Malice Aforethought

Chapter 13
Bigger Picture

I didn’t even remember falling asleep, but I must have at some point because a heavy bump woke me up. Rubbing my bleary eyes I saw that it was daylight out again. We’d been driving for some time and I wasn’t even sure we were still in South Africa. Of course it was unlikely we crossed any international borders without questions being asked about the two nearly naked men strapped into oversized car seats.

In any case we were well away from any cities now. The countryside would best be described as African savannah, the kind of place you go for a safari. We were on an unpaved road with nothing but grassland and small stands of trees around us for as far as I could see. Timmy was still asleep and I didn’t dare wake him up. The smell wafting over from his direction told me he’d used his nappy for more than just pee. I tried not to think about it. Instead I watched the scenery pass by in silence. The men were talking to each other in the front, but they spoke an African language I couldn’t begin to recognise. We stayed on that rural unpaved road, bouncing along for another twenty minutes. Wherever we were headed it was so remote there would be no chance of escape on foot, that was for sure. Especially not in bare feet and a wet nappy.

Finally something appeared in front of us. It was some kind of compound, a few buildings and a water tower surrounded by fences. The driver had to get out and open the gate. As he did I got sight of something amazing. Standing at the fence staring at us was a beautiful young woman probably around my age. But she was standing there just as naked as a jaybird, her pert breasts right on display to us and the drivers. She had a golden tan from head to toe, no lines at all. Her hair was long and wild, brushing across her shoulders. She didn’t seem concerned, just waved meekly as we drove past, curling her big toe into the dirt.

As we cleared the gate I saw that she wasn’t alone after all. A half dozen other young men and women were standing around the grassy yard between the buildings and the fence. All of them were either as naked as her or wearing puffy white nappies, with a t-shirt if they were lucky. Noticeably none of the young women had been given shirts, so there were several sets of boobs to be seen. I doubted that was an accident. Not that any of them seemed to mind. Their breasts jiggled and bounced freely as they skipped and toddled about the area without a hint of concern. They all had slack, innocent expressions on their faces. One young Asian man had a sizable erection on show as he gazed blankly at the passing van. Were these all Elly’s victims I wondered? How long had she been doing this? What was the purpose of it all?

The van stopped in front of the main building and the driver and passenger got out and walked up to the main door. It was obvious to me now that they were just delivery men with no interest in the cargo. After a moment the door opened and a stocky, balding white man in a grey button-down short-sleeve shirt and khakis shorts walked out. He talked with the men and then gestured to the van. He called back into the building and after another few seconds two new people emerged. There was a young man and a woman, both looking to be late teens or early twenties. They weren’t naked or diapered like the people on the lawn but they didn’t appear perfectly normal either. The man was wearing a lime green t-shirt and some track pants that didn’t quite reach his ankles. The woman was in a white halter top and some tight pink capris that reached just under her knees. It was the fact that both were barefoot that made me suspect something was amiss with them.

Sure enough they soon came hurrying over to the van with smiles on their faces, pulling open the doors. “Hi there little ones!” the girl greeted, reaching in and tickling Timmy’s tummy to wake him up.

He blinked and then opened his eyes fully, seeming surprised to have a strange girl tickling him. “There you are baby, wakey-wakey!” she crooned. “My name is Sara, what’s yours?”

“Me Timmy,” he answered quietly, still unsure about the girl.

“Well hi there Timmy. I’m here to help you get settled into the nursery with the other little ones. Okay?”

Timmy nodded hesitantly and Sara gave a silly little giggle and undid his seatbelt. I noticed her sniffing the air as she worked to free the young man. “Uh-oh, smells like someone make a stinky in their nappy,” she noted in a cheerful sing-song tone.

Timmy gave her a dumb grin and announced, “Done poopies.”

Sara nodded and cooed, “That’s okay, we’ll get you changed out of that messy old nappy soon enough sweetie-pie.”

At the same time the young man opened my door and leaned in to give me a big dumb grin. It made me want to punch him right in the stupid face, but I held back. “Hey there little fella. I’m Jamie, who are you?” he asked brightly, sticking to the same script as Sara.

“Aiden,” I replied softly, deciding to keep it brief.

“Cool! Okay Aiden, you come with me to the nursery okay buddy?”

“I don’ got cwodes,” I muttered to him, trying to sound as little as possible but also extremely aware that my modesty had returned with a vengeance.

But Jamie just waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about that Aiden. Many of the little ones in the nursery don’t wear clothes. They make it too tricky for some little boys and girls like you to make it to the potty. Some prefer being completely nakey-bum. So you’ll fit right in with the other little ones.”

He leant close to me then and sniffed, seeming surprised that I didn’t reek of crap like Timmy. Without asking for permission he reached down and squeezed the front of my nappy. It wasn’t soaked but there was some obvious heavy wetness and that seemed to satisfy Jamie. “Done some tinkles, eh buddy?” he asked.

