The Exchange,

Chapter 12
The exchange part 12

Chapter Description: Things take a turn for the worse, for everyone involved

She was running, terrified for her life. She could feel a presence bearing down on her and she cried, big large sloppy tears rolled down her face. She knew that being caught would be the end of her, she knew that being caught would only cause excruciating pain. So she ran. She ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached and then she ran some more, but it wasn’t enough. She knew it was closing in. She knew, inevitably, it was going to get her.

Sandra woke with a start, her eyes wet from crying, her patchwork blanket ruffled from a restless nights sleep. Her dummy lay on her pillow, cold and abandoned. Her breath came out in heaving pants. As she sat there, letting her heart rate calm down, she looked around, saw the bars, saw her dragon toy, and once more everything came flooding back. She began to sob, unable to control her emotions, the dream had just been so vivid and terrifying that she just lost herself to the terror.

Anya came rushing into the room, she had sprung straight from her bed, thrown on a dressing gown and headed straight to the crib seeing Sandra sitting up bawling her eyes out. She whisked her baby into her arms and began rocking her back and forth.

"Sandy! Sandy! Shhhh Shhhhh, Wassa Matta? Shhhh Shhhh" She said, perplexed by Sandras loud sobbing. This wasn’t like her at all, even the four days of Sandra being unaware on the ship she hadn’t cried like this. After what seemed like an age Sandra’s large wails slowly began to subside. Sandra had buried her head hard into Anyas chest, seeking dark, comforting, oblivion. Her small pudgy hands balled into fists as she clung desperately to her mummys dressing gown, trying to will the fear in her to dissipate.

Sandra pushed herself up and away from her mummy so that she could look at her mummys face. Feeling foolish that she had cried so hard over a bad dream she sniffed apologetically.

"I had a...had a... bad dream, something was trying to get me, but I...I...I... didnt see it but it was really sca..sca..scary." She had worked herself up into such a state that she snivveled her way through her words. Anya pulled Sandy back into her, one of her large hands stroking the back of her head.

"Shh little one, it was only a dream. Mummy’s here now and she won’t ever let anything bad happen to you"

Sandy felt reassured, safe in her mummys arms and slowly she calmed down properly, allowing that alluring familiar smell of Anya to envelope her, to make everything better.

Anya didn’t bother carrying Sandra over to the changing table, she knew her daughter wasn’t wet because she had changed her less than an hour ago. Arlie had come to collect Lyce around 7am and Lyce had slept through the entire process of extracting him carefully from Sandras cot, being placed on Arlie’s shoulder and carried through the house. After a hushed conversation between Arlie and Anya at the doorway, Arlie had left, thoroughly thankful, that Anya had been able to look after Lyce for the night. Anya had returned to the nursery and checked on Sandra, taking the opportunity to change her soggy little sleeping baby and then Anya had returned to bed.

It was now almost 8am, Sandra was always a heavy sleeper, and Anya was thankful for that. She had been trained to be prepared for restless nights of getting up and down to comfort her baby, but up until now, none of that had occurred.

"How about we get some breakfast inside of you, that’ll make you feel much better." Anya cooed. Sandra didn’t speak. She kept playing the nightmare over and over in her head. The fear had been so intense.

Anya had crossed the room and sat in the rocking chair, pulling her dressing gown open and latching Sandra onto her breast. Sandra suckled greedily, still feeling odd that she never seemed to be able to resist latching on. It was as if her primal baby instincts just took over, and even if it was deeply embarrassing to be nursing on a womans nipple, Sandra just didn’t seem to have the willpower to put up a fight. Soon her fear ebbed away, as her tummy got full and the dream became less of an issue. It was only then that she remembered Lyce was staying over. She stopped suckling and looked up at Anya, seeing Anya looking softly down at her made Sandra feel happily tingly all over.

"Where’s Lyce?" Sandra asked, she felt bad that he had slipped her mind completely in wake of her dream.

"Oh, Lyce has gone home sweetie, his carer, Arlie, came to collect him a little while ago."

"Oh..." Sandra felt sad that she hadn’t had chance to say goodbye, or talk to him about the fact that he was in nappies too, just like her. She wondered where Lyce had slept, but since he was already gone and the question wasn’t really that important she left it unspoken.

