Jake slid into his desk chair. A yellow square of paper floated on his keyboard.
He lifted an eyebrow as he snatched the paper and looked at the writing. The flowing script displayed a well-practiced hand with heavy artistic talent.
Call only if you want to completely change your life.
A ten digit phone number was the next line. The writing ended with a drawn heart.
Jake blinked as he stared at the note. Scanning the nearby cubes, he saw no one he would think would write a note, let alone one that would write in an elegant hand.
Shuffling his feet, he rolled his office chair across the way to where Paul and Dave hunched over their keyboards.
“Guys,” Jake said. “Did you see someone in my cube?”
“Besides you?” Dave asked without moving his head.
“Yeah, doofus,” Jake answered.
Paul pivoted around and questioned, “Why?”
“Here,” he handed the paper over. “That is a woman’s writing.”
“Possibly,” Paul answered as he took the note.
Dave leaned over. “Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s a chick’s writing. No dude would ever write like that except to impress a chick.”
“Seriously?” Jake stared at Dave. “You’re still using chicks? Grow up.”
“You could query the number,” Paul said and handed the note back to Jake. “Otherwise, just call it.”
“Besides,” Dave said with a shrug. “She might be hot.”
Shaking his head, Jake rolled back to his cube.
“I’m gonna have to see about this,” he said and folded the note into a pocket.
The first half of the day passed at a fast pace. Jake’s stomach grumbling was the only signal it was lunch.
“Whoa,” he said as he glanced at the computer clock. “I need some food.” Standing, he strode toward the elevator. He pulled his phone from his pocket and found the yellow paper stuck to it.
“Oh yeah,” he said as he rode to the first floor. “I’ll call for food first, then call the number.”
Jake viewed his contacts and touched one of the three restaurants and placed his order. With their distance and speed, his order would be ready by the time he got there.
As he walked, he dialed the mysterious number.
“Hello?” The low, appealing voice asked. “You got my message.” Her voice went low at the end and the dancing giggle caught Jake’s focus.
A shiver danced over Jake’s spine. He coughed, then answered, “Yes. It was very intriguing.”
“Excellent,” the voice said. “I’m so excited to hear that.” The emphasis on excited, made Jake blush. “Would you be interested in the treatment?”
“I might be,” Jake replied and swallowed. “What does it involve?”
“The note explained it all. Strength, endurance, intellect. It will all be yours. Let me just say this,” the voice said. “You will never experience anything else like it.” The voice laughed.
Jake paused and tugged at his collar.
His voice squeaked the next question. “How much?”
“I don’t discuss prices over the phone,” the velvet voice said. “Think of it as a high-end boutique. No price tags. If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
“I don’t think this is for me,” Jake said as he resumed his walking pace. “There are too many red flags.”
“I know,” the voice said with a chuckle. “That’s what Roughneck said.”
“What?”
“Oh, you don’t know who Roughneck is?” The voice asked, with more lilt than seemed normal. “I’m sorry. I thought everyone knew.”
Jake cleared his throat. “Of course I know who Roughneck is. He went through this?”
“Oh yes,” the voice said. “How do you think he is able to those amazing things?”
“Whoa,” Jake whispered.
“So, are you interested?”
“Yes,” Jake answered. “I am. I would like an appointment as soon as possible.”
“The earliest I can get you in,” the voice said. “Is seven tonight.”
“Perfect,” Jake replied. “Where?” His phone beeped.
“I just sent you the address,” the smoldering voice said. “Bye.” The last words melted into Jake’s ear, then the line disconnected.
Whipping the phone around, Jake stared at the text message. “That’s clear on the far side of the county. It’ll take me forty-five minutes. Crap.” He walked on to the restaurant and ate his lunch.
The second half of the day slowed to a crawl.
When five-thirty rolled around, Jake cleared his desk and darted for the elevator. He rode with several other people, most of who exited at the same level in the parking garage. Heavy traffic slowed him until he got to the freeway. He excelled past the posted speed limit.
His phoned mapped his location.
“Great,” he said. “There’s time to get something to eat.”
“Please arrive on an empty stomach,” his phone displayed the text message.
“Freaky. But that’s gonna suck,” Jake said. “Now I have twenty minutes to kill with nothing to do.”
Driving around, Jake followed the phone’s directions to his destination. The parking lot of the Sunset Plaza was vacant. For lease signs dotted the windows of every storefront, except one.
The blue sign looked like painted plywood. Yellow letters spelled out Build a Better U.
“OK,” Jake muttered. “There wasn’t anything about that on my note.”
Looking at his dashboard clock, Jake exited his vehicle. “What’s ten minutes. Besides, I’ll probably have some paperwork to fill out.” He walked toward the door.
Thick curtains hung over the windows, with the sign pressed against the glass. The door had no sign but had the same thick curtain over it. Pulling on the handle, it swung free. Cold conditioned air wafted over Jake, making his hair move.
“Should’ve brought a jacket,” he said and stepped into the small waiting room. A muffled high pitched sound came from somewhere.
His eyes adjusted and he took the only seat next to the side table covered in magazines.
Glancing at the covers, nothing struck his fancy except for the dates. Four years ago.
“Jake,” the voice from the phone said.
