Neighborhood Choices The Remote of Transformation chapter 3 by bodyswapbabe

Ethan wiped the sweat off his forehead with the sleeve of his hoodie, the fabric singed at the cuff from a recent misfire. The soldering iron clattered onto the desk, and he leaned back in his creaky chair with a sigh, staring at the ceiling like it might offer divine guidance.

Outside, dusk crept in, painting the cul-de-sac in long shadows and golden edges. Ethan stood and moved toward the window, Morphisizer in hand, peering through the slats of his blinds like a kid spying on enemy territory.

“Test subject, test subject…” he murmured, eyes scanning the familiar front lawns and driveways of suburban Anacrest. “Who’s curious enough to notice a change, but dumb enough not to report it?”

Mr. Walcott, next door, was out watering his lawn in socks and sandals, a Coors dangling from one hand. Mid-50s, ex-military, and rumored to have once tackled a teenager for skateboarding on the sidewalk. His gut hung proudly over his waistband. “Too cranky,” Ethan muttered.

Across the street, Zayn Rivera was fiddling with his car again, shirtless despite the evening chill. He was twenty-something, tan, ripped, and had a lazy grin that made half the neighborhood moms blush.

Further down the block, Trevor Doyle, Ethan’s sometime nemesis and all-time PE class tormentor, was jogging with his usual sweaty bravado, earbuds in and tank top plastered to his chest.

Then there was Mr. Kim, the quiet high school science teacher who lived alone and always waved politely. Ethan hesitated.

His finger hovered over the power button as he looked between the options, each one playing out in his head like a choose-your-own adventure.

A small green light blinked on the Morphisizer. Ready. Ethan licked his lips.

“Alright, let’s make history.”