Anya carried Sandy over to the changing table and picked out an outfit, Anya expertly stripped Sandra of her blue footed sleeper, and did a quick check of the disposable that lay underneath, as Anya expected, it was dry. Then, Anya dressed Sandy, first starting with the little white laced ankle socks, then a white t-shirt with pink butterflies was pulled over Sandras head. Followed by a pink sun dress. And lastly tiny pink and white shoes. There was no nappy cover and the dress was fairly short so there was no hiding what Sandra was wearing.

It was at this point that Blake entered the room carrying two cups, Sandra could see him because of the position of the changing table, but the way Anya was standing meant that she had her back to the doorway as she tended to Sandy. Blake walked up to the changing table and stood by Anya’s side, he had made enough noise walking into the room that she knew he was approaching. He held one of the cups out to her and she gratefully took it and took a long sip. He pointed at Sandy.

"Morning pipsqueak. That’s quite a set of lungs you have on you huh. Even got me up, and on my day off too."

Anya looked round at Blake surprised.

"You’ve taken a day off? Does that mean you’re coming to the clearing with us?" She asked as she took another sip of her warm beverage.

"I actually have to do some work from home, so I wont come with you on your little outing, but I will have dinner ready for you when you guys get home." Blake smiled at his partner, Anya had worked so hard recently trying to help Sandra ease into her new role that making dinner was the least he could do to help.

Sandra lay on the changing table looking at her two parents as they talked amongst themselves as if she didn’t matter. Was the Clearing the name for that forest place. It seemed to fit for some reason, even though it was mainly forest there had been areas to sit and that little stream. Sandra suddenly felt excited. Would she get to see that Gliph again? Then that anticipation fled from her body as she remembered her mummys warning. She wasn’t supposed to communicate with animals. She had to play things safe. If the Gliph did come back she would have to ignore it, or she would get into a heap of trouble and so would Anya. Sandra didn’t know what trouble exactly was, but the fact that Anya had cried over this problem meant Sandra had figured out that it would be pretty severe trouble indeed. But what mummy didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her surly?

With Sandra dressed and fed she was carried into the living room and rather than being put in the playpen as she had expected, Anya lowered her into the baby walker that had remained propped up on one side against a wall, since Sandy had arrived. The baby walker had bits attached to it to play with, like a teething ring and some bright coloured rings on a sliding hoop. Sandy wasn’t interested in those though, finally with the ability to get around she used her feet and legs to propel the baby walker forward. It was silly but she felt more liberated being able to walk, even though she was being aided by the walker. She banged into the table, she banged into the sofa, she just tottered everywhere whilst her mummy and daddy watched some sort of morning news program on the large screen.

".....And only 2 exchange student remain unaware at this current time. A record awakening result for this trip."

Sandy looked up at the screen as she overheard the words ’exchange student’

"...already several of the students have met one another, there are, as of yet, no problems reported. The council are watching from the wings, one such student has experimentally been regressed to the point of infancy in a new twist to the exchange program’s usual policies. Footage of the child was captured yesterday at TEC...."

To sandras horror she then watched as she and becky played in the ballpool. Sandra worried that the choking incident might be shown, but the footage cut off before that and then cut to more footage of her sat in the babyseat of the shopping trolley as her mummy selected things off the shelves in the supermarket. It showed Anya showing Sandy the Pymatri vegetable outfit. The footage didn’t have sound.

".....understandably we are all wishing all the new students...."

The screen flickered off, Anya was holding that flat screen hand held thing Sandra had seen her with yesterday. Sandra guessed it must be some sort of house remote.

"It’s time we were going young lady." Anya said as she lifted Sandy out of the baby walker.

"That was us on the TV thing. That was us from yesterday and the day before." Sandy said, feeling odd that she had found herself to have some sort of absurd celebrity status.

"Why are they doing news reports on us?"

Anya handed Sandy to Blake. Anya ignored Sandy’s questions and headed out into the hallway as Blake tried to keep Sandy amused while her mummy was gone, Blake plopped her down onto his lap and began bouncing Sandy up and down on his knees.

There was some clattering and banging going on out in the hallway and moments later Anya reappeared pushing a push chair. Taking Sandy back from Blake Anya eased Sandy into the char and strapped her in, using the 5 point harness. The strap that came up between her legs really showed off her nappy more than she would have liked.

"Can I go in the carrier thing instead. This feels humiliating." Anya chuckled. "Sweetie mummy needs a rest from carrying you around. You look adorable in your buggy anyway. You’ll be fine."

