Smoke Trail

Smoke trail

Part of a prompt-based writing challenge, hosted by @max-the-many I might not be able to make 30 stories, but I might make a few.

Body a day - #1: Smoke

He extinguished the cigarette as soon as I came outside.

“I thought you said you were going to quit smoking, if I helped you out with your new apartment,” I said with clear disapproval.

“Yeah, but I found out I got few packs left, so I’m going to smoke those first, then I’m quitting.” my son said halfheartedly. That was my son in a nutshell; unreliable, lazy, always taking the easy route, wasting his life. And I was sick of it… But my plan actually was set into motion months ago, so it’s not like that remark was the final straw, today was the conclusion. Helping my deadbeat son with packing all his stuff in his old apartment, so that he could move to a new city across the country, where he didn’t know anybody.

An hour later I had pulled on his skin and his clothes, taking his life and identity as my own. And I was going to live a much fuller and richer life than him.

I was ready to greet the movers, when they came to pick up the boxes, I told them, we also had to drop by my dad’s place and pick up some extra boxes. It was actually my own stuff, now that I had a new life waiting for me, I had to pack up my old one. Most of my son’s stuff was going to go to the incinerator plant anyway, going up in flame and smoke. As I left my son’s apartment, I noticed the cigarette butt on the wet pavement outside the building. His last mark on this world, the trail of smoke already long extinguished.

Second ride

If you didn’t know, you’d probably not be able to tell. How skinny I once was, how this grey hoodie used to hang on me just fifteen minutes ago, or how this leather jacket I’m wearing I deliberately bought three sizes too big.

But yeah, that time is in the past.

My body is now fully pumped with the muscles I just stole from my old high-school bully. Now it was my turn to roam around in confidence. As I sat down in my car again, getting used to now being so big, I snapped a selfie trying to imitate my former bully’s cold stare. The hoodie was now really tight, as was the leather jacket… God, I could get used to this.

The weekend couldn’t come soon enough, I was so anxious to show off these new muscles of mine.

A nickle or two

Body a day - #13: Money

Another story inspired by the awe-inspiring @2xskin, this time Seanday Gym: A picture or two

I don’t exactly remember how I fell into conversation with Ross, but he was a great guy, a little intimidating at first, with his big muscles and vicious look, but a great guy – particularly he was a good and non-judgmental listener. Though he was young, he was unusually patient and insightful, which was quite unexpected, when you look at him.

---

After having being fired from my job, I hit a downward spiral, blaming everyone and everything for what had happened to me. To be fair, I think my grudge was justified, it wasn’t so much my boss firing me, it was more him ’throwing me under the bus’, that was the reason for my bitterness towards him.

I had a hard time finding a new job – and money was getting tight. The only time I really left the house was to go shopping. I subscribed to Regan’s gym, basically to make sure I got out every now and then, but also to at least get just a bit of exercise.

I met Ross here, he was together with his friend, Curtis, a real pretty-boy with long brown hair, who seemed eager to get as big and muscular as Ross.

As I said before, you wouldn’t believe it at first, but Ross was a surprisingly good listener, whilst training I told him about my life and my situation, and Ross paid close attention to everything I said, even when he was bench pressing. He seemed genuinely interested and wanting to help.

One day, when I came to the gym, Ross came over to me in the free weights section, his usual domain, and very directly stated; “I think, I can help you get revenge.”

Hearing the word: revenge, coming out of Ross’s mouth, sent a chill down my spine, I was actually a little afraid of him now. “Ross,” I had to quickly interrupt him, “you don’t actually mean you’re going to hurt or threaten him, right?” Ross chuckled; “not at all, but you said he had a son, right? A really spoiled brat with expensive habits...”

”Well…” I began reluctantly, it was true that my boss’s son was living a good life, I wasn’t quite sure whether it was my boss, who liked to spend money on his son, or if it was the kid who was demanding. I was however well aware of all the money, he was spending on him. My boss usually talked about, how he had gotten this and that for his boy, it was actually getting boring at length.

”Then I guess his son is the key to get to his money,” said Ross confidently. I shuddered… Ross wasn’t thinking… I dared not even think the word… Kidnapping? ”Ross, please, you really shouldn’t – I mean – you are not planning to do anything illegal, right?”

Ross smiled, “it’s not legal, but it isn’t illegal either. Just leave it to me, and you’ll be set for the rest of your life, well, at least for years to come.”

---

A week later I got a call from Ross, he wanted me to come to Regan’s tomorrow evening. I was still jobless, so it’s not like I had much else to do.

When I came to the gym, it was scarcely populated, but Ross and Curtis were there, alongside Calvin, my boss’s son.

