Shadow‘s Reach (Halloween Noir) - 6. Train Hard

The corridor to the gym stretched long. Dimly lit portraits lined the walls, their eyes following them with a haunting curiosity. Alex trailed slightly behind Solomon and Jacques, struggling under the unfamiliar weight of his grotesque body. His legs felt clumsy and leaden, each step weighted by an excess mass that hadn’t yet found its form. The air in the corridor was thick with old wood and polish, its scent making it hard to breathe. Alex’s skin prickled faintly with the lingering charge of last night’s strange energy, unsettling him as he moved.

Catching his foot on the thick carpet, he suddenly stumbled, and his heart leapt as he reached out, hands flailing.

In an instant, a firm grip steadied him—a hand closing around his arm. Jacques’s hold was unyielding, grounding Alex with a warm strength that almost made him wish he could let himself lean into it. But there was something beneath the touch, a hesitation, a flicker of restraint. Jacques’s jaw was set, his expression unreadable, yet his eyes held a hint of something familiar—concern tempered by a weightier, unspoken unease.

“You alright?” Jacques asked, his voice low and even, but Alex could hear the edges of impatience, as though Jacques were already carrying a burden that had only grown heavier.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine,” Alex muttered, glancing down, the words barely a murmur. The warmth of Jacques’s hand lingered even as he released him, and Alex swallowed, suddenly aware of how hideous he was, standing beside him.

Jacques looked away, jaw flexing as he dropped his hand. His usual calm confidence felt checked, held back by something invisible. A few tense steps later, they arrived in a small, well-lit changing room. It smelled crisp and clean, with a faint trace of disinfectant undercut by a hint of ocean air, sharp and invigorating.

Solomon paused, turning toward them.

“Gentlemen,” Solomon said, his voice smooth and cultured, carrying a gravitas that seemed to fill the room. He gestured toward a bench lined with neatly folded clothing and gleaming sneakers, all laid out with meticulous care. “Here you are. Training attire and shoes, provided in your sizes. A shower and fresh towels are available as well. Please, take a moment to refresh yourselves before we proceed.”

Solomon’s words were perfectly measured, polite yet firm. He looked between the two of them with an unreadable expression, his hand resting on the back of the bench. His gaze lingered on Jacques just a beat too long, the faintest flicker of something hard to place beneath his composed exterior.

Alex shifted, feeling the press of both men’s attention on him. He moved toward the bench, his fingers brushing over the cool, smooth fabric of the clothes. He caught his reflection in the mirror—a bulky, uneven shape, his muscles bloated, unwieldy. A strange, unwelcome figure looked back, all raw lines and unfamiliar strength. It abhorred him; this wasn’t him, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was stepping into someone else’s skin.

Jacques was watching him, one eyebrow raised as he slipped into the clothes with the ease of someone who’d spent a lifetime in locker rooms, but his posture was tense, shoulders tight.

Solomon’s voice broke the silence, commanding yet calm. “Jacques, you won’t need much here. Once you’re changed, I’ll leave Alex in your care.”

Jacques’s face darkened almost imperceptibly. He nodded, his mouth a thin line, fingers curling around the hem of his shirt before he pulled it off with a practiced motion. He slipped into the fresh shirt, his movements precise, but his eyes remained downcast, his grip on the edge of the bench tightening.

After a few silent minutes, Solomon opened the door to the gym. “Follow me.”

The gym was large, sunlit, with gleaming glass fronts that opened out to the courtyard, spilling light across the mirrored walls and polished equipment. The scent of fresh leather and metal laced the air, a sharp contrast to the dimness of the hallway and changing room. Solomon stopped in the middle of the room, turning to face them both.

“Jacques,” he began, his words slow and deliberate, each one punctuated with a quiet intensity. “I’m entrusting Alex’s progress to you. Guide him through each routine. Be thorough.” He held Jacques’s gaze, and a tension seemed to ripple between them. “Alex cannot be injured in his current state, as I believe you know. He can hurt, yes, but harm will not reach him. Push him—ruthlessly. Whatever is achieved today will remain with him. Train hard!”

Jacques’s jaw clenched. His hand curled into a fist at his side, his knuckles turning white. For a moment, he looked as though he might speak, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. His muscles seemed to tense as though he were fighting against an invisible pull, his lips pressed into a hard line.

