This story is based on the Reedsy.com prompt “Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.”

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“Hmph, so you’re Willy, eh?”

Willy sat at a table in the local Italian restaurant, motioning to the chair on the other side. A beautiful woman with a tight red dress looked at him with a disapproving glare.

“Indeed. Please have a seat.”

“Your profile on DateMe.com was a muscular picture of you.” The woman whose name was Petunia said with disgust. “You don’t look muscular, just overweight. I suppose the line about having money was a lie too?”

“Apologies.” Willy sneered. “I see that the line on your profile about being open minded and charming was a lie as well. However, I do have money. Lots of it.”

Willy tossed three $100 bills on the table, and motioned for Petunia to join him once more. Petunia’s sour face turned to one of delight, and she let out a squeal as she took the seat on the opposite side of Willy.

”(Well she’s easily bought, how pathetic).” Willy thought to himself. ”(Oh well, let’s see if I can still find some fun out of this date).”

Petunia and Willy ordered their food and then began getting to know each other.

“It’s great that you’ve got money, my worthless ex-husband failed in that department.” Petunia said with glee. “How did you get so rich?”

“Well, customer service doesn’t pay that great, but I have made some good investments over time.” Willy answered. “I try to”

“Yeah yeah yeah, that’s fascinating!” Petunia interrupted. “Let me tell you a little about myself.”

Petunia talked about herself for the rest of the time until their meal arrived. She talked about all the things she liked buying, about how beautiful she was, and what she thought a perfect man should be like.

”(So much for the bit on her profile about being a great listener being true).” Willy thought. ”(Well, she looks good at least).”

Willy paid for their dinner and the pair walked to the parking lot. Per their arrangement, Willy was going to drive the pair to the second part of their date: a romantic walk.

After a fifteen minute drive where Petunia bragged about how gorgeous she was the whole time, Willy pulled into the parking lot of a mall.

“I thought we were taking a walk on the beach?” Petunia questioned. “I love malls, but this one looks closed. The only thing open is that hardware store over there!”

“Oh, the beach is still happening, but I want to show you this place first!” Willy said enthusiastically. “It is an abandoned mall that has been closed for ten years. This is a great place for a warm up walk!”

“A mall without shopping sounds dumb, but I guess I have to do this.” Petunia resigned. “I will agree to this arrangement as long as we go to the beach later, or if you buy me something nice.”

“Of course my dear.” Willy said, flashing a fake smile. “Let’s go exploring!”

The pair walked through the empty mall. The lights were left on for mall walkers, but Willy and Petunia didn’t see anyone else. They walked by an empty food court, a playground that still looked usable if it weren’t closed off, an entrance to an empty movie theater, boarded up store fronts, and several buckets collecting water from dripping ceiling spots.

“This is pointless.” Petunia complained. “Malls are only worthwhile if you can buy stuff at them. Why did you feel a need to show me this, on a first date no less?”

“There is a great beauty to a place like this.” Willy said with conviction. “At one point this was a bustling location, but now it is all but forgotten. Yet, even still this place remains, and it continues to serve a purpose by being a peaceful, quiet place to visit. And looking around and thinking about what it could have been like in its heyday, well that just makes my imagination run wild! Creative thinking is one of the most beautiful things in existence. Of course, someone like you that only cares about material things and yourself would never appreciate a place like this. The only beauty you have is in your looks.... otherwise you bring nothing to the table.”

“HOW DARE YOU!” Petunia screamed, shaking a fist at Willy. “YOU ARE A CRUEL, LYING, NASTY MAN! YOU HAVE NOT BEEN HONEST ABOUT YOURSELF OR THIS DATE! YOU DON’T DESERVE TO DOTE OVER ME! GOODBYE TO YOU!”

Tears formed in Petunia’s eyes. She glared at Willy once more, then turned around and stormed away.

“Petunia.... wait....” Willy called out in a regretful tone. Petunia looked back, tears streaming down her face. Willy walked towards her and gave her an apologetic gaze.

“That was uncalled for, I am so sorry.” Willy said kindly. “I want to get to know your inner beauty, which you no doubt have. Can I take you to a real mall and shower you with gifts?”

“Willy....” Petunia said, tears still in her eyes, but a wide smile crossing her face. “Kiss me.”

Willy and Petunia embraced, and the couple looked into each other’s eyes. As Willy leaned in, Petunia closed her eyes awaiting his lips against hers. Petunia felt a different sensation - she felt like her body was getting smaller. Her arms and legs disappeared into her body, and she grew thinner and thinner. When these sensations ended, she had a horrible realization. Petunia was no longer human, but had transformed into a worm.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?” Petunia screamed in fear. “SOMEONE HELP ME, PLEASE!”

