━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 10 ━☂

╰┈➤ ❝ [Tag, you're it] ❞

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┊         ⊹    ✽    ⋆    ┊   . ˚

☆

"Yeah, no one would notice this."

Inside of the dense forest hid four people who were reviewing Emma's recent discoveries of the whereabouts of the tracking devices, which were masked by most of the small group—until today.

"I never knew about a mark from when they took our blood, and it's something that disappears so quickly?"

"Cunning move, though, it is something that I would expect Isabella and the rest to do."

"Yeah; I didn't suspect it at all this whole time. I'm sorry." Hearing her redundant apology (Y/n) ran her fingers through Emma's ginger locks, smiling reassuringly down at the girl as she flicked her forehead with her other empty hand. "There's no need to atone for discovering something that might save your family, Em—you should be appreciative of your discoveries! You were the one who noticed this first, not those two over there." Pointing at the two adjacent males, both Ray and Norman stared at their familiar communication, uncertain of how both Emma and their Sister were able to get so close to each other whilst they... they were just there.

Beaming back up at (Y/n), Emma held the blue ball close to her mouth, covering her redden cheeks as she giggled in tenderness of the caring Sister she was so blessed to have. "Whatever you say, (Y/n)!" Disheveling her hair, (Y/n) tenderly dragged Emma in front of her as she arranged both hands on either shoulder, fixing her in that position. "Aren't you just the finest little sister anyone can ask for?" Delivering these words with a soothing voice, Emma's face turned full scarlet as she tried to shield her face from sight only for the unceasing, joking nudging of (Y/n) to thwart her attempts.

Norman, who ordinarily was thrilled whenever he saw his Sister happy, felt a profound jealousy at their intimacy that the two shared that no one but Emma did (Y/n) stake it with. He didn't know what made (Y/n) gravitate further towards her—was it that the both of them shared the same biological gender? Or did they have more things in common? It wasn't fair. Emma craved to impair his Sister when they realized the truth of their existence, but he blocked her from doing so and got harmed in the process. It was Emma who was at first against being entangled any further with (Y/n), not him. It was he who would help around the most whilst Emma took care of the children. So what? What did Emma have that he did not? Was it her will to always see the good in every situation? To always have hope?

Hope.

Why did he feel you loathed such a word? Was it its significance and of what others relate it to? Did he know so little about you that it hindered him in advancing closer to capturing your heart? 'Your heart...'

At that moment, Norman ultimately understood what stage of love was Emma in when it came to her compulsion with always remaining in (Y/n) heart and mind. Emma was already leading her journey for seizing her heart—no, it was more like she began the day when you two first clashed. She can't have Sister's heart! She's too immature and naïve! He was the brilliant one! The level-headed one! He was the one who genuinely assisted with things whenever he noticed that (Y/n) had too much on her shoulders! Everything, everything he did, he did it for the sake of her one day seeing him as more of a brother that she desired to protect... and Emma crippled that dream.

Ignoring the jovial two Ray instead devoted his concern over towards the silent male beside him who had his head down, his hair stopping anyone from meeting his eyes as the only thing that you could discern that would imply at would he could be feeling was the shaking clenched fists that was pinned to his sides. Eyes undecipherable, Ray peeked over at the two, viewing the scene as a knowing grin spread on his adolescent face. So, that got his ally so galled, huh? Truly a fool—standing there, wallowing in his own resentment and hostility, and not even endeavoring to truly do something about it.

"Sister? The tracking devices...?" Jerking her head over towards where the patient Ray was, (Y/n) grinned and mellowed out Emma's ruffled hair. "Yes, the tracking devices. First off; what do we all know about the tracking devices?" Inquiring this as Emma tried to cool her heated face, Ray spoke up: "We presently only know about their location, size, and shape. Since now all of that is done, we can move on to the next step, which is..."

"How to break it." Everyone continued on with what Ray was working to hint at, speaking at the same time as serious faces depicted the atmosphere. "We know cutting open from where the tracking device is would only alarm Mother whenever she would ask to inspect your hair... so forcefully riding of it would only prove as a fool's move."

