Norman x Reader || SAUDADE

14-L-audable

"WHAT?!" The kids erupted into a riot of question marks as soon as Ray, Emma and I told them about our plan on renewing the promise after we returned from our talk with Norman. 

"But what about Norman's plan? Wasn't he going to eradicate the demons and make this into a safe place for us all?" Gilda interrupted. 

"Well, that's the problem, I don't want any annihilation to happen. I want to live in a future I won't regret." Emma chuckled nervously. 

"I was also against Emma at first, but I remembered going to the demon town and saw all these demons, they're just like us. There are kids and siblings, and families." I explained based on my experience. 

"Yes, and we were also against killing Mujika and Sonju." Ray points out a fact to help all of us stand in the common ground. 

"But why? Didn't they kill your family and friends?" Gillian intercepts. 

"It's true, but I don't want them to be annihilated either. So, I'll remake the new promise tonight! It's my selfish wish, so I'm going to go there!" Emma rubbed her neck in an attempt to calm the mass. 

"No matter how much you hate someone, there's always a side of them you can't imagine." Sandy told us, he seemed as if he remembered something from his past. 

"I hate demons. But I want to protect everyone. So if I have to kill baby demons or even annihilate them in order to save everyone, I- I would." Gillian roared emotionally until Paula comforted her. 

"Why should it always be you? You're always the one who has to carry all the burden. Why not stop now, Emma?" Gilda closed in on Emma with teary eyed. 

"She's crazy, simply put." Ray said with a very flat expression. 

"But that's just who Emma is." Don smiled sympathetically. "It's fine, go ahead. I mean it's Emma, Ray and _______ we're talking about. I'm sure they did their portion of consideration. Besides, I'm not completely against Emma's ideals, it's all in order for us to escape and be free as well is it not?" Don stated further. 

Don has grown a lot after learning the truth about the house. He became someone more reliable and strong in such a short amount of time, and he's only 13 years old. Reflecting on myself, I didn't seem to grow up all that much. I'm still weak, I cried a lot, I broke down when I felt like everything's not going accordingly but I hid it whenever I could. I want to be mature like everyone is, and if it takes going out of my comfort zone constantly, I'd gladly do it my whole life. 

"Besides, she's not going to stop even if we tell her not to." Don chuckled. 

"But, there's no need for you to put yourself in risky situations. You don't have to. So-so why does it always have to be you?" Gilda started to cry endlessly. Emma gently embraced her and soothed her sadness slowly. 

"I'm sorry, but this is the path I chose for myself that I can accept. And, I don't want Norman to kill himself anymore." Emma spoke clearly, startling everyone else. 

"He's not exactly throwing his life away or ending his life." I started, "However, he is killing his heart once again, bearing all the burden to finish it all for us." I continued knowing all the truth behind Emma's words. 

"Yes, _______, Emma and I won't go along with that." Ray nodded. 

"His shipment and our escape, he must've thought it was the only way to success." Ray continued. 

"But it's not a success at all, at that point when we let him go, the escape wasn't a true success." Emma closed her eyes painfully. 

"I don't want any of us, Norman or us all, to feel that pain anymore. That's my selfishness, so I would go to the seven walls and create a new wish. We'll come back as soon as possible, before Norman's plan falls into action." Emma reassured everyone. 

"But just in case, please choose the path you won't regret." Ray told us all. 

"Please take care of Norman. We'll leave ________ here as well to take care of all of you." Emma motioned to me. 

"Just come back safely no matter what." Gilda held Emma's hands pleadingly. 

"And go do what you have to do, leave this place to us." Gilda assured.

I made sure they had everything they needed for the trip tonight. Well, it's only a few hours left until their departure judging by how the sun was already setting, bringing all its glory along. 

"Emma, I'm worried about Norman." I told her while I placed a full bottle of water inside her bag. 

"I know. You can keep him company for the while, he listens to you more than he does with any of us after all." She placed her hand on my shoulder reassuringly. 

"On the contrary, he never really did listen to me, he does that to you instead." I sighed. 

"But Emma, if-if something happens in the seven walls, run, return, do not do anything dangerous." I told her sternly. I was very restless at her sudden outburst of going to the seven walls to be honest, but I tried to understand because that's what she would want anyway. 

"Both, you and Ray. Even if you do make it to 'him', and he tried to lure you into making rewards that'll sacrifice yourself in the end, just disagree and run. Leave at all costs. We'll think of another way." I held her shoulders and shook her back and forth. 

"Y-Yes." She said with a dazed look on her face. 

"Promise me?" I threatened her with a glare. 

"I-I will try." She grinned while gripping on my hand. 

"I'll miss you a lot for the moment." I hugged her so tightly. I've never been separated from Ray, Emma or Norman ever since I was in Grace Field. Being left by Norman himself, cost me a great deal of damage for the young me. However, if it's Emma, the girl whom I practically lived with my whole life, the sister I never had, was about to go into a journey full of uncertainty and to never return, I would lose it. Same goes for Ray, but being girls, of course, Emma and I, are a lot closer. 

"Just, just knowing you're safe with us is enough." I sighed.

The full-moon rose on the sky up above, illuminating everyone that stood outside, waiting for Emma and Ray to depart. They prepared the Vida flower and the golden water we took back then along with a dagger on each of their hands. The Gupna ritual necessary to enter the door to the seven walls. We did that once back at the temple, but we decided to return without getting through the door for it says that whoever enters shall not return. I'm sure they can make it, no- they will make it. Emma and Ray courageously cut their palm open with the dagger and squeezed out the blood that oozed out from it right into the golden water. The Vida bloomed beautifully after the blood fused into the golden water. Emma and Ray touched the flowers and just like that, they vanished into thin air. 

"They're gone!" Everyone gasped. 

"Mhm, and they will return soon." I nodded while speaking softly. 

"Gilda, I'm going to go talk to Norman right now." I told the bespectacled girl beside me. 

"Ah, alright." She smiled gathering all the kids back inside along with Don and the Grand Valley kids. I then made my way into the main building.