𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓁𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓅𝑜𝓅𝓈 ~ 𝓇𝒶𝓎 𝓍 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

Sir William Minerva

—♡︎—
"We make a pretty damn good team!"
—♡︎—

'When you're born in a burning house, you think the whole world is burning'.
I've found that quote a couple of times while re reading some book that has since been taken out of the library. The words have never stuck with me until now, but now that they have it's been in a much more complicated manner.
We were never born inside of a burning house, no. The house was rather cool. What lies beyond it was burning, and once you know that the world is not the same as the house, the house starts to morph.
The house becoming hot and humid, but not burning. Nothing in the house changed, yet it's becoming more unbearable as time goes on.
If nothing inside of the house changed, then what did? Are we the flame that creates tension? Are we the reason for the burning house?
As more and more questions fill my mind, I realize. The whole world has always been on fire. The house, the gate, the fence.
That's the conclusion I came to while Ray was explaining his deal with mama and Norman.
The world is on fire. We just have to work towards not being the spark that enrages the flames.

I've only just now realized how hot the house was. Still, it wasn't burning, it was livable, bearable, but definitely not cool.
Ray made the active decision last night to tell me about his agreement with Norman. The guilt of knowing and keeping it away from emma has been eating away at my insides as if it were trying to leave me empty.
Which at this point I wish it would, the ability to tell her is sitting right in front of me.
But I won't.
Why not? Shes my sister, she has been there with me since before I could even speak a full sentence.
It could be for purely selfish reason, I don't want to escape with all the kids. I believe that they're burdens regardless of the excessive amount of training. It's harsh but the reality is that we'd get killed with so many babies and toddlers.
Maybe that's why I've failed to tell her. And why I probably won't.
I don't care if she'd never forgive me as long as she's alive.

"So? Anything happen with the ropes? Do you know who the traitor is yet?" Questioned Emma, effectively breaking me away from my thoughts.
My eyes slightly widen at the realization that we haven't told her about Ray being the traitor. I look over at Norman and I honestly can't wait to see how he handles this.
Norman nervously chuckles, "well, about that.." he starts.
"Oh yea, I'm the one who's been leaking info to mom by the way." Says Ray out of the blue.
We all abruptly turn our heads towards him, Norman and I staring in total disbelief.
I turn my gaze back to Emma, who takes a couple of seconds to process what she's been told.
"It was you all along?!" She exclaims.
She sighs, "sorry for that reaction but I'm so confused."
"I'll explain!" Volunteers Norman immediately.
He proceeds to explain everything to Emma as Ray and I sit idly by, only now realizing how much this is to take in.

"You know I'm kinda jealous, how come we had to do research and gather info from over the last six years when you could've just told us straight up like this." I whine to Ray in a joking manner.
He shrugs and I swear I can see slight amusement in his eyes, "well it's fun when you have to play detective, I don't really get any kicks from patronizing Emma."
I laugh and elbow him lightly in the arm, "If you don't get any kicks out of it why do you tease her so much? Hmmmm?"
"It's not the same you dumbass!" he whisper-yelled.

Norman finishes his explanations as the ginger looks at us. Ray and I quiet down immediately, not daring to speak another word but still kicking each other's ankles.
"So all this time you were working as her subordinate for our sake?" She asked.
"Yep, I was going to tell you guys when you came back from the gate that night. But you left little bunny behind, you also went crazy about wanting to escape with everyone, and other complications." Ray confesses.
I can see Emma's eye twitching as Norman totally avoids anyones face by staring at the floor.
My mouth hangs open as my eyebrows knit together. To imagine one simple mistake costed us the delay of knowing about Rays' betrayal is pretty surreal.
He continues, "plus mom found out, so I had to manage the situation. Not to mention you guys were being reckless as ever. That's why I figured I should keep quiet and get everything under control"
Emma nods, "so you were just covering for our mistake.. but you still don't want to escape with all the kids."
I look at ray, wondering what his response would be. Silently hoping that he wouldn't say anything at all as to not rub more salt into the wound Emma doesn't know is there.
He shakes his head, "Nope, I had a change of heart. I'm gonna help you escape with all the kids."
I cant help but look down at the dirt below me, finding odd shapes in the small patches of grass.
"That's... unlike you."
"You think he's lying?" Asked Norman.
I look back up at the situation in front of me, conflicted with how to feel. I don't want to keep anything from Emma, but at the same time I can't stand by helplessly and watch her make suicide plans.
"Nope! In fact I'm happy! Rays gonna help everyone escape. Now we have information from the inside, this is awesome!" She replies happily as I let out an inaudible sigh.
I wanna be as trusting and understanding as her when I grow up.