Ellie tossed and turned in her bed, unable to find a comfortable position. Her mind replayed the events of the day, her wish lingering in her thoughts. As the clock struck midnight, a strange warmth spread through her body. She shifted again, trying to shake off the discomfort, but the warmth intensified, becoming a tingling sensation that seemed to radiate from her very core.
She threw off her covers, the heat now unbearable. Her skin prickled, and she scratched at her arms, her hands encountering an unexpected roughness. Ellie frowned, squinting in the dim light to see what was happening. Dark, coarse hairs were sprouting from her skin, covering her arms and legs. She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest.
Her pajamas felt tight, constricting her movements. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her spine. With a strangled cry, Ellie arched her back, feeling her bones stretch and elongate. Her legs pushed against the foot of the bed, her toes curling as they grew. The seams of her pajama pants strained and then tore, the fabric ripping apart to reveal her newly muscled legs.
Panic surged through Ellie as she felt her body expanding. Her once slender arms bulged with muscle, her shoulders broadening. She struggled to free herself from the now painfully tight pajamas, her movements frantic. Her shirt split down the middle, her chest swelling with new strength. She looked down, horrified to see a muscular torso where her delicate frame used to be.
Her feet burst through her socks, her toes stretching and growing until they matched her new size. She tried to scream, but the sound that emerged was a deep, rumbling growl. Ellie clapped a hand over her mouth, feeling the roughness of a stubble-covered jaw. She touched her face, her fingers trembling. Her features felt different, more angular and pronounced.
A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her, and she collapsed back onto the bed. Her breathing was ragged, her mind struggling to comprehend the changes. The transformation was relentless, every part of her body morphing into something unrecognizable. She felt her hair recede slightly, her forehead broadening. Her hands, once small and delicate, were now large and calloused.
As the transformation slowed, Ellie lay still, her mind reeling. She could feel the weight of her new body, the strength in her limbs. Tentatively, she raised an arm and sniffed her armpit, recoiling at the pungent odor. She grimaced, her nose wrinkling in disgust. The unfamiliarity of it all was overwhelming.
She yawned, a deep, resonant sound that made her freeze. Her voice was no longer the high, soft tone she was used to. It was deep and commanding, a rich baritone that resonated in her chest. Ellie swallowed hard, trying to process the reality of her situation.
With great effort, she sat up, the bed creaking under her weight. Her eyes fell on her tattered clothes, the remnants of her pajamas clinging to her muscular frame. She needed to see herself, to confirm that this nightmare was real. She stumbled to her feet, her balance unsteady as she adjusted to her new height.
Ellie made her way to the mirror, each step feeling like an eternity. She reached out, her large hand trembling as she turned on the light. The reflection that stared back at her was unrecognizable. A tall, handsome teenage boy stood where she used to be, his body sculpted and powerful. His dark hair framed a face that was both familiar and alien.
She screamed, the sound echoing through the house. The scream was deep and guttural, a primal sound of fear and confusion. Ellie couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her eyes, her reflection blurring. She backed away from the mirror, shaking her head in disbelief.
The sound of hurried footsteps on the stairs made her heart race. Her parents burst into the room, their faces pale with worry. They stopped short, staring at the stranger standing in their daughter’s room.
“Who are you?” her father demanded, his voice trembling with anger and fear.
“Get out of our house!” her mother cried, her eyes wide with panic.
Ellie tried to speak, but her deep voice only seemed to scare them more. “Mom, Dad, it’s me, Ellie,” she pleaded, but they shook their heads, refusing to believe her.
“Leave now, or we’ll call the police!” her father shouted, advancing towards her.
Terrified and heartbroken, Ellie grabbed her purse from the dresser. She bolted from the room, her parents’ voices ringing in her ears. She ran down the stairs and out the front door, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t stop until she was far from the house, the cold night air stinging her skin.
She collapsed onto a park bench, her mind racing. Everything had changed in a single night, and she had no idea how to fix it. She hugged her knees to her chest, feeling the weight of her new body pressing down on her. As the first light of dawn began to break, Ellie knew she had to find a way to survive in this new form, and perhaps, find a way back to the life she had lost.