Carol

It still amazes me that we finally meet Emma and Ray for the first time, but also we're going to meet Norman, our older brother that we never met before. 

Isle was nervous , considering that she is still trying to adjust to that we had escaped from the home that we used to know. 

"Carol, I'm actually nervous." She said to me as we follow Emma to Norman's office. Jack nods with that statement, as he was looking at Emma. 

"Yeah, I'm nervous too, I mean, we still getting used that we have two older siblings who used to lived in Gracefield House. Do you actually trust them, considering that they left us behind for two years?" 

Considering that , I was actually feeling was anxiety. Was meeting Norman the right way to go? Would he be able to recognize me, after being apart for so long? 

Emma finally walks to the doorway , as she knew that this would be an very interesting encounter for us. 

She turns to us, "I will be the one to go in first, then I will tell you guys to meet him. Are you nervous?"

Jack said, "A little bit, but why you should go first, Emma? You know Norman practically your whole life! " 

"It's not easy, believe me, Jack, Ray and the rest of the 15 Cattle Children didn't suspect of Norman being William Minerva when we first arrived to Cuvitidala Paradise. Just trust me on this, ok?" Emma said. 

She opens the door as she went inside to Norman's office. 

Norman

I hear the door opened up as I dropped the pen on the paper work. To my surprise it was Emma! 

She seems to be nervous as she said, "Norman, there is someone who wants to meet you." 

I was concerned about the newcomer, as she knew how I was going to react. "It's not exactly who would expect, but it is an familiar face. " 

"Emma , what you saying? I thought that you went back to the Gracefield House. Even though I hate to admit , that was pretty reckless of you." I said to her which cause her to rub her head and sweat in total embarrassment of her actions. 

"Well, I think it was the right motive. I can't bear of not doing anything. Norman, I made an promise that I would come and rescue the siblings that we left behind. 

Well, this is going to be an utter shock for you, but we made it back and brought them here. C'mon on in, you guys." 

There were three teens came in and it was two girls and a boy. One of them was wearing a bandage similar to Emma and Ray, did she cut off her tracking device to make the escape?

"Go on, it's Norman." She said to the group. 

The girl with the bandage steps forward as she was hesitant but then she said, "Why? Why you didn't bother to tell Phil you were alive all this time?!? 

I watch him suffer, carrying the burden of watching all over us, knowing the Secret, the Demons, all of it! 

You were suppose to the big brother that we needed the most, Norman! We're siblings , aren't we?!?" 

Her words sting me, as if it was felt with guilt, hearing Phil's name for the first time in two years since I was shipped off to ^7214. 

But then, how does she know Phil, who are they?

"You really don't recognize me, don't you? The last time you saw me, I was just an infant, the infant that replaced Conny." The girl said. 

My eyes were filled with pure shock as I step backwards in total disbelief and awe as if it dawn on me of who was facing me right now. 

Emma said, touching her shoulder, "I know, Ray and I couldn't believe it either too, Norman. But it's really her. It's Carol." 

Carol said, "I... I held in the pain ever since I was five years old. It was unbearable, it was hard reality, of watching every one of my siblings been sent off to their deaths. I wasn't strong enough to protect them, just being in the sidelines..." 

She was crying as I knew she needed me, as I walked towards my younger sister I abandoned and hugged her. 

It felt like when I reunited with Emma when she and the others first arrived to Cuvitidala Paradise . 

Carol was exactly how Emma had felt, being trying to so hard to be brave all on her own, and she made a lot of sacrifice to make it here.  

"I'm so sorry. For everything, Carol. It must've been difficult for you to grow into this young teen standing before me. " 

She looks at me as I examined her closely as I looked at her ear and touch it. 

"Carol... your ear." I said. 

"Oh, this? I cut it off to deceive Mama Ollie in order to escape to the underground tunnels. I'll be fine." She said. 

"Tunnels?" I ask, as Emma said, "I was curious too. You were in the Tunnels underneath the House. How you know there would be tunnels?"

The boy next to her said, "It's Phil's idea. I think he made the tunnels for us . It's kind of an amazing idea actually."  

"Jack, this is all part of our commitment to escape. Um, sorry, that we didn't mention it to this earlier , Emma." Carol said, as Emma waves her hand, totally understanding her motives. 

"Don't mention it. It was still kind of shocking of seeing you as a teen now, Carol. For once, I'm kind of speechless." 

"You must been tired. Hayato will escort you all to your rooms . " 

Hayato came and lead Carol and her siblings away as I finally slid down to my chair, trying to embrace the encounterment of Carol. 

"You seemed tense about it. Are you ok, Norman?" Emma asks me curiously . 

I looked at her with how I was amazed of she was coping with it. 

"How you be so calm about this, Emma? Carol seems so..." I begin to say, but unable to describe her. 

"Different, like Ray and I? " Emma said. 

"Emma.. it's just that the way she was feeling, it felt nostalgic. " 

"What you mean by that, Norman, I don't really understand what you mean." The teen said, rubbing her head in total confusion. 

"To make this simple as possible, it felt like how we reunited, Emma. Carol was you. " I said to her, hoping that she would understand. 

It took her a long while , but then she seems to realize it too. 

"Oh. " She said. 

Emma

I never would've guessed that Carol was hiding her true feelings. She did react of how I did when I reunited with Norman when I first arrived to Cuvitidala Paradise. 

"Oh." I said, now felt kind of embarrassed of not noticing of it sooner. 

"I guess that is what it must had been for you, Emma. I am truly sorry for not telling you I was William Minerva in the first place. 

When I escaped from ^7241 , I had to be anonymous to make sure no one would know who I was, especially you, Emma." Norman apologizes. 

"Norman, I already forgiven you for doing that, but I am still worried. As much I can see, Phil wasn't with Carol and other siblings when Ray and I found them. " I stated, which made Norman to think. 

"It does seems a little bit strange if you ask me, but maybe we can get some more intel on him if I sent some of my guys to search for him." He suggested. 

"I guess. But Norman, it's not going to be exactly easy as you thought it would be. I been in the Demon Forest as long I can remember. The Outside World is enormous, and Phil could be anywhere by now." 

"You may have a point there, Emma. But we have to think of the possibilities . Is it possible that Phil may be in hiding from the Demons, like us? It's a risk, even for him to know it. " 

"Maybe. But Phil may be in serious trouble more than we realize, Norman. " I said , as I turn to leave, "You should talk to Carol. She needs her big brother more than you being William Minerva right now." 

I close the door behind me, as I saw Ray who was leaning on the side of the wall. 

"Tch. You heard all of that? Geez, Ray. You're really nosy about all of this, aren't you?" I ask him. 

Ray shrug, "I was curious about how Carol was going to react, but I never would've imagined that you would be the one calling the shots about our Norman . " 

"He has to be not just the leader of the Resistance , he has to learn about being a brother to Carol. She practically spent her entire life living in fear, Ray. They need a moment just like we had when we first arrived to this place. 

For now, I will investigate Phil's whereabouts with Don. He can help me with what I am missing at. If Phil is hiding in total secrecy, like Norman is, then we need to find him before Norman sent his reinforcements ." 

"Ok. I'll be careful with not telling Norman about this, Emma. You and Don should get started on finding Phil." 

I nodded , as I begin to think in my mind, "Phil... what are you thinking right now?"