A Possession A Daybreak

“I w-w-weally don’t know who you are!” Stupid boy. Who do you think I am? Big fucking daddy bear, turning up in the middle of your apartment in the middle of the night while you’re lying in the middle of your bed.

Come now, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten just because you have a boyfriend now? How many lonely, sleepless nights have I kept you company, helped you tug one out, smothered your tears with my luxurious beard?

I wasn’t there? You’re going to listen to me boy, and you’re going to listen good because Papa Unff Bear’s no fool, he’ll let any old Tom, Dick, Harry on the streets run his name to the ground for all he cares. But to have his boy, the one he’s cared for and cherished tell him, to his face, that he wasn’t there for him??!? You better have a damn good reason and you better spit it out fast boy because Papa Unff Bear is a patient man but you’re really testing the limits now.

Oh don’t you give me that “I remember you now” fake-ass pretense. You’re talking to me boy, only thing worse than an ingrate is a liar and Papa Unff Bear can smell one from a mile off. You have no clue whatsoever do you boy?

That’s better. That’s what I thought. Papa Unff Bear likes cubs who tell the truth, that’s something. Something Papa can work with. Now listen up cub because Papa Unff Bear’s got some learning to do you for. Your old Papa Unff Bear here’s real simple: he’s every wet dream you’ve ever had, every boner you’ve ever popped, every little moan you’ve made with that mouth of yours.

Sh, cub, Papa’s talking. No man is perfect but Papa Unff Bear sure as hell is and more. I’m every single missed connection, every time your words have failed you, every time you’ve walked home from the bar, alone, again. Do you get it now? When you cry yourself to sleep, pining and hoping for someone to be there for you, to hold you close and press their body against you, I’m right there by your side. When you get nasty by yourself in the bedroom I’m with you the whole way, riding that high. When you walk out of your apartment the next day, preened and prepped and ready to try again, I’m the little skip in your step, egging you on, spurring you forward.

Is this a dream? I suppose that’ll be reeeaal convenient for you now, wouldn’t it boy? That you’ll just wake up and forget that you ever forgot good old Papa Unff Bear but no, boy, I may exist only within your mind but I’m as real as the next image you conjure up with that silly little noggin. Truthfully, I’ll be far stronger, years and years of desire-fuelled thoughts will do that for you. I guess I should thank you boy, you’ve kept me hale and hearty, though I hoped that you would have remembered me by now, what with you getting it good every night for the past couple of weeks.

Of course I know about that, foolish boy. I live in your head, remember? So I know all about the new boyfriend and how he’s moving in with you and how you’re so in love, like you’ve never known before. So in love, you can’t even spare a thought for your dear old Papa Unff Bear. That’s ok. That’s alright. Papa Unff Bear understands. He’s happy for you even. All Papa Unff Bear ever wants is to understand his cub. So how do you think Papa Unff Bear feels when his cub can’t even begin to do that for him? No thank yous, no parting words, no kisses goodbye, NOTHING. So Papa came on out, popped right out of that little space in your brain that you usually reserve for him. Did that ever feel good, to be able to shake these thunder thighs once more. Don’t suppose you realise that Papa’s mental penthouse has been growing ever so slightly more cramped and run-down these past few weeks, have you? No I don’t suppose you have, what with all the real estate you’ve been freeing up for darling Joe.

Oh, so now that I mention Joe someone wants to act all brave? Well two can play at that game, except one of us isn’t a quaking, snivelling mess. Don’t you worry your sweet head, honey bunches, I’ve got nothing against Joe. He’s not the one who lived with me and grew up under my care only to toss me aside the moment something better and more permanent came along. Oh no, my beef, all my beef, is purely with you. Whether you meant to or not, you were going to take away everything from me. So I think it’s only fair that I take everything away from you.

Seriously, you’re going to try running away from me? I’m sure that’ll work out just great for you, loads of stories out there of people successfully ignoring their thoughts forever, yessiree.

Aw, come now. Don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s so ugly on you. Hmph, you really are just one big baby bear aren’t ya? Look at it this way, you’ll finally be a real dreamboat of a dom daddy, no more wishful thinking needed. Isn’t that what you always wanted? Don’t bother answering, of course it is, how else would I end up like this?

Sh, sh, quiet cub. I won, you lost. That’s all there is to it. Now hold still.

---

Is that you Joe? Give me a minute, I’m just stepping out of the shower.

What, you’ve never seen your boyfriend naked before? Come on in, silly.

Yeah, I went out and bought all this gear while waiting for you to come home, thought we could really spice it up tonight.

He caught himself staring into the circles which represented the eyes for a bit too long before he realised he was sitting ramrod straight and the hairs on his arms were standing on end. He chuckled nervously to himself as he looked around the room but he was alone, naturally. A book of ghost stories it seemed, he used to devour these as a kid. Maybe Mr. Quille had thought Ryan would enjoy reading through them, though why he would think that, Gary couldn’t say. He cracked it open to reveal brand new, bone-white pages. He paused, up till now he had assumed that it had been an old possession of Mr. Quille’s, maybe some relic from his childhood. Yet, everything seemed to be pointing to the contrary. With his curiosity mounting, he settled down for a good read. He turned and plumped up the cushions, figuring he’d flip through a story or two. He flicked the pages at random, as images, clearer and more vibrant than he had ever envisioned began to form in his mind…

Blood Ties

The package on the doorstep was soft and shapeless but Saul still couldn’t help but feel threatened by it. It didn’t make any sense, the amount of anxiety he felt towards this inanimate object. No label, no card.  Just plain, waxy, brown paper. He didn’t know why he felt so worried, it was probably a gift from a friend, or perhaps some long-lost family member?

He pondered still, for a few minutes more, wondering why he was wondering so much about it, before finally gritting his teeth and ripping open the wrapping. He stared at the contents for a moment before bursting out in laughter at his own foolishness. The package he had been so worried about simply contained some pieces of what looked to be a formal suit. A… very expensive one at that. The strange, unsettling feeling crept in again. He shook his head, he wondered what his forefathers would have thought of him, losing his mind over clothing of all things. Saul did his best to maintain his composure as he unfolded it, holding it up against his own body. Whoever sent this package definitely seemed to know him. If he didn’t know any better he’d have said it was tailor-made for him but that was a ridiculous idea, wasn’t it?

