The same sensations he had felt in his hands now flooded both of his legs. Except this time, his shoes suddenly became uncomfortably tight. The pressure inside them built up—though the way his feet felt was different. Instead of the usual pinching of each toe separately, like when wearing the wrong-sized shoes, now it felt like one unified mass, evenly distributed across the entire sole.
Finally, the fabric gave way. His feet transformed into something resembling Alyx's paws, but instead of her long, elegant shape, they retained the proportions of human feet. Visually, they looked more like sneakers—which actually worked in his favor. With long jeans covering them, no one would notice they weren't real shoes.
The pain in his legs disappeared instantly. At first, he stepped cautiously, adjusting to the new sensitivity in his limbs. Then, gaining confidence, he walked faster and faster. His stride became lighter, almost fluid—somehow carrying a hint of femininity.
Smiling, he turned to Alyx and thanked her.
Glancing at him, she simply said, "It's better for me too—your body feels a little less disgusting now."
Each step was an explosion of sensations. He could feel every uneven surface beneath his new... paws? He glanced at Alyx's feet, wondering if that was the right word.
They walked home in silence, Leo absorbing the unfamiliar sensations in his transformed body.
As he prepared breakfast, he finally spoke up. "So, why do you hunt demons? Or are they hunting you?"
Alyx considered his question for a moment before answering. "They don't like spirits like me—we're a potential threat to them. In this world, we're practically the only ones who can banish or destroy them. That's also why I hunt them. Besides..." Her voice darkened. "I have personal reasons to hate them."
"So, if we get close to a demon, both you and it will sense each other? And you'll probably try to attack each other?"
"Exactly."
"But what can it do to you? You said you're immortal as a spirit."
"Theoretically, it could send me to hell—which, sure, I could escape from easily. But it could also kill you, which would leave me defenseless until I find a new host. And that's not always quick or easy."
"So, technically, your presence puts me in danger?"
"Mmm… yeah, but relax." She smirked. "I'm an experienced girl. I'm not that easy to defeat. Besides, you'd be dead already if it weren't for me."
Leo awkwardly lowered his gaze to the floor.
Breakfast was ready. He set it on the small table and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Do you even eat?"
"In my world, yes. But I don't actually need to. I can eat out of politeness, as part of social interaction."
She made a graceful gesture with her hand, and an identical cup of coffee appeared on the table, mirroring Leo's.
"It's an illusion—real only for me. Just so my presence doesn't feel too weird for you. But I think if we became one, I could eat your food. Never really thought about it before."
After a brief pause, Leo continued.
-How do demons drive people to suicide?
"Have you noticed that there's no joy in your life? That you feel detached from everything? Like a stranger in any company, even among your friends, no matter what you do? That you don't understand social interactions and believe that everything in your life is your fault? That you will never get better and that there is no hope for you? That you are a stain on society, and everyone would be better off if you simply ceased to exist? And finally, that you yourself are evil, that your soul is so dark that it's better for you to stay away from others so you don't hurt them?
You feel hatred and regret simply for existing, and the best thing that could happen to you is never having existed at all—or stopping your existence as soon as possible, just to escape the constant pain and burden of your own presence."
She held his gaze for a moment and then nodded, confirming his thoughts. He noticed how her ears twitched in sync with her movements and wondered what it was like to be a being like her—so different from anything he had ever seen.
She continued, without looking away:
"Demons weave these thoughts into your mind until they seem like your own. They feed on your despair, making you believe that there is no way out. You don't even realize that the influence is external. They whisper to you, over and over, like a mantra: 'You are not needed. You won't make it. It's all your fault.'
They do it slowly, so that you reach the conclusion yourself—believing, logically, that your existence is unnecessary."
She fell silent for a moment, her gaze growing distant.
"And when you finally break... when you decide to take that step... they just watch."
Leo swallowed hard, understanding all too well what she meant.
Gradually, these thoughts will drive anyone to suicide.
"However, there are exceptions. Some demons don't just want to harm their host—they want to hurt the people around them too. In those cases, at some point, the host becomes filled with anger and starts blaming the entire world for their failures. You've seen it before—in sudden mass killings with no apparent reason."
-"Can I tell if someone has a demon?"
"No. Only I can sense their presence—or they can sense mine."
-"So, are you planning to hunt them down?"
"Hmm, no, not yet. For now, I'd rather just enjoy life... if that's even possible with someone like you," she scoffed with mock disdain. "But I bet I can show you something interesting. I'm sure you've missed out on all the fun in your life."
"Don't get your hopes up. You will never be like normal people again. Part of your soul is lost forever, your mind is permanently damaged, and, in the end, you skipped an important and huge part of life—the part where normal people become normal."
She smirked.
"But that doesn't mean we can't figure out how to make the rest of it entertaining."
-"Why are you doing this for me?"
—"Like I said, we're stuck together for a while. If I can make this time more entertaining for both of us… But don't think that means I like you. I just don't want to spend the next thirty years trapped in this stuffy little box," she gestured around his cheap rooftop apartment. "Even a burrow in the forest would be more interesting."
"Plus, I enjoy watching human lives unfold. I've seen so many, and there's always something new. I've never had a guy as a host before, though. I want to see just how primitive and perverted you all are," she added with a smirk.
Leo's phone buzzed on the table. A message from Emily.
"How are you doing? Want to meet up today at our spot?"
"It's my friends," he muttered to Alyx.
"I know. I can see your thoughts in the moment, remember?"
"Just letting you know," he grumbled.
"Say yes. I want to see what kind of friends you have. And what kind of 'spot' this is. I've never been to this city before."
