Interrogation

— Move slightly to the left, Miss Thompson. — The officer’s voice was curt and mechanical, as if he’d said the same phrase a hundred times that day.

Lilly stepped to the side, her back brushing against the cold white wall. The air carried a faint scent of cheap air freshener and stale tobacco. Across from her was the lens of an old, battered police camera, and next to it stood a dim light fixture that seemed to make the police station feel even gloomier. Lilly swallowed nervously, the tight lace bodice of her dress pressing against her chest— a chest that hadn’t even existed six months ago.

— Head straight, — the officer barked again. He raised the camera and clicked several times.

Lilly tried not to look at him, lowering her gaze. She could feel her long strands of hair tickling her neck. The golden earrings in her ears jingled softly with every slight movement of her head. A stark reminder that she was no longer Tom Wilson, but a twenty-year-old girl on paper—Lilly Thompson—living with her “aunt.” A role she had once agreed to take on as a dare had now become her reality.

— Done. You can head into the office, Miss Thompson. — The officer gestured toward a door that looked far more menacing than it had any right to.

Lilly took a step, the heels of her sandals clicking against the linoleum floor. She caught the officer’s gaze lingering on her body a second longer than politeness allowed. A cold sweat broke out on her skin. He saw her as a young woman—attractive, maybe even pretty—but not as Tom. She still struggled to believe it herself. Trying to take a deep breath only made the fabric of her dress stretch tighter. Her face burned.

Behind the door, another officer waited. He was older, with gray hair and deep lines etched into his face. Without a word of greeting, he gestured for her to sit in the chair across from his desk.

She sat, smoothing the edges of her dress. The fabric barely concealed anything, and the shape of her chest, which seemed to have a life of its own, constantly reminded her of who she had become.

— So, Miss Thompson, — the officer began, opening a folder of documents. — Tell me why you were at the store that evening.

— I… I work there, — Lilly swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Her voice now sounded too high, almost childlike despite her appearance—the result of not just hormones but experimental treatments Rachel had somehow found and injected into her during those early months. — It was my shift. I was closing the store, and…

Lilly faltered, her throat tightening. She clasped her hands together, trying not to let them tremble. Her fingers felt the smooth polish on her nails—bright pink, a color Rachel had insisted on, declaring, “My niece has to be stunning.”

— And? — The officer raised an eyebrow, his gaze locked on her face. His eyes, sharp and probing, seemed to bore straight through her.

— And… when I was about to leave, I noticed… a bag, — she managed to get the words out, avoiding his eyes. She worked at Belle Boutique, a small but fairly popular women’s clothing store where clients often ordered dresses and accessories for evening events. Her position as an assistant consultant meant endless rack rearranging, customer service, and sometimes cleaning fitting rooms after particularly “enthusiastic” customers. The job was exhausting, but she had no choice: Rachel insisted that “a young lady like her should learn to be independent” and pulled strings to get her hired. The boutique had become both Lilly’s escape from Rachel and her own little hell.

The officer chuckled dryly, a sound devoid of humor, as if she’d just said something incredibly stupid. The brief, emotionless laugh made her flinch. Her throat felt parched, as if all the moisture had evaporated in an instant. Did he know? Did he know everything? That her documents were fake, that her real age wasn’t twenty but thirty-eight, that just recently, she’d been Tom Wilson—a man no one would have dared to chuckle at like that? Her heart pounded faster, and she realized, feeling painfully exposed, that the officer looked at her like she was a naive, fragile teenager.

— A bag, — he repeated, as if testing how ridiculous it sounded. — And you didn’t think to report it immediately?

Lilly felt her palms grow cold. She nervously scratched at the edge of the chair, her nails catching on the bright pink polish, which now seemed like the loudest evidence of her new reality.

— I wanted to… — she stammered, her voice sounding pathetic even to herself. Her cheeks burned as her chest heaved under the tight fabric of the dress. — But I… I got distracted.

— Distracted? — The officer tilted his head, squinting at her like she was an unsolved puzzle. His tone was so condescending it made Lilly’s teeth ache with anger. — That’s a new one. Usually, when people find a suspicious bag, their first thought is to call the police. So, what could possibly have distracted you, Miss Thompson?

