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

Emma pulls back a red curtain and calls out someone's name. "Conny?" She held the stuffed animal tightly as she was now met with a dinner table. She approached the table and what the main course was a dead Conny.

Emma gasped as a creature behind her opened its mouth, as it was ready to chomp her down.

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

Emma gasped as she stared up at the dark ceiling. It was still the same night. Norman, Emma, and (Y/n) had gone to bed, but for (Y/n), she just couldn't fall asleep. She tried, but every time she did, the horrid memory would flash in her eyes.

Emma sat up in her bed and breathed heavily. She glanced over at the clock real quick. It was 4:06 am. The only thing that was heard throughout the room was just the ticking of the clock going back and forth.

Later on, it was finally time for everyone to get up. Most of the kids were playing around, laughing and joking, but for Emma, she just couldn't bear thinking of what these kids will face later when it's finally time for their 'adoptions'.

"Does this go here?"

"Yes, thank you."

Emma gasped, she held the plates tightly in her hands as she turned her head and looked over at Isabella. "Mark, can you set the table?" The little boy nodded. "Ok, Mom!" Isabella chuckled as Emma just stared at her with fear. Then, she heard footsteps approach. She turned to see Norman and (Y/n), each of them holding a child's hand with smiles on their faces.

"Good morning, Emma!" Both of them grinned, making Emma question why they're so cheerful. The two approach her as Norman goes and whispers in her ear. "Smile, Emma." She tenses up even more as she grinds her teeth together. Later, the three were brought in an empty classroom as (Y/n) goes and explains to her friend.

"Listen, Emma. We have to behave like we normally do." Then Norman added on with her sentence. "Yesterday, we broke the rules and went to the gate. But we didn't find anything." The girl looked at them with furrowed eyebrows. "But Little Bunny..."

(Y/n) slowly nodded. "Yeah, Mom probably found it. But she doesn't know who left it there." Emma's voice then began to crack. "Mom was smiling. She doesn't show it on her face at all."

"And that's what we have to do, too." Norman said. "If our faces show it, Mom will notice." He then gives her a reassuring smile. "We can't lose. Let's smile." It took Emma a moment, but placed on a small smile. "The delicious feed, the white clothes where dirt can easily stand out, the well-regulated life... This is all to maintain our quality as merchandise. The only thing we can do is to wait as we are shipped out indiscriminately."

"It's not indiscriminately. Remember what the demon said?" (Y/n) spoke. "'Another six-year-old. We've been shipping out normal quality ones.'" The girl explains as Emma looks over at her. "What does that mean?"

"Judging from those words," Norman jumped in, "age probably equals the grade of meat. If I remember correctly, the siblings who were  shipped out were between six and twelve years old. If being six years old is ranked as normal, then the highest quality is..."

"Twelve years old." Emma finishes the sentence. "But what about our scores? Meat won't taste better even if we get good scores on tests, right?" Norman nodded. "Yeah. It was never announced unless we got full scores, but maybe..." (Y/n) and Emma gasped as the (H/c) girl turned her head to Norman. "The order of getting shipped out?"

He turned to her and nodded. "After we turn six, we get harvested starting the lower test scores. And when we turn 12, we get shipped out no matter what." Emma then asked. "So we were never shipped out because we have full scores?" Norman looks over at her before staring at the ground for a moment. "But I don't understand why it depends on our scores."

Later, Norman places a box on a cart as the three were surrounded by lots of jars. "Is there meaning for being between the age of six and twelve? The size of our bodies? No. Then it would depend on our weight." (Y/n) thought, placing her hand under her chin.  Norman looks away from the girls and goes into thought. He gasps and looks back over to them. "The size of our brains." The two look at him, making Emma mutter out. "That means..."

"The brain probably tastes the best. And the more developed brain, the better." Both Emma's and (Y/n)'s eyes widen, sweat rolling down their faces as they both utter. "Eating... the brain?" Norman slightly nodded. "And they don't care how much they risk or spend. That's why we're high-quality merchandise. Try to remember, Emma, (Y/n). Conny was shipped out. Before her was Hao. Before him was Sadie. Based on the cycle so far, the next shipment should be two months from now at the earliest. We need to think of a way for all of us to escape before then."

The three were now outside, walking the forest as a thunder erupted. They walk across a log and stop at the fence. Norman grabs a nearby stick and starts to draw on the dirt. "If we draw a simple map of this site, the House is in the middle and then the gate. And the forest that surrounds us. First, which one should we escape from? The gate or the forest?"

