”

“Because if you don’t you start to fade away and we’re scared I’m the only thing tethering you to this plane of existence?”

“Nooooo, because I love you. You are the best boyfriend in the world!”

“Right, that’s why you have sex with every man you can get yourself close to. Because you love me so much.” I scrubbed my bowl a little harder.

“Oh EV, you know it’s because I have nothing better to do! And besides, I’ve been telling you to get a sideman for years now. Maybe you could saddle up with George since he’s off the table for me.”

“Don’t even joke about that Jamie.” I headed back to my room to grab my bag.

“I’m serious EV. I want you to find something that you can touch… as long as I get to taste as well.”

 Ugh there was always the caveat. I quickly changed and made sure I had my leather bookbag and headed out the door. “Yeah not many guys are going to want to stick around when they hear I’ve got my ex-current boyfriend spending the night in my head.”

“Really? I would have thought that was hot!” 

Chapter Two

I hopped down the front steps of my house and headed down the street. My house is at the top of an old hill surrounded by a dense forest. The road winds down and around a bend before jutting into a quintessential suburban street. White picket fences, smiling neighborly faces, pastels galore all abounding in an idyllic scene. The sun was shining that day, accenting all the vibrant colors and cheerful mood. I walked quickly in the morning air. I hid my emotion as much as I could from Jamie but secretly I was really happy he was back. Walking down this street and seeing all the families and couples would typically put me in a funk. Now I had my own companion again. Someone I got to have close to me even if only I knew he was there. 

As we passed one bright blue home a handsome and fit older man was coming back from his morning jog and getting his mail. I waved cordially to him in greeting and was met with a very confused look. He had a look that mixed ravenous hunger with revulsion at the same time. I sighed deeply as he averted his gaze and quickly headed for his door.

“Let me guess. He was your ride to my house this morning?” I said to Jamie.

“What gives you that idea? Just because he’s attractive and what I’ve gone for in the past? I’ll have you know I’ve widened my type quite a bit on my last trip.”

“No, I’m referring to his erect member I can see in those tight jogging shorts and the way he’s avoiding eye contact while blushing. The guy panicking because he can’t get his door unlocked.”

Jamie’s ‘rides’ always seemed to share a strange after effect when Jamie was finished with them. For a short while after, they would have a strong attraction to me, even though their memory was always blank when Jamie left house. I had been studying how long this phenomenon lasts and the longest to date was that server boy that I ended up shooting my load down his throat on a previous case. Till that day I noticed he would duck and cover, stealing glances my way when I walked down the street.

“So you headed to Cal’s first? We could stop by George’s cafe on the way. Make a little surprise visit.” Jamie chirped in.

“Can’t do that” I said through a fake smile at a woman walking her baby down the street.

“Why not? It would be so much fun to see him! And just think about that nice cup of coffee! Mmm espresso! And if I just so happen to meet your new future boyfriend, what a cup of espresso for me too!” Rattled Jamie. The woman gave me a sideways look and crossed the street before I was close.

“No” I mumbled.

“Come on Ev, just this once and I’ll never ask for anything again, why aren’t you talking to me, I think it could be fun.”

“I’m not talking cause I’m walking down the street and people can hear me but they can’t hear you so I look like I’m schizophrenic and I’ll end up in another asylum!” The woman glanced over her shoulder and walked even faster away from me. I sighed. ”And we can’t surprise George because he already knows I’m coming!” I saw the corner of George’s cafe in the distance. “Ugh I know you’ve been gone a while but please remember that you get to do what you want but I still have to play by the rules.”

“Rules were meant to be broken Evy boy.”

“Just shut up we are almost there.”

I entered George’s cafe and took my usual spot in the back. I’d made an arrangement that I’d occupy the rarely used spot in the back of the cafe and in return George would bring me any type of coffee he wanted me to try. I’d tasted a dozen or so new items before they made the menu. My caffeine addiction was skyrocketing but I enjoyed the ambiance and it beat sitting alone in my house.

“And by ambience you mean the view of George, sweaty behind the counter?”

“Jamie!” I ground my teeth and sank into the table.

“What? I’m not listening in, you just like to think to yourself.”

“I don’t need color commentary from you!” Grinding turned to gnashing.

“Then add some drama I’m bored already!”

“You ok there Everett?” We both turned my head to find George standing a foot from our seat with a steaming cup of concoction on a tray. His eyes showed a very concerned line between his eyebrows.

“Alright now it’s getting interesting.” Jamie chuckled.

“George! Hey, uh yeah everything’s fine.” My broken smile must have really sold it. “How uh, how are things going with you?”

“Smooth Ev.”

“Shut up Jamie” I spat through my teeth.

“Things are going well, I just brought you my latest test. I already had it steaming when I saw you walking up the block.” George hesitated. “You seemed like you were arguing with yourself, need a second opinion?”

“Thanks George, but I’m fine just was on the phone with someone about a case was all. I’m totally fine.”

I mentally berated Jamie as I could feel him ‘looking’ through me at George. Since he was in my head anything he focused on I could sense in tandem. Right then we were really interested in how tight and sweat soaked George’s white button up cling to his muscular torso behind the work apron. 

“You seem sweaty, I MEAN BUSY, hahaha. Has it been a crazy morning?” Now it was my turn to sweat.

George for his part was playing off my weird behavior with a nonchalant glance but I could see the confusion in his golden eyes.

“Yeah pretty busy, there’s this coffee enthusiast convention coming next month so some of the organizers came in earlier to sample some coffees. Apparently they have been going to all the cafes so I knew they were coming but I wasn’t expecting them to order one of everything. I think I’ve made 100 drinks in the last hour.” George released a sigh and his shoulders sank. This was the first time I saw George truly tired from work. Typically he was all smile and snappy comeback. I searched his eyes for that sparkle but it was faded against the deep wrinkles of exhaustion that surrounded them.

“Can I help with anything, you seem…” I started.

“Strung up to dry without a ladder? Nah, I’ll be fine, I’ve got a few work hands who can take over for a minute.” George gracefully removed his apron before not so eloquently thunking down into the seat next to me. It took every ounce of my strength not to notice how soaked and stretched his shirt was with the apron now removed.

“Shut it” I forced the thought at Jamie.

“Hey I didn’t say anything” came back Jamie’s chirpy reply.

“Sorry, for the noises,” George chucked.” I’m not as spry as I used to be. I can’t get up to nearly as much trouble as I used to.” George fanned himself with the nearest menu and I stole a glance of the rising and falling of his chest. “What about you?”

“Me? Oh I don’t know, being thirty has hit a little sooner than I thought it would.” I sheepishly replied.

George corrected “Haha, enjoy it. I’d give quite a lot to be thirty again.” George stretched his arms wide and massaged the back of his neck. “What are you up to today?”

“Oh, I’m actually going to see my handyman friend after this.” I said.

“Don’t mention your side-ho to the potential babe, dude!” Jamie yelled. I pushed him further back from my eyes.

“Oh yeah that guy you mentioned with the shop. Carlo or something?” George said.

“Cal actually, he said he had a lead on some case. Thought I’d check it out.”

“You know I bet it’s that new mad scientist. Cal’s a bit older right? I’m sure we have the same algorithm or whatever you kids call it.” George laughed to himself.

“Great now they’ll meet cute and you’ll be left to cry at the wedding. That is unless they take you in as a throuple to do their dishes.”

I imagined a large spiked anvil dropping on Jamie’s head and he took the hint.

“Mad scientist?” I inquired.

“Oh just some dude who with white frizzled hair and a lab coat. He’s always going on about some serum or something that makes you look ten years younger. I know it’s all hogwash but I can’t help but imagine how nice that would feel on days like this.” George cracked his neck and sighed. “Anyway you mentioned Cal is a skeptic so I doubt he’d fall for some snake oil. I on the other hand always want to keep an eye out for the unexplained. You better than anyone must know the weird things that go on that are hard to put into human understanding.” George looked at me with that faint sparkle in his golden eyes as Jamie undressed him with mine. 

“You’d be surprised how unexplainable things right in front of you can be.” I smiled cryptically with a fake laugh.

Chapter Three

Jamie groaned in dismay when we eventually said our goodbyes and headed toward Cal’s shop. The smell of coffee faded out as the flowering bushes overrode their scent.

“Come ooooon, I was just staring to get to know him!” Jamie whined.

“I saw everything you were thinking and I think four sex positions in a cafe are plenty for your dirty imagination for one day.”

“Oh yeah! I see what you are saying. We need a change of scenery to find a few more positions. I’m sure I can think of some in Cal’s shop.”

I sighed deeply as I walked into the shop Cal had set up a few years back. It’s an old 50s diner that he had been fixing up and using as a repair shop. In the middle was a truck that he pulled into the center of the diner and was working under the carriage with a sliding work bench. Jamie already had three new positions in mind. I grunted loudly half to get Cal’s attention and half to get the thoughts out of my head. “Hey Cal! How’s it going?”

“Oh it’s going fine enough.” Cal called as he wheeled himself out from under the vehicle. “what are you working on?” I asked. Cal stood up and looked at me like I had three heads. “It’s a truck Ev.” I blushed slightly and Jamie’s chuckle added to my embarrassment. “Nah just kidding buddy,” Cal thudded a large hand against my small back. I’m just changing the oil, I pulled it in here to use the old grease trap from when this was a restaurant."Cal went to wash his hands in the nearby sink while Jamie studied the stretched jumpsuit that curved nicely around Cal’s ass.

“What can I help you with Cal?” I interrupted.

“Oh right, the job! I need you to do some debunking actually.” Cal called over the running water.

“Isn’t that more your thing? I’m the one always trying to tell you things are weirder than you think.” I corrected.

Cal walked over and offered me a seat in the only intact booth left in the shop, it still had the same finish that fifties diners had.

“This here is something more akin to the younger crowd. To you young folks and your ‘AIs’ and such.”

“Cal I’m thirty, I’m not really considered in the cool kids anymore.”

“I know I know, but you sure are a hell a lot closer than I am. See I’m just tech savvy enough to have a group chat with some old pals of mine that I’ve known for years. We swap beer recommendations and talk about what’s wrong with the world. Lately though, one of my old friends found this ‘Doctor Dillard’ guy and has been going non-stop about his miracle treatment to make you younger. I figured it was some Botox nonsense but he’s been sending me photos and videos of himself and he looks like he did back when we were young bucks. Now all the other guys are all wanting to get the same treatment. I don’t buy it. Nothin can reverse time. You get old and you stay old that’s how it goes. Apparently this doctor is in town today showing off his treatment at city park and I want you to go figure out his trick.”

“I still don’t see why this has to be me.” I said.

“Oh I’m not one for crowds; besides, I have pressing work here.”

I glanced at the oil change and Cal laughed.

“Don’t worry Everett, I’m willing to pay to put an end to this nonsense.”

“Alright, but what if I prove that this Doctor Dillard is actually capable of making people younger?” “I don’t know Everett, all this miracle treatment, one-stop shop looking younger has to be a hoax. It’s just not possible that they could be looking that young so fast, it’s got to be some magic trick or something messing with me right? Look at you, I know you take on those weird cases and all but they are all hoaxes too!” “You mean beyond my haunted house” I corrected. “Hey, just because you act a little weird when I’m there doesn’t mean it’s cursed or anything. There’s no such thing as spirits or ghosts or whatever.” I gave a polite chuckle. In the back of my mind I felt a different sensation. there was a growing headache at the base of my skull. “Call me a realist.” Cal continued. “But once something is dead it’s dead, ain’t no coming back from that.” The headache was growing fast, I winced slightly. “Jamie?” I called back but there was no reply. “And that’s how it should be. Things live, things die, it’s not natural for them to come back as some weird abomination of nature.”

“I think there is still a lot we don’t know about death.” I tried to counter. My eyes wincing.

“It’s like that friend of yours you talked about in that car crash. I’m sure they’d do anything to be with you if they could; but they are gone. It’s better to just move on and keep the nice memory of them. That’s how they would have wanted it.” Cal said. The headache surged through my skull, I grabbed my temples with my hands as the energy flowed forward, burning my eyes as it spilled out, flying through the air between and forcing itself down Cal’s throat. His eyes were wide and he gagged slightly as the force flowed stronger and faster into him. The lights flickered as the last trail left my head and followed the drain into Cal’s open mouth. I recovered quickly as the headache cleared and looked up at Cal. He had a devilish grin and sinister eyes that distracted me from his hands that pulled me up from the booth and pushed me back against the wall. Cal shoved a rough tongue through my lips and I squirmed as one hand held me down. The other not so carefully pulled my shirt to the side and unbuttoned in one fell swoop. The calloused hand pressed hard against my chest and teased around the few curves I had. I could taste the coffee Cal had for breakfast and how his five O clock shadow rubbed against my beard. I moaned into his mouth as his teeth bit down on my lip. Even though we were the same height, Cal’s one hand was enough to lift me slightly as he continued the assault. When his lips stopped the intrusion we both took a deep breath. My head reeled thinking about the last time I had been this involved with someone. Of course that had been…Jamie! 

“Hey Ev, Jamie blew a kiss at me as he moved Cal’s hands and grabbed my pants. I grabbed his arms, slowing the act but his arms were stronger than mine.” “Jamie stop, what are you doing? We agreed not to do it with people we knew unless we agree on it!” “Why should I care?” Cal’s baritone voice came back colder than I expected. “I’m not real anyway! Abominations like me don’t exist.” With a sharp pull my pants and underwear were on the ground and Cal’s meaty hands were wrapped around my hard cock. Jamie expertly stroked me as I protested. His grease slicked hand easily working me. “God this is fun! Cal purred at me. I can see why you followed through when you were a meathead.” Cal quickened his assault. I gasped at the tug on my member. “Makes me sad that I have something different in mind.” Cal sneered. Suddenly there was a burst of energy from Cal’s forehead that flew into my open mouth. Jamie had been more subtle in possessing people as he had learned how to slip in and out of people in the past. That was why I knew he was making this physical on purpose. I gulped him down as best I could as I struggled for air till the onslaught finished. I gasped for air and looked up. 

Cal was still holding me, his hand still wrapped around my cock. He was frozen and wide-eyed. “If you’re such a skeptic then explain that.” Jamie taunted from the back of my skull.” “Jamie!” I yelled at him, not noticing I was yelling it outloud. My fears were abated as Cal was in too much shock to notice. “E…Everett?” He squeaked out. Cal released his grip on my shoulder and I slumped forward a bit. I looked down at my cock with his hand still wrapped around it. A moment later he looked down. Shocked but not fully understanding what he was seeing. He released and pushed my member away like it was a snake. He fell back onto the ground and brought a hand to his mouth. “Everett, I…I don’t know what happened. I…I’m sorry.” I quickly fixed my pants and shoved everything back to it’s original hidden state. Cal and I had the same shade of red painted on our faces. I quickly headed out the nearest door. “I’ll look into the case Cal. Talk to you later!” I burst into the afternoon sun, leaving a shaking and confused Cal behind. I glanced back for a moment and saw Cal bury his face in his hands.

Chapter Four

The door to Cal’s shop slammed closed behind me. I kept my eyes forward and refused to look back at Cal through the window. My head pounded and I had to actively unclench my fists. Jamie had crossed a line and I had paid for it.

“What the hell Jamie!” I barked.

“You know you liked it, you’ve had eyes on him for years.” Jamie sneered back.

“What? That’s not the point. You can’t just take over him like that!”

“Why not?”

“Because we agreed not to”

“Sorry Ev, I just didn’t feel like listen to him rattle off his non believer bullshit.” Jamie sounded disinterested in the whole conversation. As if groping me was just a fun little game in an otherwise boring day. I thought back to how I’d woken up that morning. What Jamie had already done through me. I felt sick.

“Oh I’m sorry, you get your feelings hurt and decide to abuse other people? Real mature Jamie.” I pushed the feeling away.

“He’ll get over it, I’m sure he will find some way to explain this away. I didn’t touch his dick or anything.”

“And that makes it ok? Because he won’t realize what happened?”

“Pretty much, yeah” God it was so annoying arguing with Jamie and his lack of logic. The only way to get him to understand anything was to make it about me. If it came down to anyone else’s life or problems he could be as flippant as can be. I’d regularly used myself just to break through his thick skull a few times.

“And what about me? Do you think I liked being fondled like that? Especially from a close friend of mine who I’ve worked close to for years?”

“Oh I’m sorry, did I happen to use you without checking first? I seem to remember someone else turning a blind eye to morals as he shoved his dick down my throat.” The memory of our impromptu rendezvous in the alley felt more like someone else’s memory. However, I couldn’t deny it was me that initiated that interaction.

“That was different, I knew that was you and we both agreed to it, Cal had zero say in there!”

“Oh and that waiter you conveniently pipe cleaned had a say in our little romp? Face it! You are just as guilty of using others as I am!” Jamie yelled.

 My ears burned red at the edges. keeping my flushed face ground into a frown was my only tactic to hide my embarrassment from Jamie.I ground my teeth regardless.

“You can’t deny it Ev. Every time we’ve been intimate it’s been through someone else’s body. It’s a little late to find a moral high ground.”

“Fuck off Jamie. Why don’t you just go spend your life in someone else’s head.” I started crunching steps through the parking lot and down the sidewalk. “I’ve got work to do anyway.”

“Well don’t let me get in the way of anything important” Jamie said as he coiled deep into my brain till I could only faintly feel him.

It took about three blocks to take enough breaths to realize that Jamie had stayed in the back of my mind silent. After a few failed attempts to coax him out I decided there was no other option but to keep moving. I thought about what Cal had talked about before being taken over by my boyfriend. I considered going back in but the only thing that would help Cal would be some space. I headed into town square, with the festival going on, this seemed like the place to be.

“Hey Jamie look, they are selling that hair gel that…” Jamie refused to budge, I groaned and continued on.

I scrolled through my phone as I walked to town center. Cal had sent screenshotted links to the videos his friends had sent them. Instead of trying to decipher that tech garbage, I searched through recent videos and sure enough every second or third video was the crazed professor. 

“Tired of aging?” A silky voiceover asked. “Why spend years hating yourself when you can have it all back!” 

The video showed a middle aged woman with a belly and sagging chins instantly revitalized into a 20 year old supermodel. Part of me was conflicted that I was getting paid by Cal to debunk obvious AI videos, but the other half of me knew that I spent a lot more money when Jamie was staying over. I pressed on. The sound of my footsteps on asphalt faded away into the quiet mulch of steps on grass. The center of town was nice in the mid-summer. The trees swayed lazily in the breeze. Kids threw frisbees, old people played chess. Parents with their babies sat on picnic blankets as young adults got their cardio in and teenagers skated or slid down the sidewalks on roller-blades. I’ve always been one to enjoy some quiet alone time but the fresh air and combined spirit in the park was invigorating. The smell of popcorn hit my nose. Beyond the portion of the central park a large stage had been set up near city hall. Surrounding the stage were a multitude of tents that dressed the bland steps and square into a colorful red and yellow carnival. I slid past the popcorn booth and watched kids get scammed out of their allowance at the various carnival games. Stopping only for a second to watch a well placed ball send a misanthropic clown into the dunk tank. 

“Cal said this was the place.” I said, looking around at the whimsical nature of the park. “Maybe he got the date confused? This looks as far from a geriatric magic age-loss program as you can get. I was expecting clinical labs and infomercials.” In response, A drum roll cascaded through the crowd. Spotlights impossibly bright circled the stage curtains in frantic swirls. Everyone quickly forgot their games and ran towards the stage to be the first to see what the new big thing was. The curtains swayed gently before being pulled back with a jerk. Out on stage walked a man confident and fast. He threw his hands up in dramatic display. A large cart was wheeled out by some beefy stage hands. The cart was covered with a large red satin tarp with gold embroidery on the side that read, “The Fountain of Youth” in swirly cursive letters.

“Behold, my ingenious creation!” the honest to God, mad scientist screamed into the crowd. The man was built from old horror movies and weight loss commercials. He had wiry white hair and enough Botox to smooth over an elephant. He wore a crisp blue suit and a white lab coat to cover it up.

“That must be our main man Dr. Dillard. His videos don’t do him justice.” I thought.

The doctor pulled a dramatic yellow cord that made the tarp slide away revealing some kind of -inator. A wide cone led to a small point with an array of wires and buttons across the whole things. Blue Leds lined the while assembly, lighting in rhythmic beauty. The crowd gasped in awe and cheered at the sudden reveal.

“I call it the de-ager” Doctor Dillard announced. Clearly he needed a PR person. “With this machine I have devised a way to reverse the decaying process on a cellular level. What creams and serums may cover, my machine can fix at the core. No longer do people need to accept the age old myth of growing old and dying. With this machine, you too will be able to have what kings have fought for, what magicians have tried to conjure, what science could not create until now! But you don’t have to take my word for it. How about a little demonstration?”

There was a scattering of applause through the crowd that only slightly masked the disbelief on most if the patrons faces and hushed tones. The Doctor paid no attention to the lackluster reception and instead eyed the crowd for a moment before calling on a particularly old man in the second row. The man had to be at least ninety. It took him a minute just to realize he had been called on and another agonizing minute to bring him into the stage. The same stage hands practically lifted him to keep the show moving. After setting the man in a chair with a few useless arm constraints that did more to keep the man from falling out of the chair than anything, the Doctor with a dazzling twirl went to a control panel at the side of the machine.

“Behold, the wonders of yester-year where your wildest memories live.”

He pulled the switch and the elderly man was suddenly enveloped in light. A dazzling laser struck the man in the chest. He screamed as a hush fell over the crowd. Even I considered for a split second that I had just witnessed an on stage extermination. Then as suddenly as the light shot out, it faded. Gasps from the crowd echoed as the man stood up with a wobbly shake. He seemed dazed and confused but no one paid his mental state any concern as they were all staring at the thick Black Forest of hair on his head. He rose to his full height no longer scrunching over in pain but standing tall and strong. The man who had entered was the cover model for elderly fall insurance and the man on stage now was runner up for Men’s magazine. Murmurs wafted through the crowd.

“Is that really him?

“That has to be another man.”

“Look at his cleft in his chin, it’s the same.”

“Could be his son or something”

The mad scientist walked to the center of the stage and turned off the machine.

“Let me assure you, that this here is the very same man we just met. Only now this man has had the tireless stretch of time rewound into a better self!”

The man wobbled over to a full length mirror that was brought onto the stage. He felt his face in disbelief. He gasped in surprise as he explored his arms and chest and legs. To the shock of everyone including the mad scientist he even inspected his package with a tug of his pants and gave a loud shriek of delight.

“It’s me! It’s really me!” He squealed as he jumped up and down on the stage. “It IS you my friend.” Doctor Dillard clapped a hand on his back. “How does it feel to be young again?” “Oh my, what I wouldn’t pay to feel this way again. I’m shocked. I woke up today thinking it was my last and here I am. Alive!” The crowd burst into a cheer as the man excitedly ran down the stage and into the center of the crowd before realizing he didn’t know what to do. With all the eyes on him he turned around to give the crowd a show. He began a full flex routine before the Doctor’s voice called out from the stage. “May you live forever my friend! If you wanted proof I don’t know what else I can show you but this specimen right here. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you to discuss this exciting revelation in progress. However, as fun as this carnival may be, I understand that time is of the essence. Well,” He paused for effect, “at least it was!” chuckles came from the crowd. “If you are interested in this amazing new technology, come by the research center at the University Campus. I’d love to show each and every one of you the beauty of your future.” A chorus of cheers and shouts came as Doctor Dillard bowed gracefully and returned behind his curtain. The whole show had lasted 15 minutes but I could tell his fame was only beginning. My gut twisted, I sensed something was off about the whole thing but the show had been so clean and staged I couldn’t put a finger on what had been fake. I walked to a stall and got a cotton candy and sat on a bench outside the park looking over the whole display as I thought through the scenario. As I chewed I saw the newly re-youthed man doing cartwheels to a selection of gawkers at the edge of the park. “My money is on him being a paid actor. Must be a grandfather/grandson duo who splits the money after every show.” I said to Jamie. In response the back of my head iced over. I smacked where the ice felt spread over my skull. It was childish, I knew Jamie was immune to pain unless he wanted to. The jolt did nothing but mildly ease my frustration at him. “Fine, if you aren’t going to talk then I’ll just do this myself as always.” I raised my tone to the void. “Ugh, ok think it through Everett.” I told myself. “If I’m going to uncover this ruse then I need to see more of this Doctor Dillard. He invited everyone to visit him on the campus, but something tells me a guided tour is going to be a waste of investigation time. Instead, I’ll have to be a little more….discreet.” I stood up from the bench slowly, my knees straining a little more than I remembered. I watched the man do a backflip. Smiling wide and constantly moving, he gracefully moved and explored. As I left the park I glanced back to find him flirting with someone double his new age. Old habits die hard I suppose.

