Chapter 3: Rising Action
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting ethereal hues of orange and purple across the sky, Chris and Hannah found themselves nestled amongst the plush cushions of their living room couch. Their fingers interlaced, sweaty palms perspiring in the humid summer heat. A tense silence hung between them, thick enough to slice with a knife.
Chris broke the impasse first, his voice hoarse and uneven. "Hannah," he rasped, struggling to maintain composure.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Her brow furrowed, eyes flickering with concern. "What is it, Chris? What's wrong?"
He cleared his throat, swallowing the knot of anxiety that had lodged itself in his esophagus. "I... I'm afraid I might be losing control over this transformation. I mean, my body is changing, and I don't even know what's causing it."
She clasped his hand tightly, a worried frown marring her usually tranquil visage.
"What kind of changes are you talking about, Chris?"
His voice faltered, the words escaping his lips like a feeble attempt at liftoff. I woke up this morning, and..."
"And...?" she prodded gently, her thumb stroking the back of his hand.
"Everything. Everything changed." He inhaled sharply, the air rushing past his teeth in a desperate bid for oxygen. "My body...I don't recognize it anymore. My skin, my muscles, everything feels alien.