TheLycanthropeClub
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TransTravels - A Short Story
🕑 Added 2019-03-12 06:53:18 +0000 UTCAdrian scowled as he scrolled down the list of vacation packages. Each one had an accompanying image, brief blurb describing the destination and lodgings and, regrettably, the price. He clicked the 'next' icon on the bottom of the screen but nothing happened. Adrian blinked in surprise then realized he had reached the end of the list. Again. Issuing a sound somewhere between a groan and a sigh Adrian closed the website and found himself staring at the Google homepage.
"Goddammit," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. There was a soft creak as his bulky body pressed against the backrest. He looked around his studio apartment, noting his oversized CR-TV, tattered but still intact couch, faux oak coffee table littered with library books (many of which had bookmarks sticking out) and replica steel broadsword affixed on the otherwise featureless far wall. He couldn't see much through the window on the adjoining wall - just a lot of frost. The brownish carpet was worn but freshly vacuumed. The air stank faintly of burnt hair; his heater had just kicked in again. It was all so familiar - too familiar, in fact.
Adrian frowned and rubbed his stubbly chin, thinking. He glanced down at a torn envelope and letter on his desk. Both the envelope and the letter had the state lottery icon on them. He sat up and typed the words 'flatscreen tv.' Then, he shook his head.
"No, no, I gotta get out of here," he said, pressing the backspace key.
He returned to the CostCo homepage and read through the vacation packages yet again. They were fairly cheap, all things considered, but did not take into account the cost of transportation, food, and other inevitable miscellaneous expenses. Adrian turned back to Google and searched for budget vacations and vacation packages. The search yielded a plethora of pages and ads. He followed the links and canvassed the sites but did not find anything significantly better and was coming to the grim conclusion he never would.
"Maybe I should just blow the whole prize," he said, slumping in his seat. "Or just call the whole thing off and take the holiday shift."
Adrian shuddered at the mere thought of the latter.
"No," he said firmly to himself, sitting up. "Gotta be something decent for under two-fifty."
He scrolled down the search results and clicked one of the links on a whim - TransTravel. A second or two later a simple yet slick-looking webpage appeared on his browser. It featured a few images of happy couples and families carrying briefcases or otherwise preparing for their trip (none of them actually on their vacations, curiously) along with gushing testimonials from past customers. TransTravel described itself as a company with a 'revolutionary new model of travel' that could offer its clients 'vacations of a lifetime at a fraction of the price of their competitors.'
It was all very vague and seemed too good to be true. Adrian was about to leave the site when he noticed a small icon near the bottom of the page with the words 'download the TransTravel app today!' next to it.
"Huh," he said, intrigued. "Maybe it's like AirBnb," he said. "Only, like, with actual hotels."
Adrian dug into his pocket and took out his phone. He tapped the cracked screen and opened the app store. He entered the word 'TransTravel' in the search window and sure enough the icon appeared. He tapped the 'reviews' icon below it. It took a few seconds for the page to load. Adrian sighed and shifted in his chair as he waited. When he looked back down he actually gasped softly.
The app had been reviewed by nearly a thousand customers and had five out of five stars. Adrian scrolled down and saw that nearly all of the ratings were five out of five with only a scant few fours and threes. The written reviews were universally positive, if not downright reverential. They spoke of how convenient it was, its low cost and how fantastic their trips had been and how they were going to use TransTravel for all their future vacations.
The app was a couple years old and faking that many positive reviews shouldn't be possible, thought Adrian. Still, he had never heard of the app or company before and it all seemed so vague. And not just a bit shady. He weighed the feedback on the app with his misgivings and, almost with a sort of dread, downloaded the app.
There was a welcome screen followed by a request for access to some of his phones features - a lot them, in fact. Adrian reluctantly pushed the agree button and a window appeared explaining how the app worked. He would select one of five different travel packages. The most expensive one - the Euphoria package - cost $999.99. The cheapest - the Visitor package - was a mere $49.99. Once a package was selected he, the customer, would be contacted by a TransTravel agent. The agent would go over the available destinations and amenities and together they would plan out his vacation. The app stressed he did not have to pay until he agreed on the vacation plan and would receive a full refund if he wasn't satisfied with the experience. The price covered lodgings, incidentals, daily meals and - to Adrian's astonished disbelief - transportation, both ways.
"No way," said Adrian, shaking his head. "For $49.99? What, do they call you a Lyft and drop you off at a cheap motel by the freeway?"
Adrian scanned the available packages and selected the Peregrination package, which cost $199.99. At this point he had no intention of actually buying anything; it was all way too good to be true. He just wanted to see if he could figure out how the scam worked.
He tapped the icon. There was a pause. Then, his phone started ringing. Mildly surprised, Adrian tapped the green icon and raised the device to his ears.
