Road Adventure

Part 1

The road was almost deserted, only occasionally interrupted by cyclists or the rare car passing by, raising clouds of dust. The sunlight reflected off the ground, flooding everything around with a soft golden glow.

— I don't think this was such a great idea... — the girl muttered, glancing towards the bushes where her friend had hidden with the appearance-modifying remote they had stolen from the lab just yesterday, after going "on an adventure" following the party.

— Are you kidding me?! — he replied, peeking out from behind the branches with a wide grin. — This is an awesome idea! Just look at you! We’ll totally hitch a free ride home!

The girl rolled her eyes, slightly clenching her small palms so hard she could feel her long nails digging uncomfortably into her skin.

— Damn it, Max, maybe you should be the girl, and I’ll be myself again? — she said, pouting, absentmindedly fixing her hair that the wind had tossed around her face. She stepped closer to the bushes where her friend was grinning, still holding the remote in his hand, which looked like a toy, but they both knew it wasn’t a joke.

— Oh, no-no, Nick, you were the one who suggested it: rock-paper-scissors! You lost, so now you’re hitching a ride in this look — Max popped out of the bushes, then immediately ducked back in, pressing his finger to his lips. — Quiet, you hear that? A car’s coming!

Nick turned around and spotted a big red pickup truck slowly approaching on the dusty road. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fingers instinctively reached for her skirt, trying to pull it down a little, though it barely made a difference since it was hardly even a skirt—more like a wide, loose belt.

— Come on, you look perfect, just make a cute face! — Max hissed from the bushes, as if he were monitoring some special operation.

— Cute face?! — she protested, but quickly shut her mouth, realizing the car was almost there. She took a deep breath, ran her hand through her hair to make it look as neat as possible, and stepped into the middle of the road, raising her hand in a hitchhiking gesture.

The car started to slow down. Nick’s heart raced faster, and her legs suddenly felt shaky. "God, this is so weird and... But it can’t be that hard, can it?" she tried to calm herself.

When the car stopped, a man in his forties leaned out of the window, with thick brows and a predatory look. His face, though free of scars or any particular marks, immediately made Nick uneasy. His eyes were dark, deeply set, his smile stretched tight, as if forced, and he smelled strongly of tobacco.

— Hey, beautiful. What are you doing out here all alone? — he asked, leaning his elbow on the window and eyeing her figure.

Nick swallowed, feeling her voice catch in her throat. But quickly regaining composure, she slightly swayed her hips, trying to appear relaxed, though she didn't feel it at all.

— Actually, I’m not alone, — she answered, tilting her head and putting on a sweet smile. — I’m here with a friend, just out for a walk. But he’s kind of stuck somewhere. We need a lift into town, could you help us?

The man frowned, looking around. His eyes briefly stopped on the bushes, but then returned to Nick.

— A friend, you say? Where is he? — he asked, squinting skeptically.

— Yeah, over there, — she waved her hand towards the edge of the woods, hoping Max would get the hint and not stick his head out too suddenly. — He lost his camera, looking for it. Such a scatterbrained photographer, you know.

The man frowned again, but it seemed like she managed to distract him. His gaze drifted to her slender legs, then back to her face.

— Photographer? Hmm... Well, you can get in, you can tell me where to drop you. And your "friend", if he’s still out there, can catch up, — he chuckled hoarsely, opening the passenger door.

At that moment, the bushes rustled, and Max's head popped out. His face was a mix of panic and irritation.

— There he is! — Nick quickly added, nodding towards Max. — Finally!

The man made a displeased face, grinding his teeth so hard they creaked. His gaze became even more intense, like he was trying to figure out their little game.

— So, this is your "friend"? — he spat, nodding at Max, who stood frozen in place, like a rabbit in front of a snake. — What’s he doing there? If he’s a photographer, where’s his camera?

Max quickly pulled himself together, stepped out of the bushes, and with a grin, straightened his T-shirt, which was covered in dust.

— Dropped the camera, you know, such a dusty road, plus the bushes... But he found it! — he tried to sound cheerful, patting an invisible camera in his pocket.

The man still seemed doubtful, his eyes coldly scanned Max, then shifted back to Nick.

