Kaylee forced herself to smile, giggle, and bounce excitedly as she moved through the daycare, playing her part to perfection.

She exaggerated her movements, put a little extra pep into her step, and made sure to crinkle noisily as she moved, ensuring that everyone in the room saw her as nothing more than a happy-go-lucky, overly excited little girl playing pretend caregiver.

And as far as she could tell?

She pulled it off.

The Assistants swooned over her, cooing, giggling, patting her on the head like a real child, fawning over how cute she was.

"Aww, Kayla, you’re just the sweetest thing!"

"Look at you, such a good little helper!"

"Oh my gosh, she’s just adorable!"

Kaylee’s cheeks burned with shame, but she forced herself to keep grinning, to laugh, to pretend she didn’t care.

Because compared to what she had actually been through?

Compared to being truly treated as a Little?

Compared to forced regression, forced diapers, forced humiliation?

This was nothing.

Nothing at all.

So, she played along.

She twirled in her dress, let them pat her head, and squealed with excitement when they handed her something as simple as a stack of wipes, acting like it was the most fun she’d ever had.

But then—

Something changed.

It wasn’t obvious at first.

It was just a look here, a glance there, a few subtle shifts in body language.

The Assistants—

They were getting uncomfortable.

Kaylee wasn’t sure when it happened or which moment had truly tipped things—

But somewhere along the line, she had grown too much.

And now?

She looked down at nearly every Assistant.

At first, they tried to play it off, tried to keep up the charade, still cooing at her, still talking to her like she was just a sweet little girl—

But their voices were less certain now.

Their smiles were more forced.

Their laughs were nervous.

Because Kaylee wasn’t small anymore.

She wasn’t a tiny Tweener trying to play at being an Amazon child.

She was growing into the real thing.

And it was scaring them.

She could see it in their eyes.

But none of them said anything.

Because who would?

Even as a pretend kid, Kaylee was still an Amazon.

And worse—

Every one of them knew that the Nanny Bot was watching.

Recording.

Listening.

Logging every single word spoken.

No one wanted to be the first to slip up.

No one wanted to be the one caught doubting the system.

So, they did what everyone in this society did best.

They pretended nothing was wrong.

And Kaylee?

Kaylee pretended right along with them.

By the time the afternoon sun filtered through the daycare windows, Kaylee had grown several inches.

Enough that she had gone from looking up at Ash to looking down at her.

Enough that she now towered over most of the Assistants.

Enough that she was no longer just a "cute little girl" pretending to play caregiver.

She was becoming something else entirely.

Something they weren’t sure how to handle.

But the worst part?

Her clothes hadn’t grown with her.

Her dress, which had once concealed her diaper, was now too short, too tight, the hem lifting higher with every movement.

Every time she bent down.
Every time she reached for something.
Every time, she simply existed in the space.

She could see the Assistants noticing it.

They weren’t cooing as much anymore.

They weren’t as quick to call her adorable.

Instead, they stole glances at her exposed diaper but said nothing.

Because what could they say?

Kaylee wanted to disappear.

But the most humiliating part wasn’t that she was growing into an Amazon teenager while still wearing diapers.

It was the fact that she still needed them.

Her bladder control wasn’t growing with her.

She had noticed it multiple times throughout the day—

That awful, familiar warmth spreading through her padding, leaving it softer, squishier, heavier between her legs.

And she hadn’t even realized it was happening.

She had just… gone.

Automatically.

Like a toddler who had been in diapers for so long, she had forgotten what it meant to hold it.

Her cheeks burned every time she noticed it.

Every time, she had to find an excuse to waddle off to the restroom so Ash could change her in private.

Because now?

Now that she had grown from what was possibly a seven- or eight-year-old Amazon into a young teen—

It was getting more and more awkward that she was STILL in diapers.

That she was still wetting herself without realizing it.

That no matter how much taller she got, no matter how much she looked like an Amazon, no matter how much she towered over Ash now—

She was still completely, utterly helpless when it came to her own body.

And that?

That was the most humiliating part of all.

The day had blurred by in a strange, exhausting haze.

Parents arrived, collecting their children one by one. As the afternoon melted into evening, the daycare slowly emptied.

Before Kaylee even realized it, the last Little was gone. The doors shut behind them, and the space was eerily quiet without the usual noise of giggles, coos, and crinkling movements.