Chapter Five

Getting a solo tour of the lab was hard. Being on a university campus meant that there was a constant stream of over-caffinated students bumbling around campus at all hours of the night.I walked down the sprawling sidewalks that connected a hundred buildings older than the rest of town. My backpack was worn and stained from my college years. I wore a dark hoodie and loose slacks to blend in with the youth. Baggy was all the rage again but I didn’t dare go any further into the fad. For a brief moment I had considered shaving my beard before the 30 year old in me wrestled the idea down. Too many haunting photos of my exposed chin at college parties led to a solemn vow to keep my face covered at all times.

To my surprise I slipped into the science building without so much as a first glance let alone a second. I eyed the sign near the elevator and noted which floor the lab was located. I chose the stairs to my knee’s chagrin in favor of a quieter approach. By the second floor, I already regretted my decision.

The professor’s lab was colder than I expected. Maybe it was the Ivy league dark academia vibe of the campus that led me to imagine the interior to have mahogany backed chairs and a roaring fireplace in every office. Instead I found myself in a sterile environment on par with a medical facility. The space was dark, besides the faint glow of the emergency lights. I had to be careful not to bump into any spare carts or tables lying around. I took out my flashlight and shined it around the room. Long counters stretched the extent of the room with cabinets and mini-fridge’s holding a variety of test tubes and unidentified samples. The counters were neatly cluttered with a barrage of equipment that I’d have to get another degree in just to make a guess at what they could do. When your education background has more to do with paranormal than anatomy, you end up as useless in a lab as an art major. “This is going to be harder than finding a bright pink glowing elixir.” I smirked to myself in the quiet of the room and felt the back of my head. Jamie remained mute to my frustration. I was impressed that he was shielding all of his emotions from me. I expected to feel the heat of anger or the icy expanse of silence. I found my head empty. He simply did not exist beyond a vague mass that I felt weighing down the back of my head. For a moment I considered if he had jumped out of me to find someone else to annoy, however I’d have noticed if he had. I shook my head and got to work, trying to read bottles and search for any clues I could find. After a quick search around the counter and a few cabinets I focused on the elephant in the room. Set up in the very center of the space was a large metal contraption. “Doomsday device” is the only real describer. It was a larger version than the one I’d seen on display at the carnival. The vast sheen of metal stretch around the base following wires and indicators that rose up to a large head that coiled down into a tapered point that had to be where the deadly laser came out. The rest of the room was silent, beyond the steady hum of the fridges and some spinning contraption on the table. The devices seemed to breathe, it ebbed and flashed with a variety of lights and small mechanical clicks and whirs. How did something so robotic reverse aging? “It’s closer to quantum physics rather than biology.” The voice coming from the silent hallway behind me left my skin crawling as I gracefully unglued myself from the ceiling. The Professor casually walked in and fiddled with a container on the counter. I thanked him silently for saving my dignity. “It’s a little early for you to be visiting” He said with his back turned. I looked outside to the pitch black night as the clock on the side wall showed 11:35PM. “Don’t you mean a little late?” I said. “No, I mean in your life. Most who sneak into the lab are those poor or desperate enough to try the fountain of youth. You don’t seem older than 30.” he said. “Almost 31 to be fair, great guessing” I said. “I had an 80 year old bring an old grenade he had saved from the war to try to blow the door down when he was told he couldn’t enter. You don’t happen to have anything explosive or in the ‘weapon’ category do you?” His eyes glanced back at me with a knowing smirk. I laughed in only the way someone caught in the act can, poorly. 

The professor set down a test tube and walked over to me. I was grossly aware of his presence as he stepped close to my face. He lifted his top lip into a commercial level grin. His teeth too white and his eyes too piercing. His hair was full white, but from this close I was drawn in by his lack of wrinkles and full hair-line. His cologne stank in my nose and my eyes glanced down at his designer suit under his lab coat. Worst of all were his eyes. The faint gray that sparkled lightly along the corners to his iris peered into my soul. In stark contrast to his friendly smile and practiced ease, his eyes shown through with a knowing look. He had caught me and I was in way more trouble than I had realized. If I was going to make it out of this I had to be more proactive. I thought of Jamie uselessly in the back of my head and frowned. He was the best at showing off in ways that broke up people’s natural rhythm. Compared to Jamie I was a complete push over. Alright, if Jamie was going to be on break then it was up to me to emulate him. “So this is all for show right?” I forced myself to walk past the Doctor with a nonchalant air. I picked up test tubes and circled the machine in the middle keeping my face neutral. “I mean, we all know you can’t really become young again as you claim.” I said. “So what is your shtick? You go town to town, blast the fifty-five and up crowds facebook feed, give a stunning spectacle of reversing someone’s age? You also throw one cliche carnival I might add. Then you get a bunch of orders, skip town, and then repeat the process till you can retire?” Doctor Dillard looked shocked at my acquisition. It paused me for a moment as I realized he grimaced in actual insult. My faux cocky appearance faltered slightly. “You really don’t believe it? After all I’ve shown! I…I regressed a man to half his age live on stage and people can only think about how it is a hoax!” Doctor Dillard leaned against a nearby counter and stared wide eyed at the floor. “I don’t know how else to prove it. I simply don’t. I know that my work is spectacular and like nothing ever seen, but since it isn’t the cure for cancer or a weightloss drug people skim past it not realizing what I am offering.” The doctor slammed his fist down on the counter. I startled back a few steps and took the hint to head towards the door. I noticed tears forming on his eyelashes as I passed.

“I can tell you want something more than just a simple tour, a demonstration perhaps?” He blinked up at me. A certain fury hidden behind his sadness. He turned on his heels and strode back to the large machine. “Oh no thanks, I can tell I’ve overstayed my welcome.” I reached back into my consciousness and pleaded Jamie to help me find a way out. Idiot or not he was the best at improvising and I really needed a quick solution. His icy silence still kept the back of my head shivering. I was on my own. “I keep telling people that this process is expensive, some would give their whole worth just to experience youth again,” the professor toggled some switches in practiced fashion, he glanced up at me and for once let his facade falter enough to see pure disdain show through his eyebrows and wrinkles. “I really do need to stop giving it away for free.” The professor hit a large button and the machine chunked to life, with slow heaps and twisted coils the thing rose to full height. The pointed portion of the death ray quickly changed color to glowing red and I took it as a welcome sign to exit the same as a twin barreled shotgun. I ducked to the side and booked it for the door. I’m proud to say I made it a whole three steps before the energy of the sun melted it’s way into my back. I screeched in agony as I fell face first to the floor. Faintly I could hear the cackle of a crazy scientist behind me.

Chapter Twenty

I deal with a lot of unexplainable phenomenon. There was one time I ended up cursed to call any man older than myself “daddy” for three weeks. I still can’t show my face anywhere on the west side of town unless I want to relive those awkward days. Beyond the weirdest things that have happened to me, is how I always ended up home alone in bed with no recollection of how I got there. It reminded me in the early hours of the morning of a time long before I had bought this house, when Jamie was still around…physically. Back then I was a completely different person. We used to sneak out all the time and meet up in the middle of the night to go to any new club Jamie could find. Then after a few hours, sneak back into our rooms and then hate ourselves the next day. I can remember how I looked so clearly. Face still acne ridden, shoulders sharp and pointed, my limbs dangling, a mustache that was fuller than I deserved considering how patching the rest of my beard was. The reason I could remember wasn’t because of some fond memory, it’s because it was what I was looking at in the mirror. Staring back over the bathroom sink was myself at 20 years old. “Duuuuuude, look at you!” Jamie was practically yelling in my ear. “Whatever that mad scientist did made you look great!” I stood dumbfounded but what confused me most was I agreed with Jamie. Normally, I would have my usual annoyance of his brushing off the situation. I should have felt upset that Jamie left me hanging last night and for not focusing on how this had gotten out of hand. Instead, I had an electric energy. I felt the pull of my muscles, I felt rested and ready, and I felt my wingman hyping me up inside my own head. “So….what do you want to do first?” I heard the coy smirk in Jamie’s words.

“Bro I don’t even know” I surprised myself with my word choice. I had a big ‘bro’ phase right after college where I used it ironically to try to seem more chill than my stuck up appearance tended to be. Soon after, I doomed myself into unironically making it a habit and I spent most of my 20s unwillingly weaving it into conversation. “Yooo Ev’s back in the house!” Jamie cheered on, we both whooped for a minute before I came down from the high. I was buzzing with energy, buzzing with freedom. I had a random second chance at youth and I wanted to make the most of it. I wanted to… I looked at the mirror and admired my tight muscles that I’d let soften with years. I looked at the hard on pushing out obscenely from my shorts. A sudden mellow came to me. “Ah, it’s too bad you aren’t here to help me with this.” I sighed back to Jamie. In response, I heard him push air through his lips, something that always impressed me when he had neither lips nor lungs. “I’ll be over that in a minute, you just get me somewhere with guys who keep that thing up and I’ll do the rest. He said. I pranced past George’s coffee shop on my way. I considered going in to say hi, see what George would say. I saw my reflection in the mirror and thought I had enough energy for the week, what good would coffee do for me at this point? My vision stretched beyond the glass and I saw George taking orders inside. I was surprised with how much I pushed away from the sight of him. Something about how old he looked, seemed more like a dad than a potential boyfriend. I found myself in a dark club with loud music I would have hated yesterday. A sea of strong, young, ripped guys floated around me. A DJ at the front of the stage pumping the latest hits while the wave of testosterone ebbed and flowed. I stood near the back, my fourth or fifth vodka drink slipping past my lips. An older part of me worried about how expensive the drinks were now compared to when I was this age, the younger part of me kept the drinks flowing to drown out that old guys prattle. I spent the time wondering how Jamie found this club and how many times he had been here. I was especially shocked that this was my first time. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been too surprised, this was only my second time being 20 years old after all. My younger body felt more at home with the electrifying energy than my 30 year old body ever could. My eyes searched the room from dingy corner to precarious balcony for something that would float my boat. “Oh that one-no him with the big ass - Look at those abs!” Jamie was back in heaven. He giggled and bounced in my head at the idea of choosing a fish in this sea. He transferred to a few different guys temporarily. I could see them suddenly feel themselves up and down while trying out some of Jamie’s classic dance moves before giving a disapproving head shake and jumping back to me. This cycle continued from a redhead to a blond surfer type. To the loudest frat bro in the club. “What are you looking for exactly?” I called to him, thankfully the music was so loud I could talk freely and no one would be able to tell I was talking to myself. “Oh you know, someone that you like, that also I like, that is also drop dead gorgeous” Jamie continued to hop around. A curly haired brunette with a velvet top, a bald guy with more piercings than I could count, an ivy-league student’s first time at the bar. “You just described half the guys in here, I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them.” I said. “This is a rare night! We have to make sure it’s special. We need just the right guy.” Just then a guy bumped past me while he chased after a brunette in a string tank top.

“Babe come ooon!” The pursuer called out. His blond wave of hair bouncing as he ran. Jamie and I both noticed his tight crop top and short shorts. He reached out to grab the brunette’s arm and the brunette reacted like the grip was pure fire. He wretched it away and pushed the guy back. 

“Don’t fucking come near me with that!  I saw what you were doing with that guy, you always end up going after-” The brunette trailed off as the blond planted a kiss on the lips that ended in a slap across the face. I winced as Jamie was eating it up. “That’s the one.” “You sure Jamie? I mean he’s hot but seems like he’s got something going on already.” The brunette strode away toward the restroom and the blond followed pace. “Baaabe, don’t worry about it, you are still hot to me.’ he said. “That’s what you said last time you cheated on me with that guy from the park!”

“I was just blowing off some steam. It’s not like it meant anything.” “That’s why you did it behind my back and only admitted to it because I came home early?” the brunette retorted.

“I said I was sorry babe, you don’t have to be a bitch about it.” The blond said. The brunette’s face twisted into a rage filled wrinkle with his hands ready to smack again. “Yep, that’s the guy” Jamie said as he leapt out of me with a force that made me slosh my drink. I could sense him hop between multiple guys crossing paths before plunging into the blond with only a split second to duck before the hand of the brunette would make contact. Jamie, now in control, stood up and peered into the brunette’s eyes. “You are right, I’m a dick and you deserve better than me. Go find someone else here tonight who will treat you right. I’m done.” Jamie turned on his heels and walked back towards me leaving the dumbfounded brunette trying to gather what had just happened. “Hey there hot stuff.” Jamie purred in my ear. “I’m new in town, think you can show me around for the night?” The asshole that was just ruining some dudes night, now was inviting me to party while snaking his tongue down my throat. I hated that I was more than ok with that situation. I loved that the night was young. I loved that I was young. I felt the thump of the bass play through the speaker, heard the crashing of a thousand voices talking, I tasted the shot on Jamie’s tongue as he tested how good a kisser this guy was on me. I felt life. All the sounds and sensations blurred together into a cacophony of hedonism as Jamie pulled me to the bathroom. A group of guys were already in there going at it. I should have felt embarrassed and weird. Instead I tasted a few of their tongues before Jamie pulled me into a stall and we went at it. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as we passed. Considering I used to look like this, I hardly recognized myself. I gave in. Jamie was on bottom, Jamie was on top, I was sideways, I plunged, we twisted. I flicked, pinched, smacked, and tugged on anything I could hold. When the moment came I let it all out loudly, screaming in delight. I let Jamie know I wanted this. I let the world know I wanted this. I hoped the night would never end.

Chapter Thirty

My head pounded long before I opened my eyes. I grunted and rolled to the side to assess what damage had been done. Apparently a lot by the random twinges and pangs that poked through my sides and joints. “God, what did I do last night?” I moaned into my pillow. With a surge it came back, the club, the party, Jamie, my body! I leapt from the bed and ran to the bathroom crashing through my laundry basket and tumbled through my shoes. I peered into the mirror to find eager eyes and a hopeful twist were all that remained of my brief youthful glow. There was a strong familiarity to my body, A bit of heft in the midsection, the beard on my chin, and the start of crow’s feet on my eyes. I’d returned to my proper age. I sighed, surprising myself with how much I already missed being twenty. I shook off the feeling and splashed some water on my face, stepping laboriously into the living room. Sprawled out on the couch was Jamie still in the blond’s body. I nudged his side and watched his snores cut short as his abs compressed to suck in air as he stirred. “Whu’s happening?” He slurred through slumber. “Jamie wake up, Your body fell asleep, you know how much that messes with you.” Jamie pushed himself somewhat upright and wringed his hands through his face. Jamie was one to hop to another body before the consequences of a night could catch up with him. The blond adonis on my couch told me he still felt like sticking with the new guy. I just appreciated that he had made it back to the apartment at the end. Jamie groggily looked me up and down and gave a deeper sigh than I had, somehow I took offense to that. “Ah man, you’re you again!” He slipped back into his slumbered relaxation. “So sorry to disappoint you, but yeah, I’m back to me.” I kicked him a little harder than I meant to and he chocked back awake. “That was some night you had.” Jamie was face down in his bowl of cereal, slurping it down like he hadn’t eaten in days. “Looks like you had one as well” I replied, fishing out a soggy speck in my bowl. “Yeah but I always have crazy nights, You haven’t had one since you were like…” “In my twenties” I gave him a stare and he looked away. “It was fun you know, getting to party with you again.” Jamie said. “Really?” I could see he was avoiding my gaze. “I’m surprised you remember any of it with how much you drank, I vaguely remember up until the third bar.” Something about a few other guys and taking my shirt off, everything blended into an alcohol bender after that. “This guy,” jamie said pointing to his chest, “was blacking out, but I still could see what was happening fine, I made sure you didn’t do anything too reckless.”

“You didn’t let yourself get drunk?” I asked shocked. “I can’t get drunk, not like you anyway.” Jamie set down his spoon. “I’ve told you this right? I can feel the buzz in the body when I drink but the more the alcohol takes over and numbs the senses, the less control I actually have over the person. I don’t feel drunk I feel like I’m slipping out the body because, in a way I am. If I blackout hard enough I literally can’t get back in.” “Oh,” I paused, not knowing how to respond to that. “I thought that was why you always went for the younger guys was so you could drink a lot. I didn’t know that you couldn’t….” I trailed off, scratching my neck. Jamie turned and looked me straight in the face. It was my turn to turn away sheepishly. “Anyway, at least we were able to get one good night out of this whole thing. You are welcome.” Jamie fake bowed toward me, almost smashing his head on the counter. “How was this due to your help? I was the one who snuck into the lab.” I said. “In fact, you literally made yourself as far as you could from me after what happened with….” “I’m sorry about Cal,” Jamie interrupted. I opened my mouth and closed it again when I saw sincerity in his eyes”. It wasn’t right of me to use him just to get at you.”

“Jamie, you don’t have to…” I started. “Watching you last night brought back a lot of memories, a lot of the times you and I had before all of this, I wanted to be mad at you, I wanted to stay that way. but watching you let loose, watching you have fun without a care in the world? It just, it just made me realize how much I’ve missed you. How much I want things to stay the same.” I left a pregnant pause for a few minutes while we ate. I forced myself to speak up, knowing I lacked the courage to try again later. “We aren’t the same anymore.” I said. Jamie looked up slowly. “I liked last night as well, it was fun pretending again, but I’m not 20 anymore, and neither are you. The Jamie I knew would have never made sure I was ok at the end of the night like that. Thank you.” “Yeah well, the Ev I knew still blacked out from way too few shots.” Jamie punched my arm. We laughed for a second before staring across the counter at each other. There was a release of tension and a bit of an understanding that had somehow grown through the night. It wasn’t long before Jamie and I were backing into my bedroom lips locked as I tore away Jamie’s shirt and we fell onto the bed.

It was well into the afternoon when we finally left the bedroom and headed out into the town. Jamie found the ‘least cringe’ outfit he could find and replaced the tattered remains of his party outfit with some jeans and tight T-shirt of mine. I held his hand firmly as we paced down the street. The sun filtered nicely through the trees and showered us in golden sparkles. I wanted to stay this way, with Jamie, forever. I had the realization that this is what Jamie had been experiencing the whole time. He wanted to keep what he had lost. A taste of that youth he was robbed of. Now that I had him back, I wanted us to stay together so I wouldn’t lose him. There was a feeling I pushed to my stomach, that this moment was fleeting. That change was inevitable. For now, we were perfect, and that is all that mattered. We had decided to visit Cal’s shop again. It felt right to finish out where we had begun. I pushed through any awkwardness and went inside, knocking on the side wall and called to Cal. He seemed hesitant to come out of the back room. He must have remembered all too well what had gone down the last time I was here. Quickly and surprisingly effortless I pushed away the awkwardness and introduced Cal to “Jamie”. Cal and Jamie shared the same forced smile on their faces but Cal overcame it and held out a firm hand that Jamie took. Wincing only slightly at the power grip I had come to expect from Cal. “So what did you find?” Cal questioned after we had found a comfortable seat between two dismantled booths. “In all honesty I have no idea how that scientist did it. But what I can say is whatever he does, it isn’t permanent and I’m sure he’ll be charging through the nose for a second chance at youth. Even if his tricks were more impressive than I expected, we are all still destined to age.” I said. “Ah dang, I was really hoping for some hard evidence to really shove in the old gang’s faces.” Cal said. “ but I appreciate you looking into it.” “Sorry to disappoint. It would take someone a lot smarter than me to figure out exactly how he did it.” I reasoned. “Did you get to see one of his crazy performances?” Cal said. Jamie and I stole a glance at each other and I had to nudge Jamie to keep his face straight. “Oh we got to experience it firsthand.” Jamie said. “ But like he said, do you really think Ev looks younger?” We all chuckled although I was quick to stop when I realized Cal and Jamie were laughing a little too hard at my expense. “It’s for the best I’m sure,” Cal said. “ I was in town this morning and saw that the whole circus had packed up and left town, I think it will be better when all this blows over anyway. Thanks anyway for looking into it.”

Jamie and I said our goodbyes and I refused the payment from Cal. I had explained that it was a hoax but I still could not prove how the Doctor did it. Something sat wrong in me thinking about taking Cal’s money without finishing the job. “So that’s it?” Jamie questioned while we strolled back to the house. The sun was setting and the long walk up the street was bathed in a yellow glow as the houses closed their blinds and shutters. “A crazy night and the dude just disappears? That’s the end of the story? “I guess so? there’s not much more I can do, plus I’m kind of glad for things to get back to normal, My back is still killing me from last night.”

We made it home and fell into our normal routine. A quick dinner of whatever I had left in the freezer, and lounged on the tv watching some movie. I wrapped an arm around Jamie and didn’t fight it when he guided my hand under the tank top he was wearing to rest gently on his pec. There was an odd comfort that evening. I had enjoyed letting loose and feeling young again, but this simple pleasure was more my speed. I was content to just sit there and watch the hours tick by.

Chapter Forty

The alarm blared in my ear. I reached sluggishly to turn it off, removing Jamie’s arms from my torso. Jamie groaned in his sleep and wormed his arm, pulling me back into bed. I chuckled and felt the deep baritone reverberate in my chest. I hit the alarm and rolled over. I gave Jamie a deep good morning kiss. His soft eyes fluttered opened. “Two sleeps in a row? You must be enjoying this body.” I said, chuckling. I awaited one of Jamie’s snappy comebacks. “What’s on your face?” Jamie said, with a quizzical look. He rose up on one arm and wiped sleep from his eyes.

“What? I said rubbing around. “Since when do you have a goatee?” His quizzical look quickly turned to confused. “And since when have you had so many grays?” “Rude” I punched his arm, “I’m not going to let you sleep in the bed if you are just going to make fun of me in the morning.” I let my baritone laugh resound until I sat fully up and let my arm brush my belly.  I wasn’t in the greatest of shape before. but even I was surprised by the round belly that sat beneath my hands. On top of the sizeable mound a layer of slightly grayed hair sat covering the whole thing. “What the!?” I started. “Dude, you look old! What happened?” Jamie hopped out of the bed and came around to get a closer look at me. He started pinching my belly and grabbing my face. I quickly slapped his hands away.

“I don’t look old, I look,” The thought dawned on me. “Middle aged!” I jumped out of bed and ran to the mirror. The body that faced me was familiar yet more relaxed. I had a layer of fat around my usual areas and a nice plump mid section. The grays caressed the side of my head at the temples and the bottom of my goatee. Speaking of facial hair, I had never experimented with a goatee before, but I was surprised at how well it framed my face. I was dismayed to sense a deep tired in my eyes and various forehead wrinkles that refused to subside. “You definitely aren’t thirty anymore” Jamie blurted in a nervous energy behind me. He wrung his hands and kept tucking them into his armpits.

