Kaylee’s breath came in ragged, uneven gasps. Her body humming, she felt a dull, rhythmic pulsing in her head as she slowly—painfully—regained her self-awareness.

The screen had gone blank.

The episode was over.

Her body felt heavy, and her mind was hazy and foggy. She felt like she was waking from a deep, intoxicating dream that she couldn’t quite shake.

Something was wrong.

Something was off.

She felt it before she fully processed it.

The warmth.

The weight.

The unmistakable squish between her legs.

Her diaper was freshly filled.

And she didn’t even remember doing it.

Kaylee let out a sharp, shaky breath, swallowing down the wave of humiliation crashing through her.

Then—

A tap on her shoulder.

She flinched, snapped her head up, and locked her eyes on a Tweener girl, one of the Assistants.

She was giving Kaylee a questioning look, her head tilted slightly, concern flickering across her face.

"You okay?"

Kaylee felt her entire body burn with shame, her cheeks flushing deep red, the thick, squishy bulk of her diaper painfully present with every tiny movement.

She couldn’t let them see.

She couldn’t let them know.

Kaylee straightened immediately, schooling her expression, forcing her body to move naturally, even as the heavy warmth clung to her skin, pressing thickly against her.

"I’m fine."

The words came out even, controlled—far steadier than she felt inside.

The Tweener raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push.

Instead, she just nodded, stepping away to help with the Littles.

Kaylee exhaled softly, blinking rapidly, forcing her brain to catch up—

She had work to do.

She had to move past this.

She turned toward the Littles, her breath still shaky, her thoughts still hazy, but her hands already moving mechanically.

Time to start changes.

Time to push past the gnawing dread in her stomach.

Time to act like nothing had happened.

Because if she stopped to think too hard about it?

She wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep it together.

Kaylee’s first stop was Mira.

The girl was limp, her eyes glassy and unfocused, her tiny frame barely responding as Kaylee scooped her up with ease.

The pacifier bobbed mechanically in Mira’s mouth. Her soft, muffled suckles were rhythmic and thoughtless as if she were still somewhere else.

Kaylee swallowed, her grip tightening slightly as she held Mira close.

She had been just like this moment ago.

Pulled under.

Dragged into that world before she even had the chance to fight.

Her mind flashed back to those suffocating moments—

She had tried to leave.

She had tried to turn away.

But before she had even reached the door, Naomi’s voice had slid into her thoughts, silky and undeniable, wrapping around her like a tight, suffocating ribbon.

"Kaylee… where are you going, sweetheart?"

The warmth filled her body instantly, making her pause, her breath hitching, and her muscles weakening.

"Aren’t you forgetting something?"

A pang of pressure in her bladder.

The warmth of familiar pleasure waiting just beneath the surface.

Her face flushed, her hands trembling, but her body was already obeying before she could fight it.

She had felt it before she even realized it was happening.

The slow warmth spreading through her diaper, the padding growing heavier, swelling as her body fully relaxed.

A deep, involuntary shudder ran through her, her thighs tensing, a soft moan slipping past her lips before she even registered that she had been wetting herself.

"Oh, that’s a good girl."

Her body had responded instantly, her pulse quickening, her nerves lighting up at Naomi’s praise.

And then—

Then came the next part.

The worst part.

"But you’re not done, are you, baby?"

The pressure built again.

A slow, deep warmth curling low in her stomach, spreading through her core, pressing lower, lower—

Until her muscles obeyed again, her body bearing down, her breath catching in her throat as she pushed.

The feeling—

The deep, humiliating, overwhelming fullness, the squishy weight settling beneath her—

It had been too much.

The pleasure that shot through her was like a wave crashing down, drowning her, ripping her thoughts away, leaving her helplessly gasping, shuddering, shaking.

And then?

Then, it had just been bliss.

Her entire body tingling, warmth spreading through every nerve, the aftershocks of pleasure keeping her soft, pliant, empty-headed for the rest of the episode.

She had floated in that space, completely, utterly helpless, her mind only vaguely aware of the world around her.

It had only been when the credits rolled that the haze began to lift.

