“I’m not sure how I’m supposed not to stare at him, but fine.”John looked away for a few seconds before shaking his head.“No, I’m sorry.I can’t do it.He’s weird, but in a good way, you know?He’s cute.”
Cyril beamed.He’d been lonely when he’d made Oscar, but he’d never regretted it.He loved his pet, even though Oscar was unconventional to say the least.He didn’t like it when Oscar got hurt or when people were afraid of him.There was nothing to be afraid of.Oscar might look odd, but he was sweet and harmless.
“You can pet him if you want,” he offered.
John stared at Oscar for a moment.Cyril was convinced he would say no because most people did, but instead, John shrugged.
“You know what?Why not?What’s the worst that can happen?”
“He could bite you,” Cyril offered.
John had been reaching for Oscar’s head, but he stopped moving and glared at Cyril.“Was that really necessary?”
“I mean, he’s never bitten anyone, but it’s a possibility.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t pet him, after all.”
“No, please do.I promise he’ll be nice.”
Cyril glanced in the direction of the bedroom as John finally found the courage to pet Oscar.Vale hadn’t returned yet.That meant that he was still on the phone, which couldn’t be good.If it took him so long to talk about what was going on, it had to mean big trouble was coming.
Cyril wished he and Vale had had the time to go on that vacation they’d been talking about earlier.Instead, it looked like they were going to have to face yet another dangerous situation.
He sighed.Sometimes, he hated his life.
Chapter Two
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CYRIL DIDN’T KNOW WHEREhe was.The last thing he remembered was going to bed, but he wasn’t in his bed anymore.Instead, he was driving a car.
He frowned as he slowly turned the wheel and followed the curve of the road.This didn’t make sense.He was the one driving, but the hands on the wheel didn’t belong to him.He didn’t have long painted nails.He also never wore rings, but there were several onthesehands.
He looked down, his frown deepening when he realized he had on a red skirt.
What the fuck was happening?
Maybe he needed to stop the car.He could find a way to contact Vale and ask him for help.Vale would know what to do.He always did.
Cyril turned his head.There was a phone on the passenger seat, but when he tried reaching for it, he couldn’t.Instead, the car slowed down at a red light.
Okay, so Cyril didn’t have full control of this body.That didn’t help him understand what was going on or how to stop it, and he was starting to freak out.
He flipped down the mirror and looked at his reflection.This body definitely wasn’t his.The woman looking back at him was blonde with blue eyes and a smattering of freckles on her nose.She leaned closer to the mirror and rubbed her finger over her lip, maybe to clean up the lipstick there.
The light turned green, and Cyril slowly inched the car forward.He heard a screech and started to turn in the direction from which it had come, only for something to slam against the car.He screamed, but the voice wasn’t his.It was higher, but just as scared.He felt a strong pain in his head and torso, then nothing.
“Cyril!”
Cyril shot up into a sitting position.He was still screaming, so he quickly snapped his mouth shut.He blinked, trying to make sense of where he was and what he was seeing.
The room was dark, but he’d recognize it anywhere.He was home, in his apartment, in his bed.
Vale was next to him.He had a hand on Cyril’s shoulder, and he looked worried.He wasn’t the only one.Oscar was there, too, making a clicking noise with his tentacles.As soon as he realized that Cyril was better, he climbed into Cyril’s lap.
Cyril let him.It felt good to have Oscar there, and feeling his familiar body under his fingertips reminded Cyril that he was home.
“Are you okay?”Vale asked, sounding worried.
