Chapter 3: I Remember
"HE'S NOT DEAD!" H-He cant be. "Emma calm down, I'm just being realistic, we don't know what was on the other side of that portal. And if the fall didn't kill him then the demons will." "Why didn't he tell us he was- I don't know, look I was just as surprised as you were."
"We have to rescue him, Ray he would do the same for us. He saved my life!" He's...He's our family. "Emma we don't know that he came from grace field, he could have come from one of the other farms." That doesn't matter Ray! He's like us, he came from the farms and somehow...He escaped.
"This doesn't make any sense, none of this makes sense!" Esmeralda said franticly. "H-He would have told us, He would have-Not if he didn't remember." Esmeralda looked at Ray confused. How? "How could anyone forget something like that?!" She said sounding disgusted.
"The medicine in our world is more advanced than this one, he could have been given something that would make him forget, but I don't think its permanent." There was some part of him that remembered, that's why he stepped out into the rain even though he claimed he was afraid.
"Because there was a part of him that knew the numbers were still there! Now it all makes sense! His fear of the rain, his missing memories from when he was a kid, the reason why he was found alone in the woods when he was six."
He came from our world! Said Ray adamantly. Someone sent him here to save his life. The demons at least from what me and Emma know, eat children from six to twelve years of age. the twelve-year old's are usually reserved for upper class demons.
"What don't I understand is why? Why would these things eat children." Esmeralda said looking nauseous. "Years ago there was a war between demons and humans." Emma explained. To end the fighting the humans and demons made a pact, the demons would stay on their side of the world and human would stay on theirs. To make sure the demons kept their promise the farms were created.
"To be honest were not really sure why demons need to eat humans." Though considering they eat us based on how smart we are according to what we learned at the farms I'm guessing the need to eat humans, so they don't turn into crazed killing machines like the demon quasi killed.
"I-It all makes sense now." Esmeralda said looking pale. Why Quasi was always so afraid of the rain. "Its like he was secretly afraid the demons could find him." Emma said looking at the spot where the portal had been. And if a wild demon could slip on through...Then they could definitely send human spies!
"And I made fun of him for his fear." Don said looking sad. "We have to find him!" Yeah he'd do the same for us! "Alright, already calm down, Look I agree he'd probably do the same for us, annoying as that is...We will find him, but it wont be easy.
"First thing we need to do is find another portal." But how we going to find one Ray? Emma asked puzzled. "Well considering the two times we've seen a portal, the last time being...They both opened during the full moon, but they didn't stay open for long so as soon as this portal opens again we have to be quick!"
So we have to wait for tomorrow night?! "But that could take forever! Quasi could be dead by then!" We don't have a choice Emma! Ray sighed. "Look I know your worried, but we'll get him back I promise. Emma sniffed giving a small nod. O-Ok. She said giving her sibling a hug.
"M-Maybe we should go with you-Don't worry we can take care of ourselves." Ray said trying to reassure Esmeralda. "At least take this." Phoebus said handing Ray the crossbow that Quasi had been using only moments before. Thanks. "We'll bring him back safe; I promise." I just hope he's alright said Emma looking out at the horizon.
Darkness surrounded Quasimodo on all sides. Quasimodo gave a pained groan as he tried to sit up, however something had him pinned down. It was then that he remembered the demon. In a panicked haste he wrapped his hands around the demons limp tentacle and stumbled backwards falling back into the water that surrounded him.
"They'd landed in a river of some sort. Behind him was a large waterfall the water crashing noisily into the riverbed. The he looked up at the sky shielding his eyes from the sun. "W-Where am I?" He thought aloud.
"It was then that he remembered the portal." He'd fallen through it! He remembered what Ray had told him about the farm they'd escaped from, about the children there being eaten by demons.
Demons like the one he'd just killed! If the demon had come from this world, had Emma and Ray...Come from here as well? They'd come from another world! He shuddered as a cold breeze blew his hair back.
He needed to find somewhere to hide! Unless he wanted to get attacked by another demon. He stumbled out of the river as he made his way deeper into the forest. He looked around fearfully. Any shadow could be a demon waiting to pounce! He shuddered he was so cold; his clothes were soaked.
"As he continued on he became more and more exhausted until he finally collapsed." Everything became hazy as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He thought he heard voices above him, but they were muffled and before he could even attempt to focus in on what they were saying he succumbed to the darkness around him.