— So, you’re together. Where are you headed? — he asked, taking his time to close the door.

— To the city, of course, — Nick finished, struggling to keep the tension out of her voice. Her eyes darted between the man and the road, like her gut was warning her that this was too suspicious.

— To the city, huh? — the man squinted, his gaze sliding over her figure. — Alright, get in. But it’s a bit tight inside. You can sit next to me, and your friend can ride in the trunk, — he smirked, as if he had said something completely normal.

— The trunk?! — Nick took a step back, clearly not expecting that suggestion. — Maybe not... — she started, but the man had already waved his hand toward the truck’s bed, where a couple of crates and a coiled rope lay.

Part 2

— Come on, beautiful. There's nothing to be picky about here. I'm giving you a ride for free, — he said with a crooked grin, showing his teeth, one of which gleamed with a metal filling. — Your friend will fit just fine back there. Everything's fair and square.

Max threw a quick glance at Nik, his face twisted in a displeased grimace. He clearly wanted to say something, but Nik beat him to it. Slightly pursing her lips, she flashed a sweet smile at the driver, trying to speak as softly as possible:

— Maybe we can fit in the back together, just the three of us? The trunk's so dusty...

The man snorted, his eyes gleaming in the sunlight.

— Fit together? Sure, girl... But then you'll have to sit on my lap. — He smirked, slapping his broad thigh to make it clear he wasn't joking. — You decide, I'm not in a hurry.

Max frowned and stepped forward:

— Fine, trunk it is, — he muttered, trying not to look the man in the eyes. — Just get us there faster.

The man nodded, as if he’d expected this response. He opened the back door, and as Max climbed into the pickup's cargo area, he felt the cold metal floor instantly chill his knees. He sat among boxes and ropes, trying not to stir up more dust than his dirty sneakers already had.

Nik, in the meantime, settled into the passenger seat. The man scooted a little closer than necessary, and her heart started racing faster. Inside the cabin, the air smelled of a mix of tobacco, motor oil, and some cheap men's cologne.

— So, shall we go? — the driver rasped, slapping the steering wheel, making Nik flinch slightly.

— Uh-huh... let's go, — she quietly confirmed, glancing furtively at the rearview mirror. Max was visible through the glass, sitting tense, his teeth clenched.

The pickup slowly pulled away, and at first, the road seemed perfectly normal. The driver tried to make small talk, shooting Nik strange looks, clearly not hiding his interest.

— Are you on vacation or something? With your parents, maybe? — he asked, twirling the wheel with one hand and shifting the gears with the other.

— Well... something like that, — she replied, trying to keep it as short as possible. Her palms were sweaty, and she nervously fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

— And no boyfriend? — he pressed on, not giving her a chance to relax. His voice was growing more and more insinuating.

— I do, — Nik snapped, hoping that would stop the flood of questions. — He's waiting for me at home.

— Ha, a boyfriend, huh... — The man smirked and briefly stared at her legs, making Nik feel even more uncomfortable. — And he lets you go alone? That's kinda weird.

The conversation stopped, but instead of relief, Nik felt the pickup suddenly veer off the main road. She leaned forward, scanning the unfamiliar landscape.

— Is this... not the road to the city? — She tried to keep her voice calm, but her insides were twisting with worry.

— Yeah, just taking a shortcut, — the man replied, throwing her another glance. — It'll be quicker this way. I know all the trails around here.

Max, in the back, clearly noticed something was wrong. He leaned closer to the window, tapping his finger on it.

— Hey, man! Where the hell are you taking us? — he shouted, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

— Calm down, punk! — the driver barked, whipping his head back. The truck lurched but he quickly regained control of the wheel. — I know the way. Sit quiet, or I might just change my mind about giving you a ride at all.

Nik felt panic beginning to rise like a wave. The trees on either side of the road grew thicker, the bushes denser, and everything looked like they were driving deeper into the forest.

— Listen, — she began, trying to put some firmness into her voice, which she didn't feel at all. — Maybe we should just get out here? Thanks for the help, but we're almost there.

— Almost there? — The man grinned, and his fingers tightened on her wrist as he slowed down for a bump in the road. — Come on, beautiful, why are you in such a hurry? It's too late to change your mind.

