Explanations over drinks

John steeled himself as they approached the bar. He knew something was going on with Rachael that Zach and Amber were encouraging it. So if they weren't going to give him some answers... Well he didn't know what he was going to do but he needed to do something.

Zach noticed them first and the smile he gave them was joyous and welcoming. Amber just glared at John. Thankfully, it had none of her earlier venom and was reminiscent of a toddler who had their favorite toy taken away. John purposely kept himself between Rachael and them.

"John!" Zach called out as he lined up four glasses on the bar top. "Sorry you guys weren't having fun but let's have a toast before you go."

"Rachael was having fun." Amber said petulantly. Zach just gave her look and placed a carafe besides the glasses.

John took one look at the light green liquid that filled the carafe and sighed, "I don't think what we need right now is more ****."

"Don't worry man. It's just juice." Zach said with a chuckle that set John nerves on edge as he filled the glasses. "This comes from the local fruit and I guarantee you've never had anything like it."

Amber hungrily snatched up a glass while Rachael eagerly reached for hers. John slowly followed suit and took a moment to inspect the liquid. He could only detect a soft citrusy smell and nothing appeared to be mixed in.

"So what should we toast to?" Zach asked as he raised his glass. "To good times? Maybe missed opportunities?"

"To loving and forgiving partners?" Rachael offered with a soft smile at John. Amber's barely concealed snort earned her a glare from John.

"Perfect! To those who love us and forgive our tiny indiscretions. Cheers." Zach said as he raised his glass and knocked it back in one motion. Rachael and Amber both followed his lead and emptied their glasses with soft moans of pleasure. John tried to just take a sip but as the first drops passed his lips, something inside him took over and a moment later, he stared at his empty glass.

The juice was sweet and tart at the same time with just a touch of sharpness. John licked his lips and understood why Zach's family was rich. If they were the only ones with access to this fruit, they'd be making a mint.

However, that didn't matter. John needed answers so he cleared his throat, "We need to talk. Something is-"

"This juice came from the Flatono fruit." Zach cut John off as if he wasn't speaking. "It's a truly unique fruit. Been growing only on this island for centuries and outright refuses to take root somewhere else. It's survived countless tropical storms, multiple pest infestations, and even conquistadors setting the island on fire a couple of times."

Zach refilled everyone's glasses while he talked and John couldn't help but drain his glass again. John frowned as he felt a strange sensation in his gut.

"Oh but it's not just it’s ability to survive that makes it special. No what make this fruit truly unique is that it looks at the idiom ‘In **** lies truth’ and says ‘hold my beer.’" Zach said with a laugh and Amber giggled too.

"The locals tell tales about how this fruit will strip away the flaws of the mind and free your soul to lead your life as it always should have. They see this fruit as a gift from the gods… I mean that literally, the local library has a bunch ancient legends about how the Greek god Dionysus traveled here himself to plant the first seeds. Hell, get a few whiskeys in my Uncle and he’ll tell you stories about how my family is directly descended from the children of that drunken deity. But I digress, all that stuff isn’t really important…" Zach paused and stared John in the eyes. "Because it actually works."

A little taken back by the intense look on Zach's face, John just drained his glass. Wait, when did Zach refill it again? The strange sensation spread into his chest.

"Someone eats this fruit everyday and in a month, they're different. Every hidden desire they've buried and everything they've ever denied about themselves is brought to light. It would push them to become who they were meant to be." Zach said seriously then broke into a huge grin.

"But who’s got time for that? We have the marvels of science, technology, and all the fun things those men in lab coats do. Thanks to them my family had been able to distilled and concentrate the Flatono down to a syrup. It strengthened and sped up the effects significantly. You drink it and in days, if not hours, you’re a whole new person." Zach said before leaned in to mock whisper, "Not to mention that it goes great in cocktails."

John looked down at his glass as Zach filled it again. The strange sensation had settled into his head and all his thoughts seemed sluggish. He continued to drink.

"I mean if you don’t believe me, just look at Amber." John struggled to look up from his glass but was able to look over at Amber. She slowly sipped from her own drink and sighed softly as she licked her lips.

"She used to be somewhat shy and introverted till I met her and her boyfriend at that work conference. Deep down Amber was sexually repressed and hated how weak she felt. I shared this drink with them and by the end of the weekend she became a cock hungry slut who loves to humiliate anyone she feels is beneath her. Her boyfriend on the other hand was a schemer. It was his idea for the two of them drink this. He thought it'd turn him into some kind of alpha male but he just didn't realize how insecure he really was. Last I heard he was paying a dominatrix to lock him in a cock cage and peg his ass with a strap-on."

John felt like his body was burning up. No, he was freezing. No, his skin felt too tight. No, it was so loose it could fall off his bones. He knew it was the drink doing this but as Zach continuously refilled his glass, John couldn't stop drinking. Something wouldn't let him stop.

"Anyway, with her new found confidence, Amber was able to recognize something in Rachael. You see, deep down Rachael is what you could call a people pleaser. When she's around strong personalities she’ll change to become their friend. She'll emulate their personality or develop a shared interest and won't even realize she's doing it. The best part is that if she spends long enough with that person, that new attitude will become permanent."

That broke thru the fog in John's head. He needed to get to Rachael and get off this island. With a herculean effort he was able to set the glass down and turned to Rachael. She sipped her own drink while Amber whispered in her ear. The expression on her face matched the one he'd seen on Amber's face multiple times.

"If you hadn't grown a back bone, Rachael would have become Amber's slutty BFF. Always eager to do whatever Amber wanted. Especially if that meant sharing her big dicked boyfriend. But somehow you showed Rachael you weren't a pushover and she snapped back to being your loving girlfriend. Impressive dude!" Zach said cheerfully and clapped John on the back. He made a face as his hand came back wet with sweat and saw John's shirt was drenched. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw how much John was affected by the Flatono juice.

"Oh damn dude! I haven't seen a reaction like that in years." Zach exclaimed almost gleefully. "You're getting a full body change. The same thing happened to my cousin, Crystal... Well she's Crystal now, but she used to be a 6'2 bodybuilder called Dave. Heh but don't worry, I'm sure your changes won't be as **** as that."

John ignored Zach while he desperately **** his body to move. Unfortunately, his legs felt like jelly and he collapsed to the floor.

A sound of concern from Rachael was quickly soothed by Amber, "John's fine. He just had to much to drink again. Why don't you help Zach check on the boat and I'll make sure John gets all the help he needs."

John watched from the floor as Zach put his arm around Rachael to lead her out of the room. They didn't get three steps before Zach's hand squeezed her ass. The soft moan from Rachael told John he didn't have long. However, his body refused to work as his muscles twitched uncontrollably. All he could muster was a painfully slow crawl.

It felt like hours to move an inch but he wasn't going to give up. He would get to Rachael and get her away from these twisted bastards. Sadly, before he made it very far, a feminine foot kicked him onto his back.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" Amber asked with a sneer. In her hand she held the carafe, still half full.

"Rachael is going to get what she needs and doesn't need a piece of shit like you stopping it. Now let's make sure everyone can see just how pathetic you truly are." Amber said just before she kicked John in the side. The small cry of pain was all she needed to pour the juice on his face and into his mouth.

John tried to spit it out or even turn his head, but something deep inside him wouldn't let it happen. He greedily swallowed the entire amount and everything he'd been feeling magnified. It was too much and he felt his consciousness start to fade. He looked up at Amber saw the perverse pleasure she was taking in his pain.

"Fucking... Bitch..." was all he could get out before darkness over took him.