Sacrifice (TPN)

Broken Promises

Ray pov:

"Ray, what did you do?" Ray knew Norman would catch on quickly. He was probably suspicious of the canceled shipment from the start.

Ray took a deep breath before talking. "I convinced Mama to ship me out instead." He glanced up, Norman looked angry- no, it wasn't anger, but despair.

"What we're you thinking?" Norman cried. Ray knew that for him, it was harder to see friend walk into their death than dying himself. He was just that kind of selfless person.

"You are more important to this escape plan." He couldn't let Norman die. The night Emma and Norman discovered the truth, Ray had sworn they would escape before he saw any other of his siblings being shipped off. 

He promised a lot of things in his life. A lot he couldn't keep. But he had to keep this promise for Norman.

"Ray..." Emma trailed off, and Ray felt horrible for killing the mood and making his siblings' happiness so short lived. 

Suddenly, warm arms were wrapped around him. Ray could feel the white haired boy trembling as they hugged.

"I'm sorry."

Time skip

Norman pov:

I couldn't believe it. I still can't. Ray stands beside Mama in the black suit provided, with that stupid hat and brown briefcase. The younger kids were saying their goodbyes, smiles still present on their faces. If only they knew...

Gilda and Don look nervous, and Emma won't even look at him. Her head facing the ground, I knew she had tears in her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as they tightly gripped her crutches. I can't bring myself to say goodbye. Was this what he felt like every time one of their siblings were shipped? The gut-wrenching guilt? The agonizing helplessness?

"Goodbye, everyone." And Ray sounded so casual. Like he wasn't about to die. My eyes were tearing up, but I couldn't cry in front of the kids. 

And then he was gone. That was the last time I would I ever see him again...

I went to the bedroom, streams of tears running down my face at this point. I have to stop crying. Crying isn't going to help our situation, nor bring back Ray.....

If I could change the plan I had written down for Emma and Ray, then we could still pull this off! I can't cry now. I'll escape for him. I can't let his sacrifice go to waste.

Ray pov:

You'd think somebody would be more scared walking to their own death. If anything, Ray was disappointed. He was disappointed he couldn't keep his promise. About two years ago, he had promised he would never let himself be killed for food. He would go down without being eaten, even if it mean't suicide. 

As the gates lifted with a painful crreeekkk, he knew this was the end. All the promises he has yet to fulfill. He failed his family. He failed Norman and Emma. He hoped they could get over him and move on before someone else gets shipped. 

'Smile for me.... Emma. Don't miss me too much, Norman.' He thought, hoping it would reach them. 

He and Isabella walked through. There was no escape now for him, this was his end. Isabella lead him to a room. As she opened it, Ray saw a man inside. He had formal light clothing on. He had blonde hair to his shoulders and sharp yellow eyes. 

"Hello there. I was expecting someone else here today, but you will do." At this, Ray narrowed his eyes.

 He didn't know the specific method they used when killing merchandise, but he had strange feeling this wasn't the end.