Strange Happenings
Midnight. They always came at midnight. The chimes from the old grandfather clock in the den jolted Daniel out of his restless dreams. It wasn't the chimes that woke him so much as the knowledge that They were coming. It was the same horrifying ritual, every single night.
The room was illuminated by an eerie pale green glow. Three figures in haz-mat suits stood around his bed. One of them held a large briefcase, another held a gun, and the third--the apparent leader, from the way he acted--was making entries into a large handheld computer. Daniel tried to escape, to run, to even move, but some unseen force held him in place, as immobile as the bed itself. The leader looked up from his computer and signaled to the one holding the briefcase, who set the case down and began to open it. Daniel strained to see its contents, but couldn't from his position. If only he could move...
The leader reached forward, grabbed the bedcovers and--
The shrill blast of Daniel's alarm clock filled the room. He'd had that dream again, the same one he'd been having every night for nearly a month. Except that it didn't feel like a normal dream. It felt more like a memory, but one that had been partially forgotten. Anyway, Dan had more important things to worry about, so he pushed whatever it was aside for the moment. Today was the last day of school, finally. All he had to do was survive his last few final exams, and he'd be home free. He wasn't about to let a creepy dream get him down.
***
Dr. DiCaoz glanced over his biology classroom. "Is anybody still working on the final?" he asked tiredly. He paused for a moment, then said, "If everybody is finished, you may talk quietly amongst yourselves for the remainder of the period." As the class erupted in chatter, he went back to nursing his hangover.
Daniel loved his biology class. It wasn't just that he was good at it, or that it was the last class of the day. By some bit of luck or fate, he happened to be in the same class as his four closest friends, Gassan, David, Pammy, and Jake. Gassan, David, and Pammy had become absurdly popular since coming to high school. Gassan was Lebanese and therefore "exotic," David was a star swimmer, and Pammy was a cheerleader. In retrospect, popularity was an inevitability. To the other popular kids, Jake an avid follower of the Furry subculture (he called it a craze, but nobody else did) and Daniel, the introspective writer, were social liabilities. Still, Gassan, David, and Pam never let their newfound "friends" keep them away from Jake and Dan. Privately, Daniel was grateful that he had managed to befriend the four people who appeared to be immune to high school drama.
"So, what'd you guys think?" Pammy whispered.
"I'm pretty sure Dr. Di is a nutcase," Gassan answered quickly. He was met with a chorus of approval from his companions.
"Anyway," Pam continued, "are we having our annual Thank-God-The-Schoolyear's-Over party tonight?"
"I can't go," Jake said, "I've got a convention."
"I can't go either," said David, "My dad's taking me camping. He's on a back-to-nature kick."
"I'm visiting my grandma," Gassan said. Pammy rolled her eyes.
"Alright," she sighed, "when do you guys get back?"
"Sunday"
"Sunday evening"
"Sunday, but it'll be late."
"So," Pammy continued, "is Monday night alright with everyone?"
***
The days passed quickly. By the time Monday arrived, he had gone an entire weekend without his mysterious dreams. He was mostly relieved, but part of him wished the visitors would come back so he could find out what they were up to.
The streets were charged with an eerie calm. A summer storm was coming. As Daniel reached Pam's door, he couldn't help but feel a strange foreboding. Something was decidedly wrong. He rang the bell.
"Come in," called Pammy. Dan opened the door and found friend sitting on the floor in a tidy circle. They were all staring at him, an unsettling hunger in their eyes. "We are playing Truth or Dare," Pammy intoned mechanically. "Please, join us. Truth or Dare?"
"Please choose Dare," Gassan said, in the same unearthly voice.
"The Truth is never any fun," agreed David, still in the same tone. Throughout the exchange, none of the four took their eyes off of Daniel.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "You all seem...different."
Pammy answered in the same monotone as before: "We are collectively unnerved at a series of recurring dreams we have been having. Perhaps you too are experiencing these visions?"
"Yeah," Dan said, "but I'm not acting that weird about it."
"Perhaps," Pammy said, "All will be made more clear if you answer this simple question: Truth...or Dare?"
Written by Zodiac on 31 May 2008
The Dare
"Dare," Dan said shakily.
