Cinder Isle

Background Artists:

* Jeremy Pursell
* Gabriel Carroll

*This article is about the comic series. For the location, see Cinder Isle (place).*

**Cinder Isle** is a comic series in SapphireFoxx. It was released from November 29, 2018 to October 28, 2020, with a total of 700 pages, in which 101 of those have uncensored Beyond versions.

## Synopsis

*“Set along the Maine coastline, the idyllic town of Cinder Isle never experienced anything out of the ordinary in its long history. In the autumn of 1996, that all changed. The townsfolk were faced with an event no one could see coming. Not knowing where it came from or how to stop it, the people of Cinder Isle must adapt to their new reality.”*

## Production

* **Creator, Producer, Writer**: Sam Mokler
* **Character Artists**: Jeremy Pursell, Fil Romero, Sam Mokler
* **Background Artists**: Jeremy Pursell, Gabriel Carroll
* **Illustrators**: Tyler Scaglairini (448 Pages), Mimi Alves (106 Pages), Sam Mokler (60 Pages), Gabriel Carroll (59 Pages), Giselle Miranda (26 Pages), Mikhail Komlev (1 Page)

## Characters

* Main Characters
* Side Characters
* Ghosts
**Main Characters**

**Gavin****Gaela**↻
**Zoey****Zack**↻
**Sandra****Shane**↻
**Nathan****Natalie**↻
**Wade****Wanda**↻
**Clarissa****Clarissa**↻
**Chase****Chase**↻
**Elaine****Elaine**
**Rachele****Randy**↻
**Heather****Heather**↻
**Patrick****Patricia**↻
**Dyana****Dutch**↻
**Bruce****Bridget**↻
**Frank****Francine**↻
**Mrs. Harpswell****Mr. Harpswell**↻
**Petrina****Peter**↻
**Daphne****Daphne**
**Mayor Westbrook****Sadie**↻
**Alistair****Alistair**
**Side Characters**

**Moose****Moose**
**Ms. Belfast****Ms. Belfast**↻
**Nancy****Nancy**
**Bruce's Father****Bruce's Father**
**Brendon****Brendon**↻
**Walter Togus****Walter Togus**
**Ms. Machias****Mr. Machias**↻
**Rex****Rex**
**Robert R.****Robert R.**
**Mrs. Machias****Mrs. Machias**
**Stacey****Stanley**↻
**General Windham****General Windham**↻
**CIHS Teacher A****CIHS Teacher A**↻
**CIHS Student A****CIHS Student A**
**CIHS Student B****CIHS Student B**
**CIHS Student C****CIHS Student C**
**CIHS Student D****CIHS Student D**
**CIHS Student E****CIHS Student E**
**CIHS Student F****CIHS Student F**
**CIHS Student G****CIHS Student G**↻
**CIHS Student H****CIHS Student H**
**CIHS Student I****CIHS Student I**
**CIHS Student J****CIHS Student J**
**CIHS Student K****CIHS Student K**
**CI Resident E****CI Resident E**↻
**Sandy****Sandy**
**CIHS Student L****CIHS Student L**
**CIHS Student M****CIHS Student M**
**CIHS Student N****CIHS Student N**
**CIHS Student O****CIHS Student O**
**CIHS Student P****CIHS Student P**
**CIHS Student Q****CIHS Student Q**
**CIHS Student R****CIHS Student R**↻
**CIHS Student S****CIHS Student S**↻
**Chad****Chad**↻
**CIHS Student T****CIHS Student T**↻
**CIHS Student U****CIHS Student U**↻
**CIHS Student V****CIHS Student V**↻
**CIHS Student W****CIHS Student W**↻
**CIHS Student X****CIHS Student X**↻
**CIHS Student Y****CIHS Student Y**
**CIHS Student Z****CIHS Student Z**
**CIHS Student AA****CIHS Student AA**
**CIHS Student AB****CIHS Student AB**
**CIHS Student AC****CIHS Student AC**
**CIHS Student AD****CIHS Student AD**
**CIHS Student AE****CIHS Student AE**
**CIHS Student AF****CIHS Student AF**
**Todd****Todd**
**Britney****Britney**
**CIHS Student AG****CIHS Student AG**
**CIHS Student AH****CIHS Student AH**
**CIHS Student AI****CIHS Student AI**
**CIHS Student AJ****CIHS Student AJ**
**Jeff****Jeff**
**Paramedic A****Paramedic A**
**Chris****Chris**
**CI Nurse A****CI Nurse A**
**CI Nurse B****CI Nurse B**
**CI Nurse C****CI Nurse C**
**CI Nurse D****CI Nurse D**
**CI Nurse E****CI Nurse E**
**CI Nurse F****CI Nurse F**
**CI Doctor****CI Doctor**
**Security Guard A****Security Guard A**
**Security Guard B****Security Guard B**
**CI Police Officer A****CI Police Officer A**
**CI Police Officer B****CI Police Officer B**
**CI Police Officer C****CI Police Officer C**
**CI Police Officer D****CI Police Officer D**
**Theater Staff A****Theater Staff A**↻
**CI Resident H****CI Resident H**
**CI Resident I****CI Resident I**
**CI Resident K****CI Resident K**
**CI Resident L****CI Resident L**
**CI Resident M****CI Resident M**
**CI Resident N****CI Resident N**
**CI Resident O****CI Resident O**
**CI Resident P****CI Resident P**
**CI Resident Q****CI Resident Q**↻
**CI Resident R****CI Resident R**
**CI Resident S****CI Resident S**
**CI Resident T****CI Resident T**
**CI Resident U****CI Resident U**
**CI Resident X****CI Resident X**
**CI Resident Y****CI Resident Y**
**CI Resident Z****CI Resident Z**
**CI Resident AA****CI Resident AA**
**CI Resident AB****CI Resident AB**
**Goverment Goons****Goverment Goons**
**Hazmat Goons****Hazmat Goons**
**Gov. Employee A****Gov. Employee A**
**Gov. Employee B****Gov. Employee B**
**Infected Agent****Infected Agent**↻
**Ghosts**

**The Girl****The Girl**
**The Harlequin****The Harlequin**
**The Ex****The Ex**
**The Starlet****The Starlet**
**The Nurse****The Nurse**
**The Bride****The Bride**
**The Mistress****The Mistress**
**The Queen****The Queen**

## Chapter Summary

* **Chapter 1** - The Source (pages 1-14)
* **Chapter 2** - Patient Zero (pages 15-27)
* **Chapter 3** - Quarantine (pages 28-42)
* **Chapter 4** - Outbreak (pages 43-58)
* **Chapter 5** - Lockdown (pages 59-71)
* **Chapter 6** - Discharged (pages 72-94)
* **Chapter 7** - The New Normal (pages 95-118)
* **Chapter 8** - Trick or Treat (pages 119-154)
* **Chapter 9** - Aftermath (pages 155-180)
* **Chapter 10** - The Birds and the Bees (pages 181-197)
* **Chapter 11** - New Kid on the Block (pages 198-212)
* **Chapter 12** - Opposites Attract (pages 213-248)
* **Chapter 13** - Peaks and Valleys (pages 249-271)
* **Chapter 14** - Curiosity (pages 272-305)
* **Chapter 15** - Broken Promises (pages 306-321)
* **Chapter 16** - Mysteries Unsolved (pages 322-348)
* **Chapter 17** - Darkness Falls (pages 349-380)
* **Chapter 18** - Problematic Discoveries (pages 381-388)
* **Chapter 18** - Growth Spurts (pages 389-425)
* **Chapter 19** - Love Gained and Love Lost (pages 426-457)
* **Chapter 20** - The Queen and the Hero (pages 457-484)
* **Chapter 21** - Repercussions (pages 485-508)
* **Chapter 22** - The Crimson Abyss (pages 509-532)
* **Chapter 23** - The Source (pages 533-549)
* **Chapter 24** - The Anniversary (pages 550-575)
* **Chapter 25** - Last Man Standing (pages 576-595)
* **Chapter 26** - The First and the Last (pages 596-621)
* **Chapter 27** - Pieced Together (pages 622-644)
* **Chapter 28** - Autumn Adieu (pages 645-668)
* **Chapter 29** - Decision Day (pages 668-692)
* **Chapter 30** - New Normal (pages 692-700)

## Plot

### Chapter 1 - The Source

This chapter is from pages 1 to 14. (↑ back to summary)

1996 on a small island off the coast of Maine in a small town called Cinder Isle a young man named Gavin Scarborough is having breakfast. Gavin lives with his father Wade, stepmother Clarrisa and stepbrother Chase. After finishing breakfast Gavin leaves for school on his bike. Chase drives off on a motorcycle but Gavin pedals down the road and meets his friend Shane Gardiner. The two have been long time friends and have grown up together for years. The two then head to get the third member of their friend group Zach Houlton. Zach has similar interests to movies, shows, and games like the other two but is much less studious and rather lazy. Zach attempts to fane being sick to his mother Elaine so he can get out of going to school and play video games all day but as she is a nurse, she is quick to see through his ruse and tells him to get ready for school. The other two arrive soon after and are let in by Zach's older sister Heather who playfully mocks them for their geeky interests. They wait in the living room as Zach is getting ready where they also talk to his little brother Patrick who is a bit more interested in the stuff they talk about. Zach comes down soon after and reluctantly joins the other two and heads for school.

Meanwhile ahead in the Underwood Forest along the path the boys are traveling on a large male moose comes up to a strange red lake in the dark area of the woods. The moose drinks from the lake but almost instantly afterwards sniffles and sneezes and his antlers fall off. The trio then passes by on their bikes and while they are all talking about video games Shane sees the moose off to the side, but it seems too now be female. They all stop and see that the moose is sniffling laying on the ground and seems to be sick. Zach finds its antlers but as the moose in front of them is clearly female he assumes a buck shed them recently, but Gavin thinks it's the wrong season for that. They then notice the strange red lake nearby confused as to why the water is so read. Their ideas range from anything to red clay deposits to strange pollution but none of them are sure what it means. Zach goes to get a closer look at the moose but as he does so it sneezes right in his face. Both Gavin and Shane laugh at his misfortune. Zach is grossed out and without any tissues or anything chooses to wash his face in the red water of the lake and seems to accidently swallow some of it. The group then continues their way to school.

Once at school Shane calls a wildlife hotline about the moose on the pay phone and Zach lays under a tree in the courtyard wanting to nap a bit before class begins. Two girls come up to Zach and one asks him if he wants to go out for Thai food that weekend, but he blows them off as he doesn't like that type of food. Gavin tells him she was trying to ask him out, but Zach is oblivious to it. It's also shown that Gavin has a nervous stutter whenever he's around girls and tends to be very timid and blushes a lot. Zach mocks him on it a bit but suddenly begins to cough and sneeze. Both Gavin and Shane assume he's just trying to play it up again so he can go home early but Zach insists he's not joking and is beginning to feel very ill. As he sneezes into his hands his fingers seem to shrink and get nail polish on them, but this is left unnoticed by anyone. At that point the resident school bully, a guy named Bruce, and his best friend and side kick Frank arrive and demand Gavin's chemistry homework. Gavin refuses and they hold him up against the wall until they swipe it from his backpack. As the scene unfolds however Zach's feet seem to shrink and his shoes turn pink and get smaller. Bruce and Frank both notice this and laugh at him for wearing girl sneakers. As Zach is telling Bruce off for his bullying, he sneezes right into his face much to his disgust but the two walk off with Gavin's homework before they can be caught. Zach is confused as to how his shoes are now pink but the other just assume he put on his sister's shoes by accident. Gavin then sits down and tries to redo his chemistry homework before first period starts but as he's doing so Zach's legs and waist become much more feminine shaped and only Shane seems to briefly notice as they head for class. Zach continues to cough and sneeze very badly as they head for their first class of the day. As Zach and Gavin walk down the hall together to science class Gavin suddenly sees Zach get much more skinny and shorter as they walk much to his shock. They enter class but as the teacher begins Gavin sees Zach's hair double in length and his features begin to become much more feminine. Unable to hold back any longer Gavin shows Zach his reflection in a pocket mirror which shows his face looks much more like a girl now and even seems to have make up. Zach rushes to the trashcan and pukes from both the shock of his appearance and the symptoms of his odd sickness. The teacher asks Gavin to take him to the nurse's offices as its clear he's not faking it anymore and Gavin rushes out with Zach in tow heading for the nurse.

### Chapter 2 - Patient Zero

This chapter is from pages 15 to 27. (↑ back to summary)

Zach and Gavin arrive at Nurse Belfast's office and as she examines Zach he continues to cough and his body changes even more. The nurse can't explain how he suddenly has makeup and loos so different but can clearly see he's sick. The school principal Mr. Harpswell comes in and is angry thinking that Zach is faking it again as he has a history of doing so but Nurse Belfast assures him Zach's not pretending as he's already thrown up twice since he got to the office. Gavin finally speaks up saying he thinks Zach is somehow turning into a girl. The nurse and principle find that impossible to believe but as the principle looks him over and assumes Zach may just be a crossdresser or something Zach sneezes into his face and as he goes to clean himself off they all see Zach suddenly grow breasts and are forced to agree that it seems Zach is becoming a girl. Belfast is shocked and asks Gavin when this began but Gavin begins to studder as he speaks due to Zach now looking like a girl. At that point Harpswell begins to cough as well and Zach says that's exactly how he started an hour ago, but he still doesn't think what is happening to Zach could possibly be contagious. A moment later Bruce burst into the office with Frank behind him. Bruce is coughing as well, and his hair suddenly grew several inches and turned to blond highlights in the middle of class. At that point Belfast realizes whatever is happening is somehow contagious like a Virus and is spreading very fast. She gives Gavin and Frank a medical mask to protect them and as she's trying to get the situation under control Frank mistakes Zach for a cute new girl and Bruce sees that his nails are now painted red, and his body suddenly shrinks as well as his clothing. Realizing what's happening Harpswell orders the nurse to call an ambulance and evacuate the school. They then ask Bruce if he may have exposed anyone else. Frank whispers to Bruce saying he did sneeze on a freshman in class before, but he's worried they'll get in trouble, so Bruce claims he was careful not to expose anyone else. Harpswell then sees his legs and pants turn into a skirt and get smaller realizing he's infected too. Belfast, Gavin, and Frank then leave to get to the office and order the evacuation of the school. Gavin questions Belfast if she should be quarantined as well as she wasn't wearing a mask and was the closest to the three of them in the room, but she assumes that the virus only effects men.

A few moments later the secretary in the school office thinks the nurse is overreacting but Belfast insists and gives the announcement to dismiss classes and evacuate for the day. The secretary calls an ambulance but as she told them it was a flu or something not understanding (or believing) the gravity of the outbreak she says they are not bringing the protective equipment Belfast requested. Just then Belfast begins to cough as well, and she realizes she's infected too. The students are dismissed quickly and as Shane and Chase are leaving wondering what's going on and looking for Zach and Gavin another student close by named Brendon coughs a bit but it's very mild. Back in the nurse's office Bruce jumps at Zach angry at him for infecting him and costing him all his muscles and height. Harpswell tries to pacify the situation and they all talk about how this could be possible but none of them understand how a virus could do this. At that point Harpswell points out Zach hasn't coughed for a while, and he admits he's starting to feel better. However, as he says that, his hair grows much longer and reaches past shoulder length. His voice also turns to a feminine pitch. Harpswell asks Zach if any part of his body is left unchanged and Zach points out the only part of him that's still male is his crotch. The three of them all hope that it isn't possible for that part of them to change as well. As they say this Zach feels a tingle and realizes his crotch is shrinking and pulling inside of him. Zach falls to the floor in tears as he has now fully become a girl. Harpswell tries to calm him down but Bruce just yells at him angry that he may be losing his dick soon as well. At that point the paramedics arrive but they still think that the nurse has blown a bad case of stomach flu out of proportions.

Belfast insists that its some kind of virus that transforms men into woman, but the paramedics don't believe her. By the time they arrive in the nurse's office Zach has fully transformed, and they don't believe that she used to be a boy and his symptoms seem to have vanished after her transformation has finished. As they are about to examine the other two Nurse Belfast coughs and sneezes again and her outfit changes from a formal sweater to a sexy nurse gown before their eyes and the Paramedics realize there's more going on here and call for quarantine rooms to be prepped. Outside the school Shane and Chase are getting their bikes ready waiting for the other two and they see Brendon walk off still with a mild cough. Gavin comes out soon after and tells them what's happening, but Chase doesn't believe him. Shane thinks about the odd things he noticed about Zach before they separated this morning but is still confused. The three round the building where the ambulances are loading the infected and Gavin points out Principle Harpswell's chest begin to grow and form breasts. In the ambulance the EMTs see Harpswell continue to transform and questions Belfast on why she seems have transformed into a much bustier and younger looking woman instead of her gender being changed like the others. Zach confirms she feels much better apart from the body alterations. While they talk however the head EMT Jeff coughs and suddenly begins to grow breasts reveling he's been infected as well. As the convoy of ambulances drive off, Gavin explains things further to Chase and Shane but when he suggests they follow the convoy because Zach needs them Chase refuses to believe what he's seen and is too afraid of getting infected. He rides his motorcycle off in the other direction while Gavin and Shane head for the hospital. Meanwhile at the hospital Elaine talks with another nurse about hearing the school was let out due to some kind of virus as the containment team rushes to prep four quarantine rooms behind them.

### Chapter 3 - Quarantine

This chapter is from pages 28 to 42. (↑ back to summary)

The convoy arrives at the hospital and Harpswell and Bruce are rushed through the hallways covered on gurneys. Bruce complains his chest is beginning to hurt and Elanie is alarmed to see the principle has fallen victim to this. The Head of the Hospital Walter Togus is briefed on what's happening and while he's hesitant to believe it he sees the EMT getting sicker and orders for a fifth quarantine room while he and the doctors examine the others. Zach walks through the halls with another nurse who insists she needs to be placed in quarantine despite her no longer feeling sick but as they walk Zach spots her mother and runs into her arms. Elaine is confused as Zach says she and everyone else who's getting sick has transformed but after a quick look at Zach's transformed face she knows she's telling the truth. She embraces Zach for a moment but the other EMTs order her into quarantine. Zach's pulled away but Elanie goes with her telling her to do as they say. Meanwhile in a nearby room Harpswell's head quickly transforms into a long-haired brunet woman in front of Togus and several doctors. Togus orders a nurse to get a video camera to record the transformation progress as proof for the CDC. Harpswell is fully transformed except for the crotch but as he says it's beginning to tingle; he agrees to let them record the final transformation. One nurse records on camera as two doctors examine Harpswell's penis by hand and are all in shock as it quickly shrinks and pulls up inside of him (now her) forming a fully functional vagina. Togus rushes out of the room and makes a call to the CDC ordering help and containment protocols to be enacted immediately.

In a nearby room Zack has finished her transformation and is comforted by her mother. Zack asks if she thinks this is curable, but Elaine is still in shock that it's happened to begin with. Elaine comforts Zach saying that turning into a girl is far from the worst thing that could happen to him/her. She then says how when Zack was born, she and his father Randy liked names that stared with Z and that had he been born a girl they would have named her Zoey. Zack seems to like that name but is still upset about being stuck like that. Just then Bruce bursts in yelling and angry as he's now growing breasts and rushes in and slaps Zoey across the face. Elaine tackles him down and asks the other nurse and security guards to take him back to his own quarantine room and two guards wrestle him down the hall, but he sneezes on one of them with neither of them fully knowing what's going on. They get him (now her) to her containment room and tie her to the bed with a face mask on just as her transformation finishes. The two guards then leave but one of them begins to cough. Outside in reception Gavin and Shane have made it to the hospital but are turned away by reception due to the quarantine. At the desk they see Bruce's father demanding to be let in to see his son but the doctors and EMTs refuse him despite his high status in the town. Just as Gavin and Shane have left the building the guards from earlier pass by the arguing group and begins to get much sicker not aware of what's happening. In the wing nearby Harpswell confirms with the nurse that she feels much better now that her transformation has finished. Togus comes in and tells them he's notified the CDC and after faxing them the evidence they're sending a specialized team to help the situation, but they need Harpswell to call and cancel school tomorrow. While she is hesitant due to the outroar from the evacuation already, she agrees to call but Togus says they need to avoid leaking the truth out until they know more and to say it's a concerning case of stomach flu.

The next day Gavin tries to tell his parents what happened, but they don't believe him and assume he just had some crazy dream. Despite also witnessing it briefly Chase denies he knows what he's talking about not wanting to be called crazy as well. Gavin gives up and head out to meet Shane to try and go see Zack again. He gets outside just as Shane pulls up on his bike, but Shane tells him his father Dutch, who's a police officer told him he saw the hospital on lockdown and surrounded by men in hazmat so there's no chance of them getting in. Gavin is upset they can't go see their friend, but Shane suggests they go to the movies instead to try and lift their spirts. Gavin agrees but is still worried about Zach and the virus overall. Once at the movies they are waiting in line for snacks and Brendon and his girlfriend are a couple spots behind them. Brendon is still coughing and assumes he caught a cold from his girlfriend who was sick the week prior. Once they get up the counter however he sneezes on the snack clerk who then proceeds to sneeze on the open popcorn machine. Only Gavin and Shane saw him do it, but he gives them 4 candy bars if they keep quite because a large line if forming behind them and he doesn't want to make them wait for a fresh batch. Gavin is hesitant and gets suspicious, but Shane agrees due to his sweet tooth. As they head into the theater a large line of movie goers all start to buy popcorn before heading in as well. Brendon begins to transform but his changes are subtle and slow enough to go unnoticed until they get into the dark theater. As the movie plays Gavin and Shane watch but a row behind them Brendon and his girlfriend sit and eventually start to make out in the dark but as they kiss Brendon's transformation seems to accelerate and he fully transforms into a girl. Shane looks back and assumes its actually two girls making out, but Gavin sees them and suspects what's happening. As the couple come out of the kiss Brendon screams realizing what's happened to him (now her) and his girlfriend freaks out not realizing the girl she was kissing used to be Brendon.

### Chapter 4 - Outbreak

This chapter is from pages 43 to 58. (↑ back to summary)

Brendon is now fully transformed and in shock that he's somehow become a girl. Shane realizes that Gavin was right, and the virus isn't contained like they thought. All around them Gavin and Shane see the other patrons in the theater begin to feel ill and get sick because the popcorn most of them bought was contaminated. Only the two of them seem unaffected because they bought their snacks before the clerk sneezed on the machine. The entire theater becomes the center of an outbreak and all around them people begin to transform and get sick. Gavin and Shane run out and scream for help but out in the lobby a large group of people, including the snack clerk, have begun to get sick as well. Shane and Gavin manage to keep their distance and cover their faces but as they try to leave a Hazmat team burst through the front doors and more are surrounding the building along with the Cinder Isle police forces.

Meanwhile back at the hospital in the containment wing Elaine has pulled a few strings to allow her family to come and visit Zack. Though they are still oblivious to the truth and unaware she has now become Zoey. Heather, Patrick, and their father Randy all get into hazmat gear though Randy questions why there is so much security and hype over a case of stomach flu as they've been told. Elaine knows they won't believe her until they see it so she dodges the question until they are fully suited up and get to Zoey's room. Once inside Randy at first thinks they must have the wrong room but when Zoey gets of the bed to greet them, he is confused. Zoey and Elaine explain that she is actually Zack and what's really going on with the virus. The family is shocked and confused but Elaine does her best to explain things. Zoey is still unable to leave quarantine as the specialists are still researching the virus and are not sure if those who have fully transformed but no longer show flu symptoms are still contagious. There is no further word on a cure or treatment and Zoey is still in tears at the idea of being stuck as a girl for the rest of her life. Elanie cries as well at the fact her son-turned-daughter is stuck there but does her best to support her and the family offers their support as well.

Back at the theater Shane's father Dutch arrives as part of the police reinforcements but is confused by the hype like the others when he see all the hazmat soldiers. His friend and fellow cop Peter who is already on the scene come over and tells him he saw his son inside and Dutch goes to try and see him. He is stopped by one of the hazmat crew who instructs him to at least put on a mask unless he wants to be stuck quarantined as well. Dutch complies and goes in to find Shane and Gavin being held near the entrance kept away from the others who are showing symptoms. Dutch comes to them but is told the boys can't leave until they are screened. Dutch questions them on why there is so much security measures for a stomach flu, but Gavin tells him how that's a cover story and Shane points out a guy in mid transformation showing Dutch what's really going on. Dutch is forced to comply with the hazmat team and tells the boys to do as they're told and do whatever they have to do to keep from getting sick. He leaves after telling Shane he loves him, and the boys are left to wait until the outbreak burns itself out. Gavin is still worried as he overheard that the hazmat team still have no solid way to test for the virus.

