A shadow fell over Ivy, momentarily blocking out the soft, pastel light spilling into the trial room from the hallway beyond. A figure crouched beside her, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Are you Contestant 24?"

Ivy hesitated, her cheeks flushing deeply as she lifted her gaze to meet his.

The boy kneeling beside her was tall and broad-shouldered, with a strong jawline and sharp, intelligent eyes. His dark brown hair was messy, like he’d run his hands through it all day in frustration. He had the athletic build of someone who had played sports, but his movements were relaxed as if he were used to being in charge.

His piercing green eyes locked onto hers, assessing, waiting for a response. Ivy nodded hesitantly, her gaze flicking downward, embarrassed.

"Ivy," she mumbled, her voice small.

The boy offered a slight smirk but wasn’t cruel—more amused than anything.

"I'm Carter," he said, then glanced over his shoulder. "And this is my other charge."

Behind him, a girl was struggling forward, her platinum blonde hair tangled and slightly frizzy from the trial. She was petite, with a delicate face and striking pale blue eyes, but her expression was nothing short of murderous.

Unlike Carter’s composed demeanor, the girl seethed.

Her cheeks were flushed red, her arms trembling from exertion as she crawled forward, clearly hating every second of her situation. Her full lips were pressed into a thin line, and her icy glare could have cut steel.

She stopped beside Carter, her voice a venomous hiss.

"Are you seriously just introducing yourself right now?" she snapped. "How about figuring out how to get us out of this mess instead?"

Carter sighed dramatically, clearly used to her attitude, and turned back to Ivy.

"This," he said with mock exasperation, jerking his thumb toward the girl, "is Madison. She’s a delight."

"Go screw yourself, Carter," Madison spat, glaring up at him.

Ivy blinked, momentarily stunned by their dynamic. The two were familiar with each other—the kind of familiarity from time spent together, whether as friends or rivals.

Despite herself, a small smile tugged at Ivy’s lips.

At least she wasn’t the only one miserable in this situation.

The moment was short-lived, though.

Other caregivers were meeting their assigned babies around them. Some were reuniting with past teammates, and others were stuck with strangers. The air was thick with grumbling complaints, hushed plotting, and nervous glances toward the open hallway.

Ivy shifted uncomfortably, the squish of her utterly soiled diaper a humiliating reminder of how far they had fallen.

Carter offered a hand toward Ivy as if to help her stand—but then, with a casual shrug, he pulled it back, his smirk deepening.

"Well… I would help you up, but…" He gestured vaguely at her sleeper's stiff, bent legs, his voice lacing with mock sympathy.

Ivy sighed heavily, casting him an unamused glare before reluctantly shifting forward onto her hands.

The crinkle of her diaper beneath her was impossible to ignore as she crawled toward the hallway, her cheeks burning at the sensation. The thick, swollen padding squished wetly with every movement, a constant, humiliating reminder of the trial she had just endured.

Behind her, Madison grumbled curses under her breath, clearly just as miserable. At the same time, Carter trailed casually behind them, hands tucked into, as if this was all some mild inconvenience rather than a waking nightmare.

Ivy glanced back at them, an idea forming.

Maybe it was just morbid curiosity, or perhaps she wanted to poke the bear, but…

"What’s the deal with you two?" she asked, directing the question at Madison. "You’ve got history or something?"

Madison snorted loudly, glaring over her shoulder at Carter before returning her attention forward.

"Yeah," she said flatly. "I’ve known him for years. He’s an ass."

Carter grinned, unfazed.

"I’m an ass?" he echoed, placing mock offense on the words. "This coming from the girl who once threw a full smoothie at my car because I beat her at trivia night?"

Madison whipped around so fast that Ivy thought she might launch at him.

"That was a justified response," she hissed, her pale blue eyes flashing with fury. "You cheated."

Carter laughed, shaking his head.

"I didn’t cheat, Mads. You just don’t know the capital of Mongolia."

Madison muttered something under her breath, her movements becoming more aggressive as she crawled forward. She was done with the conversation.

Ivy, despite herself, grinned, glancing between the two.

There was undeniable tension, but it wasn’t just anger—it was something deep-seated, something familiar.

"You guys dated," Ivy guessed boldly, watching them both tense at her words.

Madison didn’t respond, just huffed, and kept moving.

Carter, however, smirked.

"We were never official," he admitted. "But we’ve had our… moments."

