<----------------------->

A young girl with orange hair, name Emma, walks towards the bars of a gate, grasping them with both hands as curiosity was filled in her eyes. "What is this?" She questions. "It's a gate. It connects the inside and outside."  A boy with black hair, name Ray, explains as Emma raises a brow. "Outside, huh? We've never been outside."

"That's because we've been here ever since we were born." A girl with (H/c), name (Y/n), said as another boy with white, whose name is Norman, nodded. The four young kids stare inside the gate as Emma glances at her friends before looking back. "Mom always tells us, doesn't she? 'Don't go near the gate or fence in the back of the forest because it's dangerous.'." The cheerful girl remembered as (Y/n) and Ray look over at her.

Ray looks away from her and back inside the gate. "That's obviously a lie." (Y/n) faces him, cocking her head to the side as she raises her right brow. "Really?" Emma looks away from the gate and turns her head over to her black haired friend. "Hey, Ray! What do you want to do if you go outside?" He looks over at her before looking down on the ground. "I don't know. What about you?"

"I want to ride a giraffe!" Emma grinned, making (Y/n) chuckle at her behavior. Ray leans against the bars, replying. "Good luck." Emma then looks over at (Y/n) and asks her. "(N/n)! What would you do if you went outside?" (Y/n) looked over at her outgoing friend before looking up at the sky, smiling. "Maybe I'll meet the love of my life out there, and maybe get married and have kids; just like those stories I always read."

"Of course you'd say that, (Y/n)." Ray muttered, a small smile was made onto his lips as the girl jerked her head over to him. "Hey! What's that supposed mean?" She huffed as Norman stared at the two before looking back inside the gate. He reaches his hands over to the bars and mumbles to himself. "I wonder... I wonder what this gate is protecting us from."

The four stared inside the gate once more.

<----------------------->

Years later, the four were at their home, sound asleep. Emma moved her head ever so slightly to reveal a number on her neck. 63194. (Y/n)'s head was at the side of her pillow, as it also revealed a number on her neck as well. 79194.

The sun eventually rose in the sky and the bell had rung at six o'clock am. Emma was the first to wake up. She blinked her eyes rapidly before sitting straight up, turning to her right, and smiled. She got on her knees and raises both her hands in the air. "Everyone, wake up! Or you'll be late for breakfast!"

She announced, making everyone stir and slowly wake up from their slumber. On a calendar, it's October 12th, 2045. Days were marked down as one, which was today, was circled and was written: Conny. Emma helped one of the young kids get dressed as various types of children started to run and yell.

"Hey, wait for me!"

"No way!"

The kids run past a girl with glasses as she turned to them and scolded them. "Hey! Stop messing around and get ready!"

"Emma, I can't get my shoes on."

"I can't tie my shoelaces!"

Emma turns to see two younger kids staring up at her, tears in their eyes as she smiles down at them. "Ok, hold on. Don't cry." Soon after, kids were running towards the dinning hall with laughter and smiles. Emma runs in carrying a four-year-old boy name Phil before stopping and turning her head to see a tall boy with brown hair and a young girl with blonde hair.

"Good morning Don, Conny, and Little Bunny!" Both of them smiled at her and greeted her as well. "Morning!" Don exclaimed. "Morning, Emma." Conny grinned. Emma continued her way over to the dinning hall and stopped once she made it. "Look, we made it!" She told little Phil until two kids bumped into her, making her drop Phil to the ground. Luckily, he wasn't hurt.

Emma turned her head slightly at the two boys with a dark expression as they smiled at her. She turns away and lets out a dark chuckle before turning back to them, causing them to tense up. "Watch out..." An evil smile comes across her face. "I'm going to eat you!"

She started to chase the boys as they began to run away. Phil laughed and ran after her as the same girl with glasses walked over and smiled. "They're at it again." Emma catches up to the boys and grabs them, bringing them together as they laughed. Phil jumped on her head, making the four let out loud laughs.

They rush back in the dinning hall while Norman was pushing a cart, (Y/n) holding a few pots, and Ray walking in with another pot. Emma runs in with Phil on her back, who was also grabbing her cheek as she smiled at her best friends. "Morning, Norman! And (Y/n)! And Ray!"

"Good morning, Emma." Norman smiled.

"Mornin', Emma." (Y/n) grinned.

