The Factory - Willy Wonka Parody (Patreon)

Once upon a time, there was a large town known by the name; of Hallwin. Hallwin bolsters a population of five thousand though its growth has stagnated here. Many move from the town after some time going their sperate ways. The town has many old buildings, brick, and stone, cottages dotting the countryside, and cobblestone walkways. For many the town acted as a portal to the past, it had no reason to grow because tourists came to see the old buildings. It had no reason to expand to preserve its historical nature. However, the old town does have one oddity about it. A large factory that sits at the edge of town. It has a large amount of land to use and the factories seemingly always running, yet no employees from the town work within. The only activity from the gated factory is the series of trucks that come and go from the large gates. Despite the eeriness of the factory, it creates revolutionary products that all know and adore. The factory's name; Switch-A-Roo’s Medicine Factory.

Chris stares off toward the factory in awe. He felt the same every day walking past it. “It really is massive… do people still really work there?” The young man’s voice mumbles with wonder, his dark brown eyes shining with curiosity. Chris is in his twenties, and with times as they are he lives with his family and even grandparents all in the same shack of a house. Trying to get normal jobs seemed too hard, even now Chris struggles to make sure his family survives. The best he can currently do is a paper route, even though hardly anyone even wants a paper anymore. Most of his job has become delivering magazines because of that. He makes some money, but it’s mostly pocket change which is just used to feed the family. Despite that, his low voice keeps hope within it, each step he takes he still looks up. Long straight brown hair tied back in a messy ponytail, a ragged white shirt, dirty brown pants, and black sneakers. He looked homeless to most that saw him. Still, he keeps his head up. “One day…” Squeezing his hand to his carrying bag Chris lets a sigh pass his lips. “One day…” Stepping along past the factory his head begins to day dream as normal. Someone in his situation, what else was he supposed to do? Chris was not like most normal boys, he knew that much. As he walks the paths his mind cannot help but wander on pretty things. Pretty, beautiful things. His home was a little cottage, so he had to travel past the factory every day after work. On those walks, the world seems like it transforms for just a few minutes. “Heh… My knight walks along side me again… Koda? Liz? Hehe, maybe both today?” Smiling like an idiot to himself the image is too clear, a female knight clad in armor at one side. She has curly hair, freckles on the cheeks, even glasses, silver armor like a cliché paladin, and even a greatsword on the back. The other knight then appears more masculine, their face is soft though. A clear jawline, short hair trimmed neatly, and a soft endearing smile. Their armor is lighter than the females, with a plate covering the chest and shin guards, a short sword at the hip. They looked more like a bodyguard than a knight but Chris did not stress the details. “Ah… my long walks can be the best. Hehe. A place where I can be me, for just a moment.” Reaching his hand to his side, the handsome knight takes it. “Thank you… Koda.” Carefully Chris steps, one foot in front of the other. Even as the path turns to dirt on his walk, he can still hear the clack. A pair of wedge heels click against the surface. Chris’s dress bristles in the wind, soft, yellow, ruffled and flared out. Chris was not a normal boy, he knew that. What normal boy thought of knights at their side and being led along the path wearing fancy dresses? Not many. Still, Chris lets his hair flow over his shoulder free from the tie, he felt clean for a moment. The dark blue wedges with a small bow at the toes were adorable in his eyes. Even though tall he walks with elegance and grace, Koda helping to guide him along while the female knight Liz walks slowly at his side keeping watch. “Just a moment of peace along the path… Liz… Koda…”

“Welcome baaaack!”

A woman with dull eyes with dark shadows under them waves, her smile genuine but her body clearly tired. Chris’s Mom decided to greet him, his dad was a deadbeat and left or died he did not care. His Mom though tried to hold things together at home. Sadly she worked two jobs, and she rarely got sleep, but she still functioned. As usual, she was waiting for Chris to come back, he would watch over the house now, while she went to go work at a laundromat in the middle of the knight for some extra cash. “I’m glad you’re back honey.” Brushing her hands off on the dirty white apron she wears, the woman walks past Chris giving him a simple pat on the back. “Take care of things for me.” She smiles faintly and takes a breath, the cool air makes her tattered dress flutter in the wind. “I’ll see you with the sun.” She then keeps walking, her soft voice falling with the touch of the wind. Her long black hair bellows for a moment, but she ties it back as she walks. Chris could not help but feel guilty. His Mom was doing far more than she needed to, if he at least had a better job she could at least sleep properly.

Errrt

Chris opens the door to the shabby cottage and steps inside. Four old grandparents sit in the same bed chatting amongst themselves. “Everyone, I’m back.” The old folk wave to Chris but don’t pay him much mind. After all, they had been at this for years. Chris instead walks right up to his little loft attic room climbing up the rotting wooden ladder. His bed is just some straw with a blanket over it, but comfortable enough. Plopping himself down on it he sighs slowly and closes his eyes smelling the warm summer air. He looked at his crappy attic room, to at least show him the stars out the window on clear days. They twinkle faintly but provide some sort of comfort. “Another day done… Nothing eventful again. But I guess that’s no—”

“BREAKING NEWS!”

Jolting suddenly from his straw bed Chris smacks his head against one of the roof's beams. “Ooow!” His head pounds a little but the broadcast does not stop. The house did not have much in terms of entertainment, but they did have one crappy CRT TV they got when someone was throwing it away. Not enough money to pay for a service but the public access stations still had the news. Sliding back down his ladder Chris peers his eyes over to the screen, even the lazy grandparents were watching.

The broadcaster was a news man standing in front of the Switch-A-Roo factory. The older man holds his mic in front of his face and begins to speak with haste and excitement. “Yes, people you heard me correctly! The factory has just announced a contest! Trucks leaving right now are acting in part for this contest! The factory has even given us and many other stations official instructions to read out to you people!” It sounded odd, a medical factory holding a contest? Chris could barely believe it. “I bet viewers can barely believe such an idea! A medical factory holding a contest?! Well the Switch-A-Roo Medical Factory produces a variety of products, and new products are even invented here as well! Many will note the company Switch-A-Roo even deals in sporting goods, like energy bars, protein powders, and vitamins. Though it does also offer different prescription medicine, it offers over-the-counter products like pain relief too. Even offering different healthy choice meal plans. All of these things and more have been invented right here and then shipped on the always mysterious and heavily guarded shipping trucks.” The broadcaster pants slowly saying his mouthful. Though he had more to say. “The history lesson now done. The contest is what you all want to hear. The Switch-A-Roo contest is one in which the people need to find a golden token in Switch-A-Roo food-related products! Just for this contest, a new special energy bar will be released at a lower cost than many of the company's other high-end food choices. Still, all food products are eligible, the company has not said how the tokens are disrupted but there are five in total! Now, what happens when someone finds one of these five golden tokens?! You will be invited to this factory for a grand tour, as well as a special reward for whoever makes it to the end of the tour.” The man smiles and laughs holding up one of Switch-A-Roo’s energy bars. “This here is one of the new special energy bars, mines peanut butter flavored! Now ominous as not finishing a tour may sound. The company assures they will have everyone sign a weaver at the start of the to—Ah that’s still pretty ominous isn’t it? Still, with a reward promised from this renowned company… who knows what will happen to those who can make it to the end?”

Chris’s grandparents grumble, and he rolls his eyes. “Hah… like anyone but some rich folk would get that.” Heading back up to his straw bed he hits the literal hay and starts to drift to sleep. He always had to get up early to start his work, or at least he had nothing better to do.

Chirp, chirp chirp, chirp

The morning sun basks into the little loft Chris considered his room. The warmth touches his skin and warms his body through the soft sheet protecting him. These times in the spring and summer were always nice. Though he could get sun burnt if he did not get up right away. “Another day to live through, better get started.” Sliding down the ladder Chris grabs his satchel bag and walks to a shabby dresser. His family kept all their clothes together since they only had one spot to keep them. They all shared clothes where they could, sadly for a growing young man it was troublesome for a while for Chris. Now fully grown as a young adult he was forced to choose between his grandpa’s old clothing. Both of the grandpas did not wear anything stylish sadly. He was not the type to just come out and mock other's styles though, at the very least he is glad he has clothes to wear at all given the amount of money they usually have. Getting new clothes tends to amount to taking whatever someone leaves behind when Chris’s mom takes care of laundry. “Well then… those guys are all still asleep…” Chris peeks toward his group of grandparents snoring away loudly. They did seem like freeloaders if he was being honest. Leave it to a bunch of old people to sleep around and complain. His Mom worked hard to make sure they all had food, and now he was doing his part too. Those four though seemingly did nothing. “Shame Mom never took me on the offer to ditch them… it just seems like they’re all using her… heh… and here she told me to leave like she knows this place is a trap.” Chris a bit sullen gathers together his ragged clothes and throws on some pants and a shirt. He did not care much about trying to match the mess, he just needed to look poor, if he looked homeless it would cause issues.

Eeerp

The door creaks open, and Chris walks on through shutting it behind him. Dressed, bag at his side, he was ready for another day.

“Heeey!”

Sadly for Chris, the day would be one to struggle through. The man running and shouting in his direction seemed concerned. Chris’s body shivers with each step the man takes. The man’s face was growing more concerned unsure how he should start a conversation. To most, it would make no sense. Chris however, thought constantly, every outcome runs through his mind and the one that sits at the front. His mother was not inside the house sleeping, when he got dressed he did not notice her, just the jerky grandparents. “Excuse me!” The man finally reaches Chris, he pants and pants holding his knees. “I…You’re.” The man's voice keeps soft through his panting breath. He looks up slowly at Chris and tilts his head trying to be careful. “Christopher Shades correct? This is the Shades family home yes?” Chris nods slowly his grip tightening around the satchel at his side. “I’m glad I caught you before you left…” This man was strange, bringing news yet not even seeming official. They looked to be in their late forties if Chris had to guess. Their after shave gives them a mature look, short black hair neatly combed made them look like they had some money at least. “You’re um, probably wondering why I came here, son.” Chris’s grip tightens again, the man had the gull to call him son? Was humanity so far regressed that people still spoke this way to one another? He did not know the man at all he had no grounds to act familiar or better. Still, Chris could feel it. Whatever news the man had was no news he wanted to hear. “Your mother… she told me to give you this.” The man hands over a letter, and Chris is quick to snatch it. Then, the man walks away, apparently, it was all he was paid to do, or obligated to do.