He tried the shirt on first, marvelling at the smooth, buttery feel of the fabric. He relished the effortless way his knuckles slid along the length of the sleeve, so flawless was the craftsmanship. If it didn’t feel so good to wear it, he might have been more creeped out by how well it wrapped around him, how nicely it sat on his chest and shoulders. He struck a pose in front of the mirror, smiling in spite of himself. Did he look paler than usual? Maybe he hadn’t been getting enough sun lately. He shuddered at the thought.

The rest of the suit was just as exquisite, if not more. With each new article of clothing, Saul could feel his incredulity and enjoyment growing in equal parts. Whatever suspicions he had had evaporated as he savoured the act of dressing himself. He felt, no, he knew he was irresistible in all this finery. Dressed like this, he’d be able to charm the pants off of anyone, everyone. He stopped to take a look at himself in the mirror again, taking a moment to fish his heavy pocket watch out of the vest. He smiled to himself as he checked his timing, he still had it… though what exactly he still had he couldn’t remember for the life of him. He didn’t know why such a thought had popped into his head, unbidden. He looked good no doubt but for the barest moment, he thought he had seen his face turn mean, the shadow of a split-second sneer. What was scarier was how he could feel some part of him was wishing for it to come back. He stared intently at his reflection in a mix of fear and reverence, almost daring it to act before him. It was only when he felt his gaze begin to blur until he could barely see anything anymore that he blinked himself back to reality.

At last, came the tie. He picked it up and let it flow across his open palm, admiring the red and gold fabric. It felt so small in his beefy hands. He hadn’t realised before today how built up he was but now he relished it, rolling his haunches as he appreciated his own width. Apparently sometimes a perfectly tailored suit helped you to appreciate yourself better, who could have guessed? He certainly knew he’d never be able to wear anything else after today, the material fit him as snugly as a second skin, made him feel powerful, in control. He wrapped it around his neck, letting it hang loosely over his frame. Bringing his hands up, he knotted it in one swift, practiced motion. So mesmerised was he with his own appearance, he barely even registered that his hands seemed to be moving of their own accord, tightening the knot until it felt like it was biting into his soft exposed neck. His eyelids drooped down, and then, darkness.

Saul laid on the floor for a few moments, blinking. He sat up and gave himself a once over, then did so a second time but he knew he’d be alright, he was himself now. He stood and looked at the mirror, smirking as he did so. No reflection, but he’d expected as much. He rolled his shoulders, and once again, ran his hands along the fabric, feeling his clothes, feeling himself. He ran his newly claimed tongue over his teeth, noting that they still retained the familial sharpness. 

It had been a long time since he had last fed. People generally didn’t respond well to his kind. He couldn’t blame them for driving him out of town and threatening to burn his estate. But that didn’t matter now. He had done what was necessary to survive. Anyone who might have known him was long dead by now and people in general had long forgotten that creatures like him even existed. The paperwork would arrive soon enough, for the great-grandson who shared his name. In time, he would return to his rightful home and resume his old life there. Until then, Saul Senior had a terrible thirst to quench… 

~~~~

Gary looked up from the book, a little stunned. He thought Mr. Quille had said that it was for Ryan as much as him, that ‘your son could learn a lot from it’. This certainly wasn’t a book he could describe as being educational to anyone, not with the contents thus far. He couldn’t deny he had enjoyed himself though. As creepy as the tale was, it had fired his imagination, filled his mind with vivid scenes in a way that he hadn’t experienced before. He looked at the words on the page, secretly replaying the pictures in his head, again, and again, and again. He turned the page and kept reading…

Halloween Spirit

“I told you already Cole, I’ll take you trick or treating later-”

“But Dad, it’s 5pm already! The streetlights are coming on and all the pumpkins have been lit…”

“Cole Alphonsus Daniels, for the last time, we’ll go out, when I say we go out. Is that clear?”

“...yes sir.”

“Good. Now find some way to entertain yourself while I finish work. After that we’ll hit the streets.” 

Cole scowled as his father ruffled his hair. He ducked to avoid any further displays of affection and found his way to the front yard to sit on the porch. Holding his head in his hands, he stared glumly as people had begun to fill the streets. He longed to join but here he was, confined to waiting for his dad. 

His gaze wandered, looking for something, anything, interesting to look at and found himself staring dead ahead at the pumpkin sitting on the fence. There was something weird about it, other than the way it seemed to be evenly matching his gaze. Then it hit him, the pumpkin was unlit. Cole frowned, he thought he had made sure to get all of them earlier. He got up to light it, grabbing the candle from the lantern nearest to him. 

“Guess you’re missing out too huh, little guy?” He said as he waited for the wick to catch flame. He smiled as the pumpkin flickered to life.

“Well that’s you taken care of. Now if only my dad could hurry up and get out here.” The pumpkin flickered again. If Cole didn’t know better, he would have said it was winking at him. 

---

Gil Daniels tapped away at his keyboard, muttering to himself. He moved to open another document, glancing at the clock as he did so. Another hour before he planned to leave the house, plenty of time. He rubbed at his temples to try to alleviate some of his headache. Damn, he was getting old, if not in body, then in spirit. He picked up his mug and took a sip of coffee, leaning back in his chair as he did so. He licked his lips. The coffee sure tasted good today. Did Lauren do something special to it? He took another sip. Kind of like a pumpkin spice latte. Usually he hated those but this one tasted fresher somehow, more authentic. He closed his eyes and drank deeply, downing it in one go. He felt a warm glow permeate through his body, washing through every fibre of his being. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and smiled.

---

“Ready to go sport?” 

Cole jumped, nearly dropping the candle he was still holding. His father was standing in the doorway, beaming away, arms akimbo.

“Ye-yeah! Let me put this candle back.” He turned to the pumpkin he had just been talking to. “Did you do this?” The pumpkin stared merrily back at him but the flame held steady. “Well, if you did, thanks.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking to but I’m over here kiddo!” His father laughed as he spoke, a loud, hearty, chuckle. He took the candle from Cole as he approached and set it back in the original pumpkin. He turned to Cole, with mischief in his eyes.

“Race you to the next house.” Cole watched with wonder as his dad set off on a brisk jog. He giggled and dashed ahead of him, heading straight for the neighbour’s door, and rang the doorbell thrice for good measure.

“Beat you dad!” Cole laughed as his father saluted his victory. 

“What’s all this then?” Cole turned to the source of the harsh new voice and his smile wilted. He had forgotten about the cranky old man who lived here. He opened his mouth to say something but words failed him. He felt a reassuring hand clapped onto his shoulder and turned to see his dad.

“Pardon my son’s enthusiasm, we’re trick or treating for Halloween. Surely you understand?” He said, reaching his hand out. Cole watched as the old man initially jerked backwards, ready to slam the door shut but the instant his dad grabbed onto him, he stopped. The old man closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them with a wide smile. 

“Of course, of course, wait here, I’ll be only a moment.” The old man winked at Cole and walked back into the house, ostensibly to fetch some candy. Cole smiled warily back at him. Once he was out of earshot, Cole turned to his father.

“That was… kind of weird.”

His father shrugged good-naturedly.

“Seems the holiday spirit is particularly infectious today.” He said with a grin.

