Free Baby Cage by Devon Shire

as I tallied the pages and writing assignments, I rolled over and hit something. It wasn’t the wall of my dorm room. No, this felt like bars.
    Bars? I tried to understand it, but then my body stiffened as I refused to believe those memories were real. They bubbled up: being late for class, the interview, the diaper, the bottle, and the echoed pleasures of Kayla’s teasing fingertip.
    Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and found the bars of my crib. This was the first time I awoke there. I glanced between them and spotted the changing table. As each memory flared back, so did my resolve. I couldn’t believe I had allowed Kayla to master and dominate me so easily. All it took was a bottle of warm milk? No, I was better than that. I was better than this stupid crib and—my diaper.
    I glanced back down and felt it there between my legs. I pulled away the thin blanket Seth must have pulled across my body and found white symbol of my regression. The ruffles, the prints, the weight, and the noise all reminded me of how this was neither a dream, nor a nightmare.
    Turning around, I blinked away the last of sleep and felt myself awaken all the way again. As my thoughts crystallized, I made a decision. I had to get away, there and now. I peeked up and saw there were no bars across my baby cage. I could do it.
    Before I made any decisions, a realization hit me.
    I had to use the bathroom. It wasn’t an intense need. I could hold it for a long time. College classes often required me to ignore any potential need. So right then, I concentrated on simply getting away and out of this diaper.
    I started to sit up and felt a wave of wooziness rush through my head. I gripped the bars and steadied myself. After two or three seconds, my equilibrium returned. I got back onto my knees and it was a bit easier this time, but I still felt weak.
    The collar. I remembered it, how everything went back to Seth and Kayla’s experiment. Breathing out, I reached for the clasp at the back, only it wasn’t just some latch. Nope, they had a small lock. I felt its dimensions and remembered the key Kayla wore around her neck. I was stuck in this thing for the foreseeable future, not that I would let their collar keep me as their baby girl.
    I was stronger than this, I told myself. I could get out and get away.
    I grabbed the top of the bars and pulled myself up onto my feet. The top of the crib only came to my waist, so I lifted one leg and started to get out. Again, a rush of weakness shot through my limbs, and for a moment, I thought I might not be able to do it. Perhaps the crib would be enough to keep me trapped.
    With a flurry of effort, I got one leg up and over the bars. I rested for a moment. This was so much harder than it should have been. An actual toddler would have had the same difficulties, I thought, more rueful than annoyed right then. I couldn’t allow myself to get flustered.
    I worked my other leg over, let go, and stumbled down onto the floor of the nursery. I was free! A triumphant smirk washed over my face and I shook my head, thinking of how easy this was going to be.
    I didn’t make a lot of sound, so I probably had some time before they came to check on me. Exhaling, I wanted to stand up, but when I tried, I felt my legs wobble beneath me. I guessed that the collar’s effects must have been cumulative. Walking with Kayla to the living room had been taxing. Now it would probably be impossible.
    As I started to crawl across the room, I realized this was easier. If anything, I felt more energetic as I moved along on my hands and knees. I paused before the door though, wondering if I should take off the diaper. There were dressers here. At least one of them had to have some clothes.
    Baby clothes.
    My adult attire had been taken away, and I didn’t want to risk looking for it. No, I had to act now. If I could just get outside and get some help, then I would be free. I didn’t care if anyone saw me like this, not if wasting any more time