Theo was carefully examined for injuries and questioned repeatedly about how he had ended up there. Yazmina reassured them that he had simply wandered in out of curiosity and had been unable to find his way back.

After all, children are naturally inquisitive.

Theo was then encouraged to get some rest, but he clung tightly to Yazmina, unwilling to let go.

"It's alright, you can leave him to me," Yazmina assured the staff and paramedics. "It's been a long night for everyone—you should all get some rest."

Once the others had left, Yazmina gently carried Theo to the bunkers.

The other children were already fast asleep, so she carefully walked to Theo’s bed and laid him down.

"Doctor Yazmina, can you read me a story?" Theo asked sleepily.

"Just call me Doctor Yaz," she said with a warm smile, before picking up his favorite book and beginning to read.

As she read, she lay beside Theo, her voice gradually growing softer as exhaustion took over. Before she knew it, she had dozed off, the open book resting beside them.

Then, the presence returned.

The eerie sensation crept up from the shadows, like metallic claws tipped with needles, reaching towards Theo’s bed. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he woke, his eyes widening in horror as he saw the inhuman hands stretching toward Yazmina.

"Stop!" Theo cried out in a trembling voice.

"Touch anyone, but not her!"

A whisper, barely audible, curled into his ear like mist.

"You were late, Theo."

Theo blinked, his tiny hands gripping the blanket. "I got caught. I couldn’t finish what we talked about."

The presence remained silent for a moment before responding, its voice neither fully male nor female—something in between, fluid and shifting. "I know. I waited."

Theo glanced at Yazmina beside him, her slow breathing steady and undisturbed. He turned back toward the darkness beneath his bed. "I’ll try again soon. Just… not her."

A quiet chuckle reverberated through the room, soft yet unsettling. "You like her." A bit of interest was found in it's eerie mechanical voice.

Theo frowned. "She’s nice to me. Don’t do anything bad to her."

A pause, then the voice murmured, "I won’t. Friends protect their friends. Just like you’ll protect me, won’t you, Theo?"

Theo hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. I promise."

A pause followed before the voice continued, "But remember your promise, Theo. You need to finish what I asked you to do. Friends help each other, don’t they, Theo?"

Theo's breath hitched. "Yes... I'll find another opportunity."

The hands retracted, slithering back into the darkness below his bed. Theo exhaled, releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and turned back toward Yazmina, wrapping his arms around her.

Her steady warmth and her faint vanilla scent helped chase away the lingering uneasiness, and soon, everything felt calm again.

The next morning, Yazmina was slowly pulled from sleep by a gentle feeling—small, warm gazes fixed on her. As she blinked awake, she found herself surrounded by the wide-eyed wonder of the children.

"Why did she sleep with Theo and not us?" One kid pouted.

"Hey shush, she's still sleeping"

"Guys don't disturb her sleep!"

"She’s waking up!"

"Wow, even when she’s sleeping, she looks like a princess," one little girl murmured with admiration.

Yazmina stretched, smiling at their innocent whispers. "Good morning, little ones," she greeted, her voice still drowsy.

A small boy tugged on the edge of her sleeve. "Doctor Yazmina, did you really sleep here all night?"

"I suppose I did," she admitted, glancing at Theo, who was still curled up beside her. His grip on her sleeve remained firm, even in his sleep.

A little girl, twirling a strand of her hair, sighed dramatically. "Theo never hugs anyone like that!" The other children giggled in agreement.

"Alright, little ones," she whispered. "Why don’t we let Theo sleep a bit longer? Let’s all go wash up and get ready for breakfast."

The children nodded, though some hesitated, reluctant to leave just yet. Eventually, they scurried off, their quiet giggles echoing as they exited the room.

Yazmina sighed and looked back at Theo.

He had called out in the night—his words still echoed in her mind. Touch anyone but not her!

Yazmina's smile softened, but in the back of her mind, she knew about the eerie voice from the night before.

Ever since she was a kid, her listening skills are very sharp. Everything HE and Theo spoke were heard by her. She then smiled, glancing down at the boy who was still clung to her.

She knew what he was tangled up in, what haunted his nights and whispered promises in the dark.

But for now, she let it be.

____________________________

Back at her dormitory, Yazmina took a refreshing shower before changing into a fresh set of clothes. She gathered her hair into a sleek ponytail, the style emphasizing her delicate features.

She avoided wearing perfume—her nose was too sensitive to strong scents, often making her skin itch. Yet, a natural vanilla fragrance clung to her skin, subtle and inviting, noticeable only when someone stood close enough.

Doctor Leith Pierre had informed her that she would be meeting someone today. Not just anyone, but a key figure within Playtime Co. Factory—someone of great importance.

As she adjusted the collar of her uniform, a quiet curiosity stirred within her. That thought lingered but disappeared immediately since she already had a hint in her mind.

She stepped out of her room, ready for whatever awaited her.

Yazmina soon arrived at the designated meeting room, a modest yet well-furnished space with a long table at its center.

Doctor Leith Pierre was already inside, his usual composed demeanor in place, though the ever-present lecherous smirk still lingered on his lips. He acknowledged her with a small nod before gesturing toward the other figure in the room.

The man seated across from him exuded an aura of quiet authority. His chestnut-brown hair, streaked with silver, was neatly combed, and the sharpness in his gaze suggested a mind that rarely rested. His suit, though unassuming, carried an air of refinement that marked him as someone of great importance.

“Yazmina,” Leith began, his voice measured.

“This is Eddie M.N. Ritterman, the Head of Research here at Playtime Co.”

Eddie leaned forward slightly, his dull brown eyes scanning her with a mix of curiosity and something unspoken—an expectation, perhaps.

“I’ve heard about you,” he said at last, his voice smooth but firm. A faint, knowing smile tugged at his lips. “You truly are a great beauty.”

Yazmina remained impassive, letting the words slide past her without reaction. Compliments like these held no weight in a place like this.

What mattered was the unspoken reason behind this meeting—the real purpose she was here.

And she knew exactly what they were about to ask of her.

A silent tension settled over the room as Eddie steepled his fingers, watching her intently. Then, with deliberate slowness, he spoke.

“There’s a project we need your involvement in,” he said. “Something that requires... a particular skill set.”

Yazmina said nothing, waiting.

Eddie exchanged a brief glance with Leith before continuing. “Your medical expertise will be useful, of course. But this goes beyond that.”

Leith chuckled, tilting his head slightly. “You’re going to be working on something special, Yazmina.”

(Eddie Ritterman at the picture above)