October 12, 2045.
The past month flew by quickly. It was really enough time for a familiar pre-teen to have finally gotten a feel in this house after numerous times of observing. However, he still is a little lost sometimes when his mind was preoccupied with swarming thoughts in regards of an object he was looking for.
The plan to get interrogate Mama Isabella of the watch's whereabouts were a bust. Ray came back to Fang telling him that she didn't reveal anything too vital. It brought them a disappointing outcome more than what Fang expected. Since the first plan failed, now they know it is most likely in the office of the caretaker herself.
While in his free time, he shouldn't forget to spend his time to get along with the children. So far they are now viewing him as their own part of the family. Fang felt a little touched for this growing affection they had towards him. It reminded him of the time he spent with his big brother way back when they were still little.
Thank goodness he changed back then. Otherwise he would be outcasted or make things worse for him and the children.
Currently, it is 5:59 AM. The only sound accompanying inside the rest of the children's bedrooms were the sounds of light snores emanating from the slumbering kids and the clock adorned on the wall with its second hand ticking its way to 12.
With a ding, the bell tolls from outside the house, signifying that a new day was upon them.
A pair of lime green eyes fluttered open followed by a yawn to accommodate her need to spray her sleepiness away. She noticed that she is the only person awake at this early hour and that the hours are still in their dream world. With a smile, she raised her arms and allowed herself to become their alarm clock.
"Everyone, wake up! Or you'll be late for breakfast~!" Emma said in a sing-song tune. Not for long, they spurred awake from the sound of her wake-up call. Gilda was the first to wake up with her hair splashing her face. Everyone followed suit.
The rest then began dressing up; the female children putting on their skirts and brown boots and the male children swapping out their white PJs with newly freshed white pants provided for them.
"Try 'n chase me! Muahahaha!" Lani is seen with Thoma right behind him chasing him playfully.
"Hey! I'm gonna getcha!"
"Thoma! Lani! Stop messing around and get ready!" Gilda scolded. She doesn't like seeing these two being so hyperactive first thing in the morning.
Two children approached Emma for help in putting on and tying their shoes. Like the sweetheart she is, Emma provided them the help they needed to start their day.
Once they all dressed up, they exited their room and were on their way to the dining hall or run around to play. Emma held onto Phil and stopped to greet the two people she passed.
"Good morning Don, Conny, and Little Bunny!" Emma greeted them good morning. They greeted back with Don's usual grin and Conny's innocent smile on their faces.
Emma continues carrying Phil on her arms not before letting him go to walk on his own after reaching the dining hall. At the same time the same two troublemakers happened to bump on her back, making Emma stumble over.
"Whoops! Sorry Emma!" Both of them said while sporting a toothy grin.
Meanwhile, Emma plans to get her revenge on them. With a menacing playful look on her face, she gave chase to the boys with her hands wide enough to grab one of them.
"Watch out... I'm gonna eat you!"
A circular-rimmed bespectacled girl watched this scene with a sigh.
"They're at it again." No matter what age the orange antenna girl is, Emma is still being her hyperactive, bubbly self.
With their fun is still on-going, Emma have carried Phil yet again using her back and was greeted three people she recognized and well-liked. With two being her beloved siblings who grew up together and one whom she has taken a liking to after being around him for a long time.
"Mowning, Nowman! Way! Wang!" The antenna girl said. The way she addressed their names were slightly inaudible due to Phil pulling her mouth with his hand.
"Good morning, Emma." Norman replied in his usual polite attitude. He is seen dragging a carrier with pots residing on the top waiting to be placed on the breakfast tables.
"Mowning, Emma." Ray mimicked her tone as a joke and greeted back while carrying a jugular of water to the table.
"Good morning to you as well, Emma." And finally, the last person Emma expected to hear from, Fang, sent the greeting back with his small smile. Just being around her for long enough brings his mouth into a curve.
"You're so energetic today even though you haven't eaten breakfast yet." Norman commented. He wonders how much energetic passion is burning in the young girl herself.
"Just how old are you again? Five?" Ray remarked.
Emma frowned. "I'm eleven, the same as you guys! And one of the oldest here!"
"I highly doubt that." Fang mocked jokingly. "And who says you're also the oldest here? We're practically the same age."
She gave a pout. How dare Fang and Ray were acting like this towards her? Regarding the Chinese preteen himself, it felt like talking with another Ray.
She'll make them pay when it is their time to play tag.
She heard a form of laughter resounding behind her. She turned around to see her beloved Mama beside her.
"Not you too, Mama?" Emma couldn't believe she was being laughed at by none other than Mama herself, although in a more caring way.
"Emma, can you give me a hand over here?" She requested an extra pair of hands for help.
"But Mama!" Emma couldn't help it but to glue her front to Isabella. "I'm gonna redo my entrance from the beginning!"
"Why? But that's the part that I love about you." The female caretaker spoke.
"That I'm five years old on the inside?" Emma asked. She hoped not or that would remind her from those two like a record player.
She shook her head. "It's the part where you care deeply about your family."
Mama is nice to even say to Emma about being the only one who had very deep connections to her siblings. Despite being the caretaker of this orphanage, Isabella viewed Emma as her own daughter even though they are not blood-related.
Emma felt her hands clasping on her face while she looked towards her Mama in the eyes. She is very happy to have such a caring person like being a mother to her.
"Thanks, Mama!"
Later on, everyone are seated in their respectful chairs around the breakfast tables. Dishes were aligned and placed in front of them. Before ethey dig themselves in, their Mama held the bell on her hand and gained their attention by shaking it.
"Good morning, my dear children." She started. "Let's give thanks that all 39 of you siblings are able to live here happily, today, too."
Then her head swerved to meet a certain purple haired boy's way. She remembered the past months she ever had interacting with the boy. He is mysterious and strange, but is actually a friendly and caring boy when the others looked past his exterior. She asked him a bunch of questions concerning his personal life. It disappoints her to think that he is purposefully making his answers up and keeping it to himself even if she left herself be vulnerable to his whims.
Despite all of that, she never did find much about him except that he belongs to somewhere, nowhere near here.
She won't give up until he tells her everything what he knows.