I just gave him a blank look back, as though I’d been unaware of my accident and insisted, “Aiden big boy,” like a petulant little toddler would.

“Don’t worry buddy, it was a long ride. I know you’re a very big boy,” Jamie reassured me in a painfully condescending tone. Then he undid my seat belt and took my hand, pulling me up out of my seat.

With that I had no choice but to get out of the car and walk with him across the dusty road. As soon as my feet made contact with the sun-warmed dirt I became aware of how different it felt under my soles from what I was used to. I grabbed one foot at looked at the bottom of it. Sure enough the sole was already beginning to thicken a bit. I remembered how tough Eric and Benny’s were, then something else occurred to me and I pulled out the waist of my nappy to reveal exactly what I was afraid of. There was no tan line there and no hair either. My body was already beginning to make adjustments to fit my new life. Some were beyond my control. In the light of day I could see my complete lack of body hair and I knew that couldn’t be natural. Elly had done all she could to match my body to the toddler mind-set she’d reduced me to.

We followed behind Sara and Timmy, heading into the main building. I avoided eye-contact with the man and our transporters, focussing on keeping my gait similar to Timmy’s so as not to arouse any suspicions. It was impossible not to notice that the poor young man’s nappy was hanging very low, obviously well used on the long car ride. It made him waddle even more than usual.

We were led down a short dark corridor and then into a large brightly lit room. There were a half dozen large beds lining one side of the room. Their sides had low bars, not like a crib, but like a toddler bed for a child too big for a crib but still prone to falling out and hurting themselves. The beds weren’t made up and had been left messy with various coloured blankies and plushy toys abandoned on them or dropped on the floor nearby. The other half of the room was carpeted and strewn with abandoned toys of all types. I instantly noticed a row of potty seats pressed up against the far wall.

The walls were painted in bright pastel colours that made me feel a bit sick just to look at. The floor was carpeted, made for children who spent a lot of time on their hands and knees or their bottoms. Along the wall opposite the potty seats was a large changing table with a stack of fresh nappies next to it. The whole place was right out of one of my dreams. Yet now that I was actually here it had somehow morphed into a living nightmare.

“Everyone is out getting some sun right now, so you lucky boys have the place all to yourselves,” Sara announced. “How about we show them where they’ll be sleeping,” she suggested to Jamie.

“Yeah, c’mon Aiden, let me show you your bed,” the young man enthused, yanking me over to an empty bed at the end of the row.

Timmy was being shown a similar bed next to mine but he didn’t look impressed either. Instead his lips were quivering. “I wan’ mummy!” he finally howled, starting to really blubber.

“Aww, poor baby,” Sara cooed, pulling the wailing young man into a tight cuddle and rubbing his back. “It’s okay Timmy, I’m gonna help take care of you now and I’m real nice, I promise.”

Jamie pulled me away from the bed, maybe to keep me from joining Timmy in having a tantrum. Instead I was pulled over to the toy box on the other side of the room. “Look at all the fun toys Aiden! Would you like to choose one right now?” he asked brightly.

I rifled through the pile half-heartedly, glad to finally have both hands free. His grip was like a vice. I wasn’t sure what to make of Jamie and Sara though. It seemed like they were in charge of this room, like they were carers. But their clothes just screamed childish and I knew that in this country, only children under high school age were allowed and in fact expected to go around barefoot. So were they in on the scam, or were they just a different kind of victim? I just didn’t know who I could trust.

“Ooh, that’s a good one,” Jamie told me as I pulled out a yo-yo. “It might be a little advanced for you now, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to play with it.”

With my toy chosen I found my hand back in the vice-like grip as I was led to the potty seats. Jamie grabbed hold of the sides of my only slightly wet nappy and yanked it clean off me, once again without a word of warning or a hint of concern for my privacy. Then he wheeled me around and pretty much forced me to sit on one. Bad enough being suddenly stripped nude, but being forced to sit on a communal potty seat was downright disgusting. Jamie kept up his cheerful act. “See Aiden, this is where we come to do poopy and pee-pee. Do you know how to use the potty bro?”

I nodded, gritting my teeth and trying not to slug this guy.

“Smart boy! Mr Klerk said you were very little but you don’t seem that silly to me.”

“Klerk?” I asked.

“Yeah, he’s the man in charge here. But you won’t be seeing him much. Me ‘nd Sara run things here.”

“How old Jamie?” I asked, trying to get information without revealing my true vocabulary.

“Me? Well I’m a big kid buddy. I’ll be twelve in a couple months,” he answered proudly.

