Felixfalck
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Chicken Out Two: Chapter fourteen!
🕑 Added 2024-02-12 19:36:10 +0000 UTCPrevious chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/chicken-out-two-97674596?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
If he didn't already look the part, Harry's state of mind matched his timid, frail frame. The horrors of which the game had already bestowed upon him completely ruined his outlook on the game. His most prized possession, namely his physique had been stolen from him. He strongly considered chickening out already, but the idea of being stuck in his current state was equally as frightening of whatever else the game could inflict. Seeing Sabrina's mom get as lucky as she did only served to annoy him even more, not to mention Troy's great success with the game thus far. Surely something good awaited him were he to power through? Or not. Either way, the only way to find out would be to roll the die.
Harry became painfully aware of his reduced reach, another miserable piece in the puzzle which was his last transformation. Due to his muscles disappearing, his clothes already looked oversized and baggy, as he reached out for the die, he noticed that his muscles were far from the only things that shrunk. He probably lost a good three inches in height based off of how much further the table was. He prayed to god that height and muscle were the only things taken from him, though he couldn't be sure until he got some alone-time.
Once more, he was reminded of his diminished form as he looked at the die in his thin, bony fingers.
If it was to any consolation, at least his throw wasn't half bad, just like his previous one. Another four meant he'd advance to the front of the pack. What it also meant was an upcoming red card for the boy, something none of the people present were too eager to get themselves. If his body had already been reduced to a shell of its former self, what could the game possibly think to do with his mind? Shuddering at the very thought, Harry picked up a card, slowly reading it whilst making sure no one around him got the chance to see the words that adorned it. Perhaps a little counterintuitive, considering most of the players present were more than willing in offering their legitimate help in deciphering whatever cryptic changes were spelt out. It wasn't a matter of distrust, but one of shame. Harry felt exposed letting everyone know what changes he were about to receive, and whether or not he considered them bad enough to cause him to chicken out. IF he was to chicken out, he sure as hell didn't want anyone mocking him for it, saying that he was a pussy for not facing the challenge head on.
How does it feel, losing that which was your pride?
Used to being on top, being the strong guy, always the jock.
Roles have changed, it's no longer your place to mock.
Looks are deceiving, what's outside should match what's inside!
Do you continue or chicken out?
Reading poems or analyzing literature wasn't exactly Harry's strong suite. But his determination to not let the others in on what his card said forced him to solve this riddle all on his own. That's not to say that he couldn't decide to chicken out or not completely blind, but even Harry wanted to have some idea what he was getting himself into.
Looking long and hard at the card, Harry failed to get any meaningful insight, though one of the lines did stand out to him.
"Looks are deceiving, what's outside should match what's inside!"
He felt like a lion inside, his aggression and confidence being the cornerstones of his personality. Suffice it to say, the exterior no longer matched the interior. Precisely the reason why he got so caught up in that particular line of text. The only reasonable explanation was that he'd get his body back! How else could the insides match the outside, if not for tuning his body to suit his personality! He'd seen so many decent changes done to Barbara, Troy, even Camila had received something of a boost, at least to her ass. Why wouldn't he get a similar treatment? Having felt self-conscious after being stripped of his muscles, Harry perked up again as he declared his intent to continue with the game, detrimentally unaware that the red cards only change the mind, and not the body itself..
"I continue!"
It didn't take long for Harry to begin noticing the changes. They did however not come in the way he expected. Firstly, his body remained completely unaltered. The only things happening, as per usual with the red cards, were mental. A wave of vertigo washed over him, but unlike many other cards, the feeling didn't fade. It just lingered there, making itself quite comfortable. It took him a moment to gather his senses. His heart was beating quicker, he became acutely aware of his surroundings, mainly the other people in the room. Little by little, Harry shrunk into himself, looking meeker and more frail by the way he sat scrunched up in his seat. His body was unaltered, but he still looked entirely different. His back was slightly hunched forward and his legs were closed, no longer demanding the same space as the former self-proclaimed alfa used to.
Once he finally liberated himself from the depths of his despairing mind, Harry could take a moment and assess the situation. He looked around himself. He froze, and his heart started beating ever quicker as he noticed that everyone was staring intently at him. This feeling took him back years, he hadn't felt this tense and self conscious since he was a kid, being forced to perform a play in front of the whole school. What's so weird is that everyone in the room is either people he would've considered to be friends, or beneath him. Yet, here he was, feeling small as an ant, and scared as a doe.
"T-t-that's not what was supposed to happen!"
Although one could see that he tried to sound mean and commanding, the words were blurted out in a near-whimper instead. If there'd been any doubt in anyone's mind about what was written on the card, they definitely had some idea what the change entailed by now.
"What was written on there??"
Camila hated seeing how her former love-interest had been reduced to a shivering mess of a person. Someone so comically frail and self-conscious that even she would've felt bad about picking on them.
"Something about matching what's outside with what's inside.."
"And you thought that'd be a good thing!? You know that red's are for the mind, right? I don't mean to be mean here or anything, but your body isn't exactly very flattering at the moment!"
Despite her disclaimer before telling him the harsh reality that was his current form, Harry couldn't help but feel attacked by the way she pointed things out. Usually one to thrive in contentious environments, the idea of a conflict, either physical or verbal frightened him to his very core. Simply hearing words of criticism, however true didn't do his now feeble mind any favors.
"..I forgot. I thought It'd give me my body back, not the other way around."
The others had to seriously focus on what he was saying due to how softspoken and low his voice had become. His commanding nature was all but gone, being replaced with what could only be considered to be his direct opposite. The man who previously welcomed the idea of being at the center of attention didn't like it one bit. In an attempt to lead their focus elsewhere, he suggested they continue with the game.
"Who's up next? I think we should finish this up as quickly as we can.."
"Yea, right. Maybe that's for the best.."
Realizing the level of discomfort Harry was in, Camila decided to do the right thing for once, picking up the die and offering it to whoever was next in line. Caitlyn however seemed to be in a different world entirely, looking off into the room, quite clearly disinterested in whatever was going on around her.
"Caitlyn."
"Caitlyn!"
"CAITLYN!!"
"What?? Jeez, use your inside voice, please. I'm right here.."
Not seeing the irony, Caitlyn looked to the hand reaching out to her.
"My turn already? Ugh. Fine, I'll roll the damn thing.."
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No image this time around. I think it's the only chapter for this whole story I didn't think to generate one for. Not that there's much going on here in terms of visible changes. You'll be able to see Harry's change in demeanor soon enough.