~~~~

Gary felt his head snap up as he finished the last word. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been reading for but it suddenly felt like it must have been hours. He looked at the TV to check the clock but was greeted by a black screen. When had he switched it off? He turned to his watch, still early in the afternoon, as evidenced by the sunlight streaming in through the windows. He wasn’t sure why he was so concerned about the time, it wasn’t as if he was going to go anywhere, he needed to take care of Ryan at home. Mr. Quille had told him as much. ‘A boy needs his father.’ He found himself nodding along in agreement, before realising how silly he must have looked to anyone watching. Thankfully Ryan was still in his room. Besides, he was really getting into a reading groove now, he looked back down as he turned the page, eager for the next story…

Bared Souls

Bernard was running. He wished that he knew where he was moving to but he knew that didn’t matter as much as staying on the move. He’d gone too deep into the forest this time and now there was a bear chasing after him. He knew his chances weren’t good but what choice did he have? He threw cautionary glances behind him every now and then, hoping the beast would get bored and wander off but he couldn’t be sure, so he kept running.

As his lungs began to scream for oxygen and his legs threatened to give out, he slowed down and thrust his hand against a thick tree trunk for support. He tried to steady his breathing, not quite willing to look around just yet. Either he had lost the bear, or he’d be overtaken in seconds due to exhaustion. He closed his eyes, hoping against hope it was the former. After a few minutes of not being mauled to death, he allowed himself a cautious look around. No bear, thank goodness. But… no signs of civilisation either. He frowned.

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire eh old boy?” He whispered to himself, trying to calm his nerves. He sat down and pulled his compass and map out, trying to get a sense of where he could go from here. Unfortunately he couldn’t see any landmarks near his position. He tried to stand up but sat back down almost immediately, his head spinning. He knew he’d probably find his way out with enough time but it suddenly occurred to him that he was very, very, very tired. He leaned against the tree trunk, figuring he’d rest his eyes for just a few minutes. Just a few minutes, that’s all… 

---

When he woke up, the first thing he noticed was how much darker it was. Cursing his own foolishness, he stood up, alert, and angry with himself. Grumbling, he pulled out his compass and map again, squinting as best as he could in the fading light. Then he heard a growl. No, no, no, this couldn’t be happening. The growl came again, louder this time. He swung around, cursing under his breath, trying to locate the source of the noise. With the third and loudest growl yet, he bolted off in the opposite direction, fleeing for his life. 

He ran until he once again could not run anymore. He looked around even as he panted for breath. More trees, still no sign of where he could be. With the sunlight rapidly fading, it was looking like he’d have to spend the night in the woods. How could he have been so ill-prepared? He’d be lucky not to freeze to death. That was, if the bears didn’t find him first. He walked with one hand outstretched, as the woods grew darker still. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was trying to find, if anything. He just kept putting one foot in front of the other. 

Then the growling started again. Bernard grit his teeth, trying not to scream out in frustration and despair. This time he didn’t even have the slightest idea where it had come from. It was as if it had sounded all around, or maybe even from inside him. Insanity had come for him it seemed. He tilted his head, straining his ears, begging them to help him pick out which direction the bear was. He could scarcely trust his own senses as the growling began to fade away. Bernard breathed easily for a few moments. He turned his head to the front, only to find himself face to face with the bear.

He yelped out in fright, before he even realised he should not have been able to see anything in the darkness, let alone the bear. The bear did not blend in against the dark woods. Instead it glowed, brightly at that. Tendrils of light radiated off of its body and dissipated lazily into the air. The bear licked its nose, apparently entirely unbothered by Bernard or his palpable fear. It stepped closer and Bernard realised it made no noise as it moved. Even though he knew it made no sense, he could see through the bear. He could see the leaves it stepped on remain as scattered and unflattened as they were before. 

The bear tilted its head and yawned at him, before pawing the ground and walking past him. Bernard didn’t realise he was holding his breath until the bear turned to look at him. Incredulous, he watched as the bear gestured with its head, twice. Follow me, it seemed to be saying. He stepped forward cautiously, shivering as he did so. Whether it was from the cold or fear, he couldn’t say. He stepped forward again, closer and closer, until he was directly alongside the bear.

And then the bear stepped into him.

Bernard stood stock still, certain he was going mad and seeing things. Yet, he could feel the bear as it continued to align itself against his flesh. Against all logic, he felt obliged to get on all fours so the bear could do so more comfortably. As the bear filled him, he felt a sense of extraordinary calm. His face twitched as he felt his senses heighten. New smells, new sounds, a completely different way of experiencing the world. He crawled forward, expecting to feel foolish, only to realise how natural his movements felt.

