After successfully dodging the nurses by the means of smoke and mirrors, ie waiting for the nurses to pass by before stealthily slipping past, I finally found myself seated on a train traveling halfway across the island to our destination, the middle of nowhere. Or at least what seems to be the middle of nowhere from how Jacobine described it.

As for me, despite my aforementioned 'commitment' to the task, I couldn't help but feel this sense of existential dread. The only way I could describe it is the feeling of being lightly caressed by the invisible hand of malice, it slowly contemplating whether to quash me in its embrace.

But then again I chalked it up this feeling to the fact that the originally polite, well-mannered Jacobine went a full 180 and pinned me to the ground threatening me to come with her. Like what the heck top 10 anime betrayals. To her credit, she did understandingly swap out the sharp tool for a simple pen, one which she tapped incessantly against her thigh, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty about her. As if at any moment she might pounce on me and eat me alive or smth.

Then again then again, the real Katherine(or at least I assume it was) did speak about her 'peasent ways' so I guess I should have expected that crude actions like that were within the realms of possibility....

Hindsight really is 2020.

My thoughts were however interrupted by a loud screech as the train grinded to a stop. Jacobine, already pumped up for what I assume was the thoughts of the doom and destruction she was going to bring forth with her pen and that sharp object, didn't even bother waiting for the doors to fully open before squeezing her body along with me through it and then headed straight to the exit. Once out, she proceeds to make an ungodly amount of turns before finally reaching the said middle of nowhere.

I, absolutely drained from the amount of physical exertion we had done, chose the wise move of leaning my back in one corner and patiently waited for the rapture.

Jacobine on the other hand seemed entirely unaffected by the exercise and immediately got into action. Tossing her duffel back against the ground, she starts to deftly unpack her duffel bag to reveal bottles on bottles of acrylic paint and a thicc looking pencil. A pencil which she, on spotting, quickly fishes out and then starts to draw on the wall with it.

She was so engrossed in it all that it took her a good 5 minutes to finally notice my clear display of apathy.

Looking to resolve the issue, she piped up "So Katherine any input?" her hand not stopping for a second.

"Yeahhhh," I hesitate for a moment, before quickly reversing course as I realized this was the perfect opportunity for me to grill her for info and not look too weird "Actually Jacobine what's up with all this uh Germanness."

"Oh... that Germanness" she says, her voice starting to trail off. I could tell that, my 5 seconds of hesitation was enough to get her to lose interest in me once again "Ho...hold up give me a sec"

Uh huh

30 minutes later

"Oh so what was it that you said again." Jacobine asked, having finally finished sketching.

I, having long dozed off was, found myself rudely woken back up to the sound of her voice

"The Germanness you know why aren't we speaking English and blah blah like usual and...mwhaa" I say before yawning my heart out as I struggled to keep my consciousness from slipping back into a deep sleep

"Oh," Jacobine pauses, probably seriously doubting my iq levels right about now "because this is a German Colony?"

"Uh...uh what??" I reply, absolutely dumbfounded. My mind zapped by this fresh new peice of information, instantly snapped to attention. Did I actually hear what she just said? We German whaT? Aren't we an independent nation? UHHHHH. My mind just could not process the information I was being supplied,

"A German Colony? Don't you know the Peace with Honors where Britain handed over Singapore to Germany blah blah blah then during the second Weltkreig the Japs attacked blah blah but Germany miraculously repelled it regaining our trust so now we are still a german colony till this day? Miracle at Tekong no?" Jacobine says all the while doing a wiping motion straight in my face before suddenly narrowing her eyes "Is this because you forgot to revise for history again? Seriously Katherine? I know you don't like Mr Strasser but this is basic knowledge! We learnt this in Primary School don't you remeber???"

"I...I" I say trying to form some sort of lore-friendly excuse for my ignorance only to find myself coming out short. I knew If I try to make a lame excuse I would just end up raising her suspicion even higher so maybe instead of covering up I should double down huhh. "I want to know who won world war 2??" I exclaim.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Jacobine clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst or more likely, the sudden change of topic, stood there stunned for a second or two before responding "Katherine come here for a second."

I took a huge gulp. Did I mess up? Was I a little too aggressive for a girl? Was she going to belittle me for my behavior before sending me to some reeducation camp for naughty girls like me??

Truly the possibilities were endless.

Thankfully, Jacobine just took this opportunity to carefully scrutinise every inch of my uncovered skin before replying back.

"You mean the Second Weltkreig right?" She says, testly, I nodded back in affirmation "Okay... Katherine serious question here are you on poppies?"