Fang realized that she is looking at him. It unnerved him to know how it was bothering him everytime those purple eyes met his crimson ones. Even the growing silence around them became tense, making him more nervous than before.
Luckily for him she broke off the stare and resumed to give her thanks and clasp her hands in a prayer.
"Thank you for the food." She announced. Then the children followed after her then proceed to gobble down their food.
The only one left being unable to eat their food in peace was Fang as his mind was filled with conflicting thoughts. Just what was that look she gave him? Is he in trouble or something? Whatever it was, he didn't like it one bit. He knew she was trying to make it seem like she looked friendly and not hostile.
In his time back in Earth, he had learned how to properly examine and observe human behavior; what they think in their heads, what possible emotions they are showing on their faces, what other thoughts are swarming them, etc. Thanks for being around with BoBoiBoy, Yaya, Ying and Gopal, he gained even more insight in their personalities and thought process and more knowledge about human behaviour.
Just in this scenario right now makes him believe that the only person around here in his suspect list is none other than the Mama herself. After all, he knew she's hiding his power watch somewhere in these parts of the house.
As he continued munching on his food, he took the time to watch Isabella as she feed Conny with a spoon. He didn't like it when Conny was being real close with her. Not because she fed her but because of a reason he can't really know.
"I can, right, especially for today?" He heard Conny said that.
"Yes, you can, my dear." Isabella helped wipe the crumbs off of her mouth with a napkin.
That's right. Fang was saddened to know that Conny was being adopted today. He didn't knew how much closer he has gotten towards her. He felt like he wanted to just convince Isabella to let Conny stay for just a while longer.
But alas, he can't. This is how orphanages work. Everyone here has to get adopted sometime. He also didn't like the idea of himself being adopted by someone outside. He already had a mother, a father and a big brother to begin with. At least in another world.
He sighed as he now finishes his food.
"Age 11, Type 1. Answer each question within nine seconds. We will now begin."
They were all once again taken the test to simply test their growing intelligence in their little classroom, as the younger children would like to call it.
For each question given, the number of questions were prepared from easy to hard. From solving simple equations to constructing bar codes and morse codes while figuring out the size and forms of the shapes presented in their bright monitored desks. This level of education is too highly advanced for a child to learn, yet they all seem to went for it while not questioning what type of questions they were given to Mama. They're too well-mannered to even ask.
It's the reason why a library was even implemented in this house for more further education.
It's becoming a challenge for Fang to take on this test right here. Thanks to his brother's tutoring when they were kids that he decided to spend loads of his time studying advanced mathematics at a fairly young age.
So far, everything was going really smoothly for him as he managed to get used to all the difficult questions and solved them carefully in a nick of time.
It was also the same time the buzzer went off to signal the children that the exam is done. A mentally exhausted Gilda planted her face on her desk from how much time she took from thinking too much on the given questions.
"Heh, I think I got at least half of them done!" Thoma said with confidence. It earned many praises from the other children. They themselves probably had gotten some of the questions wrong, might have skipped a couple of hard questions and some didn't manage to pass all of them.
"Awww I'm jealous. I didn't get most of them right." Conny was used to getting her answers wrong that she smiled it off while holding Little Bunny on her arms.
"Hey. At least you did your best." Fang gave her the headpat she needed at this moment. She beamed from his touch.
"Thanks Pang!"
"Now then, are you all ready for the results?" Isabella said with their papers on her hands. Everyone felt proud of their scores being higher than last time while some whimpered from retaining the same score as last time they took the test
For those special people who have scores exceeded above others, they were expecting for their names to be mentioned.
"Norman, Ray, Emma. You three did an amazing job. You got all of them right! Perfect scores!" She said feeling proud of their achieved scores.
Norman and Ray were behaving normal and weren't reacting much of their high scores. As for Emma she cheered for how happy she was in finally keeping her level matched with those two. The children praised for their genius, already glad that they passed.
Fang rested his head on his hand. His frown didn't mean that he is not happy because of their scores, but because of something else on his mind.
Emma caught him staring at nothing again. She doesn't understand what has been going on in his head that makes him like that. Was it because his score was still below them since his own wasn't announced yet?
"Oh! Well this is a surprise. Someone else also gotten a perfect score like those three!"
Everyone's ears were perked up.
"I'm really proud to say that Fang also had a proper 300 in his paper! This is really brilliant!" She couldn't contain the excitement in her voice. Everyone then clapped and expressed their happiness towards the lone child. Fang kept silent but inwardly smiled at the amount of attention he gained. No matter the circumstances, that habit of his continues to linger around.
It's still a baffling thought that no one among the children would ever compete against Norman, Ray and Emma in terms of intellect. Somehow, one managed to get in their league and that one would be someone they have all befriended these past few months.
They said that no one inside this house has ever had kids at this level of intelligence before. It made them prove enough that Fang demonstrated his mathematical prowess and managed to get on the trio's level.
One kid is clearly expressing their jealousy towards them. He heard enough after the children's gossip that he started standing up and points his finger at Norman.
"Norman!" Don yelled, gaining the platinum-haired boy's attention.
"I challenge you to a game of tag!" Don declared. If he can't beat Norman mentally, then he will try and beat him physically in a form of tag.
Norman accepted. Saying no to a challenge like that would mean he wouldn't have the guts to prove that he is better.
Once everyone gathered outside, they spread out in different directions for their usual hiding places. Norman waited for Ray to check his pocket watch. The timer started as soon as the children made a run for it. Ray nodded to signal Norman that the chase will now begin.
The redhead boy, Nat along with the children he is with, eyed on the front of the field while the kids were at his left and right sides. They feel like they had this all in the bag.
When an unsuspecting figure touched Nat's shoulder, they let out gasps to reveal Norman finally catching their hiding spots undetected.
Shifting to another scene, Don was confident enough Norman wouldn't find him with Conny still holding Little Bunny on her arms.
"In this spot, Norman will never be able to find us in no time!" Don gave a triumphant pose.
"Thanks for helping me, Don." Conny grinned.
"You don't have to thank me!" He said humbly. "I'll always help you! Anywhere and anytime you want!"
The blonde girl smiled. "Of course! You and Pang will always be there for me!"