His question hung in the air, and Lilly felt her breath catch from the nerves. What could she possibly say? Admit that, at that moment, the store manager, Dan—whom she’d recently started an affair with—had grabbed her by the hand, pulled her into the backroom, and pinned her against the table? That she hadn’t even thought of resisting because this relationship, her newfound feminine allure, was her only way of holding onto the job? That their intimate encounter had been a desperate lifeline, keeping her from being fired and left without a means to survive?

She remembered Dan—his hands, his hot breath, his whispered words: “I need you, Lilly. You understand that, don’t you?” In that moment, she felt wanted, needed, by someone—anyone—not just Rachel’s plaything or an experiment.

– I… – her voice wavered, and a chill ran down her spine. – I panicked.

Panicked? Even she didn’t believe the words she’d just said. Tom Wilson would never have panicked. He had been a man who lived by strict rules: family, work, obligations. His life might have been dull, but it was predictable. Yes, he’d had problems—his wife had grown cold, his kids thought he was boring, and work drained the last of his energy—but he’d always known who he was.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of who she’d become hit her. Tom Wilson had been a man with a firm voice and a resolute gaze, someone accustomed to commanding respect. He knew how to take charge, if only by sheer force of his authority. But that authority had crumbled the moment he let himself get drawn into Rachel’s risky game. Back then, six months ago, he had been convinced he was in control when he agreed to spend “a week in a woman’s role.” It had seemed harmless—a joke, a way to unwind, and maybe even impress Rachel.

He could never have imagined the nightmare it would become. Rachel—sharp, perceptive, and calculating—had seen right through him. She knew he was searching for something new, that his marriage was falling apart, that he secretly admired her. And she decided to exploit it. It all began as an innocent adventure—a week in a woman’s role to break free from routine and win her over. But her plan was far more intricate than he’d expected.

The first days were lighthearted: makeup, women’s clothing, a new name. “Lilly,” she had called him. At first, it felt like a joke—Rachel laughing as she picked out tight dresses, teaching him how to walk in heels, and saying, “You’re my niece, remember? An orphaned one, too!” But gradually, her tone shifted. Tom began to notice her authoritative gaze, as if she were testing how far she could push him.

“Call me Aunt Rachel, or you’ll never get into character,” she had said one evening, her tone strict. He complied, even though it humiliated him. After all, it was just a week. Or so he kept telling himself.

By the end of the week, it was clear Rachel had no intention of letting him go back to his old life. She threatened to tell his wife about the “peculiar week,” adding that she also knew about his thoughts of cheating. “What will your family think? And your colleagues?” Her voice was sweet but icy. “Just imagine how they’ll react to pictures of you in a dress.” Tom had been horrified.

Under the threat of exposure, he agreed to remain Lilly for a little longer. Just a couple of weeks. But as weeks turned into months, things only got worse.

Rachel began slipping him hormones. At first, he didn’t understand why his body was changing, why his voice was softening, why his chest was beginning to swell. By the time he realized what was happening, she had taken complete control of his life. Then came the job loss, the experimental drugs that slowly transformed his body, the new documents, the new job… and now this affair. Everything kept spiraling downward, and she… she no longer knew how to escape.

– Hey, why so quiet, princess? – The officer’s voice softened slightly, but the insinuation in his tone was unmistakable. His gaze slowly traveled over her face, then slid downward, lingering on her chest, barely covered by the lace of her dress. – Or are your thoughts somewhere far away? Must be tough working in a store… looking like that. I bet the customers’ attention gets overwhelming.

Lilly felt her face flush. She clenched her hands into fists, hiding them in her lap. Her lips trembled, and to mask her discomfort, she turned her head away, pretending not to notice the way he was practically devouring her with his eyes.

– I just got a little flustered, – she said quietly, her voice betraying a slight tremor. Her soft, high-pitched tone sounded so unsure, so… helpless. She could see he was enjoying it, and that infuriated her. Deep down, fragments of Tom Wilson still lingered—the man who would never have allowed himself to be treated this way. But that voice in her head was growing quieter, as if someone had turned down the volume.

– Flustered, huh… – he drawled lazily, standing up and strolling closer. He reached out and lightly brushed her cheek with his hand. His touch was sudden, scorching. – What’s wrong with you, Lilly? You’re such a sweet girl. Is it really so hard to just tell me the truth? – His voice turned gentler, almost seductive, but that only made her feel worse. She felt nausea rising in her throat.