"Morning, Emma." Ray also smiled.

"You're so energetic. Even though you haven't eaten breakfast yet." (Y/n) pointed out, chuckling as well. The three began to walk as Ray rose a playful brow. "How old are you again? Five?" Emma furrowed her eyebrows and watched them walk while Phil had slide down from her back. "I'm 11, the same as you guys! And one of the oldest here!"

A giggle was heard and Emma turned her head over to see a woman, name Isabella, smiling. "You're laughing, too, Mom?" Isabelle turned to her, a smile still on her face. "Emma, can you give me a hand over here?"

Emma slightly groaned as she was brought in a hug. "But Mom! I'm going to redo my entrance from the beginning." Isabella looked down at her, her purple eyes staring down at Emma's green ones as she said. "Why? I love that part about you."

"That I'm five years old on the inside?"

Isabella shook her head. "The part where you care deeply about your family." She gently held both Emma's cheeks, making the girl grin up at her mother. "Thanks, Mom!" Soon, everyone was seated on their chairs and tables. Isabella rung a bell to quiet them down before making her announcement. "Good morning, my dear children. Let's give thanks that all 39 of you siblings are able to live here happily, today, too..."

Isabella holds both her hands together as everyone else does the same. "Thank you for the food." Isabella first said before everyone else recited afterward. Everyone began to eat their breakfast. They chatted, joked, laughed, and many more as their plate was merely empty.

"Here. Open wide." Isabella brought a fork to Conny's mouth. The little girl opened it and comped on the food before smiling up at her caretaker. "It's delicious!" Isabella places the fork down and grabs a napkin, wiping the crumbs off of Conny's face. "You're acting like a little baby, Conny." The girl continued to smile. "I can, right, especially today?"

"Yes."

<----------------------->

Age 11, type 1. Answer each question within nine seconds. We will now begin.

The kids were now gathered in a classroom, headsets on and a bright monitor in front of them. They were being tested as soon as a alarm went off. Each of the kids quickly scanned the bar code on the screen as fast as they can as one girl sighed.

Finally, the alarm went off again, indicating that it was over. The same girl with glasses let out a sigh of relief before her head fell against the monitor. "Well, I think I got at least half!" A kid grinned as the lights were now back on. "That much? Wow!" Another gawked. "I'm jealous. I didn't get most of it." Conny said as Isabella started to quiet them down.

Once no one was talking, the woman began to report the results out. "Are you all ready for the results? Norman. Ray. (Y/n). Emma. You four did an amazing job. You got all of them right! Perfect scores!" Isabella grinned at the four as everyone turned at the four, amazed. Emma lets out a cheer as three kids faced each other in awe. "Those four are different, huh? Norman is a genius who has the best brains. And Ray, and intellect who can compete against Norman's genius. Emma has amazing athletic skills, and her learning ability allows her to stay close to the other three. (Y/n) is like a mixture of all three of them combined! She's smart like Norman and Ray, and athletic like Emma! She's very kind to everyone and just knows how to put a smile on someone's face even if its unintentional."

"They say the House has never had four kids at this level together before."

"No wonder Mom is happy with them."

After being impatient and frigidity, Don jumps out of his seat and looks over at the white hair boy. "Norman!" He looks over at him. "I challenge you to a game of tag!" Norman just gives Don a smile as everyone was soon all outside, running away and hiding from Norman as he was it.

Norman looks over at Ray, who was sitting against a tree and reading a book. Ray looks up from reading and looks over at Norman before pulling out his pocket watch. He watches the clock tick and looks up at Norman, who nods and begins to run off. Ray watches him go as he sighs and places the watch down. He goes back to reading until he heard shuffling coming up from the tree.

Then, (Y/n)'s head popped out, making Ray flinch a little. "Hi, Ray." The girl beamed as she climbed herself down the tree. "(Y/n), I thought you were playing tag?" He questioned her, placing the book on his lap as (Y/n) sat beside him. "I am! I was just taking an advantage from the start, knowing that Norman, Emma, and not even you can find me when it comes to tag and hide and seek!"

"Gotcha."

(Y/n) tensed up when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned to her left to see Norman smiling down at her. "What! No fair, how did you know I was here!?" Norman chuckled. "I saw you climb the tree earlier. Luckily, I was able to know where you were this time."