Teeear

Chris tears open the seal of the letter and gingerly takes out the contents. A few papers are together to form a bit of a lengthly letter. Chris swallows back spit and glances over the first page. “If you’re reading this letter. I’ve run away from that place.” Chris’s hands scrunch the paper together a moment his body shivering again, but he keeps reading. “We both know it’s horrible… I’ve been making you feel obligated to me and them this whole time. You could hate me, for not taking you with me. That’s fine. I still care about you, but I think we’re both a bit too different to really be a normal happy family.” Chris’s stomach turns, and as his eyes blink they feel watery. Looking at the letter it started to get a bit blurry, but he keeps reading. “You need people in your life that can actually accept you, sweetie. You need to get out of that place. So run. Run away, to somewhere that isn’t that horrible place. Find a family for yourself, that can give you what I never could. You’ll probably feel all sorts of things reading this. It’s selfish in a lot of ways, isn’t it?” It is. “But even so, I think I was just getting in the way of you… being who you are. Still, I’m not so terrible as to leave you high and dry. Find something for yourself. I’ll include in this letter some money, as well as some locations I know about. I even signed away that little house into your name, sell it, keep it, throw those old fools out. Just do what you have to, in order to live. And be truly happy for once.” What is all of this? “You may be a young adult now… but I never really let you experience the normal life of a child. So find your happiness, make your family, and make something yours. Make it so no one else can take it away from you. I love you.”

Chris stands outside just holding the letter for who knows how long. It takes a gust of wind to bristle through his hair to make him shake out of the… whatever emotion he felt. The rest of the documents in the letter he looks over seem to be different names of places and people. Those that can help poor folk, places to help others find better jobs, or even give young adults the ability to educate themselves further. There is money included too, not a lot but he could probably stay at some motel for a week or two if he was smart. “I don’t exactly have a lot…” Chris glances back at the shack of a house and then turns his head forward and starts walking. “What do I even do now… Heh… she didn’t ask me, because, she wanted to go somewhere herself.” Walking, and walking, along the same dirt road as usual. The cobble stone walk ways slowly but surely come into Chris’s sight. Just on instinct, he was walking his normal route without thinking about it. “What was it, Mom, did some rich guy take a liking to you? Saw you did his dirty laundry and told you he’d take you away?” Sighing slowly Chris’s feet tap against the cobble stone ground. His shoes still sucked it always felt like he was more or less walking barefoot. “This all just—”

“Energy bars are in stock! Come on one at a time, one at a time!”

Next to the medicine factory, Chris hears more people shouting. Apparently, it was just a loud day today. Shouting, hollering, boys. girls, men, women, and even old folk. Looking down the road that leads to the factory it is packed with people. Not just that it has all matters of vendors lining the streets like an open market. People wave energy bars in that air, sports drinks, and boxes of protein and vitamins. It seemed comical but everyone in the area was serious. “What the heck…” Chris could tell all of the energy was from the silly contest that had been put on the news just last night. Everyone seemed eager to try and win. It made some sense, the company letting people tour their building was never done. Anyone who could get inside could steal secrets and sell them, or try and worm their way to getting a job. Whatever the motivations were, it was silly to Chris, the only people that would most likely win were rich people that could buy unreasonable amounts of the product. “What a waste of time… they don’t know how many boxes of products ship from here, Where they go, how many local stores, gas stations, wholesale shops get… Ugh, it’s a waste of time.”

Trying his best to ignore the people Chris keeps walking down the street now having to push through different people as they crowd together. “We have our first winner!” Chris’s body shivers again, his eyes going right to a TV sitting in the back of a truck. It was using the cigarette lighter to power itself, bunny ear clothes hanger making it get the news broadcast. “That’s right Annabelle Grant has found the first Golden Token!” The broadcast transitions to someones apartment complex where reporters crowd around. They all hold their mics up to a taller woman wearing a black pencil skirt, boots and a black blazer. Her hair is tied back but is a lighter brownish color. She looked like some sort of business women probably around Chris’s age if he had to guess. Her green eyes made her look worried, probably too many people pestering her. Regardless in her hands is a gold token with the Switch-A-Roo company logo on it. “We go live to the scene to ask the lucky lady some questions!” A different male reporter is focused on now, at this apartment complex waving his mic in front of Annabelle’s face. “Excuse me! Excuse me! Mam! A question a question!” For some reason the woman acknowledges the reporter letting him speak. “You are the first to get a golden token! How did this happen?!”

The woman awkwardly scratches the back of her head and shrugs. “Well… I was getting ready for work and opened up an energy bar to eat for breakfast. And… it was just sorta. There. I bought a case last night before I got home… I never expected to find a token.”

The crowd erupts in inaudible noise and Chris scoffs pushing through more of the crowd. Unlike the others chattering he grumpily mumbles. “That’s so dumb… is it a plant? They announced the contest yesterday… it doesn’t make any sense that boxes with the token were around to buy. That had to have been rigged right? Unless… they like packaged them at different places in the night? But why would they be for sale then… ah whatever. Good for her I guess miss business lady.” Chris manages to break through the crowd and keeps on his walk. He had other things to think of then some silly contest, he needed to survive. Getting to his work he sets his bag down and walks right into his boss's office. The building is just one floor, with a garage for papers and then an office area that has type writers lining the walls. The back office is sectioned off, the boss's office, the one Chris is now in closing the door behind himself. “Boss.” Chris sits down nodding toward the older bearded man sitting in front of him.

“Oh?” The older man rubs his chin and sighs slowly looking Chris up and down. “Left out to dry is it?” Chris’s body shivered at the comment, his boss always had a way of reading him easily. Still, the man is actually pretty kind. “Do you have nowhere to go currently my boy?” Chris complained about the son comment earlier, but for this man, the boy one was not as bothering. Maybe because his boss had a better way of saying it. Now his boss was posing a question Chris found hard to answer. He did not want to go back, but he could, apparently the house was his now after all. He shakes his head no, however. “Ah, I see… you may sleep in this office after hours. If you need somewhere to stay. It’s the best I can offer, beyond letting you keep this regular job. Still… this may be what’s best for you.” The man sighs and stands up grabbing a key from his desk. “You’ve made friends where you can. Finally free of that place… maybe you can find better opportunities.” Chris’s boss hands a key to him and sits back down. “That key will open the shop and my office here. Sleeping in this office is my suggestion… better than wasting all your money on a motel. Save it, for now, and get yourself a cushion. Call it charity. Or an investment.” The Boss smiles widely, yet kindly. “If they try to send me to a nursing home remember what I’ve done alright boy?”

Taking the key into his hand Chris nods slowly. He really could not believe the kindness his boss was showing. He had a place he could sleep, for now, his money could get food at least, maybe he could get some clothes not having to worry about some complaining old farts. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let your kindness go to waste.” For now, Chris had work to do, his usual delivery of magazines and papers. His new life was starting, wether he liked it or not things were changing for him. Then a week goes by, days filled with more work than normal sleeping right at the source.

“That’s correct only one golden token is left! Who will claim the last golden token for themselves?!”

The contest was still all over any TV’s Chris would pass. Apparently only one Golden Token remained, and no one could find it. Rich fools were making Switch-A-Roo even richer by buying so many of their products. The share holders of the company were small so Chris assumed the money did not really leave the company's hands. “Heh… A weird bunch of winners though, all of them are around my age, guys, and girls. The only one that didn’t seem crazy was that first one…” Chris sighs to himself and places his bag down at his boss's desk. On the desk, however, is a note left by Chris’s boss. Picking it up he reads over it quickly. “You’ve been working hard this week, beyond your normal pay I left something extra in the drawer. Not much but something it’s yours.” Chris rubs at the side of his neck and places the note down opening the drawer. Inside it was a pack of ten notes for the local store up the street. Chris would use the word coupons but they were more or less meal tickets, hand one coupon in to get one item in the store for free. Most of the items were food related from ten dollars or lower. Many college students would use the store often for simple cheap meals. “Heh… it would save a little money… for this, it’s like a treat. I could use them all at once or one a day or save them…”

Thoughts ring in Chris’s head but the fact of the matter was he was getting hungry. Walking down the street he finds himself at the local shop in question, his body wanted food and now it was pretty much staring him in the face. “Hello…” The shop keeper, a younger woman waves nervously, clearly she was not used to many people coming in at night. “We’re pretty low on stock right now… so sorry about that. We do have a few boxes of Switch-A-Roo energy bars though… after someone got a golden token from it, everyone stopped buying them.” The girl laughs nervously not making eye contact. “So we kinda haven’t been able to get rid of them.”

Walking closer Chris nods, peering over the counter noticing three large boxes stacked on top of each other. “This place… bought a bunch and was hoping to sell them all huh?” The woman nods slowly. “Yeah figured… well um, I’ll take some then.” Chris hands out one of the coupons and the girl's eyes go wide. “A-ahah… did I do something wrong?”

The girl quickly shakes her head and stacks the boxes up ontop of the counter. “Take all of these, please! A case of these bars are not a lot! I got these boxes left… One ticket for each!”

The girl seemed a bit too eager to get rid of all the energy bars, but they had a good amount of calories in them. For better or worse it was an amazing deal seeing as how many the girl had. Taking out two extra coupons Chris places them on the counter. “Fine. I’ll take them all if this will do.”

She snatches up the coupons and wipes sweat from her brow. “Thaaank you! Ah these things were such a headache! I don’t need to win that contest… so if those energy bars still have a token, make sure you use it out of spite for those that stopped buying them!”

Chris nervously laughs at the now overly eager shop keeper. “Right… will do. Well thanks, I’ll just… Take these and go.” Chris carries the three boxes in his arms, the shop keeper opens the door for him and he goes. The boxes block his front-facing view, but luckily they are not heavy. It takes him a good few minutes to walk back but he makes it back to his Boss’s place and sets the boxes down in the office. “I can’t believe I actually got this many… These things will last me weeks. I’ll probably get sick of them… but it can save me money on food for a while. I hear they don’t spoil quickly… I never actually had one though.” Chris grabs a letter opener from his boss's desk and cuts the tape on the top most box opening it up. Inside sites several packs of smaller boxes. All with twenty-four energy bars inside. They were those cardboard stand-up displays to make it easier for shops to show what brand you were buying. “Geez… twenty-four in one box, and this giant box has at least ten of these smaller boxes… that seems like way too much… I hope that shop keeper was the owner and not an employee…” Opening up one of the boxes Chris takes out an energy bar and tears it open. The bar looked like a basic bar of grain, and biting into it fills his mouth with a fruit taste. It seemed different bars have different flavors. Scarfing it down he sighs, feeling the stomach pains from hunger slowly relieve. “Well… they don’t taste horrible at least… they taste… healthy? I guess healthy would be the word…” Yawning Chris grabs another bar and tears off the wrapping scarfing another down. Then he lays down on the couch that has become his bed the last few days and drifts off to sleep.

