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The Lights We Chase...
The Nights We Steal...

Chapter 2
The Way Out

           Emma and Norman acted normal the next day. As if nothing had happened. They didn't talk to me about it. Or even mutter a word about it.
They acted as if nothing strange had happened.

I rolled onto my side, laying my head in my hands. I cried the whole night and now I had a major headache.
"Y/n-"
"Go away," I cut off whoever it was.

"You're not gonna have that attitude with me. C'mon," Ray said, walking over to me.
"I don't want to," I muttered.
"You have to. Mom is wondering where you are," he told me.
"I don't care," I responded, laying back down. I didn't, she could get me in as much trouble as she wants. Maybe I'd die sooner.

"Do you want me to bring Norman or Emma in? Let's go," he said, looking like he was willing to just drag me.
"Go ahead. It's not like they care," I said, hiding my face from him by looking in the other direction.

Ray sighed and laid next to me.
"You're gonna get me in so much trouble," he muttered.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice turning soft.
"Nothing," I replied, he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"There's gotta be something that happened for you to be acting this way," he said, his voice radiating he was getting angry with me not telling him.
"Just drop it, Ray," I said, my voice seems to become softer.

He sighed,
"Just tell Mom that I'm really sick," I suggested, closing my eyes as I expected him to do so.
I heard him stand up and walk away. I sigh of relief passed my lips as I tried to fall asleep.

That didn't last long seeing as Ray entered the room right after,
"I'll tell Mom later, but seeing as you're sad... maybe I'll treat you like I did when we were kids," he said as I felt his weight on the bed.

I was surprised when he turned me around and gave me a hug, sure he did that when we were small and no one was looking, but I didn't expect it to happen again.

I didn't push him away and I let the tears I was holding in fall.
He laid his chin on my head, I snuggled into his chest, shaking slightly as a couple more tears fell from my eyes.

Ray didn't say anything as he let me cry.
I guessed he was asleep once his grip on me got lighter.
After a while, I ended up falling asleep in his arms.

( Yes, best friends can cuddle without being a couple.
They don't need to be something else )

"Y/n," I felt a poke on my shoulder.
I didn't react.
"Y/n~ Wake up The test is gonna start soon," I recognized the voice as Moms. I opened my eyes.

Ray shifted in his spot next to me, sitting up.
"Sorry, Mom, I wasn't feeling good," I told her, she gave me a smile.

"It's alright," she told me. It wasn't alright, she let Conny die.

I smiled and sat up, she touched my forehead.
"You've been working too hard. Why don't you take a break just for today?" she suggested.
"After that, you can meet us outside," she added.

I looked towards Ray, who nodded.
I turned back to Mom and nodded.

Mom smiled and took Ray with her, I stayed in the room.

I looked around, looking for possible escapes. Maybe I could escape at night.

I then noticed we were caged in. Something I was so blind to.
The windows were practically locked closed, and tightly.

I sighed and stopped trying to unlock it after a while.
I met up with everyone when the test was over, Emma and Norman called me over to them.

"Are you feeling better, Y/n?" Norman asks with a look of concern on his face. I nodded with a smile. Physically, I was. Mentally, I was just trying to not break down.

Norman smiled, "That's good."
"Yup!" Emma and I agreed.

We started to walk away from everyone until Norman finally asked us,
"Were you guys able to sleep last night?"
"Yeah," I lied. What was wrong with me and lying today?!
"Yup. But I woke up earlier than usual," Emma said with a smile.

Her smile then faded,
"I noticed for the first time this morning. The lattice windows in this house... are bolted down in places we can't reach. And the screw holes are damaged. This place is a cage," she said softly.

The Hidden objectives in our daily lives. The delicious feed that we can eat as much as we like... The white clothes that show immediately when they're dirty... Regulated life... All of this to maintain the quality of our lives as merchandise. 

"What about the tests?"
I asked.

"Education isn't necessary for those who will become food. In fact, it would be more risky for the demons," Norman started.
I heard the demon's voice in my head.
"Another six-year-old... Lately, we're only shipping out normal ones. Prepare for the plucking of these three that get full marks."

I then continued listening to Norman.
"But I'm sure that... Our ages and scores have something to do with the grade of the meat," he continued.

"But... Why is that? The meat won't taste better if we get good scores, right?"
Emma asked. "I'm not sure..." I replied.
"I don't know," Norman said, looking to be in thought.

There are so many things we still don't know.
"We thought we knew about the house and the world. But in the end, we didn't know anything," Norman said.
{ "What is the outside world currently like?" }
My thoughts matched with Norman's words.

