𝐀 𝐊𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 ── ( ray )

Chapter 14: A New Enviroment

Morning came, but the smoke that trailed from the burned down Plantation 3 lingered in the air.

[We cannot find them. We suspect they are already outside the farm.] said a stern voice through the speakers. Grandma gritted her teeth as anger surged up from inside her, "Six low grade, three average, two good, two fine, and three highest grade!! A total of sixteen of them, what a tremendous loss... And what a blunder, 73584!!"

This scolding was directed to Isabella, who stood in front of Grandma, unwavering. Grandma clenched her fists, a muscle going in her forehead, "How did this happen? This isn't like you. How could this... You are... You should have..."

"No."

Grandma snapped her head up at Isabella's firm reply, her eyes nearly popping with rage. The black haired woman said, "I take full responsibility."

The leader of demons at the headquarters stood round a map, "We confirmed footsteps along the north-eastern bank. Send a party after them at once!! And notify anyone in the vicinity. We've had a highest-grade product escape. The highest-grade of our top farm.

"Whoever can capture them alive... or even dead, will be rewarded handsomely."

『••✎••』

Her emerald green eyes were directed to the compass, checking to see if they were on the right path, and once reassured, Emma looked backwards, gesturing for the others to hurry.

They were in a forest, in a forest much bigger and taller than the woods they have had back at the House. The refreshing chirping and tweeting of birds echoed round the silent forest, bringing a light, fresh feeling to the escapees.

"It's so big..." awed Don, who was staring up at the gigantic trees, his eyes wide.

Chris had eyes as wide as saucer plates as he glanced around.

Everyone else was amazed as well, it was hard not to, this was their first time outside, and their... 'home' from now on. Y/n had used up most of the energy she had piled up for last night, and she was now tired, as usual. Ray, although ecstatic, is still cautious for anything out of the ordinary. But he kept his pace, as they had children with them, also because Y/n was tagging beside him.

Y/n had put on her cat mask too, the mask had a string to help the user wear it, and she had put it on, moving the mask to the side of her head so she could see easier.

"This place is... quite extraodinary." muttered Ray, scanning his surroundings.

"Yea... sure is." smiled Y/n, a butterfly landed on her finger.

They didn't have many animals back at the House. She'd never seen a cat, a dog or anything too big. All they ever saw were birds from afar and butterflies.

"Hey, Ray," Y/n started as they followed the others through to lush trees, "Are you glad we're officially called escapees now?"

He chuckled lightly, "Well, if it means we're free, alive and well... then yeah. I am glad." Y/n grinned at his response. "And I never knew you had that mask." Ray added, pointing at the cat mask. She reached up on instinct, smiling, "Oh... I've had it for a while. Pretty, isn't it?"

He nodded, "It is. Oh, we should hurry up, we're getting be -"

'Shaaaaa...'

The two whirled around, that wasn't a sound you'd hear near nature... Was it something, or someone, who had somehow found out their whereabouts?

They turned to look at each other, and with one glance of each other's cautious expression, they knew the other had heard it too. Y/n gulped, she lowered her voice to an audible whisper, "You don't think... that demons can shapeshift into tiny creatures to follow us, do you?" Ray looked doubtful, but he was still apprehensive.