Madison let out a harsh, bitter laugh, not even bothering to look back at them.

"Oh yeah," she said. "Real great moments. Like the time you left me stranded at the airport because you ‘lost track of time.’"

Carter winced. "Okay, that one’s fair."

Ivy chuckled to herself, crawling forward as the door ahead grew closer.

Well.

This was going to be an interesting dynamic.

As they crawled through the hall, the muted crinkle of diapers and low grumbles of discomfort filling the space, a thought struck Ivy like a slap.

She froze mid-crawl, nearly making Madison bump into her.

Wait.

These two knew each other before the Trials.

That was a first—at least, the first she had heard of.

She turned her head, glancing back at them, her earlier amusement giving way to curiosity.

"You guys knew each other before this," she said, cutting through their bickering.

Madison, who had just snapped something scathing at Carter, paused, looking at Ivy like she’d pointed out something obvious.

"Uh… yeah?" she said.

Ivy pressed on, her mind racing.

"Have you met anyone else who knew each other before the Trials?" she asked, scanning their faces for any flicker of recognition.

Carter and Madison shared a glance, some silent conversation passing between them.

Then, Carter sighed, rubbing his chin.

"Now that you mention it…" he muttered.

Madison’s brows furrowed, her frustration momentarily replaced by intrigue.

"There was that one girl," she said. "Red hair, real loud. She kept saying she knew someone here but wouldn’t say who."

Ivy’s stomach twisted.

She hadn’t heard of anyone else claiming to recognize someone. If that were true, then that meant…

This wasn’t random.

It was never random.

Mistress had hand-picked them.

She felt a chill settle over her, something deeper than the humiliation of their situation, something more sinister.

Why them?

And more importantly…

Who else was connected?

Finn crawled beside Ivy; his face flushed red, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He looked exhausted, but when Ivy tilted her head toward Madison and Carter and murmured, “They knew each other before the Trials,” all traces of fatigue vanished.

Finn stiffened, his breath catching.

His wide-eyed stare locked onto her, brows furrowing in question.

“Wait… what?” he whispered, voice low so no one else would hear.

Ivy nodded, crawling forward as she glanced ahead at Madison and Carter. The two were still bickering, Madison’s voice sharp and Carter’s laced with amusement as if they had forgotten Ivy existed.

Finn looked like he wanted to ask more, but his mouth opened and closed, his thoughts tangled.

“What do you make of it?” he finally asked, his voice tight.

Ivy bit her lip, her fingers clenching against the padded floor.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But it means something. It has to.”

Finn didn’t respond right away.

He glanced around at the other crawling contestants, the humiliating waddle of their thick diapers, the distant hum of the Trials’ ever-watching systems lurking in the background.

It was never random.

Mistress had chosen them for a reason.

But why?

Finn and Ivy crawled side by side; the padded flooring muted their movements as they followed behind Carter and Madison. The two were still at it, their voices constant back-and-forth as if they had completely forgotten their humiliating circumstances.

Carter rolled his eyes, easily keeping pace beside her. "And you always get pissy over nothing," he countered, smirking. "Even now, I’m dealing with your crap."

Ivy snorted but quickly covered her mouth, heat rushing to her cheeks.

Madison, however, was not amused. She whipped her head toward him, glaring daggers. "Shut the hell up, Carter!"

He only chuckled.

They finally reached the changing room, where the doors slid open with a chime.

With mock patience, Carter half-lifted, half-guided Madison onto a changing table. The straps snapped shut when her back hit the surface, securing her in place.

She huffed, her eyes flashing. "I hate you."

Carter grinned, casually placing a hand on the table as the machine unzipped her sleeper, revealing the discolored and full diaper underneath.

"Love you too, Mads."

Madison opened her mouth for another snarky remark, but Carter paused, holding a hand.

"You know," he mused, tapping his chin as if deep in thought, "I could just leave you like this."

Madison stiffened, her glare sharp enough to cut glass. "You wouldn’t dare."

Carter shrugged, his fingers hovering over the panel. "I dunno. You’re kind of a pain, Mads. Might be fun to see you waddle around in that mess for a little longer."

Madison growled, her frustration boiling over. She yanked against the straps, but they held firm. Finally, after a long, tension-filled pause, she let out a sharp exhale. "Fine! Change me!"

Carter’s grin only widened.

"Uh-uh," he chided, "ask nicely."

