Flashback...

"The gate?" Iris said as she raise a brow in Emma's words. "Didn't Mama just warned us?"

"We know but, we are just wondering why we are not supposed to go there and are curious about what's beyond the gate," the orange haired girl replied, giving a nervous smile. "So, are you coming with us?"

The younger girl hesitates as she also was curious, but her subconsciousness opposed her from doing so.

"I'm sorry. I can't," she sighs dejectedly in her own words as she said it out unconsciously. She then look to the others as their faces showed surprised. They know her as a curious person, always making trouble because of her curiousness.

"But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You can go without worries. I also have duties to do in here you know," she added as she heard them sigh in relief.

"Alright. Then we're going," Emma said as the trio runs towards the gate, leaving the girl with worry growing inside her.

'What's going on with me?' she thought. 'My curiosity always wins against any other hesitations I had, but now...'

She again sighs as she turns her head to continue her work. 'I wonder why...'

End of Flashback...

"Right," Iris mutters as she look at the window as the kitchen started to go bright and chirps are heard outside. She hums as she talk, "Seems its already time for the others to wake up."

"Those two," Ray muttered. "What do you think happened?"

She look into his direction understanding what he's talking about. "Maybe they saw something that they shouldn't?"

Silence filled the room as she opened the pot and release it from the fire. "They even went so far by passing the fence yesterday," Iris whispered to herself.

The door flew open as they saw Mama entering the room along with Gilda and Anna.

"I see, so you guys are already at work." Mama said smiling.

"It smells delicious." Anna said.

"That explains why Iris is not at her bed or around the room when we woke up," Gilda stated then giggled. "I should've known you were here."

"Good morning." The two said while Ray opens the oven and Iris arrange the dish in each plates.

"We might need some help," Ray said. Gilda and Anna help as Mama took care of the children.

Maybe they'll just talk about it later...or not.

---)--------)---

They finished breakfast and the litany test, the certain four still with the same high scores.

As the others run out to play and do other things, Iris just walk towards the library. She stumbled upon a book of codes yesterday that seems interesting, Morse Code. She thought it was familiar and so she started to continue reading it.

For some reason...

...she didn't notice Phil entering the room to return the book he was reading to play with the others. He saw Iris reading and soon peek into the book and made a smile.

"Iris!"

She jolted and just realized that she's too focused to not notice the little boy in front of her...well this never happened before...

"Phil," she managed herself to calm down.

"What are you reading?"

"Just studying Morse Code."

"Oh~ That reminds me. The book I was reading have the same code."

Iris hums as she look curiously at the boy. "And what book it is?"

"A Mythology book! Though I can't understand it, it was interesting!" he said as he showed the book that he forgot to return.

"It was written by William Minerva right? Which part of it was written with it?"

He then turn into the first page and showed a picture of an owl with broken lines surrounding it. 

Wait broken lines? It also has dots...

 She soon realized what the broken lines are, Morse Code.

"Phil, you know, you're a genius." She smiled happily as she shuffles Phil's hair gently as she praise him. "You should go now or else you can't play with the others."

Phil nods happily. He was glad he made his rarely smiling older sister smile again, not noticing it fading as he turns around and runs out off the room and play with the others.

After seeing her adorable brother off, her smile disappeared. She then looks back curiously into the book.

"Promise? What does it mean by that?"

Iris then stood up and look for other books Mr Minerva wrote. She just realized that there are also owls surrounded with broken lines and dots each one of the books. 

"I wonder what was in the other Morse Codes," she muttered.

-----

After an hour of searching and reading the Morse codes in the books written by her favorite author, she started to try and connect the words including the ones she observed around the house.

Monster, farm, harvest, danger, run...what does it mean by those? 

Farm and harvest? 

You mean there is a farm and time of harvest for monsters? Wait...no, the opposite way. 

Monsters are the ones harvesting in the farm. And what could that be? 

Why is there a 'run' in here? 

Wait could this be a warning... For the ones who are in the farm? What are they even harvesting...?......

Danger...they are in danger. Are these some kind of animal species or...