Later that night in an emergency conference Togus meets with other medical specialists as well as several military figures headed by General Windham to discuss a course of action for the island and the epidemic. They review the numbers and data and explain that roughly 45 were infected in the theater which has been the worst outbreak so far on the island. But due to either Brendon, the hospital guards, or any others who were unknowingly exposed to the virus there are 151 confirmed cases and it's expected to be a low estimate. Based on initial data the Virus seems to spread even if someone isn't yet showing symptoms as some infected take time for the flu symptoms to present themselves. One of the specialists in the conference explains to both the General and Togus that the number of people a single infected individual is likely to infect on average (the R-Naught of the Virus) is estimated to be 15 or higher, meaning a single infected person could spread the virus to around 15 others. The General elects to fully lock down the island and bar anyone form leaving indefinitely. Togus argues as that would strand the islands entire population of 10,564 on a 120 square mile island for possibly the rest of their lives but the General points out at least one infected individual has already slipped through a check point even after being screened and had they not begun to display symptoms before the ferry to Portland left dock that city would have been infected as well. In an effort to protect the mainland, the rest of the country, and potentially the whole world the General orders a military quarantine to be initiated and goes to give the orders.

The next day Gavin has been released from quarantine after screening and not showing any symptoms but as he tries to tell his father Wade what is going on he doesn't believe him. Wade and Gavin pull in at home and Clairissa is happy to see them, but Gavin still tries to convince them what's really going on. Wade still denies it and just offers everyone a donut from the dozen he picked up while waiting to pick him up. They all go inside, and Gavin tells them what he saw to no avail until Chase finally speaks up from the coach and admits what he saw that day at the school realizing that it's getting worse around them. Wade still thinks it's some stupid joke and goes to put the donut in the kitchen but as he does so he sniffles, and his lower body begins to change. Gavin explains the symptoms as he saw them just as Wade begins to feel the effects. Wade thinks he's just trying to scare him, and he just has allergies, but his body continues to change. He then goes to turn on the TV to show everyone there's no big news other than a stomach bug. The news announces a big story where a freighter carrying Nuclear Waste capsized off the coast and all the residence of Cinder Isle were evacuated to a military facility due to possible radiation contamination. The family is shocked as they all know none of that happened. As they listen however, Wade's body has continued to shrink, and his symptoms soon begin to get worse. Just as Gavin argues his point again Wade begins to cough and sneeze and both Gavin and Chase realize what's happening. At first Wade denies he has the virus and says he's just having allergies and has been exercising and dieting clearly in denial overall as to what's happening to him. His symptoms quickly get worse with his clothing changing and even makeup appearing on his face out of nowhere. Wade's flu symptoms get very bad, and Clairissa has Chase and Gavin close themselves into the kitchen to keep from getting sick and she keeps her distance from Wade as he sneezes. Gavin asks Wade if he saw anyone sick today and he says the salesmen at the Donut parlor was sniffling. Gavin is quick to throw out the donuts laying on the kitchen table afraid they may be contaminated. Wade asks Gavin if he heard anything about a cure for the virus, but Gavin points out the government is already feeding false information into the news so it's doubtful there's hope for a cure anytime soon. Chase tries to call 911 but the line is dead and Gavin assumes the phones have been cut off by the government to prevent word of the truth getting out. Wade's transformation finishes soon after much to both his (now her) and her wife's shock. Gavin and Shane peak out from the kitchen and are both in awe of what this virus can do and how it's possible.

### Chapter 5 - Lockdown

This chapter is from pages 59 to 71. (↑ back to summary)

The next day the island has fallen into chaos due to the quarantine and fake news. All water traffic has been halted and there's a massive rioting crowd at the main bridge that leads to the mainland. Dutch, Peter, the Police Chief and a few other officers are ordered to prevent anyone from leaving even if they are healthy. The rioters get bolder and despite what barriers the cops have set up a small group manage to get through to the bridge just before Peter throws a tear gas canister. At least three citizens flee across the bridge and call out to the military barricade on the other side. They are warned away but one young man calls out begging for him and his family to be let off the island before they get sick but just as he steps over a red mark on the bridge, he is shot by sniper fire and killed instantly. The others who got past the barrier run back to the island and the cops are all in shock they shot him on the spot. The chief radios over but the military say they've been authorized to use lethal force to ensure no one gets off the island. Between the snippers shot and a man at the front of the crowd suddenly sneezing the rioters disperse and run back away from the bridge. The Chief gets permission to retrieve the young man's body from the bridge while Dutch is left nearly traumatized by seeing what his small peaceful town has turned into.

A week later Zoey is still in the hospital and her father is visiting her explaining what's been going on. The towns been plagued by riots and looters stocking up on food and medicine, but the Houltons have managed to avoid the chaos thus far and word is the military is soon to start setting up a supply chain to have goods brough to the island but it's still chaotic outside. Zoey asks if she may be able to see her friends soon, but Randy says it's not likely since they barely allow family in to visit as it is. However, a moment later Elaine and the others come in and she announces Zoey is free to be discharged and come home. Zoey is excited but worries she may still get others sick. Elaine explains that the CDC have examined the virus and determined that once an infected persons transformation is completed and their flu like symptoms subside their chances of infecting others drops to a fraction of a percent. They've determined that when displaying flu symptoms, the victim is highly infectious and can spread it through any form of fluids or physical contact but once their symptoms subside and transformation completes, they can only spread the virus through Blood and "Sexual Fluids" meaning so long as Zoey doesn't bleed on anyone or have sex with anyone, she can't spread the virus, but she does still carry it. Zoey asks if she can leave the island since she can't get others sick except under certain conditions, but Elaine says the government won't allow the chance. Despite this she is permitted to leave quarantine and come home. Elaine takes off her suite and embraces Zoey and the others in the family follow soon after though Heather is a bit hesitant and concerned. With the family convinced and Zoey's paperwork being processed they give her a set of Heather's cloths to wear since she can't fit in any of the other cloths she wore as Zach much to her annoyance. Elaine leaves with Patrick and Randy to finish the discharge order and tells Heather to help Zoey get dressed since she doesn't know how to put on a bra and such. Heather helps reluctantly but after Zoey is dressed. Heather playfully mocks how she is already the same cup size as her and how good she looks as a girl. Zoey begins to cry again distraught to be stuck like that and trapped on the island for the rest of her life. Heather stops her teasing and surprisingly offers Zoey comfort. Zoey's make up smears from her tears which confuses her because she never applied any make up showing the virus somehow applies it during the transformation process. Heather helps her wipe it off and the others return soon after to show Zoey's discharge papers and she's free to leave the hospital.

### Chapter 6 - Discharged

This chapter is from pages 72 to 94. (↑ back to summary)

Two days after her release from the hospital Gavin and Shane head to Zach (now Zoey's) house to spend a bit of time with her and finally see their friend in person again after all this started. Shane is a bit concerned that Zoey could infect them despite the reassurances from the doctors and government, who have somewhat restored a degree of order, but Gavin backs them up saying how his father turned mother has been home for several days now and no one else in the house has gotten sick. The two arrive at the Houlton's house and Elaine meets them at the door. Glad to see the two of them and certain that Zoey will appreciate seeing them as well she guides them upstairs. In Zoey's room Heather is trying to help her with a few more outfits that she'll be stuck wearing until she can buy her own clothing to fit her new body. Zoey is reluctant to wear anything too revealing or girly, but Heather continues to playfully tease her. Both Gavin and Shane come in the room and are surprised to see how different Zoey looks compared to Zach. Zoey is happy to see her friends but also embarrassed they walked in on her wearing one of her sister's girly shirts. Heather and Elaine leave the three of them to catch up and while Shane is curious and asks what it's like to be female now, Gavin begins to have his nervous stutter like he always has around girls. Zoey tries to reassure him she's still his friend Zach on the inside, but Gavin can't help his stutter. Shane keeps asking a few questions, but Zoey gets a bit defensive after a few too many personal ones and Shane drops the subject. Zoey playfully mocks Gavin for his stutter saying he's afraid of cooties or something and while Gavin can still talk to her, he still stutters a few words here and there. Zoey goes to her pet bearded dragon Rex and gets him out of his case to feed him. The two boys are surprised that Rex seems to act normal and still recognizes her despite the changes. Shane tells Zoey how the mayor and government have been working to finish the secure supply line to the island to return a sense of normalcy to the town. They are also planning to reopen the schools as early as next week. Zoey is not happy as she has never liked school as either gender and is not excited to have to face everyone as a girl. Rex climbs onto Gavin as Zoey continues to talk to the two of them and explain the things that she finds odd about being a girl now but after a couple minutes Rex pees on Gavin's shirt. Zoey puts him back in his case and apologizes to Gavin. She says Gavin can wear one of her old shirts while her mom washes his. Gavin takes off his shirt and goes to wipe off his chest, but Zoey seems drawn to watch him as he changes and stares lustfully at him for a brief moment until she catches herself and is offset by where those thoughts came from. Gavin and Zoey both blush and seem a bit nervous around each other. Finally, Zoey suggests they play video games or something hoping to enjoy herself even if she is a girl now and the guys happily agree. Gavin joins in but is a but upset with himself for now being so nervous around his best friend.

Hours later despite Zoey asking if they can stay longer or even spend the night since there's no school for the time being, Elaine says how Dutch already called asking about Shane and says its best to let them head home and meet up again soon. Gavin and Shane thank them for having them over, but Heather playfully mocks Zoey again saying how having a boy stay over has a different meaning now that she's a girl. The friends say their goodbyes and Gavin and Shane get on their bikes to head home but unknown to them there is a strange glowing figure in a white bonnet watching them from a distance. As that ride along the back roads at night Shane says he's going to take the short cut and heads down a path through the woods waving goodbye to Gavin. Shane rides through the woods alone but begins to hear odd sounds and get a strange feeling. As he calls out, he hears a little girl's laugh and suddenly out of nowhere a ghost appears. The ghost seems to be a young girl dressed in pilgrim clothing with a pale face and dark marks around her eyes. The Girl asks Shane if he wants to play with her acting as if everything is normal seemingly unaware of what she is. Shane is freaked out at first but is also fascinated by her. He agrees to play in order to learn more about her. The girl says she can make a lot of toys and then decides to make a pony for them to play with. With a clap of her hands, she conjures a massive black horse creature with glowing white eyes that she calls Mrs. Sparkles. Shane is frightened by its size and loud neighing and runs off afraid. As he runs however, he runs into a second Ghost. This one resembles an older woman in clown make up and she twirls on a unicycle also bantering to Shane about having fun with him. The Harlequin Ghost takes his bike and conjures a Saw to cut in in two saying he now has two unicycles to play with, but Shane demands she fixes it. Still acting like she's just having fun with him she suddenly makes Shane fatter leaving him rather obese and bloated compared to his only minor obesity before. Shane is fed up when he sees the Girl and Mrs. Sparkles coming behind him and continues to run off on foot. As he runs, he crosses paths with a third ghost which seems to be a woman in a dark gown crying. As he gets closer to her, she springs up with tremendous speed showing she has furious eyes and sharp red claws. This ghost (The Ex) asks Shane if he's seen "her" and describes a woman who slept with her husband that she is clearly angry about. Shane denies knowing or seeing such a woman, but the Ex threatens him and says he'll pay if she learns he's lying. The Girl and Harlequin close in behind him with the horse and half his bike and Shane just keeps running until he finally makes it home. Once inside he doesn't hear any noises or see them chasing him out of the woods but is clearly fazed by the fact there is a gender virus and now ghosts. Not to mention he is now much fatter.

The next morning Gavin and his father Wade who now adopts the female name Wanda arrive at the small-town dinner she owns, and Gavin works at. Wanda is greeted by her other employees Chase and Daphne who mock her for missing work for a week. Wanda angrily retorts saying how she already feels bad enough being a woman now and she's already experienced her first period a few days ago much to everyone's surprise and discomfort. Wanda complains how the female work uniform and skirt is so uncomfortable and a bit too short much to Daphne's annoyance as she and the other waitresses have mentioned that in the past, but Wade never did anything about it. Wanda tries to get things ready as they open the dinner, but she knocks into things and spills a pitcher of coffee as she is still not used to her large breasts yet. Not long after Dutch comes in at the end of working the night shift and orders a decaf coffee before looking at the menu. Gavin gets him his coffee and begins to talk with him, but Wanda comes up behind him and catches Dutch's eye as he's unaware of who she really is. As Wanda greets him and he draws a blank she admits who she is, and Dutch is shocked to see Wade is now so gorgeous as a woman. The two begin to talk about their concerns based on the virus. Wanda is upset to be stuck like that and how Clairissa now has no interest in her as a woman. Dutch says how his wife was away on business in Chicago when the outbreak began and he's been unable to contact her due to the island being cut off from the outside. As the two talk Wanda begins to feel urges around Dutch and purposely unbuttons her uniform a bit and get flirty with him as he orders his breakfast. Dutch gets a bit saddened knowing he may never see his wife again and is now overwhelmed with maintaining order at his job and falling behind on housework now that he's alone with Shane. Wanda offers to help out since she has a lot of housework experience after his original divorce from Gavin's mother much to Dutch's gratitude. At that point Shane bursts in to tell his dad about the Ghost. Shane no longer has his bike, but his body has returned to its normal shape. No one believes Shane's claims thinking he just had a crazy dream and tell him to just sit down and have breakfast. Shane agrees but is still upset no one believes him. At that point Brendon, who is now a woman going by the name Brenda, sits down at a booth near the window and Daphne goes over to take her order. As she begins talking Brenda cuts her finger on the menu and bleeds a bit on the table. Daphne pulls out a rag to clean it up but before Brenda can tell her she's infected she has already touched the blood and begins to cough and sneeze. She transforms rather quickly with her hips and breasts growing in size and her hair slightly changing style. Dutch calls for a containment and decontamination team over the radio but Daphne seems to fully pass through her flu Symptoms within a couple minutes and while she doesn't infect anyone else, she is annoyed that she is now infected too.

### Chapter 7 - The New Normal

This chapter is from pages 95 to 118. (↑ back to summary)

Two weeks after the initial outbreak and quarantine Cinder Isle High School opens again and the students return. While Zoey is still a bit upset, she and the other two return to school and head into an assembly in the gym called that morning. At the assembly they see a few students who were infected. Several boys turned girls and see a few girls who have really gone from 4 to 10 on the beauty and/or busty scale. As the student body finishes assembling in the gym Principle Harpswell addresses them having to introduce herself as so many no longer recognize him as a her. The principle confirms that the outbreak originated at the school, but everything has been decontaminated and triple checked and there is no danger of anything apart from the infected getting anyone else sick. She then explains how the CDC have determined two types of infected. Transmitters and Carriers. Transmitters are recently infected who have not fully transformed. They experience flu like symptoms at various intensity for anywhere from a couple minutes to even a full day and can spread the virus through direct contact, proximity, or any and all body fluids. Carriers are those who have fully transformed and their flu like symptoms have disappeared. They carry the virus in their systems but can only transmit it through blood and sexual fluids. Procedures are that in the event of an outbreak only carriers can assist the infected until a proper team arrives to disinfect and contain the virus. Harpswell also announces that the school will arrange special sex ed classes to teach students proper hygienic practices to avoid infection and teach formerly male students about their new gender. Zoey is rather embarrassed she not only has to live a girl now but also attend sex ed as one. Harpswell dismisses the students to second period after she gives a speech about being stronger together as a school and community and they all disperse down the halls.

After leaving the assembly Zoey, Gavin, and Shane head to their second period classes but as they walk a few students come up and yell at Zoey as they found out she was patient zero and started the outbreak. A small group of students gather around blaming her for them getting transformed or their families getting infected. Shane and Gavin defend her, but Zoey breaks down in tears and runs off as the crowd just calls her a slut and such. Gavin runs after her while Shane stands up to the crowd and takes a few hits. Gavin finds Zoey in a classroom alone crying. He comes in and hears her blaming herself. Gavin tries to console her and says how she may have gotten sick first, but she didn't do anything on purpose. She's still upset but Zoey starts to see his point and notices how he's not stuttering too bad while he talks to her. As the two keep talking Shane soon comes in now with a black eye from punching out the guy who called Zoey a slut. He shares Gavins's sentiment and after another short talk Zoey embraces the two of them thanking them for the support.

A couple days later Zoey and Heather are at the mall buying Zoey a few new outfits for her new body. Zoey comes out of the dressing room wearing a somewhat baggy sweater and jeans which give her a very tomboyish look. Heather disagrees with her choices and tells Zoey that even if she's a man on the inside she needs to learn to live as girl for the foreseeable future. Zoey is still hesitant but agrees to try on a low-cut top and skinny jeans Heather gives her. While she is not ecstatic to wear something moderately revealing she does like that its comfortable and she can look down her own shirt if she wants. Heather still makes fun of her lovingly much to Zoey's annoyance but the two continue to shop. As the two of them head towards a shoe shop, Heather mentions that she heard a rumor that a lot of the men who were transformed into women during the initial outbreaks apparently felt new urges and attraction to other men suggesting the virus also changes the victim's sexuality to some extent. Heather asks Zoey if she's felt anything like that happen to her lately. Zoey blushes and denies it, too embarrassed to tell Heather that she felt at least a brief attraction towards Gavin the other night. As the two go into the shoe store and meet a young clerk Heather tries to push Zoey to be a bit friendly with him. While she is supple enough for Zoey not to notice too much, she does seem to at least check the guy out but nothing major happens. Zoey claims she was just deep in thought and denies that she'd ever feel an attraction to men. Heather goes back to teasing her about getting more girly cloths and styles much to her annoyance, but she seems to prefer it over boy talk.

The next day at the hospital Elaine is working in hazmat with a few other doctors analyzing and trying to help another patient through their transformation. The man has just been confirmed to have the virus and begins to transform but begs the doctors to make it stop. The group regretfully inform him there's nothing they can do to stop the effects of the virus as no form of treatment or prevention has been developed. They ask the patient how he got infected since the initial outbreak died off over a week ago and only small numbers of new infected have been emerging since then. The patient explains his neighbor was a carrier and she has been very forward and provocative with him lately and he finally gave in the night before and slept with her thinking wearing a condom would prevent him from getting the virus through her sexual fluids. The Doctors explain that the CDC estimated that condoms are only about 90% effective at preventing infection thus it's impossible to guarantee you won't get infected from sleeping with a carrier no matter the precautions or protection used. The patient continues to transform much to his horror as the doctors discuss the virus around them. After seeing how practically all transformed become supermodels with large breast and curve sizes, they assume the virus also increases the carrier's libido and sexual attraction to non-infected as a characteristic to promote further spread. The patient confirms that his (now her) neighbor used to be very withdrawn and never so provocative but after getting infected she was very forward with him. The doctors now worry that the virus' final stage also has the symptom of pushing the victim towards an attraction with non-infected witch will mean that unless everyone on the island is willing to go celibate the virus will continue to spread slowly.

A Day later Gavin and Shane are out bowling at the local ally when Zoey arrives a bit late to join them. Both Shane and Gavin compliment her on her new clothing as she's gotten used to certain aspects of it but still isn't dressing in anything too feminine. Gavin stutters a bit while complimenting her but the two of them do manage to carry on the conversation. Zoey goes up to throw but she gets a gutter ball. Now that her center of gravity is off due to her breasts and smaller body as well as her long hair shaking around Zoey's game is way off now. Zoey talks about how she wants to cut her hair short again, but Gavin says he likes her long hair and that she should try putting it in a ponytail. After a few adjustments and some mild blushing from Gavin's compliments Zoey throws a strike and decides to keep her long hair so long as she can manage it. As the three continue to play Shane brings up Halloween coming up soon and that the group should try and do a trio costume like they always do. Zoey says she doesn't want to go as a girl but both Shane and Gavin talk her into it. Shane suggests that they go as the trio from Star Battles (an SF parody on Star Wars) While Zoey is not that excited to have to dress up as a girl she agrees to the plan. Shane admires a few of the other girls in the bowling alley and wonders if they used to be men or less busty girls. Zoey starts to rant about how if things keep going the way they have been Shane and Gavin will soon be outnumbered by girls and be swarmed by them if they end up some of the last men on the island. Shane then thinks how he may very well be since his mild obesity and geeky side has always kept girls at a distance and he decided he wants to try and get into shape and start dieting. Gavin supports him but Zoey thinks he'll fall of the wagon and pig out in a few days. Zoey then sarcastically says how Gavin is the only one she knows who has less experience with girls than Shane. Gavin is clearly upset by this but agrees Zoey's right. He worries that even if he does end up the last man on the island, he'd probably still be alone due to his nervous stutter and awkward behavior. Just as Zoey is trying to cheer him up Frank and Bruce (who now has taken the name Bridget) arrive and start to mock them all. Bridgett starts calling Gavin and Shane Zoey's boyfriends and says they heard she's been having trouble at school. Zoey then realizes Bridget was the one who let it out that Zoey was patient zero and is the reason she's been ridiculed by everyone. Bridget admits it saying how she ruined her life by turning her into a girl and now everyone's stuck on the island forever. Shane and Gavin defend her but both Bridget and Frank persist. Zoey calls Bridget a bitch angry she's the reason behind all her hardships but Bridget is quick to retort and threatens to "accidently" get a paper cut and infect one of the others if she calls her that again or tries any kind of revenge. Scared of getting infected Shane and Gavin back down a bit but still defend Zoey. The duo walks off still mocking the three of them and planning to keep making things worse at school for Zoey.

### Chapter 8 - Trick or Treat

This chapter is from pages 119 to 154. (↑ back to summary)

On Halloween night Gavin and Shane are in their costumes as they planned and waiting for Zoey to join them. Wanda, Chase, and Clairissa are dressed up as well. Both Clairissa and Wanda are dressed as female action heroes. Wanda claims the government said they may have a solution to the virus within 12-24 months and she may as well learn to enjoy her new body while she can, but Gavin is not so optimistic. Chase is dressed as a singer and just before he can leave Daphne comes to the door also dressed as a singer and Clairissa is quick to pick up on the fact, they're going to a party together. She gets angry saying Chase can't go out with her because she's infected, but he retorts saying Wanda's infected too, but she hasn't kicked her out of the house and Daphne assures her they're just going as close friends not a couple. Chase ignores his mother's demands and leaves with Daphne and Clairissa moves on to blaming Wanda for being a rebellious influence on him. Wanda defends herself saying she's just blaming her because she worries too much but the pair just keep arguing until Clairissa leaves to the other room. Down the street Chase and Daphne cross paths with Zoey and wish her Happy Halloween as she comes to the front door. She comes in but Shane says she wore the wrong costume as she is in the princesses' outfit from the sequel not the original movie like the two of them are wearing. Zoey says she's still the right character, but she didn't want to wear a dress. Gavin says its fine and that the trio should just head out before it gets too late. They all head out, but Wanda is left upset on the sofa feeling that since Clairissa no longer has much interest in her now that she's a woman she should see if Dutch could use a home cooked meal or something.

Later the trio is out trick or treating and have gotten a decent load of candy thus far, but their latest house is an old lady who doesn't know what their costumes are and gives them each an apple to their mild annoyance. As they walk on to the next street Shane says he'll take the apples and give the other two all his candy showing he is serious about his diet plan much to Zoey's surprise. As they walk however, in the wooded area nearby another ghost appears. This time a blonde woman in a short but formal white dress (The Starlet). As the group walks on, Starlet appears in front of them. Shane recognizes her as another ghost, but Gavin and Zoey are both shocked to see he was telling the truth before. Like the others the Starlet seems to not be thinking straight and simply criticizes the group on their costumes. The trio try and talk to her, but she seems under the impression they are all actors who need dressed for roles in a play or something. As Zoey is whispering to Gavin about bringing a camera to get proof of the ghosts Starlet put her sights on her and begins to use some form of magic to alter her appearance. Zoey runs away but as she runs her hair is tied into a ponytail again and make up appears on her face. She is then lifted into the air and her costume is turned from a snow gear jacket into a large flowing yellow princess dress. Freaked out and angry that she's now in a dress, Zoey screams at the Starlet to let her go but she just lets Zoey down to the ground and uses the same power to force Gavin to walk up to and hold Zoey as if they are dancing and then transform his costume into a prince looking formal garb. The group is shocked at the Starlets power, but she is then quick to turn her attention to Shane. She removes his glasses and puts him in a corset much to his discomfort. His costume then becomes a red Victorian style long coat and hunting boats matching the other two in style (Beauty and Beast parody). The group makes a run for it, but Gavin is forced to carry Zoey as she can't walk in heals. Shane can't see without his glasses, so he just follows the sound of Gavin's footsteps until they're back in the middle of housing area. The ghost doesn't seem to have followed them and they breathe a sigh of relief. Zoey can't remove her shoes which seem fused to her feet and Shane doesn't have a spare set of glasses leaving them with little choice but to head home. As they are trying to make their way and figure out what to do they cross paths with a few upper classmen heading for a party who catcall Zoey in her dress. The group then run into Heather and her date for the night Chad dressed as an anime couple (Sailor Moon parody) and Heather is shocked to see Zoey in a dress now. Zoey knows she won't believe the whole ghost story thing and instead says she lost a bet to Shane and had to wear the dress instead. Chad is drawn to Zoey while she's dressed like that and says they should join them at a big party nearby. A rich prep kid named Greg is throwing a big party at his parents' mansion as they were stuck off island when the lockdown started. Shane wants to join them but Zoey refuses to be seen by a crowd dressed like that and Gavin agrees they need to get home after all the craziness they've been through. Just as Heather is about head off with Chad, Zoey says she wore flats to get there but needs a few pointers to walk in heals. Heather gives her a few tips but to have some fun teacher her a rather provocative type of walk to make her look more feminine in her dress. Zoey is embarrassed but is at least grateful she can walk without tripping now. Heather and Chad leave for the party and the trio head home still riled up from their ghost encounter.