He broke into a running gait, as if he had known how to do so his entire life. His heart beat a steady thrum in his chest as he navigated the woods. It was all so simple, so obvious. How had he not realised it before? He headed easily through the winding roads, following the smells and clues towards where he knew humans would be. He ran for what must have been hours but not once did he grow tired. He felt alive, more than he had ever known throughout his years of existence. No need for fear, no sense of urgency, just purity of movement towards the goal that was emblazoned in his mind. 

He came to the edge of the woods as the solid darkness began to give way to a pale blue. Not that he had needed the light to make his way through the night. He arched his back and felt himself stand up straight. At the same time he felt as if something was slipping out of him. His senses dulled rapidly back to normalcy but now it was jarring and unfamiliar. He turned back to see the same radiant bear again. He looked towards the road, the one that would take him back to civilisation. After the night he had had, it would be nice to return back home to a warm shower and bed. Even as he thought of his modern comforts, he couldn’t help feeling that something was missing, that he’d remain forever incomplete if he walked out of these woods as he was now.

He turned to look at the bear again. This time, it was he who gestured with his head. Twice. The bear looked as impassive as ever and he worried for a moment that it would turn back into the woods. Then it stepped forward, until it was alongside him. This time, it was Bernard who stepped willingly into the waiting spirit, for now he knew what it was. Their bodies aligned once more, the two took a few tentative steps, before throwing their head back and roaring as one.

~~~~

Gary sat with the book open in his lap. He stared blankly at the ceiling as his lips parted ever so slightly. The book rose into the air but Gary made no sign that he was aware of it, or anything at all for that matter. The pages began to flip rapidly but even as they flapped in his face, they remained neat, uncreased, orderly. As they approached the ends of the book, the pages picked up speed until it snapped shut. Whatever enchantment it was under seemed to come to an end as the book began to fall to the ground, only to be caught by a thick, deft hand. Gary blinked, and smiled as he looked over the book once again. Gone was any design that might have been tattooed on it. The front and back were now identical smooth dark faces. He smiled to see his own name now written in bold gold lettering down the length of the spine. He popped the book open, to the page he knew the dedications would be written on. 

“To my neighbour, Gary, whose door is always open to me.”

Chuckling, he closed the book just as Ryan came out of the room.

“Hey Ryan.”

“Wha-uh, yeah dad?”

“Want to go trick or treating?”

“Uhhhhh, I thought I was grounded.”

“You still are mister but I can make an exception as long as you’re with me.”

Ryan looked as if he wanted to roll his eyes but the chance to get out of the house was too golden to pass up.

“...Ok, let me get changed.” Ryan said, before bounding back into his room, clearly eager to leave.

Gary smiled. He got up and stretched out his arms, flexing his fingers as he looked at them admiringly. He called out to Ryan.

“Yeah, in fact, any minute now. Let me go get my stuff, I want to be ready to leave when he comes.” He grabbed his phone as he walked to his room, closing the door just a tad faster than normal. Something was not right. No, I thought darkly, nothing was right about this. A stern expression came over my face as I closed my eyes. Focus, I just needed some time to think, with this mind I could work out what I needed to do. I clenched my fists, and grit my teeth as I pondered. My father, my own father, the man who raised me, betraying me like this? How could he not tell me he was coming over? Sweat formed on my furrowed brow as I fumed, trying, failing to cool me off. I forced myself to breathe, to take my time. Certainly this was an affront to my senses but any one who saw me like this would think I had gone insane, becoming this worked up over nothing at all. But I had spent this long, worked this hard, only for that bumbling fool to come along and mess with things. I tried to console myself it would only be for an afternoon, no time at all really but inside my heart I knew I was lying to myself. I had become obsessed with this young man, this youth who was now my son. Having him listen to me, talk to me, look up to me, it was heaven. That had been another reason for taking this host, besides his obvious merits. How could I compete with the old man? He was my senior in every way. I couldn’t allow my son to be stolen away under my nose like that. Then again, this father of mine, it was his blood that coursed through my veins, the one who gave me this strong heart to beat his blood through my veins. I grinned, the solution had been so obvious, how could I have been so blind? I shook my head to myself in disbelief, how foolish I had been to not see the enormity of this golden opportunity on a silver plate. The doorbell rang, and I grinned, things were falling into place, everything would be in order, no, they would be even better than before. I heard the sound of my son’s door being opened.

“Is that Grandpa?” I heard his voice.

“Let me check” I hollered back, chuckling to myself as I did so.

Sure enough when I checked the peephole, I saw the familiar visage of my father, my old man standing outside, patiently waiting. I opened the door.

“Hiya Pops.”

“Oh, morning son. Hope you don’t mind, I planned to take Nate fishing. You can come along too if you want!” He laughed to himself, a hearty roar, like a large ashy fire. I marvelled at the sound and subconsciously licked my lips. I could barely contain my excitement.

“Sounds great Pops, I may just join you two but I’ve got something to show you. Come in, come in, we can talk more in my room.”

He graciously accepted my invitation as I undid the locks. Smiling to myself, I chained the gate and shut the door, making sure there was no way anyone could come in, or out. 

I led the way to my room, opening the door for my father. He stepped in imperiously, with the air of a man who had gotten his way all his life. Not arrogant, it was just how things worked when you were as loved and respected as he was.

“Alright son, what did you want to tell me?”

I smiled, my eyes lighting up with genuine joy.

“Hold still old man.”