Most of the Assistants had left for the day, leaving only her, Ash, the ever-watchful Nanny Bot, and an Assistant or two to tidy up for tomorrow.

By the time they had finished cleaning, Kaylee was completely drained.

And she wasn’t the only one.

Ash was also exhausted. Their movements were sluggish as they wished goodnight to the last Assistant, locked up, and finally headed upstairs to Ash’s apartment.

But something had shifted.

Kaylee wasn’t in Ash’s arms anymore.

She wasn’t being carried like a baby.

She wasn’t being handled like a Little.

Even if Ash had wanted to, she couldn’t carry her now.

Kaylee had grown too big.

At this point, she could carry Ash.

And with every passing hour, the gap between them only seemed to be widening further.

Kaylee wasn’t a Tweener anymore.

She wasn’t a pretend child anymore.

She was growing into something undeniable.

And soon?

No one was going to be able to ignore it.

By the time they finally stepped inside Ash’s apartment, Kaylee let the mask slip completely.

She didn’t bounce or giggle or prance around like an excitable child.

She just—

She plopped down onto the couch, letting out a long, exhausted sigh, her limbs sprawling out, her body utterly drained.

Ash joined her a moment later, her body slumping into the cushions, exhaling a breath that sounded just as tired as Kaylee felt.

Then—

"How do you feel?"

Kaylee let out a soft laugh, running a hand through her hair, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment before she turned her head to look at Ash.

"Like absolute crap."

Ash huffed a laugh, nodding.

"Yeah?"

Kaylee sighed again, her shoulders sagging further, no longer trying to hold herself together, acting.

"I felt humiliated all day."

"Every time they cooed at me, every time they patted my head, every time they made some dumb comment about how adorable I was—"

Her cheeks burned, but not from fake childish embarrassment—this was real.

"I just wanted to crawl out of my own skin."

Ash said nothing; she just listened, her expression soft and understanding.

"And the worst part?" Kaylee continued, gritting her teeth and shaking her head. "It wasn’t even the stupid baby talk or the cooing."

Her fingers dug into the fabric of the couch, frustration bubbling up.

"It was the lack of control."

Ash stiffened slightly, but Kaylee kept going.

"I don’t even know how many times I wet myself today."

Her voice dropped lower, almost ashamed.

"It just… happened. I didn’t even realize it until I felt it."

Her fingers twitched, her diaper still warm, still slightly damp, a constant reminder of her helplessness.

"And now?"

She let out a dry, humorless laugh, shaking her head.

"I look like a freaking teenager still stuck in diapers."

Her chest tightened, her body curling slightly inward, her frustration melting into something else entirely.

"What the hell am I even supposed to do, Ash?"

She swallowed, looking at Ash with real, honest uncertainty.

"Because at this rate? I don’t even know who I am anymore."

Ash was quiet for a long moment, her fingers idly fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Her gaze was distant and thoughtful.

Then—

"Some of the Assistants were surprised."

Kaylee’s stomach tightened, her fingers twitching against her lap.

"Surprised?" she repeated, already knowing exactly what Ash meant.

Ash nodded, shifting slightly on the couch.

"More than that, actually."

She turned to look at Kaylee, her expression carefully neutral, but her eyes showed a hint of concern.

"They were worried."

Kaylee sighed, rubbing her face with both hands.

"Yeah."

She had noticed it, too.

The way their smiles faltered as the day went on.

The way their nervous laughter replaced the excited coos.

The way they glanced at her diaper with growing unease, like they couldn’t reconcile what they were seeing.

"I tried to cover for you," Ash admitted, offering a weak, humorless chuckle.

"Told them Amazon growth spurts were wild things."

Kaylee huffed a small laugh, shaking her head.

"Yeah? And did they buy it?"

Ash’s expression darkened slightly.

"Not really."

Kaylee groaned, leaning back against the couch and staring at the ceiling.

"Great."

As if this day couldn’t get any worse.

"I don’t blame them," she muttered. "I mean, even I think this is insane."

She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the bulk of her diaper, and she felt the undeniable reality of what she was becoming.

"What if I never go back to normal, Ash?"

Her voice was small and uncertain, carrying a weight she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.

"What then?"

Ash sat up suddenly, turning toward her, her eyes soft, determined.

Then, without hesitation—

She pulled Kaylee into a hug.

Warm. Steady. Unshakable.

"Then we’ll figure it out together."

Kaylee froze.

