Sabrina's mother joins the fray

"I suppose it would be in order for me to come along and help here."

With Caitlyn having decided she wants to go last, the only other person Barbara has to compete with for the chance to go after Sam would be Harry, who's yet to muster up the courage to jump into the game.

"No complaints here. Good luck to you, Mrs Hill. I'll jump in on the next one.."

His words not exactly convincing, Harry figured he'd just have to power through and see how it went. At least he had Barbara's turn to find whatever it was he was looking for within himself.

"So I just throw the die and read a card? Simple enough."

Barbara wasn't exactly one you'd call a seasoned boardgame veteran, if there ever was such a thing. Thankfully the game wasn't ridiculously complex, meaning even someone like her could understand the fundamental concepts necessary to play. Having played snakes and ladders back in her youth, this game didn't seem all that difference, with the exception of the cards of course.

Without any further ado, Barbara tossed the die on the coffee table, watching intently as it rolled to a standstill.

"Four! Not bad, not bad at all."

Her piece moved accordingly, ending up on the same green tyle which Troy had landed on. She perked up a little, having seen the great effects it'd had on the neighboring boy. Perhaps it would be as kind and do her some favors as well?

Spending a lifetime scurrying to earn every dollar and dime.
Losing out on your youth and not living life is the true crime.
You've done a good job up til' now, it's time to unwind.
Let's not make the same mistakes once more, time to rewind!

Do you continue or chicken out?

"If this means what I think it does.. Wow mom."

Caitlyn couldn't believe her ears. She'd seen what the game was capable of already, but this. If her hunch was right, this could be the greatest alteration as of yet. Not to mention that it appeared benign in nature.

"I believe I understand what you mean, and I'm all in! Let's continue!"

With greater excitement than what either of her daughters had ever caught her displaying, Barbara watched herself with gleeful eyes. Would she truly become younger? Could the game really turn back the clock and give back those unlived "best years of her life"?

The answer couldn't come soon enough. Barbara's whole body became blurry, like a mirage. The onlookers could barely make out the changes as they gradually made their way downwards. Starting with her hair, being previously gray, even through the shroud of distorted light one could make out that it had turned back to it's original blonde.

The full picture unveiled itself as light began acting naturally once more around the now much younger Barbara.

"HOLY SHIT MOM! You must be younger than me! You can't be older than eighteen!"

"Uhm. Wow. This is ..a lot to take in!"

Sure enough, Barbara was now eighteen again, a whole year younger than her youngest daughter. She expected to be younger, but this was a little much. Naturally, she became curious. Did she look like herself, thirty one years ago? On her way to the bathroom, she checked her old ID so see if it reflected what the game had done to her. Sure enough, it stated that she was in fact be eighteen years old.

When she made her way to the bathroom mirror, the first thing she felt was shock. As one would expect, seeing your youthful face in the reflection of a mirror for the first time in thirty one years would surely surprise anyone. The other effects of having the clock turned back on herself had made themselves quite evident just on the way over there. Having a much easier time getting up and out of the couch, moving quicker through the hallway. Even some of the mannerisms she had when she was younger had come back, as if hardcoded into her muscles themselves. Particularly, the way she fidgeted with the tip of her blonde locks when the situation became complicated or emotional.

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Harry was preparing to go next. After seeing what had happened to Sabrina's mom, he'd perked up a little. The game seeming much less frightening than before. With two undeniably good changes, and two "inconveniences", the odds seemed to be in his favor. It didn't seem inherently evil when applying changes, though the clothing which Sabrina had received left little to the imagination, and Sam's facial augmentation wasn't exactly an upgrade..

Before Barbara had made it back to the group, Harry went on and rolled the die, hoping for something equally as good as the one who went before.

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!