Book 4} Chapter 29
Concealment, Part 2
隠蔽、パート2

            I stood with Emma as we looked to the direction Norman went in. The crutches I had were hard to deal with but I managed to get used to it.

"Norman's not here," I heard a kid say as it was time to go back in.
Mom checked her tracking device with worry.

Mom was confident that Norman wouldn't escape after she broke my leg. But Norman's not coming back.
"Everyone, go back to the house," Mom said as I smirked.

We'll hide him until we escape. We'll never let him... get shipped out.

Mom then smirked and closed the tracker.
I turned at the sudden sound of joy.
My eyes widened. What?

"Norman!" the children cheered as they hugged him.
"Why..." I muttered.
Why did you come back? Norman...

Time Skip

"What the heck are you up to?!" Ray yelled once we got back in the infirmary room. I sat on the bed, looking at the ground.
"If you stay here, you're going to die. Run away now. Disappear!" he yelled.

"No. I have no intention of running away. Anyway, I want you to listen to me. We don't have time. I have to report what I saw from inspecting the escape route. It was a cliff," Norman told us.

"What?" I asked.
"Past the wall. It wasn't... a height that we can jump down from. Sister Krone wasn't lying. And the demons didn't take us lightly. That's why I ran to the edge of the wall. The wall split in two. It was about a 60 degree angle," Norman informed us, drawing it on a piece of paper.

"One side was still a cliff. The sections inside the two walls were identical. I saw the same scenery before me. Thanks to Ray, I wasn't confused. It means this," he paused, showing us the drawing of how it looked.

"The plants are next to each other on each side of the walls. And there are six lots. We're Plant 3, and the lot directly east from us, here, is probably the headquarters. I can deduce that because even though we're surrounded by cliffs... Only that lot had a bridge. If you're going to escape, you'll have to cross the bridge," he continued.

There were knocks at the door as Phil and Nalia came in, "Norman! Mom is calling for you," Phil said with a smile.
"Let her know I'll be right there," Norman told them and they scurried off.

Norman put on his jacket and closed his suitcase which had nothing in us. He handed Ray the thing that nullified the tracking devices.
"I'll give this back to you. I didn't use it. So you still can. Use it when you three get out of here," Norman said with a smile.

Ray's eyes widened in disbelief, "You... So you were planning to come back here from the beginning?! You didn't return to just tell us about the cliff. You could have easily reported that to us while you were in hiding! Then... why? You said we were going to survive together but you were already planning to..." Ray's voice was shaky as he said everything.

We weren't gonna survive together. I looked at Norman with sadness as I gritted my teeth, not in anger though.

"Yeah. Sorry. I lied. I can't risk making a mistake. Because I can't let anyone die. If I'd run away, the plan might've been ruined. It'd be harder to escape. Even if it's just by a little, that's a problem for me. I can't lose, no matter what," Norman said as Ray plopped down on the bed.

"It's pointless to argue. I've made my decision. I did what I could today. I'm leaving the rest to you. Make sure the escape is successful," he told us. I stood up to argue but he got us all in a hug before I could say anything.

"You guys are so warm. Thanks for everything. Because of you three, I had a good life. I had fun. I was happy. I was fortunate," he told us.
I buried my head in his neck as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

"Damn. Damn it! Damn it!" Ray muttered, resting his head on Norman's shoulder.
"Come on, Norman. It's not too late. Run and hide in the forest," Emma told him with a shaky voice.

"Please, Norman," I begged, not noticing my own voice was shaky.

He left the embrace and put his hand on my shoulder, "Like I just said... I've made my decision. Goodbye," he said. His hand left my shoulder and he left the room.

( No. I did not cry writing this-- )

I stumbled and fell as I tried to run after him. Pain rushed through my body. I grit my teeth and used the bed to help me stand up.

I grabbed my crutched and went after him as quick as I could.

"Norman!" I called out, rushing towards him. He came to a stop at hearing my voice.

Maybe I could convince him. Maybe...

"Y/n," he said softly. I dropped the crutches and stumbled into his arms, "Don't leave. Please don't leave me," I said as tears ran down my face.

He held onto me tighter, "I'm sorry, Y/n..." he told me which made me cry harder.
"But I don't want you or anyone else to die. I want you to always be smiling. Even if I don't see it anymore. I always get this feeling when I'm around you, I care about you that much that I'll sacrifice myself for you. I don't think there's a word for it," he paused.

Then he smiled. I gripped his shirt, crying hard.
"No. There is a word for it. Love. I'm in love with you," he told me softly. My eyes widened as I felt my heart stop.

"It's when you care about someone beyond all rationality... and I want you to have everything you want... I want you to always be happy. Even if it kills me. I'll sacrifice myself for you, that's how much I love you. And... I'll never stop loving you. Never," he told me positively.

"Norman..." I muttered, I looked up at him as my tears had stopped.
Confusion and sadness was mixed in my expression.
He didn't say anything before kissing my cheek.

(Yes, I'm pulling that 'You tf didn't he give her an actual kiss' card on you guys.

Jk I'll give you actual tea)

Then, unexpectedly he connected our lips. I didn't know what to do. All of this that he just said confused me.
It didn't last long before he pulled away and gave me a simple hug, "Stay happy for me," he said before pulling away and walking away.

I fell to the ground soundlessly as I watched him walk away.
The moment replayed in my mind as a tear slipped down my eye and rolled off of my face.

Time Skip

I gathered around with the kids as we were going to say goodbye to Norman.
I looked down to keep myself from crying even more.

He loves me so much... he loves us all so much. That he's going to die.

11/17/19
Word Count: 1191