He was young, but he sure wasn’t that young. I doubted he was saying that for my benefit either, he looked legitimately proud to be closing in on twelve. “Sawa?” I followed up, pointing at the girl who was now showing a calmer Timmy some stuffed animals.

“Sara’s only ten,” Jamie replied haughtily. “But she’s real mature for her age,” he added. “Now, I don’t hear any tinkles yet. Are you sure you’re trying to be a big boy and use the potty?”

“Don’t need pee-pee,” I muttered, red as a beet with shame.

“Well, let’s just wait a few minutes and see,” Jamie said, forcing me to just keep sitting on the stupid potty seat.

A couple minutes later the door to the field swung open without warning and a gaggle of young men and women came rushing inside. I recognised them as the people I’d seen playing by the gate. Most of my attention was focused on the three young women in the group. Aside from the one I’d already seen by the gate there was now a cute little red head and another blonde, though her hair was done up in adorable pig-tails. I couldn’t take my eyes off their boobs, jiggling delightfully as they skittered about, dropping to their hands and knees to pick up whatever toys they’d left upon going out earlier. Once wore a bright pink swim nappy while the other had a normal one on. Almost all the young men were naked though. Perhaps it was just harder to keep rambunctious boys in their nappies. At least one blonde man had a very thick nappy on though, one that looked well-used to me as well.

“Hey guys,” Jamie announced, “look who we have here. You have two new playmates.”

Our new room-mates paused their play and looked up at me and Timmy. They seemed curious about us, but most were more interested in their toys and quickly forgot about the new arrivals. Only one kept looking in my direction. The young Asian man rose to his feet again, dropping a Tonka truck, and made a bee-line for me. I noticed that his erection was gone now, only a shiny residue on his tummy evidence of his earlier arousal. And it occurred to me that was more likely the reason the boys had no nappies on, easier access to their favourite toys. It seemed unlikely this vacant-eyed young man was going to have anything interesting to say to me, but there was always a sliver of hope.

He toddled right up to Jamie and me, then spun around and dropped heavily onto the potty right next to mine. Leaning forward with a look of deep concentration he soon produced a series of rude noises that made me flinch reflexively. He had no such qualms though, smiling and declaring “Poopy!” for all to hear. Nope, he was no comrade in arms after all.

It very quickly became clear to me that every last one of these people was fully regressed without a flicker of their old selves hiding within. I spent an hour creeping around the carpet whispering to each of them, asking if they knew why we were here or where they’d come from. My answers were blank stares, wet raspberries, pinches and offers of toys or patty-cake games. Sara had the one young man wearing a nappy up on the changing table, the strap buckled around his bare tummy to stop him squirming right off the table. She blew raspberries on his bare skin making his squeal with glee and swing his legs about while she wiped his filthy bottom clean, powdered him and taped him into a fresh, dry nappy. The whole time the young man nibbled on his fingers and tried to catch his toes, perfectly happy to be manhandled that way.

No I was all alone in here. Even Timmy had quickly integrated himself into the ranks of the toddler men. Sara had stripped him of his well-used nappy and failed to offer him a replacement, likely due to the erection he now sported. I knew from experience that his arousal was now more likely due to his happiness at having so many new playmates than any sexual thoughts. Nonetheless he was soon just another smiling, giggling man-boy creeping about the carpet with the others.

My focus was keeping my wits about me. It had been hard enough to keep control when I was with Eric, Timmy and Benny. Now I was surrounded by a whole nursery of baby men and women and there was no denying that it made me very aroused. Everyone could see it too, since that moron Jamie hadn’t given me another nappy after I failed to do pee-pee or poopies for him in the potty. On the upside it helped maintain the ruse that I was still just a silly toddler, on the downside there was nothing I could do to maintain my dignity without giving away my returned mental abilities. I had to toddle around the nursery with the damn thing bobbing about like a fucking metronome for everyone to see. And the worst part of that was it actually made me harder.

Even though I’d woken from Elly’s programming I was still concerned the trigger was implanted deep in my subconscious and was just waiting to be re-activated. I didn’t want to blow my load on my tummy and then find myself back to helpless innocent toddlerhood. This place had to be some sort of way-station, a holding pen on the road to God knows where. There was not telling what was in store for us and I didn’t intend to find out the hard way.

I sat back on the floor, idly spinning the yo-yo, trying to think of the next step. Unfortunately I was drawing a blank. I considered overpowering Jamie and stealing his clothes. Then at least I wouldn’t be naked. But I’d still be barefoot and in the middle of nowhere. I’d need to steal a vehicle as well. As I considered this, someone walked into the nursery. I instantly recognised him as Mr Klerk and what worried me was that he was staring right at me from the second he walked in the door. He said nothing to Jamie or Sara, simply strode right across the play area and stopped in front of me. I stared back at him, forcing my eyes out of focus and jamming the yo-yo in my mouth, even giving my stiff penis a playful little tweak.

