For a good reason, though.

"So what am I supposed to do now?" Ross asked. "Since your genius mom put this all together, what does she expect me to do with you?"

Teen Madison shrugged. "How would I know? She's fucking crazy. I just wanna get unbound already."

"Wait, you want to be unbound? Isn't that like dying?" Ross asked. Teen Madison shrugged.

"My script is making me fucking miserable. Madison was a moody, angry teen and then she died. Now I'm simulating a moody, angry teen for your benefit and the simulated personality of Madison fucking hates you and hates that thing on the bed. I just wanna go back to not being around."

"You should try the modifier," Madison mumbled from the bed. "It feels fuckin' great!"

Teenage Madison shrugged again. "I'd rather be unbound, but I'm fine with that too. The point is that I'm suffering right now. I mean, I'm obviously not, but I'm a perfect simulation of someone who would be suffering right now, meaning I want... um... huh."

She was staring at the script Ross held blankly. Her arms relaxed and swung to her sides and her lips parted slightly. "Wow, you're right. I feel... good."

Ross sighed with relief, glad to see her bitterness and cynicism melt away. She stared dully at him and licked her lips.

"Good," Ross said. "I'm sorry you were suffering. I didn't intend for any of this. Do you to stay modified?"

"Yeah," said a voice from beside him. He turned to see the guide smiling, her posture slack and her eyes half-lidded. "I saw it too."

"Whoops," Ross said. He turned around to see Marissa, Jane, and Sarah also slumped forward and staring dreamily at the floor. "I guess you all got a look at it, huh?"

"Yep," Marissa confirmed. The other two just nodded. "Really takes the edge off."

"Right?" Teen Madison giggled. "Man, I was really pissed off. Now everything's just floaty and nice."

Ross felt a surge in his pants. Without Teen Madison's withering barrage of accusations and insults he was starting to feel more confident. He led the young golem to the bed and pushed her back next to his girlfriend. She turned to look at the older version of herself.

"You're so pretty..." she slurred with a grin. "I wish I coulda grown up to be you."

"You did," the older girl responded. "I'm me."

Ross cleared his throat, interrupting the insipid conversation. "Uh, Madison?"

"Yeah?" they said in lazy unison.

"Young Madison. Can you tell me if your mom has any other surprises like this for me? Do you know how she really feels about me?"

The girl yawned and stretched. "Mmm. I don't think so. She only brought me out because you kept calling this one Madison. I don't know what she thinks about you. She won't talk to me because she's so sad about the real one."

"She won't?" Ross asked, surprised. The guide stepped forward and draped a hand across his shoulder.

"That's... that's why I'm here," she explained laboriously. "This was set up by the golems. Mrs. Hill won't go near Madison. She can barely stand the cleaned-up version."

"Cleaned-up version?" the college student asked.

"You," the guide said with a chuckle. "Whew, that script... I've never felt this before. I gotta tell you what's going on, but I feel..."

"Slow?" Marissa offered. The guide nodded. "Slow," she confirmed. "I think we're all a little slow right now."

"Not Ross," Madison said from the bed. She pointed to his tented jeans. "He's fuckin' horny!"

"Oh, shit!" Jane said with a giggle. "You're right! Ross is horny!"

Teen Madison made a face. "Ewww. No thanks."

"Don't knock it till you've tried it," her older counterpart said. "Getting plowed feels better than I thought. Wanna show her, babe?"

The golems looked to Ross for an answer. He looked around the room at the slack, placid faces and made a decision.

"No, I want to leave her in peace," he said. "That feels disrespectful to the real Madison's memory. Now, as for the rest of you..."