"You serious about escaping?"
Alex turned and saw Jessie looked at him. She was a little taller than him, her short black hair in a pixie cut. If she hadn't been wearing a fairy costume, Alex might have been a little intimidated.
"Yeah, " he said bravely. "This may be okay for you guys, but there is no way I can stay like this. I am going to escape or die trying."
Jessie smiled wryly as she walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's just what I wanted to hear. These chumps may have given up but it's nice to meet someone who still has some balls."
Alex blushed a little, embarrassed by the cute girl's flattery. Anna just crossed her arms and scowled. Jessie ignored her.
"Listen, climbing over the fence is no good. It is too loud and takes too long. But I managed to get a kid to slid something under the fence. If you help me move it around a little, we can probably make a space big enough for us to squeeze under it. What do you say, kid?" asked Jessie.
"Don't do it! You don't know the trouble you'll bring onto all of us. Jessie! You should know better! He's just a kid!" said Anna.
Jessie smiled. "He may look like a kid, but he acts like a man. What do you say? Want to get out of this kiddie nightmare? Are you my man?"
Alex smiled brightly. "I'm your man!"
"Cool!" said Jessie, slapping Alex hard on the shoulder. "Then let's blow this popsicle stand!"
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Anna retreated back into the dollhouse, mumbling that she was good dolly, while Jessie and Alex walked behind it. Sure enough, a smelly sock was wedged under the fence. Working together they were able to push the bulk of it to the side, leaving a narrow spaces to squeeze through.
"Okay, kid. Here is the plan. We make a beeline straight for the device. We turn the dial counterclockwise, and after it warms up we are good to go. I'll go first since I am little taller, then I'll do you. Sound fair?"
Alex nodded.
"Gentlemen first..." Jessie said with a smile and pointed towards the hole.
Alex bent down and tried to wriggle through. It was a tight fit and the fence pulled on his clothes. Worse, the sock beside him smelled terrible. He didn't know if it was because he was smaller or if the kid just never washed his feet. But after a seemingly agonizing long time he made it to the other side of the fence. He turned and proudly looked back at Jessie.
Jessie stared back at him with a pale terrified face. She looked left and right rapidly, chewing on her nails.
"Come on! Let's go!" hissed Alex.
One of the kids stirred in their sleep and they both turned to look at her. Cassie was beginning to wake up.
"Sorry, kid. I just can't do it. I have seen what they do to rulebreakers. I just couldn't take it. I am not strong enough. Sorry, " she said weakly.
Alex was shocked. Underneath her tough girl act she was just as much a coward as Anna. The punishment must have been really bad. He considered squeezing back through but Jessie kicked the sock out from under the fence, cutting off his retreat. She must have been scared that someone would discover her escape plan.
Cassie yawned behind him. Alex knew he had no choice and precious little time. He took off like a shot, stealthily sticking to the wall and hiding behind other toys as he worked his way towards salvation - the machine that had originally shrunk him and hopefully could restore him.