"Maybe the forest?" (Y/n) said, slightly unsure. "The gate is always closed except during shipping, and when it's open..."

"The demons are there." Norman finishes. "When do we escape through the forest? At playtime, during the day, when we can get out of the House freely? Or at night during shipping when Mom is not--"

"Not during shipping!" Emma shouts. "Someone will definitely get sacrificed." Norman looks up at her and nods. "Right. And I'm worried if the younger ones can stay awake at night. Then it's decided." The three stand back up from the ground and face in front of them. "We'll escape during the day through the forest. Whether that's possible..."

"Depends on what it's like beyond the forest." (Y/n) commented. Then, the three began to run and jump over the fence. They continued running until they were met with a tall, cement, wall. They stare at it while Norman turns to the girls. Emma and (Y/n) continued to stare at it until they heard Norman grunt.

The two turn to see Norman climbing a tree, making Emma gasp. "Norman!" The boy continues to climb, until he slips and falls. The two girls gasp again as Emma and (Y/n) make their way over to them. "Norman! Are you ok?" (Y/n) asked. Norman just chuckles, sitting himself up, and turns to them. "I guess I'm tired from thinking too much."

Emma looks at him before chuckling and standing up. "Sheesh, I guess I can't be helped." The girl quickly makes her way over to the tree as (Y/n) and Norman watch her. Norman soon smiles as Emma reaches a branch and kneels on it. "So? Is something there?" (Y/n) asked.

"Nothing." Replied Emma. "But this wall is about two to three meters thick. And it's pretty tall." Norman approaches the wall and touches it, stating as well. "But there are no guards." He presses his ear against the wall. "It's quiet. What do you two think?"

Emma climbs down the tree as the two girls walk over to Norman's side. (Y/n) presses her hand against the wall. "It's hard and sturdy. There are no edges, let alone any seams. And the surface is smooth. There's no way anyone could climb this."

"Then should we give up?" Norman questions.

"But that's what this wall would have us think." Says Emma. "If it was you, (Y/n), or me, we could climb it as long as we had a rope." Norman smiles. "I don't sense any demons around. The only one watching us is Mom. Don't worry. It's not scary."

The two girls nod before they hear the bell ringing. The three quickly make their way back to see everyone gathered. Norman, Emma, and (Y/n) pant heavily. As the girl with glasses raises a brow. "Huh? Two kids are missing."

"Mom!"

People look over to see a little boy running is way over to Isabella. The women looks down with concern. "Mark! Did something happen?" Mark looks up at Isabella, tears running down his face as he shrieks. "What should I do? I got separated from Naila in the forest! I tried looking, but I couldn't find her!"

Isabella pulls out her pocket watch and looks at it, a smile forming on her face. (Y/n) and Norman catch this, breath hitching and their eyes narrowed. "It'll be ok." Isabella reassures.

She stands up from kneeling and turns to everyone. "Everyone, stay here. Understood?" She then walks off as Mark watches her with tearful eyes. "Mom."

A few moments later, Phil perks up and points out, smiling as the kids see Isabella holding a sleeping Naila in her arms. The kids laugh and make their way over to Isabella.

"Mom!"

"Naila!"

"She got tired and fell asleep." She explains to the children. "Look, not a scratch on her."

"Thank goodness! I'm so sorry, Naila. I'm sorry!" Mark apologized repeatedly, as Emma, Norman, and (Y/n) watch from afar. "It was like Mom knew exactly where Naila was." Muttered (Y/n), a sweat rolling down her cheek. "Come to think of it, Mom has always been good at finding us." Emma said. "No matter where we hid, she found us quickly."

"That's not a pocket watch." Norman starts to speak, "Tracking devices." The two girls turned to him with furrowed eyebrows. "They could be implanted somewhere in our bodies. And Mom uses the compact and purposely showed us so we would figure it out. 'No matter who it is, I won't let you escape'. That's probably what Mom wants to say."

As Isabella walks over to the three, she forms a smile, but it soon turns to a deviously smirk as she walks past the three with the kids. Norman, (Y/n), and Emma give convincing smiles at her, but once she can't see them, their smiles drop. "Mom is... an enemy."

Thunder and lightning begin to strike the clouded sky. Ray watches his three friends through the window before turning and walking away. Now, Norman, (Y/n), and Emma are in the house, on the stairs as Norman starts to explain. "First, let's get our hands on some rope. I have an idea where they might be. I'll see you two later tonight at 10 in the hallway."

