My name is Jamie Jacobs, and I live an ordinary life in the sprawling city of Bloomington, Minnesota. Ordinary... until today.
It started out the same as every other Thursday. Tony, my best friend, and I hung out at the Mall of America, our usual stomping ground. It’s the largest mall in the world, a labyrinth of endless shops and attractions, with its pulse echoing through every corridor. We loved it, especially the rides at Ice Village. They were exhilarating—pure adrenaline wrapped in neon lights. But there was something about the place, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, that always made the air feel heavy. Like the mall had secrets buried beneath its glossy floors.
Tony and I weren’t angels. We liked to push the rules; boys do, right? That day, we skated under the radar, avoiding security’s watchful eyes since kids our age weren’t supposed to be there without an adult after 4 PM. It was thrilling, the kind of thrill that makes you feel invincible.
After a while, the excitement dulled, and we decided to head home. That’s when things took a turn.
We barely made it a block before we heard the shout. “HEY, DWEEBS!” The voice was sharp, cutting through the hum of the city like a blade. I froze, my heart sinking. Tony and I turned to see Thomas and his gang barreling toward us. Sixth graders. Bullies.
“Run!” Tony yelled, already sprinting ahead. He was fast—faster than anyone I knew. I, on the other hand, was short for my age and slow. I was an easy target.
I darted down an alley, hoping to lose them, but it was a mistake. Dead end. The walls loomed around me like prison bars. I turned, chest heaving, as they cornered me.
“Well, well, well,” Thomas sneered, his grin dark and predatory. “What do we have here? A little mouse trapped in a cage.”
“Let’s teach him a lesson,” one of the others muttered.
I backed up, trembling, until my hand hit something cold and metallic. A box. It looked old, out of place, with strange symbols etched into its surface.
“Perfect,” Thomas said, his eyes gleaming. “We’ll stuff him in there.”
“No! Please—”
Before I could finish, they shoved me inside. The door slammed shut, plunging me into suffocating darkness. I pounded on the metal, screaming, but the echoes of their laughter faded, leaving me alone.
And then... the light.
At first, it was a faint blue glow, barely illuminating the cramped space. But it grew brighter, more intense, until I had to shield my eyes. The light shifted, cycling through colors—blue, then purple, then an eerie pink that lingered. It felt alive, like it was pulsing, watching.
I stopped pounding on the door. My hands trembled as the light burned brighter, seeping into my skin. It was warm, almost comforting, until suddenly, it wasn’t. The warmth turned to heat, then to something else entirely. Something invasive.
I screamed, but no sound came out.
Then, silence.
When I opened my eyes, the light was gone. The air was still. I pushed the door open, stumbling out into the alley. The bullies were nowhere in sight. The world around me felt... wrong. Like the shadows were darker, the air heavier.
My legs wobbled as I took a step, and the next thing I knew, the ground rushed up to meet me.

~o~O~o~
I woke up to the sound of distant traffic, my head pounding. Dazed, I pulled myself to my feet. My clothes clung to me, damp with sweat—or was it something else? My limbs felt strange, foreign, like they didn’t belong to me.
I stumbled toward home, but something was gnawing at the edge of my mind. A sensation, a need. I had to pee. Badly.
I spotted the glowing sign of a Planet Fitness up ahead and bolted inside, ignoring the curious glance from the woman at the front desk. “Restroom?” I managed to croak.
“Over there, sweetheart,” she said, her voice oddly kind.
I didn’t stop to think. I raced into the bathroom, slammed a stall door shut, and unzipped my pants. Relief was the only thing on my mind—until I looked down.
“What the...?” My voice was a whisper, trembling.
It wasn’t there.
Where there should’ve been boy parts, there was... something else. A slit. My stomach lurched, and panic clawed at my throat.
“This isn’t real,” I muttered, my voice rising. “This can’t be real!”
I stumbled out of the stall, nearly tripping over my own feet, and bolted out of the gym, ignoring the stares. The world blurred as I ran home, my heart pounding louder than my footsteps.
When I burst through the door, the house was quiet. Mom and Dad weren’t home, but Jessica, my older sister, was in her room, blasting music. My hands shook as I opened her door.
“Jessica!” I screamed, my voice cracking.
She turned, annoyed. “What do you want, twerp—” She froze, her eyes widening.
“What the hell?”
I collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my face. “You have to help me,” I choked out. “I... I think I’m a girl.”