"Come to think of it, it's the Mid-21st Century, but we don't have a TV or even a radio. The inside of this cage is an anachronistic fake world," Norman stated.

       All we know... is what the demons have prepared... and arranged for us. This miniature garden.
"The real world... the outside is unknown! We need to learn about it and... we need to escape!" I said. My words made me feel as if I was going insane. Emma and Norman agreed with me, making me feel more 'normal.'

           "For now, I want to... act before Mom can. So let's take note of what we already know first. Let's organized the information. Before Conny was Hao. Before he was Sadie. Based on the cycle they've followed 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," he said. He then took out something from his pocket.

"Here's a simple map of the site. The house is in the middle. And the forest that encircles us. What exit do we choose? The gate or the forest?" Norman asked us. 
        "The forest, the gate would be closed unless its a shipping day," I said, looking at the map carefully.

"Yeah, and when it's open, the demons are there." Norman agreed
"And when? Do we go with nighttime during shipping when Mom is gone? Or playtime during the day when we can get out of the house freely?" Emma asked, also looking at the map carefully.

"We can't do it during shipping, someone will get killed," Norman told us.
"Right," Emma and I both said in unison.
Norman then smiled, "And I'm worried the young ones won't be able to stay awake at night," he added which made me chuckle.

Then the whole mood got serious. We stood up, "Then it's decided. We'll escape during the day through the forest." Norman said.

"Whether that's possible..." he then said
"Depending on what it's like beyond the forest..." I said. I was nervous, not to lie. We were going to escape from someone who took care of us. From someone who is raising us just for us to be fed to demons.

"Let's go. We have to check it out," Norman said.
And with a nod. We ran.

I heard a faint whisper from Norman, "Mom..."

When he called her name... his hands were shaking. There's no way he's okay with this. To all of us... Mom is the only mother we've ever known.

{ How horrifying. Mom also never revealed anything. Not a single damn time! Even this morning, she had the same peaceful smile. Hiding behind that smile... How many children has she led to their deaths? Mom is the enemy. A cold-hearted minion of the demons. Then why? Why were you so kind to us, Mom?! }

We came to a stop as we saw a wall.
"It's a wall," I said in barely a whisper.

Emma climbed up a tree to see if she could look over.
"So? Is there something there?" Norman asked her.
"Nothing! But the wall's about two to three meters thick--she jumped down-- it's pretty high," she informed us.

"But there are no guards. It's silent," I said, pressing my hair against the wall.
"What do you think, Emma?" I asked her.
She came over and pressed her hands on the wall, "It's hard and sturdy. There are no rough edges or seams and the surface is smooth. There's no way anyone could climb this," she said.

"That's what we say to give up. But we can use a rope," I suggested.
"Yeah," Norman agreed simply.

"The problem is how to get everyone out. The only one watching us is Mom. I don't sense any demons around," I said.

"Could it be that easy? But if you think about it, this place is supposed to be an orphanage. There's no way the kids would realize otherwise then... This farm wasn't built on the assumption that kids might run away? The only obstacle is the hard and high wall,"
"Either way... we can get over this wall!" Norman said.
"As long as we have some rope," I added.
"Then we just need to look for rope!" Emma agreed.
"It's not impossible! We can all escape!" Norman and I said.

We then heard the bell.
"Shoot! We need to get back!" Emma said, we all rushed back.

We finally came to a stop once we reached everyone. { We made it! }
"Missing Nalia and..."
"Mom!" Mark yelled as he ran over. He ran into Mom's arms.
"What happened?" Mom asked calmly.

"What should I do? I lost Nalia in the forest! I tried looking for her but I couldn't find her!" Mark said. The sun's about to set. It's going to get dark soon.

"Don't worry. Everyone stay here, understood?" Mom told us. Mark sniffled. I walked over to him and he hugged me. "It's alright, Mark, Mom will find her," I told him. He nodded and we waited until she came back.

It took quickly for Mom to get back with Nalia. That was... too quick. "She got tired and fell asleep. Look, she's not hurt at all," Mom told Mark who had left me.
"Thank goodness! I'm so sorry! Nalia, I'm sorry!" He exclaimed.

"That was too fast," I told Norman and Emma, "It's like she knew exactly where Nalia was," I added.

"Come to think of it, Mom has always been good at finding us. No matter where we were, she found us..." I looked at the watch as I talked, then I realized it. "That wasn't a watch. They're tracking devices. They could be implanted somewhere in our bodies," I said to them. Emma and Norman's face were in utter shock.

