Suddenly, a thought came to Uni, her eyes widening slightly. "Hey, you know... we could maybe come up with a cover story. Something harmless that would explain away the candy. We need a good excuse for why we're giving her this much sugar all of a sudden."
"You're right," Trixie chimed in, her face brightening slightly. "We just can't keep giving her candy without a good reason. We need a cover story that sounds believable. But what could we tell her that would make sense?”
Uni thought for a moment, her mind racing. "Hm... what if we say...it's a special reward for her being such a good girl? Like, I don't know, an extra treat for staying calm and well-behaved.”
"That could work," Trixie agreed, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, and we could say that she's been doing really well recently, and we wanted to show our appreciation by spoiling her a bit. It's not entirely a lie, right? We are rewarding her for being a good girl.”
"Exactly," Uni chimed in, relieved that they had come up with a cover story. "And it's vague enough that it probably won't set off any alarm bells. And she'll just think we're being extra sweet to her, which won't seem out of the ordinary, right? Let's give it a whirl.”
Just then, Stephanie looked up from the candy she had been devouring in bliss. Her cheeks were smeared with chocolate, and her smile was as sweet as the treats they had been feeding her.
"You guys are the best," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "This candy is so yummy~!”
Uni couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as she looked at the sweet girl in front of them. She was so innocent, so blissfully unaware of the true reason for the candy overload. But they had to keep it that way for her own safety.
She forced a smile, trying to keep her voice light. "We're happy you're enjoying it, Stephanie. We just wanted to spoil you a bit, since you've been such a good girl lately.”
"Yeah," Trixie chimed in, her voice equally as cheerful. "You've been such a good girl. We thought you deserved a little treat."
Stephanie beamed at them, not suspecting a thing. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, completely oblivious to the true reason behind all the sugar she was being given.
As they continued to shower her with sugar and sweet words, Uni couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, she was glad that Stephanie was happy and oblivious. But on the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and the weight of the secret they were hiding from her.
It was a necessary lie, but a lie nonetheless.
…
The rest of the day passed without any incidents. Stephanie was happily devouring candy and being her sweet, innocent self. Uni and Trixie continued to spoil her with sugar and affection, pretending that everything was normal.
As the evening approached, they watched as Stephanie started to get a little drowsy, the effects of all the sugar finally catching up to her.
"Wow, she's got a big sugar crash," Uni whispered to Trixie, a small smile playing on her lips. "Looks like all that candy did its job."
Trixie chuckled softly, looking at the sleepy Stephanie. "Yeah, I guess it did. Maybe we should start cutting back on the sweets a little. Can't have her bouncing off the walls all the time.”
Uni laughed lightly. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. We don't want her to be a sugar-crazed monster 24/7, after all."
Just then, Stephanie let out a huge yawn, her eyelids getting heavier and heavier.
"Okay, I think it's time for bed for Ms. Little Sugar Monster over here," Uni teased gently.
Trixie chuckled. "Yeah, she's had enough candy for the day. Let's get her tucked into bed before she falls asleep right here on the couch.”
They both approached Stephanie, who was now struggling to keep her eyes open. Uni gently picked her up, cradling her in her arms. "Come on, sleepyhead. Let's getcha in bed.”
Uni carried Stephanie into her bedroom, followed closely by Trixie. They placed her gently on the bed, pulling the covers over her small body. Stephanie mumbled a sleepy "good night" before dozing off almost instantly.
Uni and Trixie smiled at each other as they quietly left the room, shutting the door behind them.
"Looks like the sugar crash worked like a charm," Uni whispered, a hint of relief in her voice.
"Yeah," Trixie agreed, a similar note of relief in her voice. "She fell asleep pretty quickly. I guess all that sugar really tired her out.”
"Yep," Uni agreed. "That'll hopefully help keep the Archons inside her under control for the night, too."
They walked back into the living room, taking a moment to relax. The weight of their secret seemed a bit lighter now that Stephanie was fast asleep and safe from the darkness within her. But despite the relief they felt, a sense of unease still lingered. Uni spoke up, her voice quiet. "You know, Trix...this whole thing we're doing...the lies, the sugar...it doesn't feel right.”