Slap, slap

“Boy!” The boss awakens Chris from his slumber with a few taps against his cheek.

“Huh?!” Chris jolts up feeling a few crumbles roll off his lips from the energy bar. The wrapper of the bar he had eaten before sleeping falls against his thighs. “Oh… Boss, um what is it? If it’s about the boxes of energy bars… you can have some, or hand them out… I just. I got a good deal on them.”

The boss shakes his head quickly and points to Chris’s crotch. “No boy! Look there, I can’t believe what I’m seeing!”

Chris blushes at first thinking the worse. But looking down at himself, the wrapper on his thigh glints gold. “Huh…?” Wiping his mouth with his sleeve Chris grabs the wrapper and turns it inside out.

Ting

Out from it falls to the floor a golden token spinning till it hits against the ground flat. “I got a golden token…?”

The Boss grabs the token and thrusts it into Chris’s hand. “The entries were supposed to be happening now my boy! Go, go with that token to the factory! Don’t stop for anyone!” Chris wavers in place looking at his ragged clothes and messy hair. “Don’t worry about that just go my boy! You did it! You actually did it!”

Being rushed out the door Chris jolts out of the delivery service and starts running down the cobblestone street on his bare feet. “This can’t be actually happening!” Chris keeps running, listening to the sound of his own feet carrying him. His fingers twiddle over the token feeling it in his hands. “I can’t believe this. I really got it! I got one! I didn’t even try and look at the dumb wrappers… what the hell! How, why, the odds are in so many other people's favor.” Skidding against the ground Chris pivots on his heel and makes a left turn down the road. The factory lay in sight, the crowd of people even denser than before. “The entry is today, isn’t it? Will they even let me in now… did they need to wait for all five, how would they even know?” Chris starts to pant as he begins to press through the crowds. The closer he gets to the factory the denser the groups of people get. Some vendors and stalls still even line the streets with all sorts of new media waiting to just get a glance at the gates possibly opening. “I’ve really got it.” Time feels like it slows as Chris slides past one person and another. “I’ve got a golden token… I’ve got a golden token in my hand!” Then he sees it a person running toward him about to drop a large glass jug. But somehow Chris pivots just in time to avoid it. “I never thought my life could be…” A pot then pushes out of a window from above, but just like the person with the jug, Chris moves to the side as the pot crashes and breaks on the ground. “Anything but catastrophe… but suddenly I begin to see!” Another person knocks Chris’s side with their elbow thumping him forward as a shop sign falls onto the ground. “Hah… A bit of good luck for me.”

Somehow through all the odds against him. Chris makes it through the crowd of people. Like some force was watching over him to ensure no one stole his token. He managed to break through the crowd and stand in front of the gate. The other winners were already there lined up, a rope separating them from the crowd. Chris ducks under and steps in a few people shouting and pointing his way. “HEY!, Stop that homeless kid!” Another from the crowd scoffs and waves their finger toward him. “Some low life is trying to attack the winners stop um!” All the people in the crowd shout any excuses they can give to start something. Police even start pushing past the crowd and a worried shiver rolls over Chris’s body. He had a Golden Token. These people were really going to try and take it away from him just because of how he's dressed?

SLAM

The sound came from behind the gate a loud slam of a cane against concrete. “Well, well, well…” A low deep voice comes from the man with that loud cane. It clacks against the ground with each step as he gets closer and closer. The people in the crowd stop talking. The other winners of the golden tokens stop as well. All eyes rest on the man’s every move. From a distance, he seemed withered, tired, hunched over hobbling ever closer to the gate. It was like watching any tired sad old man one would see outside of a retirement home they never wanted to enter. Though the man also carries a strangeness to him. His body is covered in black and white checkered clothing. A jacket top like a suit, nice dress pants, leathery shoes. For a normal person, it would seem refined but when the man lifts his head, his face too is covered in black and white checkers. It was something covering his skin completely so none of his real body could be seen. Still, the people closer could see the indents of his eyes and mouth, his nose. There was a person under there but just seeing them in their current state felt unsettling. “So these are the ones who’ve gotten a token.”

Errrrrrt

The man finally reaches the gate and with just one hand he creeks the large iron bars against the ground. Stepping out slowly he walks in front of the token holders. Three women, and two men. The man in black and white stands in front of them all looking over each and then he looks at the quiet crowd. “These five. Have gotten my tokens?” The man walks right up to Chris first and peers down at him. To Chris, the look was enough to cut through anything. Yet despite that, the man does not yell at him or try to snatch the token away. “I can see you got this on your own.” The man’s words come out simple, unexpected to the crowd surrounding the so-called winner. The crowd though does not try to refute the claim, they remain silent waiting for the man to speak more. “As I am sure many of you have guessed. I. Am Switch.” The man nods his head sagely to himself, he really did look old and the crowd could not help but stare with baited brief. Was such an old man really running such an amazing well-known company, and if he was why was he dressed so strangely? “SO let's get this show on the road!” Suddenly as if to sway the minds of everyone there Switch presses his palm to his cane and hoists himself into the air, his palm pressing the cane to make him hand stand on only the cane. It was a balancing act, the crowd looking amazed as Switch even bends his elbow and bounces up into the air off of the cane. Spinning around like some sort of circus act he lands on his feet and takes off his top hat giving a large showy bow. “Come then my token holders, let's start the tour, shall we?”

“HAAAAAAH!”

The crowd erupts into wonderous cheer, the sound deafening to those trying to speak. The winners had no time to waste, they follow in behind Switch walking through the gates. The gates then shut themselves as Chris enters last. He could barely believe he actually was where he was. He was wearing his ratty clothing and was not exactly the cleanest in this situation but for some reason, he was let in. Switch himself even said he earned the token himself. “This place is already amazing…” The words whisper out of Chris’s mouth softly, the winner he had seen before Annabelle could hear it.

“I know right?” Her voice comes out carefully, she wanted to keep quiet as well, but she gingerly knocks her elbow against Chris to make sure to get his attention. “I never expected to get into a place like this. It’s really neat… but do you think, like there’s anything special to it?” Chris cocks an eyebrow at the girl, what would be more special? The building had never been toured by normal people before it seemed special enough. “What’s with that look? You don’t think we’ll get some other prize? I bet they got some amazing stuff in their not just for healthy food products either.”

Chris rolls his eyes and just keeps walking. Were the other people thinking of ideas like that? He did not come here to gain something out of it. It was a once in a life time offer, and he never won anything before. If anything, this would be a nice respite while he thinks about how to properly live on his own. “Let’s just keep moving.” He mumbles and walks past Annabelle. All the guests and Switch head in through the front door of the factory.

SLAM

The door slams shut as Annabelle is last to enter in. Switch gives the five guests a sheepish wink and gestures his arm at the long black and white checkered hallway in front of them. “Now. This here is the entry way.”

The young man at the front raises his hand in question. “The entry way? We just entered the front door right; we can’t enter twice.”

Switch shakes his head and sighs. “No, no, Kyle you need to understand. We entered into the building, now we need to enter into the actual factory. See we are entering twice.” Holding his palm against his face Switch sighs loudly and taps his cane against the ground. “Well, I suppose it is hard for some to understand. Either way. Follow me, it gets a little cramped.”

The guests and Switch begin walking down the hall headed toward the so-called entrance. With each step, the door seems to get further away. The token holders look in awe and silently question but Switch simply speeds up his pace till he finally grabs the edge of the door. With a smirk, he pulls at it, the whole wall opening in front of the guests. “W-wow.” Chris mutters softly under his breath, and the other guest quietly walks into the new room with a large book placed on a pedestal. “That was… weird, it almost made me motion sick. U-um, Mr. Switch what’s that big for?”

Switch scoffs under his breath and shakes his head. “No, no, call me Switch, Mr. Switch was my father's name.” Turning toward the book he then thrusts his cane forward to the quill pen sitting by its side. “This is not a book, but a contract, a contract any are required to sign when I invite them as guests. Haha, well I did just draft up the document last night but I assure you everything important is there. Simply use the ink at the side there and sign your names.”

Kyle the other boy walks up to the pedestal first. He seemed rather plain for looks. Short brown hair, glasses, brown eyes, not chubby but not skinny, wearing just a button-up and black slacks with some nice shoes. Everyone in the room appeared to be between twenty to thirty in age besides Switch, so Kyle fit whatever bill the golden tokens wanted. “Here, let's get this thing moving along. Kyle Tombs, there name signed.”

Switch nods his head with a smile. “Yes, yes, Mr. Tombs signing a tomb, the irony is certainly there.”

Next up is Jade, the girl has shoulder-length hair a bit of an auburn color to it. She has a slim build and is a bit tall for a girl reaching at least six feet by Chris’s guess. Kyle was shorter being probably five feet seven inches in height. Just like Annabelle though she too has green eyes. They flick over to the other winners and linger on Chris for seemingly a bit too long. “Alright.” A soft voice comes from her lips, one that Chris thought sounded like a more studious type. She brushes her hair back and picks up the quill after Kyle. Jade’s clothes were surprisingly less refined than many of the others here. She wears a plated yellow skirt with a black top that shows a bit of her cleavage. On her feet, she wears black boots with buckles lining the side. The look was uncommon for sure in the area, maybe more common where the girl came from. A punk style, a rebel style, a style that made people know the girl was probably not some push over. “Jade Jangles. Name signed.”

Sighing slowly the woman that had been rather quiet through the events finally steps up to the contract herself. “There is some interesting things in this contract…” The woman pushes up her glasses staring over the content like she had already read it from behind the others. “This is more like a weaver in some regards, do you expect us to get hurt in some way, Mr. … or well, Switch?” Out of the others in the room Lynn appeared to be the most mature, or at least came off that way whenever she started to speak. Like someone who thought and possibly could be better than anyone. She wears a black pencil skirt and a white button blouse like she walked to the factory from an office meeting. Her clothes were similar to how Chris had first seen Annabelle, but Lynn wears the outfit differently. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, and the sharp square glasses made her eyes seem to always be glaring. The air the woman gives off is very much different than Annabelle who seemed bubblier. Brushing her pitch-black hair over her shoulder Lynn’s blue eyes await Switch for an answer, but he simply shrugs. “Well… I would hope you can see the loop holes as well.” With a smirk across her face, she looks back toward the contract and quickly signs, her eyes quickly looking to Annabelle. “Lynn Bell, signed. You’re next.”

