Conviction
"Step aside boys, I'm sure there are folks in that crowd you led here that need to be converted for their evil ways." Glicko demanded.
Even with swim trunks as their only protection, Dirk and Doug stood their ground.
"If you're going to try to do to those folks what you did to me, you will have to get through me first!" Dirk said heatedly.
"I stand with my brother." Doug added boldly. "We will protect these people with our lives."
Glicko roared in laughter at Dirk and Doug's bravery.
"How are you going to help them at all? Are you going to fight me by swimming or tanning? You don't even have a water gun! No matter, the two of you are insignificant and a waste of my time. I will leave a proxy to infect these people and destroy you. Farewell fools!"
The warlock vanished, and a giant mass of sand rose from the beach. The mass transformed into a giant snake, with a young man riding on it. The man resembled Doug, except his kind expression was replaced with a sadistic one. The snake bore its fangs, then revealed a bat covered with nails where its tongue should be.
"We're gonna mutate some wicked people into monsters for master Glicko!" The evil Doug said gleefully. "And just like you couldn't stop your brother from mutating before, you won't be able to stop us either!"
"That snake's tongue.... is a horrible reminder of my mutation.... and my old self." Dirk said with shame. "All the same, that doesn't represent me anymore. And don't you dare listen to that imposter Doug. What happened to me before is not your fault. And you protected me until Cerissa and her friends arrived with a cure. We may not be able to do much, but we won't submit!"
"I'm proud of you brother. I am ready to give my life alongside you." Doug said happily as the snake lunged at them.
To be continued....