"Indeed. Thankfully, the tracking devices that were implanted in us aren't that functionally useful." Once these words spilled out of Ray's mouth, Emma's eyes expanded in shock, her grasp on the ball strong as she neared Ray. "What? They aren't?"

"That's because the signal can't specify the individual. Without confirming, she can't tell where we are. If we get close to the gate or walls, it doesn't notify her."

"How can you be so sure about this, little brother? Brash claims for only incomplete speculations, don't you agree?" Speaking her doubts (Y/n) snatched a single leaf that dropped from a tree and onto her hair from her head, thrusting it behind her as it was no longer anywhere in sight. Emma nodded in approval, absolutely blind to (Y/n) sincere motives. "Yes! Things are too risky to just throw up there and pick a random paper. We have to be certain." Hearing their uncertainties, Ray just shrugged, his unsympathetic eyes melting holes into (Y/n) own as the both of them stared attentively at one another.

"We don't have the time nor the resources to truly be precise about whether or not what I said is true—but this all purely derives from observations that I had on Mother ever since I joined this pity party. So unless you wish to get out of here alive, I advise you to stop spoiling your time by questing every step." Uttering these words with certainty as if they were legitimately the truth, Emma took a few seconds before she nodded her head, accepting the theory of what Ray was saying only for (Y/n) to stay still behind her, no words coming out of her mouth as she knew she couldn't just crudely say the things she knew.

"So, what then? The tracking devices are still implanted in us." Finally Norman spoke up as he squatted down on the grass, eyes downcast as he showed to be more engaged in his thoughts than in anything else. Worried for Norman (Y/n) went to sit down with him only for the iron grip of Emma to make her reevaluate her next move. "They must be confident they can come after us as long as the tracking device is intact." Ray explained to him, though Norman wasn't done with his questioning.

"Wait. Does that mean if it does notify them, it'd be when the tracking devices are destroyed?" Humming in agreement, (Y/n) added: "That could very much be the only explanation." Peering up at the concentrated (Y/n), Emma spoke up. "Meaning?"

Picking up a rock, (Y/n) heaved it to a neighboring bush as she mumbled once more. "Once broken, an alarm of some kind could go off and notify anyone in charge of keeping things stable. Who that person is, no clue. Will it matter? Perhaps."

"So if we destroy it, Mom will know immediately?"

"Well, if a notification function even exists."

"But thinking that Mom purposefully let us know about the existence of the tracking devices... we can't dismiss it so easily."

"This is where I will have to side with Norman. This all seems too simple for something so complex; it's a trap. But what kind of trap it is, I'm unfamiliar."

"Destroying it once we escape is a much better solution."

"Then how will we figure out how to break it?"

"I think it's best to leave this issue with me." Hearing this (Y/n) peeked down at Emma and nudged her, of which she instantly complied. "I agree as well. There is nothing wrong with trusting someone with knowledge of machines and technology." Feeling somewhat charmed by her compliment, Ray suppressed his thoughts as he instead glanced over towards the seating Norman.

"The only thing left is taking everyone outside with us. The problem is that everyone completely trusts Mom, and they probably won't be able to handle the truth."

"Do you think we'll have to lie to them to take them outside?" Emma queried in a concerned manner, her face now reaching the ball as she remained gawking down at the ground with uneasiness.

"There's also the problem of insufficient abilities. In simpler terms, they're a hindrance."

"Ray!"

"Emma! Whether you wish for it to be a lie, Ray is technically correct." Holding Emma back with her right hand, (Y/n) darted over at Ray with fierce eyes. "I have been here for a good few years, but even with such seldom time, I could understand that not everyone here has exceptional physical abilities, and there are babies who have yet to start walking, let alone talking. So, for the ones that can walk—we must educate them to prepare for this journey; but in secret."

"For that, I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Playing tag."

"Can I-"

"No!"

𑁍┊𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐀 ˎˊ˗

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⠀⠀┊ ⊹ ⋆

⠀⠀┊. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

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ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!

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