That sounded darker than it should be. You can see in Merry’s face that she’s not going along with it.
And she lets you know it. “That was low.”
“I think it’s only fair,” you retort. “You said that when you promised you’d let my family go if I wasn’t satisfied – and then you changed your mind. If it weren't because I understand why, I wouldn’t have considered you. But I don’t see the same with Leslie.”
You grab her shoulders, showing some compassion. “Look - I’m not saying we should get rid of him, if that’s what you’re thinking. I respect your feelings. I just want to know what he wants with the pens and if he’ll respect my family.”
“And if he really wants to retire after all this? Will you leave him alone?”
You don’t want to commit, but you feel it’s the only way. “Even if I don’t trust him, I will. All I want is my family’s best interest – otherwise, he can do whatever he wants.”
She gives you a cold, hard look, but eventually relents. “I’ll give you only this chance. If Leslie wants out, you’re out of our lives. If Leslie’s lying to me...” She turns towards your back, touching your garments. “Let’s finish this.”
“Before that...” You finally put your ear on the phone, turning the speakers off. “You can turn the mute option off now, Luke.”
Merry’s eyes open wide. You can see the feeling of betrayal in her eyes, but you quickly handle her. “Remember how Leslie asked about the guy with the pens?”
“Don’t you know it’s not polite to narc on a crook?”
“He needed to hear why I’m doing this, Merry.” From the shadows, you notice Luke in a polo and khakis approaching. Your impostor sister scurries behind your back, but you address him. “Sorry to leave you waiting. I needed to convince her.”
“I thought you wanted them off your family’s life.”
“If I did, I’d have to be off Claudia as well. Maybe I still have issues with someone wearing my older sister, but she’s been a lot better than the original.”
“So you’re the guy with the pens,” Merry asks in a demanding mood.
“You could say so. I suppose you’re the girl Claudia was talking about--”
Immediately, Merry points the white pen at him. “Hold it there. I don’t trust you. You’re gonna let me do something before we can talk?”
“Uh...” Luke glares at you, and you nod. “Sure.”
“Alright...” Asking you to escort her, Merry clicks the white pen on Luke’s skin. Seeing that nothing happened, she was satisfied. “Good. He’s the real deal.”
“I could’ve said that.”
“You can’t be too trusting,” Merry rebukes. “Alright. First thing’s first. Who are you, and how did you get them?”
--
You spend some time listening to Luke’s story but also focus on Merry’s reaction. And she’s... satisfied?
It seems that Luke got ahold of a “costume set” (as he calls them) when someone bartered them. Luke thought it was a prank, but after witnessing the power of the pens, he agreed to make the exchange. Always looking for a quick buck, he offered to move some pens through his shop for a cut of the profits.
And of course, that stirred Merry’s interest. “That means you can fence goods?”
“Normally I don’t, but I suppose I could find you someone who can. Unless it’s something that can be moved around easily.”
“Can you move a few pieces of jewelry?”
“That can be risky. You’d need to appraise it first, which means it might get identified as stolen.”
“Doesn’t matter. As long as we can turn some of the stuff into cash, we’re set. Now...” Merry shows the white pen for Luke to analyze. “Did you see if the guy who sold you this has this kind of pen?”
“No. At least, not that I know of. What’s that supposed to do?”
“I brought it here to seal him up. You... do know that she’s a he, right?”
“Of course. And that she wants to complete becoming her too.”
“Alright. With that cleared up...” Merry jerks her chin at you. “Get undressed.”
Turning your back on both, you rapidly unbutton the top you’re wearing. After relieving yourself of your bra, you instinctively cover your breasts while looking around for anyone snooping. “Will this hurt?” you ask.
“It’s an odd tingling sensation,” Merry confesses. “You’ll see when you feel it.”
Without warning, you feel a slight jolt on the bottom of your spine. As you feel it rising, you feel your skin tightening on you. Your groin feels hot and sensible, and that tingling sensation she mentioned travels through you as an orgasm. You can barely contain yourself when the jolt reaches your neck, your legs growing so weak that you fall to the knees.
When the sensation’s gone, you feel like you were touching yourself intensely. You catch your breath, sweating profusely. You touch your nape, and the slit that threatened to reveal the truth of your former existence is gone. All that remains is silky soft skin, fully encasing you.
