Crossing Worlds

The girls, along with the other students, were led inside and sat in the story circle area of the classroom. As before, Miss Lilly guided the class, welcoming everyone in before beginning the welcome song. The song was the same as last time, and while Hannah didn’t want to sing along, she was beyond happy to be here, listening to its nonsense, over being back in the nursery.

“Welcome, welcome everyone,

We’re so glad you’ve joined the fun!

Look around, and you will see,

All your friends are as happy as can be!

Welcome, welcome, everyone,

Let’s all play and have some fun!”

Hannah nodded along with the song as the class and daycare workers sang, repeating several times before the music came to a crescendo, and the class descended into clapping. Hannah settled back in the soft bean bag chair she found herself in, reveling in the feeling of freedom, the nonconstricting nature of her outfit liberating as Miss Lilly continued her speech. Miss Lilly motioned to the activity board for the day, and while many of the activities were the same, Hannah noticed they were re-arranged from the day before. She guessed it would help prevent workers' monotony and allow the students to grow used to varied activities.

Either way, as Miss Lilly concluded, the students were ushered towards the arts and crafts area of the daycare. They sat at the same table as the other day and began finger painting. After being locked in a bassinet all day yesterday, the simple act of painting was thrilling to Hannah, feeling stimulating by comparison. Notably, their table needed Lizzy and two other students joining them, but neither seemed interested in conversing with Hannah or Emily. Hannah began to relax, genuinely enjoying herself. Her aching bladder was released without a second thought as the thirsty padding soaked it eagerly, not even Naomi bothering her. The girl had been quiet in Hannah’s head; she seemed to speak occasionally, but it grew less frequently. Hannah wondered if it was simply because she hadn’t been subjected to the Naomi and Oliver show or if her actions aligned more with Naomi's goals. 

The only other person Hannah knew for a fact who experienced the strange girl's thoughts was Emily, so she voiced her question. “Has Naomi been oddly quiet for you as well?” 

Emily cocked her head to the side, her finger pausing, caked in orange and yellow paint, “Now that you mention it, yes, she has. From what I’ve determined, Naomi seems to speak the most when I act against whatever messages are in her show, but until I’ve seen it, she doesn’t mention anything. The more I go with what she wants, what the show tells me, the less she speaks.”

Hannah nodded, “I suppose that makes sense. Does she take control of your body as well? Making you do stuff?” she asked.

Emily blushed but nodded, “A few times, yes. I’m rather embarrassed to admit, but yes.”

Hannah’s tummy grumbled, and she found her mouth watering suddenly, her taste buds seeming to yearn for something sweet and milky. She was freaking craving Mommy’s milk! The thought twisted her up, sickening her stomach and severely damaging her desire to paint. 

Emily seemed to take note of her enthusiasm dissipating, “You okay?” she asked, “Naomi doing something to you or telling you something?” she guessed, based upon Hannah’s previous line of questioning.

Hannah shook her head, “No, nothing like that; I’m getting hungry again for some reason, and worst of all, my body is craving… it.” she said, blushing, not wanting to admit it, even to Emily.

Emily nodded slowly, sighing, “I have, too; I’ve been too embarrassed to say anything. Daddy said it was a sort of chemical dependency, so I suppose it should be expected, but it doesn’t make it any less disturbing. It doesn’t help that we haven’t had solid food in over a day now; of course, we are getting hungry.”

Hannah sat back, slumping, “What I’d do for some regular food, heck, even some finger food would be great.”

“I think Miss Lilly mentioned that snack time was next.” Emily offered with a small smile, “We are back in the daycare, after all.”

Hannah perked up, grinning, “Ohh! Right! We are! Thank goodness, finally, some real food!”

Of course, ‘real food’ is indicated by halved grapes, cracked cheese slices, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and other little-approved foods rather than accurate, adult food. The irony wasn’t lost on Hannah, but she didn’t care; she had been on a liquid diet for well over a day, and it was killing her. Hannah’s tummy grumbled again, and she realized it wasn’t from hunger this time. She groaned, a hand fluttering to her tummy as she quickly lost the fight and her body pushed, filling the seat of her diaper, “That’s another thing I can’t wait to be over.” she grumbled.

Emily cocked her head to the side, noticing how Hannah was shifting, and nodded, realizing what was happening. She blushed, looking away, “Yeah, that’s a rather unfortunate side effect. They didn’t even check us after the welcome circle.” 

It was Hannah’s turn to blush as she realized Emily hadn’t lasted nearly as long as she had. Hopefully, the girls will be offered changes soon. The chimes sounded, and daycare workers quickly surrounded students with baby wipes, cleaning faces, hands, and clothes before ushering each toward the snack area. A Worker stopped by Hannah and Emily’s table, cleaning the girls, not even bothering to check diapers, before sending them on their way.

Hannah blushed, “I… umm, miss?” she asked, embarrassed.

The daycare worker, cleaning up another student, glanced at her, “Yes, sweetheart?” 

“I, uh, had to go potty,” Hannah admitted, blushing madly, slightly turning her rear towards the woman.

The worker smiled and chuckled, “You are such a good girl! Yes, you are! I’m very proud of you, pumpkin, especially for telling me; your Mommy must be very proud of you.” she said, turning away from Hannah as she went to the next student.

Hannah’s heart fluttered at the praise but back down, embarrassed. The woman thought she was simply telling her to get praise! The humiliation of the event drove Hannah’s desire to ask again away, even to any other worker. Hannah knew that if she asked for a change, she might be punished, and it seemed clear the workers weren’t going to check her simply because she said she went. 

