Don't Leave Me Alone

~8~

⚠️TW: Mentions of killing

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~Norman's POV~

I stared at Ray after my accusation. A smirk was beginning to form on his face. I wished it wasn't a true, but I knew it was.

"What are you talking about? Is something wrong with your head, Norman?"

"You've already realized, haven't you? I set a trap for three people. I told Don that the fake rope was behind my bed, and I told Gilda that the fake rope was in the ceiling of the bathroom on the second floor. At least, that's what I said in front of you and Emma. But that was a lie. I told Don that it was in the dining hall, and I told Gilda that it was in the library. I checked those spots, and out of all four of them, the rope behind my bed was the only one missing. Don was simply framed. The traitor is you."

Ray fell back onto my bed. He placed his forearm over his eyes, and he began to laugh. Hysterically.

"Damn it, and here I was thinking that I was doing well." Ray sat up. "But you're right. I'm Mom's spy. When'd you start suspecting me?"

"The night Sister Krone came to the house."

"That early, huh?"

I sighed. "I felt disgusted with myself. You were the first person I suspected, even though you're my friend. But it was going to be more troublesome for us if you were the traitor. You could mess with our plans, and from the perspective of controlling this situation, it was perfect. From the enemy's point of view, you seemed to fit the job the best."

"That's why you suspected me, eh?"

"I really hoped that it wasn't true. It would be the worst case scenario. But I also want to point something out. You're not just a traitor regarding this matter. Mom wouldn't trust a sudden tip or a temporary spy. You were already our enemy on that day, and Mom already knew, since she sent you in. How long have you been Mom's spy for?"

"For a while now."

I felt my stomach drop slightly. "So you're also a subordinate of Mom?"

Mom used Ray to guide us in the direction she wished...

"That's right. A sheepdog for a shepherd."

Pretending to be cattle for years?

"You're the only spy, right? And you knew everything, yet you worked with the farm."

"Yeah."

"So was everything a lie?" I spoke a little quieter than before. I felt sick. "Was everything you said, about helping us, a lie? I have a lot of questions, but how much did you tell Mom, and the tracking devices can be broken, right?"

~Ray's POV~

"What are you going to do once I tell you?"

Please don't leave me alone and behind...

"Are you going to cut me off based on what I say?"

"No."

Relief flooded me at that singular word.

"I'm going to keep you at my side, just like you always were. If you're the reason Mom hasn't shipped us out yet, it'd be dangerous to let you go."

It looked like Norman wanted to say more, but he didn't, and I didn't push it.

"Aren't you glad, Ray? You can hide the mistake you made. You wanted to continue spying on us, even if that meant framing Don."

I sighed. "What do you want, Norman?"