The Promised Neverland AU

By: FunahoMisaki

(A/N: I own nothing and read last chapter)

"We're taking everyone. We aren't letting another sibling die." Emma's voice was serious and stern as she stared at Ray who had finally joined her and Norman in their investigation of the wall and plans to escape.

Emma walked away silently from them now as Norman and Ray began to talk and she merely stared at the wall and put a hand on the cold smooth rock. She doubted that she could just knock part of the wall down even with her current strength. Even if she was able to though then it would leave an obvious trail for the demons to follow them after their escape. Something that wouldn't be good for anyone.

No it looked like they were still going to go with Norman's original plan to utilize everyone and use the makeshift ropes from spare tablecloths.

And since Ray joined them a day earlier…then that meant that maybe they could make a more effective plan for what to do once they left.

"We should start to head back. With the storm coming Mom will be calling an end to free time soon." Emma said glancing up at the dark grey and heavy clouds above them, turning back to the boys who looked at her and nodded slightly. Mom often called an end to outside time whenever it was supposed to rain, she didn't want them to get caught in the rain and get sick after all.

Sure enough when they were halfway back to the house they heard Mom's bell and made their way up the field to her, where all the other kids were already gathering as well.

Mom was doing a quick headcount of everyone being there before she noticed that two of the younger ones were still unaccounted for.

"Mark! What's wrong?" Emma asked seeing the boy come running and crying for both Mama and Emma.

"I lost Nayla in the forest! I can't find her!" Mark said crying hard and making both Isabella and Emma kneel down to sooth him. Emma noticed how Mama pulled out her pocket watch for a moment and stared at it, then she smiled as she closed it and put it in her pocket.

"Don't worry. I'll go get her now. Emma can I trust you to stay here and watch after everyone to make sure no one else wanders off?" Isabella asked offering Emma the baby that Isabella had been holding at the time, making Emma take her baby sister into her arms immediately.

"Right." Emma said nodding as she stood up, the baby held in one arm and pulling Mark in for a hug as well. The boy latching onto Emma's leg immediately with tears running down her face.

"I'll be right back. Everyone stay here and listen to Emma okay?" Isabella asked more than said, making the others nod as they watched her walk off.

She came back in less than ten minutes with little Nayla sleeping peacefully in her arms, almost curled into Mama's chest. Norman's eyes widened as he noticed that while Emma's eyes narrowed just a bit. That was the proof of them being tracked. That was Mama's indirect threat.

That was fine. Emma already knew how she'd indirectly threaten Mama in return. She just had to wait for Sister Krone to arrive.

She would be here by tomorrow if Emma's timeline memories were right.

"Is Nayla alright?" Emma asked approaching her Mama fast with Mark running a little ahead and the others being just behind Emma to check on their sister.

"She's just fine. Not a scratch on her. She just got tired and fell asleep." Mama said smiling softly at the sleeping child in her arms.

"It's amazing how fast you found her though. Especially since she wasn't awake to call for help or anything." Emma said sounding impressed and relieved that Nayla was alright.

"Of course. Consider it a mother's instinct to know where her children are at all times." Mama said smiling at Emma although her smile was sharp when she walked past Emma towards the house, past Norman who remained frozen staring at Mama but quickly tried to put a smile on his face.

"You saw that too right?" Norman asked when Emma stepped up beside him, baby Nathan still in her arms as the other kids followed behind Mama.

"Trackers. She knows exactly where we are…but it can't be something advanced. Maybe just blips on a small screen, no names or anything. She won't be able to tell who it is unless she knows who's not around." Emma said grimacing slightly, remembering how she'd had to cut off her ear. Remembering how she'd have to cut off her ear once more.

Shame. She had gotten used to having both of her ears.

'Honestly girl you have some big balls to cut your ear clean off like that without hesitation and without getting it treated almost immediately.'

Well at least someone thought what she had done was impressive and not just reckless and stupid. She just might end up liking the tiny demon a little more.

'No it was reckless as hell. Just impressive too.'

Yeah on second thought, screw the pipsqueak demon too.

'You know you're the only one who's allowed to get away with calling me things like that right?'

Well at least he knew she wasn't going to stop anytime soon. Besides he sounded more amused than anything else so why would she bother stopping?

"That means that Mom…is our enemy." Norman said and Emma focused back in on him.

"Yeah…but…she's always so warm and kind to us…it can't be all fake. So is she really an enemy or is she also a victim forced into doing this?" Emma asked and it gave Norman pause. That was right. They didn't know why Mom was doing this…and Emma was right in that Mom had always been warm and loving to them.

It didn't…make much if any sense. Perhaps Emma was right in that Mom was being forced into doing this. But who was forcing her? The demons? Wouldn't they have rather just eaten Mama?

Emma kept walking to the house for lunch and she kept acting rather down and gloomy.

She knew Mama was going to confront her about it later.

She was planning on it.