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“W-- Wheeeh….” 

Jeanie shuddered and took a step back as the bestial sounds assailed her ears.  She knew enough to be certain those noises didn’t come  from a normal human.

Anton breathed slowly and grimaced.  “Miss Robins!  Please answer the door or respond to us if you can.  I understand you might not want anyone to see you, but I promise we’re here to help,” he insisted.

Shelly glanced toward the door with a worried expression before placing a reassuring hand on Jeanie’s shoulder. 

Jeanie smiled weakly, appreciative of Shelly’s support.  To say she was nervous was an understatement.

Anton sighed, stepping back from the door and turning toward his two colleagues.  “If we don’t get a response, we have full authority to forcefully enter.  We don’t need a warrant as long as we have our badges and have reason to believe a Livestock Syndrome victim may be inside,” he said calmly and carefully.  With that, he approached the door once more and loudly knocked.  “Please respond!  We will enter the premises if you don’t respond or open the door!”  

After twenty seconds of uncomfortable quiet, Anton looked to Shelly and offered a nod.

Shelly approached the door and fidgeted with a belt pack, pulling out lockpicking tools.  “If we don’t suspect that anyone is in imminent danger, we don’t break the door down,” she said to Jeanie as she went to work on the lock.

“That’s not something I expected,” Jeanie weakly laughed in an attempt to add some levity.

In a matter of seconds, there was a click and Shelly successfully turned the door knob.  “All set,” she curtly offered before stepping back.

Anton cautiously opened the door and stepped in, scanning the room before gesturing for the girls to follow.  “Move slow and stay behind me,” he insisted while scrunching his nose.

Jeanie entered behind Shelly and was immediately struck by the awful smell.  Food stains coated the couch, with empty containers, pizza boxes, and other similar items strewn about.  The coffee table was smashed with one of the legs splintered and lying on the floor, and another a few yards away in the corner.

She watched her step and made sure not to place her foot in something disgusting.  While undergoing Livestock Syndrome, victims would periodically get hit with pangs of overwhelming hunger.  The working theory was that the extra calories and nutrients were needed for the body to transform; the process most definitely consumed a significant amount of energy.  On top of the broken table, there was a smashed lamp in the far right corner, along with a toppled bookshelf and other damaged items.  A quick glance toward the TV on the far less wall showed a cracked screen and a hole in the wall nearby to the left.

“Rotting food and quite a bit of damage,” Shelly muttered.

“S-- Schweeeeh…  W-- Wheeee…” The bestial sounds were louder now, clearly coming from somewhere down the hallway to the right of the television.

Anton nodded.  “Follow close; we’re going to attempt to make contact with the victim.”

Jeanie trailed behind Shelly as they made their way down the hall, each step causing the scuffed wooden floor to creak.  The white-painted walls were splattered with unknown substances and a shattered picture frame unceremoniously laid on the floor under the nail that once supported it.

While walking by, she eyed the picture laying amidst the debris.  The photo was of a young woman with long, wavy brunette hair that fell past her shoulders, a nice figure, and chestnut brown eyes.  She wore a graduation ensemble with the gown and hat and had a wide, white-toothed smile. ‘Shauna?’ She mused, briefly recalling when her dear older sister graduated.  Mable had been a dreamer with big aspirations and a laundry list of goals she hoped to accomplish throughout the course of her expectedly human life.  Her train of thought flashed forward and a hefty dairy cow stood in her place with a look of forlorn sadness.  The bovine let out a low, bestial moo while her tail idly flicked about.

“Stay focused,” Shelly said suddenly.

Jeanie’s eyes shot back up and met with Shelly’s after momentarily getting lost in thought.  “Y-- Yes, of course.  I’m sorry,” she stammered and nodded.

“We’ve said it before, but you’re doing great.  It’s only natural that you’d get overwhelmed here and there,” Shelly reassuringly offered, flashing a slight smile before returning her focus to the job and following behind Anton.

Jeanie was appreciative of how nice everyone had been to her; she didn’t know if she would have made it through her first week here without their support.

They reached the end of the hall where a bedroom door stood to their right, the bathroom door open on the opposite side.  Anton once again raised his hand and knocked.  “Miss Roberts?  Shelly?  I’m Agent Anton with the FBI.  I’m here to help you and offer you the support you need,” he said warmly, not wanting to further traumatize a Livestock Syndrome victim.