Annabelle walks up to the contract platform and takes the quill from Lynn and writes out her name now. “I’m not too worried about this. Annabelle Grant. There.” Annabelle gives a soft smile and slowly walks back down holding the quill out for last but not least, Chris. She was ironically one of the only ones that had not looked at Chris so oddly when he said he had a token. Part of him could not help but feel a bit of gratefulness for Annabelle. Today she was dressed more casually too, just a top that showed her shoulders and some tight pants with black boots. It looked like she was actually on some vacation looking around, so she at least fit in more than some of the others. “You’re up.”

Chris takes the quill and carefully walks up the three stairs leading up to the giant over sized contract. “Yeah… here goes.” Everyone else already signed, even the person that was making comments about it. Would it be peer pressure if he signed also? People kept saying those who had the golden token would probably get a year’s worth of supplies or even a life time supply of energy bars. It was not exactly amazing but it would let Chris at least live a little more comfortably while he figured things out. Switch however had not spoken about any prize, it could just be some fancy tour. “Well… what do I have to lose though?” Saying the words softly under his breath Chris signs out his name on the contract. “Christopher Shades… there that should do it.”

SLAM

Switch slams down his cane once again this time both his hand's rest atop it. “Amazing, wonderful, simply splendid.” With a grin creasing the mask he wears the man turns around and grabs the door knob to the door they all had first come in through. “Now we may begin the tour.”

Kyle cocks an eyebrow up and shrugs. “We just came in that door, didn’t we? You’re not saying the tour is over already, are you?”

Snorting through his nose Switch shakes his head and lifts his cane pointing the butt of it at each of the winners. “No, no, come here and you’ll see. Come on, gather around.” Everyone gives one another a questioning look but gathers. “Now… you see to get into the factory we needed to walk into this room. But now we’re in the factory, so of course, going through this room will go into another part of the factory.” Lynn’s eye twitches hearing the explanation but Switch simply laughs and grabs the handle of the door. “Come with me, and you’ll see.” Pushing the door open everyone gasps in unison. The other side of the door shows grassland, rivers, hills, and trees. It looked like something one would see when exploring the country side. Switch walks in and everyone else follows in amazement. Then, the door shuts behind. “A world straight from your imagination, is it not?”

Walking down some steps the guests and Switch stand before the unrealistic country side. A creek ran through it, and little cottage-like homes that seemed too small for a normal person dot around it. It was odd by all matters of the word, looking up to the sky looked like that, a sky. No glass, no roof, it was just like the normal sky above them. The grass felt real as well against Chris’s bare feet. “This is unbelievable… how does this place even work?” Chris could only be dumbfounded by the sheer size of it compared to the factory. This area looked far larger than the town he had just walked away from, it really was like a whole new world.

Switch almost giggles from the guests excitement, wonder, and confusion. “Hehehe, well, well, quite the sight, isn’t it?” With a flourish of his hand Switch gestures to the grand landscape. “That’s right this is all part of my humble factory. Now you all get to experience the sight for yourselves! This is more of a show floor for our different products you could say. From the grass to the homes, to the water running and the food on the plates. Well of course the smaller homes are for my workers as well.”

Crossing her arms under her chest Lynn nudges her head toward the small creak. “You mean… for those, whatever they are?” Peering to the spot Chris notices small humanoid creatures hobbling about. “They look like the size of children. You’re making them work for you?”

Switch sighs and shakes his head slowly walking up to the edge of the flowing stream. “No, no, no, see they want to do this work. Long ago I found them in a distant universe. Honestly, I was going to leave them to their fate.” Shrugging his shoulders Switch looks off into the distance. “But… my daughter decided they could be something more. What do you know, they actually enjoy working, having some kind of purpose? We feed them and cloth them, have had no compliments so far. And do not let the size fool you, they are all far older than you.”

The small workers appeared to Chris to be about five foot two inches at the tallest. The average height seemed to be around four feet tall. From what Switch was saying he made it sound like the creatures were otherworldly but it had to just be a story. Still looking at the creatures even if in uniform all of them had varying skin colors, green, purple, pinkish, orange, yellow. It was like a rainbow assortment of skin. Beyond that though most of their features looked like any other human. They probably just liked to wear face paints Chris thought. “So, um… you said this is all some kind of show floor.” Chris carefully eyes over the country side again, right now they all stand beside a long-running creek, to reach the other side was about seven feet away Chris figured. The other side though had more workers and even doors that seemed to just be standing in the grass for no reason. Many of the small cottages dot the other side of the creak appearing to make some sort of small village for the workers. “It looks like across this creak is the living area for all of them right…? So, if this side is the show floor, um does the creak have anything special about it?”

The questions appeared to please Switch he walks closer to the creak and gestures his hand in a cupping motion. “Why not one of you try yourselves? The water tastes great.” Clearing his throat Switch then snaps a finger and points to one of his purple-skinned workers. “Also, these creatures, my workers. You may refer to them as Eons. A strange name for a race of people, but that’s what they call themselves.”

Chris takes in the information about The Eons, the others however crouch themselves down by the creek side. Annabelle however focuses on the water humming to herself with curiousity. “Tastes great…?” Scooping some of the water into her hand Annabelle is the first to drink a bit of it, her eyes suddenly going wide just licking up a little. “Oh my god.” She stands herself back up quickly and wipes her face off. “That tastes amazing… it’s, it’s like my body is tingling, energized. I don’t even feel tired… this is so weird.”

Curious now that someone else had started first Lynn also dunks her hand into the water and scoops some out letting it dribble from her hand to mouth. “Hm…” For a moment she does not change her expression, but even the more stoic woman’s eyes widen. “This is revolutionary. It seems just like water though. I don’t understand, this makes me feel far better than just coffee.”

Switch chuckles and gestures to the creek. “Well, it’s water. Special water sourced directly from The Eons old home. I suppose the minerals around the area of the source could have increased how effective it is.” Switch slowly nods walking back to the edge of the creek. “Alas, this sort of water needs time for the people to adapt. Currently, we distill this into something easier to consume in our energy drinks. We mix it with flavoring and water from well the local area to help make the effect not as strong but good enough.”

Jade sighs and shrugs sipping at the water herself. “I don’t get why you’d have to wait; this would help far more people wouldn’t it? Can we take this stuff home or something?”

Kyle chuckles and scoops up a few handfuls of the water slurping away at it. “This stuff is great. God this would be awesome for long game nights. You could sell this for a super high price!”

Sighing a long and heavy sigh Switch gestures to Jade and Kyle. “See this is exactly why we can’t have you all taking things. This is a business, and though profit does matter I have to keep in mind how my products could affect or change the global market.”

Grunting under her breath Lynn stars deeply at the water. “This would collapse the market on water instantly… governments may even try to make deals with you just to pour some of this into their own water supplies…”

Switch chuckles and nods. “Exactly you understand Miss Bell. Instead of lead they could pour this stuff into the water and invigorate people to actually like their mundane work. It would make many profit. And cause all sorts of problems. That’s why when I sell it, it’s usually diluted by something else.”

Jade keeps sipping at the water her hand lapping up water faster than her lips could suck it up. Chris could barely believe his eyes, the others were feeling the same. “You really should give this to more though you know.” Jade speaks through gurgled words shoveling more water into her lips. “M-mm, it’s so good too, you really should let us take like a gallon, no, a few gallons…”

Switch squeezes at the top of his cane and lets a subtle scoff pass his lips. “I think you’ve had a bit too much water Miss. I insist you stop now before you regret it.”

SPLASH

The warning falls on deaf ears as the water splashes up over the edge. Jade fully submerged herself in it much to the dismay of everyone present. “Hahaha this is great!” Jade had no remorse; she laughs and splashes the water about. Her face stuck in a wide smile her voice begins to cackle out her words. “It feels so wonderful! Look, look, why not have people bathe in it too hehehe!”

Lynn quickly turns to Switch and gestures at the grand display before them. “Well?! Aren’t you going to do anything, she’s making a mess of things!”

Switch slowly nods his head and gives a nudging nod toward his workers across the river. “Well. You’re right, we do have ways to clean up the water, but she is making it rather gross.” Tossing his cane up in the air Switch grabs it at the mid-section and raises his voice. “Miss Jangles come here now or you’ll regret it. You signed the contract!”

Jade does not even look in the group’s direction. The Eons were already grabbing out some sort of large tube—like what would be attached to a vacuum. Chris shifts quietly in place, out of all the people there he still felt like the odd one out. No one even noticed Switch’s nod, he clearly knew Jade would not come out from the water, the workers already started to ready the sucking device before he called to her.

“Who cares!?” Jade laughs strangely like her mind was being lost. Her head keeps sinking under the water drinking up more of the liquid. The Eons try their best to quickly set up their machine but it was still taking time. The water is given plenty of time to show just what it can do. The oddity of Jade’s behavior is given reason. As Jade drinks more of the water her body starts to morph. At least morph was the best word Chris could think of to describe the process. Parts of her flesh seemingly twist. As her mouth opens her teeth begin to get sharper. Jade was becoming inhuman right before all the guests’ eyes. Switch however did not look worried. He simply waves to The Eons like it was just another day.

Lynn being the most straight and narrow of the group of course spoke up. “What… what is all this?! Her body, it’s changing completely and you’re just standing there like it’s nothing?!”

Yawning into his hand casually Switch nods and shrugs. “Well… what do you expect me to do? She signed the contract and jumped into the water, and she is the one who would not swim out. I told you all as soon as we came here not to drink too much of it. You see we dilute it because of its addictive properties. Not being of this same world can have odd effects on humans, like changing them.”

Everything Switch says he says with a straight face under that checkerboard mask of his. Lynn was unsure how to even respond, legally it did make sense. Logically no normal-looking water should be able to change a body. Chris could tell Lynn was thinking the same thing as him; was it honestly alien water?

“Arrw!” Jade yelps from the water, at this point all her teeth looked jagged and sharp like she was a carnivore. Her eyes were slit and narrower like a cat's. Before the group's eyes, they see Jade’s hair rustle, and fox-like ears sprout atop her head. The auburn hair color grows a softer orange like a real fox, her green eyes a bit brighter and more piercing.

