A dark story.

Sarah was twenty-one years old, blessed a curvy, attractive body, a very cute face, beautiful, silky brown hair. She wasn't so much vain as she just thought she looked better than most every woman she met. It gave her an strong reputation for arrogance, one she never seemed to understand. She wasn't mean by her understanding of it, but she had no issue being "honest" about every other woman's looks, which was effectively no different.

She had turned twenty-one a few months back, and one of the gifts she got was for a beauty treatment at a new clinic in a nearby city. She got it from a woman she knew, one she considered a friend. She was a bit put off by the insinuation of it until the woman explained that even diamonds needed to be polished. To Sarah, that did seem to make a bit of sense. After all, she was pretty, but perfect? No, there was always room for improvement, of course, she told everyone that much when talking about their looks as well. No reason not to apply some of her sagely advice to herself, correct?

However, the city was close, but far enough that she wanted to make it a bit more than a day trip, so she booked a night in a hotel. Nothing too fancy, just a decent place that she could relax at after the treatment. She was pretty, but rich? Hardly.

At the day of the treatment, she drove up there, checked into her room, then prepared. She wanted to look her best, figuring it would give whoever was doing the treatment the best chance for maximum improvement. No reason to do any less. A white fitted sweater that showed off the contour of her upper body would be a good choice, along with a nice brown skirt, short, a few inches above the nice, some nice darker tan tights and brown knee-high suede boots that matched the color of the skirt should complete the look. She wondered if she was overdressed, but she perished the thought as soon as it came into her head. No, she thought, this would be perfect.

She soon walked out the door and started for her car, but realized the place was within walking distance. Her boots didn't have a very high heel and were not thin, so walking there would not be an issue. She was there in ten minutes.

She walked inside, seeing a plain woman at the reception desk. She noticed the place didn't have much in the way of markings or anything else. She smiled at that. Good. A place that doesn't feel the need to advertise. It really must be exclusive.

"Yes, I'm here for a one o'clock." Sarah said with a smile.

"Oh, yes, uh, let me check here to see..." The woman said, looking at her screen. "Yes, Sarah, yes?"

"Yes. Oh, yes, I imagine I'm not the only one appointment. I doubt you do just one client in a time slot."

"It very much depends on the day." The woman said. "But, today it is just you at that time. Never hurts to check to be sure. We want to make sure that everyone gets the proper appointment, yes?"

"Of course." Sarah said with a smile at the plain woman. "So, no offense, but you've never used this service, have you?"

The plain woman looked up and smiled.

"I have not."

"Oh, you really should. It could do you a lot of good, you know! Just some thoughtful advice."

"Of course." The woman said with a smile. "So, Dr. Calvin will..."

"Yes, thank you, Iris." Dr. Calvin said, a smile on his face. "Sorry, I try to be as prompt as possible. You must be Miss Banner. Please, follow me."

"Oh, a doctor! Wait, a doctor for a beauty treatment?"

"Yes, actually. We offer something that any mere beauty place cannot hope to achieve. Believe me, the results will speak for themselves!"

Iris watched as the woman walked with Dr. Calvin (not his real name and Iris was not her real name, either) to a room with Dr Calvin closing the door behind them.

Iris checked her calendar for today. Oddly slow. Just two more with the last at two in the afternoon. She'll close up early today, and likely given she'll actually be out of here by five, a rarity.

Once the two other clients (who made Sarah look like a saint in comparison) were situated for their "treatment", Iris checked the next week. Today was a bit slower, but the next week was more standard. Today, it was a lack of clients, not of product. And Sarah was not a client.

At four o'clock on the dot, Iris looked over and saw a figure walk out of another room. Iris did have to smile, there was a real strut there, accentuated by the sound of the low heel on the floor, the tightness of the white sweater, the shortness of the brown skirt, and those legs looked sublime in those dark tan tights!

A feminine hand scratched at a black goatee as the figure approached, then ran that same hand over short black hair.

"I had to be sure this was all still here."

"It definitely is." Iris said with a smile.

"I imagine you see this all the time. Feeling the face, the neck."

"Yes, though do not touch your neck if you can help it. Those stitches should not be prodded too deeply for now. In even a few hours it will be much better."

"I guess I can understand that. I wonder why they don't have it gauzed up, then?"

"They used to, but found it worked better this way. Give it four hours and you will not have to worry at all. Even now there is little risk, but still."

"Okay." He said, resisting the urge to feel at his neck. Iris could tell. She didn't blame him. Having his neck end that way, then the stitches, then a curvy, feminine body below that, you'd definitely want to feel it to believe it, even if that was not the ideal reaction.

"So," Iris said, taking out a stapled several sheets of paper, along with Sarah's purse. "Given your situation, here is your information, a medication sheet, which, I understand you already have all of your meds, plus information on her hotel room. Now, the rest is information for stitches removal, plus the other appointments you require. Do you need me to go over any of this?"

"No, but thank you."

"So, Mr. Grady, given your situation, if you wish you can leave out the front or out the side entrance. You understand, you must wear a medical mask out the front. Now, I do have your wig here..."

Iris stood up and walked to a cabinet and retrieved a box. She opened it and took out the wig.

"It's not hers, is it?"

"I'm afraid not, but it is very close. She had such nice hair, but that is being disposed of, along with the rest. There really wasn't a way to do that in the timeframe here."

"Yes, now that I think of it, that does make sense." He said, putting on the wig and then the mask. He had Iris help him adjust it.

"Does it look okay?"

"From the back, it is impossible for anyone to know you are not her. And the front you are hidden well enough to be fine."

"Thank you. Well, I must be off. I am curious to see what clothes she brought with her. From what I understand, her 'friend' is quiet eager to meet me. All her 'friends' are."

"I wish you the best. Just remember the rules."

"I won't forget them. Bye."

He soon was outside and Iris watched him walk, really liking that outfit "Sarah" had on. Technically, it was all still on Sarah's body, even if her head no longer was!