***

The whole house had eaten the food that was laid out on the table. The main six made sure to make it seem like they weren't planning anything and Alex thought they were doing pretty well. They were just eating, talking, laughing, all the usual stuff. Sister Krone hadn't shown up for dinner which was a little weird to her. Alex tried not to dwell on it too much, but she couldn't help it. She wondered where the woman had been. Maybe she was doing some chores for Mom that kept her too busy to come and eat with them.

Not long after they had got done eating, all of the kids were let outside for playtime. Just like always, the group went away from the other kids to talk about their plans. Ray was not with them this time seeing as he was currently with Mom. He was distracting her while they were doing the inspection that was today.

"We'll carry out our escape plan within six days. But if possible, I'd like to make our escape tomorrow..," Norman explained. Don nodded which showed that he understood. Norman continued, "Before Mama or Sister Krone can make their move. We can destroy the trackers."

Alex was once again brought back to thinking about where Sister Krone was. She was expecting her to see her walking around the house while doing chores after they had all started going outside, but she didn't see the woman at all. The redheaded girl shook her head. She needed to focus on the situation at hand.

Turning to look at Don and Gilda, Emma said, "All we have left is the investigation. Let's go. As long as this goes well, we're ready to leave."

"Then let's get started," Alex stated with a firm nod. Everyone was determined to make sure that this inspection went well. It had to go well. They needed it to go well. It was then that the inspection plan started. Norman, Emma, and Alex ran as fast as they could into the forest and into the direction of the wall. It didn't take them long to make it to the wall at the pace they were going in. Emma climbed up a nearby tree and pulled out the rope that they had hidden inside it. She jumped down and shared a look with the other two. Norman nodded. They started heading toward the wall when they heard a sound from the bushes. The three of them stopped and turned in the direction of the sound. "You guys hear that too?" Alex asked.

"Emma..." Norman trailed off.

"Yeah!" Emma exclaimed. She tossed the rope into the bushes that were nearby. Finally, they could see the person that had made the noise. Mom walked into their field of vision with a smile on her face. Alex's gaze moved to Mom's hand which held the watch that was wide open. "Mama?" Emma inquired with a smile, "What's up?"

"Is it already time to go back?" Alex flashed the woman a grin as well.

Mom just closed her watch, the smile never falling from her face. The woman closed her eyes and she looked at peace in a way, "Ten years," Emma hummed in confusion. "For ten whole years... We've all lived together. But I suppose this is the first time we speak to each other without any acting involved," The three children continued to stare at her in false confusion. It was probably hopeless to keep up the innocent act, but they still feigned ignorance. Mom placed a hand on her chest, "Nice to meet you, Emma. Nice to meet you, Norman. Nice to meet you, Alex."

Alex forced out a laugh, "What are you talking about, Mom?" Alex could see that Norman and Emm were no longer looking confused, but worried. She had to admit it, she was really worried too. Mom was supposed to be distracted by Ray and then Don and Gilda if Ray couldn't keep her attention... So why was she here?

"Now, children," Isabella chuckled, "There's no more need for you three to be so tense! Don't worry, it's only me now. Nobody else. You don't have a reason to act like good children anymore! After all, at this moment... Our relationship is nothing but that of a farmer and her animals," It had hurt for Alex to hear that. The woman who basically raised her and everyone else in Grace Field House was calling it out like it really was. They weren't really a mother and her children... But a farmer and her animals like she had said. Both of Mom's hands were now placed on her chest, "Oh, but don't get me wrong, darlings! It's true that I do love you all. I really do. I love you as if you were my real children! And that's exactly why I wanted you all to give up and came all the way here to stop you three."

"Give up what?" Norman hesitated before asking the question.