Sandy realised she hadn’t gotten any kind of explanation about the news report yet and she began to re-ask the questions. Only Anya was off again, this time into the nursery. Sandy couldn’t follow, if anything, the buggy was perhaps the most restrictive thing she had been strapped into so far, the shoulder straps had her pinned down pretty tightly as did the waist strap. She wasn’t going anywhere.

"Hey! I don’t like this." She whined as she tried to pull her short pink sun dress down around the five point harness, but gave up pretty quickly realising it was useless. Anya strode around the place collecting up essentials for the outing. She appeared by the buggy for a second and popped Sandys pacifier into Sandy’s mouth. "That should stop baby being grumpy" She said with a cheerful grin, and handed Sandy her toy dragon. Immediately Sandys hands reached up and took the dragon from her mummy. She looked at his constantly happy face and she felt a little better. Not much, but a little. She sucked on the pacifier, allowing it to sooth her a little.

Finally hooking the changing bag onto the back of the buggy, Anya was ready to go. Blake had watched the mad dash with amusement on his face.

"The amount of stuff you have there looks like you’re prepared for any eventuality."

"I do hope so." Anya sighed, then reeled off the list. "nappies, bottle, wet wipes, spare pacifier, change of clothes, changing mat, food, water.....Have I forgotten anything." Anya mentally went through the list again, as Blake stood from his seat.

"only this" He said, as he kissed Anya on the cheek. She smiled happily.

"Right we’re off then, to go see Dan and El. See you later, probably the back of lunchtime." She said to Blake.

"Wait, answer my question about the news report first please. PLEASE!" Sandy was agitated and she was getting the impression Anya was deliberately ignoring her, and Sandy knew the minute they were outside the apartment she wouldn’t be able to communicate with her mummy. The buggy was being pushed now, through the hallway and towards the door. Blake hurried forwards and opened the door for them.

"Wait...WAIT!" Sandy yelled, but they were through the door and strolling down the corridor. She sulked, a full blown proper, bordering on temper tantrum, sulk. She was angry. If their lives outside of the apartment were being filmed then Sandy didn’t want to go out. She didn’t want her life to be on TV. She wanted to be normal, and whilst that wasn’t going to happen for her ever again, she wanted to at least be as normal as she possibly could be in her condition. She certainly didn’t want every one of her bowel movements recorded for prosperity’s sake.

Anya hummed soothingly as she pushed her baby down one corridor then the next and then into the lift, retracing that first journey they had taken a couple of days ago.

She had already told Sandy that her young age had made her a bit of a focal point. People would soon lose interest, Anya just had to keep her head up and go about her daily business for now and get by until the novelty of Sandra wore off on everyone. She didn’t want to fill Sandys head with ideas of grandeur, so had deliberately not answered Sandys questions. perhaps that had been the wrong thing to do, but its the way Anya had decided to tackle the problem. She could tell from the fact that Sandy had been silent since leaving the apartment that Sandy must be sulking, but she also knew that once they got to the Clearing, she would lighten up a bit.

The lift doors opened and the smell of warm wet tropical forest surrounded them as they stepped out of the elevator. The Clearing was busier than it had been the other day, several couples and families were sat out on benches or on blankets. Anya looked around for Eliza and Daniel, and quickly she recognised them as being in exactly the same place as last time. They waved her at her and she pushed the buggy over to them. It was a little rough pushing it across the mud and grass but she made it eventually and collapsed down by the side of the buggy, leaning over to give Daniel and Eliza each a hug.

"Hi you two, how’s it going?" She asked cheerfully as she began to unbuckle Sandy out of the buggy. Daniel shrugged.

"Same as the other day really, security around here is dull for the time being. It’s mainly been target practice and drills to keep us keen. Don’t want to lose that edge in case something interesting happens."

Sandy clung to her dragon toy, and continued to suck on her pacifier angrily, still sulking as she was lifted from the buggy and placed in a sitting position down between Anya and Daniel. Dan chuckled at Sandys expression.

"What did you do to her?" He asked pointing at the baby. "She looks so serious"

Anya waved her hand dismissively at Daniel as she grinned. "Oh nothing that a few hours worth of playtime wont sort out, I don’t think she’s comfortable with all the attention she’s getting. Isn’t that right sweetie?" Anya tickled Sandras tummy, Sandy fell backwards, surprised by the sudden attack and began to giggle, kicking out her little legs as she squirmed trying to get away. After the tickle attack, sandy tried to resume being grumpy at her mummy but the edge had been taken off now and it felt silly to be pouting for so long. As an adult she was very difficult to anger and holding a grudge was just unheard of for her. Sandra guessed that her new babyish side was making her more susceptible to childish emotions.

