Tessie put the book back into the shelf and the group headed back towards the nursery. Eric was waiting for them already:
“Hey, did you find anything usable in the library?”
“Yeah, Eric,” Diane replied, “However; I’d like to ask you a question. Do you remember when you arrived at the manor?”
“No … oh, I don’t remember having heard your names,” he stopped.
“Oh, sorry for that,” Diane realized their lack of courtesy, “My name is Diane and these are my friends essie, Daniel and Thomas.”
“Thanks, Diane. To be honest, I don’t remember it at all. I think we have been here forever and we still are toddlers. The nurse is very lovely and she takes care of us.”
“Don’t you feel lonely?”
“No …,” Eric suddenly stopped talking. He realized they had been in the manor for long and didn’t have any friends except the nurse. For an unknown reason, he didn’t mind it. He shrugged only.
“Didn’t you consider escaping from here?” Diane continued.
“Nope, why?” Eric answered innocently just like a real toddler.
“Okay but we would like to escape. We have found a book about this manor. We arrived here as adults and changed into toddlers. Now we have to change back.”
“Well, I can tell you about an escape but bring me my lost teddy bear. I’ve lost it in the challenge room across the corridor.”
“Eric, why don’t you go there and bring it back on your own?”
“I’m afraid of rats. Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you about the giant rats.”
“W … what?” Tessie stared at him wide-eyed and she felt a stream of pee hitting her diaper.
“Hey, Tessie, We were there and there were no rats in the room. Let’s go,” Thomas tried to calm Tessie down.
“O … okay but hold me at hand,” Tessie stretched her hand towards Thomas and he took it.
Diane was more courageous and she nodded and turned back:
“Eric, we will bring you the teddy bear,” she stepped forward.