"What is that thing?" I don't know he definitely looks kinda human. The soldier said using his gun to move his head back. The soldier grinned when he saw the black numbers printed on the side of his neck.
"Well, well, well, It looks like we have a runaway he said sneering down at the boy in front of him. "But sir that's not possible, sir. Most of those kids don't live to either six or twelve well except for that one farm but how is he still alive?! Asked another soldier.
"Do you think he came from the world on the other side of that portal?" A third soldier asked looking at the dead demon that was slowly starting to drift downstream. Maybe Their leader said giving a dry chuckle. "It's the perfect place to hide, no demons." I've seen the people in that world, anytime some says the word demon, they start praying, like they think that will save them.
He turned on his radio lifting it to his mouth. "Radio to HQ Come in HQ. "What is it, what did you find?" A slightly inhuman voice questioned. We found a kid with a number Is it one of the recently escaped twelve-year old's? No, this ones sixteen. "That's impossible! What is his number?"
"Uh... 66571." That's not possible 66571 disappeared sixteen years ago he-The person on the other end became silent. Hello? "Bring him in...Alive and if gives you any trouble you know what to do."
"You heard him, move out." You two grab him he said motioning to two other soldiers. "C-Captain? What if he wakes up? Yeah he looks pretty strong. Just shut up and move out! Yes Sir! They each grabbed one of the boys arms as they dragged him between.
Quasimodo opened his eyes his body felt tired and soar. "Is it night time already?" No its not night time he was in a dark room of some sort. He tried to move only to find himself chained to the wall.
He strained against the chains panicking as he tried to break free. He was still to week to break free. He didn't understand why would someone do this to him?! Why was he a prisoner? What had he done wrong?
Suddenly the door opened, and a blinding light filled the room. Quasimodo shielded his eyes from the light as the chains fell from his arms. "Alright you, Move!" Quasimodo couldn't see anything as he was forced to his feet.
As they exited the cell his vision slowly started to clear he realized he was in a vast cavernous Hallway , the surrounding walls made of dusty red bricks. They forced him to move as they led him down the hallway.
They finally came upon a green painted metal door which they pushed him through into a dimly lit room that was almost as big as the hallway. He was forced to his knees as the soldiers stood guard at the door.
"Should we restrain him sir?" Yes, but just as a precaution I want to see that new drug you were working on the one that's supposed to cause paralysis, We don't want our little...Guest to slip away.
A few minutes later Quasimodo's head was forced back. "Let go of me!" He shouted trying to fight back against his captures he felt something sharp pierce the skin on his neck and he cried out in pain. The soldier released him.
They forced his hands behind his back tying them tightly with chains. Quasimodo couldn't move whatever they'd given him was slowly taking effect every move he made it felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out.
He heard heavy footsteps from behind him, much to heavy to be human! The thing, whatever it was walked around him in a circle. He screamed in pain as he felt the creatures sharp claws slash across his back.
Hmm...He still feels pain. That's fun. The creature chuckled "My, my how you've grown. It seems only yesterday you were born you were definitely an interesting one." I-I-I don't know what your talking about! "Please, let me go!"
"Don't play stupid with me boy!" You...You really don't remember?...Do you? "Well that's interesting, someone's erased your memories." I don't understand please I just want to go home!
The Creature chuckled. "Poor boy you don't realize it do you?" Bring me a mirror. One of the soldiers rushed off returning a few seconds with an ornate silver mirror. The creature positioned the mirror in front of his face. "You are home."
Quasimodo eyes widened in disbelief. Printed across his neck in the same black ink as Emma and Ray's were the numbers 66571. "N-NO! I-It cant be! Its n-not possible!" He strained against the chains.
He wanted desperately to rub the numbers away. This cant be! I-I'm not- Oh but it is. Hmm...The demon brushed some make up dust from his chin. "It seems that someone tried to hide your numbers with make up not that it did you much good it must have washed away when you fell into the river."
"Your lying! I-I'm not-I cant be!" The demon ran a long claw across his throat stroking the numbers. "Poor little Caleb, Why did you run away." T-That's not my name! "My name is- Quasimodo? H-How?"
The demon laughed. "Do you think I'm stupid boy? We've been watching you. Hiding your numbers was pointless. The demon said as he leaned closer. "We were always going to find you Caleb." The demon whispered in his ear. Stop it! Tears streamed down his face.
