𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓁𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓅𝑜𝓅𝓈 ~ 𝓇𝒶𝓎 𝓍 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

Staring

—♡︎—
"Must just be one hell of an unlucky sheep"
—♡︎—

"Great now that we know we can leave all the mechanics to Ray, there's still one issue." I say, placing my hands on my hips.
"Mhm, we've gotta figure out how to take everyone outside with us." Norman agrees.
I grimace at the idea. Not particularly what I had in mind but I guess it can't be helped. I look over to Emma, who either doesn't notice my staring or chooses to ignore me.
"The problem with that is that everyone completely trusts mama." Norman continues, "I also don't think they'd be able to handle the truth."
Emma pouts, fidgeting with the dodge ball in her hands from earlier.
"So do you think we're gonna have to lie to them to be able to take them outside?" She asked.
I keep my mouth shut while looking around at the four of us. The amount of food and clothing we'd be able to carry while running will be limited. There's no chance in hell this plan would work with more then 6 people.
But, if she thinks we can escape with everyone then so be it. I'll just have to shape the situation from the sidelines. Whether she knows it or not.

"There's also the problem of insufficient abilities," says Ray, "in short, they're a hindrance"
"Ray!" Emma exclaims.
I pause for a minute, "He has a point Emma." I say.
Ray nods, "you've gotta admit that some of the kids aren't as good in physical activity,"
I let a small 'mhm' slip my lips, "and we have babies who can barely walk, let alone run."
I looks at Emma with a questioning gaze, almost as if I was waiting for her to surprise us with a plan like she always does. As if on cue, her eyes sparkle and she offers us her usual determined smile.
"I have an idea for that too."
"Alright, cool, what is it?" I ask, slightly shifting my weight to lean on my left leg.
Her smile seems to grow wider and she seems to be becoming  more set on this plan by every passing second.
"Playing tag"

We now sat on the floor as Emma explains her plan to us. We listen intently, as crazy as her plans seem a lot of the time, we'd be idiots to not listen to her.
"We'll pretend we're just playing when we'll actually be training, that way mom won't suspect a thing." Emma says, "I'll teach them the physical part! As for how to use their brains..."
Norman and Ray speak up, "leave it to us."
Emma nods, "you should play more (Y/n)! You could teach them a lot!"
I chuckle, "I'll drop by, I just wanna get something done first. But I trust you guys to train them well"
Ray shoots me a look. I stare down at my feet before looking straight ahead towards Emma, avoiding eye contact.
Emma pouts before getting up and dusting off her skirt, "what will you be doing anyway?"
I laugh.
Getting the devil off our backs.

—

I watch Emma come back from the forest with Norman. I honestly hadn't expected the kids to like this new version of tag as much as they are. But what can I say.
Ray stayed in the comfort of the shade under the tree, offering advice to the kids once they've lost to Norman once again.
They'd already played multiple rounds of this and it seems as if more and more kids are surviving longer against Norman every time.
But then again, Norman isn't a monster.

"What's on your mind, (Y/n)?" I hear a voice ask from beside me.
I look up at the source of noise and see mama.
Ive been helping her with the babies, usually Gilda would help out like this, but she's much too busy playing a fun game of tag.
I'd originally been checking the clothes, more specifically the density and material. It's a starting to get cold out and I'd rather if we didn't freeze as soon as we escaped.

Parts of her black hair that have fallen free from her bun frame her face. The wind blowing makes her look almost angelic. The way she looks at me, almost expectedly makes me feel almost obligated to respond.
"Nothing much, Just thinking of a story I've been writing," I respond.
She smiles, a smile that seems so familiar yet so foreign at the same time.
"I'd love for you to recount your stories to the babies once and a while, I'm sure they'd prefer them over the ones we have in the library"
I let out a laugh, "yeah right,"
Her voice is as smooth as honey and I try not to fall victim to her any longer. She's had me wrapped around her finger for ten years, she has that look. The one that knows her grip has become too loose.
"I'm serious! The children's books we have get repetitive quite fast and we don't have all types of genres! Plus, the babies love your company already."
God dammit. She's a veteran at this.
"If I may ask, what is this new story about? You've always been so secretive with that notebook!"
I offer her a shy smile, not trusting myself to say anything remotely ethical.
But hey, if there's one thing I am, it's Emma's sister.

"The story of a shepherd raising a sheep for slaughter. The catch is it's written from the sheeps point of view, so the reader is walked through the book just as the sheep is walked through their life. Clueless until the end."
...
"Not very kid friendly, I know! But I swear it's not my best work!"
There is absolutely no sign of hesitation or surprise in her eyes, in honesty really unsettling.
"No worries! I was a fan of stories like that when I was younger as-well,"
"Oh were you? I wouldn't have guessed."
She laughs, "yes! Although as a child I always wondered, wouldn't the sheep realize something is wrong, think for himself for a change?"
I suck in a quick breath, "I guess so, it must just be one hell of an unlucky sheep"
"Must be"

I take the silence as an opportunity to glance back at everyone else. It looks like everyone's been caught and they're going to be starting a new game soon enough.
I look over at mama once again, "can I-"
"Go ahead"
She gives me a smile before I thank her and start running off towards them. It'd be good to see what progress they've made, and plus, I don't think I'd be able to survive another minute alone with mama after that interaction.

"Anything important happen?"
Ray shakes his head, "I'm not sure how much could actually happen just by playing this, they are getting better if that's what you're wondering."
I nod, "alright alright" I say, sitting down next to him and leaning back again the bark of the tree.
I let out a deep sigh, and close my eyes while laughing, "so what great advice have you been offering the kids, almighty Ray"
He laugh, "you've gotta stop giving me weird nicknames"
I open my eyes as I turn to face him, I get ready to reply with a sarcastic comment but I shut my mouth, much to tired to even try.
Instead I just lean back against the stiff tree, not taking my eyes away from him.
He's looking off into the distance, at the forest probably.
The hair covering part of the left side of his face is slightly tucked behind his ear, making my sight drift over to his eyes.
Eyes that were much more vibrant in this lighting.
Not the usual dark brown, almost black eyes, but dark green ones instead.
"If you keep staring like that you might burn a hole through my head."
I roll my eyes, "with the situation we're in, it wouldn't be the worst thing now would it?" I reply, jokingly.
"Wow, mercy kill? How so very kind of you," he laughs.
My laughing dies down as I allow myself to fall back onto the grass. I pick at the small flowers and grass beside my head before my hands go limp and I end up staring blankly at the forest where I see kids running around.
Even as I was looking directly in front on me, I could still sense the eyes on the back of my head.
I giggle a bit to myself, "who's staring now, huh?"
"Shut up" he laughs.

A/N
Not my best chapter I'll admit-
So it's been a while but like :D
Anywaysssss
Life has been going on, and despite my best efforts, someone I know found this account 😔😔🤚 (they used some serious fbi work too I was like ???)
It's whatever tho-
I'm really conflicted on how I feel about this chapter so feedback would be greatly appreciated
And as always,
Make sure to get a drink of water, a snack because your body need nutrients and remember I am so proud wof you for everything and anything you've accomplished <3
Xx
-author
03/4/2022
1528 words