The girl sighed and slumped her back against the tree. "Dang it." Norman started to walk away, waving at them before running off. Ray watches him leave before looking at (Y/n), a smile tugged on his face as he rose a brow. "No one can find you, hm?" (Y/N) puffed her cheeks and eyed her friend. She let out a small groan as she picked the grass before throwing a chunk of them in Ray's face. "Shut it."

He just let out a small laugh, dusting the grass away and picking up his book from his lap, continuing to read the page he was on. While Ray and (Y/n) would occasionally talk, the other kids watch intently for Norman, worried that they'll get caught. One of the kids looked over to their left as Norman approached them.

Once he placed a hand on one of them, the kids all gasped and yelped at his sudden appearance. Somewhere off, Don and Conny walk together as the boy said out loud. "Come get me, Norman! We'll outrun you this time for sure!" He turns his body to the little girl. "Right, Conny?"

"Thank you for always helping me, Don." The girl smiled. Don sent one back as he made his way over to her. "You don't have to thank me! I'll always help you! Anytime, anywhere you're in need!" The girl giggled before Don covered his mouth, realizing he was being too loud. Then, he noticed the footprints on the ground. "Based on the size of these shoe's footsteps..."

It takes a moment before Don smirks. "You let your guard down, Norman!" He turns back around, but yelps when he notices that Norman was standing behind him all along. Conny just sends Norman a smile while the white haired boy gave them a smile as well. "Don, you always let your guard down."

He makes his way over to the two. "Don't I always tell you? Your weakness is that you make quick judgment and lose your cool." He places a hand on Don's shoulder real quick before waving at the Conny and running off.

While Norman was off, all the other kids who were caught were near the tree. "What the heck? He practically got everyone." Don said, as Conny and him arrive back. "Well, it's Norman after all." A kid exclaimed. "The one survivor is..."

"...just Emma."

Ray looks at his watch before looking to his right. (Y/n) blinks her eyes and follows his gaze, as somewhere in the forest, Emma was running. The girl glanced beside her real quick and smiled to see Norman catch up with her. Emma pushes herself forward and jumps over a ledge and lands safely to the next.

Norman stops at the edge and watches her go, smiling as he began to walk in another direction. He walks over a log and looks around for his friend. Leaves had fallen near his face as he looked around while Emma was sitting on a tree branch, watching from above.

Norman begins to walk away, but he trips and lets out a small shriek, making Emma gasp. She jumps down from the tree and hurriedly makes her way over to her friend. "Norman!" She yells, sitting on her knees as the boy turned to her with a smile. "I was pretending."

"No fair! I was worried about you!" Emma huffed as Norman sat himself up. "Emma, your weakness is that you're nice." He says as he places a hand on her shoulder.

<----------------------->

"He caught me again! Why? So frustrating!" Emma cried, pounding on the grass as the four were under the tree. Ray looks over at Emma and questions her, making Norman and (Y/n) look over at him. "Question. What does Norman have that you don't?" She thinks for a bit. "The ability to plan ahead? Calmness? Overwhelming intelligence?"

"Strategy."

Emma looks over at Ray as he continues to speak, closing his book in the process. "If it's about simple physical ability, you have the upper hand. But Norman is strong right here. Like no other." Ray points to his head. "You're playing tag. It's game where you compete with strategy."

"A simple game of tag?" Emma questions, furrowing her eyebrows together. "It's like chess, but using your entire body." The boy turns his head over to his friend. "Isn't that right, Norman?" His friend nods. "Yeah. But you're a better tactician than me, Ray." Ray sighs. "You overestimate me."

"Norman's right though, you're a great tactician." (Y/n) smiles, which then turns into a grin. Ray looks over at her as Emma started to speak. "Reading the enemy's moves, huh?" Norman looked over at her. "But we're not even close when it comes to Mom."

(Y/n) nods. "That's true. We've never beaten her at chess." Norman chuckles and Ray smiles at her until they heard Don, which all made them look over at him. "Norman! I want a rematch! Next game, everyone will be "it" except you!" Everyone gasped. "Whoa!" The girl with glasses just sighed and shook her head slightly. "He's losing his cool again."

