A fresh wave of fear washed over the candidates. Some opted out, while the rest just steeled their reserve to go forth with it. Two of which were Theo and Bo.
After the little hiccup with the kid that went first. The rest was smooth sailing. Only a few others didn't make it out alive.
The first successful change was Matthew Dane. The tall goth guy. During his turn, like the last guy, a loud scream was heard, followed by total silence. But just a few seconds after, Matt walked out looking like a bear.
He grew an extra eight inches, and now had arms as thick as tree trunks. He was walking like he was about to fall off, but apart from that he looked menacing. Ceri guided him to another room where he could rest and have a change of clothes, because the ones he wore were ripped apart.
"If I had known, I could have brought a change of clothes" Bo joked dryly. Apparently, he was still shaken up by the first guy to go in. After a little waiting, it was Bo's turn.
"Wish me luck Theo duck"
Bo slapped Theo on the shoulder and walked off into the curtain, after the whole silence, scream, silence routine, Bo came out.
The first noticeable thing was his hair. For one, it grew exponentially. It reached his shoulder in length and changed colour from jet black to bright red. Of course, there was also the change his body went through. He was not as large as goth kid, but he was still large. He was originally at a height of 'five feet eleven', but now he was a whopping 'six foot three'. Although he had better footing than goth boy, he was still unstable. He gave a quick thumbs up to Theo, then was ushered the resting room.
It was finally Theo's turn. And his heart was beating faster than ever. He had one thing on his mind.
'Will I make it'
Theo stepped behind the curtain, his vision blurry, the figure in front of him speaking words that were all but coherent to him. The only thing he heard was his heart thumping loudly. As he lay on the bed, for some reason the room started to spin.
He vaguely felt rough hands roll up his sleeve, then he felt rubber being tied around his hands. Then came the cold of the antiseptic, then the needle made an appearance.
At this, he started moving a bit. A stinging pain brought him back to his senses. After he was given the shot, and the rubber removed, his entire body started feeling hot. At first, he felt it at his chest area close to his heart, then it spread to his limbs and abdomen. Then the screaming began.
Theo felt like his whole body was being put in a meat grinder. He felt his bones snap and re-align. His whole body was drenched in sweat, and he couldn't stop convulsing. His muscles were stretching, swelling, and expanding. Blood was pouring out of every orifice. Everything went black, and the pain ceased at once. He passed out.
Theo woke up on a couch that was way too small. He tried to get up, but it was like the floor suddenly sank down. He fell on the couch, but then realized what was going on. He survived.
Tears welled up in his eyes, but he stopped it from falling dow_
"What's up Theo-duck".
Theo jerked his head to the side, only to see a jacked-up Bo, staring at him with his signature evil grin.
"You passed out like a little bitch Theo". At that Theo went red. "Fuck you man", Theo retorted.
Now noticing the room he was in, he started looking around. He was in a small room with a couch and a chair by the side. It had grey worn out walls and no windows. All it had was one door.
Walking into the room was Ceri. Bobbing its head up and down, it said, " Impressive, you've all become fine specimens." staring at Bo's hair, you could tell it cocked its head at Bo, probably squinting, "your transformation is very strange.", it felt his hair for a few seconds and walked back towards the door.
Stoping in it's tracks, it took a quick glance at Theo and quickly left. not uttering another word.
After all the candidates finished with their shots, they were all asked to go home so they can get used to their new body.
Walking through the streets of the Bronx, it was like he was drunk. Wobbling his way home. That's when he heard scratches and clicking.
'I should probably just ignore that.'
The noise got closer and louder, the clicks more angry and agitated.
That's when Theo made a break for it. Running at speeds he didn't know he possessed.
Bang
He was body slammed into an alley. It all happened so fast. Getting up he had no choice but to confront whatever was in front of him.
With his mind set on the fight, he got into a stance with his hands forward, one in front of the other. Taking the orthodox stance, his eyes burned with a conviction that was backed up by his unwavering appearance. That was until he saw what he was up against.