"Very well," Pammy responded, "your dare is to go to Area 50. You are familiar with Area 50, I trust?"
Jake jumped in: "It is a military complex on the outskirts of our town. It has been abandoned for a long time, though, so it will pose no immediate threat to you."
"It is nothing to be afraid of," said Gassan, "consider it to be something of a rite of passage."
"If you are truly afraid," said Pammy, "then we will accompany you."
Daniel stared at his friends incredulously. They had never acted this strangely before, and they had certainly never gone for childish dares before.
David appeared to sense his hesitation, and added, "perhaps Area 50 is somehow related to...Them."
Dan knew what that was about, and David was right. There seemed to be some connection between his nightly visitors and the military base. He couldn't quite place it, but the link was there. "Actually," added David, "all this talk of Area 50 has sparked my curiosity." He didn't sound the least bit like his curiosity has been even remotely sparked."
"I, too, am interested," agreed Pammy disinterestedly.
"As are we," said Gassan and Jake in eerie unison.
"Perhaps," Pammy went on, "we should go to Area 50 ourselves, whether or not Daniel is interested." The four of them stood to leave. Pam stopped for a moment, and asked, "Are you joining us, Daniel?"
Written by Zodiac on 02 June 2008
Area 50 Arrival
Daniel looked at his friends nervously. "Al...alright," Daniel said reluctantly, "I will go..."
"Nice to have you coming David," Pammy exclaimed. All David could do is let out a sheepish smile. "We will meet at Area 50 at 9 P.M. tonight, everyone can run by their houses and grab anything we may need. Flash lights, snacks, etc."
"I am just going to relax at my house until it is time" David said
"We'll I will see everyone then," Gassan said. Everyone soon dispersed and left to their respective houses.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Later at 9 Daniel met his friends at the base.
"Everybody ready to go in?" Pammy inquired.
"Yeah!" Gassan shouted.
"Let's do it!" As did Jake.
"Sure am" David said
"Unfortunately..." Daniel murmured.
David looked around and saw the front entrance directly ahead.
Far down to his left a hole in the fence could be seen.
And to his right a large tunnel could be seen. Though it was pitch black, so somebody better have a flash light.
Written by Shuusuke on 03 June 2008
Into the Darkness
"Let's go through the tunnel over there," Daniel said and pointed.
"Alright then" Pammy replied the five of them walked over to the tunnel and peered inside, it was pitch black.
"Hellooo!" David yelled inside and only an echo replied; David laughed.
"Anyone bring a flashlight then?" Pammy questioned.
"Here's mine" Gassam pulled out of pulled out of her backpack. "Though it is kind of messed up, you have to hit it a few times to turn it on." She flipped the switched and hit it on her leg until the light shone through the lens. She aimed it into the tunnel and all that could be see was darkness. Jake took the flashlight from Gassam.
"I will be the leader, follow close behind" Jake said started to walk into the tunnel. Everyone followed close behind, Daniel took a deep breath and followed suit.
It was dark in the tunnel, Daniel could barely see his own hand in front of his face. They had been walking for 10 minutes and no way out was to be seen. He could no longer see the entrance long lost behind him. He periodically tripped on the rocks under his feet.
Jake turned out the flashlight and started making ghost sounds.
"Ha ha, fooled ya," Jake laughed.
"Just turn the light back on, Jake," Daniel cried.
"Alright, alright already," Jake replied. He flipped the switch on the light and started thumping it a few times. "Darn it, the light won't work"
"Hit it harder," Gassam said.
"I am," Jake cried, "It isn't working." David could here him labouring over the light and eventually heard it clanging on the walls.
"Don't do that!" Daniel shouted
"Don't get your panties in a bundle, Daniel, it will work," Jake exclaimed. Moments later shattering glass could be heard throughout the tunnel. "Crap!" Jake shouted
"Look what you did, clumsy!" Gassam yelled.
"Sorry," Jake said sheepishly.
"Hang on a second guys," Pammy interupted, "Look, I can see a light" Daniel could see it as well. However he had enough fun for one night and wanted to turn back, he couldn't quite decide.
Turn back or continue on towards the light?
Written by Shuusuke on 03 June 2008
Towards the Light
With the light at least offering a destination the group heads towards it. The chatting about the situations quickly descends into silence.