Madison’s eye twitched, her fingers clenching into fists—or at least they would have if she could move them. Her jaw tightened as she glared up at him, teeth gritted.

"Carter, will you pretty please, with a freaking cherry on top, just change my goddamn diaper?"

Her voice dripped with mock sweetness, but the venom in her eyes said everything.

Carter chuckled, clearly enjoying himself, and finally went to work. The soiled diaper crinkled as he peeled it open, revealing the full extent of her humiliation. Madison groaned, looking anywhere but at him, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Carter took his time, wiping her clean, humming obnoxiously as she fumed. When he finally pulled a fresh diaper from the dispenser, Madison blinked.

It was even thicker than yesterday’s.

Madison stared at it in horror as Carter grinned, unfolding the bulky mass. "Huh. Looks like they decided you needed a little extra padding today."

"Oh, come on!" Madison snapped, but her protest fell on deaf ears as Carter lifted her legs, powdered her, and secured the thick diaper.

The changing table hummed to life when the last tab was sealed, zipping her sleeper back up. Before Madison could breathe a sigh of relief, a pair of padded mittens slid from the sides of the table.

"Wait, what—?"

Click.

The mittens snapped over her hands, securing tightly at the wrists. Madison let out a furious groan, flexing her fingers uselessly, the bulky material rendering them completely useless.

Carter bit back a laugh as the straps finally released her.

Madison pushed herself up, glowering at him, her hands now nothing more than clumsy, oversized pillows. "I. Hate. You."

Carter grinned, hands in his pockets. "That’s what you get for being a brat, Mads; if you keep it up, maybe Mistress will give you a reservation in the naughty room."

Madison’s face drained of color, her mouth snapping shut so fast it was almost audible. She had seen enough of what had happened to other contestants to know she did not want to experience it firsthand.

Carter smirked, giving her a nod before helping her down. Madison stumbled slightly, still adjusting to the unforgiving bulk between her legs, her mittens rendering her utterly helpless. She didn’t say another word.

Satisfied, Carter turned to Ivy and gave her a nod before helping her up onto the table.

When Ivy settled in, the straps snapped closed, locking her wrists and ankles firmly. Then, her sleeper unzipped, slowly peeling away from her skin.

Ivy squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to look at Carter’s face, but even so, she didn’t miss the way he grimaced as he opened her diaper.

Her cheeks burned, shame curling in her gut. God, this was humiliating.

Carter grimaced, but he didn’t say anything as he peeled back the swollen, soiled diaper, the stale warmth against Ivy’s skin replaced by the cool air of the changing room. She sucked in a breath, trying to steel herself, but there was no escaping the mortifying reality of being laid out in front of him like this, helpless and exposed.

The damp weight of the used diaper was lifted away, leaving her vulnerable, and she felt the first cool swipe of a baby wipe over her raw skin. Ivy flinched, the sensation oddly sharp after being cocooned in warmth for so long. Carter was quick and methodical, wiping her down with practiced efficiency—too efficient.

Her thighs tensed involuntarily as he cleaned her more thoroughly, pressing the wipes into the sensitive creases of her skin where the mess had settled. She wanted to wriggle away, to curl up and disappear, but the restraints held her firmly in place, forcing her to endure every humiliating second.

Then, the crinkle of fresh plastic met her ears, and she braved a glance downward—her stomach sank.

The diaper was massive.

Thicker than before, the bulk of it made her want to cry. It wasn’t just a step up from what she’d worn before—it was an active handicap designed to force her into a permanent waddle. The padding was so thick and plush that she knew she couldn’t press her knees together at all.

Carter dusted her with powder, the soft scent of lavender filling her nose before he pulled the diaper up between her legs. The moment it pressed against her, Ivy bit back a whimper—the thick padding swallowed her completely, dwarfing her frame, forcing her thighs even further apart than before.

Each tab was fastened with a firm tug, locking her into the ridiculous thickness. The table hummed in approval as it zipped her sleeper back into place.

Ivy exhaled, thinking it was finally over.

But then—

A click sounded, and she felt something tightening around her wrists.

Her heart pounded as she glanced down just in time to see the machine sealing mittens onto the sleeves of her sleeper, cinching them snugly around her hands.

“No, wait.” Ivy twisted her wrists and flexed her fingers, but the mittens were firm, locking her hands into useless fists.

Panic flooded her.

“Looks like it’s your turn to be a baby,” Carter teased, stepping back as the restraints released her.