"Resistance," Mom's answer was so simple and blunt that it had taken Alex by surprise. "I love you so much... Which is why I don't want you to suffer. I don't want to become the cause of your suffering. Don't you agree that you've all had happy lives? Growing up every day in a house full of good food and love. You know nothing of starvation or the cold. You die feeling completely fulfilled! Just what more could you possibly ask for after all of that?" Shock and cold fear had washed over Alex. She couldn't believe it. This was how Mom actually was. She had gotten a small glimpse of how she really was when she was questioning her and Emma, but she wasn't holding back this time. This was fully and completely her. "There's no way you'll escape. Anyway, it's too dangerous out there! So come," Isabella held a hand out to them, "Let's all live happily together back at the house! Until the deadline... Until the end, I want you all to be the happiest you can be!" The three kids shared a look. She wasn't trying to ship them out immediately. "I want all six of you to be happy!"

There was a horrible silence that fell upon them. The woman had held her hand out for so long that a bird actually landed on it. It had stayed there for a moment or two before finally flying away. Alex felt like the bird was representing their fleeting freedom. The girl clenched her hands into tight fists, "Happy? You call that happy?" Mom had said nothing. She just continued to smile her usual smile.

"I understand, Mama," Norman spoke up. He smiled back at the older woman, "We'll stop being good kids then."

The grin that had been so wide on Isabella's face fell in an instant. Alex took this as her chance to distract her. They had to make sure that this inspection happened. Alex ran at her, "Go, guys!" Once she was close enough, Alex wrapped one arm around Mom's waist while she reached for the tracker with her other hand.

She had reached and reached until she could feel her arm hurting. Mom suddenly smirked. Everything after that had happened so fast that Alex had to take a moment to comprehend what had taken place. Alex felt herself getting pushed to the ground when a shooting and agonizing pain started in her leg. Her mouth dropped open as she let out a loud scream. Mom had broken her leg and it was now twisted in an angle that was definitely not normal.

Instead of looking at the girl with remorse, Mom had that stupid soft smile spread across her face. Alex was appalled at what had just happened. Her mother, the woman who had taken care of her for her whole life... The one person she thought would never hurt her... Had actually hurt her with intentions of doing so. She didn't even seem sorry for what she did. Alex could only look at the woman in horror. Isabella brought Alex into a sitting position so she could hug the younger girl. She held one hand at the back of Alex's head so she wouldn't be able to get away.

Isabella shushed her whimpers and cries, "There, there, it's all right. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt!" She rested her forehead onto Alex's. "Oh, my poor baby... My precious Alexandra... That's why I told you to give up already! But I must admit, it does feel great to be able to hug you like this again," The woman giggled. She lifted her head up so she could look at Norman and Emma who were frozen in shock, "And Norman, Emma, I'm very impressed that you two managed to figure out this situation!" Mom took out bandages. She had planned for this? "That's right. My job... Is to simply hold you all back," She placed a stick on Alex's leg and started wrapping the bandages around the girl's leg and the stick, "That's just how indispensable you all are! A special offering reserved especially for a special someone. The most high-quality produce... I've ever raised!"

"Then why..." Norman couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.

"And that's why I'll do whatever it takes... To protect all of you," Mom had continued on like he hadn't even said anything. "If you weren't going to listen to me, this was the only option I had left," She turned her gaze to look down at Alex, "She won't be able to move for a while," One of her hands went toward Alex's cheek and rested on it. Alex wanted to move away so bad and she wasn't able to because of how much pain she was in. "Now things will go smoothly until tomorrow!"

Emma narrowed her eyes in confusion, "Tomorrow?"

"What's happening tomorrow?" Alex managed to get out.

Mom smiled once again, "Yes, tomorrow. Now, don't you make a ruckus, girls. I want you to celebrate like any good girl would. The headquarters just contacted me," Isabella looked at Norman, "Congratulations, Norman. Your shipping date has been decided."

It was just then that Don, Gilda, and Ray had got there. They were just in time to hear the horrible announcement. They all looked at the scene and their eyes widened when they heard what she had said. Alex stared at the woman with an expression of terror and anguish. Norman was... Going to be shipped out?