Not too far away at Gregs party Chase and Daphne are already there and surrounded by a large crowd of upper classman partying hard and loud. Daphne is happy to be there with Chase but wants to step out for a moment to get away from the blaring music and have a moment with him. As the two step outside to make out a bit Heather and Chad arrive at that point and greet the other two. They say hi and go inside but Daphne worries because Heather is big on gossip that now everyone's going to know she and Chase are together. Daphne then starts to talk with Chase and says maybe he should be with a girl he can actually be with safely but Chase retorts this and says he likes her even if they can't risk being intimate with one another. As the two kiss and embrace a familiar ghost watch nearby. The Ex seems to have mistaken Daphne for the woman she harbors anger towards for sleeping with her husband and as Chase and her kiss she appears before them. Frightened by her and the strange red claws she has the two scream and draw the attention of another party goer in a he-man costume. Just as he-man comes out to see what's going on the Ex attacks Daphne causing three large gashes across her chest and a small amount of her blood spatters onto him. Chase tries to punch out the Ex but his fist phases through her and she disappears soon after anyway feeling her work is done now that Daphne is wounded. He-Man rushes in to get help and call an ambulance but fails to realize that Daphne is infected and now he's been exposed from her blood. He runs into the party asking for help but as he tries to explain what he saw he sneezes and a few of the others in the party accuse him of having the "Cootie Virus". He denies it but suddenly he coughs and sneezes some more and begins to transform realizing he is infected, and Daphne's blood exposed him. Unlike a regular transformation turning him into the female version of himself however he begins to transform into the female version of his costume She-ra. Another partygoer dressed as Marty McFly suddenly get sick and very quickly transforms into the female form Lorain.

The party begins to panic and one of the other goers dressed as a cop says everyone should run outside but another guy dressed as a power ranger says they need to contain anyone who's exposed and only people who are positively not infected can leave. The cop then begins to transform revealing he was exposed as well. Back outside Chase tries to help Daphne but she pushes him away not wanting to infect him with her blood. Chase takes a medical mask out of his bag he packed in case of emergency so he can try and help apply pressure to her wound at least but when she tells him the guy that ran back inside got her blood on him, he looks through the window to see the chaos unfolding. A few party goers run outside while the rest all get sick and begin to transform. The Lorain girl questions why She-Ra hasn't finished transforming yet since she was clearly infected first but her only guess is her immune system is better than hers, so it took longer with her, but the transformation finishes on both of them soon after and they both complement each other on how attractive they turned out. Heather tries to drag Chad out with her, but Chad can feel himself started to get nauseous and knows he's been exposed too. Forced to leave him Heather reluctantly runs outside to find Chase and only a couple of other who aren't showing symptoms. Chase gives Heather the only other mask he has and asks her to help since she has gloves as part of her costume and can touch Daphne without too much risk. Heather jumps in and uses Chase's scarf to help stop the bleeding. The only other two-party goer who managed to get out are dressed as a blue power ranger and a ninja. The power ranger accuses Chase of doing this to Daphne and causing the outbreak, but Chase says it was a ghost which they refuse to believe. Just as they start to argue the ranger coughs revealing he too was exposed, and he also infects the ninja at the same time. The containment team arrives soon after but request back up when they see the size of the party. Only Chase and Heather manage to avoid getting sick thanks to the masks her had on him but everyone else at the party was exposed. The teams begin to ferry the infected into ambulances in groups of two but as they are escorting Chad out, his costume quickly changes to match Hethers but with a much more convincing appearance and he fully becomes a Sailor moon girl. In another ambulance two guys dressed as different style ninjas are contained and about to be sent off to the hospital. One finishes transforming and has fully become female while the other one only has his lower body transformed and regrettably gets a hard on from seeing his friend with big boobs and as a hot woman now. Though at first the she-ninja is angry her transformation finished when the hazmat team members leave them saying it will be several minutes before they head to the hospital, she becomes turned on seeing her friend's erection as as his transformation continues, she gets a bit flirty and forward and finally suggests that they try a quicky before he fully transforms and loses his manhood. He's hesitant at first but agrees to do it so he can lose his virginity as a guy before being stuck as girl for the rest of her life. The two then kiss and begin to get intimate as the ambulance starts up.

### Chapter 9 - Aftermath

This chapter is from pages 155 to 180. (↑ back to summary)

The trio continue their walk home after their ghost encounter but are all still stuck in the costumes the Starlet gave them. They talk about the overall situation and how somehow the ghosts must be connected to the virus but are unsure what else to make of it. Zoey complains how they lost all their candy, but Shane is glad because it gives him less temptation. Zoey then playfully mocks that Shane will be begging for his candy back tomorrow, but this just makes him finally snap and call Zoey out on her teasing the two of them. Shane says how even as Zach she always made fun of the two of them. Even if it was meant as a teasing, she takes it too far sometimes. Despite him and Gavin being nothing but supportive of her through this whole mess she still has to put them down. Zoey argues she's just kidding around and she's not that bad. Gavin agrees that he knows it's just teasing but sometimes she takes it too far. Shane walks off in a huff but after a short word from Gavin, Zoey runs up after him and apologizes saying he's right that she goes too far sometimes and wishes him luck in his diet. Shane thanks her and says they're good. Shane heads home and Gavin walks Zoey back to her house. Once they reach the Houlton's Randy is in awe of Zoey in her dress and Gavin in his costume. Zoey plays it off with her "I lost a bet" excuse again and while she is embarrassed and blushing up a storm Randy thinks she looks beautiful and asks the two of them to pose for a couple pictures before they get undressed. Randy goes to get the camera and Zoey sits on the sofa and asks Gavin to help her get her heals off worried they're still stuck on by whatever weird power the ghost had. To her surprise however Gavin slips them right off with ease. Randy returns with the camera and though both of them are embarrassed and blushing like tomatoes Zoey and Gavin pose a bit so he can get a few good shots. Once Randy's satisfied, he lets the two go up to Zoey's room. Once upstairs Zoey asks Gavin to help her unzip the back of her dress since she can't reach. Gavin stutters and blushes terribly but he helps her unzip and remove the corset under her dress. Zoey begins to try and get out of the rest of the dress and tells Gavin to leave while she takes the top off but just as he's about to leave the room Randy bursts in saying they all need to go to the hospital, and he heard both Heather and Chase are there and were involved in an outbreak. Zoey tries to get undressed in a hurry, but Randy is insistent and makes her just zip back up and put on flats to get going.

Meanwhile at the hospital Elaine heard that Heather was involved in the outbreak and is in hazmat asking another nurse about a girl in the Sailor costume, but the nurse asks which one as Chad is now a woman and dressed in a costume similar to Heather. The two different power ranger partygoers finish transforming into the female forms of their costumes as well (Pink and Yellow) while Chad is in tears after being transformed into a woman and Heather is trying to comfort her. Elaine finds them both and asks how Heather managed to be one of the only two partygoers not to be exposed. Heather replies to its thanks to Chase giving her his spare mask in time but there's another issue with that. In a nearby room Chase is being examined but also arrested. The two partygoers who ran out of the party before displaying symptoms still think that he was the one who attacked Daphne, and no one believes his ghost story, so they are arresting him on assault and charges of bioterrorism for causing the outbreak. Even Daphne cooperates his story, but the officers think she's just protecting him as in many domestic abuse cases. Wanda and Clarissa both argue they have no proof and Peter, and Dutch try to ease the situation between them and the guards.

At that point Gavin, Zoey, and Randy have arrived at the hospital. Randy goes to find out what exactly is going on and where Heather and Chase are leaving Zoey and Gavin in reception. As the two of them talk for a second wondering what's going on the cop costumed partygoer from before walks by coughing and sneezing while he transforms. Zoey tackles Gavin to the side and covers his head in her arms to protect him from getting exposed as she passes by and then gets him a face mask just as her transformation finishes. Gavin thanks her but sees she's a bit offset by having to be seen by everyone at the hospital in a princess dress. Gavin tries to offer her some support, but Elaine comes up to them soon after and takes them to Chases holding room. Chase still argues he wasn't the one who attacked Daphne and Clairissa points out her wounds were odd and there was no weapon recovered at the scene, but the guards insist they need to leave. Just as they are being forced out telling Chase they'll get him the best lawyer on the island he yells out it was ghosts again. Zoey and Gavin arrive at that moment and both of them tell the group they were also attacked and saw the ghosts. The only one who seems convinced by this is Dutch and while Peter thinks he's crazy to believe a ghost story coming from kids Dutch says they need to look into this more because of all the holes in the case.

A few hours later the sun is starting to rise. Peter and Dutch go to explore the woods near where the supposed attacks happened. Dutch is beginning to suspect there is at least something odd going on after three so called Ghost encounters, but Peter thinks it's an open and shut case and they're wasting their time. Dutch convinces him to come along but Peter still pushes the fact it's likely overactive imaginations and domestic abuse, not a ghost. As they walk through the woods however, they are watched by a new ghost, this one is dressed in medieval clothing and wearing a white Plague Doctors mask (The Nurse). The two men continue to walk deeper into the woods while the Nurse watches from a distance until they find a strange cluster of sickly red-looking vines. They follow the vines to the same red lake where Zach had been exposed to the virus a month ago and are both at a loss to explain why it's so red and the vines seem to be spreading out from it. As they are examining the lake, they hear strange laughing echoing all around them and suddenly the Nurse appears in front of them much to their shock. Realizing Shane and the other were right Dutch tries to arrest the Ghost but like the others she seems to think and act like something else if going on entirely and claims she can sense the two of them have caught the red plague and she needs to cure them. Both are confused and try to catch her, but she phases through them and pops up behind Peter. She catches him and takes him to the side of the lake where she dunks his head into the water by force, exposing him to the virus. At first Peter thinks he's coughing simply from the dirty water, but Dutch sees from a distance he's transforming very quickly and becoming a woman. Dutch yells to Peter he's been infected but the Nurse claims he's wrong and that she has cured him. Peter is angered as his transformation continues and tells Dutch to run before, he gets infected too. Dutch warns the Nurse to get back before shooting several rounds towards her but the bullets phase right through and he's forced to run leaving Peter alone by the lake nearly fully transformed. Dutch runs to call for back up while Peter's transformation into Petrina finishes. As the Ghost continues to ramble about some plague that she's cured him of, Petrina realizes that the Red Lake must be where the virus came from and in a vein and desperate effort to stop the virus from spreading further, she lights a flash grenade from her belt and throws it into the lake much to the Nurse's horror. Just as the grenade hits the lake a horrific roar booms out from all around them and the earth nearby cracks open a sizable fissure. The Nurse floats off in panic saying Petrina has doomed them all. The lake and surrounding vines have caught fire but as Petrina looks towards the edge of the wood a mass of red slime in the shape of a hand emerges from the lake behind her and another roar is heard just as some unseen horror rises from the red water. Dutch is leading a group of gas masked military men through the woods towards the lake to save Petrina but as they get through the trees, they find Petrina running the other way yelling for them to follow her back out of the woods. The Soldiers order Dutch to escort Petrina to the medical convoy outside the woods line while they investigate further. Dutch catches up to her just joining the other officers and medics at the edge of the woods where she is terrified claiming she saw an indescribable "Abomination". At that moment gun fire and grenade explosions are heard in the distance and an emergency call is heard over the radio siting multiple casualties and requesting back up desperately. Dutch hold his radio listening and terrified of what has been awoken.

A couple days later Chase is still in holding with Gavin in shock they are pressing such high charges without solid evidence and both Wanda and Clairissa insist they will find him the best Lawyer they can get. A moment later however General MacCullagh arrives and introduces himself to the family. Clarissa insists Chase is innocent but before she can throw another fit MacCullagh tells her new evidence has proven that already. He orders his men to release Chase apologizing for his wrongful arrest. Wanda asks what changed but MacCullagh simply says a new development proved Chase was innocent and casually mentions to them all to stay away from Underwood Forest from now on.

### Chapter 10 - The Birds and the Bees

This chapter is from pages 181 to 197. (↑ back to summary)

Zoey and Gavin are back at school a couple days after Chase's release and while Zoey is glad to hear the good news, she is upset that their class is slated to start the Specialized Sex-Ed classes that day as their first period. The two of them head into class which is slated to be taught by one of their other teachers Mr. Machias. As they all take their seats a few students say that they heard that Mr. Machias had gotten infected, and their suspicions are confirmed when the teacher comes in and begins to write on the board. She introduces herself as Mrs. Machias confirming that she was infected and has transformed. To begin the class Machias points out their total is 8 boys and 16 girls showing its very likely a number of them are also infected. She asks the students in class who used to be boys to raise their hands revealing five or six who have transformed which further stresses the importance of this class which will explain female anatomy so all the new girls will better understand their bodies and all the boys will be prepared if and when they ever get infected. Zoey is not happy about better understanding the body she still does not like but also worries Gavin is going to blush so hard he'll pass out from hearing so many intimate details about girls. The class begins with Machias going over the process by which woman have their periods and what to expect when they occur. Gavin mentions he feels sick by hearing what she's describing but Zoey just retorts saying she has to go through it, and he only has to hear about it. Their whispers however get Machias' attention, and she asks Zoey to stand and share what they are discussing with the rest of the class. Zoey reluctantly does so and if forced to admit she had her first period last week and describe the general experience. Machias lets her sit back down and hopes her description helped keep the class aware and in line, but Zoey just hides her face in her arms in embarrassment. Machias continues saying they will be covering safe sex practice next as sexual fluids are easier conduits for the virus to spread. One girl in the class asks her how she had gotten infected, and she reluctantly shares the story.

A couple weeks ago Mr. Machias came home to find his wife in the kitchen a bit more bubbly than usual. He seemed to notice her body begin to alter shape and get thinner and bustier very slowly but dismissed it too distracted by his wife being extra forward and erotic than she had been for the past several years of their marriage. After she got flirty at dinner the two of them went to the bedroom as her transformation continued slowly. She was very provocative and forward with Mr. Machias quickly moving into foreplay and giving him a blow job but when she moved and asked him to eat her out, he was too enraptured by her newfound sex drive to struggle even though he began to notice her body alterations and suspected she was infected. As soon as her legs closed around his head he was infected and began to change much faster becoming a woman within minutes. The class has a few questions for her on the matter and Mrs. Machias does her best to explain. She explains that the virus seems to boost the infected's sex drives as part of their symptoms in an effort to spread itself further. She also mentions how the virus seems to have a de aging effect on older infected and once transformed they seem to have a physical age of around 20-30 witch to some degree is beneficial compared to the other qualities of the virus. Machias then goes on to explain that safe sex with an infected is possible if done with care despite condoms not being fully safe. She also thinks to herself how she's already done "research" with another teacher named Mr. Greene. She asks the class to pair up for the next lesson and Zoey and Gavin are quick to join in a team. Machias passes out a banana and a condom to each table and instructs the class on how to put it on explaining any sexual encounter with an infected must be done with a condom to protect against infection and the partners must be careful regardless. Zoey and Gavin put theirs on but their condom splits as its too small for the banana. The pair ask for another one much to their embarrassment and are mildly mocked by one of the guys behind them. Machias then answers questions about how Oral sex is possible for an uninfected man but can't be done safely to an infected. Gavin has no idea what "oral" means and Zoey is forced to explain it silently to him witch just makes him blush more. Another student questions if anal sex is safer but Machias is unsure and simply tells them that they should use a condom regardless. As class draws to a close one student who used to be a boy asks a question but is a bit embarrassed. Machias assures her this is a safe place to talk about such things and the student says how ever since she transformed, she's been getting attracted to men as well as women despite her being a straight man before. Machias confirms a large number of former men have reported the same thing and it seems to be an effect of the virus to drive the infected to a state of bisexuality. Gavin whispers to Zoey again asking if she's felt such urges but she embarrassingly denies it and Gavin apologizes.

### Chapter 11 - New Kid on the Block

This chapter is from pages 198 to 212. (↑ back to summary)

A couple weeks later off the coast of Cinder Isle on a dark and snowy night two men scout out the island by fishing boat. The two men are Stanly Pembroke an investigative journalist and his son Nathan. Stanley believes the government is lying about the nuclear contamination which has now been publicized to have contaminated the area and all the citizens who were evacuated died from exposure soon after. Nathan wants to follow in his footsteps, so he's joined his father on illegally crossing the forbidden waters to investigate the island from a distance. Stanley turns off their boats lights and when they drift close enough to see the shore with their binoculars his suspicions are confirmed when both he and Nathan see that there is an active military operation on the shore that seems to be collecting and sending out a shipment of biohazard barrels. Both are shocked at the realization and when their gigger counter shows zero radiation their suspicions are confirmed that the government is covering up what really happened on the island. As thy watch trying to see what's going on Nathan notices that a loading crane has knocked one of the biohazard barrels into the bay and none of the soldiers seem to notice. Stanley tells him to get the fishing net ready and wants to try and bring the barrel aboard to use it as evidence to figure out what's going on. They successfully land the barrel, but Stanley gets some of the strange red water on his hands when the seal breaks open. Nathan is not exposed but Stanley tries to clean off his hand just as a patrol boat passes nearby and sees them. The patrol arrives wearing protective gear and are quick to seize their boat and arrests the two of them quickly to disregarding Stanley's claims about being lost in the snow while fishing. As the soldiers find the barrel aboard and recognize it as containing the virus now called the T1G1 Virus. They ask the two if either of them was exposed and when its revealed Stanley got some of the fluid on his skin, they force a medical mask onto Nathan and move him away as Stanley begins to cough. He begins to transform before their eyes and while he denies the soldiers explanations at first, he notices his body changing and realizes they were telling the truth. They keep the two separates so as not to let Stanley (now Stacy) expose Nathan. They are brought to the shore where Stacie's transformation finishes. She begs them to tell her that there's a cure, but they point out they would not have sealed off the island and told the world everyone was dead if there was a cure. General Windham arrives soon after and despite her transformed state he recognizes the former Stanley Pembroke from a press conference and how he was one of the few journalists to not buy the governments cover story. Stacie claims his only options are to either let them go or take them to court and either way the truth will be told to the rest of the country, but MacCullagh points out their actions were legally an act of treason as the areas been placed under national security and they no longer have the right to trial. Stacie argues people will come looking for them, but the general says their PR department will produce a cover story by morning detailing both of them were found dead on a fishing boat adrift and autopsy revealed they died of radiation poisoning. Despite Stacie's protests MacCullagh places them both under arrest siting they will both now be trapped on the island for the rest of their lives while their family and co-workers back home are shown false evidence of their death. MacCullagh plans to have Stacie placed under house arrest once they find a suitable home for them on the island, but the soldiers ask what he wants done with Nathan.

Three days later Gavin, Shane, and Zoey are all in science class while their teacher discusses the dynamic of earthquakes and mentions how they had a small one on the island several months ago. As the lecture continues Principle Harpswell interrupts and introduces a new student to the rest of the class, Nathan Pembroke. The rest of the class is shocked and confused as to how there can be a new student when the island is cut off from the rest of the world, but Harpswell explains Nathan and his father were caught trying to sneak onto the island and now are trapped there like the rest of them. Nathan is a bit embarrassed as the center of attention and the odd one out all at once and just takes his seat in class without saying much. Later that day the trio are all looking for a seat in the lunchroom when they spot Nathan sitting by himself moping as he eats. Knowing what it's like to be the uncool, lonely kids in class the trio go over to him and ask if they can join him at lunch. Nathan is a bit surprised but happy to be approached. He also seems to admire Zoey thinking she's cute and says yes. The trio introduce themselves and then ask Nathan what the full story is regarding him and his father. Nathan explains how he joined his father in investigating the island because he wants to be a journalist himself one day but now, he regrets his decision as his mother now thinks he's dead and since both his parents were divorced Nathan is used to spending more time with her than his father turned second mother. The trio then ask Nathan what the outside world is saying about Cinder Isle. Nathan explains the cover up and how everyone now thinks they are dead witch obviously upsets them but there's little they can do now. Nathan then says since there's no prison on the island and the one being built has barely broken ground his Mother Stacie has been placed under permanent house arrest and they were given a condo on the island that was left abandoned when the previous owner died in the rioting that followed the initial lockdown. Now Nathan is free to live on the island as normal as he can. He is also left with no friends and his mother can't leave home. The trio offer him support and say he can hang out with the three of them from now on. Nathan is grateful and says he'd like that, officially turning the trio into "the quad".

### Chapter 12 - Opposites Attract

This chapter is from pages 213 to 248. (↑ back to summary)

On Thanksgiving Day in the Scarborough house, the family is having dinner, but Wanda and Clairissa are having a heated argument. The last several months has just seen things get worse between them as Clairissa is no longer attracted to Wanda now that she's a woman and Wanda is tired of being ignored and overlooked for her hard work. Gavin leaves the room crying seeing this is just like when Wanda (Wade) and his biological mother fought before they divorced years ago. Chase follows him out to comfort him and tries to reassure him things aren't that bad, but Gavin says he's heard them mention divorce recently and continues to cry and worry as their fight escalates. After Clarissa blames Wanda for making Gavin cry and ruining dinner, Wanda points out she's just as bad but still puts all the blame on her. Fed up with her not even bothering to try and make things work with her as a woman Wanda calls Dutch as she puts on her make up and as part of their agreement for Wanda to help Dutch out with housework, she goes over to the Gardiner house to cook for him and Shane. Dutch is grateful for Wanda's help but is still upset that they're spending thanksgiving without his wife Christine there due to her being off the island when the quarantine began. Wanda cooks a small turkey dinner for the three of them much to Dutch and Shane's enjoyment. Shane goes a bit light on the meal as part of his diet that he's been making steady progress on but Dutch digs in and has a nice glass of wine with Wanda who gets a bit flirty with him. After dinner Shane goes up to play games and finish his homework. Wanda and Dutch clean up in the kitchen, but Wanda purposely spills wine on her shirt. Dutch offers to wash it quickly before the stain sets, but Wanda gets a bit more forward and goes as far as to fully undress and hand Dutch her clothing through a cracked door. While Dutch doesn't look, he is clearly a bit taken off guard that a former man is so eager to get flirty with him. Wanda is now naked and fingers herself in the next room before Dutch offers her to find something of Christine's to wear for the rest of the night. She comes out and Dutch is in awe of how good she looks in his wife's clothing but as she continues to flirt with him, he gets a bit defensive. Wanda asks to stay while they watch a movie or something stating how heated things are at home with Clairissa. Dutch agrees but as Wanda gets a bit too cuddly on the sofa with him, he pushes her away saying they shouldn't be doing this. Even though Wanda's marriage is pretty much dead already Dutch still feel guilty about the idea of being unfaithful to his wife even if he's likely never to see her again. Wanda is upset but understands offering to at least be his cuddle buddy for a bit of pleasure as the two continue to do so on the sofa.

