Sam steps up to the challenge

"Guess I should go next."

Being the naive one in the group, seeing Camila "stand up" for her friend ..it filled him with determination to do the same. Sabrina was his girlfriend after all. It was only natural for him to help her whatever it took, even if it terrified him. He couldn't deny that being upstaged by Troy in a battle of braveness got him a little rattled. He didn't want to admit it, but the tiny guy's courage warranted a bit of respect.

What's the worst that could happen?

Not actually something he dared to think too much about, he'd already seen first hand what the game was capable. Letting himself dwell on the potential consequences should his first interaction with the game be a bad one could quickly turn into a slippery slope. It's like eating a hotdog, just jump into the experience without thinking too much about what the hell you're actually engaging with..

Sam looked over at his girlfriend one last time, just to build up some courage of his own before throwing that fateful die.

Just like Camila before him, Sam's throw ended in a two. A much greater disappointment to him than it'd been to her, considering all he wanted from the game was to reach the end for the sake of his girlfriend.

"But I like my hair!"

The feisty Latina shot him a **** stare, fully believing his comment to have been a joke at her cost. Truthfully, he just failed to consider the time and place. It wasn't even a joke, he simply liked his hair, and would dislike to see it changed in any way.

"Don't forget that it also includes your face.."

Caitlyn sat smugly in her armchair, slightly enjoying the chaos which was unfolding before her. She was yet to join the game herself, but seeing Sabrina's lousy circle of friends get what they deserved. To put it bluntly, it put a big ol' metaphorical smile on her face.

"..right"

With even less spirit, Sam reached out for the yellow pile and picked up the top most card.

Scared to have your hair altered, sadly that's the name of the game.
Fret not, for there are greater plans for you than just your mane.
Pick up a page from those who you previously enjoyed to deride.
With an exterior more akin to that of the other side.

Do you continue or chicken out?

"I don't even understand half of this shit. Why does it have to be so confusing?"

Only two of the seven people present had managed to somewhat decipher what the card meant. Troy and Caitlyn. And neither had much of a reason to explain it to Sam.

"Only one way to find out!"

Camila seemed overly supportive all of a sudden. Completely out of character. Of course, she only wanted the rest of the group to get entrapped by the game. Her motivation had long since switched from helping out her friend if it had even been a motive at all. She wanted to fix herself more than anything right now, and getting all seven of them involved was already an established strategy.

"Guess you're right. So do I just say continue or what? How does this work?"

The answer came soon enough, as Sam could feel his face began to itch, accompanied by a tingling sensation in his scalp. As his face changed, his hair grew out. Not massively, just enough to compliment his now fairly feminine face.

While he already had the "pretty boy vibe" going for him before, straying even further from masculinity almost made him look a little too young. Good thing his body remained unaltered, had it received the similar treatment this story might've ended rather abruptly..

"Give it to me straight. How bad is it?"

No one wanted to be the one to tell him. Except maybe Camila, she was definitely finding comfort in Sam being altered for the worse. It's true what they say, that misery loves company.

"It's not that bad..? Like.. I can see how some would find it ..charming?"

Sabrina, who by now had overcome the initial shock of her first round was finally in a position where she could offer comfort to her boyfriend.

"Some? Not you babe? I've gotta see this."

Sam fished out his phone in an attempt to use the selfie cam to get a view of his new face only to see that it was out of battery.

"My phone's dead. Any of you guys got power?"

"No, mine's fucked too!"

"Mine too."

How peculiar..

With no other alternative, Sam got up and out of his seat and headed to the nearest bathroom. Staring back at him in the mirror was a face he'd one hundred percent make fun of if he saw it out in public or at school. He'd pestered people over far less.

Upon returning to the living room, he only had one thing to say.

"I look like I've been using some hormone treatment shit to switch genders."

Utterly defeated, he returned to his seat and kept quiet, mostly mourning his late face.

Hello!
As usual, additional chapters have already become available on my Patreon. (https://www.patreon.com/Felixfalck). Head on over there if you want to read the chapters that are yet to go public!