“What did that crazy scientist do to me?” I said. “Is this cause he made you younger? Now you are rubber banding the other way?” Jamie said a little too loud. “I was twenty after he hit me, thirty yesterday, now I’ve got to be closer to fourty.” I reasoned as I jiggled my belly. “Ok, so maybe it’s just a weird side effect, you’ll probably revert to thirty soon.” Jamie paced behind me. I couldn’t help but grab and feel my body. The aches, the bloated feeling, the way my belly jiggled slightly at every move. How could I feel so different in just one night? And what would happen if I stayed like this; or worse, what if the side effects were only just beginning? “Jamie,” I said quietly, my voice shaking slightly. Jamie stopped fiddling and looked at me with concern. “I think we better find that scientist, fast.” I burst out the front door with Jamie tailing behind. Every drop of the steps out front made my knees hurt and belly jiggle more than I cared. Jamie bounded down the steps effortlessly and was halfway across the yard before realizing I was dragging. “Sorry!” he came back pleading. “Maybe I should just drop off this body at his house so that I can stay with you.” I stopped for a breath I pretended I didn’t need desperately. “No Jamie, whatever happening to me is a physical change, if you are in my head when it happens who knows what it could do to you.” He looked at me with big eyes. “And quit looking at me like that, I’m fourty, not dead!”

We ran through the town headed to the main square. I knew that Cal had already seen the deserted caravan leave but I was too slow and Jamie was too shocked to come up with another plan. As we ran , or I should say, joggled slowly passed George’s cafe I heard the ringing of the front bell. “Everett! Good morning, I have a new drink for you to try!” George waved me down warmly and I slowed my steps. I could see Jamie’s eyes dart back and forth between the two of us. It was odd for him to be so concerned that he kept his mouth shut as we entered the cafe. George led us back to our table and I groaned loudly as we sat down. George’s warm demeanor faltered in confusion as he looked me up and down. 

“Are you feeling ok Everett, I feel like something is different about you from when I saw you last.” George said.

“It’s the goatee,” I reasoned, trying to take attention off of my aged appearance. “Had the beard long enough that I wanted to try something new.” “As long as you don’t start driving a Harley to the cafe, I say keep it!” George retorted. The thing I love about George is how fast his mind worked no matter how he felt. His quick whit and broad smile relaxed me and helped me realize that we needed an actual plan, not to just run around. “George, This is Jamie-” I gestured to Jamie who sat uncomfortably across the small table, bouncing his leg incessantly he looked more like a scared field mouse than my boyfriend. My boyfriend! I suddenly realized that I had never really broached the subject of Jamie to George. We’d had many long talks and cordial interactions but I’d never been able to tell our feelings for each other. George’s charisma was a blessing but I always second guessed his true feelings behind his cheshire appearance. Maybe it was a side-effect of the age but I realized there was no point hiding it anymore. Regardless of how George and I felt about each other I was in a relationship with Jamie. For better or worse. “-He is my boyfriend.” I finished after a too-long pause that Jamie was too wired to notice. George simply smiled,his face glowing at Jamie as he reached out a hand.

“It’s great to meet you Jamie, Everett is a very lucky man to have someone like you.” “Sure, uh-huh, great. Could I get a coffee please. I’m really, uh, tired.” Jamie said while he tried everything not to bounce off the walls. “Of course! Coming right up. I hope you are as adventurous in coffee as Everett is.” George beamed as he headed back to the counter. “Hey Jamie,” I said. “Why don’t you take it down a notch, or seven. What’s gotten into you?” “What’s gotten into me?! You are aging Ev! We gotta find that Doctor, we don’t have time to be sitting here drinking…” “Coffee on the house for the happy couple.” George sat down two saucers and cups in front of us. I noted the speed in which George had retrieved the two concoctions. The hint that he may have made the second cup for himself was not lost on me. “So what are you two up to today?” George asked.

“You remember that Doctor Dillard guy from a few days ago that I mentioned?” I said. “Oh yeah, the snake oil guy?” “Yeah that’s the one. See I checked out his presentation that day and now we kind of need to see him again. I was hoping you had heard something about where he might be going from your customers.” “Trying to find him again? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for his spiel! Everett there’s nothing wrong with aging gracefully.” I jiggled my belly under the table and tried to hide my frown with a cough. “Oh don’t worry about me George.” I said. “We just need to ask him some follow up questions to finish up the case.” I took a sip of my drink after noticing Jamie had finished his. The taste was bitter as I took the moment to gauge George’s impression of Jamie. Was George just noticing that Jamie had finished his drink or was he judging Jamie? I suddenly hated George, why was Jamie being put on the spotlight; and more importantly, why was it on the day when Jamie was actually losing his mind? “I haven’t heard too much about the Doctor.” George said. “But I did hear from a group who came in from Stillwater that he may be passing that way.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat thinking about Stillwater again. My visceral reaction to southern drawl had lessened but I was far from recovery to enter anything remotely cowboy. “Let’s hope he hasn’t left town yet on his world tour.” I smiled at George. “Well, speaking of which, we should get going.” I stood up, grunting louder than when I had sat down and took Jamie’s hand to lead him out the same way you might coax a nervous kitten out of a tree. “Thanks for the coffee George, I’ll be in later this week.” I said. We walked out the front door and it took every bit of willpower not to glance back to see if George was following us with his eyes.

We spent the rest of the day walking around asking anyone if they had heard anything from Doctor Dillard. Unfortunately like most fads his fifteen minutes of fame was over. Nearly everyone was convinced that it was all a hoax. Those that had gone to visit the doctor at the campus were dismayed to find out that his machine seemed to have run into some kind of error and was un-operational for any further demonstrations.

Damn it, how does someone that popular a few days ago just vanish?” Jamie said as we sat down on a park bench. My knees screamed and I needed to catch my breath.

“I know, it’s like no one even remembers what happened. There was a huge carnival right here and nothing.” I said.

“We could try the campus and see if there is any left over clues of him there?” Jamie suggested as his knee bounced incessantly.

“No, I don’t think that would work. That one lady we talked to worked up there remember, and she said he left without telling anyone- hey wait a minute.” I tried to focus my eyes across the park but my glasses barely could keep up with my eyesight at this point.

“Jamie, who is that guy walking on that path by the lake?” I said.

“I don’t know just some old dude. He looks ancient.”

“No I remember him, from somewhere. The presentation!” I yelled.

I forced myself up and jogged across the park to catch up with him.

“Sir! Sir wait a minute.” I called out to him.

“What’s that?” The man yelled.

“Excuse me, but weren’t you the guy who was part of the presentation with Doctor Dillard?” I asked.

The man’s face contorted into rage at the sound of the doctor’s name.

“No good scam artist that one is. Makes me feel all better but barely lasts a day. I went to see him after but he said his machine was vandalized by hooligans and wouldn’t work again. Gave me a darn taste of youth and now I’m as old and crotchety as ever. Good riddance to that buffoon!” The elderly man stalked off.

“Hooligans?” Jamie puzzled.

I let out a deep sigh. “I bet it’s when he used the machine on me. Figures I’d break it somehow. He seemed very upset and not like he was running it properly at the time.”

“But that man looks the same as before the carnival. There’s no way he could have aged anymore otherwise he would have been dust by now.” Jamie said.

“ Yeah you are right, look it’s getting late and we’ve got nothing, let’s just turn in for the night and we can figure something out in the morning.”

Jamie gave me a weird sad look.

“What is it?” I said.

“Are you sure you want to sleep? What if you wake up older?”

“Ugh, I’m too old and tired to worry about that now, I need sleep and to get off my damn feet. Let’s go.”

We walked the long way back to the house. I cursed the fact that the lemon had died a month before, I would give anything for an easier ride around town at this point. By the time we were home we were both mentally and physically tired. We got ready for bed and crashed instantly.

Chapter Fifty

My eyes fluttered opened and I stared at the familiar old crown molding above. A wave of terror overcame me. How old was I now? I could feel Jamie’s arm wrapped around me keeping my head pinned enough not to look down. I gently lifted the arm not pinned beneath the blond next to me and examined my hand. I sighed deeply and let it thump back onto the bed, the defeat washing over me. When we eventually accepted reality and got out of bed my only consolation was that I was no longer chubby. Turns out in my fifties I start to get into shape. My torso was lean and I could even see the faint lines of abs starting to form. My face held onto the age in stark contrast. Thick crow’s feet aligned with forehead wrinkles that curved around and met smile lines beneath. My skin had started to take on a leathery appearance, thick and calloused especially on my hands.

We ate in silence. Jamie kept his eyes off of me, I knew this reality was hitting him just as it was for me. I reached out and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Smiled deeply into his distracted eyes.

‘It’ll be alright.” We both cried.

I sat in the park. Usually I’d just sit in the yard if I was wanting to be closer to nature, but something about being fifty felt right to be out here. There was a mix of all ages at the park let alone the amount of animals and birds that wandered and scurried throughout. I repositioned on the bench, wishing I could sit on a picnic blanket but knew that I’d have a harder time getting up than I’d like. For now my sore ass was how it was going to be. I glanced up at the clouds and wondered if it would rain soon. Thick wispy clouds led down the horizon to large puffy darkness beyond that bled into the treeline. From the trees came Jamie holding two corndogs. He was still frowning and the site of a handsome man having the worst day of his life while holding two dogs made my insides brighten. He sat next to me and held out a corndog that was dripping with ketchup. I thanked him and looked at him as he sat stone faced staring at the pond nearby. Behind us I could hear a few men loudly playing volleyball, I had stolen a few glances at them while Jamie was away to appreciate their athletic sensibilities. Jamie must not have been able to see them with his eyes so red. I grabbed his untouched corndog and set it next to mine. “Jamie” I said. “Yeah?” He whispered. “Go play volleyball.” I pushed.

“No, it’s fine. I mean I don’t want to, unless you want to come play as well, then maybe we could…” “Jamie, I want to watch you play volleyball.” 

“Y..you sure?”

“Yes” I nudged him with my elbow out of his seat and waved him towards the court nearby. I took a bite of the corndog and regretted it immediately. I wiped my face as he walked up to the guys playing. God he was so awkward lately, it felt like watching a kid enter kindergarten for the first time trying to make friends. Thankfully the other men seemed cordial and got back into formation. They began their game up again. Jamie kept looking back at me clearly confused. I smiled and shoo’ed him on. It took two games before he really got into it. By the third game he was diving for the ball and testing out his athleticism. He yelled loudly when he caught a close call and even argued with the referee. I laughed at him and when the fourth game began I excused myself in the midst of the action. Planned perfectly when Jamie was fully focused. 

I walked back down to the pond and looked at my reflection in the water. I pushed past my gut reaction as I watched tadpoles swim underneath. I looked at myself again and sighed. 

“This is it Everett.” I spoke to myself. “You are getting older, there’s nothing else you can do but enjoy it.” I glanced back up the hill and watched Jamie spike the ball across the net. “He’s a good kid.” I continued. “You’ve got to let him go. You are holding him back.” I looked shocked at my reflection and tried to reason my own words. I was holding him back? He was the one keeping me from a relationship, how was I making it harder for him?

“Tell him the truth, about that night.” My reflection said. I kicked at the water and ended up losing balance and ended up with my pant leg soaked. I grimaced and headed back up the hill to where Jamie was coming back from his game.

“How was it?” I passed Jamie a cup of water while paying extra attention to the rising and falling of his chest.

“Fun enough.” Jamie said. He tried to come back to the moody emotion he had felt before but I saw the fire in his eyes.

“You played volleyball in a while? You looked like a natural up there.” “Yeah, it was the dude before I saw you at stillwater. I jumped into him on a kind of bet with myself. See I  stalked into the college campus dorms and I decided I was going to possess someone without looking at them first, so I took over a janitor and walked down the dorm halls and tried to guess their personalities from their door decor. I ended up in this real ugly dude who was super straight and had braces still and everything. By the time I realized it was too late, so with no real sex to have I ended up just trying to take it easy and live out his life instead. Turns out he was on the College volleyball team and I spent the rest of my stay getting really good at volleyball.”

“Really? I never realized that your skills transferred like that.” I said. “Well they don’t fully, I was extremely rusty out there but I had the muscle memory to get going faster than before.” Jamie said. He took a long chug of water and I watched the sunlight peer through the clouds and hit him in his cute face.

“Let’s go get a snack” I suggested.

We walked across the park while Jamie relayed all the points he scored. He was so animated and excited it made me laugh a few times. At one point we passed by the large window in front of an ice cream store and I saw how the two of us looked together. Jamie was the 20 year old height of youth athletic body and I was in an aged mature stature. It dawned on me that to everyone else I probably looked more like Jamie’s dad than his boyfriend. The thought confused me, with one half being embarrassment and the other half being a weird pride. We entered the ice cream parlor and sat down with the smallest size I could find and a triple scoop for Jamie.

“I liked seeing you out there.” I said. “I think you should do it more often.”

“What? Are you going to put a court in the backyard?” Jamie questioned around a spoonful of ice cream.

“No,” I laughed. “I mean you should get more into sports. Seemed like a good outlet for you.”

“Oh please, like you wouldn’t get bored within a day.” Jamie sneered.

I paused and forced the words to come out one at a time. “I mean, without me.”

The spoon gingerly fell into Jamie’s ice cream and he left it there.

“What do you mean without you?”

“I mean that you should keep doing it, not for me but for yourself.” I said.

“For myself? Ev, don’t talk like that. You sound like you are writing your will.” Jamie’s eyes widened. “You aren’t dying! We are going to figure this out!”

“I know!” I held Jamie’s hands and helped guide him back into his chair. “Even when I’m back to normal.” I said quietly. “I think it’s time you found a life outside of me.”

Jamie pulled his hands back from mine. “That’s not what I want! Just because I take little trips from you doesn’t mean that I want to leave you. We’ve been together since high school” I could see tears form at the corner of Jamie’s eyes.

“Yes, and now I’m old and we are different.” I let the words fly, not to hurt Jamie, but to cut off the part of me that was still holding on. “We’ve been stuck to each other for so long we don’t know how to live by ourselves anymore. You’ve spent your trips trying to relive the magic of what we had when we were young. I’ve spent the time trying to distract myself from how I really feel about you.” I reached out and put my hand to Jamie’s chest. “I will always love you.” I said, “but I can’t love myself holding you back. When I see you out there alone, I see the confidence it brings you and see how diverse and compassionate you are. When you are with me all I see is how much you use my body.”

“Ev, I….I don’t….what if I can’t even leave you. My spirit is attached to you and I can’t…” 

“It was 3 months.” I said.

“What?”

“Your last trip was three months. When this all started you couldn’t stay apart from my for three days before you started to become unstable, now you can go months on end without reattaching to me. You’ve been changing, growing, expanding, whatever. I think you are capable of being on your own a lot more than you realize.” I said.

“So what, that’s it? You expect me to just move on and you go off and die by yourself!” Jamie stood.

“That’s not what I’m saying. I just mean-”

“Ev, this is about a lot more than just you, you can’t just fucking pass me off to some guys playing volleyball and expect me to move on!”

“Jamie wait!” I called out as he barged out of the store. I realized I couldn’t catch him and resigned myself to my seat. A couple at the counter gave me a cross look. I ended up throwing away the untouched ice cream and stalked out the door.

Wandering through town did me little good. I considered trying to hitch a ride to Stillwater. Without a car I was pretty limited. Maybe I could have talked Cal or George into taking me. I shook the idea away. I refused to bring Cal into this mess after what Jamie had already done to him and George would take me but then I’d have to explain everything to him and somehow aging  seemed easier than that. As the sun began to set I trudged back up the street to the house. Most the houses had already turned off their porch lights and I found myself with a deep sense of loneliness. I twirled a piece of grass between my fingers and tried to let the pit in my stomach relax.

I was surprised to find Jamie in bed that night. He was turned away from me and refused to acknowledge me again. It felt like after the Cal incident all over again. I got ready for bed and slid into bed next to him but made sure to turn the other direction. I laid there for an hour thinking through the past few days. My eyes grew heavy and right before I crashed  Jamie spoke quietly. 

“I think you should be a man and actually ask George on a date. If you are so convinced that this is the end you should focus about what you want in life. I can handle myself.” I felt a kiss on the back of my head. Blinking my eyes open, I  and turned to Jamie to find the bed empty as he went off to the bathroom. I let my head drop back as my dreams began to fill with coffee.

Chapter Sixty

Before I opened my eyes my back and knees let themselves be known. Sixty was going to be a lot of pain. My back hunched slightly but overall I felt great, the lean muscle of 50 had turned into a mixture of added fat and muscle, I was thick and in an odd way powerful. I expected to feel frail and instead felt commanding. In my twenties I had been a pushover and now I could do a whole lot of pushing back. Jamie tried to give me the same sad eyes but I pushed past him. “I ain’t dead yet, let’s have some fun.” “What are we doing here, aren’t you worried someone will see you?” “And what? I’ll keel over on them? Let them see me.” I said. George was busy that morning with a load of teenagers. We sat for a while before he greeted us. “Good morning gentlemen, what can I get you?” “Coffee, black” I replied. Jamie ordered something with enough sugar to make me sick sitting next to him. I scowled over to him before my eyes drifted back to George. He looked so full of youth for his age. A week ago I had looked up to him as someone who had lived far more of his life than I had, now I was his senior. “How’s business going George?” I said. “It’s going crazy the last few days, and I had two hands call out sick so I’ve been covering a lot more than I should be at my age.” ‘I heard that” I nodded to him. “You knew my name, but I don’t believe we’ve met.” George eyed me. “It’s Everett.” I winked at him. George eyed me cautiously, no doubt wondering if this was the set up to an elaborate joke. “Nice to meet you. Funny coincidence, the guy who usually sits at this table is also named Everett.” “Huh what do you know,” I teased, feigning dramatically. “Maybe we are related.” I paid no attention to Jamie slapping himself in the face. “Anyway I’ll get your order started and out as soon as I can.” George flew away to help a near boiling cup of foam his apprentice was about to turn into a bomb. “What was that?” Jamie eyed me. ‘What was what?” I leaned in towards him. “Ears aren’t working as good.” Jamie rolled his eyes at me. “You aren’t going to tell George?” He said. “Oh let me have my fun, I’ve earned it.” I punched him lightly in the arm.

When our orders came we sat drinking them in peace. I occasionally would scold Jamie for slurping or being on his phone instead of talking but the morning felt peaceful and for once I wasn’t in a rush to fix things. A strange peace settled over the cafe that morning. I no longer cared what happened to me, as long as Jamie had what he needed, I wasn’t worried about the next chapter.

“I didn’t picture George to be someone to get so upset.” Jamie laughed to himself. I followed his gaze and watched George force himself to the back room with his customer service smile on his face.

“Not usually, but he cares a lot about this place. He spent the second half of his life building it up after his first business went kaput."

“What did he do before?” Jamie asked.

“Dog grooming”

“Not enough customers?”

“No business was booming that’s why he started, turns out he’s extremely allergic to certain types of dogs. Had to quit before his allergies killed him.”I said.  

Jamie gave a chuckle.“Woah no way, that must have sucked.”

“Yeah, he mentioned it only once. Said something about how much of his life up till that point he had spent trying to make it work and how hard it was to walk away.” Jamie set his coffee down as I continued. “At the time I’m sure it felt like everything to him. It became his identity, the thing that got him up in the morning, what he was excited about, what his brain defaulted to if he had a moment to spare. It must have driven him crazy when it started to have issues. To be so invested in something that just is not going to work out well for you in the end. Takes a lot of guts to admit that to yourself.

“You aren’t talking about George anymore, are you?” Jamie watched as George came back out and quickly got back into the flow of the counter, his smile more genuine.

“George is a good man.” Jamie said. “You hadn’t mentioned me to him before, had you?” 

I lowered my eyes. “Jamie look, I’m sorry…”

“You should tell him,” Jamie interrupted. “Not about me, I mean, I honestly don’t care he’s not that good looking. I mean about you, about what you do for work and what really happens out there.” Jamie’s blue eyes met mine. 

“When we were…together,” I forced out. “You were so connected to that part of my life.” I chugged another gulp of coffee. “I never told you this, but I think when you…” “Died horribly in a car crash?” Jamie spat out.

“Well, yeah, and…” “Then I possessed my boyfriend for fear of fading away into nothingness, forever sealing myself  into his brain?”

“I don’t like how you say that.” I frowned at Jamie. He simply shrugged and leaned into his chair.

“It’s the truth, there’s nothing wrong with saying it.” He reasoned.

“Fine, yes after you died in that crash and possessed me, I think that woke up whatever part of my psyche that could really see and feel the supernatural.” I said. Jamie laughed to my surprise. “Oh Ev, you never give yourself enough credit.”

“What do you mean?”

Jamie scoot his chair in an leaned over the table.

“I’m not the first guy who fell madly in love with someone and died prematurely next to them. Don’t you think if I had just ‘willed’ myself into you that others wouldn’t have done the same? There has to be something about you that allowed my spirit to attach to it like I did.” 

I had never thought of it like that before. I always assumed it was Jamie who had caused my connection to the weird side of life but maybe there was more to me than I had assumed.

“See this is why you need a boyfriend,” Jamie continued. “To help you see through your thick skull every once in a while. Someone like a steady man with a cunning whit who makes you tremble slightly whenever he’s around? Someone like George?” Jamie taunted.

“George has enough going on with the cafe not to have me messing it up for him with some weird body horror.” I said. Jamie rolled his eyes again before they suddenly lit up. A sure sign Jamie was about to do something stupid.

“Hiya George, say I know you are super busy right now but you look like someone who needs to get his mind off of work and as luck would have it I know a guy who needs to get his mind onto you so how about a date tonight with this fine specimen.” I turned in horror to find george standing next to our table with one hand on a fresh cup of coffee and the other tapping his chin as his golden eyes flashed.

“Mighty young wingman you got there.” George chuckled to me. “Must be nice having a son look out for his old man like that.”

Jamie’s smile turned aghast at the notion. George paid him no mind and set the coffee in front of me, a matcha latte with a heart molded into the foam. George eyed me up and down.

“You still look awfully familiar to me, might need you to take me to a bright restaurant so I can get a good look at your face.” George teased at me. My face reddened a few shades.”How about next week?”

My stomach sank for a moment, next week I’d have to be over one-hundred, a gnawing sense threatened to swallow me from the inside out. I looked at Jamie who seemed equally conflicted but gave me that classic ‘go gettum’ smile. I turned to George and the warmth in his smile melted the feeling away.

“No,” I said. “Guys like us don’t always know how much time we have left. Tonight, I’ll pick you up.” George’s eyes faltered in surprise. Had I been too forward? He laughed and patted me on the back.

“Alright Tiger,” George let his hand linger on my shoulder. “Store closes at 6, I’ll see you at 7. Wear something nice, I don’t date hobos.”

In a flash, George was waltzing back to the counter and Jamie was grabbing my cheeks with his hands.

“Dude you did it!” Jamie squealed.

“I uh, yeah I did! Wait, are you ok with this. With me going out with someone else?”

“You idiot.” Jamie squeezed my cheeks harder. “I just want you to be happy, and that dude,” He turned my face to the counter where I saw George watching the two of us, “Makes you happy. Go for it.”

I stood in the mirror of the bathroom trying not to focus on my receding hair line and what I assumed were liver spots starting to form on my arms. Instead I traced my eyes over the tight crop top Jamie was wearing that said ‘hot zaddy’ across the pecs. He was fixing my tie and humming a song. I watched his ass sway along with his movements in the shortest shorts I’d ever seen on him. 

“So what are you going to be doing while I’m taking things slow with George? Seeing how little clothes you can wear till a cop arrests you for public indecency?”

“I’m not just going to sit around here all night while you perform the slowest, most boring mating dance possible! I’m going to the club and picking up as many hot tamales as I can.” Jamie smirked.

“I don’t get how you do it.” I said. “I’m going on a date with one guy and I’m so nervous my skin is buzzing. You do this all the time. What’s your secret?” I said.

“Know your worth,” Jamie said. “You feel nervous cause you don’t think you are good enough.”

We headed to the door and waved goodbye to each other as we went our separate ways. Wishing each other luck.

I met George by the cafe.

“You want a cup of coffee before we go?” George offered. I stumbled, unsure if he was being serious.

“It’s a little late for me to be drinking caffeine, don’t want to be up all night you know.” I said as I rubbed a hand on the back of my neck.

“Oh you must be a light weight, I’ve had so much coffee in my life it puts me right to sleep.” George chuckled  as he locked up the shop. George was wearing a long tan (trench coat) with a scarf loosely hanging down over it. A pair of tight jeans shown under that led to dark blue boots that clicked on the pavement.

