Extract

“Apologies for the delay.” A slightly dishevelled, middle-aged woman hurried into a meeting room. She moved to the head of the table before speaking again.

“We’ve got a lot to get through, so let’s get straight to it. As we all know, the Great Luminary’s dream was to keep her people young and beautiful, and we, her Visoneers, must do everything within our power to make it possible.”

Before Hera could move on to the day’s plan, she noticed her team staring oddly at her.  

“What’s wrong? Is there something I should know about?” Her pointed question left the group unsure how to answer until a clean-shaven man next to her spoke up. 

“It’s just… that you look so old, Hera.” On a planet that valued youthful beauty, it was a blasphemous thing to say. Before Hera could respond, however, someone more diplomatic chimed in.

“Your face, Head Visioneer, it’s showing signs of ageing.” Unnerved by the statement, she hastily reached for a mirror. Despite her mature, professional appearance, the reflection gave away the telltale signs of her advancing years, and it disgusted her.  

“Excuse me!” This revelation caused Hera to lose her composure, forcing her to run to the nearest bathroom. Seeing that it was empty, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then proceeded to go into a small satchel bag, taking out a pill and swallowing it.

The pill was small and white, easily mistaken for commonplace paracetamol. However, this drug’s effects had nothing to do with stopping pain. Known as Rejuvia, it was a modern miracle invented by the Great Luminary, able to reverse all signs of ageing—so long as you took it twice a day. 

Within seconds of taking the drug, it started to take effect. Rippling across Hera’s body, the crow’s feet and wrinkles that she sported during the meeting vanish without a trace, leaving an appearance that even a twenty-year-old would envy. For the first time today, she started to smile. Without any warning, however, intense pain rushed through her body. Something had gone wrong.

Completely crippling her, she’s forced to the ground in a futile attempt to gain back any sense of control. Unfortunately, it was too late. Under the soft light of the bathroom’s LEDs, Hera’s healthy glow had begun to transform, revealing skin with a translucent-like appearance. Beneath the epidermis, something strange had become visible. Grey and pulsating like a heartbeat, it was trying to set itself free.

First, there came two wings, cracked and imperfect. Next came the body. Demonic and grotesque, littered with bumpy protrusions, it was completely alien to a colony world that only valued beauty and perfection.

Without much delay, it had fully freed itself, escaping through an air vent. Hera, however, had not survived the ordeal. All that was left of her was a husk, like that of a shed snakeskin, covering the floor…

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