“Howzit my friend,” he greeted in a thick Afrikaans accent. “There’s no need to put on an act, ja. I know you can understand me just fine.”

I hoped he couldn’t see that I was shaking with terror. My only hope was that this was a trick just to see if I admitted something. I did my best to pout and look shy but not intelligent. But it was no good. He didn’t seem angry, just a bit bemused. He pointed over at the wall. “You see that Teddy bear, ja? Look closely at it,” he directed.

I looked at the teddy he was pointing at. It was a big brown plushy sitting on the shelf above the toys. And there was something odd about its right eye. My heart sank. It was a camera. I let the yo-yo drop, the jig was up.

Mr Klerk nodded. “That’s better, no more need for pretend. Let’s have a chat in my office,” he said, gesturing to the door.

All eyes were on me as I stood up and padded softly across the room and out the door. Now that everyone knew I wasn’t a mental toddler it was ten times more embarrassing to be nude in front of them all. So I hurried into the corridor as quickly as I could. Mr Klerk was right behind me, directing me to the only other room with an open door and letting me sit in a normal chair before his desk. He sat facing me, shaking his head.

“This is very disappointing,” he offered after the longest of awkward pauses.

“I’m sorry?”

“Elly has always done good work for us,” Klerk explained. “She commands high rates and she’s always earned them, until now.”

“And exactly who are you people?” I demanded, finally in a position to get some answers.

Klerk pulled out a pack of cigarettes, even offering me one. I waved him off. He shrugged and lit himself one, taking a long drag as he considered his answer. “We’re in something of a niche business, if you know what that means,” he said at last.

“I have an idea. But could you be more specific?”

He grinned and it was an ugly thing on him. His smile didn’t put me more at ease, it made me tense up all the more.

“We follow the rules all businessmen follow, supply and demand. When one goes into business you look at the market and you ask, what is there a demand for, but no supply? And when you can answer that question, you have your new business.

“There are many people out there with unusual tastes. One particular rare taste is for something called adult babies. You’ve heard of this?”

I nodded slowly.

“Well, then you know that there are people out there who wish desperately to be little babies or toddlers all over again. And there are also people who want to have an adult baby to… shall we say care for.”

“And what, you just match them up?”

Klerk grinned again in his disgusting way. “Well, not exactly. The problem is that adult babies all too often decide they don’t like their mummy or daddy and decide to move out, or they have disagreements about how they wish to be cared for. For some would-be mummies and daddies that just isn’t acceptable. They want a baby who actually needs them, who adores and loves them with all their hearts and can never just leave. And that is what we provide, for a fair price of course.”

“Is the demand really that high?”

“We’re a global business and yes the demand is actually much higher than you’d think.”

“So you’re human traffickers, peddling a particular type of sex slave,” I stated coldly.

Klerk just shrugged. “That’s a very crude way to put it. Our goal is that both parties are happy in the end. We don’t just drug some poor sap and ship them off in a cage to be abused. We make mental modifications to ensure they enjoy it.”

“And to make sure they don’t have the ability to fight back or escape,” I added coldly.

He simply shrugged.

I shook my head. “And Elly provides you with a steady stream of these people?”

“She is one provider, but others actually come straight here to us. We advertise as an adult baby nursery. People come for a weekend of indulgence, embracing their little sides for a bit. And instead they get to embrace it for a lot longer than that. You can make it sound sordid as you like, but I like to think of it as giving them their ultimate fantasy.”

“So why even hire Elly then? If you can do it yourself right here?”

“Well without repeat customers we don’t get many referrals to our business of course. And our processes tend to take a lot longer that hers. She is usually very quick, very efficient. But with you she took much longer and now it seems that after all that she failed anyway.”

There was a tense pause as Klerk seemed to be thinking about something, maybe considering the refund he was going to demand from her for messing up on me. Then I broke the silence. “So what happens to us now? You wait until you have a buyer then ship us off?”

“That is the long-term goal of course. You can probably expect to spend a few weeks here. But first we need to fix Elly’s mistake of course. I am sorry that it will take longer now, but don’t worry, in a week or so you’ll be ready to re-join Timmy and the others in the nursery.”

I shook my head. “Look, you’re a businessman right? I can pay you…” I began.

“I don’t think you can fathom the kind of money we’re talking about in this business my friend. And in any case you have to know that witnesses aren’t good for a business like ours, at least not ones who can form complete sentences.”

The door behind me swung open and Jamie stepped in, flanked by another burly young man with a buzz-cut. I hadn’t seen him before but he looked like their enforcer. Each man grabbed one of my arms and I knew there was no point in trying to overpower them. I wasn’t going to be able to just run off into the African wilderness on my own to escape. I was fresh out of good options.