Then his smile slightly dropped at the girl mentioning the purple-haired boy's name. Sure they have been getting along but it's the thought of the new kid trying to ignoring some of his friends in search of that thing he has been trying to find.
"I'm curious, Conny. Just what do you see in Fang honestly? For me, he looks like the type to just prioritize himself more than his friends." Don gave his opinion. He had seen what Fang had been doing while he was by himself. It was either him in deep thinking or just... well... just there being a loner.
Everyone seems to think he is the second Ray of this house, which they had established that in the first place.
"For me, Pang is the kind of big brother I wanted. He is nice, caring and really cool!" Conny remembered the times she spent being around him. It was one of the best moments she ever had.
"I see." Don crossed his arms. He wasn't around with him long enough to understand him. From what Conny stated, it gave him the general idea of what Fang is like.
"Maybe he is not as bad as I thought he was." The taller boy said. "But enough of that. We have a game to win!"
Going back to their search, both kids were keeping themselves hidden from their seeker. Conny stuck by his side while clutching on her Little Bunny harder. That's when Don sees something peculiar poking out of the ground.
"Hmm. These shoes' footprints." He analyzed them closely. "Judging from the size and shape..."
That's when a lightbulb dinged in his head.
"Ah-ha! You let your guard down, Norman!" He sounded too sure of it now. Knowing Norman is somewhere around here based on these prints prompts them to move somewhere else from their hiding place.
However, they were too late.
"Really? It seems you were the who lets their guard down the most." Norman emerged from behind the duo surprising them. Norman approached the taller boy and touched his shoulder, marking his target.
"Didn't I always tell you? Your weakness is that you make quick judgment and lose your cool." He explained before breaking off into a sprint to find the rest. Don was left standing there, processing on what just happened.
Seeing as they have been tagged, they returned back to their starting point which is beside the tree where Ray is sitting. It wasn't a surprise to say that almost everyone have been present at the same time they returned.
"What the heck? He practically got almost everyone." Don mittered.
"So that leaves only two survivors." Anna said with Gilda at her side.
"Yep. Just Emma and Fang left." Gilda responded.
It was only a matter of time before they can either get tagged by Norman or outrun and hide from Norman and win this game of tag. Time will tell to determine who will triumph in the end.
The last remaining ones left hiding are now running away from Norman pursuing them from behind their trail. Emma is known to be athletic among the group of children so running like this is just child's play, both literally and figuratively.
On the other hand, Fang with his extraordinary physique can pretty much get away to any kinds of chases. He had the stamina of a professional runner. He also took his time to make sure to keep his body in tip-top shape even if trapped in another world.
Norman can barely keep up with either of them. He is not much of a runner himself so this can actually be difficult to catch one of them.
"Not too bad, Fang! You can actually keep up with me!" Emma smirked at her partner beside her.
"Oh please! I'm just getting started!" Fang returned her gesture before showing off his speed by pushing more strength in his legs and sped up his running pace, outrunning Emma's.
The orange antenna haired girl won't back down on this one as she also did the same to keep up with him. While their pursuer, Norman, looked like he is about to faint from running too much.
They saw a big gap that separates the ground they are on and to the other on the end. Both Emma and Fang jumped across there without any effort and looked back to Norman who stopped at the edge while heaving breathes.
Not giving him a headstart, they run off again into the woods to break from his line of sight.
"Darn. They are fast." Norman panted. Seeing as their speed is superior compare to his own, Norman decides to go the long way around the gap.
An indeterminate amount of time has passed. From what Norman can estimate from going from Point A to Point B, he had exactly a minute or so to find one of them. At this rate, he'll end up catching just one person if he keeps this up.
Norman is right by the big tree. From the same big tree hides two hiding individuals. Emma was perched on top of one branch while Fang sat on top of a branch separating from Emma's own branch. Having them on the same branch will make the frail wood snap like a twig and sent them spiralling downwards towards the platinum haired boy.
Seeing that Norman looked around cluelessly, Fang noticed him pause then assumed that he had an idea to lure one of them out. Norman tripped and fell down to the ground. Fang expected this to happen and tries to warn Emma, who is already in the process of going down from her hiding spot.
"Wait Emma! Don't!"
She didn't heave to his warning. Seeing as her close friend trip down was enough for her concerned side to fully come out. Emerging out of her hiding spot, she hopped down from the tree and went over to Norman, still sprawled on the ground.
"Norman! Are you alright?!" Emma said a little distraught.
Norman peeked his head from his shoulder. "Haha. I was just playing with you."
"Haa?!" Emma cried out. "But I was really worried about you!"
From up top the tree, Fang sighed. "I told her not to jump down."
Norman laughed that his trick worked and sat up. "Emma, your weakness is that you're too nice."
He then tapped on her shoulder to solidify his capture of his target.
Now it just leaves him and Fang on the chase to see who wins within the time limit.
"I know you're up there, Fang!" Norman glanced up towards a specific branch which sits a boy on it. Fang eyed his opponent before jumping down from his spot in front of Emma and Norman.
"This isn't over yet, Norman. You still have time left to catch me." Fang taunted him then turns to the opposite direction and ran. "If you can!"
The platinum haired boy smiled. Looks like this challenge will require a lot of effort.
The antenna girl observed her friend running off into the distance. She had to admit that he was faster than her with how quick his legs are carrying him from different steps.
The chase wasn't over at least. Fang gathered enough distance away from himself and from the two. He thought that hiding behind a tree would be the suitable option to hide. He dismissed that thought knowing Norman is quick-witted and will know instantly.
If he was ever found out, his agile instincts will know and will try to send a message to Fang to get away.
For starters, he should need a place to hide besides behind the tree. Perhaps behind the bushes would provide good cover. Going with that plan, he makes an effort not to make a sound and went behind some thick bushes.
"Just a little more and time will be up." Fang whispered.
His ears then perked up by the sound of rustling coming from his left. Assuming that Norman is there behind those bushes, Fang observed a little more to confirm if it was actually him behind those sets of greenery. If he is, then Fang can jump out and sprint away again.
Without warning, a hand sneaks up on his shoulder. Fang freaked out and turned around to see his seeker finally caught up on him.