“Alright, but you had your chance, no falling asleep on me tonight, it’s already late for a couple of old timers and I plan on making the most of the evening.” George said as he started walking around the corner. 

I hurriedly stepped to catch up. “Wait where are we going?” I called out.

“To the date, unless you had something else planned.” George called over his shoulder, his tall frame effortlessly carrying him down the sidewalk past a row of tight apartments.

“Well it wasn’t so much of a plan as a vibe really, I was thinking we could go down to the river, see if they had a canoe we could rent or something.” I reasoned, realizing that I had not really thought out a date. When Jamie and I had been together we never planned as much as we let our dicks pick a direction and run.

“You think this outfit is getting into a boat?” George chuckled as he gestured down to his ensemble. “No no, I have something more sophisticated in mind.”

Wide stone stairs led up to a set of doors. Large windows rose dramatically and arched at the top to create a grand entrance. I felt myself cower slightly, feeling as if the whole facade would come crashing down on top of me like an ant. George remained unfazed and three steps ahead of me as he flowed into the doors. I quickly followed behind and upon entering had to rub my eyes to get my vision to adjust. Inside was a dark large banquet hall with a round display in the middle of a planet with multiple rings and decorative golden spaceships slowly orbited around. A large dark blue banner with gold trim and fancy lettering was suspended above and read, “welcome to the night under the stars: an inter-planitary adventure”

“Last time I came here I had to be in fifth grade.” I whistled. I saw george at the front desk chatting seriously with a college age student who looked fully outclassed in style and in demeanor across from George.

“...Just make sure it’s ready” George said urgently, enunciating with a deliberate quality. I’d heard him speak in this albeit a cheerful tone to customers at the shop where the loud atmosphere lent to a more forced tone, this was different though. He seemed angry? Or maybe it was something more…

“You enjoy the stars Everett?” George turned and directly asked. I gazed up at the ceiling at the countless paper stars that must have taken months to individually hand up on the high ceiling.

“Yeah, they sure are great. Did you know about this before hand because I literally asked you today and you seem like you are prepared.”

“Oh don’t think anything of it.” George pushed off with a laugh, “I have a son who worked here in high school before he left for college so I’m just familiar with what I know.”

“Here’s your tickets uh sir,” The college age receptionist called out. “And don’t worry we’ve got that thing set up just in time.” He gave a large wink to George that wrinkled in his face and showed the braces in his forced smile. George sighed deeply and wiped his face with his hands.

“Follow me Everett, This place is large and I think we are sophisticated enough to enjoy the finer things in life.” george held out a hand leading me past the entrance and into the exhibit through an arched doorway. George quickly grabbed the doors and swung them open, then with a breath he seemed to collect himself and stepped to the side, allowing me to enter first.

“Oh thank you, I’m not use to young men like yourself holding doors open for me.” I said.

“Come now, you deserve it.”

I entered into a small hall that was even darker than the lobby. My old eyes had trouble focusing on anything and I realized that I was now prime age to stumble and need a life alert so I reached out for a handrail. Instead I felt something warm and strong. George’s firm hands held mine and steadied me. Above me on the ceiling a faint blue dot appeared, followed by another and another till slowly the whole ceiling light up with little pinpricks of lights as a canopy of stars. As the light filled the room I turned to see George’s eyes staring into mine. 

“Pretty cool, don’t you think? Now watch this” George said.

I hesitated but I pulled my eyes from George’s and looked back at the ceiling to see lines form between the stars forming constellations. The big dipper was first, Orion, then Cassiopea. They stretched further into down the hall and around a corner. George’s hand pressed against my back and I gently moved into the hallway. There was soft music and I could hear the distant chatter of a crowd. My footsteps echo’d on the floor until I turned and found myself looking out into a large dome from a balcony on the second floor. Throughout the first floor there were various exhibits of the planets and stars with scale models and dress up space shuttles. Groups of families and children and teenagers rushed to and through around the various exhibits and their collective chatter filled the space. Still I heard George’s voice whisper into my ear. 

“Look up”

Above me the ceiling had the same shimmering pin point stars that the hallway had. The constellations, now much larger to fill the expansive dome traveled along the star lines to fill out the rest of the constellations I knew.

“Wow, this is definitely cooler than a canoe, although you could still see stars on the lake.” I pointed out.

“True, but you wouldn’t see this.” George said. He pointed to the last section of the dome “sky” furthest from our vantage point on the balcony. There was a long horizontal portion of dark sky that lit up randomly with various stars. Lines stretched and curled connecting them in an array unlike any constellation I had seen. As the stars connected I noted they looked more like letters then images, it wasn’t until the last bit connected that I saw the full word.

“EVERETT” it spelt out

“Wow, this is…woah” I stumbled. I looked over at George who had the biggest grin on his face, like he was a kid who had just pulled off the best prank ever.

“Pretty impressive right?”

“How did you…where did you?” I mumbled.

“I told you my son worked here, I know a thing or two about the exhibits, it took a little convincing and almost wringing the neck of a dumb receptionist before he spilled the beans but it worked.”

“George I have to let you know I don’t have anything nearly as good as this for you.” I said.

George laughed a deep laugh and put an arm around my shoulder as he led me to the stairs and into the chaos of the exhibits on the first floor. Before the sounds of the crowd overwhelmed us he whispered into my ear. “Don’t worry about it, you can pay me back another way.”

My cheeks blushed and I was suddenly aware of how close George was standing next to me. He had unbuttoned his coat and I could see his cashmere sweater beneath. For a moment I was fully invested in how soft that sweater was. George noticed my hesitation and chuckled.

“They sell caramel corn here. They super overcharge but the popcorn is good, I like the large size.” George said with a wink. He pushed me off in the direction of the concession stand. 

I sighed and pulled out my wallet while I waited. What was I so worked up about? Why had I immediately thought he wanted sex? Ugh it was just like me, I finally get over Jamie and turns out I’m thinking more like him. I ordered the caramel corn and gave my kidney for the large. Turning back to watch George as he looked at a display on comets. Oh god, what if George isn’t really into me, what if he just thinks I’m some loser kid and he is taking me on a pity date? I shook my head and jumped when the lady at the counter loudly repeated herself that the popcorn was ready. I took the large bag back to George and watched him grab a handful of popcorn and swallow it without even looking away from the display.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding about liking the food here.” I said.

George turned to reply when the words caught in his mouth and looked at me puzzled. Still, the corners of his mouth twisted up in a happy bemused look.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that, I just thought you were pulling my leg.” I said.

“No no, sorry I just noticed your face is all. It’s nice.” He said.

My cheeks blushed deeper as my brain spiraled further into the pity date conspiracy. Was he really just noticing how I looked now? How did I even look, I had been instinctively not looking at my reflection since I turned fifty, and now I was even older. Shoot did he think I was too old for him? How had I been when I started dating Jamie, I don’t remember all of these nerves that burned through my skin and made me jumpy.

I felt George’s hand lead me as I tried my best not to drop the obscenely large bag of popcorn. We landed at the Apollo mission display and George explained how he was born right after man had walked on the moon. 

“My Father always said that I was destined to become a great astronaut. I was in space camp and he worked hard so I could get into the best school so I’d have a chance to make it to space.” George said.

“Oh, unless you have a crazy side hustle I’m assuming you never made it?”

“Oh no, I get extremely motion sick, plus being shoved into a rocket with no breathing space sounded like hell even when I was a kid.” George laughed.

“I take it your dad wasn’t too happy when you broke the news you were going to be earthbound then?”

“Oh he took the news about as well as he could.”

“So good?”

“No he died when I was three.” George said with a straight face.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean too….”

George’s golden eyes swept over my face. His cheeks rose as his mouth turned small.

“You…your joking, aren’t you?” I said.

“Oh no he very much died but I’m ok. I just love to see you flustered.” 

“Well, I’m glad one of us enjoys it.” “Come Everett, you have to relax, you take everything so seriously. You have to slow down and look at the fun in life, see all there is to see.”

I thought about all the cases I had taken on and how bizarre and odd I found the world truly to be. “I think I’ve seen more of life than most people get to see. I’m worried someone my age has very little time to slow down anymore.”

George eyed me again with that curious look. “ I see” He said. “And how old are you if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m th…uh Sixty three” I said.

“You act like you are ninety, there are still years ahead of you.”

“The average lifespan of a man in the modern age is mid seventies. I’m worried that’s going to come a little too fast for me.”

A group of yelling children barged between the two of us ruining the tension, still George kept his eye on me and I found myself glancing away first.

“When you asked me out you said the sooner the better. Was this why? Are you sick or something?”

“It’s hard to explain,” I reasoned. “Call it a hunch I don’t think I’ll be around much longer.”

George nodded thoughtfully before turning on his heels and walking back to the main set of stairs. “I accept your compliment.”

“Compliment? What compliment?” I hurried after him.

We reached the stair and he nimbly started climbing, I did my best to follow thankful that we had finished most the popcorn and I could actually see where I was going.

“If you are so certain that you have a limited time left that means that you didn’t ask me out on a dare or a prank. It was something thought out and important,” George turned to face me at the landing, looking down at me as I caught my breath. “It means that with what time you have left you wanted to spend it with me and THAT is one of the best compliments I’ve received.”

George led the way through a number of hallways till we exited the building through a side entrance that had a sign on the door that read “employees only”. It was night time now and as we were away from the main entrance the dark alley that the door led out to was covered with shrubs and trees that I squinted to make sure I was walking in a straight line. George walked to the side and pointed up. I followed, careful not to step on his shoes and followed his gaze to see a break in the trees where the clear night sky opened up. Thousands of stars shown down through the little hole, the darkness of the clearing blocking any light pollution made the stars stand out brightly.

“It’s beautiful,” I said.

“Even more beautiful than the whole display inside.” George agreed. 

“This was really nice George, thank you for taking me here I’m glad I got to see it.” I said.

George replied with a look. A grin that melted me down and eyes that shown brighter than the stars. George leaned in and before I even realized what was happening I was drawn into the largest kiss I had been in a long time. It wasn’t forced, or aggressive. It was soft and comforting. I immediately thought of it as the comfort from a warm cup of coffee but in all fairness I could have just been tasting it on his breath. The caramel popcorn taste was there as well. After a moment George pulled back and I felt a quick breath enter over my lips; cooling down the area where I had felt his warmth.

I stared at the stars and suddenly felt a wave of emotion overcome me. The stars felt like they pinpricked through myself and everything inside began to pour out. Tears streamed down my face as I was swept over with fear. This was going to be the end, if not tonight than tomorrow or if I was lucky the day after that. The darkness felt like it swallowed me whole. Then I saw that golden light in George’s eyes. He stared at me deeply and stood firm, waiting for me. The golden light became the smile of Jamie when he had the upper hand. It became the approving nod of Cal when I was actually able to help him on a project. It became the truth I had seen in the mirror, the part of me that remained as I got older or changed or transformed any number of times. “I’m so scared George.” I cried.

“We all are.” He said. George stepped closer and cupped my face in his hands. I watched him through blurry eyes.

“What matters is not how much time we have but how we chose to use it, and who we chose to spend it with.” George said.

“I’m glad I got to spend it with you,” I wiped my eyes. “And sorry for crying on a first date.”

“Don’t worry about it.” George said, without a smile. His sincerity shown through and I felt his reassurance. “And between you and me I think you have more time on your hand than you think.”

“I hope that you are right.”

George walked me home. I was thankful that he kept the conversation light. He talked about new coffee flavors he was going to try and trips he had planned and what he wanted to accomplish before the years end. When we got to the house he held my hand in his. Without a word he gave my hand a squeeze and walked back down the small drive to the street, glancing back only once before disappearing behind the trees. Part of me was upset that he would leave me alone but I also felt what he was saying without words. “You’ll be ok, I’ll see you soon”

I entered my house and set about getting ready for the night before getting into bed. The fears stayed lingering at my bedside but the memory of George’s kiss guided me into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter Seventy

“Oh! Hey Ev.”

“Hi Jamie.”

“What are you doing up here?”

“Just thinking through my life. What are you doing up here?”

“Oh I was just uh…”

“Checking to make sure I was still alive?”

“Something like that. I guess.”

“I was half surprised myself when I woke up. I thought after such a nice evening that I’d had my swan song and would just slip out of life after.”

“So the date went well?”

“The date was amazing. I’ll cherish it, but that’s not what I was thinking about just now?”

“Then what were you thinking about?”

“You.”

“Ah shucks Ev. Me and my good looks?”

“About when you died.”

“Oh.”

“What do you remember about it?”

“Well, I remember driving through the woods. It was your birthday. We hit a bar before. The car slipped. Then it all gets a bit hazy. Next thing I remember is waking up in your head.”

“We never talked about what happened to you. I think it was my way of trying to protect you. Maybe it was just selfish.”

“Selfish, like you were trying to protect yourself?”

“The car didn’t slip Jamie, I did. I’d been drinking at the club. We’d been in some fight and yet you insisted on taking me out for my birthday. We both had a few shots and I found you with another guy.”

“Oh Ev, you don’t…”

“I drove us that night. Rage and the alcohol took over and next thing I knew I was looking over at you with a tree branch through…”

“It’s ok Ev, I’m ok. Don’t do this to yourself.”

“Jamie I’ve been doing it to myself for years, more times than I could ever count. Yes you woke up in my head but that was weeks later. I told you I went to your funeral. It was there that I first felt you. I hadn’t realized it back then. Everyone told me that ‘loved ones will always be with you’ but with you it ended up being literal. For a week I carried you around like a warm spot, trying to feed you with good memories where I could. By the third week I started to notice new perspectives. Where my memory ended yours filled in. What was a long stroll down memory lane became a conversation. When you finally were yourself again I was so convinced I was making it all up. I needed you more than ever.”

“Without you, I’d literally not exist.”

“We saved each other I suppose.”

“And I still have no idea how we ended up like this. I still think you have some kind of abilities. With how often you’ve been changed over the years there’s no way you’d be able to remain yourself unless you were special.”

“We’ll never know. Regardless, whatever caused this was a life preserver for me. You kept me afloat, until now.”

“What’s happening now?”

“Jamie, You’ve been wonderful in my life and I am sorry I haven’t appreciated you more. What started out as a gift has turned into a chain. Instead of keeping each other up, we are holding ourselves back now.”

“Haha, is that what this is about? I told you Ev, I’m totally fine with you and George really! I was just teasing you.” “I know, that’s what I realized last night. Being with George was a breath of fresh air. When you are back now, we fight all the time. We aren’t good for each other anymore.”

“In all honesty I’ve been spending longer and longer times away just to keep those arguments from happening. This time I thought if I just started out strong and sexed you silly we might skip that whole mess.”

“Jamie, what do you want in death?”

“What do you mean?”

“You aren’t alive anymore, but you are still here. I can’t hold you back anymore so you will have to decide what you want for the time being. I used to think you were so reckless always being with other men, but if that is what you want I think you should do what makes you happy.”

“Well, as long as we are being honest. I don’t actually find this body all that attractive.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, this blond hair is a stupid color and his eyes look weird and I feel like his whole self is fake.”

“So then why have you stayed in him so long.”

“Well, mostly because I was afraid what would happen to me if I stayed in your body as you aged.”

“And…”

“...and because of what happened at the club. This guy was being a total douche and I didn’t like him treating his friend that way. I don’t know I felt the need to step in and do something. In all honesty It was the first time in a while I felt alive. Like really alive where I could help someone else beyond just filling up my desires.”

“That’s a lovely thought Jamie, I think you should stick with that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe that’s what you are here to do. Be a conscious for others. You’ve done your fair share of pushing boundaries. Now it’s your turn to help others not stray too far.”

“Oh, I see. I could give it a try I guess.”

“I think it’s a good future for you.”

“What about you? What do you think the future has in store for you?”

“I’m not worried about it. There’s something about age that puts everything in perspective, whatever happens in the next story of my life will be worth it.”

“Ev.”

“Yes Jamie? Please don’t cry.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Chapter Twelve

My shoes scraped the floor as I entered George’s cafe. The sun was barely rising and the light cast itself harshly through the store windows. The whole cafe was aglow with the early morning light. Everything from the counter, to the plants strewn about and even the tired faces in line all melded in their muted colors before the brilliant light. I was glad to find my spot spared from the searing light in the back of the cafe. I set my leather bag down on the seat opposite and took my usual chair with the nice view of the counter. My hand brushed a spare napkin on the table and I picked it up to throw it away. As I turned it over I noticed an artful coloring of a heart on it. I smiled deeply and filed it into my notebook as I started to write down the details of the case. After the usual morning rush I heard the gentle baritone call out over me.

“Still around old man?” George said in a mocking tone.

“Yeah, looks like I’m going to be around for a bit longer.”

I carefully grabbed the hot cup of coffee from George’s hand. Yet another unique latte that had the same artful heart created from foam on top. This one smelled of hazelnut.

“Well good, I have more coffee flavors to try and no one is as honest about them as you. When I have my employees taste them they just say they taste good to make sure that they get paid. I need an unbiased opinion.” George said.

I smiled and looked at my long narrative of notes of the case. My smile faded and I ate the elephant in the room.

“I guess I have some explaining to do.” I said.

“It’s not every day I get to take someone out for a date with a future version of themselves.” George smirked. “It has to be in my top three weirdest dates for sure.”

“How did you know?”

“Believe it or not I’ve never taken an older man on a date who starts reversing age till he’s thirty years old in front of you.”

“What? I changed during the date?” I said shocked.

“Oh you changed back and forth a bunch of times. I realized that you were the same Everett who was clearly going through something insane.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I knew you needed help and I wasn’t cut out to figure out why you were changing age, but I did know that a pretty view always helps with some self reflection.” George turned his head when a bratty customer started to get mouthy at his employee.

“That was really nice of you not to run screaming into the night.” I said. “Don’t mention it.”

“Wait then how old was I when you kissed me?”

“Oh I can’t tell you that, then you’ll know what age of guy I’m into!” George laughed.

My phone beeped and I saw a message come through.

“Well thank you again, but I have a meetup with Jamie that I’m late for.”

“Don’t think this gets you off the hook, you are definitely giving me the whole story of what happened to you later.” George remarked.

“What, like a date?”

“If you’ve got the time”

“Oh don’t worry about that, I think we’ve both got time.” I said.

I met Jamie at the park. He was sitting with a grumpy frown that let me know he was not happy to be up this early. A group of teens ran by kicking up leaves.

“Hey Jamie, how’s it been with the new guy?”

“Uh, are you talking to me, man?” The blond said quizzically.

“Oh my gosh I’m so sorry,”  I stumbled. “You look like someone else but clearly I’ve got the wrong guy.”

The blonds neck cracked slightly and his face relaxed into a happy grin. “Oh hey Ev sorry, I was just relaxing, didn’t see you there.”

“Wait, Jamie, you are still in there?”

“Yeah I’ve just been chilling in the back. Oh wait let’s do this right.” Jamie stood up and turned his body around in a dramatic fashion. He was wearing cargo shorts and a tight tank top. The look worked well enough but I noticed it wasn’t as revealing as Jamie typically preferred. 

“Say hello to Ryan. He’s going to be my fixer upper for the moment while you get over me. I took your advice and have been acting as his voice of reason. This dude was crazy before and i’ve had to reel him in. Waking up early, exercising, using protection, the works. I’ve even made sure he breaks up with the one night stands before he takes another one.” As Jamie spoke he watched his reflection in a particularly shiny trash can as he flexed.

We walked through town as Jamie led the way.

“So you are going to stay with Ryan for a while?” I asked.

“I’m going to be honest with you Ev, we did a lot of questionable things with a lot of other people’s bodies.” 

I nodded solemnly in agreement.

“This is my way to help make up for that, if I have to use someone else to be around I’m going to make sure they are better off than when I met them.” Jamie said.

“And if ‘getting better’ just happens to include lots of sex and being full of themselves?” I added.

“Awe Ev, you know me so well.” Jamie leaned in for a kiss and stopped himself short. Pulling back awkwardly. “Sorry about that, force of habit.

“I know, it felt so natural.” I blushed.

“So how are things with George?”

“You know he’s a pretty nice guy. He likes to keep me on my toes.”

“You going to tell him about me?” Jamie said as he eyed his reflection and inspected his abs.

“That’s the next thing I have to do. I honestly expected him to go running into the night when something weird happened but I think I have to give him a chance.” I said.

I looked up and realized we were outside Cal’s shop.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“We? Nothing, but I have to get ready for work.” Jamie said.

“Wait you work here? With Cal?”

“Yeah, Ryan was flipping burgers and I wanted something better for him. I also figured I still owed Cal for that…job experience I gave him so it works out.”

“That’s really smart Jamie, say hi to Cal for me.”

“Will do Ev.” Jamie pulled me in for a big hug. The tenderness was beyond what I was used to with Jamie. We had always rushed into the most sex crazed thing we could do. Feeling physical contact with him on such a platonic level was nicer than I expected.

“Uh hey, what’s going on?” Ryan said.

I pulled back and pretended to brush off his shoulder.

“WOW thank you SO much for showing me around town, I really appreciate it but you’d better get to work at the job you told me about.” I gave a giant plastered smile and walked away quickly. I glanced back before turning the block and watched Ryan look around lost before shrugging and entering Cal’s store. How did I know Jamie was going to get the last laugh. As I walked down the street I smiled to myself. I felt lighter than I had in a very long time.

The End

[everettman]

Case File 002 - Playin' Cowboy

Chapter 1

I woke up at six. Not in the energized early morning enthusiasm but in a melancholic dread. It had been this way since I moved in a few months ago. Saturday morning, break of dawn, eyes wide as I got up and went to my closet. I pulled out the long-sleeved white shirt and denim overalls. I dressed up and went downstairs to the kitchen. After a slow cup of coffee I was in the shed by 6:15. I’d pull the mower out and, like clockwork, start the motor with a prolonged gassy turnover. Then I would mow the entire yard. 

I should have guessed something was off when I was looking at the old property last year. It had sat vacant for a few years. Ghost stories and murder rumors abounded. The neighbors kept a wide berth. I drove past it many nights. Knowing I had a connection to the supernatural made anything with a rumor of ghosts kept me far away. Unfortunately as my apartment kicked me out and my budget was tight it became one of the only places in my price range. They recently had yet another price cut and were desperate. 

“At least the lawn is well kept” I remember thinking. Every time I drove by the landscaping was immaculate even if the aging house was in need of repair. Oh how dumb I was.

I did a house tour about a month later. The excited real estate agent acted as if this was the most normal house in the world. Everyone was a fool for not taking it, she bemoaned to me. I, on the other hand, knew that something was off the moment I stepped inside. There was a noticeable energy that flowed softly through the house. It rose and sank peacefully as if the house was snoring. I had brought Cal with me as I knew I’d be hiring him anyway to fix up whatever was broken. Right on cue he started grilling the poor real estate agent on every system in the house. What was the cooling system? How old was the furnace? When was the roof replaced last? Etc. the poor lady quivered in her boots. Clearly more interested in talking about the location and great vibes than the nitty gritty of the house. I took the chance to slip by as the two went at it. I couldn’t take a closer look with the agent following me and I couldn’t explain to Cal how the house had a presence as he was the biggest paranormal sceptic. Even just him standing next to me was disrupting my ability to sense what was around me. I searched through the main story and went up the rustic stairs to get a look at the rooms. For the price, the house was a great size; although every room needed a new coat of paint and furniture from this century. Every room, the presence felt constant with that light snoring. It was as if I smelled something burning and was going room to room searching for the thing on fire.

 I stepped out into the backyard to give my sense a breather. To my surprise, I noticed it was even stronger. The presence was outside the house. I circled the house and found my way to the backyard. There, in the corner, below a couple of slanting trees was an old work shed of considerable size. The thing was practically glowing to me. With a steady hand I opened the rusted handle and stepped inside. The dusty, cobweb-ridden lair was filled with garden tools, mulch bags, work clothes, and in the center an old push mower. I checked around to make sure the presence I felt was not an actual person staying on the shed. Everything was quiet, except the mower. The mower radiated a presence that almost hummed as I hovered my hand over it. I had the thought that this was solid, that I had confirmed something was here and therefore would not be buying the house. Unfortunately my curiosity got the better of me.I gently placed my palm flat on the mower and felt a surge through me. 

