Ethan, a lanky seventeen-year-old with tousled hair and nervous eyes, tiptoes between lockers, clutching his backpack tightly. The scent of shampoo and deodorant lingers in the air. Suddenly, a group of girls rounds the corner, and his face drains of color.

Maya, the assertive captain of the swim team, steps forward, arms crossed. "What do you think you’re doing in here, Ethan?" The other girls murmur in agreement, their eyes fierce. Ethan stammers, backing away, but there's no escape.

"You need to learn a lesson," Maya intones, her voice echoing with unexpected power. The girls join hands, chanting words that swirl through the air like a gust of wind. Ethan feels a tingling sensation rush over him, and fear flashes in his eyes.

Ethan gasps as his body shrinks, his features softening, hair lengthening and darkening in color. His voice catches, morphing into a higher pitch. Gym clothes hang loosely on his now smaller frame, slipping from his shoulders.

Emily (formerly Ethan), now with wide brown eyes and delicate features, sits trembling on the tile floor. "What… what happened to me?" she whispers, voice quivering. The girls exchange glances, realizing the gravity of their actions.

"We wanted to teach you a lesson, but… maybe we went too far," she murmurs. Emily hugs her knees, tears welling in her eyes. The girls circle around, uncertain but protective, as the reality of what they’ve done settles in.