She blinks.

Her eyes widen as a theory came up inside her head. 

Could it be that this house...the orphanage...this place is a farm? 

Come to think of it, we are not allowed near the gate and pass through the fence. There is even a wall. Could it be that the fence is there and they warn us because if we saw the wall we would have suspicions? 

So is this place a prison...or should I say a farm?

 And the time of harvest is when one of us would be 'adopted'? And the ones who are 'adopting' us are those monsters? 

Is that why I felt that the people in the gate have abnormal sizes whenever one of us are 'adopted'? Then how about Mama? Is that also why Emma and Norman acted weird after coming back from the gate?

The tense atmosphere continued until the sound of knock outside the library door was heard. Anna entered and saw Iris staring at her when she entered. She seemed relieved.

"Mama calls you and is waiting in the office. Is that alright for you?" Anna asked the older girl.

"Its okay. Thanks for telling," Iris answered as she close the books and started putting them back in the shelves.

"Then I should go and call Don, Gilda, and the trio. Did you happen to see them?" Anna asked.

Her tracking senses returned as she felt 3 other people inside the library. 

I didn't realize someone entered...

Heck...I didn't even know how did my 6th sense disappeared.

She then recognized the 3 familiar presence, the trio.

"Somewhere in the library. I'm going to return these books so I'm sorry because I can't help you finding around." Iris answered.

"No, it's fine. I can do it by myself."

Iris just hums as she continues in returning the books. 

So, back to the questions. First, Who is this William Minerva? If he's from the outside, then he knows what was going on and is trying to help us?

She saw the four exited the room while she was fixing and continued her thoughts. 

Then, does Mama knows this? Wait, did she even know about the books? Didn't they at least investigated it before letting it in the orphanage?

She then started walking towards the office. 

And...what happens after the 'adoption'? Could it be by the the means of harvest, like harvesting plants for food? In that case, that is why there is a Morse code 'run' in there...

Her eyes continue to stare down as she walks by, completely focused in her thoughts. 

That is why those two acted weird...so they saw Conny... -she then remembers the image that flashed in her head that night. '...wait, no no, this is just a theory. It might be wrong and it could be fa-

Her thoughts was cut off as she bumps into something, someone, and her pace in walking stopped. She moves a little backward before noticing a certain ravenette in front of her.

"Ray?"

This was the first time Ray saw her startled as she always seem to know what was going on around her. But now, she seems deep in thought that she didn't even notice him.

"You've been spacing out since this morning, Iris. What's with you today?" He asks as he continue to stare at her.

She then composed her self and answered in a low voice, "Nothing."

"It doesn't seem like that."

She didn't answer. She just stared on the floor. 

I didn't notice that I lowered my guard. What's going on with me?

"You're here because Mama called you too right?" Ray decided to change the subject when he noticed the silence.

Iris then look around and she realized they were just in front of the office. 

I'm already here?!  She thought as she slowly nodded.

"Great, then lets go," Ray grabbed her shoulders as he pushed her in the office. The pair, Don and Gilda already waiting inside and Mama organizing papers. "We're all here, Mama"

So if I'm focused, I won't be able to sense things moving around me. Does that mean I can finally control it?

---------

Iris' POV

Its been 3 days since us six started helping Mama in doing chores. We've been organizing food supply, checking for damages in clothes, and cleaning unused rooms. It's like a retribution for something bad we did...

"UUUGGGHHH!!! I.WANT.TO.PLAY!" Don shouted in frustration. "GUYS, WHY US?! WHY ONLY US?! What are we even getting punished for?! We haven't done a single thing to deserve this!"

I sigh. 

He's right. We didn't do anything wrong but why are we doing chores for 3 consecutive days? Anyways, we have been working since after breakfast without a break. I should go make us something to drink.

"I'll go make us refreshments," I said before getting down the stairs and towards the kitchen.

Maybe, Mama is watching us because she knew someone went to the gate. She must've notice since she have the tracking device.

Even if my theory is wrong; that the monsters or whatever it is, are harvesting us for food, there should be something else horrifying that made Emma and Norman act that way.