"You mean like drugs?" I reply, rather confused

"Yeah like opium" She say, her face having the world duh written all over it

"No I don't think so..." I say rather uncertainly. This involuntary hesitance stemmed from my subconscious feeling that this whole experience was easily on par or even beyond the wildest of the psychedelic trip that I assumed my drugged-up brain could conjure so my ever-helpful subconscious didn't bother omitting the possibility, much to my conversational detriment.

"Katherine I am your friend, If you are going through some tough times I can help you okay, no need to turn to drugs" she says rather worryingly.

Ok holdup why does she think I am a druggie now? Hello does this look like the face of a person on drugs. Obviously, I didn't voice out my misgiving being the beta I am. Instead, I went for the softer more daresay refined approach.

Smiling ever so slightly to give off that hint of innocent charm, I reply "Of course not Jacobine, being the European I am I would never take any drugs unlike those orientals", I put a hand on her shoulder "So don't worry about me ok."

In my ideal world, this would have been the end of it. Jacobine absolutely satisfied would have embarrassingly apologized for her mistake and then she and I would both happily walk off into the sunset, never to bring it up again.

This however wasn't the ideal world.

Instead, my bout of acting erred even more suspicion from her. In fact, the waves of said doubt was radiating off her so strongly that they were managing to damage my very integrity. Knowing that this might as well be the end of my social life in this world, I naturally winced in anticipation of the verbal assault that would come.

That however, never came, instead, I hear an ear-raping grating sound followed by a sleazy sounding voice "Hehehe Ni Kan here got some pretty ang mos leh"

In surprise, I open my eyes to find that our sanctuary was now breached by a group of bulky Chinese men. Somehow or another they have managed to sneak past my defense systems completely unnoticed. Worse still, they had more or less covered every entrance leading to the alleyway and were armed with parangs making the whole make a run for it plan seem not too feasible.

To add muck to the mud, Jacobine was now for all intensive purpose, an ice statue having taken the phrase frozen to the spot to a whole new level. It dawned on me that despite all her bluster and alphaness, deep down when face with danger like this, she too was just a girl and well unfortunately so was I.

Knowing that I decided, being the man in a girl's body I was, It was only right for me to assert my masculinity and break the ice.

Hopefully not literarily

"Hahaha hi there fellows," I say trying my best to sound as casual as possible even though I was scared out of my mind "What are yall doing here so late at night?"

"Strip"

Fuck

"Hahaha excuse me?"

"Oi sha ang mo you not hear what I say ah? Strip or die" The man says menacingly, the sharp end of his parang pointed straight towards me

Oh crap crap crap I can't die here not now and especially not in this body come on come on think!! My ever-reliable brain of course instantly gave up on me. Frantically, I scanned the area for anything, anything that would help me get out of this situation. Unfortunately barring the duffel bag Jacobine brought, this alley was as dry as Arizona and well I don't think the lack of humidity is going to chase them away anytime soon.

Turning to the side, I prayed that Jacobine would have finally snapped out of it and would be ready to burst out some kung fu moves at my signal. However, the gods have truly forsaken us as I was greeted by a Jacobine that was still the same as before, wide-eyed and now even shaking. Her hands turning so white from how hard she was grabbing her pen it might as well have been snow. It was then I knew that all hope was lost, I had to do what I was told.

Taking a step forward, I start to slowly unbutton my shirt. Seeing my actions, the men around, lowered their weapons and start to whistle loudly.

As more and more of my blouse started to slide off my body, I couldn't help but feel a little disgusted as to what I was about to do. Like I know I am a man at heart and dressing down shouldn't be a big deal, but when I am in this body I feel that bit more vulnerable. My body felt sacred, something that should be protected at all cost from prying eyes or otherwise. Doing what I am doing now is literarily the antithesis of this idea. But for the sake of my survival, I sucked in feelings and continued to undress. It was either this or death and well I know what I would pick.

Eventually, their hoots and cheers reached a crescendo as I unfastened to my last button.

Looking around I tried to spot any crack in their facade, any kindness in their glare. Surely there would be at least someone who would be sympathetic to my plight. Someone who would realise how wrong it is to force a bunch of unarmed teen girls to undress for their enjoyment. But all I got for my visual pleads were you sort of you deserved this expression followed up by them ogling every part of my body, especially my chest and groin area.

Kindness truly has gone with the wind.

Turning one last time towards Jacobine, I locked eyes with her. Even though we didn't speak for even a second, her eyes conveyed all she had to say. Beneath the fog of fear, there was a glimmer of gratitude. She was thankful. I blink a bit, a single drop of tear dropped before disappearing as soon as it appeared.

It was time.

Slowly I slid the last button out of the hole. I had intended to throw the blouse at the men and make a run for it but after my exchange with Jacobine I felt oddly calm.

Closing my eyes, I let my hands do the final bit as I braced for the eventual deluge of emotions that was to come.

Then bang