About a month later the quad is out on holiday break and decide to go to a local indoor pool to swim and hang out for a bit. While they are all excited to be on break and spending time together Zoey is a bit offset as this is the first time, she'll need to wear a swimsuit as a girl. As she is looking around, she notices that likely due to the snow storm the island is having they are alone and there's no one else at the pool, but as she looks around, she goes into the boy's locker room out of instinct not looking at the door. Zoey undresses and pulls out her gym bag to get out her swimsuit a bit offset by how slim and tight it is. She hears someone showering but assumes it's another girl she may be able to get a peek at. While she is still naked however, the shower opens, and Gavin comes out from rinsing off before swimming. Both friends are suddenly shocked and embarrassed seeing each other naked. Gavin tries to cover himself with the shower curtain while Zoey runs around the corner hidden by one of the locker walls. Zoey apologizes she walked in the men's room on instinct but tells Gavin she doesn't want to walk out into the lobby nude, so she has to finish getting dressed around the corner. Gavin tries to respond but he can barely speak two words clearly and his studder is worse than ever. Zoey manages to understand his agreement but worries seeing her naked has really spiked Gavin's anxiety and awkwardness. Zoey puts on her swimsuit that she's not all too eager about and goes out to the pool with Gavin still blushing like crazy. As they walk however all they can think about is each other's naked bodies. Gavin is embarrassed but clearly attracted to Zoey while Zoey begins having lude thoughts about Gavin but tries to deny them feeling they are simply the virus messing with her head. Nathan and Shane then come out and join them, but tensions still seem a bit high thanks to their awkward moment. Shane suggests they have a game of Chicken and try and pair up in teams to play but Gavin's stuttering is still very bad, and he leaves to the bathroom to try and relieve himself before they play. As Shane and Nathan compete to see who will be paired with Zoey, she is off to the side and begins to fantasize sexually about Gavin. Zoey is shocked at her own thoughts but still becomes a bit too aroused to ignore them and tries to touch herself a bit while the others don't notice. After a minute Nathan wins the chance to have Zoey on his shoulders for the game and Gavin gets to be paired with Shane. The two pairs begin but Gavin is hesitant to touch Zoey worrying its inappropriate or something. Zoey tries to ease the awkwardness and give him some word of encouragement. The group starts their game, but Gavin is quick to lose still a bit too hesitant. Zoey tries to reassure him again they go for round two but as they wrestle a bit Zoey and Gavin rub up against each other a bit too much and both seem a bit attracted to the other. After few minutes Zoey begins to think a few more sexual thoughts about Gavin Without realizing it, as her crotch rubs up against Nathans neck as she's on his shoulders she leaks a small amount of sexual fluid onto him. Zoey falls off into the water before she is positive what she just did but after she falls Nathan notices an odd smell and something sticky on his neck. Before he can decern what it is and what's just happened he begins to cough and sneeze, and his face begins to transform showing he's been exposed to the virus.

As Nathan begins to change Zoey yells at Gavin and Shane to get out of the water saying the pool must be infected not wanting to admit what really exposed him. Shane asks Zoey if she's bleeding or anything, but she denies it and claims the virus must have already been in the pool. Too distracted to argue Shane and Gavin run to the edge of the room and Zoey gives them towels to wrap around their faces so they can better avoid exposure. Shane leaves to call and report another outbreak as Nathan continues to transform. He is shocked by how fast he seems to be changing and once his flu symptoms seem to subside, he comes out of the pool with is transformation finishing soon after. Zoey apologizes but says its more about sympathy as she still doesn't want to admit she was the reason he was exposed. The quarantine team arrives soon after and detains everyone to be sure no one else was exposed. They then escort the quad to the hospital for overnight observation to be sure Nathan has fully moved into carrier phase and contact the police to inform and escort Stacie to see him (now her). A bit later at the hospital Nathan is in a bed surrounded by the others as a nurse comes in to inform them of the results of their test on the pool water. The nurse reports the water was indeed infected but it's impossible to determine the time and cause of how it was infected and it's likely the chlorine will kill off the virus eventually anyway. Zoey feels guilty knowing the truth but still can't bring herself to tell them. Elaine comes in soon after to check on the others and properly meets Nathan. Stacie comes in soon after having been escorted by police to see her son-turned-daughter in the hospital. Stacie feels guilty for bringing Nathan to the island and now trapping him as her, but Nathan says he expected this to happen eventually and feels she can learn to live with it. After a bit of debate Nathan adopts the name Natalie and the others embrace her with support. Stacie is happy to see her daughter found such friends so quickly but is still upset that she can't do much to help support Natalie since she's trapped under house arrest. Elaine offers for the Houlton's to help out with looking after Natalie, doing things like driving her around and running errands. Stacie gratefully accepts and Natalie thanks the other three for welcoming her as part of their group and being there for her through the whole crazy situation.

### Chapter 13 - Peaks and Valleys

This chapter is from pages 249 to 271. (↑ back to summary)

A month later the Quad and their families (save for Stacie) have come together and taken a long weekend Ski trip up to the Cinder Isle Sweet Bread Lodge; a ski lodge up on the island's central mountain that is now offering the locals big discounts on cabins and rooms since all tourism is dead due to the quarantine. The Scarboroughs, The Gardiners, and the Houltons (plus Natalie) have all gotten their own cabins and are having a family weekend of skiing and snowboarding. After a run down the mountain and the families all saying how it's nice for them all to get time together Zoey suggest the young side of the group head for one of the bigger slopes. Gavin is still stuttering very badly whenever he tries to talk to Zoey and is hesitant to try snowboarding with her. After the parent's head to the lodge for a meal and spa treatments Heather Natalie and Zoey head to a moderate slope since Natlie isn't ready for one of the big ones yet. As the girls talk before heading down the slope Heather asks why Gavin seems so much worse than he used to when he's around Zoey and she's forced to tell them what happened between them at the pool. Heahter says she needs to do something if she ever wants Gavin to act normally around her again, but Zoey isn't sure what she can do. As they all rest a bit on the slope Natlie begins to talk about how she's beginning to experience attraction to men and is learning to embrace her new body and the pleasures it offers. Heather praises her for being so open and forward but mocks how Zoey still refuses to even try and embrace her new life. When Natlie brings up the subject of being attracted to boys Heather pushes the subject. She mentions how nearly all infected become attracted to men and how there's a lot of pleasure with expressing yourself as a woman, but Zoey still argues that it's not genuine feelings and it's just the virus messing with their head. Heather keeps pushing the subject and Natile goes as far as to admit she's pleasured herself in her new body and while it was strange at first it was very pleasurable after a bit. Zoey is freaked out and embarrassed by the conversation. Heather asks Zoey if she's tried anything similar, but Zoey outright says no and that her new parts weird her out too much. While she has had sex back when she was Zach and at least dated a couple girls briefly she has never tried to pleasure herself beyond curiously rubbing the outside of her crotch. Despite Heather and Natalies insistence that she needs to learn to embrace her feminine side and new body or she's missing out and making herself depressed Zoey is too embarrassed to admit any of the thoughts she's been having and ride off ahead of them down the slope to escape the conversation. Both Heather and Natlie think she's just too worried about what other will think of her to embrace her feelings but there's little more they can do to encourage her.

Later that evening Gavin, Shane, and Zoey are playing tabletop Age of Adventure late into the night. As they hit a minor obstacle Zoey asks Gavin what the best move would be after a low role, but Gavin still stutters very badly trying to talk to her. Zoey tries to reassure him, but it doesn't help. Clarissa then says they need to wrap things up and Shane and Zoey need to head back to their cabins because it's getting very late. Zoey and Shane head out and say their goodbyes but as they walk even Shane worries that Gavin's stutter has gotten so much worse around Zoey. Nevertheless, the two friends head to their family cabins and start to turn in for the night. Zoey arrives and finds Heather and Natlie already asleep, and her parents and Patrik are in the main bedroom. Zoey takes off her jacket and strips down to her underwear to go to bed but as she does the earlier conversation with Natalie and Heather keeps playing in her head and she begins to get curious about what it may feel like to pleasure her new body. At first, she worries she'd get too loud but as Heahter is a very deep sleeper and Natalie seems unphased by her coming in Zoey gets the idea to give into her urges and try fingering herself. Zoey slips into bed and get comfortable but since she is so plagued by her curiosity, she finally starts to masturbate to see what it feels like. Zoey feels a great deal of pleasure with minimal teasing and decides to take things further. She starts off by fantasizing about several of the transformed women like Principal Harpswell, Mrs. Machinas, and Wanda but as she keeps going, she begins to fantasize about Gavin more and more. As much as she tries to focus more on the hot women transformed by the virus, she can't fight the higher degree of pleasure she feels when thinking about Gavin. Zoey keeps trying to fight her clear attraction to her best friend but eventually gives in and lets the thoughts take her away until she orgasms. Zoey lets out a rather loud moan and she quickly stops worried the others may have heard her. Zoey looks around the room from under the covers and no one seems to have heard her, but she doesn't want to push her luck and decides to stop. As she tries to drift off to sleep Zoey begins to think that Heather and Natalie were right and that if she is stuck as a woman from now on she should learn to embrace these odd feelings. Even if they are only because of the virus' effects on her she feels that its simply the way she is stuck as now and should learn to explore her newfound feelings as a girl.

### Chapter 14 - Curiosity

This chapter is from pages 272 to 305. (↑ back to summary)

The next morning Zoey wakes up a bit later than everyone else and finds her mother in the living room applying her makeup. Elaine says how everyone else already headed out for the day and she plans to join them soon. Before she can leave, Zoey asks her a few questions about wearing makeup and finally asks her mother if she can teach her how to apply it. Elaine is surprised but eager to give Zoey her first makeup lesson and is proud of her for learning to embrace life as a woman a bit more. Elaine takes her through the steps of applying a moisturizer, base layer and such finishing off with eye liner and lipstick. While Zoey still tries to deny she enjoys how she looks, Elaine gets her to admit she likes it and they take a picture together before she leaves. Zoey, now in full makeup, is left alone in the cabin to get ready. Finally deciding to try and help Gavin get over his nervous side she makes a plan to try and explore her feelings for him a bit more and goes to her mother's suitcase to find something a bit more feminine than the clothing she packed herself. After a bit of searching Zoey finds a pair of black skinny jeans, A nice red sweater, and tops things off with a chain necklace and heeled boots. Zoey admires her more feminine look in the mirror and, feeling a boost of confidence, goes to find Gavin.

Zoey finds Gavin in his family's cabin nearby. Everyone else has headed out for the day but Gavin is reading a book in the den. Zoey comes in and tries to talk with him a bit. Gavin still stutters badly but asks Zoey why she is dressed in such feminine clothing and wearing makeup. Zoey is still embarrassed and uses her usual "I lost a bet to Heather" excuse but she then begins to get a bit flirty with Gavin asking him if he likes it. Gavin agrees she looks great but is still plagued by his stutter and blushes intensely. Zoey finally comes out and says she's fed up with his stuttering and wants to help him try and overcome his timidness around girls. Gavin is embarrassed but says he can't help it and asks Zoey what she could possibly do to help him. Zoey explains that she used to be shy around girls as Zach as well but after she(he) had his first kiss he was much more confident around girls and wasn't as shy. Gavin is unsure what she's suggesting but is shocked when Zoey offers to kiss him to try and help him through his nervousness. Zoey claims its only to help him, but she has her fingers crossed behind her back and clearly wants to explore her feelings for Gavin more than simply helping his stutter go away. Gavin is incredibly shy and doesn't want Zoey to do something that will disgust her as he still thinks she prefers thinking of herself as Zach, but Zoey is insistent and moves closer. Zoey moves in to kiss Gavin, but he is very stiff and tense from nerves and still shakes a lot at her touch. They stop for a moment and Zoey tells Gavin to take a deep breath and to calm down. They kiss again and this time Gavin eases up and calms down. The pair continue to kiss, and they both think to themselves how enjoyable it is. Zoey feels Gavin is quickly getting better as they continue and while Gavin is still a bit shocked that Zoey seems to be enjoying it so much, he is quickly becoming more and more at ease as they make out. The couple begin to wrap their arms around each other and continue to make out as they both become more enraptured with each other and how the kissing makes them feel. After a while Gavin asks if they should stop. Zoey says its fine if they keep going until Gavin points out that they've been kissing for nearly 45 minutes much to her shock. While Zoey enjoyed the kiss, she is a bit overwhelmed that she became so wrapped up in it. They decide to stop. As they talk about how they enjoyed it Zoey points out that Gavin hasn't stuttered once since they kissed, and he is so happy that Zoey's plan seems to have worked. Gavin asks Zoey to join him for Brunch at the lodge and while she secretly wishes it was a proper date, she also suggests they invite Shane and Natalie to join them. While Zoey does want to explore her new feelings more, she wants time to think things over before spending too much alone time with Gavin. The two friends head out talking the whole way down the mountain with Gavin no longer stuttering at all.

Meanwhile on the slopes Patric and Randy are finishing up another run down the mountain when Randy suggests they take a rest since they've been out all morning. At that point Elaine arrives and greets the two suggesting they have one more run before taking a break down at the lodge. Nearby another woman calls out saying her husband is having a heart attack. Elaine rushes over to them saying she's a nurse and begins giving the man CPR in the snows. The couple speaks in a southern accent suggesting they are tourists who've been stuck on the island since the quarantine began. Randy and Patric get closer, but Elaine tells Randy he should take Patric away worried he'll see something disturbing. At that moment however the man revives but when he sits up, he begins to cough and hack which Randy is quick to realize is a sign he is infected. The man goes to his wife who is glad to see he is alright but when Patrick and Randy both begin to feel sick Elaine asks the man if he has been feeling ill lately. The man stupidly says he had a runny nose and claims it was cabin fever, but Elaine angrily tells him that's not a real illness. At that point the man, Randy and Patri all begin to cough and sneeze as they have now all been exposed. Elaine is safe thanks to the surgical mask she had on herself and put on when she began CPR. Patric begins to panic as his coat quickly transforms into a pink dress as his young age makes him more susceptible to the virus overall. The man Elaine was helping then quickly transforms as well taking on the form of a hillbilly looking girl with a plaid button up and pig tails. Just as his transformation is finishing his wife begs Elaine to do something to stop it but she points out she'd be doing something to help her own family if that was possible. Failing to understand the virus' effects and thinking the old "warm place and hot meal" treatment could help him (now her) the couple start to run for the lodge but Elaine yells for them to stop knowing they're likely to infect the rest of the lodge guests if they go there. Randy, who is already half transformed himself with his coat becoming a skinny black dress, manages to tackle the hillbilly girl to the snow and begins to wrestle with her to stop her from infecting the rest of the lodge. Meanwhile, Elaine goes over to Patrick who is finishing his own transformation. Patrick is in tears saying he doesn't want to be a girl and begs his mother to change him back. Elaine tearfully says that's impossible but does her best to embrace and comfort him. Elaine says how the name she and Randy had picked out for him had he been born a girl was Patricia. While Patrick is still upset, he seems to accept that as his new name as he (now she) finishes her transformation. Elaine then looks over to see Randy still wresting the hillbilly girl in the snow with the wife cheering her husband turned wife on and berating the couple for being so immature and selfish. Randy's face transforms into a womans with flowing black hair but his crotch is yet to change and through the thin dress he is now dressed in rubs up against the hillbilly girl's crotch which arouses her with pleasure and distracts her from their fight. Randy then manages to throw her off just as a quarantine enforcement group arrives and the guards order everyone to freeze.

After explaining a few things about the situation, the Houltons are let go and the tourist couple are taken away and charged with attempted bioterrorism for trying to enter an occupied area while knowingly still in transmitter stage. Just as they are being carted off the wife begins to cough and sneeze, showing she's been exposed by her husband turned wife as well. The guards examine Paricia and confirm she's reached carrier stage, but Randy is still transforming as his hard on is still visible through his skinny dress. Patricia is a bit confused by this, but Elaine does her best to deflect her questions while Randy's transformation finishes. The Houltons then huddle together for warmth as Patricia and Randy are now in dresses instead of winter coats and are very cold out in the snow. A short time later Heather and Zoey are headed back to the cabin after their time out on the mountain. Heather notices and playfully mocks Zoey on how she is now wearing makeup. Zoey claims Elaine forced her to try it, but Heather knows their mother would never do that and continues to push Zoey's buttons until the two get to the cabin. Once there Elaine comes out and tells the two of them to prepare for a shock. They then enter the main room of the cabin where Elaine introduces their new mother and sister. Shocked at seeing their former little brother and Father as women now Heather and Zoey both ask what happened. Elaine explains as best she can and while she does feel guilty about the situation to some extent neither Patricia nor Randy blames her. Patricia is still upset and begins to cry a bit. Zoey goes to comfort her, as she is the one who can relate to her situation the most. While Patricia hates the fact, she's a girl now Zoey assures her that she will get used to it like she has. Heather then begins to ask about what their parents plan to do now that Randy is a woman. Zoey mentions how most couples who have succumb to the virus around the island are mostly getting divorced or struggle to stay together as most wives are no longer interested in or attracted to their former husbands or the husband turned wife becomes more interested in other men. Patricia then begins to cry even more worried her parents are getting divorced now but Elaine stops things there and assures them all that she has no intention of divorcing Randy (who has now adopted the name Rachel). Rachel is at first shocked as she at the very least expected that with him stuck as women now their marriage would either be over or at least become platonic however Elaine assures her that she knows she is still the man she married inside and kisses her passionately. The other girls praise Elaine for her open mind and the fact their parents are staying together. Heather also points out they are now a family of all girls since all the infected are ironically the ones who were men. Elaine also says they have even longer to try and adjust as their minor outbreak and an incoming blizzard has stranded them all on the mountain a few extra days.

### Chapter 15 - Broken Promises

This chapter is from pages 306 to 321. (↑ back to summary)

A couple of months after their ski trip Dutch and Wanda are out grocery shopping one night. Wanda has been struggling to avoid divorce with Clairissa and has continued to help Dutch with housework and food since his wife was off island when the quarantine began and now thinks he, Shane, and everyone on Cinder Isle is dead. While they have continued their minor cuddling here and there Dutch still does not want to be unfaithful to his wife and Wanda has come to respect that despite her own desires as a result of the virus. As the two are shopping and discussing dinner that night Dutch's police partner Petrina arrives saying she has important information for him. Wanda leaves to check out and get the car warmed up as Petrina pulls Dutch into another isle to show him a file she brought. Petrina has used a few flirty moves on some of the National Guard and CIA agents that are maintaining the island's quarantine and reached out to a few outside contacts to get Dutch information on his wife Christine. Dutch is excited as he has been very worried how she has been fairing since being trapped off the island and thinking he and Shane are both dead, Patrina however says he likely won't like what he reads. Dutch open the file and Petrina reveals the unfortunate truth that Christine has already been seeing another man. Dutch is shocked that she would move on so soon and asks if the information is accurate. Petrina confirms it with pictures of the two kissing and provides the name of the other man. Christine is now seeing an old high school boyfriend named Chad Pascal whom she had dated for three years. She then goes on to show several other bits of evidence that suggests that soon after the funerals Christine must have reconnected with Chad since she was forced to move back to her hometown with her parents. After they reconnected, things must have turned romantic between them over the holidays. Dutch is in tears seeing his wife has already moved on with another man after only three months despite their 20 years of marriage. Petrina also shows him evidence that Christine legally changed back to her maiden name soon after the funerals and now there is even a lease signed by both her and Chad showing they are moving in together. She also mentions some suspicious purchases for the house, but Dutch stops her before she can explain further. (Though never specified it seems implied said purchases are likely nursery related items suggesting Christine is already pregnant with Chads child). Dutch is heartbroken but thanks Petrina for all her work on getting him this information then leaves to find Wanda in the parking lot.

Out in the parking lot Wanda has the car warmed up and is waiting for Dutch but when she sees he has been crying she asks him what's going on. Dutch tells her the truth much to her shock as she too never expected Christine to move on so quickly. The two begin to drive home with Wanda offering what comfort she can but Dutch is still upset and begins to vent his feelings about the situation to her. Finally Dutch breaks down and moves over to touch Wanda's leg saying how she's been there all this time for him. Wanda pulls over the car in the snow and while she is a bit hesitant the two of them kiss. Wanda says they shouldn't have done that and worries Dutch is letting his emotions push him too far too fast and he needs to think things over more before doing anything too rash. A bit later at dinner Shane compliments Wanda on her cooking as he enjoys her string peas since they are very good for his diet which he's been making good progress on recently. Across the table Dutch is still deep in thought but admires how good Wanda is with Shane and how well she's helped get them by these past several months. Shane then brings up the fact that Gavin has been saying how Wanda has been missing more family dinners with him and her own family lately due to work and helping him and Dutch. Dutch jumps in and says that Wanda should start to bring Gavin to join them for dinner now and then since Gavin and Shane are already like brothers. Shane likes the idea and Wanda agrees as they all finish up dinner.

After cleaning up Wanda finds Dutch upstairs in his bedroom where he invites her to sit down with him. Dutch says he's calmed down and given it some thought and feels that between Wanda's failing marriage with Clairissa and Dutch now effectively postmortem divorced from Christine he feels that a relationship between the two of them could work out as they both already have feelings for the other. Wanda agrees they have feelings but still worries that Dutch may be being a bit to rash after only just learning the truth about Christine. Dutch assures her that he's already thought about it a bit the past few months and learning the truth of Christine has only given a reason to finally admit it's what he needs. Despite the hesitance between the two they kiss and agree to give things a shot. Wanda and Dutch both begin to undress and kiss. As foreplay begins Wanda worries about infecting Dutch but he says he already prepared for that. In anticipation he already has a supply of antiseptic wipes to clean up any sexual fluids before they touch him, and he also reveals he has a supply of specialized condoms the government shipped in a while ago. These condoms cover the testicles as well as the shaft to better prevent infection through sex. Wanda becomes even more eager to get moving once she learns this and even suggests to Dutch that they won't need to worry so much about sexual fluids if they try anal first. Dutch is just as eager as she is and the two begin to have sex. Both are swimming in pleasure as they have sex but several minutes into it, Shane knocks on the locked door to the bedroom. Dutch covers Wanda's mouth while they are in a very connected position and calls out to him. Shane asks if he has any batteries in the bedroom for his hand-held gaming console as its close to dying and he's far from the nearest save point. Relieved that Shane is still unaware and hasn't heard them Wanda chuckles a bit as Dutch says he doesn't have any batteries and for Shane to check downstairs. Shane then asks if Wanda left already because Gavin called asking for her, but Dutch says Wanda was called in late to work due to a morning call off. Shane buys their ruse and leaves to look for batteries and call Gavin back. Wanda admires Dutch's stealthies as he explains that not the first time that Shane's interrupted "mommy daddy time" and is doubtful it will be the last if they keep this up. The two of them continue until climax without further incident and thanks to the wipes and condom Dutch avoids infection. Wanda cleans up and the two decide since she now has a cover story already, they should spend the night cuddling together. Both of them agree to continue to have these nights not wanting to be open about it with anyone else yet, but clearly, they have begun to plan a life together finding warmth in each other as they drift off to sleep.

### Chapter 16 - Mysteries Unsolved

This chapter is from pages 322 to 348. (↑ back to summary)

About a month later in mid-March Shane is at the school Gym exercising as part of his diet and has made very good progress with his weight loss and slimming down. Natalie arrives soon after offering to join him and help out with some of his weightlifting. As the two talk a bit Natalie begins to admire Shane for both his drive and his new body and compliments him on his progress over the past five months. As they talk however the Harlequin ghost from before appears outside the window invisible to their eyes but seems to recognize Shane from their last encounter. She watches the other two closely but doesn't reveal herself. Shane and Natalie continue their workout, but Natalie stops things for a moment to make a suggestion. She suggests that since Shane has reached a much skinnier and healthier body size at this point, he should stop focusing so much on weight loss and maybe try to focus on building up muscles. Shane feels like that will just make him put weight back on, but Natalie points out it would be muscle weight not fat weight and suggests that he start trying to focus more on weightlifting and eating more protein. Shane agrees to try it out and goes for a few small dumbbells to exercise his arms. As he begins and struggles a bit due to his less than perfect physic Harlequin overhears their talking and decides to use her abilities to help him out a bit. She uses her power to make it so his work has more progress than usual so as Shane works out with the weights his arms become just barely larger and more muscular but only Natalie seems to notice the subtle change. She then brings out a ribbon of measuring tape saying she wants to measure Shane up so they can track his progress.

As they measure Shane up Chase arrives passing through the gym after having forgot something in his locker. Chase says how since the team can't be part of the district football games against other schools anymore the school is trying to create several smaller teams who can play each other in short seasons to keep some degree of sporting events present in the town. Chase also mentions how he thinks he can see some hearts between Shane and Natalie and that it makes sense to pair up now because latest updates suggest women now outnumber men on Cinder Isle three to one and about 50% of the population has been infected over the last 6 months. Though the news is upsetting Shane and Natalie get back to their measuring with both clearly showing an attraction to one another as the Harlequin continues to watch. Not too long after Chase is gone Natalie is measuring his legs when Bridget and Frank arrive mocking her for being on her knees in front of Shane. The two are quick to start mocking and bullying Shane as they always do though they now mock him for his glasses and geeky side not his mild obesity. As Bridget and Frank mock Natalie the Harlequin is quick to dislike them. She seems to hate bullies and preferring pranks over abuse. She then appears to only Shane much to his shock but explains how she has the power to effect people in different ways. She says how she's already enchanted Shane to make faster than usually progress on his workouts but now she offers to try and teach the Bully duo a lesson. Harlequin tells Shane she'll enchant both Frank and Bridget to gain half a pound of body fat each time they insult someone. Shane is a bit hesitant to trust her but thinks it a fitting punishment for them so agrees. She casts her magic, and Shane begins to try and edge them on a bit so they will be quick to gain weight. As they argue back and forth Shane notices Bridget's stomach expand slightly and Frank belches and gets rounder cheeks. However, as things escalate Shane pushes them a little too far and Frank ends up punching him square in the face.

