Chapter 2: Crumble

2047 - The Paradise Hideout

About an hour later:

Emma sat on the couch in Norman's office dressed in fresh clothing, cup of tea between her hands, Norman's jacket wrapped around her shoulders. She sat in silence staring at the ground, when the sound of the door opening caused her to perk up and look in that direction. Norman. Asking a question with her eyes, Norman simply shook his head "no", and she resumed looking at the floor. He came over to sit on the table opposite her.

"How long have I been gone, Norman?" She asked without raising her head.

"17 days, I believe." He replied, but there was no 'I believe' about it. He had been counting the seconds since she left. Immediately, the implication of what he'd said struck him: "Wait. Last time, you were gone for only a day, but you said you had been walking for years… How long were you in there this time?"

"I lost track. It was hard to keep track, really." It was as though she were looking through the floor, not at it. "I never got hungry, or thirsty, or sleepy, so there wasn't really any way to gauge it. It's all a little hazy. I do know I caught my reflection shortly before I came back." She paused briefly. "All my hair was gray."

"How did you make it back out?"

"I couldn't do anything, Norman!" She started sobbing again, ignoring his question. Norman was quickly at her side, placing her cup on the table, and wrapping his arm around her. The Emma he knew: the always chipper, upbeat, determined girl was nowhere to be found. "I looked everywhere for him. I have ended up back at this hideout hundreds of times, but every time I reached out to touch one of you, it would all disappear."

Ah, that's what that was about.

"Over and over and over." Her voice got less and less coherent.

"In the end, I couldn't take it anymore. I just laid down, and waited to die. I don't even know how I ended up here. I-" She was unable to speak anymore and finally crumbled, laying her head against Norman.

"It's okay. You're okay. You're back. We don't have to talk about it anymore."

It seemed as though he was just crying with her for a while (and he was), but in his head, his thoughts raced at the speed of light. They ended up settling on one thing:

If Ray had remained stuck in that other world, and Emma had spent enough time there to live an entire life and die, even after waiting several days before leaving… Ray is likely already gone.

He would have to decide how to move forward without Ray. But for now, he stayed by her side, comforting her for quite some time.

2 days later:

"Still nothing, I assume?" Said Norman to Cislo, who had just arrived back in his office.

"Afraid not, boss. Not even a single footprint."

It was essentially the worst case scenario now. Not only had Don and Gilda still not returned, but there was no sign of anyone from their team, or the two evil-blooded either. Oliver, Violet, and Zach had been sent with them, and the team had departed a little more than two weeks ago. Norman rested his hand under his chin, deep in thought. The two remained silent for an uncomfortable amount of time before Norman spoke again.

"Well, that is definitely unfortunate" He half-chuckled, trying to hide just how unnerved and upset he was in the moment. "I think the only real plan we have at this point is activating the promise. I had hoped to eradicate them completely, but I suppose starving them till they devolve works just as well."

"Are you sure that's the only way? What about the evil-blooded? They won't devolve."

"I'd say it's the only way, yes. There's little we can do about the evil-blooded at this point if we can't find them and kill them. We also lack the firepower to handle an all out assault at this point too, so that's completely out of the picture. We're down to one option: just escape and hope that everything turns out beneficially for us in the long run."

"What are we going to do about the other farms? What about everyone that is still missing?"

"Actually, we factored a small contingency plan into the promise itself."

Cislo just knew the badass Norman he remembered was back, about to jump into one of his classic 'I actually planned for this all along' explanations.

"Should we really be in dire straits, as long as at least one of us can get to Grace Field and- Actually, it probably has to be Emma. As long as Emma can put the promise into effect, all the children from all the farms in this world should be immediately taken with us. That includes Ray, Don, Gilda, and everyone else." He paused, his smile he gets when explaining his plans fading away. "That is, assuming they are still alive."

The two didn't speak for a moment.

"How is she doing?"

"I don't think she's been out of bed yet. I know the others brought her food this morning but she refused and said she wasn't hungry."

"And you, boss?"

"I'll manage, please don't worry about me."

While Norman said that, in truth, he was really struggling. He'd never not been anything other than vigilant and optimistic, but everything he had been through up to this point had obviously started to wear on him. I'll get through this, and sort myself out later.

Knock, knock, knock

"Norman?"

Speak of the devil.

"Yes? Come in."

Emma walked in, closing the door gently behind her. The group was silent for a beat or two.

"I'll give you two a moment." Cislo said, reading the room. Norman gave him a small nod of gratitude and waited for the door to close before he spoke.

"How are you feeling, Emma?"

"Terrible-" She said looking at the floor "-But feeling terrible doesn't get anything done."

There you are. I knew you were still in there somewhere.

"Have you eaten anything? Is there anything that I can get for you?"

"No, thank you. Anna brought me something to eat a few minutes ago." She smiled, clearly forcing herself, but still the happiest she had looked since coming back. "Actually, I came to see how I can help. How is everything going? Have you heard from Don and Gilda?"

Norman froze.

No. I can't. There's no way I can tell her. Not when she's just starting to become herself again. It'll devastate her. Even though there isn't proof one way or the other if they're alive, it doesn't look good.

Norman forced himself to smile, shaking his head nonchalantly

"Not for a few days." He lowered his head slightly, scratching the back of his neck. "They didn't find them in the initial location, so they're off searching somewhere else."

Emma's smile faded.

"You know, Norman, we've been friends since we were little. I know you really, really well." Emma continued, flatly "You don't have to lie to try and protect me. I can handle the truth… Have you heard from them?"

Shit, busted. He thought to himself. Can she, though? Norman let out a long sigh.

"Not since they left, no. That was a couple days after you went back to look for Ray." He said, finally resigning himself to tell the truth. "Cislo had just come back from searching for them. He took a horse and scoured the entire sector they were sent to, and said that he didn't even find any footprints." Norman stopped to check her reaction.

"So that just means we have to go back to look for them!"

"But Cislo-"

"I know, I know, and I'm not doubting his skills at all. All I'm saying is an extra set of eyes couldn't hurt." Her smile seemed genuine now, like she was getting back her can-do attitude. "I'll go look for them."

"I can't let you do that Emma." Norman stood up from his desk as he spoke. We're running low on people here as it is. If something happens here, we need every competent marksman we have. Plus, you may be the only one who can activate the promise. I need you here."

"You said that last time, Norman," Emma said comfortingly. "But everything was fine here without me."

"Last time was different though." Norman stepped forward and took Emma's hands in his. "I-" he blushed slightly and darted his eyes away for a moment before continuing "We almost lost you. I'm not letting you out of my sight again."

"Norman…"

"I'm not bending on this" He chuckled, throwing her words from so long ago back at her. Though admittedly, she had said that to Ray and not him. "If we have to search for them, we'll send someone else. You're too important to me. I couldn't stand it if you left me again-" Norman stopped abruptly, realizing not just the words he said, but the tone in which he had said them. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Emma's vibrant emerald eyes seemed to sparkle as the two looked at each other, hand in hand.

They had been through so much turmoil all throughout their lives, but their journey together was only just beginning:

At that moment, the unmistakable sound of gunfire rang out through The Paradise Hideout.