Solomon’s expression softened, just barely, a flicker of recognition and regret flashing across his face. “Later,” he murmured, a slight tremor in his voice, as though the word itself were difficult. “We… should discuss this.”

The silence stretched taut between them, Alex looking from Solomon to Jacques, sensing the gravity of whatever unspoken thing passed between them. Solomon’s shoulders drooped, the slightest hesitation in his movements as he turned and slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Jacques let out a sharp breath, the tension in his body dissipating as he released his clenched fist. He looked at Alex, his gaze weighted and serious, yet tempered by a quiet resolve. “Alright, Alex,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with a barely hidden frustration, as though he too were under some unseen influence. “Let’s start with the basics. We’ll get you through this.”

Placing his phone on a charger by the wall, he put a driving beat on the loudspeakers.

***

Jacques watched as Alex picked up some dumbbells, the weight pulling against his unsteady hands, muscles straining as he adjusted his grip. Alex’s first biceps curl was rough, and his arms wobbled. His body, still bloated and awkward from last night, moved like it was fighting against itself. Jacques allowed himself a small smile, knowing full well that only beginners would start a workout like that. But any start is a good start.

“Try again,” Jacques instructed, voice calm but firm. “This time, slow it down—control the movement. The eccentric phase is just as important as the concentric. Focus on the tension through the entire range of motion.”

He stepped closer, placing his hand on Alex’s shoulder, his fingers pressing firmly along the deltoid, tracing down his biceps to guide the motion. The moment his hand touched Alex, a faint silvery glow pulsed along Alex’s upper arm, illuminating the outline of his biceps, brightening with each exerted effort.

“Feel that?” Jacques asked, his voice low, encouraging. “You’re working the muscle here. Squeeze at the top, slow on the way down.”

Alex nodded, his face focused, as he completed the curl, feeling a rush of energy in his arm as Jacques’s touch steadied him.

“Let’s do this more methodically,” Jacques said. “We’ll start at the top. Overhead shoulder press.”

After a short demonstration from Jacques, Alex raised the dumbbells above his head, but the weight felt heavier than he expected, and his movements faltered. Jacques stepped in immediately, steadying Alex’s elbows to guide the motion.

“Lock in your core, press through your deltoids—no strain on your neck,” Jacques instructed. As he pointed out each muscle, he adjusted Alex’s arms, and the glow followed his touch, brightening along Alex’s shoulders. The warmth from Jacques’s fingers seemed to carry into Alex’s muscles, igniting each fiber with a pulsing heat that fueled the burn in his muscles. When Jacques brushed over the muscles on his back and shoulders, the short hairs on Alex’s neck bristled with energy. Even Jacques felt a tingle creeping up his arms and seeping into his body.

With each beat of the music and with each press, the light from the symbols flared stronger, bright and hot, in rhythm with the strain. By the time they finished with the shoulder press, Alex’s entire body was dripping with sweat, each muscle seeming to respond more instinctively, the weight now feeling slightly less foreign.

Next came the bench press. Alex lay back, gripping the bar as Jacques stood over him, his hand hovering beneath the bar, ready to spot. Jacques leaned in, voice commanding, almost a whisper.

“That’s it, push through the chest, triceps locked, core engaged,” Jacques urged, pressing his hand into Alex’s chest as the light flared there as well, a deep, pulsing glow in response to Alex’s reps. The muscles in Alex’s chest and shoulders burned as he pushed through the final reps, each movement more controlled and powerful.

Just once, Jacques let his mind wander, but in that moment Alex struggled to press the weight. Cursing slightly under his breath, Jacques’s attention immediately return to the task at hand, spotting Alex. That very second, the light flared and connected them both.

They moved on through deadlifts, barbell rows, and squats, Jacques’s hands guiding him whenever his form broke, each touch sparking a line of glowing energy in Alex’s body. Jacques observed every shift in Alex’s stance, his corrections precise. Jacques could see streams of energy flowing out of, over and into Alex. The streams reached out and engulf Jacques himself as he felt them trace and measure his own muscles, sending his body awash with sensations.

By the time they moved to leg presses and lunges, Alex’s body pulsed with the energy that flowed through him. His muscles, once awkward and uncoordinated, now responded with a newfound strength. Much of the excess mass was already gone, replaced by hard muscles, and the magic in his symbols was fusing with Jacques’s touch, brightening and activating with every adjustment, amplifying Alex’s efforts.

