Following Hyenaface’s Hypnovember let’s see how far through I get.

Day 1: Tainted Potions (Drug/Substance)

In your town there was one of those many empty units along one of those slightly less popular streets. Not too many potential shoppers, and stupidly high rents meant emptier street and now most were shut, run down and look about to close if things got any worse. But then there was a new shop that had opened up.

The windows had been cleaned, although no shop sign just yet. It looked like they had some work still to do. In the window was a small display section of various small bottles of liquid. At first you assumed it was some fancy new alcohol, like those modern bauble shaped alcohol brands, but upon a further glance they had just odd markings.

Considering you seemed interested, you step into the shop anyway. The strong smell of incense, with a soft hint of vanilla was incredibly soothing. You start to browse the shelves as the shopkeeper sat behind her desk with a tablet payment system. The shopkeeper you swear could have been some kind of modern but old witch, with wrinkles but a genuine smile to have a customer in her shop.

You come across a selection small bottles with a black liquid with a slight glittery shimmer. Labelled with things that sounded positive. One that especially caught your eyes was one labelled ‘Gym Enhance - Feel improvements’. While vague, the price was relatively affordable.

You bring the bottle to the shopkeeper who scans the item, and instructs you that it needs to be emptied into a sports drink just before heading into the gym and to enjoy. You pay and leave the shop.

Later that evening, you take the bottle and your favourite sports drink to the gym. You remembered to wear your favourite tank top, and shorts. The substance swirled around inside of the sports drink. You worry slightly if it’s just a joke and it’ll just taste bad.

Taking a swig as you enter, you notice some taste there. Trying to focus in on it, you look in the mirror on the wall and something felt off. Something wrong. But you try to ignore. You walk over to the weights, straight to warming up with some simple bicep rows.

Then onto deadlifting where you stack the plates. Lift.

Add more. Lift.

One more. Lift.

Then, you almost disappear. You wake up in your car. Every muscle individually burns. But it burns in a good way. You feel alarmed, but you feel good.

You get out your phone. It’s 2 hours since you last remember the time or anything happening. You have a notification about your workout, and you scan through. You lifted more than you ever have, and then some. And for 2 hours. 2 hours, each set accounted for.

You needed to make another visit.