Max seemed to have finally lost it. He was pounding on the glass, shouting:

— Nik, get the hell out of there! This stinks!

The man slammed on the brakes. The pickup stopped dead in the middle of the road, and there wasn't a soul in sight. He turned to Nik, his face twisted, and his grin turned even more predatory.

— Listen here, doll, — he rasped, leaning in closer so she could smell the cheap tobacco on his breath. — Your boyfriend can go ahead and drum on the roof, I don’t give a shit. But you, on the other hand, you can relax and do what you're told.

Nik felt a chill run down her spine, and instinctively she shrank back, pressing herself against the door. Her mind was buzzing. "What to do? What to do?!"

Behind her, she heard a noise — Max was angrily kicking something in the trunk, clearly trying to draw attention or escape. The man shot a glare at the noise, spat a curse, and reached for the handbrake with a threatening move.

But Nik, feeling time running out, took a deep breath, turned to the door, and grabbed the handle. It gave, but the door was somehow stuck.

— Where do you think you're going? — The man grabbed her arm, his strong fingers wrapping around her wrist, and she felt his nails digging into her skin. — Let's not ruin such a nice day, huh?

At that moment, Max, teeth gritted, managed to lift one of the boxes in the trunk. Without thinking, he slammed it against the back window. There was a loud crack, and shards of glass flew across the cabin.

— Get your hands off her, asshole! — Max screamed, pushing through the broken glass. His face was red with rage, and his voice sounded unexpectedly confident.

The man roared in surprise, released Nik, and tried to climb out of the truck to get to Max. Nik seized the opportunity, yanked her hand free, and pulled at the door handle again. This time, it swung open, and she stumbled out, barely keeping her balance on the dusty road.

Part 3

Meanwhile, Max grabbed something sharp from the trunk, something that looked like a rusty screwdriver, and, crouching down, jumped to the ground. He waved it in front of him, shouting:

— Try to touch her, you bastard!

— You little shit… — The man stepped out of the cab, his massive figure looming over Max, but Max didn’t back down. Nik, gathering her courage, picked up a stone from the side of the road and shouted:

— Don’t come any closer, or I… I…

The words got stuck in her throat, and her appearance made the man laugh. He slowly moved closer to her, as if savoring his power. Nik tightened her grip on the stone, feeling her fingers tremble, but she couldn’t make herself take a step.

Suddenly, she noticed Max pull out a remote from his pocket. His face was determined, but his gaze nervously flickered between Nik and the man.

— Max, no! — she shouted, realizing that the remote was dead, and it would only work once. If he used it now, there’d be no chance of turning her back to her old self. — Don’t do this!

But Max wasn’t listening anymore. His hands moved quickly, as if trying to fight his doubts. The man noticed what he had in his hands and froze.

— What the hell are you doing, kid? — he spat, turning sharply toward Max. — You think that piece of shit...

Click!

Max pressed the button. A flash of light burst from the remote, blinding them all for a few seconds. The man screamed, clutching his head, and staggered as if electrocuted. His body began to distort, like in some strange mirror.

— W-What... what’s happening?! — his voice cracked, becoming higher and thinner.

Before Nik’s eyes, his massive figure shrank, his shoulders grew narrower, and his rough facial features gradually softened. His clothes bunched up, unable to keep up with the sudden change in shape.

In a few seconds, a girl stood before them — slim, graceful, with long blonde hair that had suddenly grown out from the previous short cut. She looked at her hands in horror, trying to understand what had just happened.

— What... what the fuck?! — her voice was high-pitched and melodic, completely out of sync with the aggressive tone she was trying to use.

Max, breathing heavily, stepped forward and pointed the remote at her like it was a weapon.

— It’s over! You won’t touch us again! — he forced out, though his hands were shaking so much the remote nearly slipped.

Nik couldn’t take her eyes off the new version of the man. The girl before them looked stunning, her slender figure now accentuated by a denim jumpsuit that was far too big for her and hung loosely. She was completely disoriented, looking around in confusion.

— Change it back! — she yelled, stepping toward Max. But her voice no longer carried the previous threat, only panic and fear.

— I can’t, — Max cut her off, stepping back. — It’s done. The charge is gone. You’re now... well... like this.