***

After finishing the latest exercise, Jacques took a step back, watching Alex with a mixture of determination and awed acknowledgment. “Alright, Alex. We’ve engaged and built some muscle, but you’re building a whole new body. Now, we need to train for control. Muscles alone won’t help you in a game … or fight.” Jacques motioned toward an open section of the gym, where he’d set up cones, ladders, and hurdles.

“Let’s work on agility,” Jacques said, a glint in his eyes. “We’re going to focus on footwork, coordination, and stability. Power means nothing if you can’t control it.” He grinned. “Think of it like a football drill—agility, balance, quick response and explosiveness.”

Alex positioned himself at the first cone, watching Jacques showing a rapid zigzag pattern through the markers. Jacques’s movements were effortless, each step precise, like a practiced player weaving through opponents. He certainly still had the moves.

“Stay on the balls of your feet,” Jacques instructed as Alex followed, his steps awkward and heavy. “Quick, light movements—don’t stomp. Let your body find the rhythm.”

Alex stumbled through the cones at first, his legs tired, coordination slipping. Jacques reached out, steadying his shoulder, his hand pressing firm as the symbols on Alex’s legs lit up, energy surging down to his calves, his quads, guiding his balance.

“Feel the weight shift through your hips and quads,” Jacques said. “Don’t rush it; keep the steps sharp but steady.”

After a few rounds, Alex moved more smoothly. He felt the glow in his legs intensify, almost as if the light itself was adjusting his stance, perfecting his balance. Jacques nodded approvingly, his face breaking into a proud grin.

“Good,” Jacques said, moving to the agility ladder on the floor. “Now, high knees. Focus on the speed and control. Eyes up.”

Alex followed, lifting his knees, focusing on keeping his steps light and quick as he moved through the ladder. Jacques encouraged him to increase the pace, pushing him to lift each knee higher. The symbols on Alex’s legs and feet glowed with every movement, guiding his balance, and the rhythm became easier, faster, his body adapting.

Next, Jacques set up a series of low hurdles. “Jump with precision,” he instructed. “Land softly—control the shock through your quads and calves.”

The first few jumps were shaky, Alex almost toppled as he landed, but Jacques was there, gripping his arm and steadying him. As they continued, the symbols along Alex’s thighs flared brightly, energy coursing through his legs, stabilizing each jump until his landings became smooth and controlled.

It’s unbelievable, Jacques thought. Look at how fast and precise he’s already moving. I wonder how far I can push him?

They continued on to increasingly intense drills: lateral bounds, box jumps, and sprints. Each exercise demanded full concentration, and Alex could feel the symbols flaring, feeding into his endurance as Jacques pushed him faster, harder. Rotating movements, boxing, hand and eye coordination, Alex mastered it all. His heart pounded, his body drenched in sweat, but the light seemed to fuel him, driving him forward, unrelenting.

After what felt like hours, Jacques wiped the sweat from his brow and gave Alex an approving nod. “Now, back to the weights. Let’s hit them with all you’ve got. You’re stronger than you think.”

***

They returned to the weights, this time even further increasing the load, pushing Alex through another set of bench presses, deadlifts, and curls. Jacques’s touch brushed over the symbols without hesitation, brightening each muscle group Alex worked, perfecting his alignment, amplifying his strength. As Alex pushed through each rep, harder and harder, he could feel his body transforming, mass molding itself into new shapes, each movement evolving him into something stronger, something… more.

Jolts of energy shot through his body. Intense, exciting, heightening senses. Jacques’s eyes told him something was also affecting him.

As Alex pushed through another set, the surrounding air crackled with magical energy, the very atmosphere throbbing with the rhythm of their combined power. Jacques’ hand, still pressed against Alex’s chest, felt the hard muscles beneath the skin, pulsating with strength and heat. The contact sent another jolt through Jacques, a sensation that was part magic, part primal desire.

Alex, eyes gleaming with the reflected glow of his own power, looked up at Jacques. His breath came in heavy gasps, each inhale causing his chest to heave under Jacques’ touch. “This is... intense,” Alex grunted, his voice deepened by the transformation.

Jacques nodded, his grin fading into a look of intense concentration and growing hunger. “It is,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. He could feel his own body responding, not just to the magic, but to Alex’s proximity, to the raw power emanating from him. Jacques’ own muscles swelled, stretching the fabric of his clothes, as the magical energy coursed through him as well, aiding Alex’s transformation.

