Red Flowers - TPN

-13-

Eyes everywhere

The atmosphere was tense. Norman was the first one to move as he stood up. Emma continued looking down and I looked over at her. Her fists were clenched and her knuckles were white.

"Did I...not have faith in them? W-was I wrong?" Emma asked and my heart felt like it shattered. I clenched my fists and walked over to her. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed my hands through her orange hair before I said.

"No, you had faith in them, all you wanted to do was keep them from pain and not make them suffer. It may have backfired in a way but how about we go out there and find them to clarify things, okay?" I say breaking the hug and looking at Emma with a soft smile. She nodded and smiled back. She grabbed a lantern and darted out the door. Norman followed behind her at a slow walking pace. I turned to Ray instead of following right away.

"Don hit you pretty hard didn't he. Glad to know he can throw a punch." I say chuckling lightly. I reach my hand up and go to touch it lightly but as soon as I touched it he winced and pulled away. I pouted slightly, it was obviously going to bruise and I had no idea how we were going to explain that to Isabella.

"At least he didn't hit you." Ray said crossing his arms. I roll my eyes and grab his hand before pulling him outside to talk to them. We see them bowing in apology outside asking for forgiveness and Ray pouts slightly unsure about whether or not he should. I grumble and elbow him in the side signaling for him to say something.

"Yeah we forgive you, if the worst happens we'll figure out how to deal with it." At this Don's eyes widened and he had a smile on his face while he held his hands up hopefully. "I should also apologize for the other things I did, sorry."

"I'm also sorry for lying about knowing nothing." I apologized.

I smiled glad that he apologized I ruffled his hair signaling good job and he swatted my hand away grumbling before looking away. I smiled at his reaction and laced his hair flat again before he made a fuss.

"Now that you two know the truth, I need to confirm something before we continue." i say looking at Don and Gilda seriously and they stood up straighter, "The outside world is overrun with demons and if we mess up, we die. Knowing that will you still escape with them?" I say and they look worried and look to each other for reassurance before answering.

"of course we will!" They said in unison and Emma sighed in relief before a smile set on her face. She grabbed Gilda's hands and thanked her with a large smile on her face. I felt eyes on us and I turned around a few seconds before Ray only to find nothing there. There was an ominous feeling from over by the stairs I couldn't shake.

~the next day~

I was watching the kids out in the yard a large smile plastered on my face. Ray was helping me as I picked up kids and swung them around. Giggle's escaped Anna's lips. I turned to Ray smiling genuinely this time and he smiled back.

"The escape is coming up..." I said under my breath only loud enough for him to hear. He nodded and I was thrown Into my thoughts. It was so close, way closer than we planned originally. I was only hoping the date we chose would work out conveniently. We were planning to do it during the night. What I had planned, no one was to know about.

Don and Gilda headed inside right after Emma and Norman. I wanted to listen in on Emma and Norman's conversation but I couldn't risk Isabella seeing me with them too often. After all Ray and I were going to stall mom for the investigation soon. Speaking of that, I checked the time and went inside leaving Sister Krone to watch the kids. I made my way with Ray through the winding house until we reached Isabella's office. I knocked on the door and she let us in.