"If you’re going to be there for me when I struggle," Ash murmured against her shoulder, "then I’ll be there for you too."

The words washed over her, sinking into her skin, into her bones, into the very core of who she was.

For a moment, she just sat there, absorbing them, letting them take root.

Then—

She wrapped her arms tight around Ash, pulling her into a big, fierce hug. Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

"Thank you, Ash," she whispered, her voice thick, raw, real.

Ash hesitated, her fingers fidgeting against the couch, her voice soft and careful when she finally spoke.

"Kaylee..."

Kaylee blinked, tilting her head slightly.

"Is your control coming back at all?"

Kaylee flushed instantly, her whole body heating with embarrassment, her fingers digging into the couch fabric as she shook her head.

"No..."

Her voice was small, her heart pounding.

"I barely even realized I needed to go before..."

She swallowed hard, looking away, unable to finish the sentence.

Ash didn’t press.

Didn’t tease.

She didn’t do anything except nod, her expression troubled like she was gearing up for something.

Kaylee narrowed her eyes slightly.

"What is it?"

Ash hesitated again, then took a slow, measured breath.

"Mira is going to stop by before bed tonight."

Kaylee sucked in a sharp breath, her body going stiff, her eyes immediately snapping to Ash’s.

"Why?"

Ash grimaced, looking anywhere but at Kaylee, her fingers twitching against her lap.

"Because..."

She exhaled, her voice heavy with reluctance.

"Because Mira thinks I’m suffering from Maturosis."

Kaylee’s stomach dropped.

Maturosis.

She hadn’t heard that word in a long time.

It was supposed to be a thing of the past, a bullshit excuse that Amazons used to justify stripping Littles of their rights, forcing them into diapers, taking away their autonomy.

And now?

Mira was using it against Ash.

Kaylee’s hands clenched into fists, her teeth gritting together, fury flashing in her chest like a lit match.

"That’s ridiculous."

Ash let out a weak chuckle, her smile strained, her eyes filled with exhaustion.

"Yeah."

Kaylee didn’t hesitate.

She grabbed Ash’s hand, squeezing it firmly, her eyes burning with determination.

"We’ll deal with her together."

Ash’s breath shook, but she nodded, her grip tightening around Kaylee’s.

"Outside the range of the stupid Nanny Bot."

Kaylee smirked, rolling her eyes.

"Obviously."

Ash gave her a weak grin, finally meeting her gaze, and nodded.

Kaylee squeezed her hand again.

Kaylee watched Ash closely, noting the way her cheeks flushed, her eyes darted away, and her fingers fidgeted against her lap as if she were battling something else.

Something she wasn’t saying.

Kaylee didn’t press.

She just waited.

And after a long moment—

Ash finally spoke.

"Naomi..."

Kaylee’s stomach tightened.

"She’s taken a special interest in me."

Kaylee’s breath hitched, her eyes narrowing slightly, her body tensing in anticipation.

"She’s forcing me to do… things."

Ash’s voice was small and strained, and she could barely even admit it to herself.

"Things I don’t want to do."

Kaylee’s hands curled into fists, a flicker of rage bubbling up inside her.

"And today…"

Ash swallowed, her throat moving painfully, her eyes still locked away from Kaylee’s gaze.

"During my… my humiliating change by the Nanny Bot…"

Kaylee stiffened further.

"I saw that it was recording everything about me."

Kaylee’s heart pounded faster.

"Everything."

Ash finally looked at her, her expression deeply troubled, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Including my reception to a… Targeted hypnotic cartoon."

Kaylee’s eyes went wide.

Her mind snapped into overdrive, the pieces clicking into place almost instantly.

"Ash," she breathed, studying her carefully, her own heart racing now.

"Do you think someone is purposely manipulating the Little’s Naomi and Oliver show to target you?"

The words hung between them: heavy, dangerous, terrifying.

And the worst part?

Ash didn’t even have to answer.

Because of the look on her face—

The fear, the doubt, the quiet, crushing realization—

Said it all.

Neither of them spoke for a long time.

The weight of Ash’s realization hung between them, heavy, suffocating, too big to process in a single moment.

Someone was manipulating Naomi and Oliver.
Someone was targeting Ash.
Someone was watching her every reaction.

Kaylee didn’t know what to say.

And Ash?

Ash looked like she was on the verge of crumbling all over again.

Then—

A knock at the door.

Both girls snapped to attention, sharing a tense look.

"Mira? Already?!" Kaylee whispered, voice low, wary.

