The Horrors

Fun chapter: Murkoff's Mischievous Daycare Trials

Part 4

Just as we settled into the musical chairs game, Lyn's knack for entertainment took center stage. He exaggerated his movements, tripping over his own feet to make the kids laugh, while Ave played referee, keeping the more competitive little ones from getting too rowdy. The laughter echoed around the room, a rare moment of carefree joy that almost made me forget where we were and why we were here.

Almost.

As I clapped along with the kids, I caught a glimpse of the surveillance camera's unblinking red light. It sent a chill down my spine. Murkoff was always watching, studying every interaction, every slip-up, every reaction. What were they learning from us? What data were they collecting?

My thoughts were interrupted by Zz stumbling awake, startled by another wristband beep. He rubbed his eyes, looking groggy but determined to stay conscious this time. "Did I miss anything?" he asked, yawning.

"Just the juice box disaster of the century," I teased, pointing at the still-damp spot on the floor.

Zz sighed, dragging himself over to help clean up. "These trials better be worth it," he mumbled, wiping up the remnants of our earlier chaos.

A few kids started getting tired, eyes drooping and yawns spreading like wildfire. Ave, ever the gentle guardian, began a quiet story to settle them down. His calm, soothing voice worked like magic, and I found myself marveling at how naturally he cared for them.

"Hey, Mito," Lyn called over, giving me a playful grin. "Think we'll survive another day of this madness?"

I managed a smile. "Only if you stop turning everything into a comedy routine."

He laughed. "No promises."

As the kids started to drift off, exhaustion finally catching up to them, I took a deep breath. Despite the laughter and camaraderie, the ever-present tension of Murkoff's trial loomed over us. We might have been running a daycare, but we were still test subjects. And I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much darker.