"Gotcha." Norman felt satisfactory for finally catching up his last target.
"What? But I thought you were behind those bushes!" Fang stood from his spot and pointed at the bushes on his left. "Don't tell me you set Emma up for this!"
"Calm down, Fang." Norman held both of his hands up. "It's simple. I found some rocks laying around here and threw some of them to some bushes near your position. If I knew I threw some of them near you, then I would have alerted you and you just run away again."
"So you threw them on those bushes that I would be distracted into thinking you were actually there." Fang pieced two and two together.
"Exactly. And also, I've finally discovered your weakness after many times of trying to catch you in our previous games of tag." Norman started.
"My weakness?" Fang questioned.
"Your weakness is that you're always on full alert and too focused on what has captured your curiosity." Norman told him. "You rely on your external senses towards something that is easily distracting."
Fang opens his mouth to find some words to say in this but spilled nothing but open air. He actually lost to a game of tag.
"Now let's head back to the others. They must be waiting for us." Norman leads the way with a baffled Fang following behind him.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh! Norman caught me again! I don't know why! This is too annoying!" Emma let out her tantrum by beating the grass.
"Here's a question for you, Emma. What does Norman have that you don't?" Ray asks.
"Hmm... The ability to plan ahead? Calmness? Overwhelming intelligence?" Emma thought of some interesting answers.
"Close, but not quite." Said Fang, who is leaning against the tree with his arms crossed.
"Huh?"
Ray decides to answer for her. "Strategy."
"Hm?" She tilts her head.
"You have the upper hand if it's about simple physical ability. Norman on the other hand is stronger right over here." Ray points his own head, referring to his mind.
"You're playing tag. It's a game where you compete with strategy."
"A simple game of tag?"
Ray added. "It's like playing chess but using your entire body. Isn't that right, Norman?"
"Well yeah. But you're a better tactician than me, Ray."
"Stop. You're overestimating me."
Emma hums. "Reading the enemy's moves, hm..."
Norman follows up. "We're not even close when it comes to Mama. She reads our moves exactly like she expected us to and secured her victory rather easily."
"That is true. We've never beaten her at chess before. Not that I actually tried anyway because I suck at it mostly, hehehe!" Emma giggled.
"If we are gonna talk about strategy, I wanna hear what Fang has to say about it." Ray directed his gaze towards the other boy. Emma and Norman followed suit.
"Hm? What is it?" Fang felt a little uncomfortable seeing how their attention is focused now on him.
"What do you think about strategy, Fang? Do you think it's the best method?" Norman asked. He just wanted to ask someone from an outside perspective.
"Yes, and no." Were Fang's answers.
"Huh? What does that mean?" Emma looked confused when he chose two opposing answers.
"Yes because you take your time to analyze the correct method into planning out the opponent's move and it went exactly what you planned for in the beginning. No because you never know if it will actually work in the end and you just likely end up with a different result instead. Never expect the unexpected, is what I'd say."
This captures their full interest as they take in his words.
He then added. "But sometimes strategy isn't a necessity in some situations. You either go with the flow and don't need to use strategy at all or you are prepared in what's coming to you. As long as you have the proper tactics and proper managing of the plan you're going to carry out, that much is strategy itself."
He finished to let them take in. Emma looked like she is about to explode but took in his words. Norman nodded in full understanding while Ray looked to be about the same.
"I think I've learned something from what you said about strategy, Fang. Thank you." Norman smiled. Fang felt embarrassed from this and turns his head to the side.
"Y-You're welcome." He stuttered.
He was then cut off when a scream was heard.
"Norman! I want a rematch! Next game, everyone is it except for you!" Don declared another round. He's not backing down until he is finally satisfied.
"He's losing his cool again." Gilda sighed after she had a talk with Anna and Nat.
Norman scooted forward and stood up. Although, an interesting idea popped up his head and he addressed it to the boy beside the trio.
"Fang, do you want to take my place instead?" Norman spoke with intent.
"Huh?" Fang lost his cool.
The younger children, who had overheard what Norman said, were now bursting in excitement.
"Yay! We get to catch Fang again!"
"Pang!"
"We're not gonna lose this time!"
"Oh boy, I can't wait!"
Were all the comments the children had mustered.
Don didn't expect for the majority of the children to want to go for Fang instead of Norman. He sighed as his revenge for Norman will have to wait. Besides, he wanted to know what Fang can really do this time.
"See that? Now we'll be the ones going after you again." Norman chuckled.
It was at this time he wanted to go back inside the house to get away from his position. But then remembers about the antenna haired girl near him. If Fang does just that, there will be no end for it.
"Alright, fine. One game and that's it."
Everyone either worked as a group or work in separate pairs to make the search for the bespectacled boy much faster. Knowing Fang and his technique for getting away at a quicker pace than Emma's own athletic skills, it's going to take more than just a couple of lucky shots to get at him.
Fang traversed down his path in the depths of the forest for a spot to hide in. He soon comes across something he had last expect to see in a forest as wide as this.
A fence.
"This is strange." Fang approached this unknown picket fence and observed what it is. It's a normal fence as far as the naked eye can see. The only difference for this one is that it is noticeably smaller and lower that one can easily get pass through by jumping or climbing over.
"A fence in these parts of the forest. Why is this here?" Was a question that no one can answer because he is by himself.
"I've been wondering that myself, too." Another voice spoke which startled Fang and looked to see Norman catching up to him and touched his shoulder. "Here you are. I guess I win again."
"Hmph. You just got lucky, that's all." Fang then returns his attention to the point of interest in front of him. "By the way, what is this doing here? Is this to keep something out or what?"
He answered. "Mama said to us that we can't go near here, no matter what. That's just about it, honestly. She says that the gate and the fence deep in the forest is dangerous."
Fang walked a little closer to the fence and feel it with his fingers. "What the hell? How is this fence dangerous? It just didn't feel anything threatening as far as I can tell."
"You've got that part right." Another voice joined in. It belonged to none other than the raven haired boy.
"Ray?" Norman said.
"Hey guys!" A female voice was heading their way. Emma soon found the one she's looking for. Seeing Norman and Ray near the fence with Fang in the front is enough to know what is going on here.