“Sch-- swheeh…” The primal sounds wafted from the other side of the door, flooding the hallway. “L… Leeehv m-- meeeh… A-- Ahrone,” the voice suddenly replied, the tone and inflection somewhere between woman and beast.

Jeanie shivered and took a half step back.  She refused to give into her anxiety and run away, though.  It wasn’t as if she was alone; there were two veterans with her and she was primarily here to observe.

“I’m sorry, Miss Roberts, but I can’t leave.  Even if you refuse, we will still need to help you.  I know it’s not fun to feel forced or coerced, but I promise we’re on your side,” Anton continued.  “I’m sure you don’t want us to see you.  We have loved ones and family who have been affected by Livestock Syndrome just as you have, so nothing will come as a shock to us.  We care about you, Shauna.”

“SCHWEEEEEH!” A shrill porcinA wail boomed through the door, sending all three agents back a step. “I--  I’M AH-- AHHHWHEEEH! F-- FREEEEHK! G-- GO AH--  AHHWEEEEH!”

Anton sighed and looked at his coworkers.  “It often ends up this way; it’s unfortunate, but they’re often not in the right state of mind after going through such severe trauma.”  They always wished they could do more to help.

~~~

Jeanie swallowed and nodded.  She remembered some of the episodes Mable had while transforming; it was impossible to forget the bestial cries of anguish and the sounds of furniture getting smashed.  Her sister had always been so warm and composed, but having her humanity stripped away pushed her to the brink.  Livestock Syndrome was something she wouldn’t wish upon her worst enemies.

Anton turned the knob slightly, feeling no resistance as the door creaked open slightly.  “I’m coming in,” he calmly stated, pushing his way in as he cautiously stepped into the room.  his face contorted into a visage of shock upon eyeing something out of sight.  In a split second, his expression softened.  “Miss Roberts?  I’m Agent Anton Klaus with the FBI.  I’m here to help you,” he promised, keeping his tone warm and free of strong emotion.

“Ahh-- ahhh… Ahhm a-- a freehk,” the feminine, squealing voice replied between fits of wheezing and whimpering.  “L-- Leh--lehv m-- MWEEEEH!” Her words trailed off into a porcine shriek much like one would hear on a farm.

Jeanie bit her lip and took a step forward when Shelly suddenly clasped a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.  “Don’t look yet.  Stay here and observe Anton.”

Jeanie wasn’t going to argue.  She took a slow, steady breath and nodded in acknowledgment.  “Y-- Yes; I’ll try to learn as much as I can.”

“Are you in any pain?”  Anton asked, crouching low.  “I want to take you somewhere safe; a place where you can get all the help you need.”

A stretch of uncomfortable silence followed, accented only by the low panting and whimpering emanating from the bed room.  Eventually, Shauna spoke.  “Ah-- ah cahn’t… M-- Move m-- muh f-- fehngers much…”  She eventually stammered with great sorrow, obviously focusing very hard on keeping her speech coherent.

A flash of sadness showed on Anton’s face.  “It will get easier; I promise. You will learn to enjoy life again, and see that there’s still much to look forward to.”

“M-- Muh fengers… W-- Will b-- beh gone fowe-- eveeugh?”  

“I’m sorry,” Anton said with great sympathy.  “There’s no way for us to turn them back to how they were.”  Quiet sobbing wafted through the air, punctuated by the occasional squeal.  “We have loved ones who lost their hands as well.  I know it’s scary, but they’ve adjusted to life with hooves. We have facilities equipped to ease that burden, with staff that can help tend to your needs.  A good friend of mine is quite enjoying life as a horse; things don’t have to be as different as you think they’ll be.”

“A-- aggghweeeh!”  Shauna groaned and wailed.  “Ah-- Won’t beh-- able t-- to tahk…  O-- or tahp-- t-- type…”

Anton shook his head.  “I’m sorry, Shauna.  Until we find a cure for Livestock Syndrome, you won’t be able to use your hands or talk like you could before.  But I promise we will provide you ways to communicate-- with amenities that help you reclaim some of your human life.”

As they spoke, Jeanie paid great attention to the verbal exchange. ‘Anton is amazing,’ she mused.  He spoke with such sympathy and tenderness and didn’t back down when faced with a horrific scene.  There were no lies, and he offered constant reassurance despite not sugar coating the gravity of her changes.

“Ah-- Ahm…  Turnin e-- eeeeh!  Ehn to a…  A fuhckin’ pig!”  Shauna sobbed in response.  She wanted to wear cute outfits and hang out with her friends; to continue her college education and one day settle down with a nice, sexy man and start a family.  Instead, she now envisioned a fat, pink squealing pig laying in the mud on a farm, lazing the days away while grunting and eating slop.