Norman stood up, smiling still and soon, the game has begun. Everyone tried looking for Norman, but they weren't able to find him. Emma and (Y/n) walked together, looking around to see if they could catch their friend. As they walk, Emma stops and looks to her right, but (Y/n) continues to walk before she looked over at her friend. "Emma?"

Emma doesn't say anything, as her eyes were locked onto something. The girl began to walk towards it as (Y/n) followed close. They stopped though when they were met with a small fence in front of them. The two look over to see Norman staring at it before turning towards them. Emma's mouth parts slightly as her and (Y/n) walk over to him.

The three stare at each other for a moment before Norman smiles. "You two caught me." Emma places her hand away from Norman's shoulder and the three look beyond the small fence. "'You can't go near there, no matter what'." Emma recited. "Yeah. Mom is always telling us that." Norman says. "The gate and the fence deep in the forest are dangerous."

(Y/n) walks over to the fence and goes to place her hand on it, but a sudden voice made her jump. "That's obviously a lie." The three look over to see Ray. "What do you mean?" Norman asked him. "Well, just look at it. What part of this is dangerous? The fence is low, and I don't see anything threatening."

"But if Mom is telling us that..." Emma trails off when Ray spoke again. "You really love Mom, after all."

"But everyone—"

"Hey! Are you sure you guys are playing tag!" The four look over to see Don running to them with a few kids. "Oh, is the game over already?" The girl with glasses mumbled. "We should call it a day. If we're late, Mom will be worried." Norman said. Don looks over to his left and pauses for a moment until speaking. "We'll eventually leave this place, huh?"

"This is an orphanage. Of course we'll leave eventually. Before we turn 12." (Y/n) told, as everyone looked up at a fence on a hill. "You know what? We don't receive letters from anyone" The girl with glasses reminded. "Letters?" Emma asked, cocking her head. "You know, after they leave the House, no one writes us."

"I'm sure they're being considerate to their foster parents." Norman assumed. "But we've all been together ever since we were born! Even if we're not related by blood, we're truer siblings than most." Don proclaimed.

The girl with glasses crossed her arms. "They must be having so much fun everyday that they've forgotten about the House." Emma looks over at her and smiles. "Then it's fine, right? I'm happy for them." The girl whined. "I want to go outside, too!"

A boy walked over and raised a brow. "What would you do outside?" The girl rolled her eyes, "Isn't it obvious? Get new clothes!" Don sighed. "Not again."

"I mean, come on! We only have this one uniform! I read in books that the outside world has so many different types of clothes! I want to wear them all!" The girl sighed in content at the thought. "I want to eat delicious food." A kid commented. "I want to go on a date with a cute girl." Don added. "Geez, that was rude." The girl sneered. "Oh, that's not what I meant."

"I want to see a train!" Phil exclaimed. They all looked over at Phil as Don smiles brightly. "That's a good one!" Emma looks over at Norman and sends him a smile. "What about you, Norman?" He looks up at them and answers. "I want to go to different places and see things I've never seen before."

Emma beamed. "Good idea! And you, Ray?" He looks at them. "Once I get outside, well, I'd have to survive first." Don frowned. "Such a downer. What about you, Emma?"

"Me?"

"You want to ride a giraffe, right?" (Y/n) asked, remembering the time where they were younger. "Did I say that? Well, I don't really want to leave. I want to stay here forever! And (Y/n), I'm guessing you still want to find a man to marry, right?" (Y/n)'s cheeks turned red as she stared at the ground, chuckling shyly. "You still remember that, huh? I still do want to find a guy that I can love... but what I really want is to find all the other kids out there and experience freedom with them."

Emma smiled at her. "That's a good one, (N/n)!" She giggled as Don looked over at Emma and sighed. "Emma, your future seems a bit unfair." The girl just continued to smile. "But I'm so happy right now. Right?" Ray looked away from his three friends and mumbled under his breath. "Happy, huh?"

"I promise to write!" Conny said, clutching her Little Bunny and grinning. "I'll write a lot of letters. I'll never forget about everyone. When I leave the House, I want to become a mother like Mom. And then, I'll never abandon any children."

"You love Mom very much, don't you?"

"Yeah!"

