Now

I’m in a bed in what seems like a hospital. I check my hand where the black space grease was getting in, but it looks fine. I feel flushed, but okay otherwise. I must have been hallucinating, like the customer service lady said.

I look at my hand again when I realize the hand I’m looking at is a lot thinner than the one I had last time I saw it. I lift the sheets over me and can’t believe what I see. It’s the body of someone who hits the gym twice a day. 

I’m still hallucinating, right?

“There’s the space cadet.” 

A man in a white coat, I’m assuming a doctor, smiles at me as he picks up the chart at the end of my bed. He scans the sheet with his eyes, hangs it back off the bed and takes a seat by my feet. 

“You’re a new man. How does it feel?”

“Woozy.”

“That’s normal. The sedative we gave you is pretty strong. I’m sure you’ve seen already, your body has had quite the transformation. It’s pretty taxing on your system, but clearly the results speak for themselves.”

I can’t believe this actually worked. I got everything I wanted. All I had to do was show up here and pass their tests. In return, I’ve been gifted with this body. 

It all feels way too easy.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, there’s nothing to thank me for, Mr. Rowe. I’m just here to make sure you do what you need to in order to stay healthy when you leave.”

“Yeah, yeah. Diet and exercise, right? I hear about-”

The doctor cuts me off with a laugh. He puts his hand on my leg. 

“No need for that. The parasite will absorb whatever you throw at it. Eat all the sugary treats or high-fat meats you want. In fact, I’d recommend that.” 

It takes me a second to catch what he said.

“Parasite?”

“Well, yes. Did you not read the terms of service?”

“I- I tried, but they didn’t really give me a chance.”

“I’m sure they told you to take your time.”

“Yeah, but…”

The doctor pats me on the leg. 

“It’ll be fine. We have many people who’ve been through here, all living long, healthy and happy lives with this parasite inside them. The only thing you need to make sure of is to keep it pushed back to where it belongs.”

“How do I do that?”

“We have a small pill, taken daily. It’ll keep the parasite eating your food and...nothing else.”

“What if I don’t take it?”

“It’s going to eat anyway.”

“What does that mean?”

“The pill makes your internal organs unappetizing. If you don’t take the pill, it’s just a matter of time before it starts to feast on whatever it’s closest to. Which for you is-” He grabs the chart off the end of the bed. “Your liver.”

I feel tears well up in my eyes. I should have known better. I did the research. I tried to at least. I should have known something was up. How quickly they tried to usher me through this place, get me up there before I knew what was happening to me. They don’t let you think about it. 

Well, they’re not getting away with it. 

“You can’t do this. I’ll sue.” 

“Look, Jayden,” The doctor’s tone shifts to an even more condescending one. “I’m not your lawyer. I can’t tell you what to do and what not to do. I’m just saying that you want those pills. You’re going to need them regularly and you wouldn’t want to do anything that would interrupt the flow.”

“You just told me this...thing you infected me with will eat me from the inside out. You’re a doctor. You can’t let that happen to me.”

“I never said I was a doctor.”

“What?”

“I’m just here to make sure you get your pills regularly. Work with me here and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“I’ll go to the media. I’ll expose all of you.”

I try to get up, but my head starts spinning. The pill guy, or whatever he is, gets up from the bed and stands over me. He fluffs my pillow and gently pushes me back onto it. 

“You really should have read the terms of service. I wouldn’t feel bad about it, you’re not the only one who hasn’t, but you would know what you’re saying right now is a bad idea.”

“This isn’t right.”

“Nothing was done to you here. You decided to come here. You decided not to read the information we gave you thoroughly, which told you exactly what was going to happen to you and the rules you need to follow once you leave. We were nothing but straight-forward.”

I don’t know what I got myself into, but he’s right. I have no one but myself to blame. I tried to do my research, but I didn’t follow through. They’re sales people. I should have expected no less. 

So I need to take a pill every day? That’s not so bad. I was probably headed down that road anyway. I was never going to look like this while it happened. I was headed in the wrong direction. 

“Okay, fine. I give up. How do I get this pill?”

“Excellent,” He says, clapping his hands and taking a seat on the bed again. “We’ll ship it to you anywhere you want. The new you is going to have a lot of doors opened up. You’re going to be partying and jet-setting around the globe, so you’ll want to know you’re safe in doing so. We will make sure that happens.”

I’m just over-reacting. Of course this comes at a cost. Maybe it’s not so bad. There was always going to be a catch, but if the cost is a parasite that I need to keep under control for a life of luxury, it’s well worth it. 

“Just one more item to discuss and I’ll be on my way,” He adds.

“Is there another flesh-eating parasite I should be aware of?”

He laughs at my bad joke. It wasn’t that funny, but his laugh seems genuine. It’s already working for me. 

“We need to discuss payment. We have a few different plans available to make it as easy for you to maintain your prescription.”

“Okay, what’s that going to run me?”

“Well, if you pay up front for the decade, it’s 10% cheaper. Otherwise, it’s $20,000 a month in perpetuity.”

The monitor I’m hooked up to starts to beep loudly. Something spiked as the room spins. I was already dizzy, but now I’m going to be sick. 

“I-I can't afford that. I barely make enough to survive now.” 

“That’s the old you. Trust me, things are going to open up for you. You won’t even notice it. You have a three month grace period in the meantime.”

“What if I can't come up with it by then?”

“Then your prescription will not be sent until payment is made. There are options though. There’s a demand for your body type in some places. Las Vegas. Madrid. Not how I would want to make a living, but you’ll make more than enough that way.”

“Are you suggesting I-”

“No, no. Just telling you your options. Alternatively, you could bring in a referral or two. Each person you successfully bring here buys you a year of pills. You must have some friends that could use a lifestyle upgrade, no?”

“I can’t do this to another person. Not without telling them what they’re in for.”

“It’s not so bad. You’ll be living the life, I’m telling you. Just enjoy yourself. You’re now one of the chosen few who doesn’t have a care in the world. Open your mind and things will work themselves out. It always does.”

I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this. The more I think about it, the more I start to panic. Until I see my reflection in the glass at the other side of the room. It sounds shallow of me, but the person I see looking back looks like someone who can get through this. 

I’m a different person. Time to start acting like it.