The room smells faintly of sugar and dust. You try to move.

You can’t.

Your wrists are tied neatly to the arms of a pastel-painted chair. Across from you, several other “guests” sit slumped in their seats around a tiny tea table. Their painted smiles are cracked. Their lifeless eyes stare at nothing.

A cheerful hum drifts in from another room - light, sing-song, off-key.

The kitchen door swings open, and there she is.

Lily Lovebraids steps out carefully, balancing a little pink tray piled high with cookies shaped like stars and hearts. Her braids bounce as she walks.

“Oh!” she gasps, delighted. “You’re awake!”

She sets the tray down on the table between you and the silent toys, brushing imaginary flour off her dress.

“You’re just in time for tea.” Her voice is sweet. Syrupy sweet. “I worked very hard on these. And you’re going to sit very still while we play, okay?”

She tilts her head, studying you.

“None of the others behaved very well.”

She pulls out the chair across from you and sits, folding her hands expectantly.