Ash let out a long breath, defeated, before forcing herself to stand and head to the door.

She cracked it open just enough to see.

Sure enough—

Mira.

Ash’s shoulders slumped.

"Mira," she sighed. "Tonight is not a good night. I had a rough day."

She tried to close the door.

Mira was persistent.

"Oh, Ash, sweetheart, it’s okay," Mira cooed, gently pushing against the door, not letting her shut it. "You don’t need to hide."

Ash’s jaw tightened, but Mira continued.

"This will be quick."

A warm, reassuring smile, one that made Kaylee’s stomach turn.

"I’ll get you changed, help you settle in for bed, and then I’ll be on my way. That’s all, I promise."

Ash tried again.

"Mira, really, I just—"

"Ash."

Mira’s voice was soft but firm, her presence unwavering.

Then—

She pushed inside.

Kaylee stiffened, watching as Mira stepped through the doorway uninvited. Her expression shifted slightly when she saw her standing there.

She did a double take, her brows furrowing slightly, her head tilting.

"Kayla?"

An eyebrow arched, a curious but mildly suspicious look settling on Mira’s face.

"Why are you still here?"

Kaylee opened her mouth to answer—

But Ash spoke first.

"Her mommy hasn’t come to pick her up yet."

Mira’s gaze sharpened.

Kaylee’s stomach tightened.

"She’s staying with me for just a bit longer," Ash continued, her voice even, controlled, but Kaylee could hear the edge of nervousness creeping into it.

"Which is why tonight isn’t a good night for you to stay."

A polite smile, a calm, dismissive tone, trying to brush Mira away without a fight.

Mira didn’t look convinced.

Kaylee could see the calculation happening behind her eyes, the slow assessment of the situation, her mind putting pieces together that Kaylee and Ash didn’t want her to see.

This wasn’t just about tonight.

Mira was starting to suspect something.

And that?

That was very, very bad.

Mira wasn’t buying it.

Not even for a second.

Her arms crossed, her eyes sharp, darting between Ash and Kaylee, her expression darkening as she took a step forward.

"Alright," she said, her voice low, demanding, "someone tell me what the hell is going on."

Kaylee stiffened, her heart pounding, her fingers twitching at her sides as Mira’s gaze bore into her.

"Kayla," Mira murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "You look an awful lot like Kaylee."

Kaylee swallowed hard, her pulse spiking.

"You know," Mira continued, her voice cool and suspicious, "the Little who was in the daycare just the other day?"

Her arms tightened across her chest, her weight shifting like she was piecing things together in real time.

"And now," she added, "Kayla is growing. Freaking hour by hour."

She turned to Ash, waving a finger in her face, her brows furrowed, her patience clearly running thin.

"And so help me, Ash," she warned, her tone deadly serious, "if you tell me that bullshit about growth spurts one more time—"

Before Kaylee could even think of a response before she could try to smooth things over—

Ash threw up her hands, laughing.

Laughing.

A sharp, slightly hysterical sound.

"FINE!"

Kaylee’s stomach dropped.

Mira blinked, caught off guard by the sudden outburst.

"You want to know who she is?" Ash demanded, her voice rising frantic and sharp with frustration and exhaustion.

"She’s an Amazon!"

Mira’s eyes widened.

Kaylee felt her blood run cold.

"One who received an experimental dosage of nanites that shrunk her to the size of a Little!"

Mira’s mouth parted slightly, but Ash wasn’t finished.

"And I’ve been caring for her for weeks now as my own Little!"

Kaylee’s breath hitched, her heart slamming against her ribs, but Ash was on a roll, pacing, waving her hands, completely losing control of the conversation.

"And now it’s wearing off, and she’s growing up, and I don’t know what to do!"

Ash turned, eyes wide, frantic, overwhelmed, pointing at Kaylee.

"Because now I’ve got a Tweener-sized Amazon who’s still stuck in diapers!"

Her voice echoed in the apartment, final, undeniable, completely, irreversibly exposed.

And the only sound left was Mira’s stunned silence.

Mira gawked at Ash, her mouth hanging open, completely stunned into silence.

Then, she recovered—

And her expression twisted, her disbelief turning to condescension, her arms crossing even tighter.

"Bullshit," she scoffed. "Maturosis is clearly taking its toll on you—"

"It’s true."

Kaylee cut her off, her voice firm, unwavering, stepping slightly in front of Ash before Mira could dismiss them outright.