Norman starts to go up the stairs, but Emma stops him by grabbing his arm. "Wait! They have tracking devices on us, so what if they have other stuff, like cameras, or listening devices?" Norman smiles. "It's alright. I looked around a bit, and there was nothing like that here."

"When did you do that?" Questioned (Y/n), but Norman turns away from her. "But I should have known. The security measures aren't on the building, but on us." The three then head upstairs and turn to the left. "Do you think Mom knows already? That we went all the way to the wall..." Asked Emma.

"I don't think so. I mean, she didn't know about that other time, either. When we went to deliver Little Bunny." (Y/n) speaks. Emma nods her head. "That's true." The three stop in front of the drawings that were hanged as Norman turns to Emma. "It's not like Mom always knows where we are at all times. She'll know our location only when she checks. She knows that Little Bunny was brought to the gate by someone other than Conny. But I don't think she figured out who it was. Or else she wouldn't have warned us in such a roundabout way."

"I see." Emma says. "Hey, Norman!" The three look over to see Don waving. "Do you have a second? The clock isn't quite working properly." Norman nodded, waving back. "Ok, I'll take a look." He then speaks softly to the girls. "It'll be ok, Emma, (Y/n). We're not being suspected. Norman sends them a smile before he walks over to Don. Emma sends a smile back at him before she turns back to (Y/n) and frowns.

The two look over at the missing piece of Conny's drawing. Emma places her hand on the wall and softly speaks with a troubling voice. "Conny." Soon, Norman was making his way back over to Emma and (Y/n). "Em--" He stops himself and his eyes widen with fear when he sees Isabella looking down at the two girls.

Norman backs away, eyes twitching as he hears Isabella speak. "What's wrong, Emma? (Y/n)? You look pale." Norman gulps as he continues to listen. "Which reminds me, Emma, you weren't so cheerful this morning." Isabella places her hand on her cheek, fingers behind her right ear.

"That's not..."

Isabella stares down at the two girls as they stare back at her. Norman starts sweating , and his breath starts to hitch. He peeks his head over the corner and watches. Emma then smiles. "It's nothing. I just got a little sad thinking that I'll leave the House soon, too. And (Y/n) was here to comfort me."

Isabella looks over at the (H/c) girl, who gives a smile and nods. She looks back at Emma, blinks, and softens her gaze at her. "Do you like it here at the house?" Emma grins and goes to giver Isabella a hug. "I love the House and you, Mom!" Norman watches intently as Emma stares at the ceiling, narrowing her eyes a bit. "I wonder what Conny's doing right now?"

Norman's eyes widened as his breath hitches. (Y/n) slightly widens hers, trying not to give away her expression to Isabella. The women stares sharply at Emma before the girl closes her eyes, and pulls away from the hug, smiling. "Conny said she wanted to be a mother like you when she grew up."

Isabella stares down at Emma with a smile. She averts her eyes over to (Y/n), who smiles as well. Isabella turns her head back over to Emma with the same smile. "Yes, I know. I'm sure Conny will become a lovely adult, and a good mother, too."

Norman retreats back and presses his body against the wall. His hand starts to form a fist until he stops when hearing a bell. Emma and (Y/n) look over to see Ray holding the bell and telling Isabella. "Dinner preparations are ready, Mom."

Norman peeks through the corner again, seeing as Isabella had turned her head over to Ray. Soon, the doors open and kids run out, laughing, chatting, and joking as they make their way to the dinning hall. Isabella smiles down at Ray. "I'll be right there."

Ray then walks off. Norman watches a few kids leave before putting a smile on his face and walk out of the corner. "Emma, (Y/n), let's go." They smile and nod at him as the two girls jog over to him and start walking down the stairs, but they were stopped when Isabella spoke. "Did the three of you..." Their faces were wide-eyed and filled with horror. "go to the gate yesterday?"

(Y/n) turns her head over to Isabella with a calm smile. "We didn't. That's against the rules." Norman then turns around and smiles as well. "Besides, we were having too much fun playing tag yesterday. Right?"

"Yeah!" Emma and (Y/n) nodded their heads. "Why?"

She stares down at the three, before closing her eyes, and smiling. "It's nothing. As long as you didn't go." The three smile up at her, giggling as well before they continue their way down the stairs. Once they reached the bottom and were out of Isabella's sight, Emma drops to her knees, Norman holds on the stairs railing, and (Y/n) places her hand on the wall, all breathing heavily.

