**CHAPTER 2**

Lucas stirred, feeling a strange comfort as if wrapped in a blanket of warmth, though there was a faint itch under his skin that came and went. He let himself sink deeper into the embrace of sleep, not quite ready to wake up, savoring the soft touch of sunlight that kissed his body. A lazy smile almost curled his lips—morning sun had never felt this good before.

But then, the warmth started to become a little too much. A tiny frown formed on his face, a vague sense of discomfort nudging at the edges of his peace. *"Alright, this isn't as cozy anymore... Guess it's time to wake up,"* he thought drowsily. Except—his brow furrowed deeper—something was off. His room never caught this much light, especially not in the morning.

Confusion flickered through him as he tried to open his eyes, but they felt so impossibly heavy, as if they were glued shut. His breaths came shallow and awkward, almost like he was forgetting how to breathe properly. *"Weird... whatever, I'll just stretch it out,"* he thought, attempting to shift in bed.

Panic prickled at the edges of his mind when he couldn't move. Not an inch. His body felt trapped, pinned down by some unseen force. He strained again, only to find himself locked in place. A chill of fear crawled up his spine. His mind raced, *"What the hell is happening?"*

With a Herculean effort, he finally pried his eyes open, and his breath caught in his throat. Above him stretched an endless expanse of vivid blue sky, not the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. For a fleeting moment, he marveled at the beauty of it, the clouds moving lazily overhead. *"Wait... since when is the sky this… stunning? And… where am I?"*

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Heart hammering in his chest, he struggled to lift his hand, but even that felt like an exhausting task. When he finally managed to raise it to his face, what he saw made his mind go blank with shock. His hand—small, chubby, and delicate—looked nothing like his own. It was the hand of a baby.

*"What the... these hands... are so tiny!"* His internal voice rang out in disbelief, though he couldn't help but feel a flash of embarrassment, the kind you get when you've been caught doing something ridiculous. He glanced around frantically, wondering if anyone else had witnessed this bizarre transformation.

*"What's happening to me?!"* Panic threatened to swallow him whole. *"Mom… I need to call Mom!"* But when he tried to speak, what came out was not the call for help he intended. Instead, soft, high-pitched baby sounds escaped his mouth.

*"Oooh... oooh... ohh..."* The babbling filled the air, and with it came the crushing realization. His mind spiraled, trying to make sense of the impossible truth. *"I… I'm a baby?!"* Fear surged like a tidal wave, crashing over him. This was worse—far worse—than any nightmare. His heart pounded in his tiny chest, and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. How could this be real? Was this some kind of cruel joke?

But amidst the terror, a strange new emotion bubbled up—something like excitement, hope, and even joy. As the shock began to subside, the gears in his mind started turning. *"Wait... if I'm really a baby, then I've traveled back in time... I can change everything."*

A wild plan began forming in his head. *"I can make my parents rich! I'll know which stocks to buy... and I can meet those influential people from my previous life early! Maybe I can even stop Dad from getting into that accident..."* His tiny heart swelled with determination, and his baby face creased with newfound resolve.

For now, though, he needed to get his bearings. Looking around, the vibrant sky above him, the open air… *"Am I outside? Maybe I'm at the hospital… or back in the village?"* He tried to cry again, hoping his mother would hear him. Surely, she'd come if she knew he was awake.

*"Oooh... oooh... ooh..."* His tiny cries echoed softly, carried by the gentle breeze.