Trixie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, Uni. I know. It doesn't sit well with me either. But what choice do we have, y'know? We can't risk telling her the truth, can we? I mean, it could make her go berserk, like Dolores said. We can't risk that.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"I know," Uni said, her voice filled with frustration. "But it just feels so...wrong. We're lying to a clueless little girl, Trix. We're pretending everything's fine and giving her a ton of candy so some evil thing inside her stays happy. What kind of people do that make us?”
"We're not bad people, Uni," Trixie responded, her voice firm. "We're doing what we have to do to keep her safe... to keep everyone safe. I don't like it any more than you do, but we don't have any other choice. This is the lesser of two evils, plain and simple.”
Uni wanted to argue further, but she knew deep down that Trixie was right. They didn't have a better option. Telling the truth could put everyone in danger.
She let out a sigh of resignation. "I know, Trix. We're doing what we have to do. But the guilt...it's still there. I can't help it.”
"I get it," Trixie said, her voice laced with empathy. "Trust me, I feel the same way. But we can't let our guilt get the best of us. We have to stay focused on keeping her safe, no matter what. That's our top priority here. We also still have to live our life too—we're in a whole new country right now.”
"Yeah," Uni nodded, taking a deep breath. "You're right. We have to stay strong, for ourselves and for Stephanie. And you're right, we do need to have some semblance of normalcy too. We can't just hole ourselves up in fear."
She paused, then a small, sad smile appeared on her face. "I guess it's a good thing the candy keeps her so happy and distracted, huh?”
They both fell into silence for a moment, the weight of their situation hanging in the air.
Uni broke the silence, her voice quiet yet determined. "You know, as much as I hate this whole situation, there's something I'm grateful for."
"Oh? And what's that?" Trixie asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Having you by my side," Uni said, her voice sincere. "If I had to go through all this with anyone, I'm glad it's you, Trix."
She reached out and squeezed her friend's hand, a gesture of gratitude and support.
"Aw, Uni," Trixie said, a warm smile spreading across her face. "You're making me blush. But seriously, I feel the same way. I'm glad I'm in this with you. We make a pretty good team, don't we?”
"The best damn team there is," Uni chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice. "No matter what happens, I know we can face it together. We've got this, Trix. We really do.”
"Hell yeah, we do," Trixie said, her voice full of determination. "Just you and me, Uni. Always and forever. And we'll get through this, no matter how difficult or scary it gets. We're a force to be reckoned with, remember?”
Uni smiled, that familiar warmth spreading through her. "How could I forget? We're the power duo, Trix. Nothing can stop us when we're together.”
"Damn straight," Trixie grinned, feeling a surge of confidence.
A paper crumpling sound was heard behind the two, and they turned around to see Esther, who pointed at herself with a smile while mouthing "Me too".
Uni and Trixie chuckled, knowing that their fellow Alliance member had heard their conversation.
Uni spoke up, her voice warm. "Of course, Esther. You're a part of our team too. Couldn't do it without you.”
"Yeah," Trixie chimed in, a smile on her face. "You're our quiet powerhouse. No one can kick some serious butt on the battlefield like you can, you know that?”
Esther gave a self-satisfied smirk in response, seemingly pleased with the compliment.
Trixie laughed. "See, even she knows that she's a badass. We're unstoppable, guys."
"And don't forget me as well, Trixie," Piper chimed in, the android beaming up at her lifelong companion, her hands behind her back.
Trixie couldn't help but roll her eyes affectionately at her android companion. "Oh, here we go. Of course, I could never forget you, Piper. You're the resident genius and wholesome bot rolled into one. The little sister that I never had.”
"Exactly," Uni nodded, a confident smirk on her face. "A perfect team. Brains. Brawn. Speed. And silent but deadly."
Esther made a mock salute, further emphasizing her badassery.
"See? You don't need to say a word to be awesome, Esther."
Trixie looked over at Piper. "And you, little genius, always the glue that keeps us together, yeah?”
"You got it," Piper beamed, her eyes shining.
Trixie folded her arms behind her head, tilting it in thought. "Gee, we should all go out and have some fun tomorrow like the tourists we are, any good spots around here, Piper?”
Piper hummed, her processing skills immediately going to work.
"Absolutely, plenty," she replied, her eyes briefly flickering as her search results came up. "There are numerous spots nearby that might interest each of you. Would you like me to list the top options?”
Uni chuckled, shaking her head jokingly. "She's like a walking, talking encyclopedia."