Mira’s mouth snapped shut, her eyes flicking to Kaylee, a flicker of hesitation passing over her face.

Kaylee swallowed hard, relieved that Ash hadn’t told her everything and hadn’t spilled the entire truth about who she had been.

"My body is rushing to grow up again," she explained, keeping her voice steady and controlled, "but my control is still that of a Little."

Mira’s eyes narrowed, flicking between them, her fingers drumming against her forearm as she processed.

Then—

She burst out laughing.

Loud. Sharp. Mocking.

Kaylee’s cheeks burned, her fists clenching at her sides, but she forced herself to stay still.

Mira shook her head, grinning like they had just told the funniest joke she had ever heard.

"Oh, come on," she wheezed, wiping her eyes. You expect me to believe that?"

Ash tensed beside her, but Kaylee kept her expression neutral.

Mira snorted.

"There is absolutely no way that’s the truth."

She looked at them like they were completely insane, her smirk growing, her disbelief only deepening.

"No one has ever—EVER—shrunk an Amazon to the size of a Little."

She huffed, shaking her head.

"You two are insane."

Kaylee didn’t flinch.

Didn’t react.

Because she knew Mira wouldn’t believe them.

Mira took a slow step back toward the door, her expression twisting, her gaze flicking between the two of them like she was finally, truly piecing something together.

Her lips parted slightly, her brow furrowed, and then—

"I don’t know what the hell is going on here," she said, her voice low, calculating, "but I’m starting to figure it out."

Kaylee’s stomach clenched.

Mira lifted a hand, pointing directly at Ash, her eyes burning with accusation.

"I started digging into your records, Ash."

Ash’s eyes widened slightly, her shoulders going rigid, but she didn’t say a word.

"And you know what I found?" Mira continued, her voice growing sharper, her body inching further toward the door. "You were supposed to have a Little living with you."

Kaylee’s pulse spiked.

Mira’s gaze hardened, her tone turning cold.

"Where is she, Ash?"

"What happened to her?"

Ash tensed beside Kaylee, her breath quivering, but Mira didn’t stop.

She lifted a hand, gesturing wildly toward Kaylee.

"And now you’ve got an Amazon teenager living with you?"

Her laugh was short, sharp, disbelieving.

"And on top of that?"

She looked straight at Ash, her expression turning condescending, final, absolute.

"Maturosis is taking its toll on your mental health."

Ash flinched.

Kaylee’s hands curled into fists.

"There is something deeply wrong happening here," Mira continued, shaking her head, her voice dripping with disgust. "And I won’t be a part of it."

Her eyes narrowed, her shoulders squared, firm with conviction.

"I am an upstanding citizen. I worked hard to get where I am."

She pointed to Ash again, her gaze cold.

"And now?"

Her hand tightened on the doorknob, her knuckles turning white.

"Disappearing Littles? Disappearing Tweeners?"

"Ash, your ‘daycare’ is up to something."

Kaylee felt her breath still in her chest.

"I’m reporting this."

The words slammed into the room like a hammer.

"The authorities will investigate."

Her grip on the doorknob twisted slightly, the metal groaning under her fingers.

"You can forget about getting my ‘help’—" she sneered. "I refuse to work with criminals."

Her hand turned the knob, and the door started to open—

"NO!"

Ash lunged.

Her fingers grasped Mira’s wrist, yanking her backward violently, sending her stumbling away from the door.

Mira shrieked, her body colliding into Ash, their limbs tangling, and then—

Chaos.

A fight.

A struggle for control.

Mira kicked, trying to pull free, but Ash held on, her face twisted with panic and desperation.

"You can’t do this!" Ash yelled, her breath coming in short, frantic bursts.

Mira growled, twisting in Ash’s grip, her elbow striking out, catching Ash’s shoulder.

Kaylee’s breath hitched, her body snapping into motion.

She lunged forward, grabbing Mira’s other arm and yanking her back just as she tried to swing at Ash again.

Mira screamed, furious, flailing, trying to rip away from both of them.

Kaylee’s mind raced.

This was bad.

This was so, so bad.

If Mira got away—

If she told anyone—

They were done for.

They had to stop her.

It happened fast.

One second, they were struggling, bodies tangling, hands grappling for control—

And then—

A slip.

A THUNK.

Then—

Silence.

Kaylee and Ash froze, staring wide-eyed at the unmoving figure on the floor.