In order for me to explain what happened we need to talk about ghosts. I don’t really like to call them that because people have such preconceived notions of a ghost that it makes it tricky to parse out. Instead I will call it a spirit. Not in the sense of a human as much as the spirit of comradery or a spirit of compassion. An over-riding sense of purpose or drive that pushes someone to act in a certain way. When someone is alive they have a fountain of emotions and thoughts pouring out at all times. If the same emotion or thought is repeated in a physical space enough there is a sort of divet that forms like driving on a dirt road. Once the person has passed they are dead and gone. But their spirit or rarely spirits live on. 

When I touched the mower I was filled and met this spirit. He appeared before me in overalls and a faded ball cap, he looked old and weathered. Probably in his sixties or seventies. I’d ask his name but unless you are egotistical your spirit is not connected to a name.

“What do you do?” I asked the spirit .

“Mow the lawn, been doing it for thirty five years.”

“Do you live here?”

“Used to, now I mow the lawn, trim the trees, weed the grounds.” The spirit had eyes of determination which is not uncommon. I was surprised that the spirit had such a drive to mow lawns of all things but I was thankful he was harmless. I started to see the arrangement as a benefit. My own personal lawn care that I didn’t have to pay for.

“I’m buying this house.” I told the spirit, he looked on with a blank stare. “And I’m buying the lawn.” His eyes perked up and he looked at me.

“This is yer lawn?” He seemed scared.

“I’ll buy it, you mow it.”I confirmed

“You mow it.” He smiled, repeating.

The spirit faded out and I felt the snore return to the shed. 

“He must really sleep until its time to mow.” I chuckled to myself.

I returned to the house as the argument between handy man and agent was heating up. Cal was red in the face.

“There’s no way this house is worth it at that price, everything needs replacing!”

The agent's happy exterior had corroded, she had daggers in her eyes. “This house is a steal at the price, did I not mention the price decrease! It was the third this year!”

Call rolled up his sleeve in a way I knew meant he was getting ready for the fight of his life when I stepped between the two.

“I’ll buy it!” I smiled.

The agent's face quickly turned from shock to professional. “Excellent, I'll start the papers!” She raced off to grab her briefcase.

“Everett, listen, this house isn’t worth it. I'm going to be here every day for years just to make it livable.” He pleaded

I looked into his worried eyes. “What’s the matter, worried you are going to get sick of me?” I watched his face drop as he lowered his head in defeat.

Chapter 2

I moved in that night, most of my belongings fit in two boxes with five more boxes of case notes. It took a few trips but I found myself nestled into my new abode before sunset. I tucked myself in to the big master bed, reveling in the spacious queen that put my old twin to shame. A mountain of blankets I had pilfered from the various rooms of the house kept in enough warm to keep the chilly October air at bay. The heater was in fact broken and it would take Cal a week to fix. Still, I found a comfortable spot and was out like a light.

The next day was Saturday, that is when I found my mistake. As I lay snoring in the early hours I felt faintly the spirit grow stronger flowing into the house. no longer snoring, it was more of a whistle. Climbing the stairs and sliding across the hardwood it ebbed through the dusty halls. It cascaded through my bedroom door and rose up, swallowing the bed and plugged down into me. I woke with a startled gasp as I felt the last bit of spirit enter my body. My instinct was to scream but the spirit quickly overtook my body. My energy forced down into the center of myself as the spirit commandeered my vessel. My body sat up in bed and in a raspy voice declared “you mow the lawn.” It then started the routine that I have been stuck in ever since. Break of dawn waking up, getting dressed, drinking coffee, then mowing the lawn until the job was done. Then I would go back inside, wash the shirt and overalls and press them neatly into their spot. I found then that I was able to shake the spirit out as it retreated back to the shed and would remain dormant for the next week. I quickly learned the routine but could find no way to break it. Like it or not every Saturday I was mowing the lawn. At least it only took a few hours.

I experimented by trying to wake up even earlier hoping the spirit would only come if I was asleep. Unfortunately I now know what it sounds like to scream before a spirit plunges down your throat. I’ll admit I went a little crazy. I even invited Cal over super early on the pretense I needed the bathroom fixed before I had to start the day. Cal didn’t seem to catch my devious intention and showed up at four am. I drank a cup of coffee since that typically helped with Jamie and waited. I’m not sure if I expected the spirit to go for Cal or to simply not come if someone else was in the house. Sure enough, come 6am the spirit slammed into me and I found myself out in the yard. Cal was calling to me saying something about the plumbing but I found myself glued to my work and could only reply “I’m mowing the lawn”.

The real annoyance was that after each lawn care day I found myself slightly changed by the spirit. Most times I found a slightly bushier mustache on my lips that I’d have to shave before I could start my day.

It was after one such Saturday that I decided I needed a break from my house. I shaved, got changed, and flipped off the shed as I meandered to my car. I eyed the house in my rear view driving into town. I needed a new lead on a job. Sitting alone at my house was not going to find anything for me beyond unfinished chores. I decided to join the modern age and go to a coffee shop to put an ear out for any strange happenings I could help with.

I sat in a cozy cafe. I’d noticed it a few weeks ago when they had a grand opening. I was too busy at the time tracking down a pair of mind control goggles someone had stolen from the not so secret government agency in town. Now that that case had been squared away and I no longer clucked like a chicken whenever someone said “nuggets” I decided to give it a chance. The exterior was a mix of wood paneling and stone veneer. Black angular tables sat on the side walk. Ivy vines climbed the existing walls of the building where the renovations had left them unscathed. It had that modern feel to it that was accented by the exposed brick on the inside. There were these Edison bulbs hanging from ropes that tried to look rustic in the most trendy way possible. A forest of houseplants and three humidifiers made the inside a veritable green house as rich coffee aroma wafted through the space.

A nice man with a thick beard and auburn skin sat down across from me. I was in the middle of scribbling notes on my last case and thought to cover them but if he asked I would just use my old excuse that I was writing a novel that no one would ever read.

He had a slight golden tint in his eyes that focused quickly on me. He was reading me before saying a word and it made me fidget and break eye contact first. He held out a hand that smelled strongly of espresso.

“Name’s George” he spoke with a clear crisp voice like glass. I took his hand in mine.

“Everett.” It was then that I noticed the apron on the man, still his gaze never left my face.

“Oh you are George as in..” I pointed yup at the sign above the wood counter.

“George’s cafe yes” he smiled a deep smile that crinkled his eyes. “I haven’t seen you in before. This your first time?”

“Uh yeah figured a cafe made more sense to work in then my cramped apartment.”

“We’ve had a lot of students here over the past few weeks. Are you with the university?”

“No recently graduated…a few years ago. I studied para-sci and history mostly. But I’ve been out for a bit. Just working small jobs till I find the right fit you know” I stumbled on, not sure how much George was actually wanting to know and how much was wanting a tip. George nodded along, if he was being nice he had that genuine listening face that made it easy to talk to.

So if I ever end up with a ghost from the civil war in here I’ll know who to call?” He chuckled to himself. His laugh was louder than his demeanor and its infectious ring pulled me in with it.

“Yeah something like that.” I replied

“Look Everett, I’m glad you are here but I do have to say most people who work in cafes I usually order a coffee since they are taking up a table.” He winked at me.

“Oh I’m so sorry, I didn’t even realize I got carried away with these notes, I’ll go order…”

George’s calm demeanor remained as he pulled a cup that he had expertly hid behind his back and set it onto the table.

“First one is on the house.” He beamed.

“Oh! Uh, thank you”

“Don’t mention it.” George waved off “ oh but Everett. I have something very serious to ask you.” His cheerful eyes set into a serious tone. I straightened in my chair. 

“If you are allergic to pistachios you need to not drink that because it’s our new pistachio vanilla latte.” He eyes crinkled into suns. The dark clouds evaporating away instantly.

“Nope, I am thankfully not allergic, so this won’t kill me haha” I awkwardly laughed.

“Good” George smiled as he returned to the counter to help a female customer.

I finished my case file while sipping on the latte. It was surprisingly silky for such a nutty drink. I wasn’t one for coffee, unless Jamie was in town. I enjoyed the warm cup and light feeling, the cafe seemed to brighten and my notes slowed as I took the time to look around and appreciate the sight of people around me. Once I finished my drink and was rambling on my case notes I had to face the facts. I didn’t have another job lined up. I thought about Crazy Clarissa who had been calling me for a few weeks about her disappearing cat but I tried not to deal with animals if possible. I sighed as I checked my rent on my phone. It was a lot closer to rent due than pay day. I sighed. “Alright Everett, this is why you came to a coffee shop. This is where information spreads. Just need some info that leads to some money.” I looked around at the fellow patrons. Groups of women and men laughing and sharing stories. I realized in some self reflection that I was the only one sitting by myself. No wonder George came over to me, probably thought the sad man with all the paperwork would push out his business. I glanced over at George. He was busy with an order but glanced my way as well.

“Alright, here goes nothing. Just be brave for a few minutes.” I reassured myself.

I stood up and took my coffee over to the counter. There was a garbage next to my table but I needed an in to start the conversation. I wasn’t adept like George to just sitting down and saying what I meant. “Ready for another cup?” George smiled my way while wiping off the counter from a spill.

“Oh no thanks I don’t want to be up all night.” great now he thought I was some old grouch who couldn’t handle coffee.

“Listen George” I pushed on “ I’m somewhat of a researcher who looks into strange cases.”

“That makes sense” he replied

“Uh, what do you mean?” Typically people just gave me the wide eyed stare when I tried to explain what i did for a living.

“Disheveled man comes to a coffee shop, finds the darkest corner away from most people even though it’s next to a garbage and doesn’t order coffee. Either you had a word reason or I’d be making a call to the police. Thanks for not being the latter, it really drives business away when the cops show up and cart off the loony in the shop.” George was smart in that witty sort of way. He always seemed to be one step ahead of me. I felt a competitive urge to outpace him.

“Alright then, if you think I’m not crazy, any juicy gossip come in about unexplained changes I’m people?” I rested an arm confidently on the counter and then confidently picked it right back up when the spilled milk George had yet to clean seeped into my sweater sleeve.

“Hmmm, what kind of changes?” George thought hard.

“People acting different, suddenly appearing different, or acting out of the norm of everyone else?”

“Oh you mean like coming to a coffee shop and not ordering coffee.” George grinned.

“Damn it, I'll order coffee next time.” I seethed. George just crinkled into a jolly laugh again.

“Sorry Everett, but nothing like that has come through here.” I dropped my head and started walking back to my corner, a dead end after all. I had better luck at the library.

“Although I do have a missing person you can track down.” George called after me.

“Sorry that’s more a police issue, guess you’ll have to call them.”

“Well let me rephrase, I know where they are they just refuse to come here.” George seemed for once to be stuck on words.

“Having a marriage dispute?” I joked. This was my chance to get my wit in the lead.

“No it’s the delivery boy from a few towns over, Toby. He typically brings in a local bean from his hometown but he passes through that little town Stillwater on the way. Typically it’s a day trip but he’s been there three days and hasn’t made the last leg of the trip. I’ve called his cell a few times without answer. Even called his parents who are a family friend of mine. They said he’s written them letters saying he’s fine and is just going to stay there for the time being.”

“Sounds like he needed a vacation.” I wasn’t convinced.

“Good on him if that’s the case, but his parents mentioned the letters were written in some weird way. Like he’s talking out of character or something. I’d be concerned someone else is posing as him but Stillwater is a low population back water town with nothing to offer. It’s not the kind of place crime goes above package thieves." I could see a cloud in George’s eyes, this really bothered him.

“I’ll level with you, I’m really short on work at the moment. I’ll look into it but I have to charge a fee.”

“That’s understandable, I pay you and then you pay me back by buying coffee.” I fake laughed with a twinge of grit teeth.

“Sure thing George.”

Chapter 3

We hammered out the details and payment. By noon I was packing my lemon of a car for a little roadtrip. I grabbed some free blankets, a change of clothes, a toothbrush in case I needed to stay a while, and made sure that my snack compartment was full. I left a note for Jamie on the front door in case he came back early and started the long drive.

George was right when he called Stillwater a back water town. With a population of five hundred and Main Street consisting of a general store and a Subway; there was no reason to live there. I researched a bit of the town but not surprisingly, there was little to go on. It started as a ranching colony outside the big city and the only notable thing was a meteor strike that hit a cow back in the 70s.

 As I approached the town the sun was beginning to set. I was expecting it to be dark but was surprised at the few dim yellow lights that lit the street. About a mile from town the road suddenly grew worse, the asphalt turning dirt road gradually till my lemon was shaking and bobbing over rock and pebble. I pulled around the general store and hit the brakes. I expected a run-down quiet town but the view that greeted me was lively. Main Street was lined with wooden buildings that stretched through the town. People were talking, laughing, walking around without a car in sight. In fact that wasn’t the weirdest part, to me it was the genuine cowboy who stood in front of the general store laughing with his fellow ranch hand. The woman in the century clothing casting a lantern down the street. The full blown salon with piano music spilling out. I had just driven onto the set of an old western and boy was I under dressed. I quickly pulled my car to the side and got out. Still shocked at what I saw. I quickly ducked into the general store figuring I could get some answers there. A tall redhead in a cowboy hat was working the counter. 

“Howdy shug, what can I get ya?” She smiled at me.

“Uh hi, nice town you’ve got here. Is this some kind of reenactment or something.

“Why aren’t you just cuter than a can of biscuits, this is Stillwater the best cowboy town in the west. Yeehaw!” She threw her fist in the air as she yelled and a few other patrons at the back of the store “yeehawed" with her.

“Um ok, I’m looking for someone but I think it’s getting dark enough that might be a problem.”

“Need a place to stay? Old Anne’s inn is right down the road, she’s got a place to keep ya. Best be indoors soon before that rotten scoundrel Black sticks his nose in town again.” She was exaggerating her words and really laying it on thick. I figured getting to Anne’s and out of this reenactment was the best course of action.

“Well, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it shug. Glad to see you’ll be joining us!”

I left the store trying not to take that last phrase the wrong way.

I walked through the main street and tried to orient myself. Closest to me was the general store , besides it a large wooden building with cast iron bars on the windows. A large covered porch was standing proud with a painted sign that said “Sheriff’s Office”. In fact, most of the buildings had signs for easy orientation. Beyond the sheriff’s office was the Jail, then bank, and a post office. On my side of the street was a stable, doctor’s office, and church, far at the end was Anne’s Inn in bright green letters barely visible in the lantern light. I started my trek over. I could feel countless eyes on me as I made the trip. At least thirty cowboys and a handful of saloon girls were out getting the fresh night air.

Chapter 4

I entered Annie’s Inn through an extremely creaky door and was greeted by the smell of cornbread. White wallpaper with little daisy patterns spread through the interior. A small desk sat vacant next to a crooked staircase leading to the second floor. A side door led into what I assumed was the kitchen based on the smell wafting through the door. I rang the little bell on the desk and was greeted by Anne.

Anne had bright blonde hair in tight curls covered in a bonnet. She had an apron wound tightly around her blouse that was covered in flour.

“Welcome to Anne’s inn” she sang

“Uh hi, I was told this is the best hotel in town.” I said as my eyes traced the blue flower wallpaper that surrounded the room.

“Excellent, I’m so g…sorry to say the hotel is full.” I noted a slight twitch in Anne’s left eye.

“Oh really? The girl at the general store said there was a room for me, maybe it was a reservation?” In all honesty Anne creeped me out but I’d spent enough nights sleeping in my car before I moved into the haunted house and figured here would be no worse. Better yet there was no lawn to mow.

Anne’s eye twitched as her smile grew a few inches wider. “Silly me, I must ‘ave forgotten the upstairs room, here take this key.” She handed me a heavy bronze key with a room number tag on it.

“Oh thank you, I guess we can just talk about payment when I leave.”

“Oh don’t think about that darling. I’m just so glad you could be joining us.” Anne’s head tilted slightly to the side. I thanked Anne and excused myself to grab my suitcase and take it upstairs, at the end of a hall of rooms I found a second staircase leading to an attic room. Thankfully the air was cool so I wasn’t worried about overheating and the long day of mowing and driving made me want to crash anywhere. At the top of the stairs I took the old key and unlocked my room.

I entered my cramped room and crashed onto my creaky bed. I swear everything in this town creaked. I was exhausted from the drive and the stereotypical cowboy town. I knew I’d need sleep to find our runaway delivery driver in the morning. I surprised myself at how fast I fell asleep. Barely had my face hit the pillow before I was out. 

I had a strange dream that was more a color coded memory. I was a kid, maybe 8 or 9 and my dad was going away on a business trip. I was playing down in the living room and rolling around on the shag carpet with my race cars. He knelt beside me and told me something that I was too distracted to hear. He stood up and walked to the door, and said something mumbled before I heard the door close. My cars crashed into each other. Suddenly warm hot tears began to fall onto the carpet. They puddled by my face as I pressed my cheek into the carpet. I woke up in a pool of tears. I wiped away the liquid from my eyes. Sunlight streamed through the blinds. It took a while for my eyes to adjust and my brain to kick back into gear where I was. “Oh right, the job” I thought to myself.

“Reckon it’s time to earn my keep!” A southern drawl sounded in the room. I sat up in my bed with a start and looked around. The small room was empty. “What in tarnation was that?!” I spoke aloud before cupping my hand over my mouth.

“What the hell? Why did I say that?” I carefully tried to sound out a sentence. “W…W…Well I’ll be- That my voice I’m hearin’?” crap something was wrong. I put my hands on my head to try to wipe the sleep away and felt something up top. I grabbed it gently and pulled off a brown leather cowboy hat. When did I put that on? My head sagged and I noticed the color red under the blanket. I pulled the sheets back to find myself head to toe in cowboy garb. I hopped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Above the antique sink was a small oval mirror. The man looking back at me was a mystery. He was me no doubt. If my entire identity was being in a rodeo . My eyes and facial structure were there but I had an unmistakable look in my eye . I had this hard squinting stare that I could not get off my face. I appeared to be vaguely the same age but there was a worn ruggedness that roughened my skin and aged me. I sighed as I looked above my lip and found yet again a thick broom mustache. What was it with these cases and changing my facial hair? I found myself fully dressed even though I just got out of bed, I was wearing a red plaid shirt with a leather vest on. A pair of jeans adorned a massive belt buckle with an illustration of a rancher taking down a bull etched into the metal. Thick leather chaps sat atop the jeans. My feet were covered in a pair of cowboy boots with spurs attached that clinked wherever I took a step.

I went back to the bed and searched for my bag, it was gone. I sat for a minute and thought about what could be happening when loudly I proclaimed

“Reckon it’s time I mosey round town, jaw a bit with the folks.”

There was a strange familiarity as my body began to move on its own and walk down the stairs. I met Anne at her desk. Tipping my hat generously at her as I wished her a good morning. Her face seemed pleased to see me but I caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes. I wonder if she could see the same in mine. Anne had been trying to warn me the night before. I was the embodiment of her hope leaving. 

Chapter 5

I walked through the town in early sunlight. My hands found themselves naturally notched in my belt and my legs spread wide as I walked, giving me a funky twisting walk. I said a fine “howdy” to everyone walking about. I had little control of myself but I was conscious enough to look around. The more I searched the more I found sad eyes on bright happy faces. I could sense the townsfolk saying “sorry for this happening” with all they could. I cowboy swaggered to the jail house and met the sheriff. He was a old man with white receding hair. His cheeks were red tinted and he had a jolly look about him. Did Santa get stuck here too? There really was no hope was there. The sheriff greeted me.

“Sheriff Stone at your service.” I gripped his outstretched hand in mine and squeezed hard.

“Call me Red”I said in a low gravel voice that surprised myself.

“You must be new round these parts.” The sheriff relaxed back into his chair. “I should warn you bout the local outlaw black hawk. He’s a real mean guy who’s been kidnapping men all through the town. I need you to stop him” 

I stared blankly at the sheriff. This seemed more like his job than mine.

“I’ll take care of it.” I said as if reading my own mind.

“Thank ya kindly.” The sheriff stood up and we shook hands vigorously with strong grips that stung my hand. I tried desperately to search the sheriffs eyes for any sign of resistance but he stared back with a dazed haziness.

I left the sheriffs office and found myself stuck in the road. I didn’t seem to be going on autopilot anywhere. I tested out my reach and found I could move slowly around. I tried to circle around behind sheriff's office to get out of town. My feet were still cognizant enough to keep me on Main Street. Maybe if I wasn’t walking I thought to myself. It was then I remembered that I had driven into town. Everything had changed since then but maybe my car was still next to the general store. Slow tentative steps confirmed I could walk that way and I hobbled down the street.

Out of the corner of my eye I could tell I was being watching. I searched in vain but the townsfolk with glazed eyes all were busy muddling about their made up lives. There was a rustle behind a shrub that I would have assumed was a stray animal if it wasn’t for the little swatch of blue fabric I saw catch on one of the low branches and tear away. It looked like pajamas with a vague pattern I squinted to see the pattern but from this distance it was all non descript . Something a kid would wear with ducks or a superhero plastered on them. I had the sudden realization that everyone in town was a full grown adult and there were no kids or even teens that I had seen since entering Stillwater. I continued my trudge and made a note to keep an eye out for anyone younger than myself.

I had reached the end of the road and was sad to note that my lemon of a car was no where to be seen. In its place, tied to a post outside the general store, was a saddled mare with light cream hair. The horse looked at me in a peculiar way and I in turn. I had seen plenty of transformations and transmutations in my day but never an inanimate to alive in this complexity. Whatever spell I was under probably prevented me from blushing but my brain did inform me of a particular case involving a pair of underpants coming alive. I shook my head and focused on the present case instead.  I jumped as I heard a gunshot behind me. I tried to turn quickly but my damn body made a show of slowly rotating with a keen eye. A couple townsfolk bolted for cover, the street suddenly empty except for a single man. The man was tall, brooding with an angry twitch in his mouth. He had an overgrown goatee that framed a wrinkled face. Atop his head was a black cowboy hat with a silver pendant. Long sleeved black shirt with matching black cowhide vest covered most of the man except weathered hands. He had a pistol holster on his side that was empty, the pistol sat squarely in his hand raised straight into the sky. A thin wisp of smoke curled from the tip. The wind blew slightly kicking up dust asking the Main Street as I swear to god a tumbleweed rolled between us. The man’s angry lips curved up into an unpleasant smile.

“You must be the one they call Red” he sneered. “Allow me to introduce myself. Name’s Hawkman Blackforge, but you can call me black. See this here town is my property and let’s just say. This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.”

“Nice to meet you Black,” I replied with a grit. “I’m just passing through on my way to the prairie, but understand something. They call me red because that’s what you’ll see if you cross me!” Wait, like seeing red as in blood or seeing red as in being mad? What was I even saying?

“Oh ho ho, looks to me like you are too big for your britches. I tried to warn ya but I guess there’s no learnin for some people. Meet here at high noon, we’ll have ourselves a little duel.” Here black curled his lips deeper into a smile showing off yellowed teeth. “Winner takes all.”

“You have my word I’ll be there.” I replied as I turned on my heels and began walking away, a moment later I realized I wasn’t walking anywhere in particular and found myself standing staring at the side of the general store. The lemon horse neighed in my ear. The other ear could hear the townsfolk return and the joyful day begin again. 

“Great, just great” I thought to myself. I have no control over my actions and now I’m scheduled for a shootout. I hoped the cowboy in me was a good shot or I was about to go out in the stupidest way possible.