"T-This cant be happening." Do Understand what you are now , boy?" Your nothing but cattle! Livestock! The demons claws dug into his shoulder. Hmm...What was the name of that little friend of yours, that girl your were always hanging around with. "Shut up." He growled.
"Oh yes now I remember." Rose. He whispered in the boys ear. Rose. The wall fell and as a flood of memories washed over him. "I-I remember!" Do you remember now boy? He didn't answer as the memories overwhelmed him.
Caleb? Caleb. Caleb! The deformed five-year-old boy woke from his nap startled. The blonde-haired girl giggled. Oops sorry I didn't mean to scare you, she said as she jumped down from the branches of the tree she'd been hiding in.
"What ya reading?" She asked looking at the book in his lap. He picked it up to show her the book. "Its called an Atlas; it has maps of the entire world one day I want to see It all!" That sound great! I'd like to see the world to!
"Do you think we'll ever get to leave here?" Caleb asked sadly. Why not? Lets go now! Before he could stop her his best friend took off. "Rose wait!" He chased after her towards the back of the yard to were a tall gate stood stopping anyone from leaving.
"Rose wait, were not supposed to go near the gate, remember?" M-Mom said its dangerous. "I know I just wanted to take a look quit your worrying." What do you thinks out there? I-I don't know?
"Guess I'll find out for myself in a few days, Mom says I'm finally getting adopted." R-Really? Uh hu. Wow that's awesome! Your so lucky! "I-I wish someone would adopt me." And I'm sure you will. R-Really? Even if I look like this? He said motioning to his face. I know it! Rose said smiling at her friend.
"Children suppers ready" Coming mom! Come on lets go rose said running back towards the house. HEY wait for me! The two children took off running down the sprawling green lawn the sun slowly sinking behind the large white house.
"You wanted to see me sir?" Quasimodo/Caleb was pulled back to reality. "T-That voice it cant be!" A woman wearing a black dress stepped into the room her long black hair which was usually always in a tight bun cascaded down her back in messy curls.
"Perfect timing as usual, Isabella." We found a stray lamb of yours. "You mean you found Ray, or Emma?" No I'm referring to a different lost lamb, one you lost sixteen years ago. "Do you recognize this one?"
Quasi's/ Caleb's head was forced back. Her eyes widened and then she smiled. She approached the frightened boy as he struggled to break free. "No this isn't happening!" I tried. I hid well enough I thought...The woman touched his cheek. Caleb. Where have you been, dear. I've been worried sick.
He spat in her face glaring up at her. Liar! He growled. However she just smiled gently stroking his face. "Why did you run away, Caleb?" He chuckled. "Y-You always could find me no mater where I was hiding, couldn't you...mom." So you do remember me? H-How could I forget? Yet another wave of memories washed over him.
Caleb followed rose to the door where there mother stood waiting. She wasn't really their mother she was just the nice lady in charge of the orphanage but to them she'd always just been mom.
"And where were you two?" Nowhere, we were just playing? "You two weren't near the gate were you? Caleb?" It was Rose's idea! Hey! Tattletale! "What have I told you two?" Not to go near the gate. Good now go get ready for supper.
Rose ran into the house and Caleb was about to follow when his mother stopped him. "Did your sister tell you the good news?" Y-Yes? The boy looked nervously at the ground. Caleb dear, what's wrong?
"M-Mom? D-Do you ever think I-I'll get adopted?" Of course you will! She said patting the little boy on the head. Y-You really think so? Even if I look like-Caleb she sighed kneeling in front of the five-year-old. She placed a hand on his face.
"There is nothing wrong with you. Your fine just the way you are." Tears streamed down the little boys strange face. "I love you mom!" I love you to, Caleb . Now go on go wash up for dinner. Ok mom.
Quasimodo/Caleb was drawn back to the present. "Cale-Don't! Don't you dare say my name! You lost that privilege a long time ago." He growled tears streaming down his face as he pulled away from her outstretched hand.
Poor thing, you've suffered so much. I saw what happened at that festival. He froze. "I was there she whispered in his ear. "People can be cruel; I suppose I should have warned you. It would have been better if you stayed here."