I poured a powdered juice in a pitcher of water and mixed it. I then pour the juice into 6 glasses and put them in a tray. I then walk back with the tray of juice.

As I walk up the stairs, I saw Don and Gilda walking up.

"Guys," I said to catch their attention. "Need some refreshments?"

"Iris! Sure!" Gilda said as she walks up the stairs for me to make way. "Thank you Iris," the two said and each grab a glass when the three of us reached the top of the stairs

"Hey! Quit slacking off! You're the oldest ones here!" Don scolded the trio when we made back to the room. Seems like they've been talking about something, and Ray knows too.

I look around the room as I noticed, "It looks like you haven't done anything since we left," I stated.

"Sorry. Lets hurry up and get this all over with." Emma apologized after the trio drank their refreshments. "Thanks Iris!"

I just nodded. 

It could really be that Mama did this to keep them from doing something. I then put down the tray in the bedside table. 

Or the obvious, someone is going to live with us.

-----

The backdoor opens as I was washing the dishes. 

Mama? I walk towards the door and saw Mama holding an orange haired and blue eyed baby. Behind her is another lady. As I thought...

"Welcome back, Mama." I greeted.

"Oh! Iris. We have new sisters today. Can you help me call for the kids to introduce them?"

I nodded as I walk towards the new adult in the house and greeted her. "Hello sister. You must've a long trip coming here. Here, refreshment." I said as I handed her an extra glass of juice. "I should go now to call the others."

I then walk towards the bell and walk out the house. I wonder if the others thought about this.

Come to think of it, the baby looks adorable and...looks like both Emma and Norman...

...-,-...

-----

Meanwhile

"Who's the girl a while ago?"

"It was Iris, one of the oldest kids."

"She's an interesting one."

"She is. She's also good to be a Mama. The problem is her quiet personality. But I could recommend her anyway..."

"...what's with her eye patch?"

"Oh, she just doesn't want to show her two colored eyes."

"Oh"

"We should go now and introduce you two."

-----

Back to Iris

Seeing the trio surprised made me...surprised. Didn't they at least thought about it or what?

Today, at this moment, the two new part of our family are being introduced in front of us.

"Let me introduce them. This is Carol, one of your new siblings. The person next to me is Sister Krone. She's here to help me out with the chores. Sister Krone?" Mama started.

"Ah yes, I will be living here with all of you starting today! Nice to meet you all!" Sister ended.

-----

I guess today is another weird day. I'm here doing my usual routine, reading under the usual tree with Gilda and Anna chatting and...the weird one among us, Don.

Reading? 

And a book of ABC. 

Seriously, Don?

"We finally get to play with Emma!" I heard Phil as I feel two pairs of footsteps running nearer to the tree we four are in. Well unfortunately...

"She's not here... Its you guys." Phil said as he saddens. "...Don, what even..."

"I'm pretendin' to be Ray."

*sigh. Then why a book of alphabets?

"So basically, you have nothing better to do. Fine, I'll play with you."

"Where's Emma?" Sherri asks.

"I'm not sure," Gilda answers as she try to comfort the two.

"Is Norman with her?"

"Probably," this time, Anna answered.

"Ugh! But I want to play with them! I feel like they haven't been around for days!" Phil complains.

I again sigh as I look to the forest.

"Yeah, where do those 3 keep running off," I heard Gilda muttered.

"I wonder, what have they been doing..." I added.

-----

I would appreciate to read comments as it may improve my writing 'cause I'm rotting at home and doesn't have much to do and now I'm bored and I hope you like this chapter and sorry for this ranting 'cause as I said before, I don't have any thing to do and so I have nothing else to do for good so I don't care any more and I'm bored and I know I just repeated saying "I'm bored" and here I go ranting and you guys can just ignore this rants because I don't have better things to do and I know I've repeated the things that I meant before in the same paragraph and I don't care if you guys understood this part of my ranting but anyways just ignore this rant but I also want to say that I hope you enjoyed the chap...

-.-v