Book 2} Chapter 10
Control
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"Playing tag in teams?"
"Yeah. Most of them would die if they escaped individually. But everyone's moves were pretty good. I got a lot of data," Ray said.
We were in the laundry room, doing regular chores.

"For the actual escape, we'll make formations and run away in teams," Norman said.
"So to practice... We'll split up and work in teams," Emma said.

Ray then turned to me, a slight smirk on his face.
"I'm going to say ten types of formation patterns right now, so remember them," he said.

I paled slightly but smirked back.
"By ear?" I said.
"What, you can't do it?" he asked.
"I can, try me," I said.

"We'll change our tag training... to conform to the real escape and aftermath. Plus..."

Time Skip

I stood next to Norman as we got time outside.

"But we know more about Mom's intentions thanks to these last ten days or so," Norman said,
"What do you mean?" I asked him cautiously.

"Basically... Mom should have been able to identify... that the targets are us four already. That it was you, Emma, and me, and that Ray joined us," he said. I felt some kind of weird feeling when he said 'four', finally, including me.

No, I feel like I'm being selfish by thinking that.

"Identify? Not roughly have an idea or suspect?" I asked with worry.
"I'm sure she was able to identify," he told me.
"How are you so sure?" I asked.

"Many reasons, but... it's easiest to see by how she uses Sister Krone," he paused.

" If she hadn't identified the targets and wanted to still do so... there's no way she wouldn't watch the suspected older six. But the fact is that Mom had Sister Krone guard in general from the beginning. She only reinforced the surveillance. I've been watching to see if it would change, but it's continued for over ten days. Mom had no intention of specifying the targets. And she's letting us do as we wish. But that's also weird, right?" he said, seeming to have thought a lot about this.

"Yeah... But then what was the purpose for her to observe how Emma and I reacted that first time?" I asked, putting my hand on my chin.

"Right..." he responded, his expression now confused.

"Mom identified us, but now she doesn't intend to. Does that mean she's already identified the targets?" I said softly, thinking.

"But how...? There's no way to figure out which three of us it was from the tracker. And even if she identified us, she's letting us do what we want..." Emma said.

"But what if there's already a different person watching us nearby?" Ray asked, I tilted my head at him.

"That's what Norman is trying to say. She doesn't even have to make Sister Krone watch us. There's probably a traitor among the kids," Ray said. My heart stopped.

{ How does he know-- jk jk, I wouldn't do that you guys xD
unless... 

nah jk}

{ A traitor...? }
"An agent of the demons. A betrayer," Ray continued.
"No, not necessarily. The person might be giving information to Mom unknowingly. To be more precise, that person is Mom's source of information. Using that source of information to control and manage the targets. That's probably... Mom's actual plan," Norman said seriously.

My eyes widened in shock, a traitor.

"Wait! No way... A source of information?" Emma asked in disbelief.
{ Who? How many? Since when? Why? I can't-- I won't believe it. Someone among them? Maybe that person just loves Mom so much... and is being a good kid and accidentally telling Mom. Yeah, that must be it! But... but what if... what if in the unlikely event... there is an enemy among us who willingly became an agent of the demons, as Ray said. "I want everyone to escape." that's what Emma said. But it's impossible...}

A picture of all the kids came in to my mind. All of us happy until we're all entering to our deaths.
{ No, we won't leave anyone behind. }

"What do we do now? Let's say we find the source of information. What about winning over Don and Gilda? If those two are the source of information for Mom..." Ray paused once Norman said, "Don't worry. Revealing the source of information and getting Don and Gilda to join us... can be done simultaneously."

"If there's a spy, we can use that person as our Trump Card," he finished.
"We can manipulate the information and confuse the enemy? And it's not impossible to create a situation that works in our favor," Ray said, looking at Norman with some kind of look.

"Exactly. I already made arrangements for that," Norman said with a smile, his seriousness disappearing.

"Hey! We've got enough rest. Let's go to round 2!" Don shouted.
(That's what she said--)

"She's got things under control. That's why Mom isn't making a move, even if she knows the targets. As long as we don't make a big move... Mom doesn't intend to ship us out immediately or even get in the way of our plan to escape," Ray said, he made sure to make eye contact with us.

"Ray. Are things coming along with breaking the tracking devices?" Norman then asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," he responded. Emma and I both gave a look of surprise.

"How long do you need until you're ready?" Norman asked him.
"Let's see... Two weeks... No, if I have ten days, I can take care of it," Ray said making us even more surprised.

"Then let's do it ten days from now," Norman said steadily. "What?" Ray and I asked in unison. "We'll carry out the escape plan ten days from now, on November 8." Norman told us.

Side Story
Part 1:
"There was a murder!" Emma shrieked. I poked Norman's body with a stick.
"Norman's dead!" I shouted.

Emma shook Norman's body then said, "No there wasn't! But Norman fainted!!!" she said. Mom came over to us.
"He's sick," Mom told us.

She then took Norman away.
Once she came back she said, "Listen, you can't go near the infirmary for a while. Got it?" 

I pouted.
I wanted to see Norman. To see if he was okay. But nooo--
I let out a sneeze.

"Bless you," Emma called out.
"Thank you," I said with a smile.

To Be Continued In Side Story 2:

11/3/19
Word Count: 1056