Hannah begrudgingly joined Emily as the girls headed toward the snack area, taking seats at what was becoming their regular table. Hannah knelt, not wanting to squish the contents of her diaper any more than necessary. Emily had gingerly positioned herself to put the least weight on her rear as they waited to be served. The last time Hannah did this, Naomi spoke immediately, chastising her, yet the girl stayed quiet this time. 

Hannah didn’t question it, not that it matted, for as soon as a daycare worker came by, they picked Hannah up and plopped her on her bum, “You can get hurt sitting like that, silly! On your butt!” 

Hannah groaned but didn’t argue, electing not to move as their table was served. The student who chose to sit with them was served a plastic plate with several partitioned sections of finger food; Hannah’s mouth was already watering. However, when the worker came to Emily and Hannah, he plopped down two giant baby bottles full of milk, “And for you two, enjoy!” he said in a sing-song voice before retreating. 

Hannah shared a glance at Emily, the girls groaning. She returned to being checked in this morning, Daddy handing over the diaper bag to Miss Lilly, their ‘special diet’ having been mentioned. It seemed, even here, in a relative sanctitude, safe from Mommy, her power over them was absolute. Neither girl went for their bottles, not wanting to drink the warm milk willingly.

The girls sat there, staring at the other students and their food longingly, until a worker came by, hands on hips, “Do you two need some help? Come on, sweeties, I’m sure Mommy doesn’t let you feed yourselves.” she said, handing Emily off to another worker as she scooped Hannah, and her bottle up.

Before Hannah could argue, the nipple was forced into her mouth, and her body naturally began to suckle. The sweet, warm milk filled her mouth, but it was off; it wasn’t as concentrated. She remembered Daddy saying he diluted the mixture with the regular formula and the serum. Hannah took several long pulls on the bottle, waiting for her mind to cloud and vision to fade as the effects of the milk took hold, but neither ever seemed to happen. Hannah could taste the breastmilk; she knew it was there, yet it didn’t seem to take hold of her.

Hannah let out a relieved breath, relaxing in the worker's arms as she nursed. The warm formula started to fill her, and her bladder relaxed to give way for more formula to fill it. If she noticed Hannah’s accident, the worker said nothing, continuing to feed her.

As Hannah nursed, she felt a stirring, Naomi waking from her slumber.

‘What’s this? What’s going on?’ She asked, her voice fading and confused, ‘There’s something wrong; what are you doing?’

Hannah couldn’t help but grin, well, as well as one could grin with a nipple shoved in their mouth, ‘It’s time for you to leave, for good!’ She thought happily.

‘Ohh, really now? No, I don’t think so. My work isn’t done.’ Naomi thought.

Hannah felt a sort of tearing sensation as if Naomi was separating from Hannah. At first, Hannah felt as if the girl was leaving, and then suddenly, Naomi seemed to smother Hannah, enveloping her mind before suddenly disappearing completely. Hannah felt a spike of fear; what had just happened?! She could no longer feel the girl; she was gone, but was she? The thought worried and confused her.

Hannah finished the bottle, feeling her tummy groan yet again. Hannah pushed, grinning around the bottle as she felt the fresh mess pushing into her diaper, enjoying the feeling. Wait, since when did Hannah enjoy doing that? She had never felt that way before! Yet, she couldn’t deny the enjoyment she felt as the mess caked her backside, her entire body tingling with pride. The daycare worker seemed to realize what Hannah was doing and began praising her. 

Hannah giggled as the empty bottle was removed, grinning at the worker. 

“Gosh, you are so adorable! You’re Mommy must be so proud!” The worker exclaimed.

“I’m a good girl!” Hannah squealed with delight; she knew she should also soak herself when she pooped and did so, not that there was much in there yet.

What was happening to Hannah? Her thoughts felt like her own, yet she had never felt this way before; since when did she want to be a good girl so severely as to exclaim it to a worker?

“That you are!” the worker said with a chuckle, taking Hannah to the changing area and laying her down. 

Hannah suddenly felt conflicted and realized she was being changed; she didn’t want to be changed! She enjoyed the feeling of a squishy diaper! Some of her knew she couldn’t argue with an adult; she would have to be changed and work extra hard to fill her next diaper.

Hannah coughed, feeling confused as these thoughts washed over her; something was wrong. What had previously been a separation of her thoughts from Naomi’s seemed to have conjoined and become her own. The idea that this fictional character had embedded itself so deeply into Hannah’s psyche that it had become one with her terrified her. Had something gone wrong with the serum, or had it not worked? Worse, would Naomi be terrorizing her now if Hannah hadn’t said anything to the girl? Or would she be gone?

Hannah had no clue either way. Her thoughts returned to the here and now, feeling the worker cleaning her up, Hannah’s thumb in her mouth bobbing gently, her legs splayed to the sides to help the cleanup process. Hannah certainly didn’t care who saw her; she was only a baby.

Finally, into fresh padding, Hannah was let off the changing table and rushed towards the story circle for story time. She eagerly crawled toward the padded area, enjoying the feeling of the soft foam beneath her hands and knees, making crawling far more comfortable. About halfway there, Hannah realized what she was doing and forced herself to stand and walk the rest of the way, finding her sister and joining her. 

“Emily, something is wrong, deeply wrong,” Hannah said.

Emily was nursing her thumb and grinned at Hannah, “What are you talking about? We are good girls! We are very good girls.” she giggled as Hannah took her seat.

Hannah immediately realized that whatever happened to her also happened to Emily. Hannah’s thumb had reentered her mouth, and she nursed it to comfort herself as she realized the serum had gone wrong. 

End of Chapter 30