We get Vic learning how to control the Curse 1/2.
Chapter 3
Vic stood in the gym locker room, staring at the assortment of gym clothes he had managed to find. They were a bit big and definitely not his style, but they would have to do for now. As he adjusted the waistband of the sweatpants, he couldn't help but think about the strange situation he was in. The amulet, which had magically attached and absorbed into his skin, had activated and turned him into a guy. Effectively making Tori disappear as the old sales lady said I would.
Now he was attending classes as Vic while desperately trying to figure out how to revert to his original self.
The school day dragged on, filled with the typical hustle of Hollywood Arts. Vic went through the motions, trying to blend in with his new identity.
He failed … The girls seemed very interested in him… like yeah Vic is hot… but so Was Tori… right?
He attended classes with a growing sense of unease, all the while mentally kicking himself for not thinking this through better. Every time he caught his reflection in the hallway mirrors, he was reminded of how different everything was.
When the final bell rang, Vic hurriedly grabbed his things and made his way out of the school. He had to get to Chinatown to find the shop where the amulet had attatched to him, hoping they might have answers. His heart pounded with a mix of desperation and hope.
Vic's footsteps echoed through the quiet streets of Chinatown as he approached the store where he had bought the amulet. His excitement turned to dread when he saw that the store was no longer there. Instead of the quaint little shop, there was an empty space with a "For Rent" sign in the window.
Vic's stomach dropped. "No, no, no!" he muttered to himself, his frustration mounting. He scanned the street, feeling a surge of panic. "I can't keep going like this. I need to find someone who can help."
As he wandered through the labyrinth of narrow streets, he spotted an old woman sitting in front of a small, dimly lit shop. Her appearance was almost otherworldly, with silver hair cascading down her back and a serene, knowing expression on her face. Vic hesitated for a moment but then approached her, driven by a desperate need for answers.
"Excuse me," Vic said, his voice wavering. "I... I need help. I've got this amulet, and it's turned me into someone else. Do you know anything about it?"
The old woman's eyes twinkled with a mysterious light. Without saying a word, she motioned for Vic to follow her into the shop. The interior was filled with curious artifacts and the scent of incense. The woman gestured for Vic to sit at a small wooden table.
She then took a kettle from a nearby stove and poured steaming hot water over Vic's head without warning. Vic yelped in shock as the scalding water hit him, but as he felt the heat, he began to feel a strange sensation. The water seemed to work its magic, and Vic's body began to shimmer and change.
In moments, Vic's transformation reversed, and he was Tori once more, dripping wet and still in shock. The old woman looked at her with a knowing smile.
"Hot water and cold water," she said in a voice that was both gentle and wise. "They are key to your transformation. The amulet responds to temperature changes. If you want to stay in your original form, you must take hot baths regularly. The cold will revert you back."
Tori, still shivering from the hot water and her unexpected transformation, nodded slowly. "Thank you," she managed to say, her voice a mix of relief and confusion.
The old woman's eyes softened. "Beware, though. Magic is not to be taken lightly. Balance is essential."
"But how do I remove it?" She asked.
"You cannot remove what isn't there." The old lady said turning away. "The curse is now a part of you."
"You mean I'm going to be these two people for eternity?" Tori asked.
"No, just until you die." The old woman said.
"Oh my god…" Tori moaned running fingers through her hair. "this is a nightmare"
Tori took one last look at the enigmatic woman before leaving the shop, her mind racing with thoughts of how to manage her newfound knowledge. The mysteries of the amulet were far from over, and Tori knew she had a lot to learn about navigating this strange, magical predicament.
With a determined stride, she made her way back home, armed with the knowledge she needed to control her transformations and find a way to balance her two worlds.