Shane goes down with a bruised and bloodied face and Natalie calls out for help. Franks goes in for another hit just as Chase slams into the room and begins to fight with Frank to save Shane. Natalie runs off to find a teacher, but the Harlequin begins to get worried. Seeing her prank has spiraled into this full out fight she fears what she's started just as another ghost arrives. This one is dressed in a skimpy dress and Harlequin refers to her as the Mistress. The Mistress berates Harlequin for her pranks getting out of hand again and mentions how "the Queen" will not be pleased if she finds out. The Mistress then advises her to leave but she herself remains having become drawn to Chase due to his muscles, protective instinct and virosity. As she watches unseen Frank is put in a choke hold by Chase, but Bridget begins to get worried showing she and Frank have clearly become closer than friends the past few months and she pulls out a knife threatening Chase with it. Before things escalate much further Natalie returns with Nurse Belfast in toe and she is quick to break things up and escort them all to Principal Harpswell's office. There they all argue different versions of the story, but Harpswell just reprimands them all for their actions and is just glad that everyone bleeding was uninfected, or things could have gotten much worse. At first the principle agrees with the nurse's assessment that Shane's injuries point to them being the victims but before she can say their punishment herself the Mistress appears again and possesses her body. The Mistress seems to want to have some fun of her own and has taken her chance. Harpswell begins to black out and then her eyes turn a dim shade of white showing she's been possessed by the mistress. As Harpswell, the mistress says that Bridget and Frank will be suspended for the remainder of the school year and then return for summer school to finish their work. Shane and Natalie are let off without punishment as the clear victims. Chase however, as the object of the Mistress's desires, is given two weeks after school detention with her (Harpswell) though he acted in defense he still injured Frank fairly badly. Harpswell dismisses them but as the Mistress leaves her body after they've gone, she seems disoriented and confused yet remembers what she just said and has arranged.

Two days later Shane and Natalie meet up with Zoey and Gavin in Zoey's room where they discuss what happened. While Zoey is glad, they got Bridget and Frank suspended Gavin says how his moms were not happy that Chase got detention. At this point Shane finally admits that he saw another ghost to the others saying how it was the same Harlequin ghost from his first encounter. Natalie is shocked as she had no knowledge of the ghosts yet but when Zoey and Gavin confirm Shane's claims, she is forced to accept that there are ghosts in addition to the T1G1 Virus. While the other three are not sure what they could possibly do to help the situation, Natalie inspires the rest of them to start looking deeper into the odd goings on and suggests the ghosts may have a connection to the virus and investigating may get them an answer to why all this has happened. Gavin, Zoey and Shane agree to share what they know and try and figure out more. They sketch up what ghosts they've encountered and how they acted. Nearly all the ghosts they have come across: The Girl, The Harlequin, The Starlet, and The Ex, were all acting as if they were in a different time and place and didn't seem aware of what they really were. Only the Harlequin seemed more aware and acted more on the current situation during the most recent encounter. (The quad has yet to encounter the Nurse or Mistress). Each one had their own strange power: The girl could conjure a monster horse, the Harlequin could affect people's bodies, the Ex could move very fast and had claws, and the Starlet could transform peoples clothing. Based on the data they've gathered thus far they figure out that all the known ghost sightings seem to be at night or at least when its sufficiently dark and they all seem to be centered around Underwood Forest, where the red lake is. Just as Gavin is about to point this out however, Elaine and Raechel come in with fresh baked cookies for the group. The quad stop talking about ghosts for a bit and the two of them say how they've come to adjust to things now that they're a lesbian couple. Gavin is a bit jealous as his parents are still struggling to stay even civilized at home. Clairissa refuses to adjust to having Wanda as a wife and Wanda is fed up with her being distant because of her transformation. Rachel says she and Elaine could try and talk to them and offer them a bit of advice, but Gavin is worried their divorce is imminent. The couple go on to say how the change up has actually added a new spark to their marriage after so many years and they've really come to love each other even more. They then leave the quad to their "studying" and head for bed early. Though once the door is closed, they whisper to each other about having sex and who gets to wear the strap on tonight. Back with the quad Gavin points out how underwood forest seems to be the center of most of the ghost activity and Zoey mentions how they've stopped using it as their route to school ever since Shane saw the first ghost. Natalie suggests they make plans to head out tomorrow night to explore the woods and see if they can find any further information and proof on the ghosts and possibly the virus. The others agree to meet at Gavin's late the next night to go investigate.

### Chapter 17 - Darkness Falls

This chapter is from pages 349 to 380. (↑ back to summary)

The Next day at the High School Principal Harpswell is on the phone with her wife saying she is still confused what came over her about scheduling late detention on her watch but that she still needs to do it and won't be home until late. As she finishes her call and waits for Chase who is running a little late, the Mistress appears behind her and moves to possess her once again. Once she has fully taken over Harpswell she is eager for Chase to arrive but also waits for another familiar face. Like the Harlequin the Mistress seems well aware of what, when, and where she is but the Starlet ghost appears soon after and still seems to think she is somewhere else. Starlet acts like the Mistress has hired her to put her in wardrobe for a role in a performance in exchange for giving her an in with the director. Mistress asks her to make her up as a sexy and slutty teacher and Starlet begins to transform her outfit. Chase walks through the hall still upset he has to serve detention so late and for another couple weeks when he was just defending a friend but when he enters Harpswell's office she is now dresses in netted leggings, a very short skirt, and a short sleeve white button up that shows a great deal of cleavage. The Mistress possessed principal greats him in a very provocative way and Chase is shocked to see her in such an outfit.

Meanwhile as it gets darker just outside Gavin's house the quad arrives fully equipped to begin their investigations. Natalie has brought her camera and Shane has brought a few extra flashlights and club weapons though Gavin is a bit concerned they'll have no effect on ghosts. The group then head into the woods on their bikes. As they move along the path Natalie begins to question Gavin on how he's overcome his stutter so quickly as she's noticed he no longer has difficulty talking to her or any other girl. Gavin and Zoey exchange glances as Gavin swore never to tell anyone what Zoey did for him and Zoey is still too embarrassed to admit it. Gavin begins by saying he's had to grow up and adjust as by this point about 75% of the island's population is female and thus there's a lot more girls around him now. Shane and Natalie still don't buy that he overcame it overnight simply because of the population shifting. Zoey tries to back him up and change the subject, but Gavin is forced to tell a kind of half-truth to try and get them to drop the subject. Gavin makes up a story that Zoey gave him a pep talk and helped him approach a girl he met at the ski resort a few months ago. Gavin claims Zoey pushed him to snap out of his stutter and kiss this other girl. Shane and Natalie are shocked Gavin kissed a girl and ask for more details. Zoey tries to jump in with the story but they both end up saying this girl kissed Gavin but then felt no interest in him which confuses them further and only seems to worsen their believability. Fortunately, Zoey and Gavin are able to try and pass it off as a fluke that just didn't spark anything, but it gave Gavin the confidence boost he needed to stop stuttering. By that point the quad has reached a point where they have to ditch their bikes and go further into the woods on foot to get to where most of the sightings have been and Natalie and Shane both refocus on their investigation. Zoey is a bit angry at Gavin that he almost let their secret slip, but Gavin bashfully promises he will keep their secret but had to try and get them to drop the subject. Gavin follows Natalie and Shane into the deeper parts of the woods, but Zoey hang back for a second pouting at her conflicted feelings. Just as the other seem to get a bit too far ahead of her Zoey hears a twig snap and looks into a cluster of trees nearby to find another new ghost. She calls out to the others but seems to get no answer.

Back at the School Chase is still a bit in awe of Mrs. Harpswell's outfit. While he certainly finds her attractive his mood over detention seems to win out and he grudgingly asks what his task for the nigh will be. Harpswell is still fully possessed by the Mistress, and she asks Chase to try and organize a large set of papers on her desk. As he is sorting them the Mistress asks him about his girlfriend Daphne as the two have become a proper couple now but out of fear of Chase getting infected, they haven't risked going all the way. The Mistress senses Chase's desire for intimacy and begins to be more provocative. She uses her ghost powers to knock over the papers Chase was working on and when she bends over to help him pick them up, she purposely shows off the thin panties under her skirt and pops a top button on her blouse to show more cleavage. Chase clearly admires her form and is attracted to her but still holds himself back from getting to forward not wanting to cheat on Daphne. The Mistress them complains about her feet hurting from the high heels and with a bit of flirtatious pushing she makes a deal with Chase. Chase will give her a foot Massage and he can leave a half hour early from detention. Chase is still restraining himself but agrees to the deal and takes a seat on the couch in her office. The Mistress then puts her feet on his lap for him to rub them, but Chase begins to worry she'll notice he's getting a semi-hardon. Nevertheless, Chase begins to rub her feet and she gets a bit footsy with his crotch.

Back in the Underwood Forest, Zoey has found a new ghost that seems to be a woman dressed in a wedding gown with tied blond hair and a sad expression. She calls out to the others but gets no answer. She begins to move away from the ghost, but it seems to cause the surrounding area to shift around and change to a whole new location. Zoey finally faces her and demands she take her back, but the ghost finally speaks and says what she sees is a memory brought to life. Zoey notices it seems to be a fall wedding scene and when her hand passes through one of the lighting fixtures, she realizes it's all some kind of illusion projected around them. Zoey sees the ghost is crying and tries to talk to her to try and build some form of dialogue. She calls her the Bride and asks why she's so sad. Like the Harlequin and the Mistress, the Bride seems to be more aware than the others and knows the fact she is a ghost and not back in a point in time of her wedding or anything. The Bride says this illusion was her wedding but her fiancé died in a car accident on his way to the ceremony which brings her to tears every time she sees it, but she wanted to share her pain with Zoey because she can sense she also has a conflict in her heart and wanted someone to talk to after so long. Zoey tries to argue that she doesn't have a conflict in her heart but the Bride tries to prove her point and conjures a new scene around them. This time they are standing on a beach Zoey recognizes from the other side of the island but then she sees an image of herself and Gavin walking hand in hand along the shoreline while she is wearing a skirt. Zoey is confused and asks the Bride if this is an image from the future or something but the Bride tells her it is merely and image pulled from her mind and desires. Zoey denies this but the bride points out she has had dreams as of late about going on a date with Gavin and that despite denying it to herself for so long, she does have feelings for him. Zoey still argues that she doesn't feel that way about Gavin but the Bride points out that she can't keep lying to herself and changes the scene back to the wedding area but instead of guest she doesn't recognize, Zoey sees herself in a wedding dress. Zoey is in disbelief but the Bride says how she saw the dress in a store window a few weeks ago and a part of her thought about what she would look like in it. The illusion Zoey then goes down the isle and is met by Gavin, her groom. Zoey finally admits that she has had these thoughts and dreams but is embarrassed and asks the bride to stop. The Bride drops the illusions and they are back in the dark forest. Zoey admits that she does have feelings for Gavin but asks the bride if she regrets falling in love herself because of the pain she felt when she lost it. The Bride says that it was worth loving someone even if she did lose them in time, but Zoey is still unsure of herself. She worries what others will think of her if she takes things further with Gavin. The Bride says the things she's shown her made her happy inside and she shouldn't let the opinions of others deny her that happiness in real life. Zoey asks if she can show her more but the bride leaves saying everything that she showed her is still in her heart and it's up to her to act on it. Zoey bids her goodbye as she fades into the fog and is left alone in the dark forest once again.

Back at the School Chase continues to give the Mistress possessed Harpswell a foot massage. As he continues the Mistress pressures him to vent the clear frustrations he has, and Chase begins to talk about he and Daphne have been a couple for six months but still haven't had sex. She then gets a bit more footsy with him saying he must be very pent up. At this point Chase has had enough and gets angry at her for being so provocative claiming he is loyal to Daphne even if they can't be intimate. The Mistress backs off a bit but after a couple minutes she points out Chase clearly has a hard on and can't be that loyal if he's so turned on by her. Chase is forced to admit she's right and he does feel attracted to her but reminds her they can't have sex either because he'd get infected. The Mistress accesses Harpswell's memories and goes over to her desk as she begins to undress a bit more. She pulls out a few of the special condoms that are better at preventing infection and says how several of her (Harpswell's) coworkers have been using them and how some like Mrs. Machinas has been rumored to have slept with at least five other men on staff yet none of them have gotten infected. reluctantly Chase agrees to try it hoping he can not only use them to have sex with Harpswell here and now but get some more later and finally have sex with Daphne. Chase and the Mistress undress and after very minimal foreplay Chase enters her. The Two have sex and while doing so they talk a bit more. Chase asks if this will get him anymore time off his detention, but the Mistress says she may want him to show up briefly each night to have a repeat session. However, as they continue the Mistress is overcome with euphoria as it's been years since she's experienced the pleasures of sex and asks Chase to go harder and faster. Chase does so, saying how if he has the protection from the virus handy, he could go as far as to have his own harem. Neither of them realizes that the condom has torn open due to the Mistress insisting on them going so rough. After another couple minutes Chase's lower body has reshaped into skinny legs and a bubble butt and when he suddenly sneezes the mistress snaps out of her haze and tells him to pull out. She then leans down and sees the tear in the condom just as Chase climaxes on her face. She points out the tear and Chase panics asking if he's going to get infected, but the Mistress points out he already is as he's not only coughing and sneezing, but his body is changing. Chase freaks out as he watches his muscles fade away and disappear and the Mistress watches in horror regretting what she's done. She watches as Chase continues to transform but is too ashamed to watch further and leaves Harpswell's body feeling that with Chase now a woman she'll need to find someone else to possess and a new man to sleep with. The real Mrs. Harpswell surfaces in a daze and after a few seconds remembers what just happened as if she had experienced it all through a dream like state. Chase is understandably angry and Harpswell is guilt ridden but says they need to lie about how he got infected or they'll both be in trouble. Chase feels like there's nothing she has to offer to make him protect her from backlash, but she promises to excuse the rest of his detention and says she'll change his grades, so he graduates as a high honors student if Chase agrees to say he was infected from a paper cut and a drop of blood. Chase reluctantly agrees and just as he is seeing his reflection in the mirror his transformation into a woman finishes. Freaked out and distraught Chase remains in shock, but Harpswell goes to call the hospital and quarantine teams to come get them both.

Back in the woods Zoey is still calling out for the others when they finally call back and manage to find her saying they've been looking for at least five minutes in the dark.

### Chapter 18 - Problematic Discoveries

This chapter is from pages 381 to 388. (↑ back to summary)

After the quad reunite in the woods, they ask Zoey what happened. She tells them about the ghost and the illusions she showed her but when she gets defensive about what she saw Natalie is quick to figure out what ever it was must have been embarrassing and drops the subject. They then explain to Zoey that while she was separated from them, they found something out in the woods. A strange walled off area now being guarded by soldiers with guns. Zoey is worried but agrees to follow them. They head for the area and find a large containment area surrounded by guards and say that they also heard strange roars and the ground shaking before they went back to find Zoey. At that point a loud roar is heard over the wall and the guards outside order suppressing fire. As several guards on the top of the wall begin to spray the area with flame throwers the quad can see the tips of a massive red gooey hand rise out of the center of the walled off area and are all freaked out by the sounds it's making. As they are crouched in the brush watching from nearby Zoey realizes they're in the same area as the red pond and sick moose from last year. Gavin realizes she's right and say so much has happened since then he nearly forgot about it. The guards call out saying that "PSC-451" is neutralized but they need a refill on their ordinance to maintain containment. Gavin and Shane assume based on what the guards are saying that whatever they are containing in that wall must keep respawning after so long and needs to be killed over and over again. Natalie then begins to question them on the red lake they were talking about. Before Gavin can explain the guards spot them and hold them at gun point. Shane claims they were just on a hike but the guards cuff them and hold them waiting orders. After a few minutes the guards agree to let the kids off with a warning but have already called the police to get them out of the area. Natalie notices the barrels of red water like the one that infected her father and Gavin realizes that the red lake must be behind the wall and that it must be the source of the virus. Zoey originally thought it was the moose, but Gavin points out the moose got sick from the water and Zoey was exposed when she came into contact with it too. The guards begin to worry the kids know too much but warn them if they publicize any of this they'll be carted off to federal prison. Soon after Petrina and Dutch arrive and order the kids into their squad cars to be taken home ordering them to get in the car.

Natalie and Zoey are taken home by Petrina and Dutch takes Gavin and Shane. The boys try and tell Dutch what they've seen but Dutch is forced to admit what he knows in order to make sure they know to keep away from the area. Dutch tells them that the morning that monster woke up it killed dozens of soldiers in the process it took to kill it the first time and then contain the pool that kept spawning it. He tells them not to interfere as he's seen soldiers kill innocent people just for trying to get off the island and that they need to never go near that containment area again. Just as he's insisting on it, he gets a dispatch call about another outbreak site and after a short exchange while Gavin and Shane talk in the back seat Dutch tells Gavin his brother has been infected. Dutch then turns to take them to the hospital to see Chase.

At the hospital Clairissa and Wanda have already arrived and are angry that the principal of all people admits responsibility for infecting their son. They both stick to the story of a paper cut infecting him when he handed her a stack of papers but as she doesn't have any cuts or band aides on her they question Harpswell on it further. She tries to play it off, but Clarissa is still furious. Before things escalate too much, Gavin arrives with Dutch and Shane and comes in to see Chase. He is shocked at what the virus has done to him, but Chase says she's through the infectious stage and guesses she's going to have to live with what's happened now. Clarissa calms down a bit and admits she expected this to happen eventually since he was dating an infected anyway. Despite the anger in the room Clarissa and Chase hug it out and are glad she is okay at least. They also say how Chase doesn't really have to change her name since its already unisex. Despite the crazy night the family agrees that it could have all been much worse.

### Chapter 18 - Growth Spurts

This chapter is from pages 389 to 425. (↑ back to summary)

Three months later well into the summer the Houltons have continued to live happily despite their situation. Elaine and Rachel flirt and kiss on the coach much to the annoyance of Heather who is trying to read a book in the chair nearby. Heather also thinks to herself how it's becoming annoying hearing her two mothers go at it every chance they get as her bedroom is so close to theirs unlike Zoey's and Patricia's. Zoey come in and asks if a load of clothing shrunk in the wash as she suddenly feels a tightness in her bras. Elaine examines her and thinks it's not a shrunken outfit it's that Zoey is having a growth spurt as she is at the age that women experience such things as they mature. Zoey is embarrassed and upset already uncomfortable with the idea of having breasts let alone getting bigger ones. Heather however gets annoyed as that means Zoey has already outgrown her size and now is well past her B-cups. Heather vents and says she should just get herself infected on purpose to get it over with and hopefully get bigger. curves. Elaine and Raechel berate her for thinking such things as they point out if she gets infected, she couldn't be intimate with boys so easily and still go through the rough patches of the virus. Heather storms off angry and jealous despite her moms' attempts to tell her personality is more important. Despite her protests however Elaine thinks to herself that Heather may have a point in some respects. Back to Zoey's issue of a growth spurt, Elaine and Raechel say that they'll take her shopping and get her measured for a new bra size. They also push her to stop wearing jeans and sweaters so long into summer and buy her a few cooler outfits. Zoey still doesn't like the idea of showing off her body too much but agrees on the condition her moms pay for it. After they agree to go out the next day Elaine tells Raechel she is "in the mood" to go to bed early and entices her to head for the bedroom. Rachel giggles and happily agrees.

Once in their bedroom Elaine talks with Rachel as they begin to undress and says she thinks that purposely infecting herself may be a good idea. She berated Heather for thinking that way because she is still interested in finding a boyfriend she could actually be with. Elaine however, is only interested in Rachel. She thinks it's better to get it over and done with so they won't have to hold back or be cautious in the bedroom anymore. Raechel is a bit concerned about it but as Elaine seems to have thought this through, she agrees that it may be for the best. The couple fully undress, and Elaine suggests that the more direct contact will cause the virus to progress and run its course faster, so she decides to try scissoring with Rachel. Though she is still hesitant Rachel is just as eager to try it out and the two move to make contact. Mere seconds after their crotches touch and they are enjoying the sensation Elaine falls back on the bed coughing and wheezing. The virus hits her like a ton of bricks, and she begins to get sick and transform very quickly. Elaine assures Rachel she's okay and it should pass in a minute at the rate she's transforming. Elaine's Glutes quickly expand, and her breast grow a good two or three sizes before her symptoms subside after a few seconds. Once she is through the transmitter stage after less than a minute, she looks at herself in the mirror and is very satisfied with her new body and even more eager to now be able to have sex with Rachel without any precautions or having to hold back. After they both admire Elaine's new body for a moment the couple are quick are to jump back into scissoring again. Elaine then moves to try eating out Raechel to return the favor for all the times she's done that for her the past few months. As she enjoys the now free for all sex life the two of them are beginning Elaine thinks to herself that she seems to be leaning more towards lesbianism with how much she's enjoying the new spark in her and Rachel's marriage. Though she does still worry that now that she is infected, she may feel an attraction to uninfected men as one of the symptoms.

The next morning Heather and Patricia are having breakfast waiting for everyone else to wake up. Zoey comes into the kitchen and Heather questions why she isn't wearing a bra under her shirt. Zoey says all her bras are very tight on her now and she seems to have grown a bit more in the chest overnight. Heather is still annoyed Zoey is now much bustier than she is and accidently teaches Patricia the word "tits" while the three siblings are talking. Elaine comes in soon after now with quite obviously larger curves and all three girls are shocked to see how much the virus changed her. After telling Patricia that "tits" is a grown-up word Elaine and Rachel fane a story that Rachel was having her period last night and Elaine got a drop of her blood on her causing her infection. Rachel whispers to her about not telling them the truth but Elaine points out Heather is clearly still jealous of all of them and doesn't want to set a bad example. Heather comments on the noises she heard from their room until late last night, but both her moms tell her to keep those comments to herself. Rachel then suggests they all need to go cloths shopping even more now as she needs summer clothing and now Elaine needs to get a new wardrobe to better fit her increased curves. Zoey reluctantly agrees and the three of them head out.

Before going to the mall or clothing outlets for new outfits Elaine brings Zoey to a women's underwear shop where she hopes to have a little mother daughter time with her while Raechel goes to grab brunch. Zoey is embarrassed to be underwear shopping with her moms but she agrees to go in and get measurements done. The shop keeper is a kind old lady who measures Zoey to be between as 30C and 30D cup and Zoey realizes her breasts are very sensitive suggesting her growth may be a kind of late puberty brought on by the virus. Elaine hands her a 30C bra but Zoey is annoyed she picked up a pink one as she prefers more masculine colors like gray. Zoey however tries it on to see if it fits and finds that its very comfortable and she looks good in it. Elaine offers to get her another in the next size up as Zoey says it's still a bit tight, but she admits she's fine with the color since no one's going to see it anyway. While Elaine gets measured and picks a few things out Zoey begins to shop around and finally embraces a more feminine and sexier look in underwear after feeling how comfortable they are. After a few outfits Elaine comes in the dressing room to help Zoey much to her embarrassment. Elaine calms her down and the two talk about their new sizes. Zoey feels that despite the tiny looseness left in her bra she is better suited for 30D size and Elaine reveals her new curves measure at 32F showing just how big she really has grown thanks to the virus. The two of them then wrap up their shopping with Zoey buying four whole bags of bras and underwear finally better embracing her feminine side.

Meanwhile at the Scarborough house Gavin has the day off and wishes Wanda a good day as she leaves to run the diner and "garden" with Dutch. Gavin is gaming in the living room when Chase comes down dressed only in a thin revealing shirt and panties because of the heat. Gavin is a bit uncomfortable seeing his stepsister like that but Chase acks fully normal and joins him gaming. Gavin tries to focus on the game but loses a few vs. matches due to both being distracted by Chase's revealing appearance and the issue of his vibrating controller shaking against his crotch. Chase gets a few wins on her belt but when she starts to hold the controller to her crotch, she gets aroused by the vibration as well and begins to get distracted. After a few more back and forth matches Chase finally seems to notice Gavin is using the better turbo controller and slaps it out of his hand wanting a rematch. Gavin then stands up revealing his hard on he's been hiding much to Chase's surprise and enjoyment as Gavins's manhood seems to have grown even larger than hers was before she was infected. Gavin apologizes but Chase says it's okay but to make up for it and to be sure Chase doesn't tell their parents about their little awkward encounter she as him to take her out shopping.

