You went to bed last night as usual. However, this morning is anything but the usual. You wake up staring at an intricately carved gold ceiling with openings that let in warm sunlight. You are lying on soft moss-covered ground, naked and alone. Struggling up, you rub your eyes. Is this a dream?
You can smell the earth and moss, and feel a slight breeze. The walls around you are also gold, and covered with highly detailed images of different animals. There are no obvious doors or windows, and the openings above are too small for you to fit through. How did you get here? And where is 'here'?
Just then, a pleasant male voice comes from the air around you. "Greetings. Please forgive this rather abrupt change of scenery. I needed a volunteer, and my agents volunteered you."
"Me?" You stare around the walls, trying to find the source of the voice. "What do you mean? Why did you kidnap me?"
"You have an interest in animal transformation. Male human to animal, to be specific. I have brought you here to explore that interest."
"How did you..?" You look around, starting to get really scared. "What do you mean, explore my interest? This is kidnapping!"
"Not for long." The voice sighs. "Look, I hate to rush things, but the knockout drugs kept you under longer than expected. We only have a few minutes for you to choose."
"Choose? Choose what? Let me out of here!" You start feeling the walls, trying to find an exit, only to jerk your hands back when the animal shapes you touch start to glow.
"In about five minutes, you will become an animal. You can choose what you want from the symbols on the walls, or the Chamber will choose for you. It doesn't matter to me, really. I just want to record the transformation process itself."
"This is crazy! Nobody turns into an animal! It's just fantasy stuff!" You pound on the wall, causing the shape of a gorilla to glow when you touch it.
"Actually, three people that I know of have already become animals. My brother, who found this ancient Chamber in the first place, and two student assistants who I asked to examine the Chamber. In all three cases, they became animals and vanished."
"Why stick me in here? I never did anything to you! I don't even know who you are!"
"You were chosen because you have expressed the desire to be an animal - perhaps you only meant it as a game, but it is now going to be quite real. I have implanted you with a transmitter. No matter what you become, or where you go, I will be able to find you again. I want to find out what happens when the Chamber transforms people, and where they go."
"You can't be serious!" You back away to the center, looking at the walls. "It's impossible."
"In three minutes, it will be not only possible, but fact."
You look at the walls. The gorilla symbol has stopped glowing. There are hundreds, thousands of animals shown. Is this some sort of joke? You don't think so. What to choose? Should you let the Chamber choose for you? Where will you be sent? You are terrified now, unable to make a choice.
"One minute now. I am disappointed - I had hoped you might actually be happy by the opportunity." He sighs again. "Well, so much for trying to do something nice."
You can't take the chance this is isn't real. Looking frantically, you spot the animal you've always wanted to be, the shape you wish you had been born as. You lunge for it just as the Chamber starts to fill with brilliant light!
The light is suddenly gone, and you gasp as you look around and then look at yourself!