The dread began to settle in.

That she had realized just how far she had fallen.

And now?

Now, she was looking at Mira.

Glass-eyed.

Pacified.

Completely gone.

And Kaylee wondered—

Had Mira felt it, too?

Had she been forced through the same cycle?

Had she—

Kaylee shook her head violently, pushing the thought away, far, far away.

Now wasn’t the time.

Now, she had to keep moving.

To keep pretending.

To keep control.

Even though—

Even though she wasn’t sure she had any left.

Kaylee laid Mira down on the changing table, her body limp, unresponsive, the pacifier still bobbing mechanically between her lips.

Glass-eyed.

Completely out of it.

Kaylee felt a pang of guilt stab through her chest as she peeled back the soaked, heavy diaper, revealing the inevitable aftermath of the episode.

She shouldn’t feel bad, should she?

Mira had threatened them and tried to destroy everything.

And yet—

Kaylee couldn’t help it.

She knew what this felt like.

She knew what it was like to be dragged under before she even had a chance to resist.

She knew what it was like to feel her body betray her, to feel pleasure replace fear, to be coaxed deeper and deeper into a reality she hadn’t chosen.

And if Kaylee—

If she hadn’t even been able to protect herself—

Then what made her think she could protect Mira?

Her hands worked quickly and efficiently, gently cleaning Mira while being extra careful, even though the girl wasn’t aware enough to feel anything.

She just hoped—

For her own sake—

That Mira didn’t fall too far.

Because Kaylee knew—

Knew far too well—

That Mira was even more susceptible to hypnosis now.

More than she had been as a Tweener.

More than Kaylee had ever been.

And wasn’t that the most dangerous part?

Wasn’t that the thing no one thought about?

Everyone assumed that once an Amazon became a Little, they could fight against it.

That their minds wouldn’t be as weak.

That they wouldn’t fall as easily.

But that was a lie.

Kaylee had learned it the hard way.

When she had been shrunk, her entire being had been rewritten—mentally, emotionally, chemically.

She had become a Little, whether she had wanted to or not.

And now?

Now, Mira was in the same position.

She might still have been Mira.

Still angry, still furious, still resisting.

But for how long?

Because hypnosis didn’t just break you down.

It rewrote you.

And Mira?

She wasn’t a Tweener anymore.

She was a Little.

And Little minds weren’t built to resist.

It hadn’t been Kaylee’s plan from the start—

To shrink Mira, to turn her into this.

But then again—

Nothing was her plan anymore.

Her plans had been discarded, buried, and left behind a long time ago.

Now?

Now, she was just trying to survive.

Kaylee finished securing the fresh diaper around Mira’s tiny waist, her hands quick, efficient, and practiced.

She barely registered what she was doing anymore.

It was just routine.

It's just another diaper change in a long line of them.

But as she lifted Mira back up, holding her close, her fingers brushing against her soft, squishy padding, she couldn’t help but take note of something.

The other Littles—

They were starting to come out of it.

Slowly.

Groggily.

Blinking heavily, stretching, shaking off the last remnants of Naomi’s grip.

But Mira?

Mira was still out of it.

Or—

At least, she was acting like she was.

Kaylee narrowed her eyes slightly, studying the girl’s limp, unresponsive form as she gently set her back down in the play area.

Was she faking?

Trying to play possum?

Trying to trick Kaylee into lowering her guard?

It would be a good ploy.

That was a smart move.

Let Kaylee think she is completely broken. Get her to trust that she is too far gone to resist. Then, wait for the perfect opportunity to strike.

And yet—

Kaylee had the distinct feeling that wasn’t the case.

Mira wasn’t acting.

Mira was still lost.

And that?

That was more unsettling than the alternative.

Kaylee let out a slow breath, shaking off the lingering thoughts and pushing herself back into work mode.

She moved on, turning to the next Little, then the next, elbow to elbow with the other Assistants, cleaning up Naomi’s mess.

Literally.

The room was filled with the sounds of crinkling plastic, hushed murmurs, cooed reassurances, the soft rip of diaper tabs being undone, and the muted whimpers of Littles realizing what had happened.