Back at the mall Zoey and her moms are looking around a few stores and while Elaine and Raechel go look at a few places Zoey stops in one outlet and spots a familiar outfit on a mannequin. She recognizes the skirt and sweater as the one from the Bride's illusion of her out with Gavin and decides to try it on. She comes out to look for more outfits but just happens to cross paths with Gavin and Chase who have just arrived. Zoey and Gavin say hello as they have barely seen each other all summer due to Gavin working and Zoey lazing off around the house. Gavin likes Zoey's outfit enticing her to get it instead of just trying it on and while the two are talking Zoey notices that Gavin seems to have grown taller and more muscular over the past few months. Gavin confirms ever since October he's been growing a bit more and he's now half an inch taller than Zoey was as Zack. Gavin thinks to himself how he's too embarrassed to tell Zoey his manhood has also grown a fair amount just as Chase chimes in to kill the moment. She picks out a few skirts and mildly skimpy outfits asking Gavin's opinion clearly letting her hormones go to her head much to Zoey's annoyance and Gavin's discomfort. After Chase goes into the dressing room Zoey decides to play her game a bit and picks out her own skirt and matching top to try on and see what Gavin thinks. In the dressing room as she undresses her breast seem to grow to better fit her new bra perfectly and all the looseness is gone either brought on by the virus or some excitement she's feeling around Gavin. Zoey comes out now dressed in a bit more open and skimpier outfit and asks Gavin's opinion. He says she looks great but also questions what's brough on her suddenly embracing her femininity. She finally confesses she's doing a lot of this to impress him. Gavin is a bit surprised but happy that she is finally admitting her feelings for him. Gavin admits that its perfectly okay if she likes boys even if she used to be one. Zoey is still a bit embarrassed but the two finally admit their feeling for each other. Just as they are having a moment however Chase comes out of the dressing room dressed in a red bikini. Clearly blinded by her hormones and not realizing Zoey's annoyance and Gavin's lack of interest Chase bends over and tries to get Gavin to check her out. Gavin sternly says he loves Chase only as a sister which gets Zoey to smile and while she makes a few minor last effort comments Chase realizes she's let her hormones go to her head and goes back to undress. Zoey praises Gavin for being so forward and not embarrassed at all like he used to be. Gavin admits it's thanks to her that he's so confident now and able to admit he likes her. Zoey's moms arrive at that point asking if Zoey is finished shopping. Zoey has been too distracted by Gavin and only picked out one other outfit so far. Gavin says he's bought a used car with his saving and offers to drive Zoey home, so they don't have to wait for her, and they agree seeing that there are clearly sparks between the two. Rachel is a bit concerned, but Elaine knows Gavin is responsible and trustworthy. After they're gone Gavin and Zoey keep talking and decide to try a genuine date with each other soon. Gavin then whispers to Zoey that she would look great in that bikini Chase just tried on so she goes to find one in her size and try it on to show him.

### Chapter 19 - Love Gained and Love Lost

This chapter is from pages 426 to 457. (↑ back to summary)

A few days later Zoey is getting ready for her first date with Gavin. Heather is helping her get ready under the promise she won't tease her too much. Heather keeps her promise and is mostly respectful and helpful to Zoey giving her a push up bra and a few beauty tips to up her appearance. Zoey then surprises her saying how she's able to wear heals now after a few lessons from their mother and practicing in private. Heather is still jealous of Zoey's better figure but helps her get dressed and made up with only a few minor comments and teasing. Gavin arrives downstairs and is greeted by Raechel who admires Gavin's much more muscular figure. Gavin admits he's joined Shane at the gym a couple times, but his progress seems faster than usual. Zoey comes down soon after and despite a bit of embarrassment by both her moms on being careful and not doing anything too personal on a first date she leaves with Gavin eager to have their day out. The couple then goes to the movies to see the new Wolfman and Birdboy (Parody of 1997 Batman and Robin) but when they get there not only are they the only ones in the theater, but they also the find the movie is so bad it's comical. After an hour or so into the movie they both agree the theater is empty because the film is a flop and decide to try and have a little fun since they're all alone. Zoey sits on Gavin's lap and begins to make out with him as they did in the cabin. This time however she asks him to fondle her breasts a bit since they've gotten so sensitive over the past few weeks. Though Gavin is respectfully hesitant he agrees and the two begin to play around a bit. As things progress Zoey goes to unzip Gavins pants and rub his growing hard on. Though they know they can't have sex here without Gavin getting infected Zoey just wants to make him feel as good as he's making her and begins to give him a hand job. A few minutes in however Zoey jumps off saying she's starting to get a bit too wet downstairs. She then says how her parents talked her into packing an extra pair of panties to change into in this scenario, so she does so before continuing with Gavin. The two continue to fool around a bit more with Zoey crouching down to tease Gavin's cock with her mouth a bit. Finally, Gavin says he's about to climax and to avoid making a mess Zoey uses her moth to take it all down her throat witch she surprisingly enjoys. Gavin assumes it would have discussed her, but she is perfectly fine with it and Gavin even moves to kiss her despite where her mouth just was. The couple agree they enjoyed it since they can safely be intimate with each other this way. Zoey remains a bit surprised at what she just did, but thinks to herself about other ways she and Gavin could get intimate without risking him getting infected.

A couple weeks later Gavin, Zoey, and Shane are all gaming at the Gardiner house. Gavin and Zoey haven't told Shane or Natalie about their relationship yet but the two have clearly become much more open with each other and flirt casually as they play. Dutch and Wanda come into the room saying how they're almost done renovating the spare room upstairs as they have planned for Gavin to stay over with them on weekends for the summer since he and Shane are so close, and Wanda is here a lot helping Dutch with chores. While the kids are still oblivious to it, Dutch and Wanda have continued their affair behind everyone's backs. They then head upstairs telling the trio not to spend all day inside. Zoey says she has to leave soon to help Heather move into her new apartment and then she and Gavin plan to see a movie later. Shane asks if he can come but they casually say it's been sold out still not wanting to let him know it's a date. Shane is too distracted by the game to question it and the others push him to try and ask Natalie out on a date to see the movie another time. Shane is still a bit distracted but thinks about things with Natalie. As they finish their last game Zoey heads out and Gavin walks her to the driveway where they kiss away from prying eyes saying how Shane is clueless that they are already on their third date. Gavin then heads back inside and suggest to Shane they go out to fly kites or something since it's such a nice day. Outside a few minutes later the boys are flying their kites and talking a bit when Gavin brings up the fact that both their parents have been spending a lot of time together lately and it's getting a bit concerning. Shane confirms that Wanda's been around a lot and mentions how she and Dutch have even been going out to dinner and a few movies together. Gavin begins to suspect that they are going on dates, but Shane still thinks they are just going out as friends. Gavin suddenly gets his kite stuck in a tree in the yard and Shane gets a ladder out to try and retrieve it. As he gets to the top and reaches for the kite, he looks through the window next to the tree and sees Wanda and Dutch having sex in the bedroom.

Dutch and Wanda are in the middle of having sex alone in the bedroom unaware that Shane is watching from the window. Shane is shocked but suddenly realizes based on their nights out together and Wanda staying late this is not the first time and is so confused why his father would do that. Not only cheating on his mother but also having sex with an infected so much. Wanda and Dutch continue but as things get close to climax Gavin calls up to Shane about the kite and Wanda suddenly sees him through the window. Frightened, she asks Dutch to stop but he is too close to climax and keeps going a bit rougher than usual. Shane gets the kite and works his way down the later wondering if he should tell Gavin. At that moment the condom Dutch was using rips infecting him. He pulls out after climax and both he and Wanda realize what's happened. Dutch quickly realizes he's infected and begins to cough and sneeze quickly transforming into a woman. Wanda apologizes but Dutch says he knew this was inevitable the way they've been going. As his transformation continues Wanda tells Dutch that Shane saw them, and they agree that the time has come to come clean about their affair. Dutch is upset by his body changing so fast, but Wanda assures him she is still attracted to him (now her) and she intends to stay with her. Dutch's transformation nears completion and Wanda volunteers to go down and tell the boys what's happened so they will stay outside to avoid infection until the quarantine team arrives. Wanda gets dressed and Dutch calls the hospital. Meanwhile outside Gavin can clearly see a degree of concern in Shane's face and ask him what's wrong. Shane is forced to tell him what he saw, and they are both shocked. While they both vent their horror and shock Wanda comes out of the back door and tells them to get back from the house. Shane confronts her and Gavin berates her for cheating on Clarissa. She agrees that it's all her fault what's happened but insists that they get back revealing she's infected Dutch. Shane is worried but knows Dutch wouldn't want him to get infected either so when the quarantine team arrives, he stays back and waits for them to clear Dutch from the house before driving with the others to the hospital.

Shane and the others arrive to find Dutch (now Dianna) in the hospital having fully transformed and passed into carrier stage. She assures Shane she is alright, but he confronts her on cheating on his mother even if she is trapped off island. Dianna finally tells him the truth about how his mother has already moved on with another man. Shane is surprised but still angry his dad did that since he knows his mom only did that because she though they were dead. Dianna agrees and Wanda and her both admit they should have done things differently. Wanda says how her marriage to Clarissa has been dead for months and she should have accepted divorce instead of hidden an affair for so long. At that point Clarissa arrives after hearing what happened. She's had her lawyers finalize the divorce papers and while she is very angry, she and Wanda both saw this as inevitable and just wants to get it over with. Wanda understands she is the at-fault spouse and agrees to sign the papers without hesitance. Dianna then explains to the boys that she and Wanda have been expecting this. Clarissa is going to end up with the house in the divorce so Gavin and Wanda will have to move out. She explains that the reason they've been renovating the guest room is so it can be Gavin's new bedroom and they can live with her and Shane. While the two of them are not against living together both Gavin and Shane are still upset. Gavin goes out into the hallway in tears, overwhelmed by all that's happening. As he is letting out a few sobs Zoey arrives after having heard what happened and wanting to comfort him a bit. He cries into her shoulder saying how this is a replay of his biological mother walking out on them out of the blue and while he is still upset, he's comforted by Zoey and the two kiss.

### Chapter 20 - The Queen and the Hero

This chapter is from pages 457 to 484. (↑ back to summary)

About a month after his father became his mother and Gavin moved in with them, Shane takes Natalie to the beach for a day out before school starts up again. Shane is still a bit depressed about the general situation but has enjoyed living alongside his best friend. Natalie offers support and tells him it will all be alright. The two set up on the beach and talk a bit about how things have been going. As Shane takes his shirt off Natalie is quickly enraptured by his muscles as they have grown so much over the past few months making him quite the beef cake compared to the pudgy boy, he was last year. She compliments him on his dedication and amazing progress working out, but Shane is yet to tell her that most of his progress is thanks to the enchantment The Harlequin placed on him. As the two talk, three girls playing volleyball nearby see and admire Shane from a distance and ask him to join in on their game. Shane is a bit oblivious that they are flirting with him but agrees so long as Natalie can join as well. The three however suggest against it since it would be uneven teams at that point, but this finally gets Shane to realize they are flirting with him. He recognizes at least one of them and starts to tell them that they've been in the same grade for years and one of them (back when she was a boy) used to make fun of him for being chubby. The girls get a bit defensive after realizing who he is and how much he's changed from when they were young. They try and play it off saying he's overreacting a bit, but Shane quickly catches on that they are only interested in him for his body and he's clearly not their type. The girls leave soon after back to their game and Natalie praises Shane on his maturity in facing those girls. She then asks him to rub some sun lotion on her back and takes her top off while laying down. Shane admires her figure and begins to get the hint that she is interested in him. He finished applying sun lotion to her and then asks her to do the same for him. He lays down and as her hands wander a bit he at last understands she has feelings for him despite being a former boy. He rolls over on his back but finds he has a hard on much to his embarrassment. Natalie, however, is not offended and continues to get a bit handsy and sits on his lap. Shane admits he likes her as well and is happy to finally say it as the two have their first kiss.

A few minutes later the beachgoers all hear loud bangs and crashes from nearby. While most of the other's assume its fireworks or something Shane and Natalie pack up and go to investigate correctly assuming its gunshots. When they arrive at port a half mile from the beach, they find a group of soldiers firing at a new ghost, The Queen. Like most of the others the Queen thinks she is somewhere else and attacks the soldiers calling them traitors to the kingdom and heretics. She has a strange blade she uses to slash open a supply of barrels the soldiers are shipping off the island containing the red water from the lake infected with the T1-G1 Virus. The soldiers fire at her but their guns have no effect, and they are all exposed to the water as it soaks them from the barrels. Shane and Natalie watch from behind a barrier and take pictures with her camera. After most of the soldiers fall back already transformed or still in the process The Harlequin arrives trying to talk to the queen. She is clearer headed and knows the queen is confused but when she tries to convince her of this they fight. Shane and Natalie see this and call out to the queen to try and distract her to help the Harlequin, but this only works for a moment. The two ghosts struggle and the queen knocks into one of the barrels on the pier sending it rolling towards a ramp into the ocean. Shane sees this and runs to stop it knowing if it's lost into the sea it could infect the people at the beach if not drift to the mainland and spread the virus. Shane manages to stop it on the ramp, but a splash of the water gets on him infecting him as he begins to transform. At that point the Queen uses her sword to slice the Harlequin's head clean off and then flies away still ranting about traitors and such. Natalie goes over to see the Harlequin, but she wakes up still "alive" as a ghost despite her head being severed. She then jumps down to help the transforming Shane push the barrel back up the ramp as his transformation finishes. Natalie embraces him (now her) and assures her she is still attracted to her regardless of her new female body. The Harlequin reluctantly breaks up another kiss between the couple and ask them for help. The two agree and Harlequin asks them to take her to an abandoned shack in the Marshlands south of there.

After hauling the two pieces of the Harlequin by hand and then by car the two girls arrive at the abandoned shack she told them about. There they find the Nurse ghost who seems to have become more aware like the Harlequin and the Mistress, no longer thinking she is curing a plague. The girls are a bit frightened, but the two ghosts are kind and talk to them while the Nurse does her best to reattached Harlequins head. Unable to hold back any longer Natalie begins asking questions about things like an afterlife or how they died. The Harlequin explains that while she is able to think clearer than most of the other ghosts, she still does not vividly remember any major detail from her life and can't even remember her own name. She recalls being a runaway who joined the circus but thinks she died when a performance she volunteered for went wrong. The Nurse is the same. She recalls being a doctor during a great plague but assumes she got sick from one of her clients one day and died but nothing more than basics. Neither of them really knows why they are on the island and how they became ghosts, only that most of the others can't think clearly and still think they are where and when they were when they died. Only about half of them have come to their senses like the Mistress and the Bride. The Nurse finishes reattaching the Harlequins head after a short time as the group talks. Harlequin then asks the two girls if as repayment for their help if they would want to help them find the source of the virus. She explains that the Red lake has something beneath it that the ghost could help them find. They can't do it themselves out of fear of the Abomination. They say how the Girl ghost that Shane saw first was pulled into the pond by that thing during one of its respawns and she hasn't been seen since and they believe that thing can kill even ghosts when at full strength. At first the girls are hesitant, but they give it some thought about what they could find. Both the ghost feels any answers they find down there could help them find a way to cure the virus and change back to their normal selves and likely also help the ghost move on and rest. Though concerned both Natalie and Shane feel it may be worth the risk to find the truth. Shane also agrees to take the name Sandra now that she's been transformed. The Harlequin says she can prepare a few things for them to be able to explore the red pond within a few weeks and will begin right away. She also states that they will likely need more help than just the two of them and both girls know exactly who to turn to for help with this plan.

### Chapter 21 - Repercussions

This chapter is from pages 485 to 508. (↑ back to summary)

A couple days after Sandra's infection Zoey walks with Gavin on his way home to the Gardinier house. Zoey is a bit shocked and worried about Shane turned Sandra, but Gavin says how she's been taking it well and is adjusting. The two get home and Gavin goes upstairs to check to see if Sandra's ready for a visitor. Meanwhile Zoey talks to Wanda who is eating a large breakfast at the table. She questions her on her extra hunger and asks if she's had any other symptoms. Wanda admits she's been a bit weak and nauseous, and her breasts are very sensitive. Zoey then asks if she's late for her period and Wanda suddenly understands what she's implying. She asks Zoey to keep this a secret for now and leaves to run to a drug store. Gavin then comes back and he and Zoey head up to meet Sandra. While Zoey is shocked at how much she's been changed by the virus Sandra assures her she's alright. Both Sandra and Dianna also mention how Natalie wrote about what happened and now the mayor is opening an investigation into the military shipping out barrels of red water and Sandra has been praised as a hero for preventing the barrel from drifting into the ocean and possibly infecting the mainland. Dianna leaves with a bag of Sandra's old clothing and the Trio continue talking. Sandra says Natalie is at home asleep after staying up all-night to write the story of what happened. She also begins to explain their encounter with the ghosts. She says how Natalie took pictures of all the ghosts they met that night, but none showed up on film once they were developed. Zoey and Gavin figure that's likely the reason no proof of hosts exist. Sandra then asks the two of them to hear her out and explains the plan they've been working on to find the source of the virus.

Meanwhile downstairs Dianna is reading the dining room and Wanda comes back saying she has something important to talk to her about. She reveals she ran out to get a pregnancy test due to her odd symptoms. Dianna is a bit in denial, but Wanda reveals that the test came back positive. She even retook it three times and they all came back positive confirming that Wanda must have gotten pregnant the day the condom tore open, and Dutch got infected. Dianna then asks her what she wants to do since the child she's carrying was born out of an affair and she used to be a man. Wanda is brough to tears but tells Dianna she wants to keep the baby and be its mother. Dianna is fully supportive and plans to be there for both her and the baby. Meanwhile upstairs Gavin and Zoey are both shocked by Sandra's idea of how to get to the source of the virus. They are both doubtful about finding the source when the military and that Red monster both guard the Lake. Sandra assures them they have a viable plan and asks they at least think it over.

A few weeks later the Quad returns to School after summer break. Natalie and Sandra still pester Zoey about joining their plan, but she says she's still thinking it over. As the three of them talk things over and wait for Gavin they notice two familiar faces arrive in the halls. Frank and Bridget arrive and to the other's shock they have both gained a fair amount of weight and become obese due to the Harlequin's curse placed on them months ago. Sandra is quick to realize what's happened to them but still hasn't told the others that detail. Frank and Bridget get mocked by several other students including Brenda and her girlfriend, much to their anger. Zoey, Sandra, and Natalie go over to them and join in as they are all satisfied to see those two finally get the bad karma they deserve. Frank and Bridget argue back but they know they can't get aggressive because the principal has already told them they are on thin ice from their misdeeds from last year. As they argue however Bridget refers to Frank as "Baby" showing that they've moved on from best friends to lovers. Zoey calls them on it but they deny it and call her out on dating Gavin. Sandra rebuffs it but Zoey is forced to hesitantly admit the truth about dating Gavin for two months now. Sandra is shocked and asks more questions. Frank and Bridget walk away not wanting to get into any more trouble if things escalate. As they walk off, they are both annoyed by everyone staring at them for their weight gain. Both swear they haven't been eating much but have been putting on about ten pounds a week, unaware of the curse that was placed on them. Bridget then suggests they try and get revenge on everyone for looking down on them and Frank is eager to join in on her plan. She suggests they purposely infect all remaining men on the island apart from Frank. That way he is the last man on the island and all infected would stop looking down in him and be attracted to him as part of their symptoms. At the same time Bridget would have status again as she and Frank are a couple, and she could brag that she has him all to herself. Frank agrees and the two plan to get their hands on a barrel of red water and pore it in the towns water supply to infect everyone else on the island.

Back with Zoey, Sandra, and Natalie, Sandra is questioning Zoey on not telling them about her relationship with Gavin. As she is trying to apologize Gavin arrives and greets the others and Sandra is quick to confront him on it. He and Zoey both admit they've been dating for 2 months but wanted to keep it on the down low for a bit. Sandra and Natlie both understand and then admit that the two of them have officially started dating as well. While they haven't gone all the way yet because Natalie wants Sandra to get used to her new body. Zoey and Gavin respect that but refrain from admitting they've developed their own sex life even if they are reserved to oral sex out of fear of infecting Gavin.

About a week later the quad are in science class and Zoey whispers to Natalie and Sandra that she's decided to help them out with their plan to find the source of the Virus. She asks Gavin to help out as well but he's too busy taking notes. At that point Principal Harpswell comes in and interrupts class to introduce the Mayor of Cinder Isle, Mayor Westbrooke. Westbrooke makes the announcement that he's planning an island wide festival to mark the one-year anniversary of the day the Virus began. He hopes a festival will bring the community together and help bring some light to the whole situation of the quarantine. He also asks both Sandra and Natalie to stand and asks if they are willing to be given an award for their heroic acts in preventing the red water from infecting the mainland and reporting the militaries activity with the barrels. Both are excited to be given recognition for their actions and agree to be part of the festivities in a couple weeks. In the back of class however, Frank and Bridget overhear and while Frank is pissed those two get the glory, Bridget suggest the festival would be the perfect time to carry out their plan to infect the towns water supply to bot get their revenge and ruin the two girls' big moment. The quad are all looking forward to the festival, but the bullies just look at them with a skiving grin.

### Chapter 22 - The Crimson Abyss

This chapter is from pages 509 to 532. (↑ back to summary)

A few days later the Quad are in Gavin's car headed for the underwood forest to meet with the ghosts and finally put their plan in motion to find the source of the virus. While Zoey is still a bit skeptical Natalie and Sandra both assure her the ghosts can be trusted. They park the car on the outskirts and get ready to go the rest of the way on foot but before they step out Gavin; feeling that what they are about to do is dangerous, admits to Zoey that he loves her. Zoey is surprised but before Gavin can apologize for being so forward admits she feels the same way about him. and the two kiss. The group get out and while Gavin and Sandra unpack the gear, they brought Natalie question Zoey on her feelings and asks that if they do find a way to reverse the effects of the virus would she still want to go back to being a guy and possibly loose her relationship with Gavin. Zoey is conflicted but they all refocus on the mission and head into the woods on foot. After a short hike the group comes face to face with five of the ghosts: the Harlequin, The Nurse, The Bride, and the Mistress as well as The Queen who is tied up behind them. The four free ghosts are all the ones who have become clearheaded and aware of what and where they are, but the queen still fusses and demands to be freed. The Harlequin explains they've managed to bind her with enchanted rope and now they have what they need to finish their plan. The Mistress will possess one of the guards at the compound around the red lake in order to open the access gate. The Bride will use her illusion casting power to make the three girls invisible so they can walk through the gate unseen. Gavin will stay behind with the Nurse since he can't risk exposure to the red water and the Nurse will be ready to help if any of them are injured. The Harlequin will be in charge of keeping the Queen contained but also has acquired three Shielding ruins from her. The Queen was forced to make them and now the three girls can use them to protect them from the water and dive deep enough while contained in the air bubble of the shield to get to the bottom of the lake at about 30-40 meters. Though still worried all the group agrees to the plan.

As they talk over the details however the Bride comes over to Zoey and admires how she has followed her heart and pursued a relationship with Gavin. While Zoey agrees she's happy to have followed her advice she is embarrassed when the Bride mentions her fantasies about marriage and such. Gavin comforts her and the Bride says how she can sense that he too desires to hopefully marry and have a family with Zoey one day. The couple embrace over their clear love for each other but then the Bride goes on to claim she can see another secret in Gavin's heart. She mentions how he has buried his desire deep and never told any other soul about it and how it's a very personal and unique secret. Gavin stops her form saying much more and insists that she respect his private thoughts. Zoey asks him about it, but he insists it's not the right time and while its nothing bad he needs time before he considers telling her. Zoey understands and welcomes Gavin to tell her whenever he's ready. The two then share a kiss and the three girls leave Gavin with the Nurse, Harlequin, and Queen. Zoey, Sandra and Natalie get to the perimeter of the compound surrounding the red lake and begin their plan. They all huddle around the Bride as she conjures the invisibility veil around them. The Mistress possesses the body of one of the guards who are now all females due to their encounter with the Queen at the pier. She uses the residual memories she can access to enter the code to open the gate and distracts another guard with conversation while the three girls and bride sneak by and into the compound. At the edge of the red lake the Bride wishes them luck and hopes to see them all again soon. The girls then activate their shield ruins which create a protective bubble around each of them, allowing them to dive into the lake and enter the abyss. Once submerged the three girls are in awe of the red fluid environment all around them. While they do admire the eerie looking lake around them Natalie points out the air in their shield bubbles is limited so they need to keep moving down. By pointing the top of the ruins down they begin to sink and move towards the bottom but soon they run into a red mass of slime. They immediately recognize it as the Abomination, but Natalie points out it is still dormant after it was last torched by the guards on the surface and is still regenerating. The three then go deeper and Natalie notices an odd light above them revealing a moon pool where the lake opens up into an air pocket cave. They all rise to the surface and find a large cavern with a waterfall flowing out of a cave on one end. The red water seems to be glowing all around them giving them a dim light to see. As they reach the edge of the water and stand on the rock edge, they drop their shields and look around. Zoey sees the waterfall is just as red as the rest of the lake and the source must be down the cave where the water is flowing from.