"Uh, hello?" he said apprehensively.
"Hi there!" sang a cheery female voice. "This is TransTravel. My name is Serafina. How are you doing?"
"Uh, fine," said Adrian, blushing slightly.
"Great! Great! So, it looks as though this is your first time using TransTravel. Thank you so much for downloading our app! Can I get your name and address?"
"Uhhh..." Adrian trailed off, unsure. There didn't seem like any harm in giving her that information. Still...better not risk it. "Can we...can we just go over the, uh, package first?" continued Adrian carefully. "I'm still not really sold on this and would like to get some more information before I commit to anything."
"Totally understand. Can I at least get you name, sweetie?"
"Adrian," said Adrian quickly.
"And how many people will be traveling with you?"
"Uh, no-one. It's just me."
"Okay, Adrian. Just to make sure there's no mistake on our end you selected the Peregrination package, right? That would run you $199.99."
"Yeah, that's right," said Adrian. "I uh, can't really spend more than that. Normally I can't afford trips like this but, uh, I won the lottery - well, a scratcher - and, well, I'm splurging a bit," he added awkwardly, not exactly sure why he had mentioned this to her.
"Wow! Congratulations, Adrian! And good choice on the package. It's great value for the price. For that we can get you a week at one of our resorts or a weekend at one of our premiere destinations. Now, when were you hoping to leave and how long would you like your trip to last?"
"Well, I know this is short notice but I was hoping to leave sometime next week, maybe two weeks," said Adrian, wincing. "And I'd like it to last at least four or five days. A week or longer would be nice."
"No problem. We can certainly accommodate you. Now, all of our packages include a single room with queen-sized beds, hot and cold running water, and private bathrooms, minimum. In addition, all of our resorts offer guests complementary meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner."
"Wait," said Adrian. "Your resorts? As in, TransTravel owns its own resorts?"
"A few, yes," said the woman. "We also have partnerships and arrangements with local hostelries, restaurants and businesses."
"And these packages include transportation too?" said Adrian suspiciously. "Too and from the destination?"
"Of course!" laughed the agent.
"How does it work?" probed Adrian.
"It's very simple. Once we settle on a departure date and time we pick you up using your phone. TransTravel takes care of everything!"
"Using my phone? Like, Lyft or Uber?"
"Sort of like that."
"Er...well, what are my options?" asked Adrian, a bit flustered. "I mean, as far as destinations go?"
"Let's see what we have right now," said the agent. Adrian heard the sound of a keyboard tapping "We have a lovely suite available at a desert resort. It's situated next to an oasis. The package includes daily access to a local spa. Er, spa-like facility. It's quite relaxing."
"Uh, pass," said Adrian. "I want to escape the cold but a desert...eh, too much. Plus, I'm not much of a spa guy."
"I understand," chuckled the agent. "There's always Elmora. Very popular destination. We can get you a week at the Imperial with a luxury suite. Lots of nice restaurants and cantinas nearby and it's less than a mile from the central market. Oh yes! It now comes with a personal carriage."
"Carriage?" said Adrian.
"Oh yes. Your own carriage with drivers, available 24 hours."
"Huh, that's kind of cool," said Adrian. "What if I just want to rent a car?"
"Er, you could try, but it wouldn't be easy," said the agent, her cheery voice growing a bit guarded. "The carriage is actually the better option."
"Weird. Well, anyhow, let's put that in the maybe list," said Adrian. He was still fairly certain the whole thing was a scam but he wanted to see how far this would go. "Do you have anything like, uh, Hawaii? Or Cancun?"
"Oh yes!" said the woman brightly. There was more keyboard tapping. "We have some gorgeous beach-side bungalows available for the next few months on the island of Papai. Normally they're booked solid a year or so in advance but we had a cancellation from a major corporate client so we're trying to fill some empty slots. This trip is actually a Bacchanalia package but with the discount you can snag it with a Peregrination package. There's swimming, surfing, jungle tours, lots of great stuff. The village is a bit small and the accommodations are a bit rustic but the locals are very friendly. They hold a welcome and farewell feast for visitors. It's actually quite popular among us TransTravel employees."
"...Define 'rustic,'" said Adrian, certain he had found the razor wire hidden in the cotton candy.
"Oh don't worry," chuckled the woman. "As I said, all travel packages include rooms with running hot and cold water, bathrooms with showers/baths and flushing toilets, daily meals and a queen size bed. We can send you images of the bungalows if you'd like and you'll see they're quite comfortable. TransTravel built them to standard. Just...don't expect a big-screen television, Jacuzzi, free high speed wireless internet, that sort of thing."
"Oh," said Adrian.
It all sounded...quite nice, to tell the truth. And the whole thing would only cost two-hundred dollars.
"I-I-I gotta ask," said Adrian suddenly. "Why is this...how is this so cheap? I mean, the tickets themselves should run a couple hundred even if they're coach."