Kaylee worked mechanically, moving from one to the next, her hands steady, practiced, automatic.

She had done this before.

She would do it again.

But this time?

This time, she wasn’t just changing diapers.

She wasn’t just cleaning up Naomi’s aftermath.

She was watching.

The last Little changed; Kaylee wiped her hands with a spare wipe, exhaling sharply as she glanced around the daycare.

She was looking for Ash.

But—

She was nowhere to be found.

Kaylee wasn’t surprised.

She didn’t blame her, either.

Maybe Ash was too scared to face the possibility of watching another episode.

Maybe she was just hiding in the apartment, trying to pretend today hadn’t happened.

Or maybe—

Just maybe—

She was avoiding Mira.

Because facing Mira now meant facing everything they had done.

Either way—

Kaylee would deal with it.

With a sigh, she turned, heading toward the bathroom, thankful that at the very least—

She wasn’t locked in her diapers like Ash was.

Not yet.

She hoisted herself onto the changing table, her muscles aching, her body exhausted.

She worked mechanically, fingers moving with routine ease, peeling back the soaked, heavy padding, wiping herself clean, working through the motions—

Until the changing table beeped.

Until she heard the familiar whirring of motors.

Kaylee didn’t even flinch when the Nanny Bot arrived.

Didn’t even react when it gently pushed her hands away, taking over with robotic precision.

She just…

Let it happen.

She sighed, relaxing slightly against the table.

"Thank you," she muttered half-heartedly, her voice flat, weary.

The bot chirped in response, going about its work. It unfolded a fresh Amazon-sized diaper, dusting it with powder and securing it snugly around her hips.

It recorded her change with a soft beep, gave her a final pat, and rolled away.

Kaylee stared at the ceiling, her breath slowly measured, her fingers twitching slightly as she absorbed the reality of what had just happened.

She had just—

She had just thanked a robot for changing her.

Was this it?

Was she losing?

She sat up, running a hand through her hair, exhaling another long, slow sigh.

No.

Not yet.

Not today.

She wasn’t going to fall like Ash had.

Not now.

Not ever.

Because someone had to stay in control.

And right now—

That someone was her.

Kaylee stepped out of the bathroom, her fresh diaper crinkling softly beneath her as she forced herself to move forward.

To return to normal.

To act like everything was fine.

She re-entered the daycare, easing back into her usual routine. Her hands and mind worked on autopilot as she tended to the littles.

A bottle here. A cuddle there. A few diaper checks.

Redirecting the fussy ones to playtime.

It was normal.

It was routine.

It was exactly what she needed.

But through it all—

She kept her eyes locked on Mira.

The girl remained in the play area, exactly where Kaylee had left her, still looking completely out of it.

Her eyes were glassy, her movements slow, delayed, her pacifier still bobbing mechanically in her mouth.

She didn’t react when other Littles babbled to her.

She didn’t flinch when an Assistant gently petted her hair, cooing at how precious she was.

She was either still fully trapped in the hypnosis—

Or she was putting on one hell of an act.

Kaylee wasn’t sure which.

But she was sure of one thing.

She wasn’t letting her out of her sight.

If Mira was faking, she was keeping up the act well.

And if she wasn’t?

Then that meant she was already slipping.

Mira didn’t even hesitate when Kaylee came around with a bottle of formula.

She didn’t flinch when Kaylee removed her pacifier, swapping it for the rubber nipple of the bottle.

Her lips latched on instantly, suckling with a slow, automatic rhythm, her half-lidded eyes unfocused, distant, empty.

It was unsettling.

Deeply, truly unsettling.

Kaylee swallowed hard, watching the girl with a pit growing in her stomach.

Mira had always been strong fierce, the kind of person who would never bow down to anyone.

And yet—

Here she was.

Suckling a bottle like a good Little, completely, utterly compliant.

Kaylee hated this.

Hated that it was being forced on Littles.

She hated that she had been forced to witness it.

She hated that she had been forced to experience it firsthand.

She hated that, no matter how much she tried to tell herself she was still in control—

She wasn’t.