Standing in front of him, was a seven feet monster. It had large claws, tight grey wrinkly skin. Its eyes were pitch black, and its sharp teeth were so large, It stuck out of certain part of its mouth.
Disappearing out of sight, it appeared by his side. Before he could even react. He was back fisted into a wall.
'Is that teleportation?'
He was punched in his head through the wall, then lifted by his neck before being slammed back down. He coughed up blood.
Chuckling, the monster held on to his ankle before tossing him at the wall on the opposite side.
Lifting its hand, about to impale him. That's when a fist came from nowhere, blasting the side of the monster's face.
'It's an angel' Theo thought
Standing in the impact zone was a leathered up dude with brass knuckles on.
'Nah, its just the old man from the ceremony. What the heck is he doing here anyway.'
Flash stepping in front of the monster, he held its head, and slammed his fist into its teeth. Chucks of it flew everywhere.
He kept bashing its head, until it kicked him away. Getting up from its feet it went for the attack.
Seeing this, he went for a counter with a fake out left hook to its jaw, them quickly switching it up to a knee to its guts. It quickly regained composure and went for another punch. He side stepped it, and went for another jab.
Realizing it was bleeding, the creature laughed then switched stance. It crouched down slightly, then it spread its arm apart. Flash stepping to make an attack, the old man followed suit.
They both clashed in the middle. Their fists meeting each other. None of which was losing to the other.
The monster threw a punch to the man's head. He quickly dodged before throwing one of his own. Connecting to the strike, It flew out of the alley to the other side of the road.
Roaring with anger, the monster ran forward, but was stopped in its tracks by a knee to its head. Bearing the pain, It twisted and connected a roundhouse kick to the side of the old man's head.
Flying a few meters, the creature didn't let him land. Connecting a knee to his back. The old man flew into the air with a lot of force, but was stopped by another strike to his gut with a fist.
Smashing into the ground, creating a bit of a crater around him. He coughed up blood before getting up.
"I'm getting too old for this." He sighed before getting in stance again. He and the monster both flash stepped again.
All this was happening at a speed that was challenging for Theo to follow.
'Their speed is scary.' Theo thought.
An uppercut smashed the monsters jaw, but was retaliated with a jab to the old man's jaw. They both looked to be evenly matched in this fight, each strike kept being countered or retaliated by the other. The monster had a clear upper hand that Theo only just realized. It kept healing its wounds.
'If this match drags on for too long, the old man would be at a disadvantage. There's gotta be something I can do.'
The thing was, it's not like Theo couldn't join the fight. He just didn't know how to. They were clearly on another level compared to him.
Just then the monster used its claws on its right hand to stab the old man in the gut, and was about to impale his head with the other, but was stopped just inches from his forehead. The claw had gone through his hand, and he was losing blood from both wounds.
That's when Theo needed to act, and fast. While the old man was fighting the claws with both hands, Theo rushed over and delivered a heel kick to its ribs, pushing it a few meters. Taking a stance, he went in for the attack. It was like his body knew what exactly to do. Side stepping a potential permanent scar to the face, he delivered a crushing blow to the monsters ribs.
"This is for earlier, you son of a bitch" Theo screamed.
Stepping on the monsters knee, he bent it backwards bringing the monster to his eye level, before attempting another strike to its face. His fist was caught relatively easy.
"You suck human." The monster said filled with disgust. It flung him into the air, and slammed him back down. That took the wind out of Theo. It stepped on his chest, breaking a few ribs. That blow knocked him out.
"I've had enough" The old man shouted. "Lets end this". Putting both his hands on the floor like in the start of a race. The old man blasted off.
"Flash Bang!" the old man shouted. Taking off at lightning speed, the old man took out the monster's hand. "Flash Bang!", the other hand was taken.
He did it over and over again until the monster was on its knees. Impaling it's chest with his fist. "Fuck yo-" before the monster could finish his sentence, the old man crushed his heart.