There was a pause. It was the first time the agent hadn't had a ready answer, Adrian noticed.
"Simply put, our computer algorithms search for and compile discounts and bargains. It limits our inventory but keeps our expenses low. We have agreements with various businesses whereby we guarantee them a certain number of customers per year in exchange for reduced prices. The app also helps keep overhead costs low. Last and, most importantly, we take advantage of currency exchanges to maximize our - your - buying power. There are a few... other methods we use that I cannot share as they qualify as trade secrets. I understand if you have concerns regarding the safety, quality and legality of our vacation packages given our low prices but in the four years of TransTravel's existence not one of our clients has been seriously harmed. We take your well-being very seriously and ensure all of our destinations are safe. And not to brag, but our customer reviews speak for themselves."
Adrian was silent.
"So," said the agent cheerfully. "Are you interested?"
* * *
The suitcase snapped shut with a satisfying click. Adrian hoisted his backpack, heavy with books and his oversized laptop, with a grunt and gripped the suitcase handle. He made one final pass through his apartment making sure there was nothing he had forgotten to pack, failed to lock or switch off. His refrigerator door had, in fact, been left slightly ajar. Adrian nudged it shut and hurried to his front door. He opened it, stepped outside, shut the door and locked it. He looked expectantly up and down the street. There wasn't any sign of a driver or taxi. He pocketed his keys and dug out his phone. He checked the time. It was 9:58 AM.
"Should be here any second now," he murmured to himself.
He glanced down at his clothes and blushed slightly. He was wearing a bright red Hawaiian shirt and khakis that were slightly too small for his body.
"I look ridiculous," he sighed. "Why did I buy these? Wonder if there's enough time to change," he said, glancing back at his apartment.
His phone started buzzing. Adrian shrugged and hit the green icon.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hi Adrian," said a familiar voice. "This is Serafina with TransTravel."
"Oh, oh yeah," said Adrian, smiling. "Er, is everything alright?"
"Of course. We're almost ready for you here on our end. We just need you to step back into your apartment."
"Huh?"
"It's almost 10:00 AM so we need you to go back inside."
"Wha-...wait, you...how are you going to pick me up if I'm outside?" said Adrian, confused. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Hold on. H-How do you know I'm not in my apartment?"
"Oh, we're tracking your location via GPS," said Serafina. "It helps us pick you up. Uh, I apologize if you were unaw-"
"N-No, no, that kind of makes sense," said Adrian, relaxing a little. He hesitated. "But wait, I'm just outside my door. How can you tell I'm not inside? And...why do you need me to go back inside?"
"Just head back inside," said Serafina patiently. "We'll be ready for you shortly."
Bewildered, suspicious, and a little frightened, Adrian nonetheless turned and unlocked his apartment's door. He wordlessly stepped inside and shut it behind him. He stood there for a second or two. Then, his phone started buzzing.
A halo of soft blue light appeared in the air in front of him. At first it was no brighter or larger than a light bulb but it quickly grew in diameter and radiance. Adrian yelped and backed away until he was against the door. He watched, trembling, as the otherworldly light rippled and pulsed, coalescing into a sort of undulating circle as wide as he was tall. It made no sound. Then, there was a flash of white light. When Adrian opened his eyes his jaw dropped.
The blue halo was still there - and was fainter - but it now surrounded a large ovoid window that looked out into what could only be described as a tropical paradise - a beautiful sandy beach that stretched on for what seemed miles. Turquoise waters lapped gently against the white shore. Tall, stately coconut trees dotted the beach, swaying lazily in the breeze. Patches of lush green vegetation could be seen along the periphery of the window, hinting that it was no desert island. The sky was a stunning sapphire blue; faint, wispy white clouds could be seen hanging just above the horizon.
Adrian stared at the beach, dumbfounded. He nervously glanced down at the floor. The window and halo were floating just a few inches above the carpet. He sniffed the air and gasped. He could smell the subtle, sweet scent of tropical flowers. Come to think of it, it seemed a bit warmer in the apartment now. As the coconut trees swayed he felt a warm, salty breeze caress his face. This wasn't just an image!
As though to underscore this, a figure appeared from the left side of the window and stepped into his apartment.
Adrian issued a nervous chuckle before realizing that the newcomer wasn't wearing some kind of elaborate mascot costume. Her legs, for one, were too narrow at places and rested on the balls of her clawed feet; no human leg could have fit into such a costume without radical surgery. There was no padding; no bulkiness or telltale shimmer of nylon around any part of her that hinted her striking grey pelt was artificial. Her tufted, pointed ears twitched as she walked and her bushy tail moved on its own accord. Her feral yellow-brown eyes shimmered with energy and life. She wasn't a person wearing a costume. Rather, she was a bipedal grey wolf creature wearing a white blouse and a short black shirt. She should have looked bizarre verging on terrifying yet this was not the case. Her head, for one, was not strictly that of a wolf. Her muzzle was not so long and her forehead was not quite as slanted. She almost looked human and was quite attractive in an exotic way.