Kaylee shifted slightly, her diaper squishing beneath her as a reminder.

Her stomach tightened, her jaw clenching.

She had yet to gain back any control over that part of herself.

At least she was clean, for now.

That?

That was something she could manage.

But the way her body reacted?

The way it betrayed her again and again?

That?

That she had no power over.

Her body didn’t ask permission.

Didn’t warn her.

Didn’t care what she wanted.

It just… did what it was supposed to.

Because that’s what she was now, wasn’t it?

A body.

A Little trapped in a bigger shell.

Kaylee finished feeding Mira, tilting the bottle back slightly as the girl suckled the last drops of formula, her lips softly smacking as she unlatched with a slow, automatic motion.

Mira didn’t even react as Kaylee lifted her onto her shoulder, gently patting her back, coaxing out a tiny burp that would have been adorable—

If it wasn’t so deeply unsettling.

Kaylee sighed, carefully cleaning the girl’s face with a soft wipe, erasing the milk dribble on her chin before placing her back into the bouncer.

Mira’s body settled limply; her eyes half-lidded, glazed over, the pacifier sliding easily back between her lips, her suckling resuming with thoughtless obedience.

Kaylee hesitated.

Just for a second.

Her fingers hovered over the Little lock on the pacifier.

She almost didn’t secure it.

Almost.

The guilt was still there, pressing into her chest, gnawing at the edges of her already frayed conscience.

But—

She wasn’t stupid, either.

Mira was still Mira.

And the moment she snapped back to herself, the moment she found even a fraction of awareness—

She would fight.

Kaylee knew that because she would do the same.

With a small, resigned breath, Kaylee clicked the lock into place.

Just enough to make sure it stayed put.

"Sorry, Mira," she muttered under her breath.

Then, she turned, forcing herself to continue working and pretending that this was just another normal day.

Kaylee moved mechanically, slipping back into routine, into normalcy—or whatever version of normal this had become.

The Littles needed changing, feeding, and tending to, and she went through the motions, checking them off one by one while her mind churned restlessly beneath the surface.

She was worried.

About herself.

About Mira.

About Ash, most of all.

It had been days now.

Days since she had taken the injection.

And she still had no control.

She hadn’t regained anything.

Her body still betrayed her with no warning, no hesitation.

She had hoped, at first, that it would just take time—that maybe her body was adjusting, that she would gain back her functions little by little.

But that wasn’t happening.

She was still just as helpless as she had been as a Little.

She shifted slightly as she moved through the daycare, the bulk of her padding squishing between her thighs, a constant, humiliating reminder of how little had changed for her.

Would she ever regain control?

Would she ever get back to normal?

Or was this who she was now?

An Amazon in body, but a Little in function.

The thought made her stomach twist violently.

She couldn’t—she wouldn’t accept that.

She had fought too hard to let herself slip into that reality.

But she needed a plan.

She needed a way to regain what she lost.

Mira was still a wild card.

Kaylee glanced over at her, still locked in the bouncer, still suckling mindlessly on her pacifier, still too out of it to react to anything happening around her.

It was wrong.

Seeing her like that, seeing someone who was once so fierce, so sharp, reduced to… this.

She hated it.

She hated that they had done this to her.

But she hated them even more because they had no choice.

What would they do with her?

They couldn't just keep her like this forever.

Could they?

The thought made Kaylee feel sick.

Mira was not a real Little.

She was not like the others.

She had been forced into this, just like Kaylee had been.

And that meant…

It was only a matter of time before her mind started slipping.

Because that’s what happened, didn’t it?

Kaylee had felt it happening to herself, felt the way her body obeyed so easily, felt the way Naomi’s voice made her tingle, made her crave the warmth, the fullness, the release.

She had been able to claw her way back from it.

Barely.

Would Mira?

Would she be able to hold on?

And if she couldn’t…

What the hell were they going to do with her?

Kaylee didn’t have an answer.

And that terrified her.

But none of that—

None of that compared to what Ash was going through.

Kaylee knew she had left Ash alone in the apartment.

She knew she had sent her upstairs so she wouldn’t have to endure another round of Naomi and Oliver.

