“You can be returned to your proper age.”
“That’s great!”
“However, there are a few caveats,” the man says. “First, it will take at least a week if not more to create the cure.” Laura nods reluctantly. She’s not thrilled about being a toddler for that long, but she thinks she can tolerate it. “Second, you’ll need to bond to and roll another pair of dice.”
“What?!” Laura shrieks.
“Don’t worry,” the man says quickly. He hands Laura a pair of dice. “I keep these for situations such as this.” He sighs. “I really need to figure out how the dice keep being sent to people.” He shakes his head. “Anyways, these are special dice. They only roll ones or twos.”
“And I only need to roll one die, right?” Laura asks. The man shakes his head.
“You’ll need to be affected by both dice. So you’ll have to roll both.”
“Which means I’ll be two, one, or…zero.” Laura swallows. “What happens if I roll a four?”
“You’ll be turned into a newborn.”
“Great,” Laura mumbles.
“Regardless of what number you roll, you’ll be aware of your surroundings and have as much ability to control yourself and speak as is possible of your age. I can’t make you a super baby, but I can make sure you’re the most mature baby to have ever existed.” Laura nods. “Once you make the roll, I’ll set up your temporary living situation.”
“What will that be?” Laura asks.
“Well, it depends on your age, which is why I’m waiting until you roll. If you roll a two and become two, you’ll stay with me until the cure is created. During the day, you’ll be in the playpen over there.” The man nods at a playpen tucked away in a corner of the shop. “Then you’ll come home with me after the shop is closed.”
“If I roll a three?”
“Babies require a bit more supervision than a toddler, but you’ll still be able to stay with me. However, while I’m at work, you’ll be at a daycare. Don’t worry, the owner of the daycare fell victim to the die himself, and has set up a protocol to take care of anyone who has been regressed. I’ll drop you off in the morning and pick you up on my way home.”
“And if I roll a four?” Laura squeaks.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to take care of a newborn, so you’ll be staying with a friend of mine. The man who runs the daycare I told you about. He and his wife just had a child, so they’re already adjusted to tending to newborns. You’d either go to his daycare during the day or stay at his home with his wife.”
“Okay.” Laura takes a deep breath. “That’s not as bad as I thought it would be.” She swallows nervously.
After a moment, she tosses the dice onto the floor, holding her breath, dreading the outcome.