I saw the barest frown begin to form on his face as his brow furrowed in puzzlement. He began to open his mouth to ask the question I knew was forming in his mind. I knew what he was going to say. I didn’t care, instead I lunged at his throat. He choked in a mixture of shock, panic, and utter confusion. He spluttered as he tried to yell out but the cry died in his throat as I held on, my penetrating gaze boring deep into his eyes. He whimpered slightly as he stared back, his pupils rapidly dilating, his normally half-shut eyes now open wide in terror and awe. I had him. I tilted my head back and began to push myself out. Slowly, surely, I unstuck the various parts of myself from within my host. My spectral form tore free from the muscle and bone it had been so deeply encased in for the past few days. I felt his senses began to leave me as his limbs grew numb and his eyes grew dull as I continued to detach myself. My host gagged as he coughed up more and more of my essence. I sighed, apparently even in death I could not escape from certain problems. When I had been alive I had been a large man. Now, I certainly had the spirit to match, just not always the body to go along with it. This vessel had been fairly accommodating, if a bit of a squeeze. The remnants of my ghostly belly bubbled up from my host’s, leaving only my tail to wiggle around in his throat. Just another oddity of being a ghost, though I supposed there was little need for legs if one could just as easily hover over the ground. I rubbed my plump hands together in anticipation. But I couldn’t leave just yet. I clutched on to my hefty paunch, digging in to grab handfuls of ectoplasm. Turning to my host with a loving look, I gently laid it over his face. It jiggled there momentarily, before sinking through his nose, his eyes, and soon it was pouring through every available orifice, heading straight for his brain. I felt the welcome return of his sight, his touch, his taste, though they were different now, faded in a way. No matter, so long as I still retained control, still dictated every breath he took, every step he made. Having finished the necessary preparations, I turned back to the old man. His shallow breaths indicated he was still under, still waiting but close, too close to consciousness. I smiled, a fighter, he would serve me well. I rubbed my hands together once again, straightening them out as far as they would go. Using my hosts’s mouth as a makeshift springboard, I lifted myself into the air, and dove straight into the old man’s open jaw.

Oh, what a RUSH. I could feel him, his spirit as it thrashed away, aware of this foreign presence, this threat to itself. I tunneled further, deeper still, pushing past the walls of red and white to the soft ethereal core. In one smooth motion, I grabbed onto it as I swung myself upright using the momentum I had gained, and pressed my own into it. It shuddered as it felt the unwelcome intrusion, the way it unwillingly yielded to take in mine, the way it could do nothing but accept me.

I opened my eyes, feeling a brand new set of senses fill my consciousness, swamping me with new information. I closed my eyes as I drank it all in, gluttonously sucking in as much as I could. More, more, more. I choked, opening my eyes involuntarily as I huffed a few short pants. Looking at me lovingly... was me. Even now as I looked at him, I could also see him looking at me through his eyes. We smiled in unison, lips curling up perfectly in sync. I smirked and he did as well. I laughed, and the bass of our voices layered effortlessly with each other, bouncing around the room. Together, we began to unbutton our shirts, unbuckle our belts. As the clothes slipped off our bodies we tumbled onto the nearby couch, staring at each other, scarcely breathing as we gazed at each other’s beauty. As the old man, I laid down first, slowly curling my back while still ensuring I could see my son. As my son, I brought my hairy body atop my father’s. We shivered, feeling the way our fur, our skin, brushed against each other, every contact a small jolt of pleasure. We looked at each other, entranced. It was understood what was to be done, no words needed to be said.

---

I stepped out of the room as the old man. Strong as these bodies were, the rapid sequence of activity had drained the younger. It was time for me to rest, but also time for me to continue my day afresh, with the adrenaline rush of a new host. I stepped out into the living room to see a young man sitting on the couch, staring at his phone. He looked up as I approached.

“Grandpa! You’re here!” He said, surprised. I closed my eyes from the abrupt rush as he addressed me, so trusting, so sincere.

“Sorry son,” I rumbled, “didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Had some matters to discuss with your dad.”

“Oh.” His face fell as he cast his eyes downwards. I frowned but stayed silent, sensing he wanted to say something.

“About dad... he’s been acting kind of weird lately. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” Ah, so that was the problem. I patted myself on the back mentally, clearly I was on a streak of good decisions, making all the right moves.

At this point I was certain I was screaming but was only met with further silence. I seemed to be dead, slumped over on the desk and yet I was also floating in the air, halfway to the ceiling. Nothing was making sense. I saw Matsumoto Sensei shake my shoulder, heard him calling my name but my body didn’t move an inch. In front of me, he checked my pulse, and started yelling to others to call emergency services, to fetch other teachers, to let people know that something was very, very wrong. I watched, frozen, as people panicked, as they moved around me, as they moved me, my body around. All I could think of was to stay by Matsumoto Sensei, he would know what was going on, he would know what to do. 

And then an odd thought came to me, and the thought became an urge, and the urge became a movement, and the movement became an action. I moved close to him and hugged him from the side, tentatively at first. I… felt, for lack of a better word, some hint of the strong muscular body he was hiding beneath his clothes. I thought I detected a scent, ever so faint, of what he smelled like. An oddly pleasant mix of coffee, paper, cologne, laundry powder. I buried my face in his shirt sleeve, relishing the brief snatches where I could almost feel what it was like. When he didn’t respond I moved my head from his sleeve to his back, pressing my face as closely as I dared against his back. I wanted to be close to him, to press myself as tightly against him as possible, to feel his warm, strong presence, reminding me that everything would be all right.

And then slowly I felt feeling return to my limbs, and it was the feeling that I had been longing for, the feeling of his clothes covering his body, how it wrapped around him and clung to him. I felt the distant pump of a heart in my ears as it grew louder, moving closer to me. I felt a surge of strength, and for a moment I felt almighty, invincible, omnipotent. I struggled to open my mouth and when I finally did I gasped, breathing deeply, hungrily sucking as much air as I could into my lungs, my chest heaving away as it worked to inhale, exhale, keep me alive. Alive. I felt so alive. I blinked, and realised that I was suddenly looking through glasses again. I felt tall, towering over the floor but not floating anymore, instead my entire body seemed to have extended to a new height that I could only have dreamed of. I blinked again and the world came back into focus, colour rapidly returning, and a face came into view. I blinked, the face seemed unfamiliar and yet I knew they were a teacher.

“Matsumoto?! Matsumoto, are you alright?!”

