Megan stared at the glowing Age slider for a while, her small thumb tracing along the edge of the screen. She didn’t mean to do anything wrong—she just thought it might be funny. Or maybe... cool?
Then she saw Jeff’s profile flash across the interface.
User: Jeffery
Age: 17
Status: Aware
“Ooh,” Megan whispered. “What if Jeff was, like… my age? Then we could play together more…”
She didn’t hesitate. With a childish giggle, she slid the Age bar down from 17 to 8.
The Chronivac screen pulsed gently.
Processing Timeline Modification... Applying Retroactive Adjustments...
Upstairs, Jeff had just opened his laptop when he felt something weird. A cold shiver ran through his whole body. Then a warm flush. Then—
His desk suddenly seemed... taller.
His sleeves slipped down over his hands.
His chair, which had once fit just right, now swallowed him.
“What the he—”
His voice cracked and pitched up—a little boy's voice now.
He jumped off the chair and bolted to the mirror, nearly tripping over his suddenly baggy jeans.
He stared in horror.
A little kid stared back at him. Wide eyes. Chubby cheeks. Tiny nose. Hair a little messy.
“MOM!” he squeaked.
Downstairs, Megan flinched a little boy call mom was shouted—well, squeaked—from upstairs.
Moments later, Jess, still in her pajama shorts and hoodie, poked her head into Jeff’s room curious as to what the commotion was.
“Jeff, what the—”
She stopped dead in the doorway.
A small boy with Jeff’s exact face and terrified eyes looked up at her, swimming in too-big clothes.
“I—I think someone used the thing, I think it was Megan based on your reaction” he stammered.
Jess blinked. Then blinked again. “Oh my god… she Chronivac’d you.”
Jeff threw his arms up in exasperation. “I’m eight! What am I supposed to do now!?”
Just then, Megan peeked into the room holding the Chronivac like it was a tablet full of candy.
“I made you little again!” she beamed. “Now we can play together!”
Jeff groaned.
Jess buried her face in her hands almost crying from laughing. “Oh my god, this is happening again…”