<----------------------->

Later, the sun had set and it was finally night. Conny's drawing up placed on the wall until Isabella gently took it off, stared at it, and hugged it before making her way downstairs to Conny. "I'm slow, and I wasn't as smart as everyone, but even after I leave, I'll do my best. I'll have Little Bunny so I'll be ok." Conny said, as Isabella was beside her and everyone else was in front of the little girl, waiting to say goodbye to their dear friend.

"Conny..."

Conny looked up at everyone, and her smile was soon turned into a frown. "I don't want to leave anymore. I want to stay here!" She began to tear up as Isabella kneels down to her, trying to comfort and reassure her. Don and Emma begin to tear up as the tall boy muttered his friends name. "Conny... Conny!"

And shortly after, Conny had exit the orphanage with Isabella. As the two were walking, Isabella began to hum to herself. Conny looked up at her and asked. "What song is that, Mom?" Isabella just gave Conny a smile and a silent look before turning away and slowly getting closer to the gate.

Back at the orphanage, Emma enters the dinning hall with a broom in her hand. She turns her head over to a table and notices Conny left Little Bunny behind. "Conny! You're kidding me!" Then, the girl, (Y/n), and Norman walk in with brooms as (Y/n) said. "Let's hurry and finish up cleaning."

Emma rushes over to Little Bunny as the three watch her pick the stuff toy up. The girl noticed. "Conny's already gone!" Emma faced them and gave each of them a puzzled and stressed look. "What should I do?" Then, Ray walks in, saying. "There's still time. From the window, I saw the lights on the gate were still on. Mom isn't back yet either, so I don't think Conny has left yet." Norman turns his head over to Emma and nods. "Let's hurry, Emma." She nods back. "Ok."

"I'll come with." (Y/n) speaks, and the three run off. Ray watches them leave the House as the three sprint their way over towards the gate. The gate was opened, and the three stopped running to catch their breaths. They look at it as Emma starts to get nervous. "'You can't go near there, no matter what'."

"We know. Let's just get scolded together, later." (Y/n) reassures. The rush their way over to the side of the gate and peek in. There was only a truck and two doors. One huge, and one small. Conny nor Isabella was seen are there at all. "Conny?" No response.

The three slowly make their way in, sticking together as they looked around. The only sound that was heard was water dropping and hitting the ground or puddles, leaving it ominous then it already is. They stop walking as they were at the truck's door. "Is this the truck that'll take Conny?" Emma puzzled. "Actually, I've never seen a vehicle before."

Norman went to take a closer look at the truck as Emma began to walk off. (Y/n) decided to stick close to Emma as the girl looked down at the small water puddle. The two look up to see a leaking pipe as a water droplet hit the ground again. Norman climbed the truck and looked inside. Emma and (Y/n) look at each other before they headed towards the back of the truck. Norman climbed down and looked around again, "No one's here."

"Maybe she'll find it if we leave it in the back." (Y/n) suggested, making Norman nod. "Yeah." Emma and (Y/n) head over to the curtain on the back as began to walk, but he abruptly stopped when Emma dropped the stuff animal on the ground.

Norman looked over to see Emma and (Y/n)'s horrified faces. The girl's breath hitches as they take steps back. (Y/n) lets out whimpers and Emma was able to squeak out Norman's name. "Norman."

He looks at them confusedly and makes his way over. He glances over at them real quick and looks inside, which leaves him horrified as well as he lets out a loud gasp.

There laid Conny, but she was dead.

Her body was grey and her eyes were wide-eyed. A bouquet of red flowers were pierced right into Conny's heart, which was what probably killed her in an instant. "Is someone there?" The three let out horrid gasps as they heard a voice call out. "Hey, did you hear a voice just now?" The same voice questioned, as it was coming through one of the doors.

It slowly began to unlock, making the three hurry over behind the truck, but Emma stops to quickly grab the stuff animal and hurriedly join Norman and (Y/n). The door creaked, and the three kneel down and crawled under the truck. "If it was a stray cat, I would have caught it and ate it." The same voice said.

"You eat things like cats?" A new voice questioned. The three watch their shadows as (Y/n) leans a bit forward, trying to see who they were. Her eyes shot wide open while she lets out a silent gasp. The voices that they were coming from weren't human, but instead, demons.

They were horrifying. They were scary looking, and ugly. It horrified the three to the core. Norman and (Y/n) just let out silent whimpers as Emma clasps a hand over her mouth, shaking her head in terror as they watch Conny's body being simply picked up by one of the demon's fingers.