With an exaggerated groan, Leo rolled his eyes and typed back a quick "ok" before sending it.
"So, where's this secret meeting place of yours?"
"Where no one will bother us. The rooftops of the abandoned buildings on the hilltop."
They stepped out earlier than necessary. He knew his friends were worried about him and wanted to make sure he was okay. But right now, he would have preferred to be alone.
Walking still felt strange—his new gait didn't align with the rest of his body. The sensations were almost counterintuitive; his human part felt heavy, like a clumsy ballast he needed to get rid of. He knew that he no longer had bones in his limbs, that it was just an imitation, and he preferred not to think about it—just enjoying the new feelings instead.
He glanced at Alyx walking beside him.
— Can you fly?
— No, but for you, I can—since I'm just a projection of your mind right now. Though I imagine it would feel strange for both of us.
They reached the abandoned buildings at the top of the hill. Climbing through a broken window on the far side, away from the street, Leo made his way up the stairs to the attic, where a rope hung from the beams.
— We tied this up a long time ago to get onto the roof. No one's lived here for ages.
— Yeah, I can see traces of past souls. This house has seen dark times. Lucky for you, you don't know what kind of places you're walking through, — she said with a grin.
— Can you see those who lived here? How does it work?
— Not exactly. I can see those who died here—if their death was violent. I see it like your Star Wars-style holograms. And to answer your surprised look—yes, I was here in the '80s, and my host at the time and I went to see them in theaters.
She smirked and rolled her eyes. — Ohhh yes, she had so many posters of Han Solo...
— I see the moment of their death and can feel their suffering, — she continued.
He glanced at her as he climbed up the rope.
— What else can you do that's… magical?
— Not much, if anything at all. Our world isn't some collection of magic tricks and wonders. It's more or less the same as yours, just with different rules. Like the underwater world compared to the one above. The only real difference is that we deal more with spirits and souls.
Leo pulled himself onto the roof and sat at the edge, shifting up onto its ledge. Alyx easily followed him. She stood tall, taking in the view, spreading her arms and enjoying the gentle touch of the evening breeze.
— Don't you want to stand up and take a look? — she asked.
— Not really, — he answered, a hint of sadness in his voice.
She gave him a skeptical yet understanding look before lightly nudging his side with her paw.
— Don't be such a bore.
— Are you insane?! What if I fall?
— You wanted to die anyway, — she teased. — You'll be fine. You've seen life under a demon's influence—try it without one.
Leo pulled his legs in, preparing to stand up, but just then, a familiar head popped up from the attic window.
— You're already up here? — his friend exclaimed.
Pulling himself up with his arms, he climbed onto the slope of the roof and reached down to help Emily up.
— New sneakers? — she asked. — They suit you.
— Even better, — he smirked, pulling up his pant leg. The same sleek black color continued from his foot up to his knee, disappearing somewhere further up.
— Cool! — they exclaimed in unison. — So, how does it feel to walk? Is this what she looks like? — Emily added, nodding toward his new companion.
— Not exactly. She's got something like paws—they're much sleeker and longer.
He shifted his weight slightly, testing the movement.
— And yeah, it's way better than before. No pain from the wounds, I can feel even the tiniest bumps on the ground, but it doesn't hurt. And it's so light.
They noticed the newfound grace in his movements—his hands and legs flowed with an elegance that hadn't been there before.
— Can I touch it? — Steve asked.
Emily smacked his hand.
— What?! — he protested.
— He's not an exhibit in a museum, and he's definitely not a toy!
— I know that, but when else are you gonna see something like this? — he said, confusion clear in his voice. Then he straightened up with a proud grin. — Guys are just chill about this stuff!
Leo, though secretly embarrassed and for some reason unwilling to let anyone touch him, suddenly felt like this was something very personal. But he couldn't refuse his friends—nor did he want to reveal these strange, newfound feelings.
He pulled up the pant leg of his worn-out black jeans a little more and gave a small nod.
Steven was the first to reach out, running his hand up Leo's ankle.
— It's cold, — he murmured in fascinated awe.
He liked how smooth the texture felt, though he couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like to have a limb like that.
Emily shifted a little closer, glancing at Leo. After receiving the slightest approving nod, she gently traced her fingers along his leg. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly said:
— It's interesting… why are they shaped like a woman's? And your hands too?
— What?! — Steven blurted out in protest. — What makes you think that?!
Leo flushed, not wanting to discuss it.
— Probably because Alyx is a girl, and… either it's her joke, or it's just what feels more natural to her. She said she can feel my body and… she doesn't like it.
— Why not?! — Steven huffed, immediately ready to defend his friend.
— She doesn't like men, — Leo shrugged. — Says they're all primitive, unfeeling, selfish, and rough… Not that I completely disagree with her.
Alyx, who had been silently observing them from her perch on a ventilation pipe—sitting in something resembling a lotus position—shifted her gaze to Leo with a raised brow, clear amusement in her expression. The look she gave him made it obvious: We're coming back to this later.
— Yeah, yeah, I know you're not a fan of guys either, — Steven muttered, now calmer. — I remember you telling me how every guy bullied you wherever you went. But I'm one of the good ones, right? — He looked at Leo hopefully.
— Without a doubt, — Leo smiled.
— But… female? How does that feel?
— What's wrong with a female body?! — Emily interjected, now the one getting offended.
— Nothing, nothing! Just, you know, he's a guy.
Leo hesitated before responding, feeling like he was treading on thin ice.
— I… don't mind. I actually like the elegance and smoothness of it.
He mumbled the words awkwardly, afraid of revealing too much.