Seeing her baby brighten up a bit Anya relaxed a little and she dug around in the changing bag finding a bottle of juice she popped the protective cap off and handed the bottle to Sandy, pulling the dummy out of her daughters mouth in exchange for the juice bottle. Dan and Eliza watched all this go on. Both looked equally impressed, it was Eliza who spoke though.

"You’ve really gotten this baby thing down to a T already Ans. You haven’t missed a beat." Anya blushed from the praise."Oh its not like that at all, i’m lucky that Sandra has been as co-operative as she has been. I could be living through hell right about now, but so far i’m really enjoying life, and Sandy seemed to be enjoying it to some extent too." Anya plucked at a couple of blades of grass absent mindedly. Sandy listened to the conversation, was she enjoying life? She thought about it.

She looked across the clearing towards the small stream. A girl was splashing in the stream, she seemed to be having fun. Sandra guessed the girl to be about Lyces age, although at this distance it was hard to tell. The girls brown hair bobbed up and down in bunches as she jumped in the water, a woman with bright blue hair was watching the child. Sandra wondered if they were another exchange couple. It seemed to Sandra that there were quite a few exchange students around now. She remembered back to the news story she had heard earlier, about how most of the students were aware now. Her mood darkened again and she pushed the thoughts of that news report from her mind.

Daniel sat staring at Sandy as Eliza and Anya animatedly chatted with one another. Sandy felt like she was being studied and she blushed, trying once again to pull her dress down to hide the white disposable nappy, her actions only directed attention to herself and she blushed harder.

"YOOR BACK!!!" The eager voice pounded into her head and made Sandra jump.

"YOU’VE COME BACK TO PLAY WITH ME!" Sandras heart leapt into her mouth. She recognised the voice, it was that Gliph. She had to ignore it. She had to, but then again, if her mummy didn’t know she was communicating with the gliph was there any harm in a little conversation.

"Hi again. Remember me? I’m Sandy" She felt shy and excited at the same time. She’d become a real doctor Do-little, the entire idea was positively thrilling, as a scientist she couldn’t just ignore the fact that she could communicate with wildlife. There was rustling in the trees above them and she feigned interest in her toy dragon rather than looking in the direction of the rustling.

"DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?" the childish voice was bubbling with enthusiasm inside sandras head and she giggled, she felt a kindred spirit in this Gliph, she would dearly love to play, but knew it would only risk questions as to why a wild animal was playing with a child.

"I can’t play. I’m not allowed. My Mummy says I have to stay where I am safe and be good" Sandy thought that seemed like a reasonable excuse, the rustling in the trees overhead got louder and Sandy quickly added.

"Don’t come over here because I think my Mummy will get cross and then we’ll have to leave" The rustling stopped for a moment. When the voice spoke again, it was almost in a conspirational whisper.

"I know where we can be safe. My nest is the safest place ever. Thats what my mum and dad say. I’ll take you there, okay?"

Sandra shook her head

"I dont think that’s a good..." The trees above burst into an explosion of activity as the black Labrador looking bird swooped out of its hiding place and cannonballed towards the group on the blanket. At the last possible second it unfurled its large eagle like wings and caught Sandras sun dress up in its beak, lifting her up into the air, the Gliphs wings caught the buggy and knocked it over . Sandra shrieked in surprise as her legs left the ground. Anya, Daniel and Eliza had all jumped to their feet. Anya screamed in fear for her daughters safety. She couldn’t lose another child, not after Lynn.

Daniel and Eliza had both whipped weapons from their belts. Daniel was taking aim but Anya jumped in front of him.

"Don’t shoot, you might hit her!" She screamed hysterically at him. He pushed her out of the way angrily. The chance of making the shot was ruined, the Gliph was out of range.

"COME ON!" He yelled as Eliza and Daniel ran into the forest, in the direction the Gliph had flown. Anya stood there paralysed to the spot for a moment, her mind whirring through all the worst case scenarios. She had to get her daughter back, snapping herself out of it she sprinted after Daniel and Eliza, ignoring the tree branches and thistles as they tore at her clothes and exposed skin. She could hear her two friends crashing through the undergrowth up ahead of her and she pushed relentlessly forwards. Only Sandras safety on her mind.