"What goes past here?" Fang asked since he had never explored the depths of the forest before.
"We snuck our way here when Mama was busy doing something. There, you see a gate but it's locked. We got in trouble for going to the place we weren't suppose to go and that's about it." Ray explained then added.
"It's dangerous here so we should head back to the house now."
"But if Mama said that it is too..." Emma's sentence was cut off by Ray.
"You really love Mama, after all."
"But everyone—"
Someone had found them and exclaimed.
"Hey! Are you guys still playing tag or what?" Don ran his way to where they are and asked.
"Is the game still going or is it over already?" Gilda asked as she came with the rest of the kids who had found them.
"I hate to break it to you but the game's over." Norman told them. "Anyways, let's call it day and head back home. Mama will worry about us if we are late."
Everyone agreed with the idea and were prepared to head back. Not long before Don gives a good long look towards the fence and reflected back on the times he spent with everyone.
"We'll eventually leave this place, right?" Don asked.
"This is an orphanage after all. Of course we will leave eventually. Before we turn 12, that is." Norman reminded. Their home is right here but once they have foster parents, the home they grew to love will be gone soon and they will move to somewhere with their new parents to come live with them.
That thought made them feel anxious, especially Fang.
"You know what? It just occurred to me." Gilda said. All eyes are now on her. "We don't receive letters from everybody."
"Letters?" Emma repeated.
"You know, after they leave the House, no one writes to us." Gilda said.
"I'm sure they are being considerate to their foster parents. They could be adjusting their new lives living with them before thinking of writing letters to us soon." Norman assumed.
"But we've all been together ever since we were born!" Don spoke.
"I wasn't around with you guys much so count me out." Fang said. He had never been with them by the time they were born.
"Even if we're not related by blood, we're truer siblings than most. You're also a part of us, Fang, even if we're not related!" Don's statement made Fang catch off-guard. He forgot that everyone really cared for him more than he thought.
"I guess they might be having fun everyday that they've forgotten about the House." Gilda crossed her arms in thought.
"Then it's fine, right? I'm really happy for them!" Emma looked on the bright side of things. At least they had parents that looks after them while the children stayed in Grace Field.
"Argh! I wanna go outside so badly!" Gilda couldn't take it and shouted.
"What are you gonna do once you go outside?" Nat asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I wanna get new clothes!" Gilda exclaimed. "I'm just sick of wearing this one uniform everyday!"
"You and me both, Gilda." Fang felt a mutual understanding between him and Gilda. "I wanna wear something else instead of being stuck wearing white all the time."
"I know, right?!" Gilda grabbed his hands with stars in her eyes. "Just thinking about clothes so badly makes me want to wear them all! I read in books that the outside world has so many different types of fashion designed clothes!"
"Uhm y-yeah..." Fang felt his cheeks redden by how she gripped on his hands a little tighter.
"I want to eat delicious food when we go outside."
"I want to go on a date with a cute girl!"
"Geez, that's a little overboard, don't you think?"
"Oh, that's not what I meant at all."
"I want to go on a train!" Phil raised his hand to know he is present.
"Oh! That's a good one!" Don also agreed with Phil's idea to when they go outside.
"What about you, Norman?" Emma asked.
"I want to go to different places and see things I've never seen before." Norman spread his arms to emphasize himself wanting to go outside.
"That's good! And you, Ray?"
There was a slight pause before he answers. "Once I get outside, I'll have to survive first."
"Survive?" Fang said. He didn't expect that kind of answer from the raven haired boy.
"What a gloomy idea for when we get outside... What about you, Emma?" Don asked.
"Me?"
"You said you wanted to ride on a giraffe, right?" Ray remembered her saying that when they were kids.
"I said that, didn't I? Hehe." Emma thought of what she wanted to do. "Well, I don't really want to leave. I want to stay here forever!"
"You sure? There are a lot of things we haven't seen yet outside and you just wanna stay here?" Don asked if he heard from her right the first time.
"But I'm so happy right now. Right?"
"Happy, huh..." Ray mumbled.
It seems everyone had different ideas for when they finally get to the outside world. They were cooped up in here long enough that they are having plans for when they do go out eventually. Fang felt a little sympathy from these kids. Knowing that they will be adopted and that they will not see each other again is a bit depressing to say the least.
But he can't help but to feel a strange sensation. They had never seen what the outside world is like, including himself. Their general idea of what the world is like from out there were from the books. It's also weird how there are no televisions or radios from the house like this is all back in simpler times where there is less technology than back in his own world.
On another fact, how the adopted children never wrote them letters for when they left the house just sent a jittery feeling in the pits of his stomach. He never understand this house's adopting system works so it's weird. Maybe the house forbids anyone receiving any letters from the adopted children.
That feeling never went away.
"What about you, Fang? What do you wanna do when you go outside?" Emma asked. The others all directed their attention towards him now.
"Me? Well..." He tried to rack up an answer from his mind. He can't say too much about the truth hidden away in his head.
"Now that I think about it, wasn't Fang actually from the outside when he first arrived to Grace Field?" Nat wondered and so did the others.
"You're right, Nat!" Gilda's next response is going up to Fang and asked him with a question she had been longing for to be answered.
"You were from the outside, right?! Have you seen or worn many clothes?! Are they cool? Are they cute? Do they have different designs?! Are there lots of them being made right now?! Please tell me!" An excited Gilda couldn't be much more happy as she anticipated the answers from him.
"Gilda, calm down for a second!" Fang held her back as much as he can. It just looked like he is talking with Ying again. Good memories resurfaced in him with his time with her once again but it was short-lived.
"I'll tell you when we get back to the House. I'm kinda tired at the moment." Fang sighed. It had been a long day since they've been playing.
"When I go outside, I promise I will write letters to you all!" Conny spoke for the first time as they have been discussing about the outside world. "I'll write a lot of letters. I'll never forget everyone who has been with me for the longest time. When I leave the House, I want to become a mother like Mama and I will never abandon the children!"
Everyone nodded at her. They looked really pleased with her future to become like their beloved Mama.
"You love Mama very much, don't you?" Emma happily asked.