Chapter 6

After the confrontation, I saw black waddle around the corner. He appeared to stop right outside of view. I tried to lean back to get a clearer view of him but my legs marched to the side of the road. This was getting ridiculous. How was I going to solve the case if I was stuck to someone else’s routine? I formed my willpower into a little ball. I tried to close my eyes but they remained opened , somehow also stuck in this charade. I imagined closing my eyes and focused on myself deep inside and drew energy from there. For me, it shown as a blue light in the shape of a sphere but I had heard others say theirs looked different. Once I had tapped into enough power I released the ball out and up into my own mind trying to short circuit whatever was happening to me. The thing with short circuiting and biological computers is they don’t do well with a restart. My boots came to a halt and I stood blank faced. I tried to move but found myself stuck. I suddenly sneezed so hard I saw stars. I had a sudden vertigo and had to steady myself on the railing outside the saloon. I took a breath and realized I was taking a conscious breath, not just one taken out of me on autopilot.

I tested my hands, a finger at a time, and it felt like moving through molasses but they responded. I moved a slow hand to the back of my neck and rubbed, it was pleasant feeling myself in control for a moment. I ran towards the nearest person and yelled in their face.

“Hey, who are you? What’s happening here!”

The woman and husband appeared to have just returned from the little chapel, the husband must have been a reverend with his black suit and his wife had red hair that popped against a dark green dress with parasol. The two looked at me with a head tilt before laughing. 

“Well aren’t you just the cutest thing this side of the Mississippi!” The wife exclaimed.

“I’m the pastor of this here town. Welcome to Stillwater, you are here to wrestle that no good black hawk out of town for good!” The Reverend continued.

“Snap out of it people, we have to get out of here!” I tried in vain to break the conversation, I wasn’t sure how long my willpower would hold out.

“Oh sweetie, we all have a roll to play.” The wife cackled. “Billy made sure we’d be nice and happy till that no good varmet Black Hawk is good and gone.”

“Billy?” I caught on. “Who is Billy? Where is he?”

“Why he’s just the sweetest child on the ranch, ain’t no way anyone round yonder would ever want to leave that poor child. Now why don’t you head on over to the saloon, we hear there’s a nice lady waiting for you.”

“Thanks pastor, but something tells me a man of God doesn’t lead people towards bars.” The lovely couple pretended not to hear me and walked on past down the lane. Whatever was happening I had a feeling little Billy was connected somehow. Without a clear way forward I figured following the story was my only move. I stepped down towards the saloon as the sun rose higher in the sky.

I heard loud piano music coming from the saloon and knew that I had to go in there, before I could act, a drunk cowboy came bursting out the door. He stumbled to the side bumping into me and then fell on his ass on the narrow boardwalk.

“Hahaha,” he sneered. “I don’t know what this guy's deal is but I’ve had twenty shots and I haven’t even felt like vomiting!”

The cadence of the man’s words struck me as much as the modern speech pattern. It was Jamie! How was he here? I called out to him but my mouth remained stuck to the cowboy. My willpower was fading fast and the more I stuck to the script the faster I fell back in line. He wouldn’t have heard me anyway as he quickly doubled over and released his twenty shots into a faucet of disgust.

“Partner, yer hitting the bottle harder than a steer hits a fence. Straighten up now ‘fore I call the sheriff.”

The cowboy shrugged his head back and laid on his back sprawled out on the board walk and continued his cackle.

“God I love all this stupid cowboy talk, it’s like you are all being dumb.” I could see Jamie’s eyes roll a bit as he talked. How was Jamie able to break free of whatever hold this town had on the rest of us.

Ugh this was hopeless how was I supposed to get his attention?

“Who are you supposed to be anyway? You’ve got that thousand yard stare and enough five o clock shadow to sandpaper something.”

“Name’s Red.” I tipped my hat down at him.

“Alright alright, I won’t keep you, I’ve got more fun to have in this wacky town before someone cleans it up.” He winked at me. “Why don’t you head into the saloon, there’s a pretty lady with your name on her.”

If only Jamie wasn’t so dense he’d realize I was stuck inside. I gave up and accepted my fate to head indoors when I heard his slurred words call after me.

“Don’t worry Ev boy, you’ll figure it out. I can’t save you every time, just play your little part and everything will turn out fine.”

I made a mental note to punch Jamie when I had control of my fists again.

Inside the saloon was a racket of loud jeers and the crash of glass as bottles were being thrown every few seconds. I made my way through the small collection of tables and took a stool by the bar. A brunette in the skimpiest bar maids outfit and the largest badonkadonks I’ve ever seen rounded the table and introduced herself.

“I ain’t seen a strong man like you come through here in a while. You must be from out of town. I’m Scarlett, I’ll be keeping you company tonight.”

“Well howdy there pretty lady. How’s about you hook me up with a mug of your finest whiskey.” I practically purred at her. Jamie had drank the shots but I felt like I was going to puke.

“Coming right up” she slithered away to return with a tall glass. I chugged the whole thing shuddering on the inside as I tasted the bitter taste of beer on my tongue. 

“Mighty fine whisky.”

“If you think that’s good you should see what I keep upstairs.”

“Sounds like a mighty fine time to me.” I winked at her.

I took Scarlett by the hand and walked her behind the bar and up the stairs to the rooms on the second floor. Now I’m not a prude or anything but I was really worried about what was about to happen behind closed doors. I opened the door gentlemanly and Scarlett found her way to the bed. This was my chance, a one on one moment that I could try to break someone else out, someone who could help me.

“Must be awfully cold out there on the range.” Scarlett cooed as she removed her shoes.”

Whoever you are, it’s ok I think I can get you out! All you need to do is…

“The nights are cold but there’s nothin that keeps my heart warm like the love of a special gal” I replied as I loosened my shirt.

Damn it, how was I back in cowboy mode! I just got out of it.

“I’m sure you’ve got a pretty little something back home to keep you warm.” Scarlett batted her eyelashes my way. Her hands reached behind her back and like magic her corset fell off revealing a pair of boobs beneath.

I’m sure I said something stupid about mountain ranges but my brain was screaming so I didn’t hear. I couldn’t forget that this woman was real, she had a job, hell maybe she was married and here she was against her will revealing herself to me to play out some sick fantasy. The thought boiled my blood. This whole thing had to be someone else’s design. Because if I had any say in it there would be two steers in the bedroom tonight. My face curled into what can only be described as hetero lust and I puckered at Scarlett.

Oh god oh god. I have to stop this. I can’t do this to someone without them having control of their own body. I tried thinking about scraping a knee, having sex with Jamie, the rough feeling of brick on fingers, a paper cut! Our lips touched and we immediately started moaning. Our hands on auto-pilot explored each other.

Stop stop stop! I screamed at my body powerless to prevent it. I made the mistake of looking Scarlett in the eyes and saw pure dread and disgust. I hoped she knew I felt the same. I closed my eyes and tried to blot out the sensations. There was kissing, there was touching, there was…more kissing, and more kissing. Slowly the dread turned to confusion turned to boredom. My mouth started to hurt. Finally our mouths released and we fell back from each other. Our eyes shared a mutual relief. 

“WOW, I ain’t ever had sex that good.” Scarlett smiled.

“Glad I could be the one to give you sex.” I replied with a grin.

What the fuck is going on. I banged the inside of my skull repeatedly. I was done with this masquerade, done with losing my autonomy. I forced myself through my body. Thinking about the touch of a hot bath on aching muscles. I gasped loudly as my mind took the pilot seat off my body again.

“I’m so sorry whoever you are, I couldn’t stop it!” I reached for her hand but quickly withdrew it, touch wasn’t what she needed. I looked in her eyes and tried to plead my innocence. I noticed her eyes looked dazed like she wasn’t paying attention. Maybe she was still mentally trying not to be there. Or maybe she just wasn’t looking at me. I followed her gaze to the door, there in the cracked opening I saw an eyeball and a tussle of brown hair. “Billy!” I screamed and jumped off the bed. I burst out the door and began my chase. Down the stairs I hoped for the last few steps, almost grabbing him before he tucked under the table and ran between some bar patrons. I ducked and weaved but I was no match. Little Billy was already sliding out the door. I jumped through the front gate, pushing back two cowboys who were scheduled to enter, and found myself temporarily blinded in the sunlight of Main Street.

As my feet hit the dirt of Main Street I heard a loud yell.

“Red, it’s time for your funeral!” I glanced over to see black standing in his usual spot down the road. My runner was no where to be seen.

“Crap, the shootout, I’m out of time.” I considered jumping for cover behind a building to buy some time but my legs stuck in place. The cowboy was coming back. Yet again I found myself with time running out and nothing but my soothing voice and excellent logic skills to hop over the frying pan.

“Black or whatever your name is, we don't have to do this. I know you are fighting it just like me, I got out of it!” My legs took a step on their own “kind of, and so can…”

“That’s enough talkin Red, I prefer to let my gun do my speeches.” Black chuckled. “Ten paces, then we see once and for all.” My body turned to face the open road, I suddenly realized this might actually be the end, I’d never leave this miserable town.

Time to focus, the answer was there I just had to see it!

“One” Black’s raspy voice called out.

“Ok time to think fast, what do I know?”

“Two” my foot stepped forward.

“People are stuck in this town against their will”

“Three”

“The town has some kind of spell making everyone play parts in an old west spaghetti movie.”

“Four”

“There’s a kid, he’s not controlled by the same spell

“Five”

“The kid is hiding, he’s not controlled by the spell but he wants the show to continue.

“Six”

“Black wants me dead, that’s obvious by why am I in this duel, everyone else is regular town people.”

“Seven”

“It’s because I’m important? Because I’m a stranger, because I was strong enough to break out?”

“Eight “

“No it’s not me, I’m nobody, that’s why I can be the hero, it’s the villain who needs to be known.

“Nine “

“This isn’t about me winning, it’s about black losing”

“Ten” I heard black call.

My hands reached for my gun and I put all the will I could muster to turn and toss the gun to the side with a hard chuck.

“Billy! he's not the bad guy!” I yelled.

That’s when the bullet hit me.

Chapter 7

The ground slapped me as hard as the bullet. I sputtered drool as my hand reached to my shoulder and returned covered in red. I expected people to come, someone to save me. I figured at least doc would be there to help patch me up. I rolled my head to the side and saw the townspeople staring. Neither sad, nor happy. Blank faces. The town was eerily quiet, not even the tumbleweed dared interrupt my moment.

“Yeh got me Red. I heard Black say, “I guess it’s time I got my comeuppance.” He coughed dramatically. My eyes looked past my shoulder to see him standing stiff, unharmed.

“Now that my time is up, I’m afr…”

“NNNOOOOOOO!!!!” A screech to my side. “No no no no no!” From beside the saloon I could see the faded blue pajamas of Billy.

“Hey Billy? Anyway you could call a doctor?” I joked.

“You were supposed to kill him!! He’s supposed to be dead!” Billy shook with rage.

“Not really my job kid, I don’t get paid enough for that.”

“He’s bad! He’s mean! Bad guys die, good guys win!” I could see Billy spiraling. My shoulder erupting into fire with the slightest twist, but I did my best to sit up.

“Who was he Billy? Really.”

“He’s a bad guy!” Billy repeated, he slowly came out from behind the store and stood between the two of us staring at black’s blank stare.

“He’s bad! He, he took my dad!”

“Took him where Billy?”

“Away, whenever he came over dad would leave. He can’t come anymore!”

“Billy, where is your dad?”

“At home, I’ve been playing with him. He likes playing with me.”

I looked around at the faces around me. “You are playing cowboys with him, aren’t you.”

I saw a small drop fall to the earth in front of Billy, then another and another till a wet patch of dirt lay at his feet.

“The good guys… always win,” Billy sobbed. “He’s a bad guy. He’s a bad guy and bad guys die!” Billy screamed and Black’s hand reached for his revolver and brought it to his temple. Even from where I was I could see black’s face pale. 

“Billy stop this!” I yelled at him. 

“Bad” Billy grunted. The hammer pulled back.

God this kid had issues, and a mind control superpower to boot. I couldn’t out power him. I had to find a way to make him stop. How would you make any kid stop being bad?

“Billy you let him go right now or I’ll tell your dad you were watching scarlet and I have sex!”

There was a deafening thud as bodies thumped to the ground in a crescendo..

I searched around to find all the town folk collapsed at the spot they were standing. When I looked back at Billy he was close in front of me.

“Please don’t tell my da-a-a-ad” he sobbed as he threw himself on me. My shoulder lit up like the Fourth of July but I held him. Patting him on the back and trying not to pass out. His tears and snot flowed into my shirt.

When Billy recovered, I helped both of us up. Billy continued to cry but he led us slowly behind Anne’s inn. To my surprise a modern yard and laid back house sat with a green lawn and white picket fence in the middle of the dusty plains. Billy led me through the gate and past the plastic flamingo to the front door and into the living room. As I passed the threshold I felt a wave of nausea and looked down to see my old brown sweater. I quickly pulled the sleeve back to find my shoulder much better. There was still a nasty bruise that would hurt for weeks but it beat bleeding out to death. 

“Billy is that you?” I heard a masculine voice call out from the next room over. Entering in with a flower apron and smeared peanut butter hands was Billy’s dad.

“Oh! hello, I’m Jason. What can I help you with?”

I looked down at Billy and saw that look of pale fear mixed with the desire to faceplant onto the floor.

“I’m here to talk about Billy.” The smallest gasp came out of the kid. “And talk about what a special kid he is.” I added slowly.

“Oh uh, alright then. Give me a second and I’ll grab some lemonade. Billy your lunch is on the table, why don’t you eat while I talk to mister… “

“R…Everett I mean” I chuckled.

I sat down with Billy’s dad and did my best to break the news that his son had awakened an incredible power and immediately used it to trap his dad in a fantasy play with the townspeople as he saw fit. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Jason’s kindness quickly turned to unease but unexpectedly Billy stalked in and admitted to the whole thing. In doing so, whatever charm was on Jason lifted and he suddenly realized he hadn’t left the house or worked in weeks. Jason was at a loss, one minute he’s playing Cowboys with his son the next he’s got a superhero or supervillain with a bedtime. I sat in their quaint dining room and nursed my shoulder. Trying to give Jason the space he needed to reprocess the world.

Chapter 8

“You want an ice pack for that?” Jason said quietly.

“Thanks, that would be great.”

Jason drew a blue bag from the ice box and handed it to me, the cold numbed away the bruise.

“How did you get that ugly thing?” I could tell Jason was trying to change the subject, not think about the present. Unfortunately I’d been shot more or less, and I wasn’t going to beat around the bush.

“Your kid’s story ended with someone shooting me.” Jason’s face twisted and he collapsed into the chair across from me.

“I mean he always had a big imagination but I never thought for a second that it would come to this.”

“This must be hard to hear all at once.” I tried to console him. I had no idea how to handle kids in any circumstance but I could appreciate how out of his league Jason felt.

“I mean how long have I just been sitting at home, I didn’t realize anything was wrong, and there’s a whole new town outside.” I glanced at Stillwater sitting motionless outside.

“I remember being quiet a handful when I was a kid, well, mostly after puberty.” I don’t know how my parents held onto their sanity.” I tried to reason.

“ are you? I mean is Billy like…” he was grasping for words.

“I’m a little different than Billy but let’s focus on him for now. Your son has a special gift, like you said yourself his imagination has literally outgrown him. Kids like Billy have the ability to make their thoughts become a part of the world. Your game time with Billy became a whole storyline that he was playing out.”

“ how did he, make you do, stuff? Jason was growing more pale by the second.

“It’s hard for a human mind to control another mind; but everybody loves a good story.” I unintentionally made the most cryptic response, i’d have to remember that one for later. “Billy made a play. Everyone in town just had a script imprinted on their brains and followed through.”

“How do I…stop it?” Jason began pleading with me. I felt bad for the guy. I knew of cases like this but there’s not really a solution to change an overactive imagination.

“You can’t.” I watched his face droop. “But that’s not a bad thing!”

“What if this happens again! What if I don’t realize it again.”

“These things are triggered by strong emotions, the bigger the fear the bigger the story has to be to concur it.” I thought for a moment. “Is there anything stressing out Billy right now? Maybe something at school?”

“No he does great at school.” Jason looked forlorn out the window and I saw the realization hit.

“I’m going on a business trip, my partner in the company is coming by before I head off for a week. Billy always hates when I go so I wanted to play cowboys with him to help calm him down, its our favorite game. See we have this little story where a lone cowboy comes to this little town and saves the townsfolk from this bandit named…”

“Mr. Black?” I finished. Jason paused.

“You were Mr. Black?”

“No I was actually the hero, that’s just how I got the story to end was to mess up the ending so bad Billy would have to stop the show.”

“This is all insane, then who was ‘playing’ Black?”

It was my turn for a realization.

“Your partner didn’t happen to have a goatee and narrow eyes and a hooked nose does he.”

“Yes, why” Jason replied cautiously.

“There’s no good way to say this but I think Billy was trying to kill off your business partner so you’d stay home.”

“Oh” was all Jason could mutter out.

“Look Billy is still a kid, and he’s still processing things like anyone else his just happen to be a bit…bigger.”

“What will happen when he’s a teenager.” Jason slouched with a fatal look.

“Oh that’s easy, well I assume teenagers are super hard in general so good luck but imagination that big dies out in childhood. I’m sure he’ll be a mopey emotional mess of an adult with a normal imagination.”

“Who…who are you? How do you know about all this?” Jason looked up from his disheveled state.

“Everett man, supernatural detective at your service.” I handed Jason my business card. “Look I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know anything about kids but if something starts feeling off about Billy call me.”

“Uh thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a delivery boy to find.” Jason’s eyes were a mile away looking into the living room as Billy laughed asking to a cartoon.

“Look, it’s not my place but talk to Billy, he needs to know what is going on with you so he can learn to be ok. You can’t protect him forever.”

“ mmhmm” Jason mumbled to me as he walked to the living room and knelt besides Billy.”

I excused myself out the back door and circled around to the front of the house and headed back into Stillwater. I glanced back to see Billy and Jason hugging and crying. I did not envy Jason’s job right now but I had to just hope they’d be ok.

I stepped into the middle of town for the last time. Everyone was still asleep in lumps around. I took a final look at the town and appreciated how everything looked. When not trapped against your will it was impressive how much detail there was in a kid’s imagination. Now to see what I could do. I stood over where my bloody shoulder had been shot and leaned down. I pressed a palm flat into the ground. I focused my mind on myself. Being in this job made me appreciate how many versions of yourself there are. You have the you that your family sees, the you that those close to you sees, one for friends, one for strangers, even one for yourself. In the same way we are aware of these versions even though we are all of them simultaneously, I sifted through my mind and felt the town's persona.How each person who saw the town truly saw it themselves. It took a minute to sift through and bring together what had been pushed down by Billy. In doing so I felt the different versions of me come to the surface.  I felt my breath catch in my throat, I never liked having to do this but it was the fastest way to get everything back. There was my teenage self who looked way cooler than the dork he was. The good son who was a fraud. The villain who was too hard on himself, and many more. All aligned in a circle with me in the center. A familiar form stepped forward.

“Hey bro,” a particularly muscular form of myself with a backwards hat greeted.

“Oh joy it’s you, what are you supposed to be? How a toothpick sees myself as a muscled frat bro?” I sneered at him.

“Nah man, don’t hate me for being more shredded than you’ll ever be. I’m the you who won’t admit he liked what he saw when we had that run in with the reality swap kid.” Of course he was flexing the whole time he said this.

“Fine, you and I both know how this works. What do I have to give up to get things back to how they were?” I crossed my arms and tapped my foot, my spurs clinked in step.

“Nah bro, I ain’t taking anything from you. I want you to admit what you see.” He frowned at me.

“Ugh fine, I like being a muscle head. I feel tiny like this, I still jack off to the thought of you, etc. etc. can I go now?” I whined.

“Bra I’m flattered” he sneered back. “But this isn’t about me, in fact it’s only partially about us.”

“Huh?” Why was the muscle me playing coy?

“Nah this is about what you’ve been avoiding. Why you’ve been moving around, why you keep taking jobs to stay away from the house.”

“I swear if this is about mowing the lawn I’m going to kill all of us.” I squeezed the bridge of my nose till I saw stars.

“No!” Muscle me grabbed me in a rage. “Lifting me up and holding my face a few inches from his. “Jamie! It’s about Jamie!”

His fingers began to burn against my skin. I tried to pry myself out but his grip held fast 

“Admit it!” He screamed.

“Yes! I admit that I’m mad at Jamie, that he’s immature, that I act like I’m better than him!” The fiery grip grew in intensity. “Agh! I admit that I feel responsible for his death and that even if he doesn’t care about it I still do!” I could smell burnt flesh, I tried to kick myself away but anywhere I touched my skin would erupt in flames. I submitted. “I WANT TO BREAK UP WITH JAMIE!!” 

I saw the faintest smirk before I fell to the ground. That’s when I heard the honk. I opened my eyes and jumped back from the car bumper inches from my face. The car's horn blared as its driver got out and checked around! 

“Geez dude what are you doing in the street I almost creamed you!” Came the voice of a young teen barely old enough to drive. After catching my breath. I noticed the car sticker on the side of the door that read “Toby’s delivery and guitar lessons” 

“Hey you’re Toby!” I picked myself off the asphalt and dusted off. Around me the town had reverted to normal, modern day people in modern clothing walked and drove around. ‘Anne’ walked her daughter to the drug store. ‘Doc’ was arguing with a guy in front of the hardware store. Things were back to normal.

“Buddy you ok? I gotta get going to make this delivery.”

“Oh yeah, actually funny you should mention that, George sent me to make sure you made it there safely.” I smiled.

“By standing in the middle of the road?” Toby picked.

“Don’t worry about it, just tell George when you see him that I did my job, ok? You know how it is, gotta get paid somehow.” I laughed even though Toby just looked at me warily. He got back in his car and drove off.

Chapter 9

I found the lemon smelling faintly of cow pies and drove to the edge of town. I kept quiet with Jason but Billy’s power amazed and worried me. Being able to turn a town into your obedient playthings was a lot of power for an eight year old to have. I kept a brave face on but I was shaking in my boots metaphorically speaking for once. I stopped for a minute to look back at Billy and Jason’s home. Even with the town returned to normal their yard jut out in an odd angle from the small Main Street. From here I could see Billy look glumly out the window at me. I felt a wind move around me and chuckled to myself. I tipped my cowboy hat in his direction while I put on a smug grin and rode off with my horse into the sunset. Funny I remember it being midday a minute ago.

By the time I got back into the city I was more or less back to normal. I stopped by the cafe first thing. George greeted me with a warm latte as he came around the counter to sit by my usual table.

“So how did it go?” George inquired.

“I found your delivery boy, honestly I’m surprised he didn’t beat me here. He left in a rush.”

“Oh he stopped by an hour ago seeming a little extra vacant from his usual self. I’m sure he’s driving back to his family by now.” George wiped his hands on his yellow apron and leaned in close. “But really, did the kid find a girlfriend and decide to elope? He always was a little too observant of the female customers.”

“Actually a kid had his reality bending ability awoken and captured the whole town in a play spell of cowboys that your delivery boy got caught up in.” I said bluntly. I’ve learned that the truth is always more far fetched than rumors.

George gave a hearty deep laugh that reverberated around the cafe. If it wasn’t such a pleasant laugh it would have disrupted the whole cafe but instead the infectious laugh made other patrons join in even if they had no idea what they were laughing at. How do people have such out going and pleasant vibes to pull others in their sway?

“Alright, alright I’m sure the kid paid you well to keep your mouth shut about his mistress. Thanks again for getting him back. Oh and enjoy your latte.” George returned to his usual spot behind the counter and sent a wink my way. I picked up the latte to give it a taste and found a check under my cup as payment. There was even a little extra from our agreed rate. A sticky note I found stuck to my cup had neat tight handwriting that read. 

“The extra is a reminder to buy a drink next time you are in.”

I finished my drink and gave a “thank you” wave to George as I left. I’m not too proud to admit I dashed to the bank and cashed the check. Haunted  or not, I still had house payments to make.

In the end, I found myself back in my cold room thinking of the whole case. I turned over and checked my calendar. Jamie would be back in a week. I guessed that meant I had one week left to pretend everything was normal before all hell broke loose.