The light is soon replaced by the flickering of fluorescent tubes. Daniel finds himself in an empty room, no trace of his friends. "Where are you guys" he calls out to the empty room.
"Gone" his own voice calls out in echo.
"This is not funny, " he calls out " where are you?"
"Behind you" the echos says again.
He turns and sees an operating theater which in the next flash of lights is gone again.
"Behind you again" the echo calls again.
Turning around the theater has returned, along with people dressed up in operating gowns.
"I love this part. " the echo says again "the disorientation. The stolen voice. It is always so fun to watch."
"Stolen voice?" he asks, but instead of the human voice, the only thing to come out of his mouth is a lion growl.
"Oh a lion, always a good choice, but what else do we have."
Daniel can only watch as his hands change shape, fingers melting together , hooves forming.
"A horse perhaps?" the echo continues.
Large wings form on his back as he falls onto his new hooves struggling and failing to stay upright.
"Wings, don't see that every day. Perhaps a combination , even a mythic."
He moves along the walls frantically trying to find a way out, the quadruped motion seemingly natural all of a sudden.
The lights flash and the operating room is all around him. A prick in the neck and he falls to the floor unable to move.
The surgeons pick him up placing him on the bed and strapping him down. A silent scream through the mind as a mirror is wheeled in showing a collection of animal parts instead of the human he is.
The mirror changes again, the human is back, the surgeons taking a scalpel and cutting the clothes of, followed by the skin. No pain thankfully but blacking out.
"We never should of gone down that tunnel" a familiar voice said. "At least we have found everyone and can get out of here."
The feeling of being lifted and being placed in a bed as sleep finally comes.
Written by catprog on 04 November 2016
In the morning
The sun streams through the window. The alarm clock sounds and Daniel reaches out to turns it off.
The memories of last night filter though his head and he throws off the sheets of the bed to look.
Normal, their is no trace of anything that had happened last night.
The phone rings and soon his mother calls out "Pammy is on the phone, she is wandering if you you are all right. "
"Yeah I'm fine." he calls out relived his voice is back.
"She says the guys are meeting at her place and to tell you to meet them their."
"Sure" he says getting out of bed.
"Do you want some breakfast before you go?" she asks.
"Sure, that would be good" he says heading into the shower.
That is when he finds out just what had happened to him last night.
Instead of his manhood, between his legs he is female.
Getting dressed quickly he looks at the id in his wallet. Instead of the M signifying male , their is a F. No matter where he looks , every documentation has changed as if he was always female.
Breakfast is over quickly and once over at Pammy house and he begins to explain what had happened and what he found in the morning they respond with...
Written by catprog on 04 November 2016
They don't rember
"What do you mean?" says Pammy "Yes your body is mostly male but you have always been female Daniele ."
"Danielle? " Daniel asks. "My name is Daniel" he says getting out his id to show them, but to his shock his name has changed their.
"See, your name is Daniele. We know you have body issues but you have to accept you are female” says Jake.
“Are you really saying that the four of you do not remember me being male at all?”
“No, we don't . To me you have always been female. Admittedly your body is not female but...“ said David.
"Forget it" said Daniel walking out of the room.
Written by catprog on 04 November 2016
The echo returns
As he leaves the room the echo starts again, "Daniel is now a female. Time to make her more female."
He opens his mouth to complain and only the lion's roar comes out.
"And the voice is gone again."
The light flashes and the surgical room reappears. This time the surgeons grabs him and straps him into the bed. A strap placed in his mouth holding him down.
"And so you can see, a mirror" says the echo.
A mirror is placed on the roof showing his chest.
The shirt cut to remove it.
A cloth wipes over the chest removing all sensation. The scalpel slicing the skin.
A series of implants are placed on the chest, each one getting larger, until a set is selected, and slipped under the skin.
A bra is put on followed by a replacement shirt before with a flash the room disappears leaving the hallway.
Written by catprog on 04 November 2016
Back to reality
The room fades returning back to the normal hallway. Daniel stands their in shock as just how quickly the operation was and that it had happened again.
Pammy sticks her head out the door. "Are you ok Daniele? We are sorry for for how we acted earlier. I can take you clothes shopping to help you with your breasts."