"Yeah!" Then she flashed an adorable grin towards everyone in her vicinity.
Fang felt a strong urge to just want to embrace her but held back to save his embarrassment and dignity. The last thing he needs to hear are the playful teases coming from Ray and Don.
It was almost time for the blonde girl's departure. It was really saddening to see one of their own friends who had been like a family member to them to be leaving so soon.
Isabella spotted a drawing adorned on a wall of the hallway. Conny's drawing was her little picture of herself, Little Bunny, and the House on the background. This picture will be last time she'll be ever seeing Conny. She took the drawing and hugged it on her chest. The memory now burned into her mind.
Soon after that, everyone gathered again to see Conny one more time before she goes to her foster parents outside. Their Mama was behind her to make sure that whatever bottled up feelings the blonde is feeling, she's there to comfort her whenever she can.
"I may be slow and I may not be as smart as everyone. But when I leave the House, I promise I will do my very best! I have Little Bunny here with me so I will be alright."
"Conny..." Don muttered. He was obviously sad to see her leaving his side so soon.
As for the other one, Fang watched with shaking eyes. He was seeing his little sister figure to be leaving and here he was unable to do anything but spectate. He tried his damndest to hold back his tears from falling but his dam is slowly breaking.
"Fang, are you crying?" Ray smiled and elbowed him softly.
"No." He sniffed. "You're just imagining things."
But it's hard to keep it holding back any longer as tears then breaks away his eyes when Conny said this.
"I... I don't want to leave anymore! I want to stay here forever...! With Pang... With Don... With everyone!" She sobbed hardly.
Emma, Don and surprisingly Fang were on the verge of breaking down in their tears. The latter turned away to make sure that he won't let anyone see his silent cries. Everyone understood his notion and how he must have felt for seeing him so attached with the girl.
Their emotional farewell towards the blonde girl were finished. Both their Mama and Conny exited the front doors with the children watching them.
They are now on their way to the gates with Mama guiding her to their destination while holding her lantern up to light their way into the slightly illuminated night. Conny hears the sound of her humming that she often heard when she was taking care of the babies.
"What is that song, Mama?" She asked innocently.
Oddly enough, Mama didn't answer. Either she didn't hear her the first time or just ignoring the question purposefully.
"Mama?"
This time she gave her a sidewards glance.
"Yes, my dear?"
"Will I get to see Pang and everyone again?" There was sadness in her voice, indicating that she never wanted to leave in the first place. She grew up here, had a nice and caring family and a big brother to look up to.
"I don't know."
What Conny doesn't notice is that her smile dropped. She knows that it is this time that Conny will be last to see everyone again.
Furthermore, she thinks she is forgetting something. Something very important to her. It was always the thing she practically holds every day...
Meanwhile, back in the House. The older children were tasked to clean up before bedtime since Mama is outside accompanying Conny. It will be only a while before they can finish up since they need to sweep the floors and put away any miscellaneous silverware back to the kitchen.
Emma, with a broom in her hand, moved to the dining room for one more sweep to the floorboards before moving to the next area. Then out of the corner of her eye, she sees something sitting on the top of the third table. Her eyes widened.
Little Bunny.
"Aaaahhh! You gotta be kidding me!" Her shout brought others to the dining room.
"Emma? What's wrong?" Fang came out while equipping a broom of his own.
"She forgot Little Bunny!" Emma replied.
"What?!" Fang ran over to the table and picked up the plush doll with his hand. He put the broom next to the chair.
"Conny might be already gone! I think it might be too late!" Gilda reminded them while panicking.
"Oh no. What should we do, Fang?" Emma panicked. She knew how very important Little Bunny is to Conny. If she knew that the little girl forgot her precious plushie, she would be devastated.
"Don't worry. You guys still have time to make it." Ray delivered the good news. "Out from the window, I saw the lights of the gate are still on. Mama isn't back yet either, so I don't think Conny has left yet."
"Now what are we waiting for?" Fang gestured out to the front door with Little Bunny in his hand. He just wanted to make sure Conny will be gone safely with something that will remind her of everyone, including him.
"I'm coming with you two as well." Norman volunteered. "Let's hurry!"
"Right!"
They ran all the way from the House to the gates at a quick pace. All they had to do was to follow the path that leads straight to the gates itself. The trio stopped at the opened gate.
"You can't go near there, no matter what. That's what Mama warned us about" Emma remembered Mama's warning.
"Screw that. It's not gonna stop me from giving this to Conny." Fang grits his teeth.
"I know. If we're gonna break the rules, we might as well do it and get scolded together, later." Norman reassured the two. It worked for Emma and made Fang slightly a bit better.
"Conny?" Emma called out to her little sister. She received no response.
"This is weird." Fang muttered.
As they walk in, they were greeted with a chilling silence that emanates in the atmosphere. The lights stopped only at the entrance of the gate. Further down the tunnel of the gate is just darkness. Right next to them is a vehicle twice their size.
It's a loaded truck with curtains at the back, which is odd. The interior of the truck is a little too huge for children of their size.
"I've never seen this vehicle before. Is this the truck that will take Conny and her foster parents somewhere?" Emma asked.
"Possibly. This truck is huge though." Fang said.
Norman climbed on top and tried inspecting the truck's interior from bis current standpoint. Like Emma, he had never even seen a vehicle before. Just the pictures to the books he was reading gives him the general idea of how big this truck actually. He didn't expect to be this wide and bigger on the inside.
"Hey Fang. Is a truck like this suppose to be huge?" Norman questions someone who had lived on the outside.
The mentioned boy gave a quick inspection of the truck. He wasn't familiar with the concept of vehicular transportation like this back in Earth. He can only a pilot a spaceship led and taught by his big brother. He had seen big trucks before but that's about it.
"I'm not quite sure, to be honest. This one might be bigger than the ones I've seen." He hoped it's enough to suffice.
"I see. Thank you." Norman took his answer to heart and stepped out of the vehicle.
On the other hand, Emma is walking around the place looking to where Conny is. She observed how a metal pipe up top is leaking water that creates a small puddle right in front of her. It was confusing. Why would someone ignore a metal pipe like this unfixed?