As the three girls debate how they should proceed they hear a faint crying sound. Natalie and Zoey are both on edge, but Sandra seems to recognize it. She goes to investigate, and they find The Girl ghost Sandra saw a year ago hiding and crying behind a bolder. Sandra calms her down and asks her what happened. The Girl says how the Abomination had eaten her when she went too close to the red lake like the Harlequin and Nurse had said but rather than be "killed" she woke up in the cave and has been stuck there for months. The three start to ask her more about the cavern and she says a few days walk down the cave the water is coming from this strange place that is the source of the red glow. Sanadra says if she helps them get there, they'll get her out of there when they leave. The Girl is still not completely clear headed and doesn't fully understand but agrees to help them. Zoey points out they aren't prepared for a hike through a cave that will take them days, but the girl offers an alternative to make the trip last only a few hours. Using the same power, she did when Shane first encountered her, she conjures up a massive black spectral horse she calls Mrs. Sparkles. The group hesitantly get on and agree to ride her through the cave to find the source while the Girl waits there for them to come back. They all ride Mrs. Sparkles through a long cave that seems to just keep going and going. After about two hours ride they at last sight a strange chamber up ahead. They come to a stop and find a large cluster of strange glowing Red Orbs. The three dismount and do some looking around. Natalie observes that some of the orbs are floating freely in the air but other seem to have fallen to the ground and are melting or decomposing. A nearby clear waterfall coming from a crack in the wall is flowing into the melted red fluid and then down the cave creating the red water. As Natalie takes pictures with her camera Zoey points out a strange opening in the wall with carvings around it. The three of them move around the pool to get to it and look out into a strange chamber. The girls are at a loss to explain where they are, but it is easily recognized by the readers as the central chamber of Alistair's Island in a state of ruin and heavily damaged.

### Chapter 23 - The Source

This chapter is from pages 533 to 549. (↑ back to summary)

Zoey, Natalie, and Sandra all climb out of the crack in the wall and into a large decorative chamber that seems to be in disrepair. There are scorch marks along the wall and floor and a massive crack in a circular carving in the wall. All the plants are dead and there are extinguished candles laying around the place. One thing of note that Zoey finds is a circle of blue crystal shards scattered around the room that seem to have been at the center of an explosion based on the scorch marks. Natalie examines the strange symbols carved along the wall hey came through and Sandra looks around the room. She suggests the Blue Crystals be gathered up and taken back with them for Gavin and the ghosts to see as she feels like all signs point to it being the epicenter for what ever happened to break the wall and cause the red water flow. The others agree and Zoey begins to gather up the shards. Natalie and Sandra find a tunnel leading out to the surface and emerge to find they are on a small deserted island with no other land mass in sight. As the two look around a bit Sandra suddenly brings up the subject of what the two of them might do if a cure is ever found. Natalie admits she's given it some thought but is still unsure. While they both enjoy each other as girlfriends they worry if they are both cured, they'll go back to being straight men and loose interest in each other. Sandra mentions how she'd be willing to try being with Nathan as Shane if they both choose to be cured but Natalie still worries their feeling would change. Despite the uncertainty the two embrace and say they're willing to try whatever presents itself down the road. Zoey arrives soon after finding the others on the beach and announcing she's gathered all the shards of blue crystal she could find and has them cluttered into her sweater she's tied into a bag. The Girls agree there's little more they can do here for now and they should head back. They give the place one last look over and wonder if they should also try to take one of the red orbs but decide against it as they mount Mrs. Sparkles and head back down the cave.

Back in the underwood forest Gavin is stressed out about the girls being gone for so long. The Nurse and the Harlequin assure him the others are waiting by the pool for when they return, and they took every precaution they could. Gavin remains stressed and says if they don't get back within a half hour, he'll go down himself even if it will infect him so long as it's a chance for to help Zoey. Just as he says this however, Zoey calls out from the woods and arrives with the other girls as well as the Bride, the Mistress and the Girl whom they saved as promised. Gavin runs over to Zoey and picks her up for a kiss overjoyed to see she's okay. The girls then talk about their expedition and shows the rest of them the blue crystals they gathered up. Gavin examines a few of them and determines they are Saphire but are too pure to be naturally occurring and the Nurse and the other ghost can sense some form of powerful mystic aura coming from them suggesting the crystals are some form of mystical object. The Nurse proposes that they reassemble the shards into what they were originally to hopefully get a clue as to what they are and how they relate to the virus. The girls are quick to elect Gavin as the chosen assembler since he's the smartest. He is a bit worried as he has no idea what he's building and there are hundreds if not thousands of pieces. The others have confidence in him, and he agrees to try and put the shards together as best he can but says it's likely to take him at least a few weeks. The Girl is then taken in by the Nurse and Harlequin to be looked after and kept out of trouble. The quad then all agree to head home for the night hoping to find more answers once Gavin makes progress on the shards.

Several days later Sandra comes into Gavins room and finds him working on the shards. Gavin explains he's counted 2020 pieces total and estimated the finished object is roughly the size of a basketball. So far, he and the Nurse have only managed to assemble a few shards into a triangular piece but is still unsure what the finished object could be. At that point, Wanda and Dianna knock at the door and come in. Gavin and Sandra claim the crystals are part of project to study formations and asks them not to touch any of them because Gavin has them all organized. They buy the ruse and are still unaware what the kids have been up to, but they ask the two of them to sit down wanting to tell them something important. Sandra worries they found out what they were doing but instead Wanda mentions how they may have noticed how she's been getting a bit heavier over the past few weeks. The kids initially say it's fine to put a bit weight on, but Dianna tells them it's not regular weight gain. Rather than beat around the bush Wanda just comes right out and says that she's expecting. Gavin is shocked but Sandra doesn't understand at first until he blurts out in astonishment that his dad is pregnant. Both kids are shocked and ask how that is possible. Wanda explains how the day Dutch got infected when the condom they were using ripped open he successfully sowed his seed. In addition to that both Dianna and Wanda have agreed to make their family situation official and say how they've gotten engaged as of yesterday. Both Gavin and Sandra congratulate them, and Sandra is happy that she and Gavin will now really be siblings as she's never had any before. The four of them then agree to celebrate with a big lunch and head downstairs together as a new family.

### Chapter 24 - The Anniversary

This chapter is from pages 550 to 575. (↑ back to summary)

On the morning of the one-year anniversary of the start of the T1-G1 Pandemic, Zoey, Heather and Gavin all have a big Breakfast at his family's Cafe. The place is closed due to the festival the mayor is holding but he is happy to treat the two girls to a big breakfast since he has the key. Heather compliments him on how he's really gotten taller and bulkier of the past year. While Gavin claims he hasn't been going to the Gym much, he thinks it may be a late puberty or something that's caused him so much growth the past few months. Heather also mentions how Zoey is lucky to still have a boyfriend as by the last report, almost 90% of the island's population is infected and just over 500 men are left out of the island's population of around 10,000. Heather is also one of the 600 or so women left uninfected. While the two sisters tease each other a bit they now do it more playfully and ever since Zoey embraced being a girl, they've both really gotten along much better. The three of them then finish up and head for the festival.

At the festival held in the park near the town square there are several food venders and carnival game stands set up all around with big groups of people gathered to enjoy the event. Once there Gavin notices Wanda talking with Clarissa off to the side. Though he can't hear what they are saying the two women are discussing their mistakes. Clarissa congratulates Wanda on her pregnancy and admits that the divorce situation was just as much her fault as Wanda's. She admits she should have made better effort to try and accept Wanda as a woman and not pushed her away so much. She also admits she was the one who put them in marriage limbo and should have just agreed to divorce sooner. Wanda thanks her for being civilized about it and admits she was just as much to blame. Clarissa then reveals she is now dating the kids Science teacher as he's also one of the few men left on the island. As they talk however Bridget and Frank walk by and bump in Clarissa with a wheel barrel with something large and covered on it. The couple weave through the crowd and get to a pump house on the edge of the park area but Bridget can't get the lock open. Dianna arrives and asks them what's happening. Frank plays it off by saying they're grounds keepers and have misplaced their keys. Dianna buys the ruse and unlocks the pump house for them as they claim they need to get a barrel of purifier out of the sun. When they get inside however, they uncover a biohazard barrel containing the red water and the Virus. Gavin, Zoey, and Heather come up to Clarissa and Wanda and are glad to see the two women can leave the past in the past and be civilized with each other now. Gavin questions Zoey about Bridget and Frank but Heather says since Dianna let them in the building, they must be working the festival.

Sandra and Natalie arrive to greet the others saying the mayor is about to announce their award and give them each a metal for their heroics, but Gavin still feels suspicious about Bridger and Franks. Mayor Westbrooke then calls the girls up to the stage to begin things. As they head up Bridget spies them from the window in the pump house. Frank unloads the red barrel and hooks it up to the main water line ready to take their revenge. He gives the call and Bridget opens the valve infecting the towns water supply with the virus and tripping the sprinklers all over the park to spray the gathered crowd. Nearly everyone at the festival is sprayed with the sprinklers including Gavin. At first everyone thinks it was bad timing on the sprinklers but then when Clairissa starts coughing and sneezing, they realize the sprinkler water is red and infected. Gavin at first assumes maybe the lake water finally seeped into the ground water and infected the lines but Dianna realizes it must have been the barrel under the sheet and those kids are behind it. She rushes off the try and catch them but as soon as she runs off Zoey realizes that Gavin's been soaked with the water and has most certainly been infected. Gavin is upset but calm, but Zoey begins to cry.

Back in the pump house Bridgett tells Frank to just leave the barrel and run for it now that their plan has worked but just as he is about to put the barrel down Dianna burst in with a gun and tells them to freeze. Frank drops the barrel at that moment and the lid bursts open infecting him as well. He quickly transforms into a very round and obese looking woman much to Bridget's regret. Dianna informs the two they are under arrest for Bioterrorism and they both realize just how seriously they have screw themselves.

Out at the festival Sandra and Natalie are dry thanks to being on stage at the time the sprinkler went off, but the mayor got a splash on his coat and begins to transform into a much younger and very busty woman. At first, he is upset but then after feeling his younger female body without any pains from old age like he had before he begins to like it. Clarissa and her boyfriend both begin to get sick and transform but they decide to have one last kiss with him as a guy as they both transform. At first Clarissa thinks to herself she'll have to learn to be alone now since she can't picture herself being with a woman in that way but as her transformation progresses her thoughts turn to be more open and then fully embracing of the idea of being with a woman. Meanwhile Zoey is crying into Gavin's chest upset about losing him, but he assures her that he'd happily still be with her as a girl. Zoey suggest they may be able to run off and find a secluded corner or something to try and give him the chance to lose his virginity as a man before he turns but Gavin assures her, he wants it to be special and doesn't mind if it's as a girl so long as it's with her. He then says he already had a female name picked out, Gaela. Zoey likes it and starts to cheer up a bit. At that point Heather comes up to see Gavin soaked but miraculously she is not wet or infected yet based on where she was standing. Just as she begins to complain about how she has missed every chance of getting infected another girl comes up behind her coughing and exposes her to the virus anyway. Heather begins to change, and her features alter quickly. Zoey says she'll now get her wish to be as busty as she is, but Heather says she wished that she was bigger than her since she has been so jealous of her moms and sister since they were transformed. As usual the virus seems to alter her body to meet her desires. Heather is quick to regret it however as her butt grows so large her pants rip apart and her breast grow to around a G cup size to outmatch Zoey's. Uncomfortable with the size she wishes out load for the virus to make her more around Zoey's size, but Gavin is quick to point out it doesn't seem to work that way and Heather is left with torn clothing and massive curves. Natalie and Sandra come up to the others soon after and sees that Gavin's been soaked. Both of them are upset that the last of the groups been infected but then Zoey points out that it has been at least 15 minutes since the sprinklers went off and yet Gavin hasn't even started to sniffle or cough. Gavin says how it took a while for some others to change including Zoey, but Nataile and Sandra agree he should at least be sniffling or something by now. Natalie then says that there are no other men left in the crowd and yet Gavin has remained unchanged suggesting that he may be immune to the virus.

Gavin is shocked at the idea that he may be immune to the virus as that never seemed possible. Sandra suggests that they find an officer or medic and get him tested, but at that moment Dianna and Petrina are escorting Bridget and Frank (now Francine) to a cop car in hand cuffs. Bridget demands a lawyer and apologizes to Francine for having this idea, but she only further incriminates herself by saying it out load and the two are put in the car with Petrina saying there's enough evidence to put them away for life. The Quad looks on and is angry at them for causing this and head over so Natalie can get the details for a new story. Heather heads the other way however, as she needs a change of clothing. The quad approach the cop car and find the mayor and Dianna talking but when they see that Gavin is soaked and yet still not transforming the mayor asks for an ambulance. Gavin still assumes he's a slow changer, but the mayor says the CDC have said that if someone was found who may be immune to the virus' effects it may help develop a vaccine. While Gavin seems almost disappointed, he agrees to go to the hospital to be tested so long as Zoey and the others can join him. As they wait for the ambulance Clarissa, who now looks more like Chase's sister, and the science teacher come up to see them surprised Gavin is still a man. As they get closer, they both become rather lustful and admire Gavin rather provocatively much to his discomfort. Zoey come up and yells that he's taken which seems to snap the two of them out of it. They both realize what they just did and are disturbed. Gavin knows it was the virus messing with their head and hormones, but they still feel ashamed. Zoey and Gavin both worry now that if he is the only immune man on the island, he's likely to start having that issue a lot. The Ambulance arrives soon after and takes Gavin to the hospital with his friends close behind.

About five minutes later the quad sits in a hospital room waiting for someone to come in to test Gavin further. Elaine arrives after she requested to be Gavin's nurse and begins to take his vitals. He asks her about slow changers again and she says while there have been a few who took a long time to begin to change none of them went this long without at least showing a decline in health. Mayor Westbrook arrives in a more fitting outfit and is followed by another woman the quad doesn't recognize. The woman introduces herself as General Windham the one in charge of the quarantine enforcement and who arrested Natalie's father months ago. She was transformed at home while washing dishes this morning confirming that the entire island's water supply has been contaminated and it's likely the whole population will be infected by the end of the day if not within the hour. Windham then makes the announcement that Gavin does test positive for T1-G1 but given his lack of symptoms he is most certainly immune. The other three are overjoyed especially Zoey who is happy they can always be together now, but Gavin seems frozen with shock. Gavin finally speaks and asks if he really is the last man left on the island as well as the only one reported to be immune. Both the mayor and general confirm there have been dozens of outbreaks reported around the island due to the water contamination and even if some people don't directly come in contact with the water more than likely the mass of outbreaks will lead to them getting infected by proximity anyway. As far as they are aware, Gavin is the last man left on Cinder Isle.

### Chapter 25 - Last Man Standing

This chapter is from pages 576 to 595. (↑ back to summary)

While Gavin is both shocked and conflicted about being the only one on the island who is left as a man both he and Zoey now dread the idea that he will have practically every girl on the island fawning over him due to the virus driving up their libido around him. While Zoey trusts Gavin to be loyal she doesn't trust all the other women on the island to keep themselves under control. Elaine then comments on Gavin's growth. After he explains how he's grown nearly eight inches in a year and gotten so buff they realize the virus may be at play and is having the opposite effect on him by making him more masculine at a slow pace. This seems to be further supported when Windham announces the test results suggests that Gavin has been infected for months, possibly a full year. Everyone else is shocked and suddenly realizes that Gavin likely got exposed the first day when he was with Zoey so much during her transformation. Despite his immunity however Windham confirms that Gavin is still a carrier meaning he can't leave Cinder Isle any more than the rest of them as his blood and sexual fluids would still spread the virus. Zoey then brings up the annoying detail that she and Gavin have been practicing safe sex over the past few months and have never even gone as far as to try vaginal or anal out of fear of what happened to Chase and Dutch. Now she is annoyed they could have had sex easily without it ever hurting Gavin. As they talk however Gavin mentions how his manhood has grown to a significant size as well and all the women around them become a bit aroused and lustful especially the mayor. She briefly even suggests that Gavin may want to be considered for communal sex if he's the last man left on the island, but everyone is quick to point out she's letting the virus go to her head. Windham requests that Gavin stay in the hospital a few more hours so they can run a few more tests and see if they need a bit more samples. Gavin agrees. The mayor also announces that School is closed for the rest of the week due to the outbreaks from today so the quad is happy to have the rest of the week off but both Gavin and Zoey are dreading the return.

A week later the quad returns to school but as expected its confirmed that Gavin is the last man on the island and as such almost everyone in the halls is attracted to him due to the virus. Even Brenda and her girlfriend both flirt a bit with him in the hallway much to both his and Zoey's annoyance. As they talk however, they make obscure references to the size of Gavin's manhood witch Zoey knows only the group in that hospital room knew and wonders how everyone else found out. Gavin then decides to go to class and try to be alone for a bit while the other three talk. Zoey confronts Sandra and Natalie about mentioning Gavin's size but neither of them said anything. They then ask Zoey if the two of them have gone all the way yet, but Zoey says they still haven't because Gavin's been stressed and seemed a bit depressed about being the only man left. Zoey is beginning to get a bit impatient but understands Gavin's under a lot of pressure. Sandra and Natalie suggest she try a bit of foreplay with him and tell her about how the two of them finally went all the way. Natalie bought a very sexy nighty and changed into it when Sandra left the room. When she came back, she was both surprised and eager to try it out and the two had a rather passionate night together. Zoey thinks about and begins to make her own plans to swoon Gavin over to help him destress with their own night of fun. Meanwhile Gavin is in science class where the teacher is very provocatively telling him to join the chess club at school, but Gavin continuously says no and gets annoyed at his newfound popularity.

A week later Gavin has brought all the shards to Zoey's place since his moms were starting to get a bit nosey about what they were and he, Zoey, The Harlequin, The Nurse, and The Girl are all gathered in her room. Gavin and the Nurse have made good progress and by what parts they have managed to put together they now assume the final shape is some form of Canine figure like a dog, wolf, or fox. After a few minor spats and debates between the three of them Zoey finally asks the Ghosts to leave. The Nurse and Harlequin have both basically adopted the Girl and agree to take her home and tuck her in. The Nurse promises to return to help assembling again soon. As they are leaving however Harlequin points out she can see what's under Zoey's white dress and playfully wishes her luck using it tonight. Zoey just tells her to leave. After the three ghosts are gone Gavin tells Zoey he'll give it a rest in a bit, but he's in the zone with finding pieces to put together so he continues. Zoey suddenly gets very provocative and says she didn't want them gone because she was tired. Gavin is too distracted by the task at hand to notice anything immediately, but when Zoey finally clears her throat and says she wanted to have alone time with him he turns around to see she has taken off her white dress and is now in a very sexy lacy black nighty and high heels.

Gavin is surprised but admires Zoey in her new nighty. Zoey then begins to get more and more provocative. She clearly wants to finally go all the way and have sex with him tonight. Gavin is still a bit hesitant and apologizes for being so withdrawn lately due to his stress about being immune. Zoey understands but still is clearly eager to make it happen tonight and has Gavin sit on her bed as she hops onto his lap and starts unbuttoning his shirt. Gavin doesn't fight her off, but he does say he didn't bring condoms. Zoey points out they don't need them because he's immune and she's already started taking birth control pills. Gavin then wonders if they can be quiet enough so her family doesn't hear them, but Zoey says her parents are well aware of what may happen between them, and her sisters shouldn't be an issue. Gavin still worries though witch finally makes Zoey question if he really wants this. She gets off his lap angrily saying if he wants to wait a bit longer just say it plain and simple instead of making up excuses. Gavin apologizes saying he's just not sure he's up to it but at the same time he thinks to himself that this is his big moment, and he needs to take the plunge. Zoey then begins to get redressed saying she's sorry for trying to force him. But Gavin gets off the bed with a determined look and comes up behind her. He quickly moves into an embrace from behind and moves his hands to finger her under her nighty. Zoey moans with pleasure as she thinks how much she's waited for this moment. Gavin thinks to himself that he needs to be a man, trying to push himself to go through with it but continues to pleasure her eagerly.

### Chapter 26 - The First and the Last

This chapter is from pages 596 to 621. (↑ back to summary)

Zoey and Gavin both agree tonight is the night and that they're ready. Zoey slowly undresses as Gavin fingers her. She tells him to prepare her as best he can with more fingers to stretch her out more as she knows how big he is down there now. Gavin keeps fingering her to the point she has her first orgasm. The two continue to play around for a bit and then Zoey has Gavin lay down on the bed. She then moves her crotch into his face asking him to try eating her out as she's given him so many blowjobs over the summer it's his turn to repay the favors. Gavin seems a bit hesitant and surprised but eventually he starts working his tung around and Zoey very much enjoys the pleasure. As she's being eaten out Zoey notices Gavin is still flaccid showing how much control he must have and to prepare him further she leans down and give him a minor blowjob to get him hard. After a few minutes Gavin is at full mast, and Zoey is ready to let him loose his virginity and move on to vaginal sex. Gavin seems just as eager, and Zoey moves into position. Gavin begins to penetrate slowly but Zoey is a bit overwhelmed by the size. She asks him to go slowly but keep going. Gavin worries the virus has made his dick too big, but Zoey just says she needs a bit of time to adjust for his girth. The two continue slowly with Zoey kicking off her heels and both of them repositioning on the bed. Zoey stretches and adjust to the girth and Gavin begins to move more. The two continue to have a very passionate and long session in the bed as Zoey moves on top to ride Gavin a bit. She asks him to be a bit more assertive, but Gavin still isn't the type, so she just tells him to let her call all the shots. The two continue each saying they love each other, and Gavin grows close with Zoey asking him to try and hold out so she can have at least one more orgasm. Gavin finally climaxes and the two fall into each other on the bed and embrace with passion. They talk a bit more clearly both very satisfied. Zoey starts talking a bit and mentions things like getting their own place together, but Gavin is worn out and asks to keep talking in the morning. The two then cuddle together and drift off to sleep.

The next morning before the sunrise Gavin is awake thinking about telling Zoey something important but worries that she'll freak out. Zoey stirs awake as well and begins to get up and get dressed. As she throws Gavin some of her old cloths from when she was a guy Gavin asks Zoey that if she had the choice would she want to go back to being a guy. Zoey admits that she would as she has always stayed a man on the inside. She may have embraced being a woman, but she would definitely want to go back to being a man if the chance arose. She then realizes that Gavin is asking in case the blue crystal puzzle turns out to be a cure or something. Gavin supports her but wonders what would happen to their relationship. She says she does truly love Gavin but if she ever did go back to being a guy, she would likely not be attracted to him anymore and they could go back to being close friends. Gavin understands and calls her Zack for the first time in months. Zoey is surprised but kind of likes it. He then says he has something important to tell her as well and mentions the deep dark secret the Bride had mentioned before. Zoey is eager to hear it and tells him to just come right out and say it since he's clearly struggling to get it out. So, Gavin comes right out and admits to Zoey that he actually wishes that he was a girl.

Zoey is surprised and asks a bit more questions since she never got that kind of impression from Gavin. Gavin admits he's always denied it to himself but after seeing so many transformed by the virus, he began to see that he wanted to be a girl and has always been one on the inside. He always had nagging feelings growing up but now he's certain he's really a woman. He finally came to terms with it right around the time he and Zoey started dating and by the time he was certain of it he didn't want to purposely try to infect himself because he didn't want to take away the man she fell in love with. Zoey is supportive and assures him that she would have loved him even if he had turned and that he shouldn't need to be or act like something he's not for others. Gavin feels since he was born that way it's what he is meant to be but Zoey comforts him and even calls him Gaela. Gavin is happy to be called by his female name but is in tears with finally venting his secret to someone else. Both of them find it a kind of irony that Gavin is the only one on the island who truly wanted to change but can't because of his strange immunity. Zoey comforts him but also asks him a few more questions. She asks Gavin if he's attracted to girls or guys, and he replies that while he truly does love Zoey, he admires her body more out of a desire to have one like it. Zoey mentions being jealous of all his Muscles as well and Gavin admits that he thinks he's transformed into what he finds most attractive confirming his attraction to men. Zoey also sees he is getting aroused by picturing his own body on someone else. Gavin also admits that he really didn't like eating Zoey out and felt he doesn't really like vaginas, but he does wish he had one. Both of them admit that they'd happily trade bodies in a heartbeat if they could.