I blinked again. Recognition sparked in my mind and I knew they were the homeroom teacher from the adjacent class. But I had never spoken to them in my life, and why was she calling me Matsumoto? And for that matter where was Matsumoto Sensei? Her voice came again, urgent.

“Matsumoto, please respond! Let me know you’re alright!”

“Uh-.” I began. “I-.” Something felt weird, something was different about my voice, it wasn’t supposed to be so low, it wasn’t supposed to sound like… Matsumoto Sensei. 

“I-I’m alright” I managed to stammer out, the bass of my voice shocking me even as I spoke. She flashed me a concerned look. I held her steady gaze, despite everything being beyond my understanding, something in me felt, solid, stable, unmoving.

“Yes, I’m alright.” I affirmed, and somehow I knew that I was speaking the truth. I was alright. Things were going to be OK. I just needed to find Matsumoto Sensei. He’d know what to do.

She looked doubtful but turned to face something else, apparently there were more pressing issues at hand then a student who had been mute up to this point. I… was a student right? Somehow I had thought for a moment that I was a teacher, but that couldn’t be right. She walked off in a direction of some commotion and I followed closely behind her. A crowd of people were gathered around what seemed to be an ambulance, and being loaded into that ambulance, was me.

I stood there, dumbfounded. That didn’t make any sense. I tried to make my way through the crowd, but there were too many people. Suddenly a buzzing came from my pants. When had I put on such a pants and belt? This wasn’t my school uniform. This sleeved shirt wasn’t mine, it was what Matsumoto Sensei was wearing… Dazed, I pulled my phone out. But it wasn’t my phone, the model was different and the background was cherry blossoms instead of my favourite band. I looked closer to see the message was from ‘Principal Kobayashi’, asking about my whereabouts. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to know. I swiped to the forward facing camera, and saw Matsumoto Sensei looking back at me.

I was stunned but somehow not truly surprised. Somehow I had known before I had seen, that somehow or another I was not myself, and that I was Matsumoto Sensei, in his body. A call came in then, from the Principal and I answered. For a moment I worried about what I was going to say but my body seemed to know, answering rapid-fire questions as I made my way to the front of the crowd. Now they readily parted for me as they saw who I was, bowing quickly out of the way. Principal Kobayashi motioned to me to get into the ambulance and I obliged. He began talking to me, asking what had happened and I told him about how I had fainted in class, how I had checked my breathing, called the ambulance. It all seemed surreal, how calm and composed I was acting but I couldn’t feel anything but, Matsumoto Sensei was an experienced teacher and I was Matsumoto Sensei. We arrived at the hospital and I followed still in a daze, absentmindedly looking at my phone now and then, seeing the same face I had come to know staring back at me in the black glass. I was Matsumoto Sensei. I was him. Somewhere inside me, he was here as well but I was the one in control. As I moved I studied my hands, studied my arms, so different from mine and yet I felt completely comfortable moving, using them. I became aware of something heavy in my shirt pocket and pulled it out to reveal the wrapped mochi we had gifted to him earlier. 

Come here you big old bear. I commanded, teasingly. He blinked, then stepped forward compliantly. He still wore the same uneasy expression on his face but there was nothing he could do to stop me. I stroked his moustache tenderly as I coaxed his mouth open. With a final coil, I plunged straight into him.

Instantly I felt the strength and the power of this mighty body as it attempted to fight back, choking down my essence. But I was too quick, too evasive, as I expanded out into the huge man, I felt my form assume his characteristics, his trunk-like legs, his generous torso, his thick piston-like arms. I marvelled at these, this man clearly had had a jackpot of good genetics, testosterone coursed through his entire being. A man, a true, honest-to-goodness man. Hardworking, capable, dependable, stoic, passionate. His cock bulged out desperately as I entered, both of us experiencing the combined euphoria. He groaned deeply as I pushed myself into every last crevice of his body and soul. His eyes rolled back into his head from the immense pleasure that was quaking through his entire being. I leaned forward and forced him to snarl and growl like the animal, the hulking beast that he was. I squared his shoulders, so tense, as I pressed in, further, deeper, burrowing into the core of his person, devouring it whole. With an almighty final effort, I slammed into his spirit, sealing myself within as our body shook with a thunderous wave.

Slowly, I felt feeling return to numb limbs and a growing awareness of how truly gigantic I now was. I felt myself, towering over the floor, easily seven feet of pure beef. My legs stood firm, planted to the ground, stoic, stable, unmoving. I clutched onto my belly, feeling the thick, rippling layers of muscle and fat, the product of years of hard labour. I clenched my hands, feeling the callouses chafe against each other as I made fists as large as lesser men's heads. My brawny forearms, packed with so much muscle, bristled away as I attuned myself to this new body. Finally I opened my eyes, watched as the smoke slowly cleared and the world stopped spinning around me. I was a bit dazed but I was an ox. A mere possession would not be able to take me down. At least not physically. In mind, I was dominant, having subsumed his in the process of entering him. He would guide me in this body, teaching me how to wield this strength, this presence. How to command and lead, just as a real man would. I grinned, feeling the tips of my bushy moustache curl up as I did so. I grabbed my bulge, feeling pleasure course through my veins, deep groans and utterances escaped my mouth involuntarily. This body was built perfectly for purposes other than just work. I was so wide that the doorways had been built around my frame, everyone always wondered about the sheer expanse of the house until they saw just who lived there. I had commissioned this personal gym to be built, having grown tired of the inadequacy of those in the neighbourhood. I exhaled deeply, hot air blowing past my moustache and into my beard, trim and tidy, I could grow it out more, a man ought to. Putting my hands into my pockets I was prodded by a memory of my grandchild's unconscious body, my previous host. I swaggered towards him, relishing as cool air sailed around my hulking form.  Smiling, I scooped him up into my arms, he weighed no heavier, perhaps even less than the weights I had been lifting. But I made sure to remain gentle, he was undoubtedly my flesh and blood now after all. 

“Grandson.” I said as much to him as myself, my deep, sonorous voice bounced off the walls and echoed as music to my ears. His eyes flickered but he remained unconscious.