Ivy yelped as the table tilted slightly, forcing her off balance. She landed on the floor with a soft thud, her padded bottom absorbing the impact, and her thick bulk spread her legs apart unnaturally.

The moment she tried to stand, her sleeper stiffened, forcing her knees to buckle, and she crashed forward onto all fours.

A cold realization settled over her.

She wasn’t going to be allowed to walk.

Her diapered rear was planted firmly in the air, her mittened hands pressing uselessly against the floor, trapping her in a crawling position.

Carter grinned down at her, hands in his pockets.

"Guess you’d better get used to it, baby.”

Ivy shifted slightly, the thick diaper between her legs forcing her into an awkward position, her mittened hands uselessly pressing against the floor as she glanced at Madison. The girl sat beside her, arms crossed, lower lip jutted out in an impressive pout, clearly stewing in frustration.

Ivy nodded toward Carter’s retreat as he disappeared into the caregiver changing room. “He seems like a ripe piece of work.”

Madison snorted, rolling her eyes. “You have no idea.”

She threw her hands in the air, her mittens flopping uselessly, before groaning. “Of all the contestants here, why did I have to get stuck with him? A freaking caregiver, no less! Seriously, what did I do to deserve this?”

Ivy raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s the deal? You two exes or something?”

Madison visibly shuddered. “Ugh, don’t even joke about that.”

Finn, who had just crawled up beside them, glanced between the two girls, curious but too polite to ask.

Madison huffed, shifting on her knees, her diaper crinkling audibly. “We were childhood friends—keyword were. Grew up together. Our moms were besties, so I was stuck with him my entire life. And now? I finally get away, and boom—this nightmare happens.”

She groaned dramatically, letting her head thunk against the nearby crib railing.

Ivy smirked, resting back on her haunches, the padding beneath her so thick she barely felt the hard floor beneath her. “Guess the universe has a sense of humor.”

Madison grumbled. “Well, the universe can shove it.”

Madison, still glowering, shifted on her thickly padded bottom, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She flicked her gaze between Ivy and Finn, her expression half-curious, half-annoyed.

"Alright, so what’s your deal?" she asked, nodding at them. "You two exes too?"

Ivy choked on absolutely nothing, her face heating instantly. Beside her, Finn stiffened, his ears turning red as he spluttered.

"What? No!" Ivy said quickly, shaking her head vehemently.

"Absolutely not," Finn added, his voice coming out far too rushed.

Madison raised an eyebrow, her expression turning incredulous. She glanced between them slowly, as if reading between lines they weren’t even aware existed.

"Really?" she drawled, her lips twitching.

Ivy scowled, her blush deepening.

"We just met," she insisted.

Finn nodded, still flustered, rubbing his mittened hands awkwardly against his knees.

Madison hummed, tilting her head slightly. "Huh… you two never—" She suddenly cut herself off, blinking and looking away, embarrassed.

Ivy and Finn exchanged a glance. Finn looked genuinely confused while Ivy narrowed her eyes slightly at Madison’s sudden shift.

There was an awkward pause before Madison cleared her throat, shifting again, her diaper audibly crinkling beneath her.

"Whatever. Not important." She sighed, looking back at them. "What I want to know is… what do you think this means? Like, why are we here? This can’t be random. There’s gotta be a reason we were all chosen for these Trials."

Ivy frowned, gnawing her lip, her mind spinning with the same thoughts she had been trying to push away.

Finn, still a little pink from earlier, looked down at his thickly padded lap, his brows furrowing. "I’ve been wondering the same thing."

Madison exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders. "Carter and I? We knew each other before this. That’s not a coincidence. And then you two—" she waved a mittened hand at them, "—you were both in the same group on day one. And now, here we are. There’s gotta be some kind of pattern."

Ivy felt a shiver creep up her spine.

"Maybe it’s something we all have in common," Finn mused. "Something we don’t even know about yet."

Madison scoffed, rocking slightly in place. "Well, whatever it is, I doubt it’s anything good. Mistress doesn’t seem like the ‘let’s group up people for fun’ type."

The three of them fell silent, the weight of the conversation pressing down on them.

Outside the changing room, they could still hear other contestants murmuring and moving, a buzz of activity as the new reality of their crawling restriction set in. But here, among the three of them, the quiet was heavy—an unspoken agreement that whatever was happening to them was deliberate.

And the worst part? None of them had the faintest idea why.