She held a tablet computer in one hand. Or Paw.
"Nice to meet you in person, Adrian," she said brightly.
Adrian goggled.
"Serafina?" he breathed.
"Oh, don't look so surprised," she giggled, waving a paw dismissively. Her tail was wagging. "So, do you have everything? Ready to leave?"
"Leave?" he said, struggling to come to grips with what was happening.
"To Papai," she said, gesturing at the beach beyond the portal. "Your bungalow is ready."
"That...that's some kind of portal?" whispered Adrian in awe.
"Uh, yeah," said Serafina with a wan smile. "How else did you think you were going to get there? Plane?"
"Uh, yeah!"
"Hah, well, no offense but I don't think any of the airlines here have access to transdimensional planes," said Serafina. She paused. "Well, at least I hope they don't," she added slyly. "We don't need the competition."
"T-Trans...dimensional?" exclaimed Adrian. His heart was pounding in his chest. "That's...another dimension?" he cried, pointing a shaking finger at the glowing portal.
"Uh, of course."
"B-But I asked for Hawaii or C-Cancun," stuttered Adrian. "And ho-"
"You said like Hawaii or Cancun," said Serafina patiently. "And I've been to both those places and they have nothing on Papai. You haven't lived until you've tried their Loa-Atto or Squidling paste." She glanced down at her tablet. "Look, it's kind of expensive to keep the portal open so could you just-"
"This is nuts!" yelled Adrian, now in full panic. "I gotta be...I gotta be hallucinating or something! I gotta call an ambulance!" he started tapping frantically on his phone.
"Enough of this," growled Serafina, suddenly sounding more like an exasperated officer worker than a perky customer service representative. She reached over and grabbed Adrian by the shoulder.
"HEY!" protested Adrian. He tried to wiggle free but her grip, while not painful, was surprisingly strong.
"Come on, big guy," said Serafina, awkwardly but quickly pushing the young man into the portal luggage and all. "In ya go!"
With a final plaintive cry Adrian half-stumbled half-fell into the portal. Serafina nodded in satisfaction and stepped through the portal, which promptly vanished.
A disconcerting pins and needles sensation enveloped Adrian's skin as he landed on the warm sand. He gasped for breath and thrashed about on the ground for a few seconds before lifting himself up. He patted the sand off his clothes and looked around wildly.
Sure enough, he was standing on the beach. It was even more breathtaking actually standing there. Everything was...perfect - the sand, the surf, the beautiful sky above and the gorgeous sea below. The only sounds were the sigh of the water as gentle waves enveloped the beach and then slowly receded. He turned and saw a vast forest before of him filled with oversized tropical fauna of every description - ferns, bushes, leafy fronds, trees hundreds of feet tall draped with vines. Some of the trees and bushes bore enticingly gravid yellow and red fruits. An exotic bird call filled the air. A dozen or so blue birds with shimmering green wings emerged from the canopy flew out over the water. For a moment Adrian just stood there, completely enthralled by the sight of it all.
"A lot better than Hawaii, doncha think?" said a voice behind him.
Adrian whirled around. Serafina was standing there, her expression satisfied bordering on smug.
"Wha-..what the...how did you...is this...," stuttered Adrian, mind completely blown.
"Come on, let me show you your bungalow," said Serafine, gesturing to a path leading into the forest. "I think you're going to like it." She paused and looked up and down his body. "And I think the natives are really going to like you," she added with a knowing chuckle.
"N-Natives?" said Adrian. "Er, I mean, I'm not..."
It was then that he finally noticed that his clothes, particularly his khakis, felt loose. He looked down and stared in shock. His skin had turned green. No...his skin was covered in dark green scales! He dropped his suitcase and stared at his hands. They too were covered in scales, albeit smaller, finer ones. His blunt nails had been replaced by sharp, stubby black claws. With a strangled gasp he reached up and felt his face.
"Oh, sorry, I completely forgot," said Serafina, grinning as she watched him explore his new body. "It's a little side-effect of stepping through the portal. TransTravel is looking into ways to prevent it but...well, no-one really seems to mind once they get used to it. You're a dragon, in case you're wondering. You'll turn back when you return."
Adrian ran his claw down his stomach. His pot-belly was gone. There was nothing but smooth, tight abdominals. He glanced down at her arms and legs. He was ripped.
"Er...what are the natives like?"
"Why don't we go meet them?" said Serafina, taking him by the arm.
Overawed, Adrian lifted his suitcase off the beach and nodded, letting her lead him into the forest.