Ross was busy spotting Calvin, so Curtis came over to me instead. “Hey,” Curtis said with a smile, “good you came, Ross has a surprise for you.” I was surprised enough to see Calvin here being spotted by Ross, but I failed to see the surprise, I mean, what could Ross actually do, if he wasn’t going to hurt or threaten Calvin? I barely even knew Calvin.

“Just do your routine, and wait for our signal… Just stay close to the locker rooms, okay?” Curtis said, punched me in the arm and walked away. I had no idea, what Curtis meant, but I did as I was told, not understanding anything of what was going on. On his way back to Ross and Calvin, Curtis ceremoniously snapped a picture or two of himself, his massive arms and firm chest. He seemed very content with himself, and I had to admit I was a little envious, not only at him, but also at Ross. To have such incredible bodies and looks.

A quarter had passed, when Ross, Curtis and Calvin headed for the locker room. I had not noticed any signal. Twenty more minutes passed, were they taking a piss at me? then Curtis popped his head out and waved at me. I got up and hurried to the locker room. And my jaw hit the floor.

Ross sat on a bench holding a spray can in his hand, next to him sat a clearly unwell Calvin. Ross put the can down and lifted Calvin by the neck, it was like there were no bones inside him. “The spray has done its work,” said Ross. “Get in him!” he said with a laughed and threw Calvin at me.

Curtis stretched out Calvin’s mouth; “you are going to love it, take off your clothes, and let’s get you inside.” I happily obliged. It was a bizarre yet exhilarating experience. Curtis and Ross helped me feed my body into the teenager, slowly bringing him back to life. I was deeply entranced by the process, how Calvin's smooth, tan skin began to shape my body, first the feet, then the legs, then the torso. Pushing my arms inside Calvin’s, I suddenly felt a pain as if thousands of tiny needles drilling into my skin, hurting at first, but slowly feeling more pleasant. “Now comes the hard part,” said Ross, “it’s going to feel a little rough, but trust me, it’s worth it.”

“Hell yeah!” I replied at the prospect of becoming Calvin irreversibly, “Let’s do this!” With one last pull, Ross stretched Calvin’s head over mine and everything was engulfed in darkness. I could feel the needles in my face, but I could also feel what I assumed were Ross's and/or Curtis’s hands pushing Calvin’s features into place. The eyelids, the nose, the ears, the lips. Then it felt like I was beginning to burn, and indescribable heat was burning me from the inside, I felt woozy and weak, Ross was not kidding, it felt like my organs were being rearranged, in the midst of the pain and unintelligible pictures flashing through my mind, I could feel four firm hands keeping me upright and steady. Then the pain disappeared and I opened my eyes, staring at Calvin in the mirror. I grinned.

“I think this fixes your money problem,” Ross laughed, punching me in the arm. “Wait – are you both…” I began, for the first time hearing Calvin’s smooth voice coming out of my mouth. They both laughed, “Yeah,” said Curtis whilst flexing his chest, making his pecs swell, Ross did the same, “we both went through this transformation, feels good now, right?”

I smiled Calvin’s smile and nodded. I soon left the gym with Ross and Curtis with a renewed confidence. Before we went our separate ways Ross placed a hand on my leather-clad shoulder, and winked at me; “now bleed him dry.”

---

And Ross was right, that is exactly what I’m going to do, dad.

Exterminated Inspired by a blogpost from @male-meat-suit ”I told you to stay away from my daughter! Pauline has moved on! And she deserves better than you! But if you want to give it a go, then try me… Then I can beat your ass with your own muscles.”

Hank placed his cigarette between his lips, savouring the smoke as it passed down into his rejuvenated lungs. He zipped up Carl’s leather jacket, which he now wore… like the rest of Carl’s clothes.

He stared down at Carl full of disgust and fiendish delight. Seeing his daughter’s ex-boyfriend like this filled him with pleasure.

”You ain’t a threat to anyone anymore,” Hank continued: ”I’d like to see you try, but to be honest.. you look more like you belong in a retirement home.” Hank waved the cigarette in the air, scattering ashes to the wind.

Not bothering to spend a moment longer looking at the sore remnants of Carl, Hank turned around and walked back to his car. He felt great. He could only imagine what Carl would be thinking seeing his broad leather-clad back walk away, knowing it was his jacket, his jeans, his boots and most importantly: his physique, his muscles, his youth.

Hank looked at himself in the rear-view mirror and smiled. He hadn’t looked this good in years, youthful, muscular, handsome, like he used to look 30 years ago, now Carl’s vitality was brimming through him.

Pulling out the key from his old fleece jacket that he had discarded on the back seat, he turned on the ignition. Stepping on the throttle with Carl’s boot, the youthful energy and feeling of invincibility, that flowed through him, almost made him floor the gas pedal, but he resisted the temptation – after all, he was better than Carl.