Norman looked over to see Emma and (Y/n)'s pupils shrink. (Y/n) was able to calm herself as she looked over at Emma. "Can you stand up?" Norman asked, offering Emma a hand. Emma looks at his hand, and notices that it was shaking. (Y/n) and Norman noticed it too as the girl grabbed his hand and pulled herself up.

The three of them looked at each for a moment before giving a determined look to one another. They then walked off to the dinning hall as Ray walks from a hallway and watches the three go.

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

It was currently 10 o'clock at night. Everyone was asleep. Norman opens the door and looks over to see Emma holding a lamp, and (Y/n) next to her. The two nod at nod at him.

Norman brings out lock-picks as Emma hands him the lamp as they make their way over to a door. Norman unlocks it and pushes the door open. (Y/n) gently closes the door behind them and they begin to walk in the storage room.

They stop walking as Emma looks over and pulls a white sheet away.

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

"This was a really good idea, Norman. Using tablecloths." Emma says, as it was the next day. Norman, Emma, and (Y/n) were back at the wall again. Emma unbuttons her shirt and reveals the tablecloth within it.

"This can be used as rope."

The three knotted the tablecloths together until it was down. They placed it in a bag as Emma goes over to the tree and places the bag inside the hole. "With this, we can get over the wall." (Y/n) smiles. Emma nods and jumps down from the tree. Norman then faces the cemented wall in front of him. "Ok. The challenge is still ahead of us."

"Where the tracking devices are..."

"...and a way to get everyone out."

"Hey Norman, Emma." The two look over at (Y/n) and she began to say. "I think it might be fine if we told Ray." Norman nods. "I was thinking that, too. Ray most likely wouldn't panic. And because of his extensive knowledge, he's good with machines, too. I'm sure we can depend on him. But..." Emma raises a row. "But?"

"I'll talk to Ray myself." Norman states with his usual smile. "Why don't you two go back, and--"

"Why?"

The three jump at the sudden voice and shoot their heads over to see Ray looking at them. "Ray!" Emma gasped. "Yo. Sorry, I followed you guys." Emma gives a surprised look while Norman and (Y/n) chuckle nervously. "It's been bugging me for a while, so I thought I should ask about it." Ray walks over and hands Emma his book, confusion plastered on her face.

Ray walks behind them as the three watch him. Then, he swings his arms around their shoulders and brings them close. "What happened at the gate that night? When you went to go deliver Little Bunny to Conny. You three were both clearly acting weird. And you were empty-handed when you said you didn't make it." He stated. (Y/n) looks at the raven-haired boy and sheepishly smiles. "You're perceptive."

"So of course something happened. Give it up." Ray barks, tightening his grip on Emma. "Ray is smart, too, after all." Emma chokes out. While that happened, the younger kids were running and playing around. Isabella held two hands and smiled at them. She stops and looks over at the tree where Ray usually sits, but he wasn't there.

Back with the others, Ray places his hand over his mouth, sweat beading as he mumbled. "Demons... A farm... Mom is an enemy?" He places his hand down and looks at them. "Isn't this bad?"

"He catches on fast!" Emma shrieks. "So you're saying we were preciously taken care of to become demon food." The boy says, placing his hand at the side of his neck. "I mean... I'm surprised you're believing us so easily." Emma points out.

Ray furrows his eyebrows together. "Of course. Norman and (Y/n) wouldn't make up such a stupid lie. It'd be different with you, Emma." Emma opens her mouth to retort, but she sighs in defeat, knowing that he was right. "So, if we're really going to escape, there are various issues." Ray began to say. "First, the number of kids. We'll narrow it down to who can make it and--"

"Wait!" (Y/n) and Emma shrieked, interrupting Ray. The girls look at each other and nod as (Y/n) says. "We want to escape with everyone. Lend us your strength, Ray!" The black-haired boy's eyes widen at (Y/n)'s statement and repeats. "Everyone? You're kidding, right?" Norman looks at Ray before averting his eyes down at the grass.

"There are 38 of us. And the majority are under six years old. Mom. Demons. Tracking devices. These factors make an already difficult escape even more challenging." Ray reminds them. "We know that." Emma steps in. "But it's not impossible--"

"No, it's impossible." Ray interrupts the girl. "Emma, (Y/n), you haven't noticed, have you?" The girls furrow their eyebrows, making Norman raises his hand and step in, "Ray wait." He looks at Norman. "I see. That's why you said you'll talk to me yourself. You have to be blunt about these kinds of things. Emma. (Y/n)." He stops in front of the girls.

"What?"

"It won't be enough just to escape from here."

