"Ray! Dinner!"
"Coming!"
I get off the seat and grab my phone. Sending another text to Sam.
"Got out, you?"
"Talk later. Family drama."
He replied, that was enough to put me at ease for now. I couldn't just forget what I saw in game, but it didn't weigh as heavy now that he was responding. With that new relief, I went out of my room and to the dinner table. Two bowels of pumpkin soup set as Mum was wrapping up a third plate and putting it away in the fridge. I just sat and started to eat, then I heard her scream.
"Ray! What's happened!"
"Huh?"
She runs over to me. Pulling my strained shirt up to examine my chest and back. Then grabbing me by the chin and turning my face to examine every angle. She's befuddled, unable to process whatever has happened to me.
"You look like a adult who has grown up in the woods. You're so... Big and hairy."
I looked down to see the dense coatings of hair across my chest. With the heavy bodybuilder physique underneath. Yeah that was new, I didn't mind it though. A wild lumberjacks look? Might need to start buying flannel shirts. I smirked, which just caused more worry for my mother.
"We need to get you to the doctors."
"I'm fine. Feel great actually."
"A teenager doesn't just grow up in an hour! This is serious!"
She pulls her phone off the kitchen bench. Searching for answers as I ate without concern. Her suddenly turning on the television, watching between it and the clock. Guess something important is supposed to be shown soon. The clock hitting 7 and a breaking news story starting. The anchor greeting us all with a smile, before a picture of a hairy adult man displays.
"Tonight, we bring you the breaking story of what is happening across the globe. Reports have flooded in from here to China about a currently unknown condition that is sweeping the globe."
Mum looks at me expectantly. My eyes roll as I put my full attention to the screen.
"Researchers do not know the full extent of the condition. It's symptoms wildly vary from person to person. In men it commonly makes them stronger and hairier, some adults have become younger and many teenagers older. Though others have experienced drastically different changes. Some men have become thin and feminine, others short and stout, it's impossible to know what the end result will be."
The image changes from the anchor to a small hairy man, probably only around the middle to end of 3 feet tall if I had to guess. He had a large gut, strong arms, and a mouth covered in a bright orange beard. Not to mention the countless hairs that covered his shirtless chest. Looks like a sexy dwarf... I'd fuck that. I clear my head, trying to hide my new erection by bringing my legs together.
"This outbreak is not just limited to men. Women have been reported to experience similar changes. Some stronger, some thinner, some more masculine. It has even been reported that some women have become men, and vice versa. News of these changes is becoming more common each day, we go to Stacey for a report from the streets."
The feed switches to a women standing in front of a two storied house. A man with a painful looking scratch mark down his face standing behind her. There's still blood in the wound, though it has been treated. Must be fresh... Wait, this is Sam's house!
"Thank you Peter. Here I am with Mr. Flynn who has just been attacked by his son. He went upstairs to call his boy for dinner, and reported that he seemed very different when speaking back. Samuel Flynn, their son, had a much deeper voice and was more confrontational and aggressive than they remembered. He refused to leave the room and when his father forced the door opened, he saw his son naked. According to Mr. Flynn, it was like looking at a completely different person. His son was a foot taller, and could pass as a bodybuilder. His hair was wild and disheveled, and he was making animalistic growling sounds. Samuel scratched at his father's face as the door was opened, then ran out of the house. He was last seen at the nearby shopping centre, breaking in and stealing clothes. Please be careful if you see this man, he is considered dangerous."
A sketch of the now wild and monstrous Sam appears on the screen for a few moments. The camera returning to the anchor as I take in what I heard. My gut sinks, I want to believe anything else but I know it's real. Sam's out there and dangerous, I want to find him, but I'm worried what he'll do to me if we do meet up.
"If you are seeing any changes in housemates or relatives and you are unaffected, we strongly recommend going to your local police station. We do not know how this condition spreads, and we do not want you being attacked by your friends. There is emergency bedding being provided while researchers and scientists work to determine what is happening across the globe. Thank you, and have a good night."
Mum gets up from the table. Gathering objects into her bag as she speaks to me between hurried movements.
"Will you be okay with just your father?"
"Huh? Oh... Yeah, so dad's?"
"I don't know for certain but I swear he looks younger. I'll call him to find out."
She dials a few numbers. Putting the phone on loudspeaker for me to listen in. My father's voice answering back, but the tone of it is all wrong.
"Yeah?"
"Don't 'yeah' me, we're in the middle of a possible outbreak."
"Sorry, just gaming with the boys!"
There's cheers in the background, which causes my mother to look furious.
"I need to go to the police station. Come home and watch after Ray."
"Whaaaat? I'll be home later."
"Your son looks like he chops wood in a Canadian forest, you will come home now!"
"Pts, fine. Get some drinks ready for your pops, Ray!"
There's more laughs in the background before mum hangs up.
"You might be safer alone. Will you really be okay, Ray? I don't want to just leave you alone, but..."
"I've clearly got whatever's going on. I'll be okay mum. I'll call you if something's wrong."
"Good."
She kisses me on the cheek then grabs her bag.
"I'll lock up the house. Don't let anyone in except your father."
Then she leaves my sight. Getting her last supplies, and driving down the road to the station. I'm alone now, it's quieter than I'm used to and I have no clue what I want to do. I feel good and strong, could play some more games. Or get the drinks ready for dad, would love to try my first beer now that I'm finally old enough. Though... Sams still out there.