Chapter 4 - OPERATION RED RATTLE
The sun was beginning to touch the horizon, casting a soft, orange glow. The twins had synchronized their breathing, waiting for the exact moment Sophie would head to the kitchen to prep for her morning school routine.
As soon as they heard the click of the nursery door closing, they went into action. Leo acted as the lookout, peering through the slats of the crib while Maya climbed out—a feat of acrobatics previously forbidden by the "Assistant Parent."
She scurried across the rug, moving toward the desk where Sophie’s folder sat. Her fingers trembled as she slid the paper out.
Suddenly, the floorboards groaned. Sophie had forgotten her backpack. She was standing in the doorway, staring at her sister, who was currently mid-heist.
"Maya," Sophie said, her voice terrifyingly quiet. "Explain."
Maya didn't freeze. She crumpled the paper into a ball and shoved it behind the radiator in one swift motion. "I was just… checking to make sure your name was spelled right! You know, teachers make mistakes."
Sophie stared at her, then walked over to the radiator. She retrieved the ball of paper and smoothed it out.
May you like
"You're a bad liar, Maya," Sophie said, her voice dangerously calm. "And for that, you're going to spend the next hour in the crib. No toys. And Leo… you’re grounded from the mobile."
She turned and left. The twins were defeated, and the morning hadn't even started. The weight of their failure hung heavy in the room.