"Mom showed us on purpose so we would figure it out. Mom knows... She knows that little bunny was brought by someone other than Conny. 'No matter who it is, I won't let you escape,' that's probably what Mom is saying."

I still had the belief... that Mom was human like us... and that she loved us. 
A Declaration of War
The kind Mom was all a lie. A performance to feed us to the demons.

"She's not our Mother, and she's not even human like us. Mom is a demon!" Norman declared. I could tell it took him a lot to even say it.

Chapter 3
The Iron Woman
鉄の女

Our time limit is 2 months. We need to figure a way for everyone to escape by then.
“Tracking devices… I didn’t think she’d go that far…” I muttered, looking down. Norman placed a hand on my shoulder.
“ ‘The human flesh produced by this farm… Is all high-quality meat,’ Eh?” he said.
{ But...This?! Is this worth doing so much for? } I thought, looking at my hands.

“The key… to our value is…” Norman started.
“Our age and our scores,” Emma and I said.

“ ‘Another six-year-old.’ ‘Shipping out normal ones.’ Judging from what the demons said, age equals the grade of the meat. And if I remember correctly, the siblings who were shipped out were all between six and 12 years old. And if being six years old is ranked as normal… then the highest quality is…” Norman said.
“Twelve year olds,” I said with a shiver.

“Then what about our scores?” Emma said, she then seemed to remember Conny’s words, ‘I wasn’t good at the tests as everyone else.’
“The order of getting shipped out!” she concluded.

“Unless we got full marks, our scores were never announced. So we didn’t notice, but that’s probably it,” Norman added.

I remembered the demons’ words, “Prepare for the plucking of these four full marks.”

“After we turn six, we get harvested in the order of low test scores. And when we’re 12, we get shipped out no matter what,” said Norman.

“So we were withheld from being harvested because we got perfect scores?” Emma asked, covering her mouth. 

“But I don’t understand why it depends on our scores… And why between six and 12 year olds?” I asked, starting to pace.
“The size of our bodies? No then it would depend on our weight…” Emma muttered.

“The size of our brains!” Norman said.
“Huh?” Emma and I asked.

“Our brains! A human brain is said to develop to 90 percent by the time we’re six years old. And another theory says that it’s 100 percent developed by 12 years old. The demons are after human brains!” Norman said. That made my heart stop. 

“That means… That the brain probably tastes the best. And the more developed the better,” he added.

“They… eat brains?” Emma asked in a whisper. Her expression showed she was shaken and sad.
“And they’re willing to risk and spend a lot. That’s why we’re valuable merchandise!” I said.

“First off, we need a rope,” Norman said.
“Let’s return to the house and look for one,” Emma suggested.

“Actually, I already have an eye on where some might be,” Norman said, starting to go in the house. I followed him only for us to get yanked back, “Ah!” I exclaimed, grabbing onto Norman.

“Wait! They have tracking devices on us. What if they have other stuff? Like cameras or listening devices?” she asked. 

“We don’t have to worry about that,” Norman said with a smile,
“I looked around last night… And there was nothing of the sort in the house. I figured we should know about the security conditions if we want to escape,” he said. His smile making him glow and my cheeks heat up the longer I looked at him.

I let go of his arm casually. Emma looked at him with shock probably thinking ‘He says it so casually!’
“So the security measures are on us and not in the building. I should have known,” he muttered.
He then opened the door and went inside.

“Do you think Mom knows already? Tat we went all the way to the wall?” Emma asked softly.

“I wonder. Last night, she didn’t know we were there. So that means that Mom doesn’t always know where we are. She can tell our location only when she checks. So if that signals form our tracking devices can specify individuals. And if Mom checked our movements last night and today…” Norman replied.

{ Then she knows. She knows that we went to the gate. That we found out about the demons. And that we’re planning to escape }

“But we can’t be sure yet,” Norman responded.

“I believe… that she hasn’t figured out who was there last night. If she knew, she wouldn’t have warned us in such a roundabout way. She would have threatened directly. That’s why--”

“Hey, Norman! Do you have a second?” Don asked.
“Sure, what’s up?” Norman asked.
“The clock in our room…” he paused once he saw me and turned pink. Is that what happens to me when Norman smiles?
“Ah, you need to oil it?” Norman guessed.

I moved my gaze from Don and looked at the wall of drawings. Conny’s was gone.

{ That's why for now, we have to act like nothing's happened. Everything is going to be okay, we just need a rope then– }

My thoughts stopped as a shadow loomed over Emma and I.
My heart stopped, I realized it was Mom but that didn't help the case.

She was looking directly at Emma, but I could tell she wanted something from me too.

