Lies We Tell

34 : Baby Fever

Zahra was the first to wake in the morning, but the others were jolted awake shortly after at the sound of a loud cry.

"What was that?" Chelsea gasped, sitting upright in bed and jerking her facemask off with a flourish.

Zahra caught sight of Henrik pressing his pillow over his head. "Chels," he complained simply.

The wail came again, jerking everyone into a confused state. "Got to be kidding me," Gary griped, his voice thick with sleep. "Quit it, Bobs."

"It's not me!" Bobby argued. He got to his knees on the bed and scuttled down to the foot of it, leaning forward. "It's kind of like-"

He was interrupted by the wail, which sounded three times louder this time and didn't stop. A chorus of jolting cries filled the room, shocking everyone.

Bobby nearly fell out of bed as he scrambled to his feet. "Babies!" He was off in a rush, racing out of the room elsewhere into the Villa.

"Bobby! Come back!" Hannah yelled after him, hustling to follow after him.

Across the room, Noah was trying to pull Shannon out of bed after him. "Shan, it's babies."

Shannon let out a deep sigh. "There's no way they're real, hun."

"Robotic babies?" Lottie said aloud, making a face. "That's a little creepy."

Suddenly Bobby came bolting back into the room, a doll in his arms. "We have babies!"

As Zahra watched the exchange between islanders as everyone rushed to get out of bed and follow Bobby to the rest of the crying dolls, she was sure this was the universe's way of waving yesterday's challenge and all of her half-truths in her face. The firm pressure of Lucas's hand against her lower back as they hustled into the living room didn't do any better to ease her concerns.

Hannah was already reading a text from her phone as everyone crowded around the many tiny bassinets with robotic babies. "'Islanders, today you become parents— congratulations on your little bundles of joy! For the entire day you and your partner will take care of your baby and tend to its needs. At the end of the day, the couple who does the best will win a challenge prize. Happy parenting!'"

There was a mix of reactions among the group at the announcement. Some— Bobby and Noah, mostly— were beyond excited; some like Shannon and Lottie were amused while others— Gary and Henrik— were far from it.

Zahra peered over at Lucas, who leaned over the bassinet assigned to them with an odd expression across his face. "All day?" he asked.

She was unfazed by his apprehension, knowing full well how he viewed children while also noting she felt much the same way, too, and couldn't judge. "All day," she confirmed with a sigh.

Lucas glanced at her quickly before exhaling deeply and reaching in for their doll. It was a girl— at least, it looked like it was— dressed in a little pink outfit complete with a pink bow around its head.

"Aw, cute!" Chelsea cooed next to them, smiling broadly at their doll in the same way she smiled at her own in her arms. "What have you named her?"

"Name?" Lucas and Zahra echoed the question at the same time, both of them channeling some panic.

Chelsea looked amused. "Well of course. You can't just call your baby 'doll' all day."

Zahra exchanged a glance with Lucas before letting out a laugh. He cracked a smile at the sound, loosening up himself. "I think Doll works just fine, don't you Zee?"

She giggled at the strangeness of it all. "Doll is perfect, actually."

Chelsea tsked them, drawing her doll closer to her chest. "Already I'm doing better than you both. Let's go, Bubbly." With a mock huff, she whisked herself and the doll away.