You want to enjoy the fact that you’ll be Claudia Nicholls for the rest of her life. (Or until the pen’s used on you again, you guess.) But Leslie could threaten that, and Luke being unable to confirm if his “distributor” happens to have them means you’re at the mercy of providence.
“Whoa,” Luke reacts in shock as you replace your bra. “What’s that supposed to do?”
“It seals the slit on the skin she’s wearing. Basically, unless you use this to tear another, you won’t be able to remove it.”
“Can’t believe there are more pens than those.”
“We only know of two more,” Merry reveals without reserves. “This one and another that clones skins.”
You hear Luke choke on his own breath. “No way! I have got to ask if they sell those!”
“Why?” Merry shakes her head, grunting. “Nevermind. Then again, that sounds like a good idea.” She then approaches you, studying your reaction. “Hey. What if Les wants to protect us from his sellers? Can you imagine even less scrupulous people turning us into skins and sealing themselves inside?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t feel that’s his plan. That’s what we’ll figure out.”
--
On your way to Edgefield – the first time in nearly two weeks – you discuss your plans. Though Merry doesn’t like it, you suggest bringing Luke with you. After all, you’re making your move today, using the excuse of bringing “Tina” along so she can arrive for dinner.
You’ll do so by playing to Leslie’s own desires. He wanted to speak to the guy with the pens, and you’ll bring it to him. Luke brought his own, of course, and you’ll try to always have the black pen on your hand to make your move.
You also discuss everything on Luke’s side. Once you deal with Leslie, he’ll call his “distributor” for a meeting, saying you’re interested in buying. Then, with Merry’s help, you’ll zap him, and using the brown pen, you’ll question them about everything.
It feels strange to return home in another face. It’s even stranger to think this was your house, and that you’ll see someone who was you. But what’s consuming your mind, distracted only by the driving and not by any conversation, is how it also feels you’re visiting strangers when you’ve known them all your life.
As you park the car on the sidewalk. Merry steps out first, carrying Tina’s bookbag while swerving the hips of the woman that was once your older sister. She draws the keys while you observe, the silence of the night letting you hear their conversation.
On cue, you see Marie Anderson stepping on the doorframe. Your heart stirs as you hear her greet her daughter. “Tina! What happened?”
“I was delayed by something, Mom. Fortunately, it was at the Municipal Library and one of the employees offered me a lift – that's the woman I told you.”
“Is that her?” She looks at you, and you shiver. “Tell her to come in! I know you said she had to return to her home and that it’s far, but--”
“I’ll ask her if she wants to. Wait for me here.” You see Merry return, questioning you with a low voice. “You alright?”
“Yeah,” you tell her. “I’ll live.”
“You heard her. She wants to thank you, I guess.”
“Right.” As you send Tina away, you turn to Luke. “Wait for me here.”
You step out of the car, making slow and almost reverential steps. Your legs move to Claudia’s rhythm, but your heart beats to David’s. You see Marie looking at you in admiration as she grabs your hand. “Hello there, ma’am. I am--”
Mom!
“--Christina’s mother, Marie. Pleased to meet you.”
You feel like your own lips will betray you. That you’ll open your arms, hug her and say “Mom, it’s me! David!” But you seek refuge in your new truth.
I’m Claudia. I’m Claudia. “The pleasure’s mine,” you finally respond. “Claudia Nicholls, librarian of the Tyneside Municipal Library. Your daughter missed her ride home, so I offered.”
“I truly appreciate it,” she says, and you’re astonished at how formally she addresses you. It’s the inverse of seeing things from the outside – you've seen that attitude when she receives a visit, and now, you are the visit. “Mind coming in for a while? Want something to drink?”
“If you have some tea,” you tell her, but you know she doesn’t. “But if you don’t, a soft drink would be fine too.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to offer you the latter. No one drinks tea in this house. Had you said coffee, then perhaps I could brew you some.”
As you step in, you see your old home with a stranger’s eyes. Claire’s staring at her phone, covering her giggle as she sees you. (That little...!) Tina’s talking to her father, and your eyes darken, knowing Leslie’s inside.
But the biggest shock is seeing you. You greet him last, seeing how he’ll respond.
And his response feels you with dread. “Hello,” he says in a dull, dead voice. “My name is David. Pleased to meet you.”
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