As Alex moved onto deadlifts, Jacques stood behind him, his hands on Alex’s hips, guiding his form. The contact sent another surge of energy between them, and Jacques could feel Alex’s muscles harden and expand under his touch. Alex could also feel Jacques’s arousal pressing against him. It sent a shiver down Alex’s spine, a mix of excitement and desire.

Alex let out a low groan as he straightened, the weight clanging against the floor. His eyes met Jacques’s in the mirror, and they both saw the reflection of their transformed bodies, rippling with muscles and glowing with power. The evidence of their arousal was visibly straining against their workout shorts.

“Jacques,” Alex breathed out, his voice a husky rumble. “When Solomon said we should train hard… “

Jacques swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest. “This is probably not what he meant,” he replied, his voice barely a whisper. He could feel his own desire, hot and insistent, pulsing through him. He stepped closer, his hand sliding from Alex’s hip to his stomach, feeling the hard muscles quiver under his touch.

Alex turned, his eyes locked on to Jacques’s. The air between them was electric, charged with magic and desire. They were no longer just training partners, but two beings connected by a force beyond their control, a force that ignited their bodies and souls.

“What now?” Alex asked, his voice a low growl, his body trembling with anticipation.

“Train … harder!” Jacques replied through clenched teeth.

They pushed through the final sets, both of them caught in a rising wave of energy. The light from the symbols grew blinding, swirling around them like a vortex. The gym seemed to pulse with every breath, every heartbeat, as the energy intensified, a bright, electrifying force wrapping around them.

As they finished the last rep, Alex’s body shook, energy surging through every muscle, and he stumbled, reaching out instinctively. Jacques caught him, pulling him close in a fierce embrace. Alex’s arms wrapped around him, the two of them gripping each other tightly as the energy spiraled around them, the light enveloping them.

Jacques leaned in, his breath hot on Alex’s ear. The pull was overwhelming. He closed the distance between them, their bodies pressing together, their magic intertwining, and their desires merging into one. The room filled with a blinding light as their energies combined and their bodies entwined.

They held on as the sensations overwhelmed them, an intense, dizzying tornado of energy and emotion that surged between them. The symbols on Alex’s skin flared in brilliant, mesmerizing patterns, connecting to Jacques, engulfing them both in light, their heartbeats syncing in the pulsing energy.

The energy reached a peak, light streaming around them, filling every part of the gym. It felt like they were in the eye of a storm, holding onto each other as the force swirled, powerful and unstoppable.

And then, in an instant, the light burst into a blinding flash, engulfing them both in pure radiance. A brilliant climax of energy and feeling overwhelmed them, until finally, the light slowly dimmed and the gym settled into quiet once again.

Motionless, they remained together, breathless, their bodies pressed close, both of them transformed. Alex’s frame had reshaped into lean, solid muscle, every awkward bulge replaced with strength and symmetry. Jacques, too, felt a lingering heat in his own muscles, a surprising strength coursing through him.

Slowly, Jacques released him. Breathing hard, he stepped back to take in Alex’s new form. A faint smile played at his lips, pride and something else flickering in his eyes.

“Well,” Jacques said, breaking the silence with a slightly ragged voice. “I guess that’s… acceptable.”

***

Catching their breaths, they stood there a moment longer. Remnants of light flickered between them, before finally the quiet settled, and an unspoken understanding lingered in the air.

Alex leaned against the mirrored wall, recovering, feeling each pulse of strength coursing through his newly transformed body. His frame was powerful, defined in ways he’d never imagined possible, every muscle honed with a glowing, residual energy that hummed under his skin. Did he actually grow a bit taller? He glanced over at Jacques, who was likewise drenched in sweat, but he looked oddly thoughtful.

Gesturing toward a weight bench, Jacques gave Alex a gentle but firm nod. “Take a breather here, Alex,” he said, his voice soft. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed to the changing room, leaving Alex alone in the gym's quiet.

Once inside, Jacques moved under the hot water of the shower, letting it pour over him, washing away the sweat—and, he hoped, the thoughts clouding his mind. The day had been intense, leaving him with questions he hadn’t thought he’d ever face, questions that felt too personal and urgent. His feelings toward Alex were straightforward—there was a genuine concern, maybe even more than a hint of admiration, but the whole situation with Solomon and the “legacy” that was thrust upon him… it was unnerving.