Mira lay sprawled out, her body limp, her chest rising and falling with slow, even breaths.

Ash let out a strangled noise, her hands flying to her mouth, her body trembling.

"Oh my god—"

Her voice was panicked and high-pitched, her breathing coming too fast and too uneven.

"What happened?! Is she—Is she okay?!"

Kaylee dropped to her knees, her heart pounding violently, her fingers immediately pressing against Mira’s neck.

A pulse.

She was breathing.

No blood.

No visible injury.

Just... unconscious.

Kaylee let out a shaky breath, her body sagging slightly in relief.

"She’s okay," she muttered.

Ash whimpered, her hands still trembling violently.

"Oh my god, oh my god—this is bad, Kaylee."

Kaylee swallowed hard, her mind racing.

Yes.

This was bad.

This was really, really bad.

Kaylee looked up at Ash, her voice low, urgent, serious.

"We need to think, and we need to think fast."

Ash was on the verge of full-blown panic, pacing, her breaths coming too fast, too shallow, her hands shaking violently.

"What do we do?! What can we do?!"

Kaylee rubbed her temples, trying to keep herself steady and think through the pounding of her heart.

"Ash, breathe," she instructed, keeping her voice calm, firm, in control. "We will figure this out. We have to."

Ash stared at her, wide-eyed, frantic, her body trembling like a live wire.

"We can’t just—just dump her outside!" she blurted, waving her hands. "She’ll wake up and go straight to the cops!"

Kaylee nodded sharply.

"Or worse," she added, "someone else finds her, calls the cops themselves, and then we have to explain why Mira just magically lost consciousness in front of our building, and they review the security footage and see us dumping her."

Ash let out a strangled noise, raking her fingers through her hair.

"Okay, okay—then what?"

Kaylee bit her lip, glancing down at Mira’s unconscious form, her chest still rising and falling steadily.

"We hold her prisoner? That’s insane!"

Kaylee grimaced, shaking her head.

"We can’t."

"Exactly!" Ash threw her hands in the air. "We still have a business to run! What are we supposed to do, lock her up in a closet while we run the daycare?! What happens when people start wondering why she’s missing?! When they start asking questions?!"

Kaylee let out a sharp breath, her hands curling into fists.

They were running out of options.

They needed a solution.

Fast.

But every possible choice sounded worse than the last.

Mira was dangerous.

Mira knew too much.

And when she woke up?

She was going to be a problem.

Kaylee turned to Ash, voice low, serious, unshakable.

"We need a plan. And we need it now."

The silence between them was thick, heavy, suffocating.

Kaylee’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath uneven, her mind racing for any kind of solution—

Any way to fix this?

Because Mira wasn’t disappearing.

She wasn’t just going to go away.

They had to deal with her.

Somehow.

Ash, still staring at Mira’s unconscious body, exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples.

"We could… adopt her."

Kaylee snapped her head toward Ash, eyes wide—

And then she burst out laughing.

"Adopt a Tweener?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "How the hell would that possibly keep her quiet?"

Ash shrugged, still looking thoughtful.

"If we say she’s the one suffering from Maturosis—"

"It wouldn’t work."

Kaylee cut her off immediately, rolling her eyes.

"Tweeners, even adopted ones, have way more rights than Littles."

"And even IF we took ownership of her, saying she was the one with Maturosis, what then? We strap her in a high chair and hope she plays along?"

Kaylee huffed.

"She’d fight us. She’d go to the authorities the second she had the chance. It’s a bad idea."

Ash was quiet.

Too quiet.

Kaylee narrowed her eyes, watching as a small twinkle flickered behind Ash’s gaze.

That was a look she didn’t trust.

Not one bit.

Slowly, deliberately, Ash turned to look at her.

"Oh, I have no intention of adopting a Tweener."

Kaylee’s stomach dropped.

A slow chill ran down her spine.

"Ash."

Ash’s lips curled slightly, a gleam in her eyes that was both manic and terrifying.

"I have an idea."

She glanced at Mira’s unconscious body.

Then, back to Kaylee.

"A really, really, bad idea."

Kaylee swallowed.

"Ash, whatever you’re thinking—"

"It’s the only way."

Kaylee stared at her, searching her expression, waiting for the punchline—

But there wasn’t one.

Ash was serious.

And whatever insane plan she had just concocted?

Kaylee already knew she wasn’t going to like it.