“The only one that can hear your pathetic cries for help is me.” Willy said condescendingly. “The investments that led to my riches are from these powers of mine. I can turn myself into a worm, and those I touch as well. Do you know how many banks have cracks a worm can crawl through? I have taken so much money undetected as a worm, and this power is also a great way to get rid of bad dates too. But rest assured, you are the most beautiful worm I have ever seen! Maybe there is a worm out there that will buy you anything you want!”

“That’s enough!” A voice that sounded like nobility called out. It belonged to an armored figure who was wearing a yellow helmet with a toothy smile painted on it.

“And who would you be?” Willy sneered, still holding the worm version of Petunia. “One of those heroes in Hugh’s network?”

“I am Larry, and don’t lump me in with those losers!” The figure replied. “I belong to a much superior group. Change the girl back and face me. Unless you are the coward I suspect you are.”

“Very well.” Willy replied with curiosity. He transformed Petunia back to normal. Petunia checked herself quickly, thankful that her dress remained even during the transformations. Without speaking another word, she ran off as fast as she could.

“You look a little out of shape pal, so I will let you have the first strike!” Larry said mockingly. “Go on, do your worst!”

“YOU’LL REGRET THAT!” Willy hollered with glee, running towards Larry and grabbing his shoulders. “ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR CAREER AS THE WORM THAT YOU ARE!”

Larry stared at Willy, as Willy’s look of sadistic glee turned to shock.

“What, why aren’t you a worm yet? The change should happen immediately!”

“I think I know why.” Larry responded, removing Willy’s hands from his shoulders, then following up with a punch to Willy’s face. Willy fell backwards to the floor, then stared down a laser gun pointing at his face.

“This isn’t just any gun, this gun will send you to a prison world called the Reflection Dimension.” Larry explained. “Your only hope of escape would be to give up your evil ways, which I doubt you want to do, Willy....”

“Who are you really, and how do you know who I am?” Willy asked weakly.

Larry made the laser gun disappear, then he removed his helmet. Willy gasped when the man before him was revealed to be nothing more than a dark silhouette.

“You can turn people into worms, and you are shocked by my appearance?” Larry laughed. “My name is Leftover, and after a traitor stole my features and got sent to the Reflection Dimension with them, this is all that remains of me. I am guessing your powers had no effect on me because I am now incomplete. I have a doctor on my team that tested various toxins on me, and none of them did a thing. That is why I was not afraid of your abilities.”

“What do you want from me?” Willy asked, feeling bewildered and helpless.

“You may have thought no one caught you in the act, but I have been watching you closely.” Leftover answered. “You asked me if I was affiliated with Hugh’s group earlier. Well, thanks to his stooge sending the man that took my features to the Reflection Dimension, I am stuck like this. I am seeking to annihilate Hugh’s network, and build my own that will actually protect people. Your skills are impressive and would serve us well. Working with me beats going to prison, am I right?”

“You want to build a hero organization, but you are recruiting a criminal like me?” Willy asked, confused by Leftover’s logic. “What makes you think I want to be a hero?”

“Oh, I have no doubt you aren’t heroic!” Leftover laughed. “This would be an arrangement of mutual gain. I can keep you from being locked up and give you plenty of people to turn into worms, and you will help me realize my vision at the same time. When Hugh is toast, I am sure we can come to some kind of understanding.”

“Very well Leftover, I will join you for now!” Willy laughed as he stood up, feeling his strength renewed. “And I must thank you, my date tonight turned out to be worthwhile after all!”

My partner and I needed to get in our neighbor’s house while they were out. We took a few things to eat and drink while we were there. We got in fairly easily, the door being unlocked. We set upon our task to gain the intel we needed right away.

One of the sons got up and went to the bathroom. He looked very sleepy and was wearing only briefs. His corpulent body was not a shock since we saw him all the time, though fully clothed. He left the house with his brother. I glanced in their bedroom, for I was so sleepy I thought I might nap. An antenna and part of a round abdomen were protruding from the coverlet. I popped the blanket back a bit, and a huge black, dirty bug was there. It had neither 3 segments nor 2, with fused head and thorax plus the bottom, as a spider’s, but exactly 1, sum total. It must’ve had at least 8 legs. It sprang at me but missed, landing on the floor.

I never quash a thing, as I respect their little rights to life, seeing as how they’re among us. But this entity looked evil, the personification of the devil, no less. Its face drew into a sneer as it looked at me pre-pounce, so I sought to smash it with a magazine in hand. I came close, but it had vanished!

I looked at the other bed and saw it or, more likely, another of them. I was out of there!