Back to the Cradle

Chapter 3 - Shattered Will

Emmett is back in the playpen, staring blankly at the stuffed toy in front of him. The humiliation of calling Eloise "Mommy" gnaws at him, mixing with his lingering frustration. God, I can’t believe I did that, he thinks, gripping the toy tightly as if it could anchor him to some semblance of normalcy. His thoughts swirl with anger and shame, but also with a relentless desire to escape.

Just as Emmett contemplates his next move, Eloise passes by and leans down with a cheerful tone. “Hi, Emmy! Mommy’s going out to buy some things, okay? I’ll only be gone for a short while, so you’d better behave.” Eloise boops him on the nose and heads out. Emmett hears the door close behind them, and a spark of hope ignites amidst his frustration. Maybe I can use this opportunity to escape.

He quickly examines the playpen, checking its structure and any potential weaknesses. The soft, padded sides seem impenetrable, but he spots a small gap where the mesh meets the frame. Carefully, he maneuvers himself toward it, his heart racing with both excitement and fear.

Taking a deep breath, Emmett focuses on the gap. He begins to wiggle and push, trying to squeeze through while keeping an ear out for any sounds that might indicate Eloise’s return. His determination grows with every inch he manages to move, knowing this might be his only chance to regain his freedom.

He finally manages to squeeze through the gap, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and apprehension. He unlocks the door and steps outside. As he looks around, he realizes he’s in a fancy neighborhood— Damn, Momm– Eloise must be loaded, he thinks, shaking his head at the mental slip-up.

Emmett races down the street, glancing around in search of help. The houses are enormous, each set far apart from the others. He approaches the first house he sees, knocking frantically on the door.

“Please, help me! I need to call the police!” he pleads when a butler answers. Emmett has forgotten about the childish attire he was in – a diaper with cutesy, babyish designs. The man looks him up and down with a mix of disdain and suspicion.

“Get away from this estate, you pervert,” the man snaps, slamming the door in Emmett’s face.

Stunned, Emmett stumbles back, frustration mounting. He continues down the street, trying a few more houses with similar results—dismissive glances and harsh rejections.

Finally, he reaches a gated area. Relief washes over him as he sees a potential escape route, but his hope vanishes when he hears the roar of an approaching vehicle. He turns to see Eloise’s car pulling up.

“No, no, no!” Emmett yells, panic surging through him. He runs toward the gate, hoping to slip through before Eloise arrives. But the car slows and stops just as he reaches the gate.

Eloise steps out of the vehicle, a smug smile playing on their lips. “Oh, Emmy, you didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you?” they say, walking toward him with a mix of amusement and authority.

Emmett’s shoulders slump in defeat as he watches Eloise approach, his brief taste of freedom slipping away.

Eloise saunters over, their smile widening at the sight of Emmett’s dejected posture. "You’ve had quite the journey, haven’t you?” they say, their tone dripping with faux sympathy. “Did you really think escaping would be so simple?”

Emmett glares at Eloise, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and resignation. “This isn’t right,” he says, his voice trembling. “You can’t keep me like this.”

Eloise merely chuckles, shaking their head. “Oh, but I can, and I will. It's okay though, you're still learning the rules of this game." They reach out, taking Emmett by the arm and guiding him back toward the car. “Let’s get you back inside where you belong.”