Trixie rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile at Piper's efficiency. "Please, Piper. Give us the rundown of the best spots around here. I hope they have a mall somewhere, although I'm sure they do."
"I am far better than encyclopedia," Piper corrected with a hint of mock offense, but her tone was more playful than serious.
Trixie laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're superior in every way. Just give us a banging mall or something, smarty-pants.”
Piper pretended to pout for a second before bursting into a laugh. "Got it. Let me give you the top picks for a fun outing..."
Her eyes flickered again, her internal database providing her with the information. The group watched, impressed as always, at how quickly and accurately she could gather intel.
Piper spoke up, her voice filled with excitement, "There are several interesting spots nearby that you could visit. For shopping, there are a few modern malls, and for nature lovers, there is a beautiful national park not too far away. There's also a local beach known for its clear waters and excellent surfing, along with numerous restaurants and cafes that serve local cuisine.”
Uni's eyes lit up at the mention of a mall. The thought of a day of shopping and unwinding sounded like heaven.
But she also took note of the other suggestions, recognizing the needs and interests of her team members.
Esther, of course, appeared to remain impassive, although there was a subtle glint of interest in her eyes.
Trixie, ever the adventurer, perked up at the mention of the beach and national park. Her eyes sparkled, envisioning the possibilities.
But she also didn't forget the importance of shopping. She knew Uni would appreciate that outlet, even if it wasn't her main preference.
Piper, as per her usual self, was already organizing an itinerary in her mind, taking into account everyone's preferences and ensuring the day would be fun and memorable.
She looked around, her gaze landing on each individual. "So, what do you all think? What sounds like the most enjoyable option?"
"Mall first," Uni blurted out without a moment's hesitation.
The others laughed at Uni's bluntness.
Trixie chuckled. "Of course, that's the first thing that would pop into your head. Are we also getting ice cream after that?"
Uni feigned offense. "Well, of course. Any self-respecting shopaholic knows a day of retail therapy needs to be rounded off with a sweet treat.”
Piper giggled, her eyes glimmering with amusement. "Noted. Shopping and ice cream. Got it."
Esther remained silent, though the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, hinting at a subtle smile.
Uni grinned. "See? I have my priorities straight. And let's face it, a day of shopping in a massive mall is an essential part of any vacay."
Trixie playfully rolled her eyes, but a smirk betrayed her amusement. "You and your priorities. Alright, fine. Mall first, then we'll go for a walk on the beach and have ice cream, deal?”
"Deal," Uni agreed quickly.
Trixie looked at Piper. "You've marked down the mall location and the rest, right? We don't want to get lost finding a shopping paradise."
Piper chuckled. "Of course, I've got all the locations stored in my database. Nothing slips past me. You'll have a smooth trip without any issues.”
"Perfect," Uni said, feeling her excitement grow. "Tomorrow can't come soon enough. I can practically hear my credit card shouting 'take me out of the wallet!'.
Trixie chuckled. "You and your shopping addiction. Just try not to drain all your funds on the first day, yeah?”
Uni feigned offense once again, putting a hand over her heart dramatically. "Excuse me, my shopping is a lifestyle, not an addiction. And I promise to restrain myself. Maybe. Probably.”
Trixie laughed, used to Uni's antics.
Esther's eyes sparkled with amusement now, clearly enjoying the banter.
Piper spoke up, her tone light and teasing. "Uni, if you need help controlling your spending spree, I can always take over your card.”
Uni gave her a mock glare. "Oh, you wish, you little piece of technology. My card is mine and mine alone. No one's going to limit my shopping freedom, not even you."
Trixie smirked, loving the friendly banter between the two.
Piper chuckled. "Just offering you a backup plan, you know. If your shopping spree takes a wild turn, I can step in and prevent you from making any... impulsively expensive decisions."
Uni put a hand over her heart again. "How sweet of you, Piper. But worry not, I have the willpower of a gladiator. I can resist the lure of discount signs and shiny things. Mostly. Now I'm outta here, gotta surf the web and all before I rest up for the big day.”
The others laughed at Uni's dramatic declaration.
Trixie smiled. "Yeah, yeah. You go do that. But remember, sleep is important too. We don't need a zombie tomorrow who only cares about the mall store discounts."
Uni stuck her tongue out jokingly. "I'll sleep after I've checked all the online deals. Bye, suckers!”
They all waved as Uni disappeared under the sheets, already mentally planning her shopping strategy.