Chapter 9: Restrained

Most of the first week of winter break seemed calm and rather boring. Ferral spent most of the days in his room or with Everett. It wasn’t until the weekend that Ferral finally decided to do another task. It was perfect timing because Leona had finally come out of her room as well after being in there for the entire week. Everyone was relaxing in the living room when she came out, covered in sweat and some bandages. However, when she did emerge, a fowl oder burst from the room, causing everyone to cover their nose in disgust. “Oh my God, nasty!” Loni cried. “Ugh! Leona, what died in there?!” Zuri added. “Jesus, what the hell were you even doing in there?” Ferral cringed. She walked out, panting heavily. “Getting stronger,” She said, “I’m going to find a way to surpass the awakened state. To evolve in further!” She declared.

Ferral scoffed, “So what? Like a Super Awakening? Ultra Awakening?” Leona growled, “Shut up.” “SUPER FULL POWER AWAKENING?” “Fuck off!” She stormed off back into her room. “That was a little harsh, Ferral.” Savannah scolded. “Look, she’s going toward a dead end. I’ve done the science, there’s no possible way to evolve further past the awakened state. She’s setting herself up for failure.” “Maybe so, but as long as she has it as a goal, that’ll drive her to keep getting stronger.” Venus said. Ferral didn’t argue any further, he needed to be on good terms with Leona, otherwise, he couldn’t do what he planned today.

Later, he walked toward her room, and just before he knocked on the door, she opened it and the two stared off. She grumbled, pushing past him but Ferral grabbed her arm. “Hold on, I wanna talk.” Leona scoffed, “Oh yeah? Suck a dick, Ferral. I don't wanna hear shit from you.” She tried to pull away, but Ferral transformed his hand to keep her from moving. “Look, I get you're upset with me, but we need to settle this like adults and talk it over.” “And if I continue to say no?” “To be honest, I never expected you to say yes so easily, so I brought a bribe.” Leona laughed, “There’s not a damn thing in this world you can use to bribe me.” “A double chocolate cake with chocolate frosting made by Ms. Clare.” Leona’s eyes widened as she gulped, “Alright, you get ten minutes. But it better be a full cake.” “It’s only half.” “Then make it five. Let me shower first.” He let go and she walked into the bathroom. He waited for her in her room, opening up the window to air it out. Once she came out, Ferral pointed at the white box that was on her bed. Her mouth started watering as she walked over, opened up the box, and sat on the bed to start eating the cake. She didn’t even bother grabbing a fork. “Oh, there will never be anything better on this planet than cake,” She said with her mouth full, “Especially one made by that woman.”

“Uh huh, so away, were we going to talk?” “Clock’s a ticking.” “Alright. Look, I was wrong to call you weak. I know how hard you work, harder than I ever have been in these last five years. Truth is, if it wasn’t for my ability to grow rapidly, you’d be leagues ahead of me.” Leona shook the crumbs that were in the box before putting it down and wiping her lips. “I guess I let my temper get the best of me….again. I see you as a rival, Ferral. My only rival. And my best friend. As such, you can see how passionate I can get when we fight.” Ferral smiled and sat beside her, “Guess we’re both out of line, huh?” Leona smirked, “Yeah, but you’re always in the wrong.” The two chuckled. “You…don’t think there’s actually there’s a form beyond the awakening, do you?” Ferral asked. “I do, AND I plan to achieve it, leaving you in the dust.” Ferral knew it was impossible, but chose not to discourage her. “Well, you were the first to awaken between the two of us. I’m sure you’ll get this too.” Ferral got up, “Hey, could you help me with something?” “Uh, sure.”

