The Double Cross

"Look, just give me a couple more minutes will you, it's not easy going from one form to another," I growled at Dominic as my new persona swept over me. Mike was a nice guy, I'd known him for a couple of years but he had a strong dislike for Dominic, something that was becoming more and more evident as his personality locked into mine.

"I don't fucking care, we're on a tight schedule," Dominic growled, and then paused for a moment, "and what the fuck am I meant to call you now? Friend?"

I glared at Dominic. "You can call me Mike, but I'm not your friend!" Glancing into the back of the car I felt a lump come to my throat as I looked at what was left of the real Mike; a curled up grey husk which only loosely fitted the description of being human.

"What's the matter? You having second thoughts now?" Dominic sneered.

I glanced up at him through narrowed eyes. "I always regret it afterwards, but this is different." I looked down as patterns of ink bloomed across my new bicep, and flinched as pins and needles shot up my leg as more ink surfaced. "Mike's been a good friend, maybe not to you but we've been real tight."

"So you're feeling bad about killing your best friend?"

"Fuck you Dominic, fuck you!" I retorted.

Dominic looked through the back window. "Looks pretty dead to me," he sniffed.

"You still don't get it do you, I am Mike now. Blood tests, DNA and all that shit--the same!" I growled pulling on Mike's sneakers and stepped out of the car. "Besides, it's not permanent. I intend giving all this back and letting him beat the shit out of you for orchestrating this masquerade."

I glanced at my new reflection in the door window and plucked at my hair looking left and right; one of Mike's traits. "Huh, right. It's not like you haven't been itching to get under Mike's skin for as long as I've known you," Dominic smiled tightly.

I locked my eyes on his, and he flinched turning away. "Mike was right, you are a manipulative little weasel."

"Fine, lets just get this over and done with then," Dominic retorted.

I followed him to the courthouse, he needed Mike to act as a character witness in his trial; assault, but bringing in Mike--a cop--he would surely get off. Mike refused any pressure Dominic tried to apply, but he'd threatened me if I hadn't helped.

I took the oath, and spoke the truth. I told the judge about his character, and the other crimes he was involved in--the look on Dominic's face was a picture. The judge threw the book at him, and they sentenced him to seven years.

Leaving the courtroom, I considered his threats, and wondered if he'd ever be able to find me again--unlikely.

I returned to Mike's car, and placed a hand on the cold husk curled up on the rear seat. Its surface rippled, and flushed with colour as Mike returned to his original form. I could only hold onto Mike's identity for another thirty minutes or so before I returned to my own, so I drove somewhere quiet.

There was a groan from behind me, and I saw Mike's face appear in the rear view mirror. "Did it work? Did we put that weasel down?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, we sent him down--seven years," I replied.

"Sweet, now pull over and give me back my clothes, I'm getting cold back here!" He laughed.