The air in the club was thick with tension, the USB drive now an enigma none of them fully understood. Belle and Wise had only just regained control of their own bodies when a sharp, electric crackle filled the room.
Then—
“W-what the hell?!” Nekomata’s voice yowled, but it was coming from the wrong place.
Anby turned her head, except it wasn’t Anby. The familiar glint of Nekomata’s yellow, cat-like eyes reflected in the dim light—on Anby’s usually expressionless face.
Nicole gasped. “Oh, that is so messed up.”
Billy took a step back. “How did that happen? Neither of them touched the USB!”
“I—” Anby—or rather, Nekomata in Anby’s body—blinked in alarm. “I was just standing here! What is this thing doing?”
Nekomata—now in Anby’s body—lifted a hand in front of her, flexing unfamiliar fingers with visible unease. “This is so wrong.”
Before they could process it, the USB gave off a low hum, its obsidian surface flickering with faint pulses of blue energy. The device, still plugged into the computer, let out another sharp crackle of static.
“That’s… not normal,” Wise muttered, stepping back warily.
“We need to switch back before something worse happens,” Anby said, her usually monotone voice carrying a slight edge of concern—except it wasn’t her voice. It was Nekomata’s.
“Yeah, no kidding,” Nekomata grumbled, crossing her arms in frustration, an oddly composed look on Anby’s normally calm face.
Then, the club’s door creaked open. The light from the street outside barely illuminated the silhouette of a figure standing at the entrance. The haze of the neon lights behind them made it hard to make out any defining features at first.
Then more figures emerged, stepping into view.
“Who—?” Nicole started before her breath hitched. “No way.”
The unmistakable pristine uniforms of Victoria Housekeeping Co. came into focus. Von Lycaon stood at the forefront, his composed demeanor unwavering, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. Behind him, Alexandrina and Ellen Joe flanked either side. Ellen, however, looked half-asleep, her arms loosely folded as she lazily observed the scene with a half-lidded gaze.
“Good evening,” Lycaon spoke with his usual calm poise. “Apologies for the sudden intrusion.”
Billy crossed his arms. “I don’t suppose you’re here for a cleaning job.”
Lycaon exhaled softly. “We are here for the artifact in your possession.” His sharp eyes landed on the USB. “It belongs to one of our clients. We kindly ask you to hand it over.”
Belle instinctively tightened their grip on the desk. “You know what this thing is?”
Lycaon gave a slight nod. “Unfortunately, yes. That device is… unstable. It was never meant to leave controlled containment.”
Nicole narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, well, we weren’t exactly given the full details when we picked it up.”
Lycaon took a measured step forward. “I assume you have already experienced its effects. The client it was made for no longer has use for it. But it is imperative that you disconnect it immediately.”
Ellen let out a slow yawn, stretching lazily. “Ugh… why did I have to come for this? Can’t you just grab it and let me go back to sleep?”
Nekomata—still trapped in Anby’s body—huffed. “Great. Maybe mention that sooner?”
Billy hesitated, looking at Belle, then at Wise. “Should we just… unplug it?”
“Do it carefully,” Lycaon said. “Any further instability could—”
CRACK.
The USB pulsed violently, its glow flaring erratically. The entire club’s lights flickered as the computer screen scrambled into static. A high-pitched whine filled the room, sharp and disorienting.
Belle reached for the USB—
Too late.
The device let out one final, deafening surge of energy before detonating in a burst of light.
A shockwave blasted outward, knocking over chairs, rattling the walls. The force sent Belle skidding backward, nearly colliding with Wise. A pulse of blue light rippled through the room, flickering like a dying star before vanishing completely.
Silence followed.
Then—
“Is—Is everyone okay?” Billy coughed, waving away the lingering static charge in the air.
Nicole groaned. “What the hell just happened?!”
Lycaon straightened his coat, a rare crack in his composed demeanor. His eyes darkened. “I believe we may have a problem.”
Wise frowned. “Wait… who’s in whose body now?”
The group looked at one another.
No one was entirely sure anymore.
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