The Pill – Chapter 2A

Fantasy story: The Pill – Chapter 2A

by DesTodes777

Genres: Fantasy, Body modification, Male/Female, Monster

X watches a loner take the pill.

Out in the woods of Colorado, there was nestled in a small valley the town of Dursk. The town itself was made up of only two main streets. Most people who lived here had their homes in the woods. It was the kind of place that one would wake up to cool mountain air, the chirping of squirrels (which many in the town referred to as tree-rats) and serenity. Everyone practically knew each other, but there was one woman who struggled with being apart of the society.

You can see her, sitting on the porch of her two-room cabin, tucked in a patch of wood at the north of the town. She had neighbors. One was a family who lived at the mouth of the road that she lived on. They were quite and often the children could be heard playing in the woods, their peels of laughter echoing off of birch and pine trees. At the end of the road was the other neighbor, a mountain man who was currently chopping wood. The sound of logs splitting could be heard through the trees.

She sat in her wicker chair, reading a book and enjoying nature. Steam lazily rolled off a cup tea that she was sipping. A blend of orange, cinnamon and sage helped her relax while reading. She put her book down to imagine the woodcutter.

His beard was dark and long, hiding a strong chin. He was wearing jeans supported by suspenders and a red wool cap. Chiseled arms that flexed with each swing of the ax. It was an embarrassing cliche’ that she couldn’t help but love. How she wished she could talk to him. The few times they had interacted, had only been a wave at her. It was made worse with her shy nature and blundering speech.

X watched the woman through binoculars. He had talked to her once. Even got her name, which was Melissa Geimhread, during an interaction while at the town’s small grocery story named Sunflower Groceries. She had ginger-colored hair and a freckled face. She could often be seen wearing a dress and in the few days that he had observed her, he learned that she wore a dress for easy removal.

She spent a lot of time naked and would spend many nights, unbeknownst to her in front of X, sitting on the porch of her home, under the glow of a light, nude and reading. The night was the time where she took her chances the most. X watched her pleasure herself more than a few times in the light of the moon through his NVG’s. How she kept the mosquitos off herself was something he would have to find out. Damn things were relentless in feeding.

She went back to reading her book and X saw that it was an old book with Moon written in golden letters on its spine. He had never heard of the book, but it was something just to know about her. Right now, he was debating on how to approach the reason why he was out in the woods stalking the reclusive woman and being a feast for swarms on insects.

Chosen and cemented in his mind that she was someone who would benefit tremendously from the pill. He noted to himself to come up with a name for the round shimmering blue tablet. So X stayed in his roost, which was a tree stand until the night had fallen.
When night did finally fall, X left his post and headed to town. There, he got a much-needed shower and a change of clothes before going to the local bar for some food. There, he was surprised actually to see Melissa. She was in a black dress and sitting in a corner by herself. He bought himself a beer and got her a virgin fruit drink.

“Hey, Melissa right?”

Her gaze shot up in a panic for a second before she recognized him. 
 “You’re the guy from Sunflower,” she said. Her gaze quickly turned away.

“Hey, gotcha you a drink,” he said holding it out to her. She looked up at him, a puzzled look on her face.

“Its virgin, and I’m gay.”

The confessions elicited an awkward laugh from her.

“That’s inadvisable information to put out here.”

“Eh, here checking out the scenery. Anyone worth looking at?”

X couldn’t think of a time he had ever seen a woman blush so hard, but he did notice her gaze was past him. He quickly moved out of the way and leaned on the wall next to her. Her neighbor who lived at the end of the street was playing pool with another man.

“Pretty good looking I’d say.”

“I uh, um,”

“Don’t worry. Not my type. I like the business man look more.”

He held the drink out to her again, and she took it. They both stood in silence watching her interest for a few minutes.

“Why are you here?”

“Hmmm?”

“I mean, uh, what brings you to-Dursk?”

“Oh, I am here for business. I work for a pharmaceutical firm that’s trying out a new drug.”

“Is it a good one?”

“I think so. It helps people.”

“With what?”

The breaking of the balls on the pool table sounded with a smack through the bar. X took a sip of his beer and enjoyed the hopsy taste of the local brew.

“Well, it tough to explain. It does something different for each person. Like a miracle drug.”

“Oh, so you can’t talk about it?”

He laughed. It never occurred to him how spy-like he conducted his experiments.