VOOOOOM

Then the water vacuum starts. The Eons hold up the large tubing and suck Jade right into it. The tubing is see-through so of course, the group gets a longer show. Jade is sucked fully through the tubing and dropped into a plastic, or maybe glass box with water inside of it. The box luckily has holes as if the purpose is to retrieve people and let the water drain. At this point though Chris found it hard to say it retrieved a person. Jade crawls on all fours in the box like it was natural, a large fluffy orange tail with white trim at the end now sprouting from her back side lifting the back of her skirt. To anyone else, it could be seen as some comedy act, a gag. An animal girl trying to pretend to be human-like and wear human clothes. To the group currently watching though, they all knew. Jade was just speaking to them only moments ago. And now she wanders around a see-through box, tail swaying pawing at the outside of it seemingly confused. No words come from her mouth; she does not seem to even attempt to speak.

“Welp.” Switch sighs and rubs the back of his head waving off The Eons. “Take her to ward one section three. We’ll need to make sure she has something to eat. And drain her body of the water. We… should be able to prevent any lasting changes. Eh, probably.”

Annabelle lowers a hand from her mouth after watching such a display. “P-probably? She… like became an animal. She looks like she isn’t even aware of herself. It’s… this, this isn’t like some thing people do for pleasure, it’s just…”

Shaking his head again Switch starts walking along side the river his hand raised. “You’re thinking about it too deeply. She’s not mindless… just confused. If you want to become some animal girl yourself… feel free to hop in. But if not. We have a boat to catch.”

SNAP

With a snap of his fingers, a few more Eon shows up on a small ferry boat. It fit the river decently and had enough space to fit about ten people altogether. Of course, the outside of the boat had a checkerboard design like Switch’s outfit. The inside though was normal brown wood with comfy seats that were cushioned with some sort of red fur. “Come on, everyone on board. Ladies first, ladies first.” Despite his words Switch holds a hand out to Chris but Lynn scoffs and walks on board first herself. “Oh my.”

Annabelle, Kyle, and then Chris get on, Switch boarding last. Without saying more the ferry begins to flow down the stream a Green Eon at the helm sits calmly holding a wheel that Chris assumed controlled the ferry's rudder. The ride down the creek was silent for a while. The guests were fidgeting now and again, Kyle watches the vast land, Annabelle twirls her fingers, and Lynn stares at Switch. Chris however looks at the water. As they keep going, he’s surprised to see fish now and again. Strangely though the fish are even that same white and black checkerboard color. Nothing he had ever seen. He knew fish came in different varieties and colors so he could not exactly say if these too were alien and fantastical. “A second…” Chris mumbles the words softly under his breath. This whole time he had just been watching the group and what was happening. It felt like he had no time to think or even speak. Watching the fish try and keep speed with the boat though. The water flowing at its sides, the subtle sound of it. It was calming, even if plenty about it was strange. He was still experiencing something others may never even catch a glimpse of. Fantasy, alien, he was not dead, the story being shown to him was so interesting though. Part of him was not fearful of getting hurt. At the very least he wanted to make sure to make it to the end. “Maybe it’s all like this on purpose…”

“Hm…” Switch crosses his arms under his chest, cane still held in one hand. “You’re right.” Chris jolts up in his seat and turns his head back looking at Switch standing there in front of him. “The best has yet to happen though.” With a grin creasing his mask Switch nudges his head toward the large tunnel the ferry is approaching. “There’s no earthly way of knowing just what the universes hold, is there?” The boat sinks into the tunnel, the movement of the ferry feeling like it was moving downward yet visually it seemed like nothing changed. Annabelle, Lynn, and Kyle all hold onto the sides of their seats looking over to Switch. “Hahaha, what’s all this now getting cold feet?!” As he laughs the last light the cave had to give dims and all of them are surrounded in darkness. “Which direction are we going?!” Switch’s voice raises loud and harsh, laughter still trickling off his lips. “there’s no knowing where we’re rowing!”

SPLASH

Like crashing into a pool of water the ferry suddenly shakes and colorful lights suddenly flicker all around the group showing them glimpses of Switch gesturing his arms. “Which way is this river even flowing?!” Suddenly Chris feels Switch’s hand grip his collar. “Is it raining, is it snowing?! Is a hurricane blowing?!”

SNAP

A snap rings in Chris’s ears and the flickering lights vanish. Switch’s voice then suddenly turns soft as if just whispering to Chris only. “Not a spec of light showing. So… the danger must be growing.” Chris had no idea what was going on now. It felt like he could not move. Was Switch some sort of twisted scientist or something? Was he going to kill him?

SNAP

Another snap, and the lights flicker back on, only this time the colors all vibrate with orange, red and yellow. Switch now stands at the front of the ferry standing up on the dashboard of the vessel. With a flourish of his cane, he slowly drags it through the air pointing to each of the guest. “Are the fires of Hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing?”

SPLASH

The ferry then suddenly drops again splashing into the water Switch’s voice raises once more. “YES! The danger must be growing!” Jumping down from the dashboard he walks toward the group. “For the rowers keep on rowing! And they’re certainly not showing.” The ferry begins to get faster, the lights all suddenly flickering with rainbow hues showing everyone the rocky cave surrounding them. “Any signs that they are slowing!” Faster, and faster the ferry felt more like a car at this point speeding down a high way. Switch bellows out a laugh and waves both his arms up into the air. “Aaaah! Aaaa-aaah!”

SPLASH

Then, the ferry stops, and normal soft white lights are on above them, a small metal dock with a white door beside them. “Now, now depart slowly and carfully.” Switch chuckles to himself and all the guests step off beside Chris. And The Eon that is controlling the ferry. The other guests enter the door as Switch waves them forward. Kyle is the last to enter from the normal group. Just Chris now sits on the ferry. Switch cocks his head back looking at Chris a soft grin forming under the mask. “Oh… well this is interesting. You did hear me, didn’t you?”

Chris jolts up from his seat and stands at attention. His legs felt like jello, he could not understand how everyone could get off and act like nothing just happened. Slowly he walks to the edge of the ferry and carefully peers up at Switch. “Why… why did they act like nothing happened?” He had to ask the question, but just asking it makes Switch walk through the door, his cane hitting the ground. It seemed like Chris should not have asked, he only hears Switch scoff under his breath. “I… um… right, I’m getting off then.” Stepping off the ferry, it slowly leaves, and Chris passes through the door. Entering the new area, this one looked like some sort of actual factory. Many Eons of varying skin types walk past him, smoke bellows off beakers, and large machines move by or are tinkered with. Chris thought it looked like some sort of scene from a steampunk novel. Something that blended seemingly unrealistic technology with some things he knew existed. The strange thing was unlike the area before this one felt oppressive. Concrete walls everywhere, uncomfortable heat or chilling cold depending on where you stand. Eons run themselves ragged needing to take breaks only to have managers wag fingers at them. “Wow…”

The scene was stunning, enough to let Switch avoid answering but maybe that was for the best. Together Switch and Chris walk through the area rejoining the group. Switch makes sure to push Chris into the group as they all stand around a large machine taped off from the rest of the factory floor to make it stand out. Grasping hold of his cane Switch calmly breathes in and begins to speak. “This machine is the greatest here. As you may have guessed this area of the factory is just one of the many development sections. Though this area is special because it is an area undergoing final testing phases. Things here work but not always as intended so The Eons help me figure out what to… edit.” Slapping his hand against the machine it puffs up smoke and gears at its side start to turn. “This one however has all the kinks gotten out of it. 100% safe and working. And I figured it best to show the first guests in so long. Now the machine infuses different flavors to create something everlasting.” Out from the strange machine pops a small ball onto a conveyor belt. The ball is perfectly smooth but it has a black-and-white checkerboard color. It fits in the palm like a piece of hard candy. “Now you are probably thinking it looks like a cough drop. But it is a small candy you can buy once and suck on forever. A candy for low-income people. A way to kick addiction habits like when folk use gum, but this candy also provides needed vitamins. Well, that and this one tastes good, it suits more to the sweet taste the consumer would enjoy. We even plan to include a little carrying case so you can have some place to store all of your slobber you got on it.” Everyone in the group looks on stunned. “Now there’s five here, but we have one guest missing… regardless you may all take one for yourself.” Switch tosses his cane in the air and claps twice catching the cane as it falls. Quickly four Eons run out from behind the machine and all put the piece of candy in small mini chess pieces. Then they hand it over to the guests, each of them taking one. “Good, good, now then, feel free to suck on those as we go if you like. Oh, do note we will be taking those from you if any of you have any… mess ups like Miss Jangles.”

Kyle looks over the candy now in its easy-to-carry case. Twirling it a little in the case he flicks the lid open and then quickly shuts it. “So.” Starting to speak he nudges his head toward Switch. “What the heck are these things called anyway?”

With a twirl of his cane Switch thrusts the head of the shaft toward Kyle. “Kyle my good boy, that’s simple!” Clearing his throat Switch slams his cane back to the ground and gives a hearty nod to himself. “It’s called lozenge irresistible candy knots!” The group stares blankly at him.

Letting the silence not stand long Kyle pipes up his voice a little confused. “Wait… isn’t that just… Lick? You named it Lick? Irresistible doesn’t even seem like it fits in the name.”

Sighing Switch snaps and the Eons cover the machine back up. “It’s a working title, but we’ll call them Licks for now. Anyway, come now everyone we have more to see.”

Walking along now the group passes by a variety of different covered machines. Bottles with bubbles fizzing from them. Oversized power bars are carried by three people like a couch. The sights were interesting but Switch seemed to not be concerned about showing any of it. “Um…” Annabelle raises her hand in question like she was in school. “Excuse me, Mr. Swi— Um Switch?”

Turning on his heel instantly Switch thrusts his finger toward Annabelle. “You! Yes you the anxious girl in back! What is it?”

Actually being called on Annabelle rubs the back of her neck and carefully points toward the sheeted machine beside her. “Why aren’t you talking about this stuff? It looks like a lot of the stuff here is working. I mean… it’s fine to just look right?” Annabelle grabs the sheet gingerly and lifts the side of it just peek under.

WHOOSH

Instead of slapping Annabelle away Switch flourishes the sheet off the machine himself. “You want to know?!” If Switch’s face was not covered Chris could only imagine the man’s face was filled with glee. “Hah, well then Miss Grant. This specific machine is similar to the one which created licks. Only it is supposed to be consumed after chewing it. A full day's meal in a few seconds. Saves space. We were thinking of making it last forever as well but that’s a bit harder to manage since it gives you a days’ worth of calories…” Switch presses a button at the side of the machine and the gears at its side start to turn, steam even blows off the side of it. “Though this one is on to the testing phase we have not gotten to work out all the issues with it.”

