Flux

it mattered to him just then, as Bert held the trigger and moved the drill ever so slowly closer to his knee cap.
    “Now keep still will you!” Said Bert, mild irritation apparent in his voice. Reaching down he grabbed hold of Iain’s thrashing leg, at the ankle. Caught in a vice-like grip, the limb was immobilised. Bert continued to hum as the drill came closer. As it reached his trousers and material wrapped around the bit, Bert released the trigger and paused.
    Iain had his eyes closed, bracing himself for the pain. Through gritted teeth he mumbled: “Please God, don’t let this happen. Why me. Make it stop. Oh please God.” With the drill quiet, Iain’s eyes opened to look into the old man’s yellowing and bloodshot whites. “Please don’t do this,” he begged, tears filling his eyes, jaw twitching uncontrollably.
    “One word from you is all it will take. I’m feeling generous today. One last chance, now, will you join us?” Pulling the trigger for dramatic effect, the point grazed upon skin.
    Up until now he’d been strong, stronger than anyone would have given him credit for but he was on the verge of cracking. He thought nothing could be worse than what was about to happen. Scrunching his eyes tight shut he took in a deep breath.
    “Well?” pushed Bert
    The decision forced upon him, Iain went to speak over the high pitched screech of the drill; “Y….”
    Before the word had a chance to leave his lips, a brilliant flash of light filled the room accompanied by a giant thunderclap. Iain saw it illuminated red through tightly shut eyes, clearly defining river like structures of blood vessels contained within his lids. The drill had stopped, replaced with shrieks of rage.

    Eve stood in the cell and Bert had spun to face her, snarling. No longer the support worker, she was transformed into something larger and way more powerful. Gone were the smart professional clothes and glossy lipstick; although her lips were still red. She stood tall, barefoot and clothed in a simple pristine white dress which flowed down to her ankles. With wild hair and fire in her eyes she spoke to Bert in a voice brimming with force and yet still gentle at the same time. “Be gone with you, you vile, foul creature. Get back to where you came from and never again sully the earth with your filth!”
    The old man stood tensed as if ready to pounce, or flee. Iain thought Bert might be a little afraid and looked on with relief, confusion and fear all at the same time.
    “You have no business being here!” Bert spat out.
    “I’m making it my business,” she replied calmly, totally unafraid. “Now, let him go and be gone.”
    “No,” he said, a hint of hesitation in his voice.
    Eve raised a hand, showing her palm to Bert who leapt into action, making for the door. Before he got even one step, what Iain could only describe as lightning shot from her open hand, the simultaneous booming of thunder once again filled the cell, bringing dust and dirt from the ceiling, floating down to settle on Iain’s head.
    As his hearing came back to him, livid shrieks filled the room and as his sight returned the first thing he saw was Eve, bathed in light. On the floor at her feet was what he could only imagine to be Bert, or the remains of him. The striped pyjamas were gone, reduced to smouldering rags and the skin beneath had blistered and split as if it were superheated wax. Tendrils of smoke were still rising from it. Where the skin was broken, shining green armour like scales were exposed, revealing the beast within. Bert’s face had also split, vertically from chin to forehead and from this maw pointed a large snout full of teeth; reminding Iain of an alligator. From here, angry screams rang out while a forked tongue thrashed.
    Clawing the remnants of human flesh, Bert, or whatever he really was, tore it away as if it still burned. Climbing out as a person would from a sleeping bag, the lizard-like creature beneath appeared way too big for the skin which had once housed it; the dimensions were all wrong.
    Eve looked on with contempt as it scuttled from the room and away down the corridor, dragging a cumbersome and heavy tail behind.

    Iain stared on in disbelief as Eve turned to him and smiled. He wanted to say something but couldn’t think of the words. Touching her fingertips to the shackles which bound him, they fell away, clattering to the floor.
    “Hello Iain. How are you?” her voice kind and gentle as he