The end

[everettman]

Case File 001 - Spot me

Chapter one

I shoved my keys into the hole and barged into my apartment. My frame bumped along the chair at my table as I crashed through into the living room. Dropping my gym bag on the floor sent an array of shaker bottles and gym socks flying. I pushed them aside and reached for my green spiral notebook. I remember scribbling the name “WORKOUTS 2 GET SWOLE” on it even though I never wrote that. I flipped through the pages past workout routines and macro amounts I’d input before switching over to an app. My hand absently scratching at my pec, giving them a squeeze brought a smile to my face that I quickly shook away. A blank page was left at the very end where I grabbed a pen and started writing furiously. Two minutes later I had a full workout routine for the next day.

“Fucking hell” I murmured as I scribbled over the page.

I grabbed my phone and resisted every urge to open the camera and take a picture of my post workout pump. Well to be honest I took a few before snapping out of it. Then I opened a voice memo and tried to recount the last few days.

“What up bros, huhu “ my voice came back, I should really start a podcast sometime. “Uh anyway, life’s been a little hectic the last few days. After training chest on Monday… ’ no the case, talk about the case!’ “Oh yeah before I crushed my PR on the sideways incline I was at my stupid job” ‘ it’s not stupid it’s fine.’ “ Anyway it all started in my office when this shrimpy guy came in...”

His name was Blake Winger and he was a fitness legend. You couldn’t tell that by the man who sat down in front of my desk. He was lanky to say the least. I’d guess 5’8” and 125 soaking wet kind of way. Anyone else who saw him would think he was a pipsqueak who went through high school in a perpetual wedgy but I could sense a difference. To be fair, I didn’t look quite like myself either. I remember looking bookish, I’m fighting every urge to call myself a nerd but I can’t fully deny it. 5’10” medium length brown hair and gold circular glasses. I wouldn’t be caught dead without my leather book bag with all my case notes in it. the way the leather strap matched my leather boots, tan slacks and brown sweater always made me feel like I was the professor version of Indiana jones. 

I was in my office because Blake had called me about a special case. See, my main course of study after college had been supernatural cases. Not the alien and ghost kind but transformation, possession, body swaps and the like. I have a sort of sixth sense for warps in reality and back then my mind was pinging off the charts. Blake came in haggard and depressed saying desperately how he needed my help.

“This isn’t me, this punk client Eli stole my body!” He whimpered

“Hold on” I reassured “I believe you. How did it happen?”

At the time I wasn’t convinced, plenty of people come in because of a bad case of body dysmorphia or have undiagnosed mental diseases. I had three last year claiming to be Jesus. It’s the unfortunate side to this job. I learned pretty quickly though that it is always better to agree with the dude claiming to be Jesus on the other side of the desk. Keeps them from wrecking the place of a ‘non-believer’.

“I was at the gym late two nights ago training this kid. I left for the parking lot and this dweeb comes after me and bumps into me. I was about to tell him off but the next thing I knew, I was looking up at the little dude, then I realized I was little. I couldn’t believe my eyes as he ran off down the street, leaving me there in gym clothes five sizes too big. I tried to get in my car and chase after him but suddenly my car was gone and I’m wearing these ugly jeans and hoodie.”

“Who were you? I mean before the event?”I said. ‘Please don’t say ‘the easter bunny’, I thought to myself.

“A personal trainer, I worked at that pizza place on second street” he stopped, eyes wide in realization. “ I mean, at that fancy gym they put up a few months ago. Damn it, why can’t I remember the name”

The ceiling fan above squeaked as I gave him a moment to collect himself. “I think you mean RFRM” I chuckled to myself, the gym was all cutting edge lights and machines. The name ‘Reform’ was probably meant as a way to reform your body but the removal of vowels always made me think ‘erferm’ whenever I drove by.” Blake’s eyes lit up, “yeah that’s the place” as suddenly clouds covered the horizon, “at least, I think it is.” “Look Blake” I tried to ease in gently. “I can look into this but I can’t promise anything. Bodyswaps tend to be based on two people alone and unless both come back together it can be impossible to undo a swap. I know this is a lot but you might have to think about the possibility of you staying like…this.” Blake looked down with a wave of shock. It was never easy to watch but I’d seen too many cases get their hopes up just to end up in a body different than they started with. I’d had my fair brush with a number of similar encounters and knew that ‘normal’ was an ever moving target. I noticed Blake’s leg bobbing at an accelerated pace as he wrung his hands. I felt bad for the kid. He kept shifting in his seat trying to get comfortable. The tiny pleather chairs left much to be desired in the way of support but I could tell he was uncomfortable in his body. “Look it’s not all bad, you are young. It sucks to start from the ground up again I’m sure but at least you can just tell people that you got some weird sickness and lost some muscle.” I tried to reassure him. “That’s just it!” Blake exclaimed. “No one remembers me! I thought they might just be confused because I look smaller but my girlfriend kicked me out and said I was some creep who broke into her house.” I leaned forward in my chair. “Bodyswaps don’t make people forget you.” I stated for Blake but I made a note for myself. My gut told me that was an important detail to be aware of. “I guess she probably got confused because your face is different too.” “But it isn’t! I have the same face I always have. She always said these freckles on my chin looked like a star!” He pointed frantically at a scattering of freckles that I thought may look more like a hat but I took his word for it. “Ok ok, I’ll look into it like I said.” I scribbled what notes I could into my leather bound journal. “Please” Blake whimpered out. “Please try, I’m not…I’m not me.” Blake sulked out of my office and down the hall. He nearly walked right into the ladder of Cal the local handyman before changing course and heading for the stairs. Cal looked in on me with a knowing look before the door closed. I figured the best place to start would be the gym. I hated the idea of trendy gyms but there was no avoiding that to get to the bottom of this I’d have to think like a body stealer. If I stole a body with muscle, I’d want to use it. I wrote down a few notes and addresses and buckled my satchel. As I left my office I nodded to Cal. Calling it my office is a bit of a stretch. It is more of a study room in the community portion of the library down town. The study halls weren’t being used as much as the librarians had hoped and a few tax cuts put them in a bind so they started renting out the spaces as makeshift offices. Mine was down a hall and I always suspected it was someone’s custodial closet before I rented it out. Most months I barely made rent on the dirt cheap closet anyway. Maybe if Blake was worth his money I’d be able to upgrade to one with an actual window in. 

As I passed Cal’s ladder I looked up to see him changing a lightbulb in the hallway. Cal is a handyman I’d hired on a few occasions to help clean up some messes from previous cases. He had the sturdy muscle and years to know how to fix anything and he rarely asked how things got into a mess in the first place. To be fair, he wouldn’t believe me if I told him. Cal was a sceptic as sturdy as they came. He refused to believe anything beyond the vanilla world was possible and thought I made a living selling snake oil to schizophrenics. However, he never directly disapproved my job. I think he was as tight on money as I was and understood that people needed to get by. I always worried that having him in proximity to all the supernatural would affect him in some way but typically it was the head that was affected when something extraordinary happened and his was too solid to be swayed. “Another dude lose his muscles?” Cal called down as he wiped cob webs and dust from his graying beard. “It can’t really be ‘another’ when the last guy said he had no muscles at all. That one I had to pull out an anatomy chart and I don’t think he ever understood what I meant.” “Lot’s of weird ones lately regardless. If it ever gets too much, say the word and I’ll hook yer up as my assistant.” Cal smiled down as he held up a glass fixture at an odd angle. “I’ll keep it in mind, but I think you’d be disappointed with my physical ability. You were holding that thing since that guy came in and you haven’t broken a sweat. I would have dropped it ten minutes ago.” “Eh muscles are earned, you’ll get there. Someday.” He teased down as the fixture came to life. “There, much less dingy look to your office now.” “It’s funny running into you here,” I said. “I haven’t seen you since that telekinetic couple uptown” He chuckled, “now that was a sweet job, rebuilding a couple walls and getting wine stains out of carpet. Too bad he was abusing her though.” “Oh She was  the one throwing his body through the walls” I corrected. “Sure thing kid.” “Anyway, I better get going before these gyms close” I slid past his ladder, careful not to knock into it. “Oh ho, so you ARE getting a start on those muscles?” “Nah looking into it for a case, maybe I’ll do some lat press downs or something while I’m there.” Cal just laughed as I headed down the hall and out the door. Outside Blake was already gone, I swayed over to my car under the oak and drove off to the first gym on the list.

Chapter two

I started with the only lead I had, the gym Blake said he worked at. RFRM was just as gaudy and techbro as I remembered. As I parked my yellow hatchback between a motorcycle with the green giant who wasn’t so green and a ferrari I confidently stepped out of my vehicle a full head and a half shorter and strolled towards the door. I was immediately assaulted by loud music, cologne, body spray, and pure musk that made my nose want to wrench itself from my face. A chipper young man with a mustache and a tight black polo reading “RFRM” in big white letters was working the desk. 

“Can I interest you in our membership program? Unfortunately you can’t use the facility without one.” His cheerful demeanor and shirt that looked like it had multiple sausages shoved into a size small put me on edge, but I was in their territory now and I needed to play the part. “Uh yeah, bro, I uh, am looking to really bulk up this session. Mind showing me around the place so I can make sure the machines are…adequate enough for my workouts.” I felt utterly ridiculous but I needed a way in. The man’s eyes crinkled in and in his best customer service voice he answered. “Sure thing, right this way.” I followed after trying to make sure not to keep my eyes on his black polo or the slacks that were sized in just the right way to show off a tight muscle butt. I wondered how many gym memberships those too small pants had brought in. “As you can see we have state of the art resistance training machines that excel in…” He trailed off as we walked around. I studied the faces of all the gym goers. Lots of muscle, lots of roids. Not Blake’s though. I realized a minute in that I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for. Blake didn’t exactly have a photo of what he looked like before. As we walked through the gym I felt the stares of the gym members. Most looked at me skeptically, a puny guy like me belonged in some cheap gym, not this their domain. One mountain in a tank top looked me up and down and scoffed. I felt my face redden as I pulled my leather satchel closer to my body. These freaks of protein were never afraid to show their body off. In fact, they were so much the opposite that they constantly pulled attention towards them. Large proportions, loud voices, revealing clothing. I hated it all. I liked the parts of me but you wouldn’t see me flaunting around for attention. The sooner I caught this guy the sooner I’d be out of their dumb gaze. I pressed on. “Does anyone named Blake work here?” I interrupted the man’s rehearsed spiel so well he actually sputtered to a stop. “Blake? No, you must be thinking of someone else.” So either Blake was lying or the bodyswap changed the names as well. Unlikely but I couldn’t stand this place much longer. Bright neon hexagonal lights were plastered to every surface and I was mostly convinced they were infusing the air with some mix of musk and cinnamon. The whole place was revolting to me. Bunch of people trying to get as big as possible just to do a flaunted mating dance and feel superior. “So as I was saying…” My tour guide began again. “Who would you say is the top trainer here? If I’m going to be putting good money here I want to make sure I’m getting the best guidance.” I stood my ground even though out of everyone in this building I would be the first to get beaten up, or at least have my lunch money stolen. “Well some like Cassandra or Billy. They are our two most requested. Although, Eli over there has been a new, up and comer lately with a lot of potential.” He gestured over to a man lifting weights in front of the mirror. He was in love with himself. Everyone here had an oedipus complex for sure but he was drinking in his muscles. Every rep and flex he was nearly salivating over himself. He also had the shortest shorts and tightest tank on. Something not too uncommon to see on a trainer but a little too revealing for someone in a professional setting. That is, unless that someone was really a thief who was taking a body out for a joyride. “Hey Eli!” I shouted across the racks. A little too forcefully that it made my tour guide jump in his skin. His toned pecs jiggled as he settled. Across the gym the adonis tore his gaze away from the mirror to skeptically look at me. 

“Blake sends his regards.” I smirked at my trap until that smirk was taken off my face as I realized I forgot to set the trap. The cornered man simply bolted for the back door. I chased after, swerving around the gym patrons and dodging equipment left and right. The swapper burst through an emergency exit in the back setting off an alarm throughout the gym. I followed after in pursuit. My muscles burned and my breath was heavy before I even left the door. The swapper hadn’t broken a sweat, trotting off at a steady pace that I could barely keep up with. Thankfully for me, their new physique didn’t come a sense of direction. Leaving the gym and heading left led into a tight back alley with a dead end. I came around the corner and did my best to catch my breath before commanding “stop right there”. Instead a series of breaths and gasps came out, weakening the effect. The man looked around desperately for an exit. I took the moment to finally get a good look at him. Large pecs that rose and sank with each breath. Powerful arms in a cut off tee. His legs toned and flexed from the sudden jog. His face matched only barely. Black hair fell messily over a face with soft, scared eyes. A slight hooked nose. To anyone else the face matched the body perfectly but to me I could see the mismatch of proportions like a frankenstein’s monster of pieces. “It’s ok, I’m not going to hurt you” and I truly meant it. There is no way I’d be able to hurt this guy if I wanted to. I was only hoping he didn’t realize that I would be no match if he bolted through me. He on the other hand could sack me in a moment if he were provoked. I had to tread lightly. 

The man turned wild eyed. “Hey bro, I don’t know what you want! I don’t know anybody named Blake.” “Then why did you run?” I kept my voice steady. “You chased me bro! leave me alone. I gotta get back to my pump!” “Not till we have a little talk about Blake” “Leave me alone!”

Time to change tactics.

“Look meat head. I can tell a mile away that you and those pecs didn’t come as a matching set. So let’s sit your ass down and talk about this.” I took a step towards the man, that was my mistake. His calm demeanor shot back into a frenzy. He pushed into me hard. I would have slammed into the brick wall of the alley if the force hadn’t immediately glue us together. His hands remained firmly pressed on my chest as a sudden heat and light started to flow into me. I briefly saw his eyes. I expected rage but I only saw fear and sadness. 

The first thing to grow was my chest. Right at the point of contact I felt an energy push out through my chest as they grew into two large globes, next it spread through my back, instantly widening out with a crack. The energy flowed out in every direction. Heat up my neck widened out as I grunted, energy down my arms fattened up my biceps and I felt my hands stretch out into massive grabbers. Down my belly tightened into a six pack as the changes continued. It’s hard to describe how my crotch felt as that same energy reshaped everything below my pants before my legs exploded out, sizing up my feet last. In contrast, Eli began to shrink, his olympian physique pressed in as the energy entered myself. I noticed not a change in his body but his eyes. What were scattered flashing eye movements became more knowing, more discerning looks. He was noticing everything around him. After a moment our bodies forced each other apart. I fell back against the wall as my vision went white.

Chapter three 

 By the time I oriented myself  Eli was gone. I barely saw the shadow of him slip out around the corner. I was in no shape to chase. Well, physically I could have caught him easily with the long strides my increased height would have given me but my head refused to catch up. I was just changed into a meathead, although I noted my appearance was a stark difference. My body had upgraded, my clothing remained the same. Slightly stretched, slightly reshaped my same brown sweater and gold rim glasses remained on my face. I was a muscular giant with the get up of a bookworm. Something in the back of my head told me to hurry, that I’d lose Eli if I didn’t move fast and I’d be back to square 1. I trudged around the gym to the parking lot to grab my car. It took me a minute to adjust the seat till I could actually fit. I settled on bending my neck to the side so my head fit under the roof. I began to speed off. As I hit the road I turned and followed the direction I saw Eli run. A block down I hit an intersection. Where could he have gone? I looked down the streets but no luck, a car behind me honked their horn to get me to move. I suddenly felt a whirlwind rush around my head as the world shifted for a moment. I put my mustang into drive and smashed the pedal, screeching down the road. It took me three blocks to realize that I wasn’t bent over trying to fit into my car, and also that this wasn’t my car. I had to focus hard to realize I was driving a sleek black mustang. My head split in two for a moment. In one, I knew this wasn’t my car, it had to be part of the swap, the other half fully remembered buying the car. Thinking about how cool it was and how many passengers I had been able to “pick up” by riding around in a cool car gave me a sense of pride. I couldn’t have driven some old beat up car; what would my clients think if their trainer drove something beat up.

Wait, what? No, my clientele right now was Blake. He hired me to look into his body swap, not to train him. Although he could use it, his frame was tiny but nothing a few months of hard work and targeting some core areas wouldn’t fix. I could stop by on the way back and take him over to RFRM for a quick section. I pulled to the side of the road unsure of what I was even doing. I could feel that dread in the back of my head that you get when you are forgetting something. Here I was, on my way to my job; yet I couldn’t shake the feeling something was different. I looked in the rear view mirror and admired my sculpted chin and buzzed hair. I looked as hot as ever. Still something inside me was complaining. Maybe I didn’t sleep long enough.

I decided to visit Cal. I had just seen him that morning. If anyone could notice a difference it would be him. I drove over to his workshop on the far side of town. The workshop is an old diner that Cal had been updating over the years into a full fledged shop with all the tools you could need. I had been there a few times before and admired how he had kept the 50s decor while ripping out the counter and tables to make space for a workbench and saw. The whole place felt like Cal. A sturdy, slightly dated structure with good bones and lots of character. 

That is, it was until I pulled up outside to a modern home gym. Gone was the red and white striping, in was the marbled concrete and gym equipment. I walked up through the open garage door and watched cal’s hulking frame bench press a couple of 60s like they were nothing.

“Everett my man, looking good.” He grunted between reps. fun

I leaned forward and rested my arm on the equipment, imposing down at cal. Even though I was a trained muscle beast, his arms beat mine any day. I was always a little jealous that he gained muscle there so well. He finished his set and sat up from the sweaty bench and wiped his face with a towel. He looked powerful and demanding. I appreciated that.

I had to focus on myself, otherwise I’d be late.

“Notice anything different?” I smiled.

“Oh I’m always so bad at this, did you do something different with your hair?”

“Nope” I guessed.

“Then I don’t have a clue, oh yeah thanks for lending me those straps, they really helped my back mobility.” He stretched out his back and I could see the knotted muscles twist under his shirt.

“No problem, how’s work been? Any new projects lately?”

“Nah haven’t had a job in months, been taking it easy living off the retirement and focusing on these.” He did a double bicep curl and I watched the veins snake out. I was jealous he was just walking around with those.

“What were you fixing at the library then?” I questioned.

He gave me the funniest look before laughing. “Do I look like I spend my free time at the library?”

“We talked this morning, you were fixing some light or thing.” The confusion drifted back. I could remember meeting him and it was definitely at the library but the conversation was a blur.

Cal lifted a hand and dropped it square on my shoulder.

“You’ve been taking the wrong protein powder pal, we talked this morning at the gym about weight distribution. I think you need a rest day.”

“Yeah, yeah I’m sure you are right.” I lied to him. I could tell something was wrong but his hand on me anchored me down. If cal didn’t see anything weird then I had to just be imagining things.

“It’s nothing, see you tomorrow at our session Cal!”

“See ya buddy, don’t forget to send me that workout plan you promised” he called out. As he dropped back onto the bench. I got back into my car and took one last long look at Cal’s gym. 

“No”, I mumbled to myself. “Something is off .”

I drove back to my apartment and crashed through the door. I for some reason i am leaving this really long voice memo of everything that happened today but I don’t remember why I started. Probably just didn’t want to forget a new workout routine so I decided to do this. “Anyway, got to get to work, bye uhhhh me”. I clicked off my phone. Ah well, time to get pumped. I changed into a cropped shirt and tight gym shorts. Clients always got distracted when I wore them but this combo got me half of my clients so had to keep up appearances. I gave myself ten minutes to admire myself in the mirror before I head out the door.

Chapter four

With that out of the way I decided I better get to work before my first client came in. I hopped back in the stang and headed out to RFRM hoping to put this weirdness behind me. I got about two blocks before I saw a guy walking down the street. He had this weird brown colored sweater and these geeky gold glasses on him that reminded me of…My head began to swim. I lifted a meaty hand to my temple and pulled to the side of the road. Something was seriously wrong but when I tried connecting the dots they all just blended together. I checked my watch and saw I only tracked a fifth of my usual calories today. 

“That must be it, I’m just cutting too hard,” I chuckled to myself. I got out of the car and walked over to the cafe on the corner. Work would have to wait, I needed energy to train. I saw it was some niche place that felt like it had more salads than protein. Hopefully it would do. As I walked, I noticed people watching me. At first it felt odd but something clicked. They weren’t watching me, they were checking me out. My chest puffed out at the thought. I walked straighter as I passed a man taking a package inside who dropped the thing whole slack jaw as I passed. I smirked down on him as I passed and felt the lump in my pants grow. 

I checked out the menu outside the cafe and thought better of it. I started to walk away when I noticed the waiter. He stood in front of a table with his notebook out but his eyes remained firmly on me. He had that cute sleek fit to him with his black apron holding back his sprawled white shirt. Rolled sleeves and low un-buttened collar teasing behind the apron drew my eyes toward him. I watched his short curly hair and auburn skin part ways around his face as a sly smile crept his lips. He left his eyes locked on me as he called to his coworker to take over the table. A grumpy old man who kept stealing glances my way jumped as his notepad thudded down into his salad. Something about this man felt right. Having a sense for supernatural changes can be oversimplified as things feeling right or things feeling off. The whole afternoon felt off in some way but this singular man felt like a cascade of water as you dive into a pool. I turned my back and shortened my stride as he followed behind. I caught sight of him throwing his apron to the welcome desk as he followed after. I instinctively flexed my back to give him a show as we rounded the corner of a shop into a slightly secluded alley behind. The moment I saw his black jeans round the corner I grabbed with both hands and swung him around into the shadows. I shocked myself in how easy it was to pick up and move the guy that I panicked for a moment and quickly slowed him down before I cracked his skull on the brick.

His eyes went wide but his smile started curling at the end.

“You always manhandle first dates this way?” He tried to speak smoothly as most of wind was flung out of him.

“Only the ones I like” my brain filled in without thought. I placed a meaty hand behind his cute head and wove my fingers through his curls. My other hand reached down the back of his pants. A speedo, I liked that. I grabbed a hold of his back cheek and lifted him up to meet my face. What was the point of having arms the size of tree trunks if I couldn’t do sexy shit like this? I plowed my face into his, going hard with the tongue as his whimpers pushed through our lips. That’s when I felt it, beyond the intense and sudden lust there was a familiarity in it. I had never seen the cute boy before but I knew that kiss, and better yet I knew that soul. He seemed to notice me first. 

“Everett?!?”

“Jamie?!” 

I dropped him suddenly and he sank to the ground, I quickly pulled him back up and strapped him against myself. 

"Jamie? Who is this guy? You left in a redhead. I didn't know you were back in town!

"Everett what about you? What’s happened to you? I mean I know you’ve changed before but this?” He gestured wildly at my physique and stature the same lustful eyes surfacing “this is huge man!” 

I barely heard a word beyond him calling me huge if I’m being honest.

“What do you mean, you know I’ve been big for a while.”

“What? No! Your a scrawny book nerd who thinks sweaters are your personality. Now you look like you haven’t spent a day out of designer gym clothes. How much could you even lift?”

“325 deadlift, I broke my pb last week.”

“I was home last week and we watched gladiator, remember? You kept telling me not to comment on every muscular man! Everett I like the change but this isn’t you!”

That feeling of my head swimming came back.

 I remember sitting on the couch.

I remember lifting at the gym.

I remember Jamie.

I remember taking a boy home.

“Augh what is happening??” I yelled as I palmed my temples. Searing heat poured through my eyeballs and made puddles in my brain.

Jamie was on top of me now, half jumping half climbing up to my face. 

“Ok don’t panic, something changed you but I’ve been paying attention when you talk to yourself while writing your stupid notes. Split personality or possession or whatever this is. I felt it when we kissed, you must have felt it too.”

I nodded as my vision began to blur.

“Then that is your anchor, let ME be your anchor.” He pressed his lips into mine, after a moment I felt my mind begin to clear, I could think of the events that actually lead to this point. When we stopped they began to fuddle again.

 “It's working,” I told him, "but only a little.”