— What did you do to me?! — she lifted her thin, trembling hands and touched her face, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. Her eyes widened when she felt the smooth skin and soft features.

Nik slowly lowered the stone, unable to believe what had just happened.

— Max... — she began, but her voice cracked.

— I did what I had to, — he answered firmly, though regret was visible on his face. — Otherwise, she would’ve killed us.

The girl-man screamed, rushing toward the car, but tripped due to the oversized boots. She crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, and stayed there, face in her hands, helpless.

— You’ll pay for this, bitches... — she hissed through her tears, but her voice lacked the earlier confidence.

Nik stood frozen, watching as the new reality fell down upon their tormentor. Everything that had happened in the past few minutes felt like some crazy dream. Her heart pounded so hard she could feel it in her throat. Max moved closer, pulling her hand.

— Let’s go, Nik, we need to get out of here! — he whispered, his voice trembling with adrenaline.

She nodded mechanically and let Max pull her toward the woods. They ran along the rocky roadside, their feet barely finding purchase in the soft sand, and her pulse hammered in her ears. In the distance, they could hear muffled cries and sobs from their new pursuer, but Nik couldn’t bring herself to look back.

— Max, did you see that?! — she gasped, barely catching her breath. — Do you understand what you just did? She... he... what now?!

Max was silent, cutting through the air with determination, but soon he turned around, still holding her hand.

— I did what I could, Nik. You saw it, he would’ve just finished us off! And honestly, what does it matter now? It’s her problem. — Max took a breath and gritted his teeth. — The important thing is we’re safe.

Nik suddenly looked at their hands and, eyes widening in realization, jerked her hand away from his grasp. Max nearly stumbled, turning around in surprise.

— Hey! What the fuck, Max?! — Nik yanked her hand back, stepping away from him. Her face twisted in a mix of anger and shock, and she pressed her hand to her chest, as though she had just been caught doing something shameful. — Are you out of your mind?! — her voice cracked on a high note, something she hadn’t expected. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but it was too late. Her face burned with embarrassment, and somewhere deep in her mind, the thought rang: “You just acted like such a girl!”

She nervously ran her hand through her hair, feeling her long locks brush against her neck. The movement only threw her further off balance — her whole body felt like she wasn’t herself anymore. Her heart raced, and a strange pang of discomfort settled in her chest, as though she wasn’t just “like” a girl — she was a girl now.

Part 4

Max suddenly stopped, dusting off his hands, and turned to her with a look of disbelief on his face.

— What the hell are you screaming for? — He looked at her, then added in a lower voice: — We just ran from some psycho. You wanna go back there and keep fighting?

Nik swallowed hard, breathing heavily, and lowered her gaze, realizing she was taking it out on the wrong person. Her eyes locked on her small hands with long, neatly rounded nails. Damn, they looked so elegant that she couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation, as if this image had somehow become the default version of her now.

— It’s not about him… — she muttered, looking away. — It’s just… all of this… — Nik waved her hands around, trying to express her thoughts. — Do you even realize that now I have to live like this, damn it? I’m stuck in this body now!

She kicked a stone on the roadside angrily, but her sneakers were too light, and instead of the usual sharp impact, Nik felt pain in her fingers. Her face twisted in pain, and her gaze shot to Max, who was just starting to understand the scale of her anger.

— Damn it! — she exclaimed, jumping up from the pain and clutching her leg. — What the hell is going on?! Everything’s so weird, so fucked up… and I… I feel like… damn, like I’m me, but not me!

She stopped mid-sentence, breathing heavily and glaring at Max, the anger quickly shifting to despair. Max, as if unsure of what to say, only took a step back, raising his hands in a gesture of reconciliation.

— Nik, come on… — he started cautiously, looking at her reddened face. — Well… it’s probably temporary? We’ll figure it out, okay? The main thing is we got away from that psycho. Did you see how I... well, her now...

— Figure it out?! — Nik interrupted, her voice ringing in a high pitch again, which made her cringe. — Yeah, right! We’re such experts, we’ll fix everything with a snap of our fingers, huh? Too bad the damn remote died, Max! This thing goes back to factory settings if it runs out of battery! That’s it, game over! I’m a girl now, damn it! And it’s all because of you and your brilliant idea to steal this damn thing! — She pointed a finger at him, and he slightly blushed.