After a few minutes, Jacques toweled off, pulling on his usual jeans and T-shirt. But as he glanced at himself in the mirror, his eyes grew wide and he paused, inspecting his left arm. The muscles there, defined but typically smaller from lack of a full hand for training, seemed… transformed. He raised his arm, flexing it instinctively, and stared at the toned muscle line, sharper and fuller than he’d ever seen it. The workout with Alex, the strange, glowing symbols, the energy that had coursed through them both—it had left a mark on him too, one that felt powerful but uncanny.

A mix of pride and disbelief settled over him as he traced the muscle line with his fingers. Whatever had happened in the gym today, it had somehow erased the imbalance in his strength, his entire frame feeling solid and prepared in a way he hadn’t experienced in years. He took a steadying breath, pushing down the strange feeling curling in his chest as he headed back to the gym.

There, on the weight bench, Alex was still waiting, looking a little lost, his gaze trailing to the floor. It seemed odd that he didn’t admire himself in the mirror. As Jacques approached, something softened in him. He was frustrated with the situation—annoyed at being shoved into a legacy he didn’t fully understand—but seeing Alex’s uncertainty tugged at him in a way he hadn’t expected.

Jacques went over and, picking his phone up from the charger, stopped the music.

“Here,” Jacques said, handing his phone over after a moment’s hesitation. “Put in your number.”

Alex took it, a little surprised but pleased, and quickly entered his information, noticing a soft, barely there glow still tracing the tips of his fingers.

As Jacques took the phone back, he cleared his throat and shook off his own lingering unease. “So,” he began, voice lighter, “this whole situation… pretty wild, huh?”

Alex managed a weak smile, nodding. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Jacques scratched the back of his neck, glancing toward the gym’s open doors. His gaze caught on the bright sunlight spilling in. “Solomon and everyone here just… assumes things about us, you know? Like we’re… together.” He let out a short laugh, though it sounded more strained than he intended. “But I never signed up for any of this. I mean, I thought someday maybe I’d settle down, have a family, kids, you know? This isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

Alex listened, watching Jacques’s gaze drift toward his empty sleeve, his expression softening as he seemed to weigh his words carefully.

“When I was younger,” Jacques continued, a hint of something vulnerable slipping into his voice, “I dated around a bit. Quite a few girls, a few guys—nothing serious. I wasn’t really… looking for answers, I guess. But then, after the accident…” His voice faded, and he flexed his left arm absently, his jaw tight as he looked away. “I don’t know… dating just didn’t feel like an option anymore. Not like people were lining up for the guy missing a hand, right?”

“And what now… with a massive inheritance? People always liked me, I made sure of that, but I’d hate to suddenly be Mr. Uber-Popular.“

Jacques let out a short, humorless chuckle, but Alex could sense the weight behind it, the years of hesitation and insecurity that Jacques tried to bury under his usual calm confidence.

“And suddenly we’re told that we’ve been the poster boys for gay pride for over two centuries,” Jacques said, shaking his head. “And we barely know each other.”

Alex laughed softly, nodding as he glanced down at his own arms, feeling the strange strength in his muscles, the new power in his own body still a mystery. “I get it. This is… a lot to take in,” he said, then added with a small smile, “Thanks, though. For everything. You didn’t have to go through all this with me, and …. I really enjoyed that kiss.”

Jacques’s expression softened, the tension fading into something warmer. “Hey, no problem.” But without really reacting to Alex’s words, he nodded toward the gym’s open doors, where the pool shimmered in the bright sunlight. “You should get some sun, take a breather. If you’re gonna have this whole new body, might as well enjoy it, right? A tan wouldn’t hurt.”

Alex chuckled, his nerves relaxing a little. “Maybe you’re right. It’s been… a day.”

Jacques’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out, glancing at the screen with a hint of relief. “My friends are meeting up,” he said, slipping the phone back in his pocket, “and… I think I could use the air.” He met Alex’s gaze with a last nod, his usual confidence settling back in. “Take care, alright? I’ll catch you around.”

“Yeah,” Alex replied, feeling his own smile ease into something genuine. “See you soon.”

With that, Jacques headed down the hallway, leaving Alex in the gym's stillness. Taking a deep breath, Alex moved outside toward the pool and stripped off his sweat-soaked clothes. After rinsing off quickly under the pool shower, he let the warmth of the early November sun wash over him, feeling it settle into his skin. For the first time, his new strength felt like it might be his own.

He briefly wondered what Solomon would think of Jacques’s leaving.