𝐀 𝐊𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 ── ( ray )

Chapter 8: Bait

Currently, it's... Thursday, November 2nd. 6 days until the escape.

The younger children giggled as they pranced in the open fields, hand in hand. 

'Flash!' Ray had captured the scene with his new camera. The ravenette had been going around taking pictures ever since he'd gotten the camera, and his mind was surprisingly not thinking about the escape, for the first time in a while.

The photograph slid down the small slit of the camera with a soft buzz, the black haired male took the piece of paper and fanned it around, in hopes of having the result faster.

Footsteps came his way, and he turned to be met with Norman, Emma, Don, Gilda and Y/n.

"Let's go over the plan." he announced, walking towards them, "After lunch, when it's free time, I will keep Mama occupied. Norman and Emma will climb the wall and carry out the investigation. Don and Gilda will be stationed outside, in a place where they can see the south facing windows of the second floor. Finally, Y/n, you'll be inside the playroom with the toddlers, so that you can alert Don and Gilda if something unexpected were to happen."

(The playroom was the room beside Sister Krone's room.)

Y/n saluted, trying to look professional, but failed horribly due to her sweater paws.

"If by some chance I am unable to distract Mama, I'll signal you three." Ray went on, referring to the 10 year olds, "You will inform Norman and Emma to cease the investigation and return to grounds instantly.

"It's likely that Mama is suspicious. It didn't seem like she figured it out yet, but we can't be too optimistic either. There's always the possibility that she won't take my bait."

Don's lower lip trembled, "A-and if that happens, we have to give up on the investigation?"

"Correct," the ravenette answered, twirling around a bucket, "For the time being anyway." He pointed at the four, sternly asking, "Everyone understands, right? If we appear too out of control, then it's all over. Mama's goal is an on-time shipment."

His gaze flickered to Norman, Emma and Y/n. His eyes lingered on Y/n a moment longer before adding, "... particularly the four of us who has full scores. She's spent this long nurturing us, us escaping before the process is complete is not something she will accept. As long as it's something that she can control, then she'd definitely want to keep it under her absolute rule, and she is confident in her capability of doing so.

"That's just who Isabella is."

Don and Gilda had started sweating profusely at what the 11 year old male had told them. "We can seem suspicious and untrustworthy, but it's also best to appear controllable to her at the same time. Fortunately, there aren't any scheduled shipments for the next month. If anything happens, we have to stop the investigation for the time being, but we'll have time, as long as we keep our guard up and pretend that we can be controlled, even if it's just an act.

"Got it?" he shot a look at Gilda and Don, to which they nodded firmly.

"You're being so strict today..." Y/n yawned as she stretched. The forest-green eyed male rolled his eyes, "It's for the sake of the investigation." He flicked her forehead, "Weirdo."

"Ow..." she mumbled, glaring after Ray. "Hey, you guys," Norman called out, "We need to talk to you." Emma stood by him, nodding.

『••✎••』

"What?!"

"No way..."

"Sister found out that we can break the trackers?!" Ray repeated, looking bewildered. The albino nodded as a response, saying, "We did get information out of her, but we slipped up, so I want to move up the escape day. When will you be able to destroy the transmitters?"