Within my pants was the monster that had sired the one who had in turn sired him. My strength would yet flow through his veins. And in the end, he too would become my servant, just as I had. I had to laugh at that, the oddities of possession and identity. He was me as I was him. Our roles were inextricably linked and intertwined, master and servant, of one body and of one mind, yet with a clear hierarchy within the singular being. His thoughts tried to reach for panic or alarm but my presence kept him focused on his sense of duty, of responsibility. Of course this was the way things were, they had never been different. Even now he travelled through the paths of his own mind but all of them had been twisted by my hand, leading back to me, the true owner of this body, of this soul. He would know only euphoria as he slumbered. I would use his body to lead this family, with its strong, wonderful genes. When the time came, there would be hosts aplenty for me.

I gasped as I opened my eyes. I couldn’t have been asleep for more than a few seconds but something felt… odd. I somehow felt… thicker? Heavier? I shook my head to try to clear it which only reinforced the feeling that I had somehow grown a lot in a very short amount of time. I blinked and even the way my face moved felt strange. Looking down I saw that wasn’t the only thing that had changed. For one there was a lot more hair than I remembered, the thickest region right in the middle of my chest and more covering the rest of the front. I felt rather than saw, lines spanning my torso, defining muscles I had never bothered to develop. They were accompanied by a layer of fat and yet all of it felt, just right. Appropriate for a man my age. That thought gave me pause, I wasn’t sure when I had begun thinking of myself as a man but it certainly wasn’t within the last five minutes. Acting on instinct, I began to stretch. It felt good, better than I had ever known, the way my muscles pulled and tightened all around me. I took a deep breath and inhaled a scent that I knew instantly yet couldn’t place the name of. It was a few moments before I realised that it was coming from ME, it was what I smelled like. I took a few more tentative sniffs to confirm before putting my arms back down. I shook my head, I had hair all over my body in places I didn’t even remember. Everything felt distinctly familiar and foreign at the same time. I looked up to see a mirror, and saw my dad staring back at me.

I had never heard my dad scream before but somehow his deep voice still remained thunderous and commanding. I began to breathe faster, panicking. It was weird to say the least, to see my father, always so strong and stoic, having a meltdown. I swallowed hard attempting to calm myself and figure out just what the hell was going on. I scrambled to my feet, not even remembering having sat down. The weight and strength of this body nearly threw me off-balance even as I tried to stand up. Hesitantly, I looked into the mirror again, and saw my dad once again, making the same horrified face I had in my mind. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, feeling my huge chest inflate as I did so. Without even meaning to I felt blood rush straight to my member. I groaned, as if it wasn’t weird enough being in my dad’s body. I looked around me to confirm my surroundings. I seemed to be in my dad’s room. The shopping bag I had dumped here earlier was lying on its side. Looking down, I saw I was wearing the pants and belt I had tried on earlier except now they sat snugly around my waist, a perfect fit. I thumbed the material, scarcely daring to believe myself. I had shopped at the store so many times previously with no strange effects. Could something as simple as trying on clothes impart such supernatural properties? I wondered if my dad was in my body, experiencing the same weird scenario I was but given the complete silence throughout the rest of the house I was inclined to think otherwise. Somehow, I was possessing my dad’s body, filling out his suit pants. Now that I had gotten over the initial shock, another part of me couldn’t stop thinking how awesome this was, against my better judgment. I was my Dad. I was my own father. “This is crazy!” My dad’s voice boomed out of MY mouth, vocalising MY thoughts. I wanted to laugh, felt a mad urge to laugh and before I knew it was doubling over in the middle of the room, a lovely bass chuckle escaping my lips. My mind raced with all the possibilities that had opened up to me, I couldn’t even begin to describe the insanity of what was happening.

I felt my face with my thick, calloused fingers, feeling the tickle of the short bristles of hair on my head. A beard, I had an honest-to-goodness beard, well groomed and maintained. I ran my hands over the rest of my body, feeling newfound strength in my limbs and appreciated the WEIGHT of this body. It had never occurred to me just how well built, well proportioned my dad was but now I was seeing it in an all new light. I felt a bucking against my briefs as a small dark patch appeared on the trousers I had just bought. I laughed, I had always been a boxers man myself but couldn’t argue with how well the fabric supported my girthy new package. I ran my fingers through the dense pelt covering my chest and belly, taking a moment to circle my nipples, so much bigger and more sensitive than my own. My hands wandered down to my crotch and I began to unbuckle and unbutton, all thoughts of taboo replaced by the white haze of pleasure. However, as I slid the pants down past my knees, I began to feel woozy again, exactly how I felt before… this happened.

Coming to my senses, I quickly pulled the pants on again, the discomfort disappearing as quickly as I dressed. I couldn’t even begin to understand my powers but thought it best not to get too crazy for now. I flexed, striking a pose in the mirror and laughed as my dad obeyed my every command. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted my dad’s wallet. An idea coming into my head, I grabbed and thumbed through the wad of notes and cards stored within. I, my dad had never liked spending money but today was Father’s day and he, I deserved to enjoy myself. I quickly located my car keys and phone, smiling as I unlocked the latter with my strong fingers. I couldn’t recall the password at the moment but with a quick fingerprint scan I was reading through all of my dad’s messages. Details and memories of my life flowed smoothly in, informing my movements, my thoughts. I snapped up a crisp white button-down from the closet, swiftly pulling it on and tucking it in to my trousers. I tilted my head and arched my back as I felt my body a second time through my clothes. The fabric stretched tight as it hugged my skin, my nipples, me.

Panting, I retained the presence of mind to grab a set of my, my dad’s clothes and moved to leave it in my room. Knocking on the door, I swung it open to reveal my body, lying still on the bed. A quick check revealed I was still breathing. Resolving to study my powers later, I laid the pile of clothes on the desk before closing the door behind me.