Another demon opens his mouth. His tongue was as long as a snake's body. And he was drooling with contempt. "It looks so delicious. Human flesh is the best." The three were shaking. Emma's hand was twitching a lot, as her eyes look over at (Y/n) and Norman.

(Y/n)'s eyes were so popped that no other human can even do. Her mouth was parted and her lips were quivering. Norman gulped and was barely able to speak. "No..." They were able to see one of the demon's, sharp, feet as a container was placed with blue water and Conny's dead body. "Damn! Can I at least have a fingertip?"

"You idiot. It's valuable merchandise. It's not something the likes of us can have. All of the human flesh produced on this farm are high-quality meat intended for the rich."

Emma looked at her shaking hand and turned over to her terrified friends. "Where's Mom?" Norman immediately told her to be quiet as one of the demons asked. "Is the Gupna done?" The other answers. "Mostly done, sir."

Emma scooted a bit to get a better view. One of the demons was looking through a list. "Another six-year-old... Lately we've been shipping out normal quality ones. But it looks like we'll soon harvest some high quality ones. Isabella."

Norman, (Y/n), and Emma look over with their mouths open, eyes widened with shock and distraught as they see Isabella, their Mom, the most kindest caretaker they've grown to love, was part of all of this this whole time. "Yes."

"Make the preparations to pluck these four with full scores." The demon stated, referring to Emma, Norman, (Y/n), and Ray. "Understood." Isabella nodded, a dead look in her eyes. "Wait. I smell something." The demon said, handing Isabella the clipboard and approaching the side of the truck. It's eyes avert in many places before looking down.

It kneels down and looks under the truck, and to see the stuff bunny, as the three were able to escape. They were short on breath as they continued to run. Emma then fell to the ground, making both her friends shout her name. "Emma!"

"Is this place a farm?" Emma whimpered out. "Are we all... food? No. It can't be. Everyone found foster homes. And Mom... It was the usual, kind, Mom, right? We were mistaken. That girl wasn't Conny, right?" Emma tried to make up a reason what they saw wasn't real, but (Y/n) and Norman's scared and traumatized faces said other wise.

Norman gulped as (Y/n) placed both her hands on her mouth. The scene re-played in her head, and the more she thought of it, the more she started to gag. "That was Conny." Norman answered, sadly. Tears started to fall down from Emma's eyes as she fell to the ground again and let out and agonizing scream that awoke the night.

The three eventually reached the House. Ray walked down the stairs with a lantern in his hand as he saw the three walk in. "Welcome back. How did it go?" Norman looked at him with dead eyes before blinking and looking away. "We didn't make it." They walked past him and head up the stairs.

As they walked though, Ray caught a glimpse of (Y/n)'s face. It was unreadable. She hadn't blinked once. Her eyes were just shot wide. He watched them climb up the stairs and to their bedrooms as the three were huddled together. "We were raised just to be eaten by something?" (Y/n) uttered out. "Let's escape, Emma and (Y/n). We have to leave this place. Don't worry. We can do it." Norman whispered. "You two, me, and Ray. If it's the four of us..."

"It might be impossible." Emma spoke. "I can't leave them here. Otherwise they'll definitely get killed. I don't want any more of my family to die." (Y/n) nodded her head, looking over at Norman. "They're gonna end up like Conny. We can't have that." Norman looked between the two. One was staring up at him with wide-eyes and a quivering mouth and another was crying her eyes out.

They were both right. These kids can't be killed. They can't end up like Conny. Norman closed his eyes ad placed a hand on Emma's shoulder, smiling softly. "It's not impossible." The two girls look at him as Norman sat beside Emma and sat in front of (Y/n), as he would look between them. "It'll be ok. Let's run away. Together, with everyone."

"B-But how? How will us kids runs away from those monsters?" (Y/n) sniffled. Emma then slightly gasped and face the two. "Strategy. It'll be the same as playing tag." Norman nods. "That's right. We'll find a way for all of us to survive."

Emma and (Y/n) look at each other, give determined looks, and nod their heads to Norman. Ray listens through the wall. He looks over and lets out a small sigh.

Then, at the gate, Isabella clutches the stuffed bunny in her hands, eyes widened, and no expression shown.