In fact, is there even anyone here at all?
"No one's here." Norman spoke.
"Maybe she'll find it if we leave it in the back." Emma suggested.
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this place." Fang gulped. He didn't knew why but something tells him that this place screams danger and wanted to get out as far away as possible.
"Here. Give me Little Bunny, Fang." Emma took the plush doll away from his hands and held out to place it in the back of the truck.
Without warning, she dropped it.
"Emma?" Fang raised an eyebrow. He looked at Emma like she had witnessed a ghost.
"Norman... Fang..." Her tone suggests that she is mortified. Something in there caused her to become in that sort of state.
The boys gave each other looks before going to where Emma had seen inside. The leaking droplets of water and their footsteps are the only audible noises to be swept in this growing silence. Norman and Fang finally stepped in front of the back on the truck.
They wished they haven't done that.
What was inside the back was...
"Aaaa... Aaaa... Aaaa..."
A corpse.
"No..."
It's no doubt.
"It can't be..."
He tried to deny it.
"Please don't let it be...!"
He gripped the sides of his head.
"No...!"
A plant, or some flower to be more specific, implanted itself in the corpse's chest like it sucked the life out of it. The red petals were dyed in a bright colour red almost making it look like blood was seeped out of the corpse.
More specifically,
Conny's corpse.
"Is someone there?" A male voice broke them out of their paralyzed state. They turned to the big metal doors where the voice was coming from.
"Hey, did you hear a voice just now?" He asked to what sounds like to be another person with them.
"It's probably your imagination."
They shouldn't linger around in the open much longer. In the state of panic, they ran to the side of the truck to avoid themselves being detected. Emma made sure to pick up Little Bunny off the ground to hide evidence that they were here.
Another metal door is slowly opening to where they are at. With no other option, they hid underneath the truck as the doors opened completely. They were lucky to have used this truck as a means of hiding in plain sight.
"If it was a stray cat, I would have caught it and ate it."
"You eat things like cats?"
"They're delicious. You never tried eating one before?"
"I prefer something more delicate instead of just raw meat. I can't stand eating meat that is rotten."
Fang's mind is reeling with jumbled thoughts. Just what on earth are they talking? Who are these people? Why is... she in the back of the truck? Curiosity took over as he, Emma and Norman are taking a good look as to who they really are.
They aren't humans.
They don't know what they are looking at. Creatures with long appendages and six fingers, a terrifying long tongue to support the horror factor, their enormous mass of flesh were abnormal even for a monster. Their faces aren't human to begin with. They look like they have masks with two moving eyes placed vertically instead.
Emma and Norman tried their earnest not to to scream in fright. They are seeing them up personally. Those monsters will now make them have nightmares for nights to come.
Fang was used to seeing other hideous creatures back when he wasn't on Earth. He had met lots of weirdly deformed aliens that don't even compare to the monsters he was facing closely. This event, however, is something worth fearing for.
The creature picked up Conny on the back of the truck like she is just an object and stripped her off her clothes to be placed inside of a liquid container. The children underneath fearfully watched their beloved sibling being contained like she is just merchandise.
"They look so delicious! No wonder human meat is the best!"
"Damn! Can't I at least have just a fingertip?"
"You idiot, it's valuable merchandise. It's not something from the likes of us can have. All of the human flesh produced on this farm are high-quality meat intended for the rich."
They can't believe what they are hearing. They are food waiting to be picked off one-by-one by these demonic creatures. So all the time they have spent was just that they are waiting for their imminent demise like Conny had.
This isn't an orphanage. This is a farm.
"Where's Mama?" Emma whispered as lowly as she can, but the fear in her voice makes her squeak.
Norman shushed her, afraid that they might hear her. Fang holds her shaking hand with his hand to assure her that she is fine. Emma looked a little calm but the fear is still there residing with her.
This is one of those moments wherein Fang wished he had his shadow powers in case things went south. He'll have to speed up his investigation to find his power watch immediately and escape this place.
A third demon appeared. This one looked more superior than the ones they've just seen. This demon has a hat sitting on his head.
"Is the Gupna done?" The tall demon asked while holding up of what looks like a document in his hand.
"It's mostly done, sir." One of the demons replied.
"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."
Then the demon looks to one more person beside him.
"Isabella."
"Yes?"
It's as Fang suspected and feared for all along. Their Mama is working with the demons behind their backs all this time.
"Make the preparations to pluck these three with full scores." The demon ordered.
"Understood." Isabella answered like a minion.
"Regarding the one you have been talking about. It looks like the boy's shipment will be pushed behind to these three with full scores. Judging from this score, it seems that it is indeed a higher quality like these three children. Have this boy ready by the time those three are finished." The demon ended.
Fang clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists. They think that they can get ahold of him and his friends?
"Understood. You have my word." Isabella bowed.
Fang looked back towards Emma and Norman. One looking terrified while the other tried his very best to be rational and calm but failing.
"Guys, c'mon! We gotta get out of here now!" Fang whispered enough for them to hear.
"Wait, I smell something."
The demon in a hat walked to the truck to where the smell is. He wasn't sure where but it was around in this one somewhere. His eyes were going all over the place until they stopped to where he finally located the source.
Underneath.
Finally, he crouched down to find to what that smell is. To his disappointment, he only found just a plush doll under the truck. He can only assume it belonged to the child inside of the container right here.
Question is; how did it end up there?
It felt like air is leaving their bodies as soon as they managed to escape from that nightmarish event. They ran all the way to the open field as fast as their legs can carry. Emma was the first to trip and fell down from her wobbly running with Norman and Fang on the front.
"Emma...!" Norman stopped in his tracks with his hands planted on his knees. He was exhausted as the adrenaline left him which made him even more tired compared to when they play tag.
"This place..." Fang gasped for air. He expected this place something off in the first place, but for it to be a place for mass producing merchandise such as them? It's sickening.
Emma panted heavily. Her mind is heavy with all the things she had experienced not too long ago. From seeing Conny's untimely death to witnessing horrid creatures she had never seen before.
"Is... this a farm...? Are we all... food? No. It can't be... Everyone found their foster homes. And Mama... It was the usual, kind Mama, right? We were mistaken! That girl wasn't Conny, right?!"
