The Traveler | The Promised Neverland

Let's live

Ray's group approached, and Mama shushed Emma who was grunting in pain.

"There, there.  It's okay.  It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt.  You poor thing.  My adorable Emma.  That's why I said to give up.  But you haven't hugged me in a while, so that made me happy." Mama looked to the side at Norman and me.

"Norman and Sparrow, you realized it too. That's wonderful." She pulled out a roll of medical tape. "That's right.  I'll control you until the end.  That's how special you are.  A special meal for the special One.  The highest quality children I've ever raised.

"Then..." Norman muttered, trying to stand up but falling over again.

"That's why I have to protect you.  No matter what.  I had to do this because you weren't going to give up." 

Emma, who couldn't hold it in anymore, let out a wail of pain that hurt my heart.  By now I had calmed down because after the crazy rush of feelings I had become numb to it, but even that numbness was bypassed by that noise.  I calmed down quickly once again, getting ahold of myself. 

I then realized something.  The entire time I'd known Emma, Norman, and Ray, I had absolutely cared about them.  I just hadn't noticed until just now, when my feelings were thrust into my face, like a dam suddenly disappearing, leaving the water to flow out uncontrollably.

Mama looked back down at Emma, who had now gotten over her cries.  "You can't move for a while now.  You can welcome tomorrow safely." Mama told her.

"Tomorrow?" Ray asked.  

"Yes, tomorrow. Stay put and celebrate, Emma."  I just then realized that Mama had injured Norman.  I see, so I really did it, I thought, mildly happy with the removal of my worry.  Mama then looked at me.  The next words she said were the ones I had been hoping for.

"I got a notice from the higher-ups.  Congratulations, Sparrow.  Your shipment date has been set.  Someone must really want you because they even overrode my Mama's recommendation." 

I ginned manically.  "Ha, so she really wants me, huh?" I said, my smile growing wider.  To an outsider, it might seem as if I was referring to Mama or Grandma, but in reality, I was referring to the Queen.  

Everyone around me gasped at Mama's words and looked at me in fear.  I just smiled at them.

"Sparrow's... getting shipped?" Ray asked, horrified.  

"Yes, it's been decided that it'll be tomorrow," Mama confirmed.  Ray noticed Emma still grunting in pain.  

"Mama, what happened to Emma's leg?" He asked.

"I made sure it was a clean break, so don't worry," Mama replied.  Don and Gilda gasped. "It'll heal back to normal without any scars. It'll probably take a month or two to completely heal.  I hope it's healed by your birthday, Ray." 

Ray glared at her and grit his teeth.  She looked at me.  "Make sure to give me that bag later," Mama said.  "Well, let's go back home now."

I grabbed the bag quickly, and we all started heading back towards the house.

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I sat in between Emma and Norman, who were both laying down in the infirmary.

"Emma.  Stop frowning like that, it doesn't look good on you.  And Norman, if you scrunch your brows together that hard you'll get wrinkles," I scolded, tapping both of their foreheads.  They looked at me, too scared to speak.  I sighed and grabbed both of their hands.