I wasted no time driving to the local mall where I had purchased my gifts. I walked around the same department store I had been in just hours earlier but failed to uncover anything unusual. The only difference was the way other people looked at me, talked to me. Gone were the glances of disdain and fake smiles for the teenager grabbing clothes far too big for him. Now they were far more attentive, sincerely giving their best pitches, eager for my approval. I smirked and shook my head, my budget had expanded far beyond what they had on display. I strode out, leaving them to gaze at my impressive back. A small grumble sounded from my stomach and I grinned. Following the smell of sizzling meat I sat myself at the fanciest restaurant in the area. I politely declined a menu, I already knew my favourite. “Steak, medium-rare, and a glass of your finest red.” The waiter nodded and retreated as swiftly as he came. I looked casually around the room, easing my bulk into the soft cushions of the chair as I made myself as comfortable as possible. All around me were people who probably never even gave my dad the time of day now shooting glances in my direction. As they should be, despite my usual appearance I was not a man to be taken lightly. I rolled my shoulders and unlocked my phone, studying up on my life as I waited.

An hour later I walked out, fully satiated, having left a generous tip to boot. I felt a small pang of guilt as I saw my face in the glass, my dad would never spend this much money but I consoled myself that it was just for today, he deserved to enjoy himself. I was certainly enjoying myself. I strolled around, exploring stores I had never even looked at before.

“Billy!” I turned around at the sound before I could even process the words, somehow my dad knew this man. I gave him a once-over, he was taller than my dad but seemed just as fit. I felt a smile come to my face and a bulge in my pants.

“Evening Phil.” The words left my mouth as easily as flowing water. This was my son’s, my, best friend’s dad and fellow lawyer. I grimaced a little, the mix-ups were getting more frequent and slightly worrying.

“Looking good my friend, finally using that paycheck of yours?”

I laughed. “Gifts from my son. For Father’s day.”

“Ahh they grow up so fast don’t they? Nicky gave me a tie though I wouldn’t say no to a new belt either, suits you well.”

I glanced down and smiled at my handiwork. “It is nice isn’t it?” I grinned as a plan began to form in my mind. “Perhaps he’s waiting to give you the rest.”

Phil snorted. “Yeah, right. If that ever happened I’ll need to send him for an exorcism.”

I laughed harder than before, he had no idea how close he was to the truth. “Was good seeing you Phil but I must be going. Places to be, errands to run.”

Mr. Harrington was my boss and he was a stud. He was old, mean, and cranky all the time but one look at his gorgeous face made it all better in an instant. I could stare at him for hours and often did on slower days. My desk offered a perfect side profile view into his office, just enough for me to be able to see his handsome features, the way he commanded respect. Sure he was a terrible boss but what did it matter when you looked like THAT? 

Woof... What a man. So perfect... "Earth to temp, Earth to temp..."

I shook my head, clearing away my fantasies only to see my boss frowning at me. "Well, what are you waiting for? Are you in or out?"

I grimaced. I had no idea what on earth he was talking about.

"Sorry sir could you repeat that?" 

"Good God man are you deaf? At this rate I might as well do it myself."

I traced his lovely face with my eyes and pondered his words. Whether he intended it or not, all his words were invitations to my kind. How could I say no? 

"Yes, I think you should."

He stared quizzically at me as I moved an arm to the documents he was gesturing to before quickly changing target to his broad shoulder. My other arm clamped over his mouth, my fingers brushing against his luxurious, plush beard in the process. Oh, I was going to enjoy this.

He tried to struggle but suddenly found all strength drained out of his well-built limbs. He worked out in his spare time and it definitely showed yet his efforts only served to empower creatures such as me. You see I'm a possessor. I can move between bodies as easily as changing clothes. In fact the sensation is not dissimilar, the feeling of clean fresh material embracing you, fabric and flesh alike. I closed my body's eyes, concentrating instead on Mr. Harrington, working my way into his consciousness, changing, becoming him.

Mr. Harrington was frantic at this point, struggling to scream to alert someone, anyone but no one worked near him, save me. No one wanted to. 

"Shh Mr. Harrington, it'll all be alright" I said as I relinquished control over this body and slipped directly into his. 

"What's it feel like?"

Coach Ramos took a moment to answer as he flexed his bicep. "Good. Really good. You can't even BEGIN to understand just how good it feels to be this big, this strong. I could crush anyone, lift anything." He balled his hands into fists as he spoke, digging them between his pecs. Ken couldn't help but notice the bulge in the Coach's pants grow visibly bigger.

Ken rolled his eyes, "Don't get too weird yet, remember you still have a job to do."

The coach snorted, "Yeah yeah, get revenge on the team. Last chance before summer break. Big whoop."

"Great, I got to run for band practice, catch you later coach."

Luke sighed as he left. Ken was a good friend and all but somehow he didn't quite grasp the full ramifications of possession. He understood its potential for mischief but the other aspect of being, of BECOMING another person he was completely and utterly clueless. Luke had thought it'd help to tell a friend about his ability but somehow it only made him feel even more isolated. It didn't help that Ken seemed more keen on asking him for random favours now he knew what Luke could do.

Yet did it really matter? When you had such easy access to bodies as perfect as THIS. He laughed as he popped his muscled tits in rhythm. He stepped in front of a mirror and beheld his body in all its glory. He could feel the coach's, his, beer can cock strain against his briefs, begging to break free. What couldn't he do without these powers? Then a thought came to him and Coach Ramos smiled widely to himself.

---

Ken looked down the deserted hallway again. He had laughed at the rugby team trooping past earlier, muddied and exhausted, no doubt the product of Luke's handiwork. However, that was thirty minutes ago and he had yet to see Luke himself show up, in Coach Ramos' body or no. Everyone else had to have left the school by now, where could he be? Grumbling to himself he tried to call Luke again only to be engaged by a busy signal. He caught a glimpse of a hulking figure and looked up to see the man he had been looking for.

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Coach Ramos looked puzzled. "You wanted to see me son? I was just finishing up paperwork in my office."

Ken frowned then shook his head. "No, no, sorry, I thought you were someone else."

The coach eyed him incredulously, glancing down at the rest of his body as if trying to figure out how Ken could have been so mistaken. Ken on the other hand had the decency to blush as he mumbled an excuse and trotted to the exit, putting his phone to his ear as he did so. Coach Ramos watched him walk off, swearing as the dial tone came through the speakers.