— Hey, wait! — Max tried to defend himself, but she wasn’t listening anymore, her emotions coming at her fast.

— I can’t move properly, I can’t talk properly! Even these damn emotions… I almost cried because of your stupidity! What the hell’s happening to me, Max?! This isn’t me! — Nik fell silent, feeling her throat catch with emotion again, and suddenly turned away, trying to hide the tears.

She nervously wiped her face, clearing her eyes, then froze, feeling the smoothness of her skin. Even that felt different. Every gesture, every movement felt… wrong, alien, yet so natural that it only made it more terrifying.

Max sighed heavily, trying to say something, but then just stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder.

— Nik, listen. Damn, I’m still in shock from everything that happened. But now’s not the time to sit and freak out. We need to get the hell out of here. He — I mean, she... it, whatever the hell that guy in a new body is now... he could find us if we keep standing here.

Nik spun around to face him, her eyes flashing with tears and anger.

— And where the hell do you suggest we go, Max? I can’t just show up in the city! Do you have any idea how that’s gonna look?! — She pointed to herself, her hands trembling as she traced her new curves. — I don’t even have any documents! Who the hell am I now, huh?! Where am I supposed to live, what the hell am I supposed to do?!

She waved her arms around, but Max just tightened his grip on her fragile, slender shoulder, shaking her slightly to snap her out of it.

— Nik, enough! — he raised his voice, and that finally made her shut up. — I get it, all this shit. I really do. But if you don’t pull yourself together and stop acting like... — he paused, realizing what he was about to say wouldn’t be appropriate, and then continued, relieved that Nik either hadn’t noticed or pretended not to — Anyway, it’ll only get worse if we don’t leave now. We just need to stick together, alright? Until we figure out what to do.

She stared at him for a few seconds, then exhaled sharply, as if shaking off some of the built-up tension.

— Fine... Fine, — Nik exhaled, shooting him an angry look, but her voice was shaky. — But if we’re in this now, you’re responsible for it, Max. You’re the man, after all!

She froze, surprised by what she’d just said. Her face flushed, and she quickly shook her head, as if trying to get rid of the unwanted thoughts.

— I didn’t mean it like that! — she quickly added, throwing her hands up and blushing again. — I just... well... damn it, it just happened, okay?

Max raised an eyebrow, watching as Nik fumbled for words, but stayed silent, only nervously glancing around.

— Yeah, yeah, got it, — he mumbled, trying not to laugh, though the corners of his mouth twitched. — Now let’s go. We need to find a place to at least rest.

Nik snorted in displeasure and adjusted her hair, which the wind had messed up so badly that strands were sticking to her face. Her new panties irritated her skin, and the sneakers with thin soles were completely unsuitable for long walks. But there was no strength left to argue. Max was right — they had to move on.

Epilogue

The laboratory greeted them with its usual chill from the air conditioners and the muted hum of the equipment. Nik walked behind Max, wrapping herself in his jacket. Her face held a mix of exhaustion and anger, but now there was also a tense focus added to it. The jacket, though too big for her, barely covered the overly provocative outfit left over from the ill-fated hitchhiking trip. But the very thought that she was walking wrapped in his clothing was driving her crazy.

"This is so girly," Nik thought irritably, feeling her cheeks burn. "Damn, he probably thinks he's... taking care of me? Or that I, fuck, need his protection?" She bit her lip to avoid saying anything more and slightly pulled the jacket collar away, as though that could fix anything.

Max walked ahead with his head down, tightly gripping the discharged remote control. He didn’t turn around, but Nik could see his shoulders tense. He knew what awaited them.

When the door to the research lab hissed open, a group of scientists in white coats stood inside. At the center was a tall man with thick gray hair, Professor Lazarev, their supervisor. His face showed nothing but icy calm, but his eyes flashed with fury.

— Maxwell, Nicholas... — the professor started, but froze when he saw the girl step out from behind Max. His thick gray eyebrows rose slightly, and his gaze narrowed sharply as if he was trying to solve a complex puzzle. — Who is this?