Glancing up, Jake’s smile faltered at the white-jacketed woman walked forward. Her blond, stringy hair danced at her shoulders and over her red blotchy cheeks. Thin, cracked lips, split into a smile, showing pointed teeth. Her eyes were blue and green and didn’t seem focused. She extended a small puffy hand with bitten nails.
“Uh,” Jake said, and corrected his smile as he looked down at the short woman. “Yeah. You’re…?” Using his fingers she shook her hand lightly.
“Elizabeth,” she said. “Just Elizabeth. So, this way and we can get started.”
“No paperwork?”
“No,” Elizabeth said, shaking her head. Reaching for the door, she pulled it open. “It’s cold, because of the heat build-up. But once you started, you won’t notice.”
Jake paused at the door. The small corridor had another door at the end. No posters, or pictures. Just a blank hall.
“Uhhh—”
“Remember Roughneck,” Elizabeth said, her tone shifting lower.
“Right,” Jake said and nodded. He stepped forward and licked his lips.
Elizabeth reached for the door and pulled. “There’s a changing room to the left. Change into the shorts and shirt provided, please.” She arched an eyebrow as she closed the door.
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Jake looked at the short woman.
“Nothing,” she answered. “But belts and tight-fitting clothing tends to bunch up from the process.”
“Ahhh,” Jake nodded and stepped into the shoulder width room.
He saw orange shorts and a baggy T-shirt, both wrapped in plastic. Kicking off his shoes, he undid his buttons, then dropped his pants. Sox, followed by his own undershirt was last.
“The tighty-whities, too,” Elizabeth said with a rich chuckle.
Jake jerked his head toward the slatted door. He saw her sneaker covered feet at the gap close to the floor. With a quick motion, he dropped his briefs.
Ripping open the plastic was easy. Pulling the shorts up, Jake tied off an arm’s length of the drawstring on the shorts. The neck of the shirt hung to his chest and the edge of the arms went past his elbows.
“OK,” he mumbled. “There’s enough room for five of me in these things.” Poking his feet into the plastic slippers, he opened the door and stepped out.
“Took you long enough,” Elizabeth said. She leaned against a table with a chair. “Take a seat, diva.” She tapped the torn pleather chair.
“What is all that?” Jake asked as he lowered to the chair. His eyes focused on the metal tray of needles and other medical instruments.
“Nothing to worry about,” Elizabeth said. “Comfy?”
Jake put his hands on the armrests. “I guess.”
“Good,” Elizabeth snapped. Her hands swung from behind her and clamped a wad of moist bandages on his mouth and hooked behind his head.
“Hey!” Jake leaned forward and pushed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth stepped on a device. Straps jerked from the chair and snaked around Jake’s chest, waist, arms, and legs. They wrenched Jake back to a sitting position, while Elizabeth re-applied her grip.
“Just breathe deep,” she purred. “It hurts more when you struggle.”
Blackness jumped onto Jake’s head, slamming him in a dream. Or was it a nightmare.
***
Jake blinked his eyes open. The only thing he saw was a bright blur. He blinked several more times and he saw the silver and white light floating above his face.
“Where am I?” His voice growled and he felt his heavy tongue.
“Easy, there,” a short woman leaned over his head. “You’re done. The anesthesia will leave you dry mouthed.” She chuckled. “Just relax.”
“Why can’t I move my arms?”
“Cause they’re strapped down,” Elizabeth said.
“Is he awake?” This was a strange voice.
“Why else would I be talking to him?” Elizabeth turned and yelled at someone.
“You’re lucky you’re good,” the voice said. Another head came into view. There was no face, just a helmet and a smooth piece of metal covering where the face would be. A cluster of holes stood in contrast to where a mouth should be.
“Good?” Elizabeth’s features strained. “I’m not good. I’m magic. You have your distraction. Now finish the transaction.”
“Fine,” the helmeted man said. He poked at what looked like a cell phone. “There’s your filthy lucre.”
“There’s your filthy monster,” Elizabeth said and handed a small blue device to the man. “Now get out.”
Jake felt the pressure on his wrists lesson. All four of them.
Four?
He swung a hand in front of his face. A three fingered green skinned appendage came into view. The thick fingers curled into a fist.
“What?” Jake screamed. “What happened to me?”
His other hands came into view. All four of them. Muscles floated below the thick scales from his wrist to his shoulder. Shift to his feet, his knees buckled. Using the bed as leverage, he hoisted to his feet. Tree trunk legs stabilized below his elongated torso.
“I’m gonna kill—”
All thought was driven from his mind and pain covered his body.
“You’re gonna do what I tell you,” the masked man said as he waggled the blue device in his hand. “The first thing we’re gonna do is kill Dr. Elizabeth Rowan.”
“You son of a bitch,” the short woman shouted. She struggled with something from behind a table. “I made that, I can unmake it.” A heavy gun pointed at Jake.
A loud explosion and he felt something smack into his gut.
The pain stopped and he looked at his torso. There wasn’t even a scratch.
“Shit,” Elizabeth spat.
“Kill her, and I’ll make the pain stop,” the man said.
Pain raked Jake’s new body. It wasn’t as harsh as before, but he felt it.
“Now,” the masked man said. The pain intensified.
Jake grimaced as his gut tightened.
“Besides,” the man said. “She made you into this.”
“That’s right,” Jake growled. His eyes narrowed onto the small woman.
Shorts 