She flinched, trying to pull away, but he was too close. His hand lingered on her cheek a moment longer than necessary. The officer’s deep, greedy gaze seemed to say: You won’t tell me no, will you?

– I… I’ve told you everything, – Lilly swallowed the lump in her throat, struggling to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to lose control. Her voice still sounded pitiful, too soft. – I don’t know what else… what else I can do to help, – she said, trying to hide the trembling in her tone. She attempted to turn away, but his hand on her chin held her face firmly in place. He leaned even closer now, his warm, unpleasant breath brushing against her cheek. Lilly exhaled shakily, pressing her knees and hands together to hide how uncomfortable she felt.

“God, Aunt Rachel will lose it if she finds out I said something wrong… or if he figures out my papers. I don’t know what she’ll do, but she’ll make it worse.”

– Come on, – he smiled wider, leaning in until only a couple of inches separated their faces. – You’re clearly hiding something. But I won’t dig into it. Not if you… just say outright that you want to help me. We both know how these things work. Girls like you always want something. So why not just say it? You want to help me? And you want… me to help you?

Lilly bit her lip, feeling her entire being collapse into a dense ball of panic. She wasn’t just afraid of him—she was terrified of what waited behind the door: “Aunt Rachel.” Rachel would crush her, as always, if anything went wrong. Lilly could almost hear her voice in her head: “You need to be obedient, Lilly. This is important. Men are always stronger, and if you show resistance, they’ll destroy you. And then I’ll have to clean up your mess. So smile, be a good girl, and do what they ask!”

– Thank you for the offer, – she forced out, trying to keep her tone as gentle as possible, hoping not to encourage him further. She made herself smile, but inside, everything was screaming. – But I really don’t know anything that could help you. I just work at the store, that’s all.

– Hmm, – he squinted at her, slowly removing his hand, though his gaze remained heavy and sticky, like the oppressive heat of August. – Alright, we’ll see. But you know what, Miss Thompson? If you remember something… interesting, – he emphasized the word, his eyes dipping briefly to her collarbones, – be sure to let me know. It might make your life a lot easier.

Lilly nodded, feeling her knees trembling. She was ready to do anything to get out of that office. Her chest rose and fell heavily, the dress clinging tightly and making it harder to breathe. She wanted to run, but she knew this wasn’t over.

– You’re free to go, – he finally said, nodding toward the door. His smile was faint but enough to make Lilly feel filthy.

She stepped into the corridor, and the first person she saw was Rachel. She sat with her legs elegantly crossed, her expression a picture of irritation.

– What the hell took so long, Lilly? – she hissed, rising to her feet. Her heels clacked against the floor as she approached. – Do you know how worried I was about you? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, you stupid girl? – she continued, grabbing Lilly’s arm and pulling her away from prying eyes.

Lilly pressed herself against the wall, avoiding Rachel’s gaze. She could feel her “aunt’s” fingers digging into her arm, as though trying to extract an answer. Lilly’s heart pounded, as if this wasn’t the end of an interrogation but the beginning of a far worse phase.

– Aunt Rachel, I… I just told them everything I knew! – Lilly looked at her pleadingly, but Rachel’s eyes held only icy irritation.

– Everything you knew? – Rachel hissed, squeezing her arm tighter. Her face twisted into a sneer, but as soon as she noticed the officers watching, it softened into a warm smile. She gently stroked Lilly’s head. – Well, it seems everything’s fine. Let’s go, sweetheart. We’ll talk later.

Lilly nodded nervously, feeling herself shrink inward with fear and helplessness. They stepped outside, where Rachel’s car was waiting. Once behind the wheel, Rachel smirked.

– This town has run its course for us, Lilly. We’re moving. I don’t want you clinging to things that are only dragging you down. And forget the fantasy that you can go back to your… family. Ha. What’s with that face? You think I don’t know that you’ve been watching their lives from afar, pretending you could still be part of it? No one from your past will help you. I am all you have. Remember that. Forever. – Her voice was soft, but there was an unyielding firmness in it that sent a chill down Lilly’s spine.

She stared silently at the road ahead, not arguing, understanding that her old life was now truly, irrevocably gone.