The next morning, Lizzy would end up waking up first only to find out that not only was she still a baby and in the nursery, but that a large rectangular window had appeared in one of the walls.
Lizzie darted her eyes around herself. And she looked at herself too. To her shame, she still wore a diaper and the onesie. She was still surrounded with bars and toys. She did recall how cozy the blanket had felt. Still felt, actually... And the stuffed animals looked so, so soft... She let her pudgy fingers trail against the nearest, a white rabbit with a red bow. It was so comforting... But Lizzie shook herself. No! She had to resist the urge to hug it, no matter how soothing she was sure it would feel. She had to get out of here! The baby that she now was peered through the bars. She was too weak and short to climb over the railing. And the nursery had not changed. It still held the common furniture such a room would contain. And toys. Oh, this doll in the corner looked so pretty... Elizabeth wondered how it would feel to brush her hair and but her next to a tea set and act like a lady... Maybe once she had grown up a bit?... Lizzie shook herself again. No! She must not succumb to these weird infantile urges! She had to make her escape. And find Thomas. Where could he be? Was he a baby too? Could she reach him? Did he have better chances of escape?
"Oh, how darling!"
"Yes, she is a cutie."
Lizzie turned where the muted voices had issued from. The first had been female. The second male. They came from the large window. People were staring at her! A couple and the witch, chuckling and saying that Lizzie could be adopted at any time and that she was in perfect health. And then other couples came to coo at her and observe her. This nursery was an orphanage room! Lizzie wondered if Thomas was receiving the same treatment. But what surprised her the most was that these couples were not human! Or rather, not completely, sometimes. And the witch said that she could turn Lizzie into a full member of their species. This frightened Lizzie to the core. Who would end up adopting her?