“I can. It’s just super secretive. We specifically chose people to try the drug.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

X laughed again. This woman was super perceptive, and he liked it. It wasn’t often that he got to chat with a potential taker of the pill. Granted, if Melissa did take the pill, she would be the seventh person so far. He needed a success, so stepping out like this was making him nervous. The last three pill users had been mistakes, and one of his assistants was still cleaning up one of the messes.

“Yes, it is. I am looking for a taker.”

“So what’s it do?”

“Do you know what an anthromorph is?” he asked taking a sip of beer.

“Like a werewolf?”
The comment made him snort, which in turn made him foam beer out of his nose. She was laughing, and X struggled to find a napkin to save himself from his predicament. Her laugh was melodious, and X remembered his wife fondly. This woman was dangerous. Someone who could make him break his vows. Nose wiped clean, he gathered himself for an explanation.

“You read a lot huh?”

She looked down at the floor again.

“Yeah,” she said.

“That’s great. Difficult to come by someone I won’t have to explain every bit too.”

He laughed again and took another sip of beer. His comment worked in building her confidence back up, and she looked at him.

“So what’s you name?”

“You know, I hate giving it out and so normally I have people call me X. You seem to be someone I can trust. My name is Theodore Johann-Lee Schrodinger.”

“You know how to peek a women’s interest Theodore. “

“Please, really, call me X.”

She took a sip of her drink, the first time she had the entire conversation.

“Okay X, so anthromorph?”

“Oh, well see my product is something that allows that to happen. It makes a person take on the characteristics of an animal. It also boosts confidence and has some weird side effects that we are testing out.”

“So the secrecy?”

“It’s enough to cause a major issue in the free world.”

“Are you wanting me to take it?”

“I was thinking of it yes. My issue is the side-effects.”

“What happens?”

“A person does take on physical attributes of an animal, but it’s also true if they chose an animal that is aggressive, that becomes a part of the equation too.”

“So if someone were to pick wolf, they would become more predator like.”

“Yes, and the second issue is that it increases the sexual drive to almost an unfathomable level. The longer a subject remains aroused, the more and more it takes on the appearance of an animal. We have one person who became a mouse and had even reverted to the size. It also can reverse the aging process.”

“So there are dangers to it, but you are right about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“It is a help, and it is super dangerous to allow public knowledge of.”

They both sipped their drink, and X enabled her to process all he has told her.

“You’re not really gay are you?”

He again laughed but let the question remain unanswered. Even if he affirmed it, he doubted she would believe him, and he wanted her trust. If he denied it, she would most certainly make a move on him, and X would not have denied her. The pair went back to silence, sipping their drinks and watching the pool game across the bar unfold.

“He’s good,” X said.

She remained silent. He hoped he hadn’t blown the whole thing with his refusal to answer her question.

“It can’t be real, your pill.”

“It is. You want to try it?”

“What animal would I think of?”

“I tell people to choose their favorite.”

“Mine’s a squirrel.”

“That’s perfect.”

Again back to silence and observing the pool game. The man that was Carol’s neighbor made a final shot and ended the game. He left the bar after paying his tab.

“Looks like the game is over.”

Again, no reply from her. The woman was lost in thought, and so X finished his beer and went to walk to the bar.

“Are you coming back?”

“Should I?”

Her gaze fell to the floor yet again. X wished she had more confidence. He was one of the few people had paid attention to the reclusive girl. So he went and got another beer. His intention was to go and play a game of pool, but as he headed that way, she met him before got to the playing area.

“I’ll take it,” she said holding her hand out.

X smiled at her.

“Not here Melissa, I have to give it to you somewhere else.”

It sounded worse than it did, but she walked with him outside and out to her Jeep. The thing was old and rusted, but it was one of her pride and joys.

“So here it is,” he said. The blue tablet was in a single dime bag. She reached up and took it from him.

“I will warn you, take it when you get home. As soon as you swallow the pill, think of a single animal. When that is done, do not leave your place for a whole day. Afterward, contact me at this number,” he said, holding up his card.

“Will it hurt?”

“I don’t know. I have never witnessed the change being that I have always felt that it’s too intimate to watch.”

“Oh well, what now?”

“Go home, take it or not, but call me if you do. The pill will break down in twenty-four hours on its own. Part of an insurance policy. If you haven’t taken it, there will not be another chance to.”