“You’re still you, Shauna.  Your mind and personality-- everything that truly makes the person you are, will be intact.  I can imagine what you’re picturing life to be from here on, but I promise that mental image doesn’t reflect reality.  We will see you and treat you as Shauna the human, and we’ll do everything in our power to help you maintain your poise and dignity.  Please trust me,” Anton insisted.

When there was no response, Anton looked into the hall and locked eyes with Jeanie.  “I need your help.  Could you come here?”  He asked her before looking toward Shauna once more.  “I want you to meet a colleague of mine.”

Jeanie’s heart raced as she nodded and stepped forward, accepting a reassuring pat on the shoulder from Shelly. ‘I can do this,’ she told herself, taking a deep breath as she clenched her hands and entered the room.

She didn’t waste any time as she looked upon the Livestock Syndrome victim.  Adrenaline pumped through her as her eyes briefly widened in horror.  In the corner, a box and mattress lay on the floor, with the bed frame busted and strewn about the floor.  Shauna laid across it on her side, looking much more pig than human, with a massive, pink-skinned body, and without any noticeable curves or hint of human femininity.  Her torso and belly were round and barre-like, her neck thick and pushed forward on her frame, supported by broad quadruped shoulders.  On top of that, she was completely nude, with a curly pig tail and back legs that had transformed into a porcine state, hooves included.  Her head and face were mostly bestial, with an elongatted snout, a fat pig nose, and floppy pink ears.  Despite that, her snout wasn’t as pronounced as it would be on a normal pig, and patches of brunette hair still clung to her scalp.  Most disturbingly, her eyes still appeared human, with a soft chestnut brown color.  Finally, her fingers had become swollen and short, appearing as clumsy sausage-like nubs that darkened near the tips.

“H-- Hey,” Jeanie said softly, forcing herself to smile.  “I know this isn’t easy, but Anton’s right.  We can help you, Shauna,” she promised.

Shauna flashed Jeanie a furious look, jealousy bubbling within her.  This woman was so damn cute; it wasn’t fair.  “W-- whath w-- weeuud you kn-- neeugh!”  She yelled and then squealed.

Jeanie kept calm, refusing to panic or freak out.  “I could get infected with Livestock Syndrome tomorrow.  There’s no guarantee I won’t be a pig, a horse, or even a cow a year from now,” she insisted.  “Livestock Syndrome is a part of human life now; some people turn into animals, and can still live fulfilling lives despite that.  My sister went through a transformation much like yours, and she is the strongest person I know.”

“S-- Sistuh?...” Shauna muttered, regaining a semblance of control.

Jeanie nodded.  “My big sis Mable turned into a cow,” she began, not beating around the bush.  “She was terrified, just as you are now.  She had the same fears and uncertainties, and while her life will never be as it once was, she still finds happiness and fulfillment.  Thanks to new technology, we can even text and email back and forth.  We still watch the same shows as before and enjoy discussing new episodes.  She’s still my beloved sister, and nothing will ever change that.”

Tears welled in Shauna’s eyes, her plump frame trembling.

“Would you like to meet others like you?  Livestock Syndrome victims form close bonds; they support one another and help each other through the transition.  Please let us show you that life can still be wonderful, and if I ever experience Livestock Syndrome, I’ll rely on you to show me the ropes at the start.”

“Ssch-- schweeeh…” Shauna whimpered and squealed, closing her eyes tightly as she shook her head.  Would that be easier? If nothing could undo the transformation, wouldn’t it be better to have others like herself around to support her?  In a facility where she’d be allowed to retain some human dignity while interacting with others who suffered the same fate.  It wasn’t like she could try to live a normal life amongst humans; beyond the logistical issues, she’d surely feel seething jealousy toward those around her.  If she went with these agents and met other victims, maybe she wouldn’t feel the loss so severely.

“What do you say?  Please understand that we can’t leave you here regardless,” Jeanie added.

Shauna remained silent for another few seconds before opening her eyes and responding. “O-- okeh… I-- I w-- wehll go w-- weeeth you…”  

CHAPTER END

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