But something about it didn’t sit right.

Ash had been acting… off.

More withdrawn, more distant, more detached.

And while Kaylee had been trapped in her own hell, dealing with her own failures, her own humiliations, her own struggles—

She hadn’t been watching Ash closely enough.

And that?

That was a mistake.

Ash had been through so much already.

She had already been broken once before.

She had already suffered through something like this before.

What if…

What if she hadn’t been strong enough to resist this time?

Kaylee’s chest tightened as a horrible, gnawing feeling took hold.

What if she had just left Ash alone with the very thing she was trying to escape?

What if she had just abandoned her to it?

Kaylee turned toward the clock on the wall, her hands clenching slightly at her sides.

As soon as she was done with her rounds—

As soon as she had a moment to slip away—

She was going to check on Ash.

Because if something had happened to her?

If Naomi had gotten to her?

Kaylee didn’t know if she’d be able to forgive herself.

By the time Kaylee finally had a moment to herself—

The daycare was closing.

The day had begun to wind down. Parents arrived one by one to collect their little ones, and the familiar cycle of goodbyes, cooed reassurances, and squirming toddlers filled the air.

Kaylee barely paid attention.

Her mind was elsewhere.

She went through the motions of cleaning, stacking toys, wiping down high chairs, and tossing soiled diapers into the disposal.

One by one, the other Assistants left, bidding their goodnights as they headed home until—

It was just her.

Her and the Nanny Bot.

And still—

No Ash.

Kaylee’s brow furrowed as she glanced toward the clock on the wall.

Ash hadn’t come back down.

Not once.

Had she fallen asleep?

That… wouldn’t be surprising.

Kaylee’s own nights were filled with nightmares, terrors, and lingering echoes of Naomi’s voice.

Her sleep was fleeting at best.

Restful sleep?

Impossible.

If Ash had finally managed to get some proper rest—

Kaylee didn’t want to disturb her.

But something still felt wrong.

Ash hadn’t even checked in.

And if Naomi had gotten to her—

Kaylee felt a sharp pang of unease creep up her spine.

She needed to check.

Needed to make sure Ash was okay.

Because something told her—

Something in her gut whispered—

That she wasn’t.

Kaylee’s limbs felt like lead. Her exhaustion dragged at her every step as she ascended the stairs. Mira clutched limply in her arms.

The daycare was locked up, the day was done, and all she wanted—**desperately needed—**was to collapse onto the couch, breathe, and let herself feel human again.

But the moment she opened the apartment door—

Her blood ran cold.

The sweet, sickly, intoxicating voice of Naomi filled the small apartment, wrapping around her like a vice, slithering into her mind with a horrible, undeniable pull.

Kaylee’s muscles locked, her vision swam, and her entire body screamed at her to obey.

No.

No, no, NO.

Adrenaline flooded her veins, a sharp, cutting shock of fear slamming into her so hard she thought she might collapse under the weight of it.

She was going under.

She was losing herself.

It was happening again.

The tug was so strong.

She just wanted to listen, relax, and sink.

She wanted to just—

"No."

Her breath hitched.

Her heart clenched.

And then—

Ash.

Ash must be in front of that screen.

Trapped.

Helpless.

Exactly like she had been.

Kaylee’s chest tightened, her stomach twisting violently.

She had let Ash down once before.

She had left her alone with Naomi once before.

She wouldn’t let it happen again.

A sob ripped from her throat, tears leaking from her eyes as she forced her legs forward, one stumbling step at a time.

She barely registered that she was still holding Mira, the girl silent in her arms, limp from the lingering effects of her earlier episode.

Kaylee stumbled toward the closet, nearly crashing into it as she flung it open, her breath coming in ragged, uneven gasps.

The breaker panel.

There.

She ripped it open, her fingers trembling so hard she could barely grip the edges.

Naomi’s voice curled around her thoughts, warm, inviting, inescapable.

"Oh, Kaylee, sweetheart… what are you doing?"

Her hands shook violently, hovering over the breakers.

She didn’t know which one was for the living room.

She didn’t know which one would kill the TV.