POP

One stick of gum pops out from the machine into a small tray by Annabelle’s hand. “Oh…” Annabelle grabs the stick and puts it into her mouth. “That whole thing sounds pretty neat—” As soon as her teeth sink into the gum the whole room pauses in silence.

“You…” Switch stares blankly for a moment his lips seemingly open with a gasp. “I never said you could eat it.” Suddenly Switch’s voice picks up and begins to get loud. “Spit it out now, right away! This product is still in the early testing phases! I wanted to show you, not have you test it yourself!”

Annabelle’s teeth seemingly grind against the stick of gum her eyes blinking a few times like not understanding what was being said to her. “What’s wrong… it tastes. Mmm… mmm, it’s chewy for sure…” Her green eyes flicker to life happily then as she chews a few more times. “Oh, it does taste like I’m eating a filling breakfast right now. Hehe.”

Lynn puts a hand on her hip and cocks an eyebrow toward Switch. “Well? She isn’t spitting it out. What—” Lynn blinks a few times looking at Switch. The man was now turned away from the scene speaking to several Eons. “Wait… what are you doing?”

Tapping his cane against the side of his head Switch sighs a long hard sigh. “You see, these kinds of mistakes are bad. It may be working now but this is an early test product. We only started developing the breakfast side of things and did not work everything out of that yet.”

“OH!” Annabelle yelps bringing the attention of the group to her once again. “It’s tasting like eggs, bacon, mmm, sausages too. Hehe, yeah, it’s a good breakfast for sure.” Chewing and chewing Annabelle coddles her cheek in her hand like savoring a hearty meal. “Ah, even a nice glass of whole milk to wash it all down. Nothing like milk in the morning.”

Taking out a note pad from parts unknown Switch beings to write looking Annabelle up and down. “Unresponsive to requests, possibly an instant addiction, detecting food that was not part of the initial product. Interesting, interesting, I wonder what’ll happen to her.”

Chris watching long enough last time speaks up, softly but speaks. “Um… Switch. Shouldn’t you not take notes? She’s clearly getting hooked on it, shouldn’t someone like hold her down and take the gum out?”

The man scoffs under his mask and clicks the top of his pen. “Nonsense, she signed a contract after all. If she does not adhere to my requests I may take notes as deemed necessary. She signed the contract and took one of my test projects in my development room. Then instead of asking if she could try it, she simply put it in her mouth and began to chew it. So, what more do I need to do?”

Chris reels his head back sulking. Annabelle was getting no assistance. Lynn and Kyle roll their eyes at the display, Switch keeps taking notes, and Eons gather around Anna as if waiting to capture her depending on how things turn out.

“MOO”

The sound comes straight from Annabelle, her voice falling into a soft giggle. “Oh, oh my haha… ah milk is good isn’t it?” Anna’s green eyes appeared hazy now like she was looking at something that was not there. Taking a small step forward the girl's shoes rip open and she stumbles toward Lynn gripping onto the other woman’s shirt. “A-ah… everything so heavy now.” Lynn tries to shrug Annabelle off and with enough fidgeting, Annabelle moves away. Just taking a few steps back she looked taller to the group already.

Mumbling under his breath Switch nods and writes a little more in his notebook. “Strong bones indeed hm…”

Annabelle was not done with her transformation. Her clothes start to rip and tear at the seams, her body growing larger every few seconds. Till finally.

BURST

Annabelle’s clothes burst off her body littering the ground. She was stark naked now her breasts swaying bare and crotch fully exposed. Kyle looks away blushing while Lynn scoffs and rubs at her cheek. Chris looks toward Switch for some help but Switch simply nods holding up a finger to wait. “A-ah what’s going on?!” Annabelle blinks her eyes suddenly seeming normal again like she regained control of her surroundings. Her body's growth though not so much. Eyes wincing she covers her breasts only to have them push over her arms puffing up larger. “N-No…n-ngh wh-why are they so sensitive now?!” Annabelle was now seven feet tall, her breasts seemed to move up at least four cup sizes. Though it was not normal growth it was like they had swelled. “N-no way these are—” Her worrying question is answered right away, milk begins drips off from her nipple. “Wh-why does this gum do this?!” Spitting out the gum finally the Eons quickly pick up and bag the chewed piece like a bag of evidence and step away. Annabelle’s eyes tear up her large breasts swaying side to side dribbling milk. “Th-this can’t be real! H-help me already this, this is way too embarrassing!” Cheeks flushed red Annabelle did not know what to do. As she cries and groans her body had not finished. Out her backside sprouts a thin tail like a cow, her ears even twist and point out like a pair of cow ears.

SNAP

Finally, Switch snaps his fingers, and the Eons throw a blanket around Annabelle’s shoulders, though the sheet was the one that had been covering the machine. “Interesting, she became a cow girl with a bountiful amount of milk… even grew larger. Just think what would have happened if you kept chewing, haha maybe you would have turned into an actual oversized cow.”

Annabelle’s cheeks stream a few tears her nose sniffling back some snot. “H-hey, I’m… I’m not chubby! It’s—it’s just milk or whatever! Just… just change me back already! I won’t even be able to fit into any of my clothes like this!”

Sighing again Switch crouches down and whispers to some of the Eons then walking over to Annabelle he gives a pat to her side and points to the Green Eon in front of her. “Well, you’ll have to go to milking room sixty-nine then alright? Watch you don’t hit your head. Maybe you’ll see Miss Jangles on the way. Either way, we have a tour to do. Sorry, you didn’t make it to the end.”

Annabelle keeps sniffling but follows the group of smaller multi-colored humanoids to a different room. Switch though had not lost steam. “OKAY!” Clapping his hands together he gestures to a near by door, one Chris did not even recall being their moments before. “We’ll move on to the next section now alright everyone? Now do follow me and stay close, remember not to touch anything.” Switch gives a quick smile under his mask and steps up to the door swinging it open. Inside is just all-white stairs leading down. “Hold onto the railing so you don’t miss a step.” One after the other everyone walks down the stares a low hum of rumbling sounding as they move further down. “Annnd here we are. The sorting room.”

Opening up the door the guests are shown a large circular room. Inside about one hundred bunnies sit all of them pushing carrots into a large hole at the center of the room. Chris pinches his cheek just to confirm with himself again what he was seeing was real. The pain does hit him but it was still hard to believe. Clearing his throat, he speaks up. “Switch? Why… why are they all sorting carrots?”

Switch goes silence for an oddly long time as if he had to consider what was just asked. Clearing his own throat, he turns around to the group and gives another small smile under his mask. “Well the Eons pick tons of different carrots from the fields. But cannot sort them all themselves. We only use golden carrots you see. We use to have a smaller room for sorting. Just about ten of these little guys in a row closer to my office. Now we just use that for golden eggs… well I’m rambling. The point is we use these guys to find golden carrots from our large carrot crop.”

BEEP

A large green light comes to life under one of the bunnies sorting boxes in the circle and to the guest's disbelief, a large golden carrot is sucked into a tube in front of the bunny. The golden carrot was at least a foot long and probably five inches wide by Chris’s best guest. Trying his best to keep quiet Chris mutters his thoughts under his breath. “Those things are massive… but… it does look golden. Just… wow.” The whole factory was hard to understand in the first place but it kept getting stranger. The size was far too big compared to the outside for one. The river running through it and sunny like farmland indoors made no sense. The long tunnel they road on a boat through no one questioned beside him. The workshop room housed many inventions that appeared out of this world. Chris could not make sense of it all. Even if Kyle and Lynn would ask now and again. Both did not seem to ask some of the more obvious questions. Were they afraid as well?

Lynn scoffs her usual scoff and stares between all the bunnies. “Hehe… interesting.” There it was again. Chris could see it more clearly this time. Some sort of strange madness. Maybe it was wrong to describe it that way given the nature of the factory they were in. Lynn was acting normal but as soon as her mouth opened something changed. Her laugh, the tone of her voice. It was like something possessed her. Planted a thought inside of her mind. “May I hold one of them Switch?” Chris twitches hearing her question. Was it madness or did the serious girl just have a cliché girly weakness for cute animals?

“No.” Answered right away with no pause or hesitation. Switch’s voice was clearly sterner than it had been thus far. “These are not pets. They are workers trying their best for—” Switch uncharacteristically pauses for a few moments. “the factory.” Why did it take so long for Chris to notice all the oddities? It was like going through the tunnel had snapped him back to some reality to think outside of the group he was blindly following along. Kyle and Lynn both say nothing about the long pause. They seem to take the comment at face value, even though it was obvious Switch had the bunnies for something outside of the factory. Were Anna and Jade safe in Switch’s hands? What if when a guest makes a mistake, no matter how serious, do they ever actually come back? Do they actually get fixed? Chris’s head runs with thoughts. He came to the factory in hopes of good fortune. Something to help him live in the cruel world that was forced on him. What exactly was he really dealing with? Everything was alien, strange, like something out of fantasy. He was on a ride he could not get off from. Should he act, or just keep to himself? Switch turns his head in Chris’s direction and his mask creases slightly at the edges of his lips. “Well if we are all done here we can move on to the next room. I think everyone here will enjoy it a lot. We’ll just walk around this circle here to that door on the opposite side. Please remember Miss Bell to not touch the bunnies no matter how fluffy they may seem.”

Together the group starts to walk around the edge of the room being mindful to not get close to the bunny boxes. Kyle keeps to the wall, Chris and Switch in the middle, and Lynn on the inside closet the bunny boxes. She was still watching them, despite the warnings and everything they had seen so far. It did not make sense to Chris, why would she of all people still be curious? Sure the bunnies were cute but after everything they had been through it made no sense to be that curious. Then Lynn speaks up. “I mean you planned on giving us something if we made it to the end anyway right?” Lynn looks to Switch for but a moment and then back to the bunnies. Her eyes distant like if anyone spoke up she would not listen anyway.

