Slayers in a Demon's World {Demon Slayer x The Promised Neverland}

028: For the Children

Norman dragged his feet sluggishly, squinting his eyes in the darkness. He could barely make out the light reflecting off the bricks around him.

This was where the demons were. This was where Conny died, and where his beloved siblings would ultimately die if his plan failed.

Norman gritted his teeth. Emma's scream that night yanked at his heart strings and images of her distraught face flashed through his eyes.

Tanjiro, Mitsuri, Inosuke, all of Y/n's friends... it's just not about me betraying Emma but it's whether I can betray all of them.

He knelt down and pulled his hand through the water pooling at his feet, watching the ripples disperse from his fingers. A large droplet fell on his head, sliding down his temple.

Maybe it's impossible, but I have to at least try! There are more of us. Giyuu, Shinobu, Y/n, Rengoku, Mitsuri, Don, Gilda... all of us have differing assets we can bring to the team. We're more than Mama and Sister. If I can pretend to trick Emma and instead trick Ray...

I can...

Norman stood in the tunnel, red roses blooming around him, each one flowering with the blood pouring from the children's bodies strewn in the water. One of them bloomed right in the grasp of his fingers, its soft petals brushing his fingertips, almost like they were taunting him.

"See? That's why I told you..." Ray reached for Norman's hand before collapsing.

"Ray!" Norman grabbed the limp body, smearing the boy's hair away from his eyes. He searched those eyes for any consciousness, waving his hand in front of them. All he got was a dull, wide-eyed stare that sent shivers down the albino's spine.

The sobs wracking his body weakened his arms as he tried to carry Ray, stumbling and tripping over Anna's strewn arm.

"Emma?" Norman cupped her cheek and pulled her into his arms, checking their pulses. Both of their heartbeats were faint, Ray's stilling as Norman desperately called for them to wake up. Emma's heart followed suit.

"I... please," he gasped, defeated. Water dripped on his neck, sliding down his back.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Obanai and Mitsuri's hands intertwined, blood staining the water rippling around them. Norman stumbled over to them, peeling back Obanai's hair to see closed eyes.

At least you're alive. They wouldn't eat a snake, would they? Norman cradled Kaburamaru, the snake slithering into his arms and shedding its own tears. Y/n... Muichiro...Rengoku...

He tried his best to check everyone's pulses, each dead body dimming the hope in his heart. He'd come across the rare faint heartbeat, only for them to die in his arms. Y/n held his worried stare, her hand weakly gripping Muichiro's before the life faded from her eyes.

Norman swore he heard her plea for help.

"Please. I don't want to die."

He held her body, quietly sniffing when pinpricks of fear spiked over the expanse of his back. Norman ripped his eyes from her, only to see razor sharp teeth prepared to devour him, reminding him he was only meat.

That each life he tried to protect would ultimately succumb to the demons.

He screamed.

~~~~~

"Good morning, Y/n!" Misturi beamed at the girl. Y/n laughed, returning the greeting as she carried a basket of loaves to the table. Emma was busy placing the plates around the table, momentarily playing with Chris and Jemima while they chased each other around the cafeteria.