“Then we have to take it up a notch” his Cheshire smile returned. In a flash his jeans were unbuttoned and by his ankles. He leaned over while pulling me close to him. My shorts pressed against the backside of his underwear.

In a flash he was on his knees, my gym shorts and compression pants artfully drawn down to my ankles. He teasingly pulled back my underwear and there was a sudden coolness as my dick flopped out. 

“We can’t!” I scolded him through a flash of heat “I told you I’m not doing it with strangers anymore” 

“Sure thing buddy, just keep telling yourself that like I’m not about to deep throat you till I see stars.”

He lunged in, his cute mouth was tight around me as he struggled to take me all in. Jamie never had trouble getting around me before. A sudden pride rocked through my body and lengthened my stick into his throat. Damn it felt good to have him wrapped around me. My mind had to fight back from this body but this also felt so good. I felt amazing . I felt strong, virile, capable of anything. My head rolled back as I  looked to my side to check for a clear coast. I noticed a cracked mirror in the alley. The sight was heavenly. The waiter, the muscle god. I was a muscle god. I tilted my torso as my hand reached down to guide Jamie’s head as he moved in and out. I barely could focus on him though, my abs shown through, my shoulders raised and sagged. I couldn’t help how hot I looked. I raised a meaty arm and flexed the biggest bicep I’d ever seen. From my bearded face I let rip the deepest of sultry smiles as my fiery eyes held their own gaze. I can’t imagine the amount of cum I splashed onto Jamie. Each thrust felt like a piston pounding forward as I geysered out. Releasing all the pressure in four solid pumps. Never leaving my own figure with my eyes. When my body relaxed I looked down at a white stained Jamie dizzy eyed on the ground. “Oh shit, Jamie, sorry!” I picked him up and lifted my shorts back on. “You’re soaked!” 

“It’s ok Ev,” He laughed lackadaisically. ”I always keep a change of clothes close by. How do you feel…big guy?” The compliment sent me into euphoria and in that bliss it was as if the clouds parted and I felt the sun on my skin.

“Oh my God Jamie I’m me! I mean kind of me, I’m both still but I can think! You’ll never believe what happened!”

“What happened? You got swole!”

“Heh yeah” I absentmindedly flexed an arm before focusing back in.

“Some dude swapped bodies with me! I was tracking him for a case and when I confronted him I ended up with all his muscles and meat brain.”

“Why did he swap bodies then leave your face the same?” Jamie puzzled.

I put a meaty paw to my face, I couldn’t remember what my own face was supposed to look like.

“Plus this confidence man, you never took control like that before. I think he swapped your sex drive more than your body.”

I leaned back against the brick wall and rested my chin in my hand. The double life was still pulling at my brain but I remembered something vaguely about that. Even in cases of total switching of lives, typically the sex drive was tied closely to the soul. Meaning that if my drive for sex was changing, it was more than just my body that had been swapped.

“I think I’m slowly turning into this…meathead, not just taking his body. I’m taking his life.” The horror crept into my mind slowly.

“So then you didn’t swap bodies, you swapped lives or even something bigger?” 

“Realities!” I bounced up slightly pushing Jamie back on accident. I still couldn’t get used to my size. “It’s not his body, it’s his reality. That’s why when I was at the RFRM no one had heard of Blake. Because “Blake” hasn’t worked there in this reality, “Eli” had. And now I’m the new reality.”

 I tried to parse through my thoughts to the muscle side of me and realized that I indeed worked at RFRM now and loved it. Getting paid to work out and train others while I did. Getting to show off my body to anyone who couldn’t help but take their eyes off of me was heaven. People wanted me, it certainly had worked on Jamie. I looked down at him expecting the goo goo eyes but instead he was distracted, lost in thought. I had to push really hard not to pose like an Olympian while Jamie took a minute to process. While he thought through it my regular mind was just strong enough to get mad at him.

 “Hey, why did you give me a blow job. You know how I feel about you ‘using’ like that!”

Jamie’s mind may have been lost in thought but his intelligent eyes snapped back with a devious grin.” Funny, I was certain it was my head you were pile driving there.”

I blushed hard as my member began to raise again. I quickly covered it but my tight gym shorts did nothing to hide the bulge. Jamie certainly noticed. With a scoff he added “I’m not going to apologize for having a good time, it’s not every day a muscle beast comes knocking down my throat.”

“Fine, I liked it. It…it felt right”

This made Jamie pause, for how over zealous and immature he was he had a certain knack for finding that hidden clue hiding in plain sight. It had come in handy on many cases before.

“It felt right because it was right, to both realities!” I stared at Jamie with blank eyes, my mind began to fuzz over the edges as I started noticing more of Jamie’s body and less of his words. 

“I’m too out of it to decipher that baby, and you better hurry before I start wanting to fuck your brains out again.”

Jamie suddenly pushed me back till I was sitting against the wall. Expertly he  hopped into my lap, lifted my shirt, and planted a kiss on my pec. I held my arms at the small of his back and tried my best to focus on anything other than the man bouncing on my hips.

“And how does,” he gyrated as he licked across my nipple, “this feel?” 

“Amazing” I mumbled out, barely coherent.

“But does it feel right muscleboy? Think you could show me around a real workout sometime?”

“Fuuuck bro, say the word and I’m so there to get you fired up” I could imagine the look on his face as I laid him across a gym bench and pushed my dick into his tight hole.

Jamie launched up and grabbed my head in his hands and kissed my mouth again. “Ev’s, does it feel good?”

 I couldn’t say no to him. No matter how mad I was he was doing this to me again I wanted him, I just wish he would not pull a stunt like this every time.

“It feels great Jamie, I can feel you.” I bent in to hug Jamie hard but he sprung up and out of my reach standing tall before me. 

“That’s it!” He beamed.

I lay in a heap in a dirty alley with a hard on and a bent back. I was not in the mood, “just spit it out Jamie.”

“It feels right to both of you, that’s why you are in control right now. This reality swap or whatever made a new you, a muscle head gym bro trainer that loves to fuck and is full of himself. And then you have the Everett you who loves me and wants to be physical even though you are incapable of doing anything to make yourself happy because you are a dork who puts himself through pain to seem cooler than you are!”

If there were ‘two’ of me, they were both getting pissed at Jamie right now.

“Get to the point little man” I lifted myself up to tower over Jamie. My hardon was gone but now I wanted to punch Jamie hard instead. 

“You have to do something that you both think is right to do so one personality doesn’t overshadow the other.” He smiled. I could still punch Jamie but I was starting to see the logic. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I let my mind wander out to see what I wanted, what I craved.

Book me wanted to solve the case.

Muscle me wanted to work out.

Book me wanted to eat out tonight.

Muscle me wanted protein.

Book me wanted to get back to my real self.

Muscle me hoped I’d never go back.

Both of us wanted to do something to get our minds off of this predicament.

Coffee?

Stretching?

A walk?

Exercise!

I may not have been the biggest before, but even I knew tiring out my body helped me when I was mentally stuck. I opened my eyes to see a cocky Jamie who knew he had been right. He leaned in with his lips puckered waiting no doubt for a reward. I spun him around, yanked down the back of his pants, and gave him a quick but fierce wedgie. He yelped and hurried to pull his speedo out of his crack as I jogged down the alley and out of sight. One last glance at him showed a red face of anger and embarrassment. I loved when he was mad. I charged on back towards the gym, leaving my car on the way, and making sure everyone down the three blocks could see my full form.

Chapter five

I hit the gym harder than I ever had, mainly because I hadn’t actually gone till that day. I let muscle me take over as I hit bench press, dead lift, bicep curls, and reverse incline. Every muscle in my body stretched as I soldiered on. I had to hit full body, I needed to clear everything out. Too bad I was so fit now, it took three hours to work through everything. I knew I’d be sore in the morning but I could tell it was working. The muscle head in me was satisfied. I grabbed my bag and walked to the door. I raised my arm to take in the musk of my new form. Even after hours of tiring myself out I still could feel this new reality fighting back.

I recovered my car, drove back to my apartment and tried to write down the case so far. That’s how I got into this mess. If I listen back to this voice recording I am sure it is all in bro speak but it’s helping keep my thoughts together. Something is worrying me now. I can feel the changes cementing themselves in. I think if I fall in solving this case fast I’ll be stuck like this forever. I looked around my apartment and thought about how different it looked already. My pantry of non perishables was practically all protein powder and supplements. My Knick knacks I had collected on cases had been replaced with at home gym equipment and a pile of workout gear that reeked throughout the apartment. My life was slowly being replaced and soon I would think this was all normal.

 I thought about the case so far. immediately blushing and feeling the blood run to my face as I thought about what Jamie had said and what I subsequently did to him. If this was a reality swap it was slowly pulling me in. I was leading two lives and I needed to break out of one. Leave it to Jamie to come up with the right answer while also being the most immature and over sex crazed way possible. I hated how good it felt to use him like that, even if he asked for it. The power was tempting. I tried to brush it off as a side effect of the muscle reality. Maybe being a god in terms of physique made me a monster down under. Even I couldn’t lie to myself like that. The reason the sex made me coherent was that it was what both realities of me wanted. Muscle me wanted to physically get over Jamie and get off as much as possible. Book me wanted Jamie too, as immature as he was I could not deny our history and connection. It was the fact that both sides of me wanted to feel that connection to Jamie that pulled me back into myself. My hope rose that another connection would undo this change. If sex were the answer it would have solved the problem already. Unless it was the fact it was sex with the wrong person.

I got to my Mustang and took a second to appreciate how nice my car was. The old lemon was a sight for sure but this black Mustang showed off power, and it was mine. I looked down at my body and realized I felt the same way about my new form. As urgent as I needed to reverse this I had to admit that I was enjoying it. I liked how it felt. I liked the way people looked at me.I flexed in the tinted mirrors not caring who watched me. I liked the look in Jamie’s eyes as he traced down my… I slammed the door, turned the ignition on, and sped down the street. I had to stop this and fast.

Something convinced me that whatever started this would be needed to end it. I had to find our mystery reality warper as well as Blake. If I could get us all together I could think of something. Hey what can I say I’m a genius when it comes to a deadline.

Chapter six 

I drove through the town aimless. The fact that Eli had been so easy to find, as his new reality at the gym had led him there, meant that if we swapped realities he was now drawn to my old routine. I sighed relieved, realizing he would not just flee town. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere for another month. I thought about at this time of day I was probably at home. The sun was setting and the old ladies at the library would have kicked me out of my office by now. Which means, to get him I would have to check at my own home first. I cruised down a street and up over the hill till I parked in front of the grand regency condos. “Damn it, where did I live before?” I smacked the dash of my car. I could feel the memory slipping away. I knew I wasn’t rich enough to live at this apartment complex and yet all my brain could remember was moving in a few years ago so I could have a prime location next to the gym and a great place to show off when I brought dates home. Alright, finding Eli was going to be harder than I thought, but I could at least get Blake. I called him up and explained how we were going to do a special workout tonight and that he’d forfeit his last payment if he didn’t show. Even now I could feel reality slipping further, it wouldn’t be long before I was sucked into this new life. Blake didn’t even remember being swapped anymore, for all he knew he was some twig trying to put on some muscle. I told him to meet me at RFRM. But first I had something I needed to do.

I showed up at RFRM wearing my tightest black cropped gym shirt and workout shorts. I fell into the new reality. I made a protein shake, stretched and then drove loud through town to the gym. I knew playing into it would only accelerate reality but in order for my plan to work I needed to be fully in tune with both sides. I got out of my car in the dark parking lot. I smiled seeing the form of Blake waiting inside. I stopped under a light and in my most non chalant way glanced around the shadows. I saw a familiar yellow beat up car in the far corner of the parking lot. I chuckled, knowing he would be here. I looked to the front door and hesitated. For one final moment I cupped a heavy pec in my massive hand. I was huge, and I liked it. The familiar haze started to settle in, “it’s time” I whispered to myself.

I burst open the double doors to the gym with a show. I shot the shit with the cute kid at the front desk and walked through the rows of machines basking in the eyes of the late night customers. I felt the power and respect my body brought. I felt the envy and hate. I relished in it, full of myself. I glanced towards Blake to see him adjusting his pants and trying hard to make eye contact so his eyes didn’t drift down. I appreciated how he looked, small, dependent, weak. Made him susceptible to me. I feigned a yawn and stretched my back, sending my arms wide. Ignoring the drool on Blake’s chin, I used an exaggerated gesture to glance around. I noticed a sweater and glasses sneak in while the front desk was distracted looking at me. All according to plan. 

“So, what exercises were you thinking for this late workout?” Blake said timidly.

“Something to work your full body and then some” cryptically I glanced down. Blake was doing a bad job of keeping his eyes off of me. 

Suddenly there was an blaring siren as the fire alarm chirped away, stunned looks all around and a few curses as the gym goers slowly filed outside. Blake began to walk to the door before I wrapped a powerful arm around him and laid him out on the workout bench nearby. He gasped with wide eyes but didn’t object. The fire alarm silenced and we found ourselves alone. I felt the same urge as when I fucked Jamie senseless. His eyes closed as I reached my hand down to him. I ripped his shorts clean off. His legs shuddered at the sudden cool area. I realized I was breathing heavy, big gulping air in anticipation of what was about to happen. Before I could give in though it was time to pull this all together.

I let me head sag to the side as I called over my shoulder. “You can come out now Eli, the views going to be a lot better from the front, trust me”

Eli stepped out from the shadow of the back hallway. He was hunched and holding his hands by his face like a kid who got caught somewhere they knew they shouldn’t be. I groaned, suddenly pissed that this lanky sweater bound dude was my actual reality that I was giving up all my glorious physique for. Still the part of me that sat quietly in the back of my head nudged forward. “I think we have a lot to talk about. Blake looked up slow suddenly red faced at the prospect of a witness in the act that was about to go down. 

“Let me guess” I stated as Eli walked up next to us. I could see the intelligence in his eyes and the curiosity of it all getting to him. He wanted answers and I knew I could give them. 

“You found yourself one day oogling at the monster physique you now see before you. You caught a view of Blake here crossing the road or driving in his mustang. You wanted it but you knew he’d never go for a guy like you.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about” Eli said through his teeth,

“Oh don’t I? My guess is you fantasized day and night about his body. You even caught yourself following him around, learning his schedule. Watching all the other bodies he’d fuck that weren’t yours.”

“Quit it!” Eli snarled at me.

“ You fantasized about this very scenario.” I ran a finger under Blake’s shirt and circled his nipple. He was powerless to resist as his head rolled back. I traced further up to his chin before I crested to his lips and plunged two fingers into his mouth. Blake squirmed in surprise then moaned as I felt his tongue begin to coat my digits. “You can’t deny it Eli. Blake is now living out your fantasy for you. And boy, does he seem to want it.”

I glanced at Eli and saw the neediness bubble to the surface. His lips parted slightly and he was breathing faster. He quickly covered the feeling with pure rage. 

“Let him go! I didn’t mean for this to happen!”

“I’m sure you didn’t. This kind of power you possess is unique. If you had it long I’m sure reality around you would have deteriorated. No, you are what we call a late bloomer. Speaking of flowers.” I took my fingers out of Blake’s mouth and wafted them down to his town shorts. I hooked a pinky under guys jock strap and yanked it down to his ankles. I then slowly but consistently pushed my fingers into his tight hole. Blake yelped as the force pushed in but started to push his hips down to adept the intrusion.

Eli was almost salivating.

“You woke up one day feeling different. Feeling connected to something you couldn’t understand. You decided to start training under Blake, if you couldn’t have him you could at last be close to his sexy body. “ I lifted my other arm in full view of the gym lights for effect.” Then one day it clicked. Something pushed further than it was supposed to go.” I pulled down my shorts with a tug and exposed my member for both men to enjoy. I lined it up to Blake’s hole and started the slow plunge forward.

“You didn’t know what was happening at first. I’m guessing you tried to stop it.” Blake grunted as my girth started to push his insides aside to make way.

“But there is no stopping something like this. Next thing you knew you weren’t just wishing to be as good as Blake. You were Blake! His life, his dreams, his job. God what a rush.”

I started to pull out and into Blake as he was grunting and panting. I’m sure lost in the thought that was my penis. 

“But you were too distracted to think about what would happen to poor Blake here.”

Blake on cue slowly changed from grunts to moans as his passage finally relaxed enough for me and the bit of precum I released lubed his opening.

“You weren’t expecting Blake to come to me. You didn’t plan on me sticking my nose into your business. That’s why you ran when I came. And then…” I had to pause to breath as Blake began gyrating against my thrusts. “And then it happened again. Not on purpose, and you lost it to me.”

Eli remained mouth shut, his pants tented as he stole glances between my cocky grin and Blake’s needy gasps.

“I couldn’t deny it anymore.” Eli began. “I went from muscle cloud to your investigative mind. I wanted to know exactly what happened and how I could stop it from happening again.”

“So you trailed me, gave me a run for my money. I knew you’d never be far though.”

Precum began dripping from Blake’s cock as I quickened my pace.

“So what did you learn, nerd.” I teased.

“The full lives of the two are swapped, it is as if the two have new realities more than swapping two previous ones. That is how those around me still used my name and never remembered who I was previously.”

“Yep” was all I could muster between my own moans coming in full force.

“And how do you propose you stop it?” I tried to slow my pace so as to not burst inside of Blake too soon. I had to wait.

“You know, for a big muscle head, you sure are smart” Eli was suddenly very close and ran a hand up my chest. “I’ve been spending some time as you and I think I know more about you than you think. So before you come to your witty conclusion, let’s look at this another way.”

“Crap” I said, hoping my eyes didn’t give away the sudden fear.

“You, Everett, pretend to be all over this. Both talking down to me about wanting a muscle man to pound me while also throwing away your own morals to do it right in front of me. Admit it, you want this just as much as I do “

“Huhu yeah,” I giggled down as Eli began to trace my abs with his fingers.I had to keep Eli from taking control, especially now while we were all in a vulnerable state. My mind fought but the cloud of my jock head pushed back harder.

“It feels good bro.” The words spilled out as I continued to jack hammer poor Blake, “feels great to breed puny guys.”

“I’m sure it does”, Eli teased in my own mocking tone. “And you deserve it, look at that pathetic face.”

Blake was completely out of it, eyes dilated as he rocked up and down my shaft, arms limp and hanging down next to him. This was bad, I had to find a way to turn the tables back in my favor before Eli trapped me like this permanently. I couldn’t stop pounding Blake. And Eli was rubbing his body against mine sending shocks of pleasure through my skin as he began to roughly kiss my neck. I could feel his prick rubbing against my leg, even to the point of feeling a wet spot forming between his legs.

“You know what man, you are right. I do want to just let loose and give in.” In my head I was screaming to try to block out the stimulation. “You are right about another thing bro, we aren’t that different after all.”

I wrapped my arm around Eli and lifted him up against my side, rubbing his clothed body against my sweaty self. My dick felt electric and ready to pop at any moment, it was now or never. I slowly rubbed Eli up and down, keeping the pressure stable on his groan, making sure he felt every inch. I buried my face into his, shoving my tongue into his throat, rubbing my hand anywhere I could reach. Eli was shocked and tried to push off but his arms were no match for mine. I felt him squirm in resistance till a sudden tension and release happened between his legs. I grinned wide into Eli’s mouth as I let load after load release into Blake. Blake in turn shot one large blob out of his dock that landed squarely on his face. Then the whole world turned sideways.

Chapter seven

I woke up dehydrated. Out of everything that happened, getting a drink was low in priorities. I needed water and yet my pants were soaked. I sat up slowly and felt my shaggy hair in my hands. I adjusted my glasses and looked around. I saw Eli in tattered gym clothes coming to on the floor next to me. He equally felt his face and body, I assume with the same feeling of familiarity. He looked dead in my eyes and said “guess we are back”. The cocky demeanor was gone, Eli was back to his timid self. A loud groan came from Blake as a muscular arm lifted him up and steadied himself on a bench. He seemed the most awake and yet the most out of it.

  “Woah, I’m not sure what happened there bros. Must have pushed a little too fast, this whole late night training must be messing with me.”

 Eli and I exchanged another look. Maybe it was spending time in another life but somehow we clicked into sync immediately. 

“Yeah, sorry about that Blake. Maybe we should just stick to our normal routine.” Eli said as he stood and tried his best to make his torn clothing seem like an intentional style choice. 

“Yeah, daytime works a lot better for my schedule too. Keeps your head clear.” I added. Blake gave me an odd look as if he couldn’t quite place my face.

 “Oh and thanks for letting me bring a friend to try out your regiment” Eli said, pulling Blake’s confused face to himself. 

“Oh! Uh totally, glad you could make it Evan. If you want I can offer you the friend discount on future sessions.” He held out his meaty hand that looked massive from my point of view. I took a hold of it and tried not to wince as his grip crushed my bones together.

“Thanks Blake, but I think this has given me all the insight I need for now.” 

Eli and I said our goodbyes to Blake and walked out into the parking lot. I sighed in relief to see the lemon parked in the spot I had left it. I wanted to offer a ride to Eli but honestly was having trouble keeping track of what reality actually was at the moment.

“So is it weird Blake didn’t remember any of that?” Eli broke the ice first.

“Yeah, I’m not sure how it works. This was a first for me. I’m still having trouble deciphering where I ended and Blake began.”I said as I tugged on my sweater sleeves to ground myself.

“Tell me about it, I haven’t felt like myself in a long time.” Eli crossed his arms and squeezed gently. “I thought, I mean back in the beginning, I thought Blake had everything I wanted. He had the bod, the job, the influence. I spent so long craving that sort of life that somehow it became true.” Eli looked sheepishly to a puddle in the parking lot.

“I wanted nothing to do with him” I scoffed. “I hated the idea of muscular men showing themselves around all cocky like that. Then next thing I knew I was one. I hate to say it but I enjoyed it more than I should have.”

“Sorry about that.” It meant almost nothing but what else could Eli say in this situation.

“If you don’t mind me saying,” I pressed on “I’m not all too sure the life I lived was all Blake. I mean the complex was his for sure but that unadulterated lust was too strong to be coming from any one person. It’s not really my place to say but I think you wanted more than to just BE Blake as much as you may have wanted to be WITH Blake.”

Eli didn’t really respond, he fell into deep thought and the only clue I really had was a slight blush on his cheeks.

“Anyway, I think I’m going to enjoy just being me while I look for another job. My last client kind of existed in a whole other reality and doesn’t remember he hired me in the first place.“

Eli gave a wave and walked off into the night as I started my car. There was a loud thunk as a hand slammed into my window. After recovering from fright I rolled down my window to see my favorite gym desk employee still in his tight polo and that stupid mustache. 

“Can I interest you in our monthly gym membership?” He said as his eyes twinkled.

“Thanks again for pulling that fire alarm Jamie, I really appreciate it.”

“Oh don’t thank me,” the man threw a soft hand my way. “I got more than enough payment from that little display of yours in there.” 

I leaned slightly out my window. “You know those too tight slacks are on backwards right?”

The man ignored me altogether. “It’s just a shame you figured it out, I was really looking forward to another good workout with you.” Jamie feigned dramatically.

“I think you will be fine with good ole me for now. Want a ride? I’m heading back now.” I unlocked the car doors.

“Pass , I still have a few days left and this hunk has the junk to get me through the night.” He gestured obscenely and I’ll save you the details.

I said my good nights and drove off before Blake left for the night. The drive to my apartment was short but I reveled in the familiarity.

The next day I found an unmarked envelope under my office door with a small amount of cash in it. It was no where near my fee but I appreciated the amount none the less. After that things went more or less back to normal, there was the occasional quirk that left me guessing if it was a leftover from the swap or if it was just an appreciation for what I’d learned along the way. Either way I ended up driving by RFRM a few days later and was happy to see Blake and Eli continuing their late night sessions. And by the looks of it, Blake was really stretching out Eli good. The sight brought a tent to my pants and I drove away with a vague memory of what that felt like. I had to admit my feelings in that area had a more obvious change after the incidents. Maybe I could convince Jamie to bulk up a little when he came back.

The End