The cloud had attached itself to Linda. But that didn't mean it would change her. It had plenty of time for that. Instead, it would change all around her.
"Mist and lights ... what are you talking about, dear?"
Linda frowned suddenly. Did her daughter just call her "dear"? She was about to respond when she noticed that Zoe was suddenly changing before her eyes ... she could see her skin becoming less smooth, growing tanner, and her hair lightening to a dirty blond. And she seemed to be growing older.
Her daughter was rapidly turning into ... well ... her. She looked more and more like Linda by the second. Before long, another motherly 37-year old stood there. Not an identical twin, but close enough to be unnerving. "Come on," her daughter said. "Let's get to bed before we wake anyone up."
Linda just stood there, mouth wide open.