Max cleared his throat, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. In his hands, the discharged remote control seemed nothing more than a useless toy, but Professor Lazarev had already realized that it was anything but. His eyes flared with anger when he saw the device.

— This... um... — Max started, but Nik, summoning all her courage, stepped forward, clenched her fists, and interrupted him.

— It's me, Professor Lazarev. Nicholas. — Her voice rang out clearly, though there was an unmistakable edge of tension.

Lazarev froze. For several seconds, he just silently studied her, then his face contorted with a mix of rage and disbelief. The remote had never been tested on real people, something Lazarev hadn’t shared with the students, and what he saw before him truly shook him. For a moment, he even forgot about the anger he’d been feeling for the past few hours after finding no experimental prototype when he arrived at the lab.

Finally, he let out a heavy breath, squinting and studying the girl in front of him as though trying to figure out whether they were joking or this was real.

— You’re telling me... — his voice was even, but sarcasm and a bubbling threat seeped through, — that this remote, — he pointed at the device in Max’s hands, — turned Nicholas into you? Seriously?!

Nik nervously nodded, feeling cold sweat trickle down her back. She instinctively swallowed, barely pushing the words out:

— Yes... it's me, Nicholas. We... we just... didn’t think... — She fell silent, feeling her knees betrayingly tremble. Max stepped forward, trying to shield her with his body.

— It was an accident, Professor, — Max quickly said, hiding the remote behind his back. — We were just testing the device, and... the charge ran out before we could fix everything.

— Charge?! An accident?! — Lazarev's voice broke, and he took a sharp step forward. His figure was imposing. — Enough of this nonsense! Give it to me!

Max swallowed but slowly extended the remote to the professor. His fingers trembled as if he were handing over not just a device but a part of his soul. Lazarev snatched the remote with such force that his knuckles whitened, then turned to the other scientists and swept them with a glare.

— Did you all hear that? — he barked. — The prototype we’ve been working on for years has been stolen and used by these... geniuses! — He pointed at Max and Nik, his finger lingering just a little longer on Nik. — And now, instead of a reasonable explanation, they’re feeding me some nonsense about this girl being Nicholas.

The scientists began whispering even louder. Nik felt her face flush. She clenched her fists, but her inner voice screamed that arguing now was pointless. Lazarev suddenly turned to her and narrowed his eyes, as if trying to peer into her thoughts.

— Alright, enough of these games, — the professor declared coldly, glancing at both of them. His brows furrowed, and his voice was laced with icy fury. — Maxwell, I don’t know who this girl is that you brought in or what you’re trying to pull. If you think I’m going to buy into this farce, you’re deeply mistaken.

— Professor, it’s true! — Nik exclaimed, stepping forward. She clenched her fists, feeling her pulse throb in her temples. — It’s me, Nicholas! I... I just can’t return to my old state right now. We... we accidentally used the remote, and it ran out.

Lazarev raised his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence. His eyes shone with disbelief.

— Enough, — he said harshly. — I don’t see any Nicholases here. Tell him I didn’t like your little show, and if he doesn’t show up here by tomorrow, he can consider himself no longer enrolled in college.

He paused to let his words settle, then added:

— As for you, Maxwell. Starting tomorrow, you’ll clean the lab for a month. And forget about any practical sessions or projects for the rest of the semester. Oh, and by the way, your involvement in the theft of the prototype will be noted in your personal file. I hope this will remind you of the consequences of your actions.

Max paled, his gaze darting between Nik and the professor, but he didn’t know what to say. Nik nervously fiddled with the edge of Max's jacket, feeling everything inside her tighten with fear.

— Professor, but... — she began, but Lazarev interrupted her again.

— Out! — he bellowed, waving his hand toward the door. — Both of you, get out.

Max wanted to protest, but Nik suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.

— Let's go, Max, — she whispered.

When the door slammed shut behind them, they both felt a sense of relief, but then a wave of realization crashed down on them: everything was just beginning.

— So, genius, — Nik hissed angrily when they stepped outside. — Do you even understand what’s coming if I don’t return to normal?

Max silently shrugged, his face a mixture of exhaustion and guilt.

— We’ll figure it out tomorrow, — he replied quietly. — We’ll figure it out…

But even he didn’t believe his own words.