Heavy rain drenched the highway that night, creating puddles that reflected the glow of streetlights. The windshield wipers swished back and forth, trying to clear the glass, but the view remained blurry. In the passenger seat, Edwin sat silently, scrolling through his phone. The quiet between us was filled only with the sound of rain and the faint hum of the car radio.
I glanced at him. "Hey, are you hungry? We could stop for a bite before heading home."
Edwin shrugged, eyes still glued to the screen. "You're cooking, right? Nothing could be worse than that."
I chuckled, even though the comment stung a bit. "Wait until you try my version of pizza. You'll be surprised."
He mumbled something, but I caught a faint curve at the corner of his lips—a smile. In recent months, that smile had been rare. Losing Mom and Dad in a tragic accident a few months ago had left us adrift. As the older brother, I felt it was my responsibility to keep Edwin afloat, even as I was barely holding myself together.
I tried to recall that day—the last time we saw them. A family trip out of town, a small moment of joy turned into tragedy on the highway. The truck's brakes failed, a chain-reaction collision, and me sitting in the ambulance, clutching a trembling Edwin.
And now, it was just the two of us.
"Edwin," I called, breaking my own reverie. "Do you think they're still watching over us?"
He finally looked up, his eyes holding a depth far beyond his years. "I don't know, Alaric. Maybe. But... I hope they're not too disappointed in us."
I fell silent, swallowing the words I wanted to say. "They're not disappointed. They're proud of us. We've done our best."
He didn't respond.
***
A bright light suddenly appeared at the curve ahead.
A truck hurtled toward us at a terrifying speed, swerving wildly on the slick road. I had only seconds to react. I yanked the wheel, trying to avoid a collision, but the truck was too fast.
A deafening crash echoed. The world flipped. Pain seared through my body, and I heard Edwin's scream before everything faded to black.
***
When I woke up, the world had changed.
I felt nothing. No pain, just a piercing cold and the repetitive sound of dripping water. Slowly, I opened my eyes, but all I saw was darkness glowing faintly. The wet stones of the cave walls reflected a dim green light from wild-growing fungi.
I tried to move, but my body felt strange. Heavy. Off-balance.
"Edwin!" I called, but the sound that came out wasn't human. It was a low, hissing growl, alien and menacing.
I crawled toward a shimmering puddle nearby, hoping to see my reflection and prove this was just a nightmare. But the face staring back at me wasn't human.
A large black lizard with glowing yellow eyes stared back from the water's surface. Its teeth were sharp, its scales as hard as steel, and a long tail extended behind its body. I recoiled, causing ripples in the water.
That was me.
I had become a monster.
***
Panic hit me like a storm. What had happened? Was I dead? Was this some kind of punishment?
I tried to remember anything that could explain this situation. The accident... the truck... Edwin.
"Edwin!" I hissed again, hoping for an answer. But only the echo of that monstrous voice returned.
Fear morphed into burning guilt. If I was dead, what about Edwin? He had to be alive. He had to be safe. But was he? Was he hurt? Was he alone?
Those questions made me want to scream, but my body moved on its own. I was dragged by instincts I didn't recognize.
***
This world felt like an endless labyrinth.
I dragged my heavy body through rocky corridors, the walls covered in glowing patterns like ancient runes. The ceilings loomed high, dripping water that created a haunting melody.
Hunger gnawed at me. Not the usual kind, but something more primal, like a fire burning inside.
I heard faint footsteps. In a dim corner of the cave, a small creature resembling a bat-winged rat was gnawing on something. Its body emitted a faint glow, like a candle flame.
Without thinking, I lunged at it.
The creature let out a shrill squeal, trying to fight back, but my body was bigger and stronger. My claws gripped it easily, and my sharp teeth tore through its flesh. The meat was bitter, its blood warm, but the hunger vanished instantly.
When I was done, disgust overwhelmed me.
But at the same time, I realized something horrifying: I was getting used to this body.
***
Days passed, or at least I thought they did.
I survived in this dark world. Every creature I encountered became prey, and each battle made my body stronger. My scales grew tougher, my claws sharper, and my mind increasingly filled with foreign instincts.
But the memory of Edwin remained my anchor. On lonely nights, I wondered if he was still alive, if he missed me, or if he even remembered me.
I swore that if there was a way out of this place, I would find it. I would return to him.
Yet, the longer I stayed here, the more I felt like I was losing something.
I asked myself: who am I now? Alaric, the human I once was? Or this creature, a bloodthirsty lizard?
And what would remain of me if I kept changing?