“Wha—” Switch stampers in his speaking. “No.” Sternly speaking back he reaches his hand out toward Lynn unlike what he had done toward the others. “Touch none of them. All we need to do is get to the doo—”

Lynn already broke off from the group before Switch could reach her. She runs across the white flooring in her heels without even stumbling right to the bunny boxes she was warned not to touch. “Finally, I can touch that fluff…” Her mutterings sounded like that of a mad woman but she opens up the front of the box and climbs right inside shutting the small door behind her. The hole seemed to be a door used for food or maybe the Eons used it to clean out the boxes. “come here little bun” wiggling her fingers Lynn snatches up the fluffy bunny in front of her into her arms and squeezes it right to her cheek. It was a larger bunny than she was used to seeing that was for sure. It was about the size of a medium dog. She could hold it well enough but it was weighing on her arms slowly but surely. “I can’t believe something so adorable was here all this time… I need to take you home… to, to free your brothers and sisters. Yes. Hehe, you’re all far too cute to just be sorting some silly carrots.”

The bunnies all start to chirp in unison, their loud squeaks making Lynn drop the bunny back to the box's floor. She blinks a few moments rather stunned and Switch chuckles under his mask. “What a fool indeed.”

The bunny in the box leaps forward and bites the side of Lynn’s leg making her own voice squeak out in a cry. “A-Agh! Hey! What are you doing?!” She says the words flabbergasted like the situation was not one she created herself. Lynn stumbles from the bunny box stepping wearily away toward the center of the room. All of the bunnies begin jumping from their boxes into the circler center. Now and again a few toss aside normal orange carrots and a few more finish packing away some gold ones. Within seconds no carrots were left. None being dropped down, none being packed nicely and sent away. It was just Lynn and the bunnies that had circled her. “What do you all want? Staring at me like that…” Lynn tugged at her skirt acting like the bunnies staring was embarrassing for her. “You’re just like them…” Muttering more she backs up a bit her heels clicking faintly against the ground. “S-stay away from me all of you!”

Screee

The bunnies all screech back at her once again, only this time they make their move. The large bunnies grab at Lynn’s legs and toss her to the ground. Before she has a chance to scream the sea of bunnies cloud over her. Looking down at her, Chris, Kyle, and Switch could not even spot a spec of her skin in the bunny pit. The animals chirp and screech the sound of rubber dragging against a gritty board sounding. Chris did not understand the sound himself. Squinting his eyes though, he could see it faintly, the bunnies were coughing up, spewing something from their mouths. Almost like spiders, they coat what is visible of Lynn’s skin In black-like latex. Many of the bunnies back away after fully encasing her body. Kyle and Chris both gasped at the new appearance. Lynn’s legs both were hoisted up resting against her back, her arms were resting against her butt like they were tied together. Her belly lays against the ground her hair not showing just the outlines of her lips, eye sockets and nose could be made out. The heels on her feet looked like the same ones she was wearing but Chris could not tell if all her clothing was encased or not. “M-mmngh!” They could all hear Lynn’s voice still though. Her groans, the sound of flesh against latex making everyone's eyes twitch. Could she even see or was she completely helpless? The bunny in white that Lynn had first touched stands on its hind legs as if in victory and chirps out some sort of order. Several bunnies then gather around her and spew out more fabric from their mouths. This time it looked softer though, and orange in color. Stuffing and an orange cloth encase around Lynn’s body. They were turning her into a giant carrot-stuffed plush.

“H-hey” Chris mumbles but shakes his head trying to not let the scene dismay him. “Switch, what is all this?! She’s already covered in that black stuff, now they’re stuffing her into a stuffy thing? She isn’t a carrot can’t you do something?!”

Switch sighs and shrugs his shoulders. “This one is beyond me even if I wanted to help. Those bunnies don’t follow my every command. We have a special setup… But look.” The bunnies hold up the large carrot plush on their backs hobbling it over to the large hole at the center of the room. “They’re going to throw her into the hole anyway… the Eons will probably save her before anything bad happens.”

Chris’s body twitches he almost didn’t want to ask. “P-probably…? The other two became like animals that may affect the rest of their lives, but Lynn could actually die like that!”

Pursing his lips Switch nods a few times. “I’m sure at the very least she’ll be put in the gift shop, and someone will probably buy a giant carrot. Boy, they’ll get a surprise won’t they.”

Switch was clearly unconcerned. It was too late, the bunnies toss the giant human-sized plush carrot down the hole. The soft muffled groans leave out of earshot. Then, the bunnies all head back into their boxes leaving Chris and Kyle both dumbfounded. “Huh.’ Kyle coughs into his hand and turns toward the door they were supposed to be leaving out. “Sooo… um, yeah lets go onto the next room right?”

Switch gives a small nod and clacks his cane against the ground. “Right. Off we go, the Eons can clear up that mess.” Switch jaunts on over to the door and swings it open letting Kyle and Chris head in first. “Okay.” Shutting the door behind himself another series of white stairs with lights on their sides appear before them leading to a bright white door with an eye slit at the top. “This room will be special. You’ll be required to wear some special suits, I’ll provide goggles as well, please put them on.”

Putting on the white hazmat-like suits takes a few minutes. Equipped with booties and gloves and a pair of protective goggles to cover the eyes. For now, Kyle, Switch, and Chris all let the goggles dangle, but all of them dressed in the protective wear they head into the room. As soon as they walk in it looks bright white. Blindingly so, their eyes squint and wince taking a moment to adjust. As it does they are greeted to another circular room, this time with a large device in the center of the room and a variety of consoles on the right-hand side built into the wall with steps leading to each different console. On the wall in front of them above the machine is a black screen with a small animated version of Switch with his cane that reads waiting under it. Chris wanted to hang his jaw open but he musters up something to say. “This… really is crazy… is that whole thing actually a screen? It’s not like the movie theaters… it’s like an actual screen, screen.”

“Indeed.” Switch smirks proudly and pushes Chris’s chin back up as he gawks. “This device here is something that will one day reach every home! Still in the testing phases of course… but it has the ability to deconstruct an item into atoms and rebuild them into a digital existence within the screen which bends physical and digital. Allowing one to pull the thing out of the said screen.” Switch nods slowly to himself clearly proud of the device. “Yes, yes. This bad boy will allow us to give inventory to places normally unable to get it. A way to transmit items across the world through science. By breaking down the atoms and making it remake itself it’s still the same entity as well. It isn’t like making a perfect copy, it's just the same thing you had before it left.” Chris and Kyle both blink in unison not understanding fully. Seeing this Switch claps his hands nodding toward the Eons working the consoles. “Alright, alright, I planned on showing an example anyway. Set it up!”

The Eons carry out an energy drink on a pillow placing it down on a small table at the center of the room. A Blue Eon nods toward a Red and they give each other a thumbs up stepping away from the machine they put on their goggles. Switch nods toward the two guests to do the same and they do. The large device in the center of the room then begins to rumble a red light flashing around its top where the black tip of the device pointing toward the drink begins to spark.

ZAP

In a puff of smoke, the drink vanishes. Chris looks around the room just in case it shot off somewhere but Switch points up to the large screen. “It’s here.” On the screen the energy drink rests on a wooden table with a sea backdrop behind it. It looked like a commercial. “Now to show you it working.” Switch gestures the guests to follow and they walk around the room to be under the screen, a black pad now under their feet. The pad lifts them into the air like an elevator. “Now watch closely, and keep your arms to your sides.” As the platform goes up and up it halts just before they touch the ceiling. Switch being as tall as he was reaches his own hand up right into the screen. Chris squints carefully but his arm goes right through like the screen is made of some kind of liquid. Pulling it out he now holds the can in his hand, opening it up he presses it to his mask and starts gulping down the liquid somehow taking the contents of it down without spilling. “AH. Wonderful really hits the spot… now see. The can was able to travel from one location to a digital space. I was then able to put my arm through this special screen to take the item that had been digitized. Wonderful… it is a shame so many governments would use it for mass murder. I’d love to use it to solve world hunger. Welp, maybe we can add microtransactions to it to make it dystopian-friendly. A problem for another day.”

Kyle’s eye twitches and he looks with wonder toward the different consoles. “You have a way to turn anything into a digital entity… And… and you’re using it to give people energy drinks?”

Switch frowns under his mask and nods slowly. “When you say it like that it makes it sound less… um… what do the kids say, epic?” The black square lowers back down and Switch steps off the pad gesturing both the kids toward a purple door. “Anyway, that’s all there is to show here. We can move on now.”

Calmly Chris lets a breath pass his lips. All seemed calm for once. Maybe they were almost to the end. He finally was allowed to say the words now. “Okay. Will there be more o—”

As Chris speaks Kyle acts against the thought of a calm time. Running from Switch and Chris he gets himself in front of the black tip of the large device in the center of the room. “Hah, are you kidding me!? Why would I leave? Humans could take the next step in evolution with this thing! Eons use it! Come on! Make me surpass humans!”

The Eo’s mutter toward one another and Switch sighs. “You know we have not tested this on humans. I have no idea how you would react to this. You have sentience, it could alter your mind, your body, your clothing. If you have one stray thought it could change your very existence mistaking that stray thought for your own reality, for you.” Nodding a bit slower Switch rubs at his chin. “Then again I been wondering what human I could test it on.” Kyle’s eyes sink a little hearing the comment as if he just thought about what he was doing. Switch however gives the eons a thumbs up. “Fire it up!”

ZAP

Switch turns his head up toward the screen, several Eons already on the black padded elevator to go up to it. “Well, well, well.” Switch smirks under his mask and gives Chris a nudge. “Remember what I said? How we would not know how it would react… hah, objects have no thought. So we can create a static backdrop. Humans think. Even if we set a background, it will change based on the person's thoughts that were… let's say transported. If he had any lingering thoughts that were strong enough. Well, it really will change what he expected. Annnnd now.”

BLIP

The screen flickers to life with a scene Chris had not expected at all. Kyle looked to be in some sort of pink fluffy bedroom. A girly bed with one of those princess-like curtains around it. Stuffed animals litter the place, frilly dresses line the walls hanging up. It even has a vanity with makeup and polishes. The carpet was even one of those ultra-plush ones that felt like walking on a cloud. “No way…” Chris’s eye twitches. It seemed almost too over the top to come from someone like Kyle that seemed so plain. But there he was now on the screen on the carpet. A pacifier rests in the boy's mouth his eyes blinking a few times mindlessly. He was the same height but wears a pink Lolita-style dress with frills and lace wrapped around it. Kyle wears a pair of pink marie jane shoes, white thigh-high socks, and a large white diaper clearly visible from under the skirt of the dress. The diaper is lined with different colored hearts but it was clear what it was. Kyle swaying slightly echoes out an obvious crinkling sound.

