Sacrifice (TPN)

Growing Suspicion

Emma pov

It had seemed like a normal day for us. A rare peace settling over us. We had enough food to get us through today and tomorrow thanks to Lani and Thoma. 

Everything seemed fine. Until a demon decided to show up. This demon wasn't the one  that had been visiting the temple. They looked young, meaning their senses were sharper. Meaning they had a higher chance of discovering us.

"Hello!" 

That voice.... I know that voice. 

"Is anyone in here?"

His head suddenly snapped to his right, where I noticed a little movement. Shit. He saw that. As he came closer to where one of my siblings were hiding, I tensed. We haven't thought of a plan if a demon actually sees us. 

"Jemima...." I heard the demon whisper softly. How did he know her name? 

I tackled him hard, knocking him to the ground. "Run, Jemima!" I shouted. But she didn't. She just stood there, ashen faced. I look down.

A demon mask lay discarded by us. This demon was actually a human. 

"Ray!" She shouted, hugging him. I quickly get off him and drink in every detail.

The other kids came out, shock turning into bliss as they gathered around their lost brother. I can't believe my eyes! It's Ray. The Ray I thought had been dead this entire time now right here. 

I run up to him and hug him tightly. "I thought you were dead!" I cried, tears rolling down my cheeks. I felt Ray slowly embrace me in turn. I missed him so much...

Ray pov

"Ray-!" I heard Norman shout, voice breaking as he stood in front of me, locking eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes that looked at him like he was the stars, and oh god had he missed those eyes.

"Norman..." I stand there, and I probably look so dumb. I've finally found them... and I imagined so many times what I would say to them, yet I'm frozen, unable to get any more words out of my mouth.

Time skip

Emma pov

When Norman had asked him how he escaped, his eyes had trailed to the younger kids before saying, "I'd rather not explain here." He had only told us about a few people he had met

As we neared a small building, hidden away from view. I almost overlooked it because of how many plants were growing on it. 

When we reached the building, Ray knocked a rythmatic patter and the door opened. 

A tall boy with no hair and glasses looked at us a little confused. "Who are they?"

"They're my siblings from before Lambda." At this the boy smiled a little and gestured us to go inside. I wonder what's Lambda.

I had just realized how gruff Ray's voice was. Even though it had been a little more than a year, he seemed to have changed a lot. He looked.... tired and more emotionless than before.

We are lead into a room with three other people who instantly stop whatever they were doing to stare at them.

"Don't worry, everyone. They are Ray's friends from Gracefield." Vincent explained. I look over at Norman, but he's staring at Ray. 

"So..... uhm. Would you mind explaining?" I ask, breaking the akward tension.

I'm met with his monochrome eyes before I hear a response. "Alright."

"So basically, instead of being killed for demon food, they sent me to another house where they expiriment on kids. I broke out with the help of Vincent, rescued the others and we ran away."

Me and Norman were a shocked. I mean, a farm that experiments on kids?

"And by the way, you might wanna hide your tracks a little better."He adds, casually sipping on water. Now I know why he didn't want the other kids to know. It seems like he has a habit of underestimating people.

"Now. We already have a plan for the whole demon situation, and it would work smoother if you were to help us." So business like. Stiff. Like all remaining hope and emotion was drained from him.

"Alright then. Lay it on us."