"What's wrong, Emma? You look pale. Come to think of it. . . You weren't as cheerful this morning," she said.

I could tell Emma was scared, or uneasy so I took her hand.
"And you, Y/n, you seemed uneasy when you saw me earlier," she pointed out.

"You were also seeming to be really mentally sick , you're pretty healthy so I don't know how that could happen out of nowhere," she added.

Emma's grip on my hand tightened.

Does she know? Did she see us? Mom is... No, she's checking our reaction.
My eyes widened slightly as she placed her hand on my cheek.
This is the real mom.

Flashback

"You'll be safe, Y/n. . . You don't have to worry. I love you," Mom told me with a smile.
I smiled back, this was one of the times I smiled back.

She held me in her arms, cradling me as I fell asleep

×

"So, the lion is the professor?" I guessed.
"Well, that isn't revealed in the book but maybe," Mom said, booping my nose.

I giggled, "I think I'm right!"

×

"Mom. . ." I called out.
"Yup, that's how you say it," she told me.
"Now, let's get you better at walking!" She said enthusiastically.

I nodded and reached out to her.
Mom took my hands and helped me walk around the room.

I then stumbled, I held onto her legs, scared for my life.
Mom chuckled, "It's alright, Y/n. I'm here," she said.

Flashback End

I believed in her. Believe that or not.
I really... actually loved Mom.
But to her, we were only...

I'm scared, I won't lie.
I want to cry, even if I cried all night.
I'm angry as well.
I'm sad.
I want to scream.
I want it all to end.
I want for this to be fake.

"It's nothing!" Emma replied.
"I just got a little sad thinking that. . . I'm going to leave the house soon," she said.

I nodded along with her.
"Do you like it here at the house?" Mom asked, brushing Emma's cheek.
Emma hugged her,
"I love the house and you, Mom!" Emma exclaimed.

She then let go. I turned to Mom, "I guess I just missed Conny, you know how much I cared for her," I said to Mom.

"I wonder what she's doing right now. . . Did you know? Conny said she wanted to be a mother like you when she grew up," I mentioned.

I looked closely for her reaction.
"Yes, I know. I'm looking forward to it.  I know that Conny will become a lovely adult. . . And a good mother," she said.

She knows it yet she says it so nonchalantly!
Not a single crack on the facade.
She's completely. . . Impregnable!

My heart started beating faster.
She knows what happened yet she's so calm.
She knows Conny died, yet–

No, I have to smile. I can't show what I'm feeling. I have to act normal. Smile and–

I was saved by the bell.
Literally.

Ray came up ringing the bell.
"Dinner... is ready, Mom," Ray said, his voice monotone.

I felt a huge weight of stress fall off my shoulders.
I didn't let out a sigh to not show that I was keeping something in.

The kids started coming out at the sound of the bell.
"I'll be right there," she said calmly.

Norman came up to us and put a hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Emma. Let's go," he said.
Huh? What about me?
You know what nevermind.

Emma took me along with her. We were fine. Until...

"Did you three go to the gate yesterday?" Mom asked. I tried not to tense up. Fail.

"Huh? Nope that is against the rules," Norman said.
"Besides we were having so much fun playing tag yesterday," Emma added.
"Yeah, I couldn't catch you in the end," Norman told her. They both chuckled about it.
And I was left out.

(Third wheelers raise your hands. I'm  a major third wheeler so I know how it feeeeelz)

"Why do you ask?" Norman asked her.
"Never mind. As long as you didn't go," Mom said, walking away.

As soon as she was gone, Emma slumped to her knees.
"Emma!" Norman exclaimed.

"Sorry, I'm just so realived I. . . Haah... haah... It's like my heart finally suddenly started beating again now," she said.
My expression fell, she was losing herself.

"Can you get up?" Norman asked.
"Yeah," she responded.
Norman helped her up.

"Mom is investigating. She knows that her target is tw– three kids," Norman said.
My expression fell even more, I could tell he was trying to not look back at me. Hell, am I easy to forget? Sure I don't talk much but–...

"But she still doesn't know who. The tracking device doesn't indicate specific individuals. That's why she's searching!"
Norman said.

Norman started unlocking the door.
"We don't have much time left. We have less than two months!"
I said.

Norman and Emma nodded. Norman finally got the door opened.
"I looked around the whole house last night. If there's a rope . . . It would be in this room," he said, opening the door with a cloth.

The Storage Room.
Even Mom, who has the key to this room rarely goes in it. The forbidden room.

忘れられたから死ぬと思った

End of the chapter
10/27/19
Word Count- 3801