Ivy blinked, Madison’s words snagging in her mind like a loose thread begging to be pulled.

"Wait," she said slowly, her gaze sharpening as she turned toward Madison. "What do you mean Finn and I were in the same group?"

Madison froze, her expression flickering from mild annoyance to something more guarded. She parted her lips to answer—then, just as quickly, snapped them shut, glancing away.

Ivy’s stomach knotted.

"Madison?"

The other girl shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Ivy’s gaze, pouting slightly as she had just realized her mistake.

"I—" Madison started, then sighed sharply, her mittened hands flexing uselessly in her lap. "Forget it, it’s nothing."

Finn, who had been quietly observing, now sat up straighter, his expression tightening.

"No, it’s not nothing," he pressed, his voice tinged with suspicion. "You said that like you knew something. What did you mean?"

Madison scowled, shifting again, her thick diaper rustling audibly with the movement.

"It doesn’t matter," she said curtly, crossing her arms.

"It does," Ivy shot back, her heart hammering faster.

Madison pursed her lips, looking incredibly irritated, but Ivy caught something else beneath that irritation.

Hesitation.

Guilt.

Like Madison had let slip something she wasn’t supposed to say.

A heavy, tense silence settled between them, the air thick with unspoken words.

Ivy’s mind raced. What did Madison know? What did she mean by ‘the same group’? Did someone decide who went into these Trials together?

Was someone watching them before all this even started?

She suddenly felt very cold despite the warmth of the nursery lights overhead.

"Madison," Ivy tried again, her voice lower, more careful now. "If you know something, you need to tell us."

Madison only clenched her jaw, refusing to meet their eyes.

And that, somehow, made Ivy even more afraid.

Carter strolled back into the room, looking freshly changed and utterly relaxed. His hands were stuffed into his pockets as he approached. Beside him, Finn’s assigned caregiver trailed behind him, leading another contestant in thick diapers—the boy awkwardly crawling with a deep scowl on his face.

Sitting beside Ivy, Finn straightened when he saw his teammate, giving the other baby a small nod, which was half-returned. But before Ivy could get a read on the new arrival, Carter’s smug voice cut through the moment like a blade.

"Miss me, Mads?"

Glowering at the floor, Madison snapped her head up, her scowl deepening.

"Go to hell, Carter," she hissed.

Carter grinned.

"Oh, come on," he said, mock offense dripping from his tone. "That’s no way to talk to your beloved caregiver, right?"

"Beloved my ass," Madison muttered.

Carter asked under his breath, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh.

"You know, Mads," he said, crouching in front of her, his voice dipped in condescending amusement, "I think you deserve some time in the Naughty Room. You’re behaving like a very, very naughty baby."

Madison stiffened, her teeth gritting audibly.

"Say that again," she growled, her mittens balling into useless fists.

Carter smirked, opening his mouth—

But then—

A soft chime echoed through the air.

A hush fell over them.

And then, like a specter slipping from the walls, Mistress’s voice coiled through the speakers like a predator’s purr, smooth, satisfied, and undeniably final.

"Caregiver 094, you have determined that Baby 093 needs time in the Naughty Room."

Everyone froze.

Ivy’s stomach plummeted.

Her breath hitched, chilling horror crawling up her spine like ice water.

Madison stared wide-eyed toward the ceiling, her lips parting soundlessly, her face draining of color.

Carter’s smirk vanished, his confidence cracking as his head jerked toward the unseen speakers.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Until—

"Caregiver," Mistress continued, her sultry tone tinged with expectation, "bring the baby to the Naughty Room. Immediately."

Madison flinched, scrambling back, desperation flashing in her wide, panicked eyes.

"No—NO! Wait!" she shouted, frantic now, her body twisting in resistance, the thick diaper forcing her into an awkward sprawl. "That wasn’t—HE WAS JOKING!"

Ivy’s heart thudded violently as she turned wide, frantic eyes to Carter.

"Fix it!" she snapped, panic tightening her voice. "Tell her you didn’t mean it!"

Carter—for once in his life—looked completely at a loss.

"Uh—" he started, lifting his hands in a half-shrug, genuine shock flashing across his features. "Hey, uh… yeah, Mistress, maybe we just let this one slide, yeah?"

Silence.

Then—

"Request denied."

The words slammed into them like a hammer.

Madison screamed, kicking out, her eyes wild with terror.

"NO! NO—PLEASE! I’M SORRY!"