Shut up! He shouted tears streaming down his face. "You were always such a clever little boy, but apparently not cleaver enough. Quasi/Caleb remembered the tests they were always taking, he'd always wondered why but considering what he'd seen the very next day it all made sense.
"Why did you run away from home, sweetheart?" Weren't you happy?" T-That place wasn't a home, and you know it! It was-It was...He gave a chocked sob. "So you did go to the gate that night didn't you?" What did you see? He glared up at her. "You know what I saw!"
He remembered everything about that day, he remembered he and Rose had spent the day playing tag with the rest of their siblings. If he remembered correctly his older brother Sam had been it. However all of that happiness disappeared that night, the night Rose left the Orphanage!
"I'm going to miss you all." Rose said smiling holding her favorite stuffed bear and a suitcase. "Rose, I don't want you to go!" Caleb cried throwing his arms around his sister. "Don't worry Caleb, I promise I'll try and come and visit someday. She hugged her brother tight tears streaming down her face.
"C-Caleb." Rose said her voice wavering. R-Rose? I w-wrote you a letter its on your bed. She whispered. "Promise me you'll read it...A-After...After I'm gone." I-I promise the deformed boy said drying his eyes. G-Goodbye.
"What happened next scarred him for life!" He'd gone downstairs for a glass of water while mom was out when he noticed a familiar stuffed teddy bear on the dinning room table. It had soft white fur a red heart shaped nose and a red ribbon tied around its neck.
I-Its rose's bear, wasn't she carrying it with her when she left? Was she? "I have to give rose her bear! She cant leave without it! It means so much to her!" He ran from the house with the bear under his arm.
"ROSE! WAIT!" He froze stopping inches from the gate. He looked fearfully up at the open gate. Never go near the gate or fence." He remembered quoting his mothers exact words. A look of determination crossed his face as he took one step inside the gate.
"R-R-Rose?" H-Hello? The gate squeaked startling, but he sighed when he realized it had just been the wind. A few buildings made of brick stood around him. He saw what looked to be a truck near the corner. "Is this the truck that's going to take Rose to her new home?" To be honest he'd never seen a truck before except maybe in books.
"T-That's strange, t-there's no one here. Maybe she'll find it if I leave it in the back of the truck." Caleb walked around to the back of the truck and pulled back the curtain. The bear fell from his hand.
"N-N-No, R-R-Rose. His wide with fear and disbelief. Rose's lifeless grey corpse stared back at him a blood flower stuck out of her chest. "Is someone there?" The boy froze as he looked around panicked.
Caleb quickly ducked under the truck as the door opened. "Hey, did you hear a voice just now?" It was probably your imagination." If it were a stray cat, I would have caught it and ate it. "You eat those things, that's disgusting.
Caleb covered his mouth as he tried to muffle his terrified scream. He bit down so hard on his lip that he drew blood. The demon grinned picking up the girls lifeless body. "Ahhhh... It looks so delicious. Human flesh is the best."
No. Caleb whimpered staring at the monsters horrified. Were they going to eat her right in front of him?! "Damn! Can't I at least have a fingertip?" The demon holding his friend pleaded. "You idiot. It's valuable merchandise." He said dropping her body into a vat of strange liquid.
"It's not something the likes of us can have. All of the human flesh produced on this farm are high-quality meat intended for the rich." Where's Mom? Caleb thought fearfully. Why isn't she stopping this?! Did the monsters get her to?!
"Another six-year-old…Lately we've been shipping out normal quality ones. But it looks like we'll soon harvest some high-quality ones, or one in particular correct...Isabelle. Caleb's eyes widened when he saw his mother step from the shadows.
"That boy, what was his name again?" Caleb sir. Hmm...Caleb, the demon said with a smile. "T-Their talking about me?! Is mom...Working for them?! Wait they called this place a farm...does that mean-
"The boys quite an interesting case its usually the twelve-year old's with higher test scores" Yes he is quit special. "Then you know what needs to be done." Yes sir I understand he'll be shipped out as soon as he turns six. "Wait. I smell something." The demon leaned down to look under the truck but all he found was the small stuffed bear.
Quasimodo sat there silent he wished that he hadn't remembered but how on earth could he forget what he'd seen that night! His childhood spent in this place had been one big lie! "You killed her! You killed Rose and you were going to kill me to! W-Why?"