"What do you mean?"

"We don't know what it's like on the outside. But there's a place we're getting shipped to. Because there's a farm, that should give you an idea." Ray explains. "What waits outside is a demon's society. There is no place for humans to live. So it's impossible. If we take everyone, we'll all die."

He places a hand on (Y/n)'s shoulder as the girls just stare at him. "We leave them behind. That's the best option." Emma closes her eyes and opens them again. "No way." Ray looks at her and removes his hand away as she explains. "Even if it's impossible, I want to escape with everyone. Let's figure it out."

"Huh?!"

"We don't want all of us to die. But there's no option to leave them behind." (Y/n) speaks up. "We want Conny to be the last. We don't want anyone to end up like that ever again." Emma then joins in. "If there isn't one, then let's make a place for humans to live outside. Let's change the world."

Ray just stares at them with disbelief. "I understand now, thanks to you, Ray. That's the kind of prison break we have to do. We're not giving up on this." Emma states as (Y/n) grabs his arms and shouts. "So, Ray, you're the one who has to give up. Stop jabbering around and help us!" Ray grinds his teeth together and stares down at the (H/c) girl. He rips her hands off his arms, causing her to slightly spin and make Norman laugh.

Ray shoots his head over to him and steps up. "Hey, Guardian, how can--"

"We'll escape with everyone, no matter what! Or else (Y/n) and I won't do it! We won't! We won't!" Emma yells, waving her arms up and down. Ray growls and points his finger at Emma, yelling over to Norman. "Do something about that idiot! She's unreasonable." Norman just lets out another laugh and smiles. "I know, right? But I'm glad she's so cheerful."

"I wanted for you to stop her! Or you three are going to die. You knew that from the very start, huh?" Norman looks at him before looking at the ground. "Emma was crying. That night, I thought she was crying because she was scared. But I was wrong. I was scared of dying. But Emma was crying because she was scared of her family dying. Even though (Y/n) didn't speak much of that night, I can tell she was thinking the same thing as Emma was thinking."

Norman looks over to see (Y/n) and Emma at the wall, staring at it, before they had a small talk. Norman looks at the back at Emma's head and smiles. "Isn't that amazing? She thinks about protecting others in that situation."

"But it's not the correct thing." Retorts Ray. "It's a boat made of mud! And it's just us four, right? If it's just us, we can escape. You're correct, and you shouldn't feel ashamed. Don't distort your decision based on emotions, Norman!"

"It's not that, Ray. I also want to make a boat out of mud." Ray furrows his eyebrows in confusion. "Huh? Why? Aren't you different? You're more cool-headed, and you always take the best option." He stomps his way over and grabs Norman by the collar of his shirt. "So, why?"

"Because I like her." The white-haired boy confesses. "I like Emma, so that's why I want her to always be smiling. If the roles were switched, Ray, you would've done the same to (Y/n), am I wrong?" The raven-haired boy stares at for a moment before letting him go. "You're crazy. And what if they both die because of it?"

"I won't let them die. That's why I'm going to utilize myself." Norman answers, before he plasters his usual smile. "Luckily, I've always managed to accomplish what I set out to do. And if you bake mud, it'll become a vessel. A boat out of mud won't necessarily sink."

Ray gives him another look again. "You're nuts." Norman just shrugs. "Maybe. Emma, (Y/n), and I are insane. We've completely lost it." Norman places his hands behind his back and approaches Ray with a smug look. "You can't let us do this on our own, right?"

Ray pauses slightly before he smirks. "Damn it. Of course I can't." Then, the bell starts ringing off. "Ray. Norman." (Y/n) speaks as Emma and her jog up to the boys. "We still have free time left, don't we?"

"I wonder what is is." Norman thought out loud as the four ran back to the House. Once everyone was back inside, they noticed Isabella holding a baby in her arms, and a women standing beside her. "Let me introduce her. This is your newest little sister, Carol. And this is Sister Krone. She's here to help me."

Krone let's out a small laugh to the kids while Emma, (Y/n), and Norman look alert. "A-An adult?" Stuttered Emma. "Another enemy." (Y/n) whispered. Ray doesn't seem startled at all, as he kept his same resting face as ever. "I will be living here with all of you starting today. It's nice to meet you." Krone says with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Hello!"

Isabella smiles at everyone with closed eyes. She then opens them and looks around. Ray still had his resting face, Norman grind his teeth together, (Y/n)'s eyes dilated, and Emma's was just wide-eyed.

Looks like there's another enemy they have to deal with now.