Sandy looked down at the ground so far below. She had never been one for heights and she closed her eyes feeling like she was about to throw up.

"We hafta go back, my mummy is probably scared." Sandra pleaded.

"Oh? there’s no need to be scared. We’re gonna have fun playing together. I will show you my favourite stick and I even have a leaf that is very pretty. My mum will like you too, I told her about you the other day, she was interested to meet you." The Gliph’s enthusiasm washed over Sandy, flooding her senses with childish hyperactivity. She resisted the sensation, worried for Anya.

"I really would like to go back to my mummy...please." The gliph looked at his passenger, suddenly feeling rejected.

"You...You don’t want to play with me? Are we not friends?"

"Oh we are friends, its just that my mummy is probably worried about me cause I didn’t ask her permission first." The gliph thought quietly about this for a moment as he flapped his large wings, slowly.

"Well if I take you back and then you ask your mummy, will it be alright then?"

Sandra doubted it, but it sounded like if she said yes then the Gliph would take her back.

"Theres a chance she might let me play with you."

This seemed to satisfy the Gliph and it did a stomach churning somersault in mid air to change direction. Sandy by some miracle, managed to keep from throwing up.

"Err...do you think we could...maybe fly a little lower" She asked, feeling fairly rough from the flight. The Gliph instantly happy to comply pulled its wings in tight and they plummeted in a skydive.

Daniel and Eliza could see the aerial acrobatics from where they were through the trees, as the Gliph changed direction, then went into a plunge then levelled out.

"Oh my! That thing is going to kill her!" Eliza gasped. "Daniel we have to do something!"

"What do you think, i’m trying to do?" He snapped back. They changed direction heading back the way they had come, as that was the way the Gliph was now heading. They bumped into Anya.

"Come on, its heading back to the clearing." Daniel grabbed Anya by the shoulders and spun her round to face the right way. They set off again, trying to beat the animal back to the clearing.

Sandra felt more relaxed knowing that they were heading back to her mummy. They beat a leisurely pace back towards the clearing. She couldn’t really see the Gliph but she could feel its breath flowing down her neck as its beak continued to have a tight hold on her sundress. She pointed down at where her buggy still lay on its side.

"Can you put me down there please." She hoped her mummy was going to be okay after having such a crazy thing happen to her daugher. Sandra felt privileged that she had been able to be up in the air like this, although she wasn’t a fan of flying she could appreciate the size and beauty of the whole forest area from this height. She doubted many people had been given this opportunity and the gift was not lost on her. The Gliph came into land. Its large wings beating in big powerful strokes as it descended slowly. Sandys feet came into contact with the ground. She managed to stay on her feet for a few moments but then ended up falling onto her padded butt.

The Gliph padded to her side, folding its wings in neatly, the wing tips criss crossing across its back. Sandra turned and petted the black fluffy fur on the Gliph’s chest. She knew it was still a chick, but already it was powerfully built and bigger than her. She knew she wasn’t in any danger, Gliphs ate bugs mainly, their large green tongues had a sap like saliva that caught insects in a similar way to fly paper. allowing them to plough their tongues into tree bark and hoover up any insects stuck to their tongues. They had to eat half their own bodyweight in insects each day to stay alive. Sandra looked at the Gliph with admiration. That was a lot of bugs. She heard people running through the trees towards them and she grinned as Anya, Daniel and Eliza burst into the clearing. Her smile quickly faded though as she saw Daniels expression. His was one of dark angered intent.

He lifted the weapon he held, up to his face and took aim. Sandras eyes widened in horror as she realised he was aiming for her Gliph friend, and that he had a clear shot. Heat coursed through her, a strange tingling instant sensation and she cried out knowing that Daniel was intent on killing the Gliph.

"NOOOOOO!"

Two things happened. Everyone, Every man, woman and child in the Clearing vicinity heard the mental shout. It tore into their subconscious and rang through their minds. Everyone brought their hands to their heads as if suffering suddenly from a severe migraine. Anya, Daniel and Eliza were no exception, but Daniel had already trigger the weapon and the laser charge that burst forth blasted a large hole into the Gliph’s side. It crumpled without so much as a squawk. Blood splattered Sandras face as suddenly the whole world around her spun into chaos and she blacked out.