What they should answer was yes. They would say that it wasn't Conny and that it was just some other girl who resembled her.
But looking at it this way, no matter how many times they tried to deny this harsh truth, this harsh reality that hit them, it was in fact the truest realization they had experienced.
Norman gulped after he regained his lost breath. "That was... Conny."
They had to face it. If they can't, then their fates will end up being the same as Conny's.
"It's not true... It's not true!" She turned to Fang for a different answer. "You agreed with me, right?! That wasn't Conny back there, right?!"
Norman then glanced at Fang. A barrel of mixed emotions were swelling into his face. He could see anger, confusion and sadness. Tears soon fell from his eyes that he didn't even bother to hide it anymore.
"Emma... It was... Conny..." He hiccuped. He never cried this hard before.
Emma soon felt grief overtaking her. She wasn't ready for all of this to happen. She had lost someone very important to her. She saw Mama becoming an enemy to them. All these times they've spent together...
Her uncontrolled sobs were heard as she lets out a scream that echoed throughout the night.
Ray holds up his lantern when he learns that they have returned from their trip to the gates. He soon notices a sudden change in their expressions.
"Welcome back. How did it go?" Ray asked to what has entered his mind.
Emma and Fang didn't feel the need to open their mouth to answer that.
"We didn't make it." Norman answered for them with quivering lips. They've been through for one night.
Ray watched as they went up the stairs in pure silence. Something must have happened to them that put them in such a state.
Questions weighed in their minds as they all entered Emma's bedroom. The other children were all sound asleep. They quietly went to Emma's bed which was very near to the door and sat down. Norman sat on the side as he gives Emma space of her own while Fang leans on the tabletop.
"Were we raised just to be eaten by something?" Emma asked the most concerning question.
"It looks like it. This place is a farm. I suspected it as much from the very beginning." Fang spoke.
"You knew?" Emma listened to what he said.
"Of course. I just had a bad feeling that this place is not what I thought it was at first. It all started when I first had a talk with Mama." He told her the truth.
"Emma, Fang, let's escape here. We have to leave this place." Norman said a bit traumatized from the earlier event.
"I know we can do it. You, me, Fang and Ray. If it's the four of us, then surely..."
"It might be impossible." Emma assumed the worse while crying. "I can't just leave them here. Otherwise they'll definitely get shipped out and killed. I don't want anymore of my family to die."
Seeing her cry like that is just hurting Norman and Fang. The latter was affected the most. He just lost someone who is like his kin. He swore to himself that he will make them pay for whoever harmed Conny.
And that had happened. An unexpected turn of events was all because he knew that this place is bad and he didn't do anything about it.
It's decided. He'll make sure to keep everyone here alive and plan to escape this house-no-this farm as fast as possible. He hadn't given up on his search for his missing power watch just yet. He should really start going for Isabella's office as soon as he is ready.
But for right now, he should at least give Emma some comfort. He slid down next to her and sat beside her. Norman followed suit and placed a lone hand on her shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze.
"No, Emma. It's not impossible." Fang said, gaining her attention. "If we want to get out of here, it's best we work together and plan an escape plan."
"I agree." Norman nodded. "It'll be okay, Emma. Let's run away. Together, with everyone."
She looked unconvinced by all of this. "B-But how? How will us kids run away from those monsters?"
There was a pause between them. Neither of the two had anything that comes to mind.
"Don't worry."
He broke them out of their train of thought.
"I'll get us out of this, somehow. I just need your cooperation in helping me find my watch. It will be the lead in getting us out with everyone." Fang spoke with confidence brooding in his voice.
"Sure, but, what does a watch have to do in leading us to the outside?"
The bespectacled boy adjusts his glasses. "It's more than just a watch, Norman. I'll show you once we find it."
Both of them had confused stares but chose to believe him anyways. If what he says is true and that his watch can ultimately save them, then it will be a relief to know.
"Also, we should be thinking of a new plan in case we didn't find my watch anywhere in this House. And what better method than to use is strategy." Fang told them.
Then it hit Emma. She remembered their talk about strategy. "Strategy. Of course! It's like when we play a game of tag!"
"That's right." Norman smiled for the first time after the incident. "We'll find a way for all of us to survive."
Unbeknownst to them, Ray was seen eavesdropping on their conversation. It sounds like that they've know what he knows already. He'll have a talk with them in the morning. He left before they will know that he was there spying on them.
"Anyways, it's getting pretty late. We might as well turn ourselves in and head for bed. We don't Mama to think that we were staying up all night." Norman stands up and goes to the door. "C'mon Fang. We'll let Emma have her sleep."
"I'll be there with you." It was his turn to stand up as well not before fixated Emma a soft and comforting look.
"Just leave it to us, Emma. We'll make it out of here eventually. We just have to believe that we can do this."
The last thing he saw was a blur of orange going past his eyes and felt his body being succumbed to the tight embrace of the antenna girl who suddenly leapt herself at him. Emma wept her leaking tears out from her lime green eyes as she is letting it all out while her arms were encircling his body.
"Thank you... Thank you..."
Norman smiled at this scene. He was glad that they have become closer than they ever was before. This act right here had solidified their true friendship and he couldn't be more than to be happy for it to happen.
As much as he doesn't want to and never wanted to admit it, but he had to thank for the earlier traumatic event that helped them become like this.
Meanwhile, at the gates stood a lone Isabella. She had finished her briefing with the demons and was on her way back to the House. When something was given to her by the demon with the hat, she gasped as she recognize this object somewhere.
It belonged to none other than the deceased girl contained in the liquid container.
Which brings her another interesting thought in mind. She never seen Conny bringing this plush doll before. Her suitcase was littered with her clothes and was always closed before her fate was eventually met.
There is only one logical explanation for this mysterious plush doll to appear under the huge vehicle.
Someone had been here, watching and listening to them converse the whole time.
But who?
"This is troublesome."
Done!
I'm so happy I finally got this part done. I was put off from writing but thankfully I had time to finish the rest of it.
Thank you all for reading and as always, I'll see you all in the next chapter!
See ya~