Carter’s panic was palpable now. His usual smug confidence fractured as he whipped his head around, searching the faces of the other contestants—Finn, Ivy, and the other babies—all staring, wide-eyed, and silent.

Madison, wild with terror, struggled against the thick padding, which made her movements clumsy. Her mittens were useless as she grasped at nothing.

"Carter—please!" she sobbed, desperation cutting through her voice like a blade. "Please—DON’T!"

Carter froze, his hands half-raised, his face flushed with heat. He was caught in a limbo between refusal and obedience.

Then—

Mistress’s voice dripped from the speakers, her tone slow, patient—too patient.

"Caregiver 094," she purred, "you now have five minutes to comply… or you will be eliminated."

A heavy silence crashed down on them.

Carter’s breath hitched, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he stared at Madison, her tear-streaked face, her glistening eyes, the sheer terror in her expression.

He hesitated.

Madison clutched at his leg, her mittens brushing helplessly against his ankle.

"Please," she whispered, sobbing now. I'm sorry. I won’t fight you. I’ll be good. I swear—just… just don't do this."

Carter’s jaw locked tight.

Ivy saw the war inside him, the battle of pride, shame, and pure survival instinct.

But then—

The clock on the wall blinked to life.

4:59… 4:58… 4:57…

Carter swore violently, a string of curses tumbling from his lips as he yanked his leg away from Madison’s desperate grasp.

"Goddammit, Mads," he gritted out, his face twisted in fury and regret, "I don't have a choice!"

And with shaking hands, he grabbed her ankle and began to drag her away.

"NO—NO, CARTER—PLEASE!" Madison shrieked, twisting, writhing, but the thick diaper and her locked-up sleeper rendered her struggles useless.

Ivy and Finn scrambled to follow, crawling behind them as Carter hauled Madison toward the Naughty Room.

"Madison!" Ivy pleaded, trying to cut through the sheer panic and hysteria. "What did you mean earlier?! About Finn and me? What were you talking about?!"

But Madison wasn’t listening anymore.

Her wails of terror filled the air, her cries fractured, breaking apart into choked sobs and panicked curses, raw desperation spilling out as the Naughty Room loomed closer.

The door slid open, its ominous red glow pulsing from within.

"CARTER, PLEASE—DON'T—"

The arms extended.

Madison’s screams splintered through the hall, a raw, visceral sound that clawed at Ivy’s chest, setting every nerve on fire.

The metallic arms surged forward, fast—too fast—their joints whirring as they wrapped around Madison’s flailing limbs, locking her into an unyielding grip.

She thrashed wildly, her mittens useless, her legs kicking as she fought with everything she had.

"NO—NO! PLEASE!" Her voice cracked, ragged with sheer panic, "CARTER—PLEASE, I’LL BE GOOD! DON’T LET THEM—PLEASE!"

Carter stumbled back, his breath hitched, his face pale, hands trembling at his sides.

"MADS—!" He took half a step forward—instinctively—before stopping himself, his jaw clenching so hard it could shatter.

The arms yanked hard, jerking Madison off the ground, her scream peaking into a high, animalistic wail before they dragged her mercilessly into the abyss of the Naughty Room.

The glowing red light spilled across the floor, bathing them all in a hellish hue as Madison fought uselessly, her body jerking, twisting, flailing.

"I’M SORRY—I’M SORRY—I’M SORRY—" her pleas cracked, fractured, desperate sobs pouring out of her, echoing in the metallic chamber.

The door slid shut.

Sealing her inside.

Cutting off her screams instantly—horribly.

The silence that followed was deafening.

A thick, suffocating stillness settled over the group, the weight of what had just happened crashing down like a tidal wave.

Carter stood there, staring at the door. His chest rose and fell too quickly, his fingers clenched into fists, and his shoulders shook.

Ivy’s heart slammed against her ribs, her stomach twisting violently.

She could still hear Madison’s cries—not in reality, but in the ghost of a memory, the echo seared into her mind and forever etched into her bones.

Finn swallowed hard, shifting beside her, his breath ragged.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Then—

Mistress’s voice oozed through the speakers, smooth, almost… amused.

"Let this be a lesson, my sweet little ones. Good babies obey their caregivers."

The chilling finality in her tone made Ivy’s skin crawl.

A heavy metallic CLUNK resonated from the Naughty Room.

And then—

The lights in the hall flickered.

The game wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.