She just—

She had to—

Her body wavered, her vision blurred, her head tilting slightly, the words pulling her in, tugging her down, softening every thought, every instinct to fight.

Her fingers twitched, curling toward the breaker panel—

No.

No, no, no, NO.

Kaylee slapped herself across the face, the sting searing her back to reality, her eyes snapping open.

Her vision swam, and her body felt weak, but she was still there.

She had to move now before Naomi dragged her under completely.

Kaylee’s breath hitched, her arms shaking violently.

Her fingers were so close to shutting the panel, so close to giving in.

But—

She wouldn’t.

She wouldn’t let Ash down.

With a wild, desperate cry, Kaylee swiped her arm across the panel, knocking every single breaker at once.

The apartment plunged into darkness.

Naomi’s voice cut out instantly, swallowed by the void, leaving only the sound of Kaylee’s ragged breathing.

Kaylee collapsed onto her knees, choking on sobs, her entire body quivering violently from exertion, from fear, from the sheer weight of what had almost happened.

She had done it.

She had saved Ash.

Kaylee forced herself to her feet, her body trembling, weak, her breath ragged and uneven.

Mira whined, squirming in her arms, her tiny hands weakly pushing at Kaylee’s chest in confused distress.

Kaylee didn’t have time to soothe her.

She rushed into the living room—

And froze.

Ash sat on the floor, her legs spread slightly, her thumb still in her mouth, her eyes wide, glassy, and unblinking as she stared at the dark screen.

The TV was off.

The entire apartment was dark, save for the faint, pale glow of the city lights streaming in through the windows.

It cast eerie, shifting shadows across the room, illuminating Ash’s vacant stare in a way that sent a horrible chill down Kaylee’s spine.

Kaylee moved quickly, kneeling beside her and shaking her shoulder gently.

"Ash?"

No response.

Not even a flinch.

Kaylee’s stomach twisted violently, panic tightening its grip around her heart.

"Ash, hey—come back to me, sweetheart."

She gave her a firmer shake, but Ash didn’t move, didn’t blink, didn’t react at all.

That’s when Kaylee noticed.

The heavy, bloated diaper beneath her.

It was nearly bursting, the padding so swollen that it strained against the tapes and was dangerously close to leaking.

Kaylee swallowed hard, trying to force down the rising fear clawing at her throat.

"No, no, no, come on—"

She pressed a hand to Ash’s cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, but there was no awareness in her eyes, no flicker of recognition, no sign that she was even still there.

Kaylee felt her breath quicken, her pulse roaring in her ears.

This wasn’t just normal post-hypnosis grogginess.

This wasn’t just Ash being dazed.

This was something worse.

Something far, far worse.

Kaylee’s chest tightened painfully, her fingers digging into Ash’s shoulders as she tried to pull her back, bring her out of it, and ground her.

"Ash, please!"

But Ash didn’t respond.

I didn’t even seem to hear her.

Kaylee felt a wave of raw, helpless panic crash over her.

What had Naomi done to her?

"Ash, please!"

Kaylee’s voice wavered, shaking, desperate, her fingers digging into Ash’s shoulders, willing her to come back.

For a long, horrible second—

Nothing.

No reaction.

No recognition.

Just that horrible, empty stare.

Then—

Ash blinked.

Kaylee’s breath hitched, a flicker of hope surging inside her chest.

"Ash?"

Ash blinked again, her wide, glassy eyes locking onto Kaylee’s.

For a moment, Kaylee swore she saw a spark of something real—

Something alive, aware, still present.

And then—

A wide, childish grin split Ash’s lips.

Her arms shot forward, reaching for Kaylee, her fingers grasping desperately.

"Mommy!!!"

Kaylee’s stomach dropped.

Ash squealed with delight, her demeanor shifting. Her voice was high, bubbly, and giddy, and she wiggled excitedly on the floor.

"Mommy, I made poopies for you!"

She giggled, nuzzling her soiled, swollen diaper against Kaylee’s arms as if expecting praise, affection, and approval.

Kaylee felt her chest seize, her throat tighten, and her breath locked in her lungs.

What had Naomi done to her?