"You remember?" he asks hope in his voice.
"Of course, your breasts have been growing for a month at least." she says confused.
"Never mind. You wouldn't believe me if I told you" he says realizing reality has changed again.
Written by catprog on 05 November 2016
Shopping?
"Anway, to make it up to you" starts Pammy "You and me are going shopping right now."
"But what about the others?" Daniel asks.
"The guys? I sure they have plans of their own, we don't want to get in their way. Anyway don't think I didn't notice you trying to distract me."
"I know you don't like being reminded of it, or going through with it but it is time for you to get another fitting. "
"And if I refuse?" he asks.
"I will get the guys to make sure you come along. I don't think they will be happy to be dragged along with us girls."
Written by catprog on 06 November 2016
To the shops
Before he know it, Daniel is being driven to the mall.
"I don't know why you are so worried. " says Pammy " You will feel much better once we are done"
"What do you remember about the last few days?" asks Daniel.
"Well this is a strange question but the five of us were out exploring the old military base. We got lost in a dark tunnel and then once we got out we found you lying on the ground"
"That is pretty much what I remember too. Except I found myself in an operating theater. Then this morning when I left the room it came back."
"But I followed you out immediately" interjects Pammy
"Yeah, either I am loosing my mind or your minds have been changed."
"Is this related to you thinking you were male before?" asks Pammy taking her eyes of the road for a moment.
Daniel nods "Yeah, before the first one I was male. Look out..."
From the side of the road a deer walks across the road.
Pammy slams on the breaks, the deer standing their shocked and growing larger and larger.
Written by catprog on 07 November 2016
Missed
With a smell of burning rubber the car finally stops , just meters from the deer.
The deer looks at the car and Daniel in particular. "You are next. Get out of town and you might survive." the words seem to come out of the mouth and straight into his mind.
"Did you hear that?" said Daniel.
"Hear what?" asks Pammy.
"I thought that deer said something but..."
"Well with your other issue, I think we might need to find a shrink to deal with your issues. " she says worried.
"Even if I think I am sane? " asks Daniel.
Written by catprog on 08 November 2016
Reject
"Well that is what most people say, how do you know if you are sane" says Pammy.
"Lets just get this thing over with. Hopefully things stabilize" Daniel responds with.
"You mean getting new clothes to deal with your changes right?"
Daniel nods "Even if you think the changes are different then what actually happened. "
Written by catprog on 09 November 2016
The shops
After the deer runs off the two of them soon arrive at the shops. Soon Daniel is in the shop getting measured.
"How many times this year are you going to be here" the shopkeeper asks "obviously you are going for the basic style , otherwise you won't be able to afford it. Speaking of which would you like a job here? I mean you are getting quite familiar with the shop. "
Written by catprog on 10 November 2016
Pammy steps in
Pammy chooses that moment to walk in.
"I don't think she is ready for that." she says "Perhaps once she finishes changing."
Daniel nods "Thank you for the offer but with what is happening I don't think I would be comfortable working here."
The storekeeper nods. "Well if you change your mind, come back, the offer might still be on the table."
Written by catprog on 11 November 2016
A new store?
"Anyway I have booked you in for a session right now" says Pammy.
"A session?" says Daniel.
"Yeah funny thing, they were just opening and they asked if I needed someone to talk too about anything. And I thought of you"
Daniel is once again dragged into another store. This one has a series of chairs and a door.
"Just sit hit until they call you in." say Pammy
Pammy leaves the store and just as Daniel is about to sit their is a voice "Please proceed into the room"
Daniel does so and as the door shuts behind he hears the echo return.
"Test subject #000001 Session 01 Begin. Progress of change: secondary female characteristics."
Written by catprog on 12 November 2016
"Why are you doing this?"
"Why are you doing this?" Daniel asks.
"Why you signed a form to allow us to" the echo responds with.
Daniel thinks for a moment "I remember now signing but I have no idea why I signed it"
"It is simple, we implanted that memory. And now you are going to be asking what else is an implanted memory. Your entire life could be a lie and you wouldn't even know it."
The echo chuckles "and now our 1st session is over. Good luck sorting out what is real and what is not real now, Daniele "
Written by catprog on 13 November 2016