Deanna watched as the 7 year old Michelle and Frank continued to run around the yard. While at first the two grown down adults were arguing she soon noticed the they appeared to be laughing and playing. Confused she now approached Amanda who was examining their tablet.
“What’s going on now Amanda,” Deanna asked.
“Both of them think their seven now,” Amanda said flatly. “The chronovac altered their minds. They don’t remember they were adults, they think they’ve always been seven.”
“Are they going to be okay?”
Amanda gave Deanna an odd look as she tried to focus on her task. “Yeah they’ll be fine,” she said cautiously. “They’re just regular kids now. Exactly like they were when they were seven originally.”
Deanna breathed a sigh of relief as she turned back towards Michelle and Frank. The two carefree children were now swinging happily from the swing set. Frank excitedly kicked his feet, sending his overly large socks flying across the yard. Michelle giggled at the sight as she now tried to swing higher than her friend. As Deanna watched she felt a pang of jealously run through her body, it looked like so much fun she wanted to do the same.
“Okay finished,” Amanda sighed, wiping her brow. “I sent a message to TransDem saying Marvin’s story checked out. According to the email I sent they investigated him thoroughly and found no evidence of the chronovac. They now are going to investigate other leads. Now we just need to get rid of their car.”
Amanda began flicking through several options in the chronovac before smiling. “Check this out Deanna,” she smirked. Deanna watched as Amanda activated the chronovac, the girl gazed in awe as the SUV began to glow before slowly shrinking. In only moments the SUV had become the size of a matchbox car.
“Is that cool or what,” Amanda said impishly as she picked up the tiny car. “That is the coolest thing ever Amanda,” Deanna gasped. “So what are you going to do with it now?”
Amanda rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she tried to think. Unfortunately it was beginning to become quite difficult for her to focus. She was thinking more and more like a child as time went on. Shaking her head she looked at Deanna before looking at the car. “I have to get this thing out of here,” she said quickly. “After that Deanna I need to ask you how your feeling.”
Deanna nodded as she watched Amanda race towards the street. At first she wanted to warn Amanda about being so close to the street. Quickly though she realized how childish that sounded. Shaking her head she watched as Amanda began scanning the street. The young girl watched as several cars sped by, taking the tiny SUV she now tossed it into a passing pickup that continued to drive past the home. Breathing a sigh of relief she now ran back to Deanna. “There,” she sighed. “Now if theirs a GPS on the truck it will seem like it continued driving away from the house.”
“Wow great job Amanda,” Deanna exclaimed. “But that was so dangerous being that close to the street, you could of gotten hurt really, really bad.”
“I know, I know,” Amanda exclaimed. “But I had to take the chance just don’t tell Marvin I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Deanna and Amanda paused as they gave each other looks of concern. “Deanna,” Amanda said quietly. “We...we need to take a close look at the chronovac. I...think we’re still getting younger.”
“I know what you mean,” Deanna said. “It’s...it’s weird, I’m thinking more and more like a kid. I’m.....I’m forgetting what it’s like to be an adult.”
Deanna and Amanda now gave each other worrisome looks as they gazed down at the chronovac. They were quickly forgetting their adult lives, slowly but surely becoming children not only in body but mind as well. If they didn’t find a way to stop their slowly mental regression they would soon end up just like Michelle and Frank.