The two left the room and Leona followed Ferral down into the basement. She was curious as to why they went down there until she saw the large operating chair in the middle of the room. Test tubes, flasks, long plastic tubes, a heart monitor, and four large metal rings were laid on tables. “Ferral, did you turn our storage basement into a laboratory?!” She asked, stunned. “To an extent,” He answered, “It’s fine, no one comes down here anyway.” “Okay, but what the hell is all this stuff?” “This is all the necessary supplies needed to run a test. A test for my cure.” Leona looked at Ferral shocked, “You…You actually did it?” “No, but I’m going to use the prototype to see how it affects a subject and maybe then I can make tweaks to perfect it.” “You’re not getting me to do it.” “It was never my intention. You’re gonna help so that I can do it.” Ferral walked over to one of the tables, grabbed the four rings, and opened each one. He took off his sweater, shirt, and pants before putting on the rings. One around his right bicep, two around his thighs, and the last he went to put around his neck.

“What’re those for?” Leona asked, concerned. “These rings have thousands of micro-sized needles that will inject the cure into not just my system, but my very DNA. I’m going to fill them up with the cure and they’ll constantly be pumping into my system,” Ferral snapped the last one around his neck, “Now, if this was an experiment like you, then we wouldn’t have to do this. But because I know a few minutes after I put the cure in me, my body will try to combat it. These rings will keep a constant flow of it so as to put my animal DNA in a stunned-like state.” Ferral stuck all the long plastic tubes underneath the rings and laid on the operation chair. “That medium-sized tank you see underneath the left table contains the cure,” He pointed at the plastic box that had purple liquid inside, that’s where all the tubes were connected. “Once you strap me into this chair, I want you to press the small red button that’s on that box. Got it?”

Leona walked over to him, looking at it all. “And will there be any side effects to that stuff?” “Standard stuff. Headache, nausea, some body aches. Nothing that my body can’t deal with.” As Leona tied Ferral’s wrists and ankles down, she couldn’t shake this feeling of unease. “Why am I doing this?” “I’m messing with my DNA, there’s gonna be some pain involved.” “No, why am I specifically doing this?” “It’s just like you said, you’re my best friend. You’re the person I trust most in the world.” She sighed, “Alright, but this better work. I don't wanna hear you bitching when you end up having diarrhea or something instead.” She knelt pulling the plastic box out, ready to push the button. But, she still felt unease, it didn’t seem right. “Ferral, are you sure…” He stopped her, “Leona your concerns are duly noted, now push the button.” She reluctantly pressed it, and the box let out a hum before the purple liquid started coming up from the tubes and going into the metal rings. A hot searing pain shot through Ferral’s body, he screamed out in agony. “GAAAAAHH!!!! AAAAARGH!!!!” He thrashed his head back, tears leaking from his eyes as he cried in pain.

“FERRAL!” Leona called out, “ARE YOU OKAY?! I’M TURNING IT OFF!” She went over to the outlet where the box was plugged. “NO!” He shouted, “I CAN DO THIS!” She stopped and hesitated to turn around. Not wanting to see Ferral suffer. He continued his cries until the machine was finally empty and Ferral let out a long sigh. Leona unplugged the machine and ran over to Ferral, who was panting heavily. “Are you alright?” She asked, unstrapping him from the table. “Yeah…I’m fine….I’m fine…” It took him a minute to calm down and settle his heartbeat, but once he did, he got up out of the chair. “Well, did it work?” Leona asked. “Only one way to find out.” Ferral tried to transform, but nothing would happen. He pushed it as far as he could go until something did happen. The wolf-like ears spouted on top of his head, and his hair and left eye changed color. What was once bluish-black and amber was now eggplant purple. His hair even spiked up a little, but those were the only notable changes. “Woah, only you’re ears grew out. But, why did your hair change color?” Ferral picked up a mirror that was on the right table. “Must be a byproduct of the cure entering my DNA. Maybe a side effect. It wasn’t a complete success, but that was to be expected. At least I know I’m close.” “So are you doing to take those things off?” Ferral reverted back to normal, “No. Remember what I said? If I do, then my body will combat the cure. I’ll leave them on and run some tests. Don’t worry, all the liquid in these rings should only last the rest of winter break. Less if I try to transform often.” “I don’t know, Ferral. This all just feels…wrong.” “Ah stop worrying, I know what I’m doing. Nothing bad will happen.”