"Nikiole! Nikiole, Nikiole, Nikiole!" Kaile jumped up and down, his smile from ear to ear.
"Yes, Kaile? What is it? Are you alright?" Nikiole ran over to him, a bit on concern on her face.
"Can we go outside and play!? Pleaseeee-" Kaile dropped to his knees and started to beg.
"Oh alright, just let me grab my stuff. Then we'll go!"
"Yay!" Kaile stood back up and leaped into the air.
Nikiole grabbed her bag, "Alright, I'm ready! You ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Kaile grabbed Nikiole's hand started to pull her towards the door.
"Okay!"
Kaile paused and stoped pulling on her hand for a moment, "Nikiole? Can I have uppie?"
"Yes! Of course!" She picked him up and placed him on her shoulders. "Now, are you ready!?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
"Did you grab Mr. Blankie?"
"Yeah, I got him. Now come on! Let's go!"
"Alright, alright, we're going!"
Nikiole and Kaile ran outside to play in the grass. While they were on their way there, they spotted Aspen and Atlas.
"Woah! Look at this thing! It's really cool!" Aspen blurted out, bending over a pond of water.
Nikiole walked over to him, "Hey what are you two doing here?"
"Aspen! Atlas! Hi Hi Hi!" Kaile said, excited to see them.
"Sup! We're here because Aspen found a jellyfish."
"Woah! A jellyfish?! I wanna see, I wanna see!" Kaile slid down Nikiole's shoulders, and crouched next to Aspen and Atlas.
"Woah! Kaile! Be careful!" Nikiole yelled.
He ignored Nikiole, "Let me see it!" His smile stretched wide as Aspen lifted it up to show him.
"You see? It's a jellyfish! I think I'm gonna name him... Mr. Jelly!"
"I wanna hold him!" Kaile scooped up the jellyfish, and held it in his arms.
"No! He's mine!"
"Oh, I'm sorry Aspen." Suddenly, Kaile placed the jellyfish on Aspen's head. "There! It looks really cool!"
Nikiole placed her hand on her forehead, "Kaile! Don't put it on Aspen's head!"
"Actually, I really like it! I think I'm gonna keep it there!"
"Really?! Yay!" Kaile's eyes lit up.
Atlas looked at the two of them, "You two are really crazy."
"Yeah, I agree," Nikiole said.
"Oh! Oh! Aspen, I'm gonna grab Octavian and Ruby!"
"Okay! Go quick so we can show them the jellyfish!"
"I'll be really fast!"
Kaile ran to Octavian's house and rapidly knocked on the door. No response. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Octavian! Octavian! Octavian! Aspen has a new friend he wants to show you!"
Octavian creaked open the door, "So? Is that the only reason why you came over?"
"Yeah! Do you wanna meet him!?"
"No, I don't. I wanna go back inside and help my dad."
"With wha-" Octavian slammed the door on his face. "Oh okay then...well it's time to find Ruby!"
Kaile skipped off to Ruby's house, which was nearby. The sky started to turn dark, and lights flickered on in homes nearby. He walked to her door and knocked as hard as he could.
"Ruby! Ruby! Ruby! Aspen made a new friend! Do you wanna see him? He's super cool!"
She leaned on the doorframe, "You see, as much as I would love to, I can't. I have beauty sleep to catch up on and-"
"What? You're going to bed this early?"
"Of course! If you don't you'll turn ugly. You should go to bed too, then maybe you could actually become tall and strong."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah? Duh. I'm also about to get my nails done, so sorry but no."
"Oh ok. Well, bye-bye Ruby!"
"Bye!"
Kaile trekked back to Atlas, Aspen, and Nikiole as the sky turned dark.
Nikiole turned around and ran towards Kaile, "Kaile! Where have you been!" She bent down to his height and gave him a hug.
He rubbed his eyes, "I wanted to go and get Octavian and Ruby to show them Aspen's yawn new friend."
"Oh Kaile, just let me know the next time okay?" She picked him up, and held him close as he drifted off. "Aspen? Atlas? I think we should probably get going."
"Aww it was nice hanging out with you and my little buddy! He does need his rest, so bye Nikiole!" Aspen said.
Atlas stood by Aspen, "Yeah, bye Nikiole! It was really nice hanging out with you!"
"Bye Aspen, Bye Atlas!!" She waved goodbye and sauntered back home with Kaile in her arms.
———————————————
Nikiole tucked Kaile in his bed, and left to her room. As she crept through the halls, he heard two voices coming from the foyer. She hid behind the closest wall, looking out for any sign of trouble.
"So, have you decided who you're going to choose?" An unfamiliar voice said.
Mrs. Hopeful laughed, "Of course I have, it's an obvious choice."
"So, who is the lucky soul?"
"Why it's my obedient one, but he is more than just obedient. He can be very naive, gullible, ignorant even. He's too innocent to understand anything. He's honestly the perfect subject."
"Ah, I see. And you don't care if the test doesn't work? You know that he will di-"
"Yes Yes, I know that. But it doesn't matter to me. I will still get the money, correct?"
"Yes madam. All the three million dollars."
"Perfect. When is the earliest I will be able to schedule an appointment?"
"The first time was available is next month. Does that work with you?"
"Yes, Yes. I guess that will do."
"Is there anything else you need madam?"
"Oh, yes! Just in case he doesn't cooperate, do you think I could get some anesthesia I can give him before I take him to the operation?"
"Of course. I currently have some with me, I never leave home without it. Don't worry, it shouldn't do too much harm." The woman gave Mrs. Hopeful a large, sharp syringe. "Make sure to only give him a small amount. If you give him all of it, he'll probably be out for days."
"Yeah, Yeah, don't worry. I've got this all under control."
Nikiole's heart raced. What were they going to do to Kaile? She raced to her room and hid under the covers, trying to forget the scene she watched unfold.