Eli Turner, heart pounding, keeps to the shadows, clutching a battered notebook. He moves past ornate lamplights and marble statues, drawn by curiosity and a hint of mischief. The dormitory windows glow softly, their golden light promising secrets within. "Just a quick look around. No one will ever know,"

Dean Margaret Hale, a commanding figure in a navy suit, emerges with piercing eyes. A cadre of prefects trail behind, their eyes sharp with suspicion. Eli freezes, exposed in the spotlight of a crystal chandelier. "Well, well, what have we here? An intruder, it seems," "I... I'm sorry, I—" "Save your breath. You’ll come with us,"

Eli is escorted inside, wrists trembling as he surveys the odd collection of vials and instruments. Dr. Lillian Marrow, a poised woman with silver-streaked hair, stands ready beside a reclining chair. Her smile is gentle, but her eyes glint with strange purpose. "Lie down, dear. This won’t take long,"

The world spins, colors bleeding into one another, and Eli’s body tingles with an impossible sensation. His limbs shrink and reshape, hair softens and lengthens, and his voice catches in a gasp that is suddenly higher, unfamiliar. The room seems larger, the faces around him more intimidating. "What’s… happening to me?" "You’re becoming one of us, my dear. A fresh start, with a new family,"

He sits up, noticing a frilly nightgown and small, delicate feet swinging over the bedside. Dr. Marrow sits beside him, her expression softening into something maternal. "Welcome back, sweetheart. It’s time to meet your new mother," "Mother?" "That’s right. And since I took care of you, you will call me ‘mommy’ now,"

Ellie clings to Dr. Marrow’s hand, her eyes wide with wonder and uncertainty. The older woman squeezes gently, her presence both comforting and commanding. Ellie glances up, a tentative smile forming. "Thank you… Mommy,"