Switch taps his cane against his head scratching the side of it. “Huh.” Putting the cane down he slowly puts his hand on Chris’s shoulder and turns him back toward the door. “So anyway, the tour seems to be over. Let's move on alright?” Switch glances back toward the Eons for just a moment. “Take care of the baby for me!” With that said he almost shoves Chris through the next door, both of them stumbling into what looked like a regular factory floor. The door closing behind them Switch lets a long sigh pass his lips. “Some people am I right?” Walking on Switch’s shoes tap against the concrete floor. Chris peers up to get a look over the area they were in now, and it really does look like a generic factory floor. The walls have high-up windows shining in the dusk light. Above them, the ceiling is glass. It has some brick supports but the skylight was more or less the whole ceiling. The factory only seemed about as big as a soccer field maybe a little bigger. Somehow the realistic sizing was off-putting to Chris. “Now then, up this way, up this way.” Switch lets another sigh pass his lips as he walks up a set of metal stairs and throws open an old wooden door. A plain hallway lays before Chris, cramped and tight with a few scenery paintings on the walls. Walking through the hall Switch opens the second door on the right and Chris follows.

Tick, tock, tick, tock

Stepping into the room Chris notices Switch is already behind his desk. It looked like an office room, about the same size as the office he was sleeping at. This office however was odd. Everything in the room was cut in half. The cups, the paintings, the clock. Even the chairs were cut in half yet Switch was sitting in one acting like it was normal. Where each item appeared to be cut the inside of it looked black and white, the same checkerboard design as Switch’s suit. “Tell me…” Switch lets a soft sigh pass his lips again his head looking down at the paperwork which was also cut in half. Switch does not look toward Chris. He keeps speaking, his voice sounding distant and to Chris, sad. “Have you ever felt like a part of yourself was missing, Mr. Shades?”

Chris lets the sound of the clock tick away in his mind. It was calming, even if the room was off-putting, the clock was familiar. “I…” His voice quivers a little trying to speak up. Chris wanted to say a lot. To speak about the events. Maybe even get mad. But part of him also did not feel anger. The question asked though, did make him feel lonely. “All of them were so different.” Chris pauses on his own words looking now directly at the clock. The hands were cut in half but still functioning as a clock should. “What were they missing? Why did they decide to go against the warnings? Is that just who they are? But even after seeing everything… they still did things they knew may not be the best. For their own gain? Because they wanted to gain something? What did they think they could get? Maybe they got what they wanted… but twisted.” Chris looks slowly down at his hands, thumbs twiddling together. “Wanting to be seen like a spectacle, wanting to be cared for like a beloved pet but able to care for things in return, wanting all eyes on them even if no one notices, not wanting to hide your inner child?”

Switch laughs softly into his hand and sets down his pen lifting his half cup. “Maybe it was just desire and nothing so deep. Maybe they wanted those things for others, or for themselves.” Sipping from the half glass Switch sullenly nods at himself. “I don’t plan on killing you. If that’s why you’re afraid. You won’t have some fate worse than death either. My daughter wouldn’t allow it after you’ve come this far.” Chris cocks an eyebrow nervously and Switch sets down his cup. “I have a daughter. Those bunnies? Hers. She had the idea of having this little contest. I tweaked it a little… and we both agreed.” Switch rests his cane against his half desk and tugs at the side of his face mask. “You already know there is more here going on than a simple factory. I’ll remove my mask, try not to panic alright?”

The mask slowly lifts off Switch’s head and Chris’s body twitches. The white he sees under the mask is not skin. It’s bone. Up and up the mask comes off, a skull connected to a spinal cord. A skull In a suit, a skull with eyes. The eyes are black and white, the checkerboard color again. They both look like spiraling vortexes. Chris wanted to yelp, but he does not. Part of him felt like this was somehow, not as scary as he imagined. Given everything, he had seen a talking skeleton made enough sense to him. Words however were still hard for him to form. “I… I don’t know why you showed me your face… but… but. But what happened to all of them? You didn’t kill them or something did you?”

Unlike with the mask, Chris could not tell if Switch was smiling or not now. As if to make sure to emote Switch shrugs his shoulders and lets out a laugh. “Haha, oh come now. I would not just— Okay I would. But today I didn’t.” Chris’s body quivers again, was it good the man was being honest or bad? “I did not kill any of them. They’ll be fine. They’ll forget they ever came here… well the punishment they got will seem like a nightmare in some ways I suppose. Beyond that, though they won’t know you or I. You have my word, of course, that does not say much, does it?” Switch scratches at his chin appearing to show concern. “Hm, I’ll have them go on Tv later to prove they lost the contest. It’ll prove they are safe as well. Anyway, this now. This. Is about you. Chris.” Chris feels his body quiver again, the skull with eyes staring directly at him. “You’re interesting… honestly. Expected someone to reach the end. I did not expect someone like you though. Ah, how I wish I could have met you a million years ago. Besides the point.” Shifting back in his chair Switch extends his hand out toward Chris. “Are you really happy with how things are? This room.” Switch flourishes his hand over it. “This room is created based on your feelings. You may not believe that. But it is. To you, you’re functioning. Just like a human can function with only one kidney. Half of you is gone… but you still work.”

Chris looks off away from Switch’s gaze. His thoughts turn to his usual. A princess in a beautiful dress, knights being an escort to protect him. The princess serves the kingdom, the knights serve the princess. A nice little circle of people helping one another to meet an end. Maybe in that sort of life, he would have more than just two knights? A whole royal guard? Was that really what he wanted? “Hah…” Chris sighs lowering his head, mind lost in thought. Usually, when he would get lost In his world it was to be uplifting. What was it right now? “I wonder if the other half was even there in the first place. Ahah… ever hear of a boy wanting to be a princess?”

Switch nods slowly and pushes his fingers together. “Yes. I have.”

Chris’s body shivers again his eyes glancing over the room and then back to his hands. “Well… nice to know I’m not the only one.” Chris looks tentatively into Switch’s eyes. “Your daughter?” Switch nods. “I guess I’m not the only one that feels like they're acting.”

Switch grabs the mask on his desk and tilts his head slowly. “Acting… We all wear masks sometimes, don’t we? Those others had a fate befall them. Your mother. Your grandparents. That kind boss. We all wear faces, to keep up our spirits, to keep up ourselves. To function. Even if we may not always want to.” Dropping the mask back onto the desk Switch stands up leaving the cane behind. “My name is Zyeg. Did you know, for the longest time, all I wanted to do was die? I live much longer than you humans. I mean… I was human once myself so maybe that’s wrong of me to say. But I can’t really remember that time anymore. I’d have to read what I wrote about it. Keeping a journal helps a lot when you’re as old as me.” Switch walks past Chris and opens up the office door. “Come with me. We have much more to discuss. Hah, my daughter wants to meet you too. But I told her to wait… we don’t want too many characters in this story after all.”

At this point, Chris had no real reason to refuse Switch. Part of him was a little scared still of the unknown with the whole situation. Though he was also curious. Walking behind Switch they reach the end of the hallway that looked like an elevator. Stepping into it the elevator is completely glass on all sides. With both inside the elevator, Switch reaches his hand forward and presses a large red button that says do not touch. Chris’s voice quivers out. “U-um…?” Chris looks up at Switch but he just nods in response. The elevator goes up, and up faster and faster.

SHATTER

The elevator breaks through the glass of the factory shooting up into the air. One would think the elevator would break but it stays intact still lifting the two safetly. A soft hum then echoes above, propellers make the elevator keep flight or at least glide. Chris had no real idea about the workings of flying machines. Thus he could not help but blurt out his thoughts. “We’re… we’re in the air, like for real?!”

Switch chuckles, his teeth chattering together. “Indeed, indeed haha. I figured it was best to speak here away from prying eyes.” Switch puts a hand once again on Chris’s shoulder, the skeleton face looking him in the eyes. “Come with me. Meet my Daughter. Have a new life, with us.”

The words lay in the air tempting as ever. “I…” Chris barely knew how to respond. Half of him was missing. “I don’t have a lot. So how much do I have to lose…” Switch does not butt in, even as Chris lets his words trail off thinking of anything else to say. “My Mom wasn’t bad, but she is… My grandparents were just using me. My Boss seemed actually kind, but not like he was rushing to help me in every possible way. To help myself… I can only do that. I’m—the one who has to do that.” Biting at his lip Chris stares out over the town. People walk the streets, and a few cars pass. He could even see his little shack of a house out toward the countryside. “I don’t want it to just be a fantasy… I don’t want to have to always wear a mask. To wait for my desires to explode and end up hurting myself. To feel so… empty. I want. I want things. I don’t want to just survive. I want to thrive. I wanna be me!” Chris’s voice perks up and he swings around to look back at the boney face. “I don’t know if I wanna be girl. I don’t know a lot of things. But I wanna wear whatever the hell I want. I wanna wear some lavish ballgown just cause it’s fun and not be judged for it… all those guys at the factory. Including you… don’t you all just really… want to be able to express yourselves without being judged? To have some peace, when expressing the mess of your mind? Even if your minds like a tunnel with twists, turns, and drops.”

Switch rubs at his chin slowly and turns away from Chris now himself to peer out the window. “An interesting theory. They could have been hopeless perverts. But even hopeless perverts want to be accepted. To have someone that cares about them in their life. To have friends.” Pausing for a long moment Switch places his hand against the glass and rests his skull against the pane. “You’re right about that other thing, I can say. People do need to help themselves. But what does it mean to help yourself? You can’t do everything alone… I understand that now, for sure.” Turning himself back around Switch takes a long breath. “noticing you have a problem and asking others you trust for help is just as important. Being able to ask for help, is helping yourself too. Being able to take advice, to learn lessons. So many things come from others, but it all makes up who we are. You aren’t any less because you confide in another. You aren’t any less because you gain an attachment. You’re just another human, growing, learning, and finding things to care about to give your existence some meaning. It’s okay to be happy, and you don’t have to feel guilty just because others helped you along the way.”

Chris’s eyes begin to tear up. The salty water runs down his cheeks before he can even wipe them away. The right eye tears more than the left, but they both stream down. “Hah… tears now?” Chris gently touches his cheeks and takes a shaky breath. “Even if I rule a kingdom… everyone in that Kingdom is what helps it function. A princess can lead, a knight can protect… just because they lean on each other, doesn’t mean it’s some bad codependent thing. Heh… trusting people. Having faith in people. Knowing what you can manage and what someone else can handle better. That’s not sickness or weakness. It just shows who’s actually willing to keep bettering themselves to help that Kingdom grow.” Chris looks back out the window and wipes the tears from his eyes. “I’ll go with you Switch—no—Zyeg.”