Despite Ashley's previous reassurances, with his latest failure, Ryan cannot help but feel that his new body is useless. This lack of confidence and acceptance drives him further down the road toward becoming Kaylee in both mind and body. Meanwhile, Ms. Daniels reveals some hard truths about the entertainment industry, With filming set to begin, Ms. Daniels faces the expected resistance, but reveals a startling ultimatum.

Excerpt:
A smile formed when she addressed Ashley and me, “You two are doing wonderfully so far, especially you Kaylee. You are getting into the part. Oh, you definitely fight like sisters. But I want to see you two play together. Kaylee, after all, wants to do just about everything her big sister does.”

She walked toward the elevator, “Oh, and call each other by your names! Your real names.”

Her heels clicked on the studio floor, “Your only names.” Hermie stood next to us, shoulders gently slumping. Seconds, later the hippo returned to its mistress.

Francie and I are about to leave when the police show up. They ask us to stay behind for a few minutes and make a statement. When we are done, the police are ready to charge the women, not only with theft, but also aggravated assault for forcing us to come here by dragging us, and potentially kidnapping. Once they find out about the ‘history’ we have and what it is all about, they are sure the DA will pursue a hate crime charge. The state has one of the toughest in the country.

“My goodness,” Jenna said as she walked slowly around Vanessa. She licked her black lips thoughtfully. “You do look a Verran. And that top is to die for. I might have to start making both Verran and Furran fashion, though that would put me in competition with my good friend up the way,” she said with a laugh.

Chapter 3

Eerie Saloon Character List
by Ellie Dauber and Christopher Leeson

This is my first time writing here, so I'll start with a story based on my first experience with makeup.

I guess it was a Friday night, my parents went out to a party and left me, Mark (10 years old) and my cousin Mia (13 years old) with a neighbor Julie (In her early 20's I guess) as our babysitter.

Summer heat baked the ground into a cracked, desiccated mass, a thin crust over a briny substrate that helped to give this place its name. She had been to and through some strange and beautiful places but this one in particular spoke to her soul… to the part of her that felt so keenly the loss of everything she had once held dear. Years flew past in her mind’s eye as she waited for the sun to dip below the mountains, composed herself for what she must do.

The fallout from the meeting with Hermie strains Ryan and Ashley’s relationship. Meanwhile, Ashley aims to curb some of Ryan’s more sexist tendencies while the two of them learn about their roles on the show- much to Ryan’s chagrin and continued embarrassment. While their bodies have undergone a massive transformation, their minds remain intact. However, with temptation in every corner of the playroom, they quickly learn that their minds could share a similar fate. Despite these challenges and the continued humiliation, a simple discovery ignites hope within the transformed group that escape is possible.

Ashley sighed gently, “I’ll admit that girls do it too, even me sometimes. Yeah, I will look at another girl and think, well she shouldn’t wear that because it’s not flattering. But I don’t make that part of who I am. And as for what you said, there’s no right way to be a man, Ryan. But I can tell you that filth like Mark aren’t the litmus test for how a man should act. He talks a big game, but I bet he goes home with his hand. Unless he’s paying for it.”

Sydney Moya