Breeder

First Timeskip (1)

Third Pov

One year had passed.

Ray, Emma, and Norman are now nine years old. Erica is ten. Connie's birthday had yet to pass- so the small, cute blonde was still stuck at the tender age of four.

Many things had happened.

Over time, the kids became more apt at playing instruments and using musical cryptography coming up with music. They became more tactful and gained more skill in hand-to-hand combat. Lots of the kids became more skilled in small things like sewing, dancing, and general arts. Daily studying/review sessions paired with stamina training disguised as games of tag became harder by day.

Mama Isabella's Premium Farm was thriving.

The Demons were what they ate- by eating humans/livestock, they were able to take on human forms, speech, and whatever skill the human had- even if it was temporary. As a result, barely any of the kids were shipped off since Erica's arrival, caused by the various activities and skills that the kids were beginning to learn. The Demons wanted to make sure that the kids were full-fledged and skilled in whatever they were learning.

No one wanted half-assed dancing skills or the ability to play only one note on an instrument, after all.

They chose to wait- and slow down the rate of shipping- so that upon consumption, they would gain those skills and become a higher member of society.

On the other hand, Norman began to show his affection for Erica a bit more blatantly and openly. Isabella's rule of children not having romantic relationships with each other had been long neglected.

Well, it was more because Isabella couldn't interfere with the relationship between a Breeder and her partner.

Questions and curiosity regarding the power of Erica's strange, unknown status within the Orphanage were always a source of great talk and gossip. The children loved coming up with conspiracy stories regarding Erica's strange position in the hierarchy.

"Erica, are you going to tell us what you really are today?" Emma asked, childish hope and excitement sparkling in her eyes.

"Did everything that you know turn out to be a lie?" Erica questioned back, an amused smirk on her lips.

"No? Nothing changed! What do you mean by that line, anyway?! You've been telling us that since last year!!" Emma whined.

"She'll answer when the time's right, Emma. Asking her every day isn't going to change her answer." Ray commented, flipping the page of the book that he was reading.

"But I wanna know noooooow!!!" Emma groaned.

"One day, Emma. One day." Erica snickered.

"Hmph! I'm going to go play tag."

"Ooh~ Emma's angry!!" Don teased, giving Erica a fake, playful scary face.

"Eh, she'll get over it."

Once the majority of the kids went off to play tag, Ray and Erica sat under their favourite tree together in relative silence.

"I know you know that secret of the House. That's why you're teaching the kids combat. And cryptography, along with the thousand other new stuff that you've brought into the Orphanage." Ray started, eyeing the pages of his book.

"What's your goal? Escape?" He continued.

"Ah, I knew that you were different. I could tell that you were hiding something." Erica grinned.

"So far, I'm the only one that knows the truth about this Orphanage. Or should I call it "farm"?" Ray stated.

"Well, at least one of you knows. That makes my life a lot easier."

"Yeah. I know everything. Now spill. What are you really? How do you know all these things? What exactly is a "partner"? Why do you get special treatment?" Ray interrogated.

"One question at a time, please," Erica commented, making Ray stop.

"I was planning on telling the oldest kids at once, but... I guess you'll do for now. We don't have a lot of time, after all." She continued.

"I know many things and am skilled in many things because my parents taught them to me before I was taken away. I get special treatment because of my status and bloodline. And as for what I am... that question can wait." Erica began answering.

"As you already know, the Farms have many occupations. Mom, caretaker, livestock, guard, harvester... Out of the many, I am one of the most important cogs in the machine. A Breeder."

"Breeder...? Wait, you don't mean-"

"I am what my occupation says I am." Erica cut in, confirming Ray's suspicions.

.

.

.

"I exist solely for making more livestock."

~~~ /// ~~~ \\\ ~~~

Dun

Dun

DUNNNNNNNN

Although it was pretty obvious and I bet that y'all saw this coming from miles away- some of the questions are finally starting to get answered!!"

3/23/2021

2.4 pages, 778 words