Breeder

Meeting (3)

Erica Pov

I plopped down on one of the beds in my separate, practically barren room, enjoying the brief moment of silence I was granted.

As requested, the room had one wall where it was filled edge-to-edge with mirrors, the said mirrors covered by a long line of thick curtains. Beside the door were two desks, side-by-side. On the other side of the room were two windows, lined with curtains. Other than the bare necessities, there was furniture for one other in my room.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Erica? It's Mom and Norman."

"Come in," I answered, sitting up.

Isabella entered the room, the boy with silver platinum blonde hair following after her. So his name is Norman, huh? He was wearing the standard white uniform given out to livestock- only that this time, it had blue accents on it. The poor kid obviously had no idea what he'd gotten himself into.

"Which bed do you want?" I asked, meeting Norman's cerulean blue eyes.

"Oh, um... I'll take the bed by the door if you don't mind."

"All right. Which desk?"

"The one on the left."

Nodding in understanding, I glanced back at Isabella. Taking the hint, she left with a swift but kind goodbye.

"Do you know the reason why I was suddenly moved? What's with the new uniform? And what does Mom mean by "Partner"?" Norman asked.

"You innocent, innocent little thing... Tell me, are you happy?"

Norman's eyes widened with surprise and slight confusion, but both were soon replaced with sincerity. With a smile on his lips, the boy wholeheartedly confessed.

"Yeah, I am."

"Then the explanation can wait. Come back when all you believed turned out to be a lie."

"Wha-?! No!! This involves me!! I have a right to know!!"

SLAM

"NORMAN~~!!!" A bright, cheery voice hundred as someone slammed the door open, inviting themself inside.

"Emma! And Ray too!!"

The boy with black hair, whom I assumed to be Ray, gave me a look full of suspicion. I smiled back, making him glare in annoyance.

"Why did Mom suddenly move you? And what's with the cool new uniform?! I want one too!!" Emma yelled excitedly, running circles around Norman.

"That's what I want to know!! I asked Erica about it and she's just being confusing!!" Norman grumbled.

"Confusing?" Ray questioned.

"She said to come back when all I believed turned out to be a lie."

At Norman's answer, Ray's eyes widened, obvious fear and panic filling his dark green eyes. He turned to me, and I returned a smirk. You know everything, don't you? I mouthed, the boy taking a fearful step away from me. But his panic didn't last long. As a matter of fact, he seemed more than relieved that I knew the secret.

He's obviously known the secret for a while. Judging from what I know of the kid, he's a smart-aleck with ties to Isabella. He's definitely planning to escape- and he has a plan. And in order for me to escape this place, I need to become closer to this trio.

First off, do I fulfill Norman's wishes and tell him everything? Or wait until he finds out himself?

.

.

.

I think I'll just nudge him in the right direction.

Eventually, of course.

--- Norman Pov ---

I glanced at Ray, who looked terrified. Then I glanced at Erica, who had a knowing smirk on her face. There's something that I'm missing here... I realized. But before I could ask, Phil came into the room with a big smile on his face.

"Mom said that it's time for the tests!!" He exclaimed.

With a groan, Erica rolled herself up into a cocoon using the bedsheets.

"Come on, Erica!! We have to go!! Or else we'll be late!!" Emma exclaimed, trying to drag the nine-year-old out of bed.

"But I don't want to!!" Erica argued.

At times like this, even though I've only known her for a day, made Erica seem like a typical nine-year-old. A normal child, just like any other.

"Come on, Norman, Ray!! Help me!!" Emma said, taking Erica's feet.

"You take the head. I'll take her waist." Ray took lead, rolling Erica securely in her bedsheets so that she wouldn't be able to escape.

"Wait!! What are you guys doing?!" Erica protested, looking like a comfy worm with her head sticking out of one end of her cocoon.

I laughed to myself at the thought. Erica looks much cuter with a blush on her cheeks... and a smile suits her rather than those cunning smirks that she always has.

When we arrived at the testing room with Erica in tow, Mom seemed surprised.

"My sweet children... Erica doesn't have to take the tests. It's not mandatory for her. But it is very sweet of you to bring her here." She said, surprising the three of us.

~~~ /// ~~~ \\\ ~~~

Emma - Occupation: Premium-grade Livestock

Norman - Occupation: Partner

Ray - Occupation: Premium-grade Livestock

Erica - Occupation: Deluxe-grade Breeder

2.5 pages, 837 words