A real footballer

Body a day - #7: Football

Ashton: “Do I look like a real footballer now, dad?”

Coach: “Yes, you do Jere–, I mean Ashton.”

A: “Ashton Jenkins… it will take some time getting used to, da– I mean ‘Coach’.”

C: “Yes, you probably shouldn’t call me ‘dad’ any more.”

A: “This is so surreal, I can’t believe you’d do this for me.”

C: “I’m sorry for the things I said, son. You’ve got a good head, but you were never much of a jock.” A “I wasn’t a jock at all…”

C: “It’s absolutely criminal that a guy like Ashton could get such a great scholarship, just by being good at sports, and you, despite all your intellect could barely get something mediocre. But if this is the length I have to go to to secure your future, then so be it.”

A: “I can’t thank you enough, da– Coach!”

C: “We still need to see if it’s working completely as intended. There’s only a few practices left before term ends, then it’s summer holiday and after that, you’ll be starting your new life at university…”

A: “I think it will, I feel stronger already, and I think I can launch a football with ease now.”

C: “That’s the kind of confidence, I always wanted to see you have. Make me proud.”

Night ride

Body a day - #9: School

It was a quarter past eight on a dull Thursday evening, when driving instructor Sam drove into the parking lot at the driving school. His student, Thomas, was waiting for him, as tonight was his night driving lesson.

“Good evening,” Sam said faking enthusiasm, “are you ready for a night ride?” “Yeah,” Thomas answered indifferently, he was a pretty guy, but his personality was shitty to put it bluntly, Sam had however had worse students.

After having gone through all the various light functions on the car, Thomas got behind the wheels, while Sam sat next to him. It was a nice night for a drive…

They drove out of the city, they needed to drive pretty far to find a place dark enough for the lesson. However after exactly thirteen minutes of driving, Sam asked Thomas to pull over. Thomas asked why. “I think I need to fill up the windscreen washer fluid before we continue, I thought it could wait, but I think, I should do it, before we drive any further,” said Sam and loosened his seatbelt as the car stopped, “Do you remember how much you need to put in?” “Between minimum and maximum?” Sam answered unsure. “Exactly,” replied Sam, who began to lean towards the backseats. This was all a distraction, whilst pretending to grab something from the backseat, Sam jabbed a needle into Thomas’s thigh. Thomas yelped as soon as he felt the poke; “Ouch! Was that you, who poked me?” he snarled at Sam. “Sorry,” said Sam feigning innocence, “it was my keys.”

From the floor on the backseat, Sam retrieved some tissue paper, again just another distraction. “Pull the lever at your left knee,” Sam said as he went out the car and went to get the windscreen washer fluid. Retrieving the container of blue liquid, he went to the front of the car and opened the hood, he carefully filled the reservoir. Then he closed the hood, put the container as well as the driving school’s ‘student driver’-sign from the roof, back in the trunk, and shut it.

Sam then went to check on Thomas, he was unconscious, just as planned. It would still be some time before the bodysuit serum had done its trick. He unbuckled Thomas’s seatbelt and pushed him over on the passenger seat. He could however not resist the temptation to put on Thomas’s shiny Moncler jacket. It was still warm and smelled great. Sam couldn’t wait to pull on the rest of Thomas’s clothes, as well as his body.

Sam started the engine and drove away. The rapidly deflating young man on the passenger seat was however becoming a distraction, and as a good driving instructor, Sam couldn’t have that, so he pulled over on the side of the road and chucked what remained of Thomas onto the backseat.

He headed towards a remote location, by the time he reached it, Thomas had to be ready.

Besides the stars and moon, there was little light at Sam’s destination, but at least it was a place he knew he wouldn’t be disturbed. Having put the backseats down, the car was roomy enough for what he had to do next. After having undressed the twisted remains of Thomas, Sam ran a scalpel down the young man’s spine, making an opening for him to enter. He undressed, then began to pull on Thomas like a wetsuit, first the feet, the legs and the ‘nether regions’. Thomas had a nice butt, Sam had to admit.

He pulled up the torso and slid his skinny arms into Thomas’s big ones, the guy worked out, that was for sure. Finally Sam forced his head up through the neck and into Thomas’s head. He pushed the young man’s facial features into place. He then had to apply an ointment to his back, though it was actually more of a sealant, after that he jabbed himself with another needle, which was basically a binding agent.

Satisfied he began to dress in Thomas’s discarded clothes, every single item down to his wristwatch and of course the puffer jacket. He smiled to himself in the rear-view mirror. A handsome young face.

He then took out Thomas’s papers from the driving school, checking his home address, he then flicked to the last page of the lesson plan and added: Night driving lesson: Passed.