"That's nothing you need to concern yourself with boy, although I must say your very clever to have figured out how to escape on your own. I'm surprised you didn't try to take your other siblings with you just like your brother and sister Ray and Emma."
He froze. The demon was right. Why didn't he take them with him? Tears streamed down his face. Ray was right, I am a COWARD! I left my family to DIE! He sobbed tears streaming down his disfigured face. Its all my fault .
"We usually save the smartest and brightest children from the farm for our king, that was going to be Ray but...You'll have to do I suppose. He said with a cruel grin.N-No-NO! The boy could feel his strength slowly returning the drug was wearing off! "LET ME GO!"
Before he could break free one of the guards wrapped their arm around his neck as they plunged a needle into his throat. N-no let me go. "Don't fight it Caleb sleep. Just go to sleep. His mother pleaded. Sleep. "Let, go. The deformed teen instantly went limp his eyes rolled back in his head./p
Take him back to his cell! The demon snarled waving them off. A few hours later he awoke back in his cold dark cell. Caleb, my name is Caleb! When I was six I saw demons kill my best friend. I escaped. But how!
Then he remembered. "The letter!" I remember. I didn't read it how could I?! It would just remind me of her. So I hid it under the loose floorboard under my bed. I" remember I always would hide things there usually small things really like coins or candy from the candy jar in the cupboard downstairs. I remember mom caught me once she was so mad."
His smile faded. "How I wish I could relive those happy moments if only I hadn't gone down to the gate that night. "You still would have died!" a voice shouted in the back of his head. 'I know, I know! I just wish I hadn't left my family to die!
"Over the next few days she became suspicious, I think mom knew I was the one who brought Rose's stuffed bear to the gate. She only asked me once the next day if I had gone to the gate and for the first time in my life I managed to lie to her."
"Then in the days leading up to my sixth birthday things changed." A baby arrived at the Orphanage, but I forgot what her name was. What was it?! "Everyone this is your new little sister, Emma."
"E-Emma. No wonder we were so close I was there when she was brought in." Caleb I have great news. W-What is it mom? As of tomorrow you're officially being adopted. R-Really mom that's great! However he knew what she really meant. The next day he was going to die.
So the next day on his birthday while the other kids were playing tag he hopped the fence at the back of the yard. He knew he wasn't supposed to but considering what he'd seen everything he knew was false!
When he saw the wall he almost gave up hope. But he was determined to Escape right then and there! He pulled himself up onto a nearby tree and climbed up onto the wall. Surrounding the entire perimeter was a cliff!
There was no way he'd be able to escape! He could make out a bridge in the distance, but he could also see guards patrolling it. He ran around the wall looking in at the other farms each different then the one he'd come from and each strangely had an a transparent and slightly invisible half-dome over the top projecting a fake blue sky.
As he continued running he slipped falling into one of the other farms. He half expected an alarm to go off and the guards to appear. When everything seemed quite he relaxed a bit until he remembered he was still on the farms!
Suddenly he felt a hand cover his mouth. "Shhh don't scream." Before he could protest he was pulled through a secret door hidden in the wall. "Are you aright boy, that was quite a fall. No broken bones?" N-No, I-I'm fine. Hey gave the strange blonde haired blue eye man a suspicious stare. /p
"W-Who are you?" My name is William Minerva, and you are? You're the man who wrote all the books at the orphanage! Ur I mean the farm. "So you saw my clues in the books did you?" There were clues?! That would have been helpful a while back!
"So you found out the hard way then." T-They killed my friend. I'm sorry. My family runs these farms you see and one day I'd finally had enough of the bloodshed, so I hid clues in the books to help children escape to the human world.
"What do you mean, human world?" Isn't this- There are two halves to this world the demon half and the human half. "I'm afraid you already know what side your on." The boy began to cry. "I-I don't want to die!"
"You wont." Y-You mean- Follow me. He led him down a long dark hallway until they came upon a large room filled with books. "This is my secret study. Right now we are beneath the farm you just escaped from. "Gracefeild."
Gracefeild. "Now sit down, the first thing I need to do is remove the tracking chip in your left ear. Don't want them finding this place. "T-Tracking chip?" he placed a hand over his ear. "W-Will it hurt?" Probably but you don't want them finding you do you? N-No.
Good, then have a seat. He sat down shaking as the man picked up a small scalpel and a pair of tweezers from a tray covered in supplies. Tilt your head back a little it, there perfect hold still. Caleb winced as he felt the blade dig into his ear.