The couple kiss and assure each other they are happy to still be together even if they can't be in the bodies they both want. As they talk however it is revealed the Nurse has been there for quite some time still assembling the shards on the table while invisible. She reveals that she's been there nearly all night and came back after she and Harlequin tucked Girl into bed. Zoey is embarrassed as she now knows the nurse saw everything, but Gavin suddenly sees that the nurse has made so much progress and has the head nearly complete revealing it to be a fox figure. Gavin jumps into it to help and complete attaching the ears to the two halves of the head. Suddenly as they continue to work, they hear a strange moaning coming from the crystal. The nurse confirms its alive and piecing it back together has revived it. Gavin tells Zoey to call the others as he and nurse keep working. They fuse the two halve of the head and finalize the ears the strange figure begins to talk clearly. It begins to slowly ask where it is, and Zoey kneels down and ask who it is. It replies in a fragmented sentence that it is Alistair Huntington. Alistair asks again where he is and Zoey begins to explain how they found him and where he is. Gavin and Nurse fuse the final pieces of the head together and Alistair is now able to speak and think much clearer. The Nurse leaves to inform the other ghosts and leave before the sun rises too high. Sandra and Natalie arrive soon after and the quad gather around to question Alistair.

### Chapter 27 - Pieced Together

This chapter is from pages 622 to 644. (↑ back to summary)

Alistair says he shouldn't be shown to other, and he doesn't understand how they managed to get to his island when its protected. He at first begins to dodge their questions but Gavin is fed up with the mystery and aggressively threatens to smash him all over again if he refuses to answer them. Alistair is forced to agree and allows them to question him. Zoey questions him about the virus but he doesn't understand. But when Sandra explains it turned their whole island into women Alistair realizes the gravity of the situation and seems to feel he has done something terrible unintentionally. He then explains that his job used be to collect curses from around the world that turned the afflicted into women and made their descendants the wrong gender. The red orbs they encountered in the cave were these curses. However, they are too powerful to be destroyed so he was forced to store them away and wait for them to slowly decay into a fluid which would then fade away to nothing in a few thousand years. If an individual came in contact with the fluid form of the decayed curses their body would react with an immune response as it cursed them and it would be contagious through blood due to the fluid form. At first Alistair assumes the group of them intruded on his island and brought the contagion back themselves, but the group informs him of the cave and red river. Alistair then asks the date and realizes it's been over a year since the event he thinks is responsible. He last remembers August 1996 a few months before the outbreak and the group assume that whatever blew him up somehow breached his curse vault and created the red river. Gavin theorizes whatever blew Alistair up also caused the Earthquake that hit the island around that time and likely created the cave between the two islands leading to the red river, red lake, and thus the virus.

The quad then questions Alistair on what blew him up, but he dodges the question and insists that they would be more interested in a cure not an explanation. Alistair says he can likely cure the whole island and clean up any loose ends in a single night if he is fully reassembled. The group is overjoyed and agree to help but are worried what to do about everything that's changed like their parents' situations and what the outside world thinks has happened to the island. At first Alistair suggest he can alter everyone's memories to make it seem as if nothing happened at all but the quad all argue that its immoral and some people may want to stay the way they are now like Wanda so she can have her baby. Alistair argues but the quad proposes an alternative plan. While Alistair refuses to be shown to any government or legal figures the quad come up with something they may be able to pull off. The island's election season is coming up and they think they can convince the mayor to add a question to it about changing back if a cure is found. They can work the election and help tally the votes of who wants to stay as they are now and then Alistair can read the minds of anyone who doesn't vote. The group agrees to the plan, but they know what they need now is the mayor's approval to get their question on the ballet.

A few days later the Quad is having brunch at the cafe and talking about their plan. Mayor Westbrooke has said she wants to speak to Gavin before she makes any changes to the ballet or add the question they want. While the group is well aware she just wants to try and flirt and sleep with Gavin they also suspect she is the one who spread the word around town about the size of Gavin's manhood. Despite the obvious issues Gavin agrees to go talk to her and try to play along enough to get her to agree to put the question on the ballet. Knowing that Alistair will be able to alter her and everyone else's memory about any deal he makes anyway so he won't have to follow through with anything. Zoey gives him her blessing knowing he'd never cheat on her but still not trusting the mayor to restrain herself. Gavin however lets it slip he knows what it's like to be trapped in the wrong body and wants to help the town as soon as they can. At that point Sandra and Natalie both question him on it. Gavin is about to explain how he feels trusting his friends with his secret but both Natalie and Sandra say they already know and have suspected it ever since the festival after seeing how Gavin reacted to being immune. Both Zoey and him are shocked they already knew but are also glad that the weight is off his chest, and he can still plan to ask Alistair to turn him into a girl when he's repaired. All three girls are supportive much to his relief, but when they mention what Natalie and Sandra want to do about changing or staying the same, they both say they need more time to think it over. Gavin then leaves and heads to the mayor's office confident he can resist her charms since he's attracted to men.

Gavin arrives to find Mayor Westbrooke in her office going over her pole numbers. She is quick to let him in and gets very flirty with him. Gavin also notices that she seems to have grown much bustier and curvier since he first saw her at the festival. When he questions her on it Westbrooke admits that she had been aware of the government shipping the red water off the island from the beginning and she merely played dumb for the public eye. Not only has she continued to let them ship the water off island for experimentation at a nearby naval base, but she also volunteered to be a gunnie pig for repeated exposure to the water and has been drinking it daily causing her features to grow. Gavin is clearly annoyed at her corruption but plays along and admires her figure out of envy instead of lust. Knowing that Alistair will want to know where the water is being shipped so he can tie up loose ends Gavin flirts a bit with her and gets the name of the base its being held at. He then brings up the issue of adding their question to the ballet. Westbrooke doesn't see the point feeling that while a vaccine may be possible reversing the effects of the virus is likely not. Gavin blushingly insists but she proposes a deal. She and her political allies have drawn up a new bill that requires Gavin's signature. She explains that with a population of ten thousand women and one man the island's population will eventually go extinct so she wants his signature on a bill that will help ensure more generations. The bill entails that willing women can pay Gavin a very high sum of money to sleep with him so he can spread his seed and he'd be free of any obligation of child support or legal fatherhood. While Gavin is adamant he'd never cheat on Zoey, Westbrooke tries to entice him saying that he can eventually buy a huge mansion on the island from all the money he'd be paid, and Zoey can easily live there with him so long as she shares him with the rest of the island. Gavin knows full well that this bill is more about the mayor being driven crazy with libido from her red water exposure and just an excuse to make him sleep with her and her political allies. Apart from the obvious issue of being disloyal to Zoey, Gavin also knows the population would all be inbred within a generation and would all still be trapped on the island. Despite all the issues Gavin knows that it will be erased once Alistair is finished and able to repair the damage done by the virus, so he agrees on the condition that the mayor adds their question to the ballet. Gavin begins to sign but Westbrook quickly begins to undress. Gavin was unaware the bill went into effect right away and pushes her away. Gavin asks for the bill to wait until December 1st to officially be active. Westbrooke is far to horny to wait that long and tries to negotiate for November 1st instead. Gavin manages to talk her into November 5th the day after the election, so he has the time to complete Alistair and let him undo the virus on the night after the election. That way so long as he completes Alistair in time, he won't have to fulfill the obligation. She agrees on the condition that Gavin arrives at her home that night and fulfils details of the bill. Gavin signs it and leaves but is eager to get home and continue to repair Alistair, determined to get him fully assembled by election day to avoid going through with any of it.

### Chapter 28 - Autumn Adieu

This chapter is from pages 645 to 668. (↑ back to summary)

A few weeks later Natalie and Sandra are brought to the marsh by the Harlequin and Nurse who asked them to join them and the other ghosts one last night. When they arrive, the Bride, Mistress, and Girl are all there as well as Alistair who has been reassembled to the point of being able to fly around on his own. He explains that he's there to help the ghosts and has told them what they really are and now it's time the girls learned as well. Alistair explains that only sorcerers can become ghosts, not non-bloods. Over the centuries Alistair has prioritized curing sorcerers who inherited the gender curse, but there were a few times where he was unable to reach them before they died. All the ghosts they have encountered are sorcerers who were cursed and died young. Alistair found their graves and removed the curse from their bodies even after they died but unknown to him each one also had a few soul fragments linked to the curse that didn't move on to the afterlife because of their unresolved issue of the curse. The soul fragments have been lingering in his vault with the other curses ever since until the breach in his vault let them out. Due to their fractured souls, they were all confused and disoriented when their souls manifested which is why they all acted like they were somewhere else. As time passed some of them regained more memories and became clearer headed. The Abomination is a monster created by the combination of many very weak soul fragments and the dark magic behind the curses. Now Alistair has gained enough strength to open a portal to the afterlife so they can now all be laid to rest. He has already sent some of the more troublesome ghosts there like the Queen, The Ex, and The Starlet, but now the rest of them are ready to move on and simply wanted to say goodbye to the quad. The last five ghosts said goodbye to Gavin and Zoey already and now with Sandra and Natalie they are ready bid their final farewells. After they say their goodbyes, Alistair opens a portal to the afterlife and allows the Mistress, the Bride and the Girl to pass on and be at peace. The Nurse elects to remain behind to help Gavin finish restoring Alistair but before she leaves the Harlequin asks her to remove her mask. The Nurse is a bit embarrassed as she was a man when she died and was used to hiding behind a mask but when she at last removes it Harlequin says she's beautiful and they kiss hoping to reunite in the afterlife once things are wrapped up. Harlequin passes through the portal with the other leaving only the Nurse and the abomination in the lake which Alistair will need more time to be ready to deal with. While Natalie and Sandra tear up saying goodbye, they are happy to see them be at peace.

Another couple weeks later on Halloween night Zoey arrives at the Gardiner home to meet up with Gavin for a party. Wanda greets Zoey and lets her in. Wanda is in costume despite her baby bump and when Zoey compliments her on it, she announces she is expecting twins. Wanda asks about the quads group costume which she explains is from a new anime called Wyvern Sphere D (parody of Dragon Ball Z) and then calls Gavin down. Gavin comes into the living room while Wanda heads to the kitchen. Gavin says he may not go to the party because he needs to keep working on Alistair as he hasn't yet told Zoey what the mayor expects of him if he fails to finish Alistair by Election Day. Zoey argues saying he deserves a break, but Gavin is still a bit uncomfortable going out as the only guy left on the island. At that point however Alistair appears after having regained his ability to turn invisible and is nearing completion. He agrees with Zoey that Gavin deserves a break, and the Nurse can keep working on him in his absence. He also says he has an idea that may make it a more enjoyable night for both of them. With his body nearly completed Alistair has gained enough power to do a test run of their plan and offers to transform Zoey back into Zack and after having read Gavin's mind and knowing his desire to be a girl he can grant his wish as well. Gavin is surprised he knows but Alistair points out that Gavin in fact is one of the rare inheritors of the Gender Curse and that is why he is immune to the Virus, because he already had the curse it was made from. Both Gavin and Zoey agree, and Alistair begins to transform him. Gavin slowly becomes Gaela, and her curse orb is removed. Both Gaela and Zoey kiss as her transformation finishes and then Alistair moves on to curing Zoey. Zoey quickly transforms back into Zack and on Gaela's request he is given extra muscles and a few more inches of height by Alistair. The couple are made into their true selves and have fully swapped figures with Gaela given Zoey's curves and Zack given Gavin's Muscles and height plus a little extra. The two of them embrace as Alistair flies out the window and a loud boom is heard. A moment later Wanda and Dianna come into the room and while Gaela is a bit worried about the sudden change both of them act perfectly normal. Zack realizes the boom must have been Alistair's memory spell and he's altered the islands memories of them. The two asks a few questions trying to play the situation off and realize that Alistair has reversed the memories of them, so everyone (save for Sandra and Natalie) now think Gaela was patient zero and simply experienced curve growth, and Zack is the only immune man on the island. The couple also see that even their childhood pictures have been changed to show Gaela as a girl seeing just how powerful Alistair's spell really is. Dianna and Wanda now see Gaela as if she had always been a girl much to her pleasure and the couple take a picture in their costumes.

Zack and Gaela leave for the party a bit more eager now that they are in their right bodies, but Zach has now become the center of attention for practically everyone since he is now the only man left on the island. Despite a few girls passing by and flirting with him Zach remains fully devoted to Gaela and assures her he has no intention of letting any other girl but her get close to him. After embracing each other the two finally meet up with Sandra and Natalie who are shocked to see Zack back to normal. As Zack begins to explain Alistair's trial run on them Natalie covers his mouth saying he shouldn't talk about him in front of a stranger, as neither of them realize who Gaela is. Zack introduces her and both girls are shocked and happy to see her as her true self. After introductions are finished Gaela questions Natalie and Sandra on what they're decision is for changing back or not is. While they say they feel confident in what they want to do they are still not 100% certain and want to experiment a little more over the next few days to finalize their decision. While Zack and Gaela are anxious to know they accept the answer and let it go. The Quad then head to the party together, but Gaela insists that she and Zack can't stay long. Sandra and Natalie assume she wants to finish Alistair or study for school. Gaela however whispers to Zack that she wants to get back and try out their new bodies together as soon as possible. Zack is just as eager as she is and agrees to stay only a few hours and head back to have some fun afterwards.

### Chapter 29 - Decision Day

This chapter is from pages 668 to 692. (↑ back to summary)

On Election Day, Sandra and Natalie work the polls and they have Zach direct traffic knowing his status as the last man on the island would draw in a few extra voters. Clarissa and Chase both arrive and take their ballets but are confused to see the question about changing back added in. Natalie claims it's a hypothetical the government added just in case a cure for the virus is ever found. Clarissa thinks it's ridiculous and feels there's no way to undo the effects of the virus but takes the ballet anyway. Both she and Chase agree they would want to change back given the choice. Voter turnout is very high and the three of them suspect that they will be there well into the night counting all the votes of who wants to stay as they are now.

Meanwhile back at the Gardiner house Gaela and The Nurse are finishing up Alistair with only a few small pieces left. As they finish with the last few pieces Alistair says before he sends the Nurse to the afterlife, he wants her to help him deal with the Abomination. While she is nervous as it can still devour her soul she agrees. Gaela places the last piece and Alistair is completed. With his power surging he assures her he is ready to right the wrongs he's done to the town and deal with any loose ends left. As he and the Nurse prepare to face the abomination Gaela asks if she can come along. They agree so long as she remains within a shield that they conjure for her. They all teleport to the red lake compound and overhear the guards saying the Abomination is about to surface again. The Nurse acts as a distraction while Alistair moves in to levitate the guards, cure them of the virus, and put them all to sleep. After the guards are all neutralized Alistair teleports them all along with Gaela to the base nearby so they'll wake up tomorrow with altered memories and Gaela can put them all in their beds. Seconds after Gaela is gone the abomination emerges from the lake in full force and attacks the Nurse and Alistair.

Back at the polls Natalie, Sandra, and Zack have finished up after a long day and have a lot of counting to do. Natalie has begun to make a list of anyone who wants to stay the way the Virus made them and notices a few familiar names. She sees that around 15-20% of the island's population has chosen to stay transformed. Zack watches the door to be sure no one walks in on them reading the ballots and asks about a few people they know and what they chose. Natalie finds a few names like Officer Peter, Principal Harpswell, Nurse Belfast, and several other teachers have all chosen to change back to their old selves. The mayor has elected to remain changed but none of them are too surprised by this as Gaela shared the details of her bill that she tried to pass onto her as Gavin. They all suspect she'll try and become the trophy wife of a senator or something after all is said and done. Natalie then finds the votes from Bridget and Francie and are surprised to find out they both elected to stay female. Just as she begins to look for Sandra's Mom's mail in ballet to see what she chose, they all hear a load rumble and roars coming from the forest and fear that the Abomination has been riled up again.

Back at the Red Lake Alistair and the Nurse are struggling against the Abomination which seems to be immune to his Ruby/destructive magic. The Nurse suggests he try using Diamond/Soul magic instead and Alistair prepares the strongest spell he can muster while the Nurse holds it off as best she can. Alistair's spell succeeds and the abomination is destroyed. The Nurse recovers from her minor wounds as Alistair purifies the Lake and plans to clean up the now ruined compound around them. He then teleports Gaela back to the forest who is surprised to see the destruction surrounding them. The other three arrive soon after having heard the commotion from quite a fair distance. After everyone is assured that the Abomination is dead, and the Lake is now clear of the virus Alistair offers the Nurse her way to the Afterlife. Eager to see her family and make her date with Harlequin the Nurse agrees and bids the group farewell. Natalie then presents Alistair with the poll results they've recorded and says that at least 61% of the island voted so Alistair won't have to read the minds of everyone to see if they want to change or not. As Alistair begins to read quickly with magic Gaela and Zach embrace so happy that it's all almost over. Gaela then moves to ask the other two what their final decision is and to their surprise they have elected for Sandra to become Shane again and Natalie will remain a woman. Natalie says how she's learned to very much enjoy her new body and since she has been a girl for much longer than Shane has it seemed fitting so they could still be together. Gaela applauds Natalie on her openness and agrees about the perks of being a girl. As Alistair continues to read the poll results, he overhears their conversation and transforms Sandra back into Shane as he goes. Shane and Natalie are so happy to see him back to normal and just as tall and buff as he was when he got infected. The couple then embrace and kiss happy to be together as they wanted. Zach and Gaela congratulate them as well and they also mention how one of the biggest motivators for them staying that way was that fact they both want to be parents one day.

Alistair finishes reading through the results and has already begun to plan his big Mass Memory Alter spell to cure the island and alter all memory of the past year for everyone apart from the four of them. As thanks to Natalie, he also conjures and gives her an enchanted bracelet. He tells her the bracelet will be her final wild card if she changes her mind down the road and it will turn her back into Nathan if she wears it but if she ever becomes pregnant the enchantment will fade and it will become a regular bracelet. Natalie is grateful for the option but is fairly sure she will never have to use it. As Alistair continues to prepare, Gaela asks him a question about her curse. After learning that it was inherited, she asks about her biological mother. Alistair confirms her mother had the curse as well and the reason she left her and Wade years ago without reaching out ever again was so she could pursue her transition to be a man. Alistair already looked him up and gives Gaela his address so she can go to meet him one day. Zach comforts Gaela and Shane gives her a hung knowing that since Wanda has elected to stay a woman, they will all be a happy family together regardless of what happens with Gaela's father. Alistair then addresses them all and admits that he sees they are all trustworthy enough to know the truth. He admits that the cause of all this was him. He was not shattered merely by an earthquake or any other force, he was shattered because he committed suicide. The resulting blast breached the vault and caused or coupled with the earthquake that led the curse fluid to flow to the Island and cause the virus.

The Quad are all shocked and ask him why he would do such a thing. Alistair explains how he's lived for nearly 600 years and being trapped in his crystal body has left him immortal. It has caused him to watch all of his children and grandchildren live and die out and now any family he has out there left only see him as a myth. He has also spent 500 years trying to clean up the mess of his ex-wife but after so long he couldn't take it anymore. The Quad has not only revived him but shown him the importance of his work and given him new drive. They also sympathize and say that he is welcome to visit them anytime, so he won't be so lonely anymore. Alistair happily agrees and then tells them that he learned that while he was "gone" the next generation of his descendants was born, a baby girl named Isabelle that Gaela says he may have a chance to meet one day. Alistair then announces the spell is nearly at full power and asks them all to prepare. The group thanks him for fixing his mistakes and hopes to see him again in the future. Alistair shares the sentiment and begins to charge up a large white mass of magic to put the town to sleep and begin his effort to undo the events of the past 400 days. As the mass grows Zach and Gaela embrace eager to see each other on the other side. Alistair's spell reaches its peak and in a blinding light and deafening boom the quad blacks out and the island goes dark.

### Chapter 30 - New Normal

This chapter is from pages 692 to 700. (↑ back to summary)

Hours later Zach wakes up in his bed back home a bit disoriented but hopeful that it all worked. He wakes up and goes downstairs in a hurry to see his family and what they each chose. He finds his father Randy at the table reading the paper. While he is a bit surprised considering how much fun he had with Elaine and Rachel he expected he'd go back to being a man by the end of it. Elaine then walks in, and it is revealed she kept her improved curves and body. Heather follows soon after and she has become her original size again clearly unhappy with her massive assets after getting infected. Zach thinks how he expected things would go the other way around with his mom and sister, but he did predict his father right and expects Patrick to walk out soon. To his shock however Patricia walks in as she chose to remain a girl. Zach is confused seeing her not only having stayed as a girl but also talking with Heather about a boy she likes and plans to hang out with at the arcade. While Zach is shocked as he always thought Patric hated being a girl he hugs his little sister and fully accepts her decision. Though he does struggle not to say anything too crazy knowing that none of them now remember the truth of the last year and how they all used to be.

At the Gardiner house soon after Shane wakes up and Gaela comes into his room asking him to come downstairs. He gets dressed quickly and comes down to the kitchen to find their parents. Wanda has remained a woman and is still pregnant with the twins and Dutch has returned to being a man. The two of them make a great and happy couple as they make breakfast. Wanda and Gaela talk a bit about the wedding she and Dutch have planned. Since she can't try on a wedding dress while pregnant, she asks Gaela to try on a few in her place since they are close in sizes. The door rings soon after and Shane goes to answer it to find Natalie. She announces that her father is once again a man, and the rest of her family are now living on Cinder Isle with their memories altered to think they moved there last year. Now Natalie is free to live on the island with the rest of them. Zack then arrives in his truck and announces that the military blockade is gone and by the people he saw on the way over the population is back to about 50/50 men and women. Now free to return to their normal lives the Quad split up to get ready for school. Shane and Natalie head to school early to do some work before class starts and drive off. Zach asks Gaela if she wants to stop for a bite to eat before classes start up, but Gaela instead suggests they skip school today. Zach is shocked that the Straight A genius Gaela wants to play hooky but after being cooped up on the island for over a year they both agree a road trip up the coast is in order. Zach happily agrees and starts up the truck but before he gets in Gaela asks to talk about something important. She says how seeing her new mom and hearing Natalie talk about parenthood has her thinking. While she agrees they're too young right now she does want to look into it when the time is right. Zach agrees completely despite Gaela's fears he'd be scared off by the subject. Both of them agree it's worth exploring in the future and that the last several months are just the beginning of their lives together. With a bright future ahead and a crazy adventure behind Zach and Gaela drive across the main bridge and after over year of quarantine finally leave Cinder Isle.

## Trivia

* The COVID-19 pandemic in real life started while this comic is ongoing.
* In Chapter 3 the movie the boys see "Labor Day" is likely a parody of "Independance day" which was also released in 1996.
* In Chapter 4 Gavin refers to Dutch as Mr. Fryeburg but all later pages refer to his and Shane's last name being Gardiner
* In Chapter 8 there are multiple pop culture references and parodies that are used for the CS residence Halloween costumes including but not limited to: Back to the Future, Power Rangers, He-Man, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars, etc.
* In Chapter 17 Gavin tries to make up a girl's name in order to keep his and Zoey's kiss a secret and the names he tries to come up with on the spot are of other SF girls: Jamie, Jasmin, and Jennifer.
* In Chapter 18 the description of Page 381 includes a containment protocol report for the abomination referring to it as PSC-451. this is a double parody of SCP-354 (the Red Pool) from the SCP Foundation lore and the number 451 which is the temperature at which paper will burn.
* In Chapter 23 Gavin says the girls were gone for just over 3 hours total but it was said to take them at least two hours to reach the Curse Vault from the Red Lake, but this is likely explained by the return trip being easier for the horse ride due to being downhill like the water flow.
* General Windham was originally referred to as General Mchullan in a few early pages but all later pages refer to him/her as Windham.
* It is unclear if the bill proposed by the mayor was erased at the point of Alistair's worldwide MMA or if he erased it at the point of his island wide MMA when he transformed Zack and Gaela into their proper bodies, but it seems implied to be the latter as Zack made no mention of having to honor it in her place if their plan had not come together in time.
* Each of the Ghosts seems to be indicative of one of the Sorcerer Bloodlines:
	+ The Girl = (Obsidian) because of her conjuration power,
	+ The Harlequin = (Amythyst) based on her ability to affect people's bodies and health,
	+ The Ex = (Saphire) based on her speed and teleport power,
	+ The Starlet = (Gold) based on her power to transform clothing,
	+ The Nurse = (Emerald) due to her health and healing based powers,
	+ The Mistress = (Diamond) based on her mind possession power,
	+ The Bride = (Silver) based on her illusion conjuring power,
	+ The Queen = (Bronze) based on her power to make the shield ruins
	+ The Abomination = (Ruby) based on its destructive power and savagery.