I do my best to resist...

I could almost feel the spines eager to burst out of my fingers, but I grit my teeth and swallowed. I couldn't let these instincts overtake me...

What the fuck is wrong with me...?

I did wonder how it'd be like to be a woman a few times in the past, but here, ever since I wore Laura, it was constantly nagging me... The intoxicating bliss I felt that time was still vividly engraved in my mind...

Did Dahlia know I would end up feeling like this? She did say that it was addicting...

"Zack? You're okay?" Erica's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

I gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her. "Yeah... Just thinking about stuff."

Forgive me, Zack, I'm only doing that for the sake of your relationship.

I hated to admit that I did enjoy kissing Erica. She was an attractive woman, and Zack's love helped me too.

She has no idea that her fiancé has been replaced by someone else... It's so easy to steal someone's life and play their role flawlessly... These powers can truly be terrifying...

Erica and I cuddled and kissed a few more times while laying on the bed. Thankfully, she didn't seem to be in the mood to do anything more today. I hadn't dated anyone in a while, not since I broke up with my ex, Sarah. But what Erica and I did reminded me of my time with her.

Considering my situation, though, finding a new partner would be difficult...

I was a monster, after all. Claire accepted me because she was my sister and we were really close, but most people would be terrified of me should they learn about my true nature. I didn't really see any way for me to have a proper relationship with someone anymore.

This thought made me feel depressed, and I snuggled Erica closer. Her presence was comforting despite everything. I fell asleep a moment later.

I woke up the next morning hearing an unfamiliar alarm tune. I groggily opened my eyes and turned it off. I almost forgot that I was currently wearing Zack's skin. I glanced next to me, seeing Erica still sleeping. She started later than Zack so she usually stayed in bed for longer.

I got out of bed and swiftly changed into one of Zack's suits while making sure not to wake Erica up. Afterwards, I grabbed Zack's bag and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Zack liked his breakfasts simple, just some cereals and milk.

I prepared what Erica would need for her own breakfast and then left the house, going on my way to the office. I was getting slightly anxious deep down, but I did my best to keep a straight face. I was getting closer to my goal, I didn't have to be anxious...

Let's focus on the task at hand...

I parked in the underground carpark, hid my own bag underneath Zack's car, and walked into the building, letting Zack's personality guide me. I casually greeted the security guards and the reception officer, a young woman who started working there a bit before Zack joined. The two of them were on good terms due to that. We spoke for a few minutes when I suddenly noticed someone walking down the hallway towards the elevator. A familiar blonde woman in her late forties and wearing an elegant burgundy business suit...

Mother...

Despite being in a phone call, she seemed to have noticed me staring, as she looked back at me and smiled. Zack didn't interact with her much, but she did seem like a fairly decent boss compared to my father. Unlike him, she didn't treat the employees like garbage, at least. She knew their worth and what they could bring to the company. In the end, it still was for her own benefits, but she at least knew that keeping her employees happy was a good strategy to have them be more productive. It didn't prevent her from criticising them in private, though.

She disappeared into the elevator and I then went to Zack's office, ready to start his day of work. I would swap with his superior as soon as an opportunity arose. I made calls, received a few clients, managed files, wrote emails... It was a fairly tedious job but Zack didn't mind it, as the pay was good.

The opportunity I was waiting for arrived shortly before lunch time, as Zack's superior, a slightly older man, went to the bathroom. I followed him there and stabbed him with the spines, locking the door behind me.

For a moment, I felt overwhelmed due to having two souls within me, my head hurting so much that I had to lean against the wall. But, shortly after, a sort of separation happened, my skinwalker side expanding to allow me to comfortably have a second soul inside me.

I didn't have the time to dwell on that, though. I quickly stripped and removed Zack's skin before putting on the man's, all the while doing my best to ignore this uncanny feeling of becoming another man.

As I pulled his head over mine, his memories flowed into my mind like always. My new temporary identity was Xavier.

I got dressed, dressed Zack, and restored him before quickly leaving the bathroom. I didn't get the opportunity to skin someone higher on the hierarchy for the rest of the afternoon, unfortunately, since it was Saturday and most employees stopped working at noon. I grabbed my bag underneath Zack's car and drove to Xavier's flat to spend the night there. Unlike Zack, he was single, at least, so I wouldn't have to resist the temptation of skinning a woman for the time being, even if I did feel that nagging feeling a few times while looking at some of the female employees working under me.

During the evening, I removed Xavier's face and called Claire.

"Hey Ed, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm good. I'm slowly making some progress, but it might take a few more days before I come back."

"I see. Be careful, alright?"

I smiled. "I will, don't worry. That's why I'm taking my time instead of rushing things. I spotted Mother today."

"Mother?"

"Only from afar at the office, but she hasn't changed one bit."

"Are you... going to...?" Claire started, lingering on that last part to make it clear what she was asking.

It was safer to avoid mentioning skinwalker-related things on the phone, after all.

"No. I have no intention of doing that to her, it'd be far too weird. Anyway, how are things with Dahlia? Did the two of you speak more?"

She paused for a moment before speaking. "Yeah. She's... pretty nice. She's here, actually. Do you want to speak to her?"

"Sure."

I heard her take a deep breath. "Hi Ed. Are things going well?"

Her tone seemed slightly different from usual, but I assumed it was due to her being with Claire.

"Yeah, thanks to your gift, everything is going smoothly."

"I-I'm glad, then."

"There are a few things I'd like to talk about with you once I'm back, but, for the time being, keep respecting Claire's boundaries, please. I trust you."

She stayed silent for a brief moment. "Claire is an adult, you know...? I'm sure she does like how you always care for her, but she can also take care of herself."

I looked away. "Maybe I am being overprotective at times, yes, but can you blame me?"

I heard Claire's voice. "Ed, Dahlia may not be like me, but she's not that different from us deep down. And I am not the defenseless child I once was. Relax and focus on your task."

"Okay, if you say so. Have a good evening, you two." I simply replied, sighing softly.

She became a cop, after all. I know she can take care of herself... I shouldn't worry so much...

"You too. Good luck." Dahlia said before hanging up.

Old habits were hard to get rid off. I did sometimes have to protect Claire when we were younger. She was so shy and somewhat tomboyish, and was often bullied because of that. But she was right, she did work hard to be able to defend herself, I shouldn't be so overprotective anymore...

After that call, I went to the bathroom. I was too busy to notice it earlier but my original face did seem way more healthy compared to how I looked after Dahlia turned me, my skin tone wasn't pale anymore.

That's interesting...

After that, I ate dinner and went to sleep. I didn't have much to do anyway. I spent the weekend as Xavier, visiting more places I used to frequent back when I lived here. It was a nice nostalgic trip.

I got back to work on Monday, and it went fine. I managed to swap with another higher-up named Marc, slowly climbing the ranks, and was getting closer to my objective. Marc also didn't know much about any shady deals, even if he had his suspicions. Unlike Xavier, he had a wife, making it so hard to resist during the evening as him...

Although, my resolve got tested once again the day after, as the opportunity to get closer than ever to my parents appeared in the form of their secretary... Elise... She was hired two years before I got kicked out. She was a cute woman, even smaller than Dahlia, and with wavy ash-brown hair.

She was at the carpark, alone... I could so easily skin her and replace her... My skinwalker side was becoming harder and harder to repress as I was almost eyeing her like she was a prey...

Fuck... What am I supposed to do...?

Skinning her would greatly help me, but... I swore that I wouldn't wear a woman again... Could I... find another way? It would probably take at least another few days if I let this opportunity go...