"There its done." Now to hide your numbers, but first he took a needle and syringe from the pile. He filed the syringe with tinted green liquid. "A-A shot?" I'm afraid I wont be taking you to the human world I've tried but they keep being recaptured. I plan on creating another safe house soon though so the children can at least live free from the demons.
But...I've discovered something interesting. I've discovered a portal that will take you to another world. A-Another world?! "It is a world without demons, you'll be safe there and you'll be able to live a normal life.
Unfortunately in order for this to work I'm afraid you will have to forget everything! E-Everything! Even-Rose? "I'm truly sorry for your loss but I promise you her death will not be in vain. I'll put a stop to the farms myself.
"I'm not sure how long this will last I found this at a plantation site called Lambda 7214 not a very nice place to visit if I might add unlike here the children were abused an experimented on be grateful there are worse places to end up then this farm.
The boy shuddered. D-Do it. "If I do you must promise me one thing." What? "I don't know how long this will last so if you start to remember one day promise me that you will not come back! Your asking me to abandon my family?! There's no other way. Fine. I promise. Now do it!
He didn't even flinch when he felt the needle in his neck. "There done." How do you feel? I-I don't feel any different. "Hmm...It must take a while to take affect." While we have time I'll cover your numbers.
When he was finished Caleb looked completely different. "Promise me you'll stay away from water, that make up isn't water proof if it washes off it wont be to easy to cover back up. You never know, they could still somehow track you down to this world, lets not take any risks.
That night after resting for a bit the man led him into the forest. "I'm surprised that drug hasn't taken affect yet. It must not work after all. No matter, still be sure to keep safe. Suddenly Alarm bells went off in the distance.
They know! Quickly boy this way! Caleb followed the sound of gunfire soon reached his ear. "Quickly the portal should open in three, two, suddenly a flickering blue light appeared between a row of trees.
He looked hesitantly at the glowing vortex Go boy! "W-What about you?" I'll draw them away, GO! The boy obeyed however the drug had started to take effect as soon as he reached the other side he forgot everything!
Caleb sighed. I wonder what happened to Minerva and how did the demons find me?! "None of that matters now! I broke my promise and now I'm going to die!" He tried to calm himself by humming the lullaby that had been stuck in his head since childhood.
His fear instantly started to melt away as he was brought back to happy days of his childhood. Tears streamed down his face as he continued humming. "H-How do you know that song?" He opened his eyes.
Isabella's pale face stared back at him in shock. W-What? H-How do you-N-No. No! You cant be! Y-Your not-Her hand touched his face. "It all made sense, the voice that he remembered it sounded just like hers! He'd heard her humming the song before, but he'd barely realized it was the same melody.
My son. Her hand brushed his face and he jerked away. Get away from me! He growled. "Your not my mother!" What kind of mother gives her own son to demons? "I-I did it to survi-YOU DID IT TO SAVE YOUR OWN SKIN!"
"Shh! Don't shout I don't know who might be listening." I'm sorry that you had to see that. "Tell me, do you even remember her name?" Her name was Rose, I haven't forgotten. She sighed. I-I'm afraid I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of. Helping them find you being one of them.
How? She placed a circular metal disk on the table. The tracking device. "The man who helped you dropped it near the portal when he ran, and he didn't even realize it was missing. That's how we figured out where you were. "Why now? You could have taken me whenever you wanted?
"The Judge was the main problem with him out of the way all we needed was to get you alone." But it was never easy, but we got lucky this time. She placed her hand on his shoulder and slowly she wrapped him in a tight hug. "I'm sorry."
Suddenly to his shock the chains on his arms fell away. "Y-Your helping me?" Why? "Its time I did something right for once." T-Thank you. He threw his arms around his mother tears streaming down his face.
"We don't have time. You need to go. Now!" C-Come with me. He pleaded trying to pull her to the door. She did not budge. M-Mom? "I cant. "Why no-There is a chip implanted in my heart that will send an electric currant strong enough to stop my heart if I leave the farms."
"Demons!" He growled. Not all demons are evil, I heard a rumor that there where two demons who were rumored to be helping escaped children. "I'm not sure if this is true though, however the truer enemy in this world are the humans I'm afraid.
