Birds Of A Feather (Ray x Reader)

Slipping Through My Fingers

YOUR POV:

Last night at supper Mama made the announcement that Norman was being 'adopted.' It was mixed with mixed emotions, some people were happy for Norman despite his 'adoption' being so soon, while others were upset that he was leaving so soon.

But today was a new day, and that day just happened to be Norman's shipment day.

Ray, Emma and I all sat by a tree. Ray read his book while Emma stared up the sky. They both had full confidence in Norman that he'd escape and leave, but I knew he wouldn't. That's not who Norman is.

The recess bell rang as everyone gathered around Mama.

"He's not here!"

"Who?"

"Norman!"

"Mama, Norman is missing."

Mama frowns and looks at her pocket watch, "I'll go find him. Can you all go inside?"

I glanced at Ray and Emma who held a confident air around themselves. They truly did believe that Norman was going to escape, that'd he would follow directions. I couldn't help but frown.

A string of gasps were heard along with a click of Mama's pocket watch getting shut. We all looked to see Norman walking toward us with a smile.

"Norman!" The other kids shouted as they rushed to the boy, "you're back!"

"W-Why..?" Emma shakily asked herself.

"There's no way..!" Gilda gasps.

"Why would he...?" Don adds.

We all went inside for our last supper with Norman. There was an overwhelming sadness from the us older kids about Norman's clear disobedience to the plan. And so, after supper, we stood in the boy's dormitory as Norman got ready for his shipment.

"What the heck were you up too?!" Ray yells, "what was all of that?! Why didn't you run away?!"

"I have no intention of running away."

"I told you guys that he was going to say that," I say, "but you guys didn't want to listen to me."

Norman shakes his head, "there's no time to argue. On the other side of the wall is a cliff. It's not a jumpable height. Sister Krone wasn't lying and the demons didn't take us lightly either." Norman opens his bedside table drawer and pulls out a notepad and pen. He quickly draws a few lines, "I ran atop the wall and found that the wall splits into two. Each one about sixty degrees. Each side of the wall showed the same scenery, and thanks to Ray I wasn't confused."

Norman added more lines and the lines quickly changed into a hexagon. "Each plants are next to each other. There are six total, and we are plant three," Norman then draws a three on one of the halves. "That means headquarters is here," Norman then writes HQ in capital letters. He then draws two smaller lines at the half that is diagonal from plant three, "only this one has a bridge." He sets down the pen and points to the smaller lines, "if you want to escape, the bridge is your best bet."

"Norman!" Phil hollers into the bedroom, "Mama is calling for you!"

Norman smiles at Phil, "let her know I'll be right there!"

Phil runs off as Norman puts his coat on and then shuts his almost empty suitcase. "Oh Ray, here," Norman digs into his pocket and places the homemade taser into the boys hand, "I didn't use it."

Ray's eyes widen in disbelief, "so you were planning on coming back this whole time?! You didn't return just to tell us about the cliff! You could have reported that in hiding!" Ray's voice dropped to barely above a whisper, "w-why..? You said we were going to survive and leave together...but this whole time, you were planning..."

Norman smiles, "yeah. Sorry I lied. I can't risk there being a mistake and nobody else can die. If I had ran away, it would have been harder to escape." Norman grabs his suitcase, "it's pointless to argue. I've already made my decision."

Norman hesitates for a moment before continuing, "I did what I could...and I'm leaving the rest to you." Norman drops his suitcase to the floor as he engulfs the three of us into a hug.

Warm. His hug is warm.

"You guys are so warm," laminated Norman. "Thanks for everything...because of you three, I had a good life."

Why is his hug suddenly slipping?

"I had fun."

Stop it.

"I was always happy."

Stop talking.

"I was fortunate."

Shut up!

"C-Come on Norman, th-there's still time..!" Emma pleads with tears in her eyes.

Norman pulls away as his warmth escapes me. I wanted to reach out and grab him, pull him back into a hug. A ever lasting hug. I didn't want him to leave.

"Goodbye," Norman smiles as he picks up his suitcase and leaves us alone in the bedroom. The door shuts, leaving us in an eerie silence.

"We can't let him go," Emma declares as she gets off the bed, using her crutches to help. "If we don't stop him now, Norman is really gonna die!"

"It's impossible," laminated Ray, "we can't stop him anymore. The demons are probably at the gate, and mom will be watching. A-And Norman himself is prepared to die." Ray covers his face as a tear reveals itself from behind his hands, "he doesn't want to die...I'm sure he's terrified."

"Then that's even more of a reason to stop this!" Emma yells.

"No!" Ray shouts back at Emma, "if we do something stupid, our plans could be leaked to the demons. That would make Norman's death meaningless. We can't do anything...we can't..!"

Emma huffs, "f-fine!" Emma grabs the taser that sits beside Ray on the bed, "if you won't do something, I will!" Emma rushes out the door and slams it shut behind her.

I hear a sharp breath come from Ray. I look at him and frown, "Ray, you can cry. It's okay too."

Ray looks at me as tears slip from his eyes, "how are you not upset? Norman is fixing to die and you aren't even the slightest bit—!"

"I am upset though! But the thing is Ray, I've already come to terms with it all." I say as I stand in front of Ray, his teary dark green eyes staring at me. "I'm so upset about Norman's death, god, it's killing me! But I knew Norman wasn't going to listen, so I've already come to terms with it. Besides, everything happens for a reason."

"How can you stay so positive..?"

I shrug, "I don't know." I look down at my heart locket for a moment. I reach behind my neck and undo the clasp, I then grab Ray's hand and set the locket into it.

"Your locket?" Ray asks.

I sit down beside him and open the locket as he looks at it, "what does this have to—?"

"Those people," I begin as I point to the fuzzy picture, "those people have to mean something to me. I-I don't know who they are but...I was brought here with this locket for a reason. I need to know who these people are Ray...that's why I'm not letting it affect me."

"Y/N, these people may not even exist for all you know."

I nod, "I know...but, what if they are? I have this locket for a reason. You and I knowing the truth this whole time...Norman being shipped out. It's all for a reason." I take a breath and wrap my arms around Ray, pulling him into a hug.

"I know it's hard, but...life moves on."

Ray pushes me away, "that's the problem." Ray then sets the locket onto the bed before standing up, "I-I just...want to be left alone."

I watch Ray leave the bedroom as he shuts the door behind himself.

I laid back on the bed as I stared up at the white ceiling, "good going Y/N."