On fleeing into the darkness, something remarkable happened. His vision, already sharp in the dim light, became even clearer. The night no longer felt like a void to him. He could see everything around him in crisp detail. His senses were heightened, and the world had transformed into a new, vibrant place. His mind reeled from the overwhelming changes. How had this happened to him? How had he been chosen for this? He hadn't asked for any of this. He was unprepared for such a transformation, and yet here he was—lost in the night, with no idea where to go or what to do.
His thoughts were interrupted by a noise. Footsteps. Someone was near. Panic surged within him as he ducked behind a wall, blending into the shadows. He couldn't afford to be seen.
"Dick! Dick! Where are you?" Alex's voice called out, his tone full of concern and worry.
Dick's heart sank. He knew that Alex would never understand this new form. He couldn't reveal himself, not yet. He had to remain hidden. He stayed still, praying that Alex wouldn't find him.
The flashlight beam swept over the area, and Alex's voice grew closer. "Where could he be? Dick, answer me!" Alex's voice was filled with uncertainty and fear.
Dick crouched lower, praying that the darkness would conceal him. He could hear Alex's footsteps as they approached and combed the area. Alex was only inches away, but Dick remained motionless. The flashlight flickered, and then shone directly on him. For a moment, time seemed to slow. Alex gasped, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes locked onto the giant ant standing in the shadows.
"What... what is that?" Alex whispered, his voice shaky.
Dick could feel Alex's fear radiating from him. Alex took a step back, his body trembling. Without another word, he turned and bolted back in the direction of the house, running away in terror. Dick, still in shock, remained frozen in place. He had never imagined that Alex would react this way, but it made sense. The creature in front of him was unlike anything Alex had ever seen.
Dick's mind raced. He knew Alex would likely return with others. Maybe even with a weapon. He couldn't stay here. He had to move and found how to reclaim his human form.
His thoughts led him to the one place that might hold answers—the lab. Dr. Bin had to know something about the transformation he was going through and be able to proffer solution. If anyone could help him, it was Dr. Bin.
With renewed determination, Dick made his way toward the woods. The forest, however, felt different now. It was quieter, almost too quiet. The usual sounds of nocturnal creatures were absent, and the wind seemed to carry an unsettling stillness. The trees loomed over him like silent sentinels, watching his every move.
As Dick walked deeper into the woods, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. His heightened senses allowed him to feel the atmospheric pressure building—the air was thick with moisture, and the scent of rain hung in the air. The night was heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath. He could feel the storm approaching. But he didn't have time to worry about the weather. The rain would be a problem, but he had no choice.
Soon, the outline of Dr. Bin's lab appeared in the distance. It stood on a hill, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. The structure looked strangely serene, almost otherworldly. The building was crafted with such precision that it seemed to belong to a different time or place. The walls were concentric rings, with the outermost layer appearing to protect the interior. The design was flawless—elegant, yet powerful. Dick couldn't help but admire its beauty. But there was no time to dwell on the aesthetics. He had come here for answers.
At the entrance, the topmost wall began to lower as if welcoming those who knew the right way to approach. Dick could hear voices—three figures emerged from the building. It was Mikey, Harry, and Dr. Bin. Dick's stomach tightened as he recognized them. They were no longer in school, having abandoned their studies to follow Dr. Bin. That was being foolish. They had been promised power—machines, control over the world.
He stayed hidden, watching them from the shadows. But as he tried to move closer, something unexpected happened. The tree he had climbed earlier groaned under his weight. It seemed to bend, protesting against his massive size. For a moment, he didn't realize what was happening. He was too focused on getting closer to the group. But midway up the tree, the branches gave way.
The tree snapped with a loud crack, sending Dick tumbling to the ground. The noise was deafening, and he knew it would attract attention. His heart pounded as he lay motionless, hoping they wouldn't spot him.
The three men rushed toward the fallen tree, their flashlights scanning the area. Harry was the first to arrive.
"It's here!" he called out, his voice filled with uncertainty. Mikey and Dr. Bin quickly joined him. They looked around, trying to figure out what had caused the noise, but they couldn't pinpoint the source.
"What could have caused this?" Harry asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"It must have been the wind," Mikey suggested, but his words sounded unsure.
Dr. Bin didn't buy that explanation. "No. This is something else. Something... unnatural."
Dick listened intently, his mind racing. He could hear the urgency in their voices. Dr. Bin had no doubt that something was wrong. But it wasn't just about the fallen tree—it was about the power he wanted to harness. Dick could feel the tension rising. He had overheard their plan. They were after something bigger than just machines. It was about control, about using people as pawns.
"Anyway, I am going to give you something to use. We can't do without blood if I'm to achieve my aim," Bin said and he pointed to Mikey, "You are my number one and Harry is the next, the third had to come."
"Bret is playing smart with me," Mikey said.
They had another target for their work and the person was his friend.
There should be another means to this blood-machine. One can not just use other humans like that. The invention that could not improve man should be discarded. This was the opinion of Dick.
"I'll give you something to put in his drink. That should make things easier," Bin said.
The men left with Bin returning to the lab. Harry and Mikey disappeared into the woods. Dick had heard everything without them knowing he was around.
Harry and Mikey were not in the same class with Bret and they were not his friends either. The possible chance of getting close to Bret was through Poure. Even though both of Poure and Bret were not friend too, they were classmates. So whatever they wanted, Poure could still find his ways to achieve it. He made up his mind to put his eyes on ground to avoid the unfortunate from happeningto Bret.
As the night wore on, the break of the day was approaching. The thought of getting help from the doctor dessipated as he just saw that all he was interested in was his inventions. The light which had brighten the surrounding disappeared. Dick was surprised to see that the building had just been lowered into the earth. No trace of it could be seen on the outside. For the moment, he was more worried of his problem.
It occurred to him to return home and explain his new found state to Alex.
Luckily, his house door was not fixed yet which gave him access to go in.
Alex had shown up in his room earlier than normal. This time, Dick was sleeping soundly so felt relieved. He didn't see any monster because his transformation had taken place, he was human. He tapped him gently on the shoulder and he turned, his eyes fluttering open.
Dick found his present state as against when he came in, he was surprised beyond measure. Awave of relief washed over his face and a smile took over his fear. He had nothing to give explanation about anymore. The overwhelming sensation of power and fear from the night before had faded into the background, replaced by the ordinary feeling of his limbs and body returning to their familiar state.
"Where were you last night?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with concern, though he tried to mask it with casual curiosity.