The Ratri family are the ones who made the pact with the demons they own the farms, you've already met one of them, James Ratri, who goes by the alias of William Minerva. W-What?! He didn't tell you. Figured as much.
She took something from behind her back. It looked like a bag with food and supplies as well as the all to familiar white clothing of grace field. T-Thank you. There is a guard change soon it will take them a while so the bridge will be left unguarded. That is when you'll.
"W-What about you." I'm a good liar I'll think of something. Now get changed and be ready. He couldn't believe what was happening not only was his mother the person who'd been responsible for his best friends death, but now she was helping him escape!
"Could he really trust her?" She's a prisoner here just like you a small voice whispered in the back of his mind. Isabella stood outside waiting for her son to hurry up as she looked around nervously. If she got caught the consequences would be dire for not just her but her son as well.
"I'm ready." His torn green shirt had now been replaced with a crisp clean white shirt and pants as well as white jacket. She hadn't been able to get any more supplies, the rest he'd have to do on his own.
"Good luck and son...If you see your brother tell him I said hello." M-My broth-He froze. Her face, her hair everything she looked almost exactly like Ray! "Ray's my brother?" Go quickly . Don't turn back no matter what and don't stop until your safe!
"I-I-I will I promise!" I-I'll come back for you and the other kids at Gracefeild, I promise we'll set things right I swear, I wont rest until everyone on the farms is free! "G-Good luck...My son. Caleb Ran! He ran faster than he'd ever ran in his life
He quickly pushed open the doors as he rushed across the bridge and into the forest. He heard shouts coming from the wall he screamed as he felt a bullet lodge itself in his thick shoulder. He didn't stop though he kept going running even faster.
He ran through the forest he could hear the thundering of heavy footsteps getting closer and closer. He ducked into a small cave stifling a scream of pain from his wounded shoulder as he hid. However to his relief the demon did not venture any further and returned the way he came.
He sighed rest his head against the cool stone wall of the cave. "I-I made it." Looks like your plan worked after all." After a few hours when he was sure he was safe he crept silently from the cave and continued to walk through the forest, the sky growing dimer.
He looked up at the dark sky. A raindrop fell on his weathered face and for once he didn't care. As the rain started to pour down harder and harder the boy began to grow tired. His shoulder was starting to hurt, and he was starving.
His vision started to blur. "Caleb." He looked behind him. Standing behind him was a familiar little girl. "Rose?" Caleb? He rubbed the rain from the eyes only to realize she was gone. Caleb. He turned around but there was no one there.
S-She's not real! Your hallucinating! He told himself repeatedly. "You have to keep going." Caleb? K-keep going. Caleb. Rose. His eye rolled back in his head and he collapsed his white clothes now stained with mud.
A few minutes passed and he began to drift in and out of consciousness. He saw a pair of clawed feet in his peripheral vision. "A demon, that's all it can be! They've found me!" However to his surprise he heard a girls voice.
That's odd he didn't remember any female demons back at the farms headquarters. Still he had to be cautious. " I found something." What is it? It's a human. The demon touched the numbers on his neck, and he instinctively flinched. His life spent under Frollo's cruelty had made him fearful and expectant of pain.
She ran her hand over the numbers. "A boy." Do you think he came from the Glory Bell plantation the male voice asked. He looks old enough. "I don't think so, Their maximum shipping age is fifteen he looks to be sixteen and his numbers are similar to the ones on the children from Gracefeild like Ray, and Emma.
He gave a shocked gasp. They knew his friends. He wondered if these were the demons his mother had mentioned were helping escaped children. "I-I think he's alive." Hello, can you hear me?
He weakly glanced up at her his vision blurred by the rain, but he could make out a larger figure behind her another demon obviously. He blacked out his head falling back as he went limp. H-"He's injured, and he has a fever." she said brushing his rain-soaked hair from his face.
"His wound might be infected we need to get him back to the cave." He winced as he felt his limp body being lifted from the ground. He heard what sounded like a horse, though if he had to guess it was probably a demon horse, if there was such a thing.
He felt a hand pull his jacket closer to his neck. "Hide those numbers." We don't want to draw attention. He gave weak whimper; he'd never felt so helpless before. At least not since he was a child. "Do not be afraid, you're safe. No one will harm you now. Rest" He slumped over resting his head on the back of the rider a tear streaked down his face as the horse took off deeper into the forest.