『 Broken Promises 』The Promised Neverland Ray x OC

T w e n t y - T h r e e

The room was silent until Ray spoke.

"Hey guys. Did you guys give up like mom told us to?" Ray asked, his voice shaky.

Then he closed his book and looked up.

"You haven't actually given up on running away. Have you?" He looked at the two girls and Emma smirked at him.

"I couldn't do anything to save Harper. So the least I can do is live out her final request. I can't give up." Phoebe smirked.

"I've been thinking this whole time. What should I be doing for Normans sake. And the answer...was to do nothing. Mom told me to give up and free myself from the pain I felt...but...I refuse to ever give up. I won't let Norman, or Harpers deaths be in vain. Will you?" Emma's eyes lit up and she looked to Ray.

Ray put his book on the table and smiled.

"It seems like all of us are on the same page then." Ray looked at the two girls.

"Let's run away. I came to talk about that." Emma had a determined look on her face.

"Phoebe, would you please?" Emma nodded to Phoebe, signaling for her to go help the others get ready.

Phoebe nodded. "See ya." She winked at the two of them and left the room.

                          <•••>

Phoebe looked at her wrist while walking back towards the dining hall. Her fingers ran over Harpers charm.

'We're actually doing this Harper.'

Phoebe smiled to herself and opened the dining room doors right in time to see Ray pouring a liquid on himself.

She closed the door and looked at the bottle above Rays head.

'Lighting fluid.'

Phoebe let out a breath and walked towards Emma and Ray.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Phoebe growled.

"Ray!" Emma gasped.

"Pretty smart thinking huh? I'm gonna burn to ash on my shipment date! Mom can't abandon me!" Ray smiled maniacally and dropped the can.

"I've been waiting for this day. I decided this years ago. And it's finally time to act it out. This is my retaliation. You know Emma, Phoebe, when it came to all that studying...I was never really into it. Regardless, I did it. To improve my value. And I wanted it to be...the highest possible. For twelve years...I've been the feast they've all been waiting for. Tonight I'm taking that away. Right before the anticipated harvest. Don't think you can eat me, I won't give you that satisfaction! Food? Product?! Yeah right! This is gonna show them all...that I'M FUCKING HUMAN!" Ray went on with a smile that sent shivers down Phoebes spine.

"Ray..." Emma breathed.

"Ray you need to calm down..." Phoebe put her arms out and started slowly walking towards Ray.

"DON'T!" Ray yelled, causing Phoebe to stop in her tracks.

"I have to do this...it's the best way. The only way. I've watched so many of my siblings die over the years. I used them...and each one of them was a good kid..." Ray sounded hurt, he put his head down. "They were so kind and care free..."

"Wait!" Emma threw her crutch and was about to protest.

"Don't move. Both of you, stay there." Ray put his hand out.

"Listen up. You only have one chance. So make this work. Norman, Harper, and I gave our lives for this. I'm begging you. Don't waste it." Ray smiled and looked at the two of them, then looked over at the table.

"Catch." Ray threw the book that he had been reading to Emma, she caught it and opened it to find pictures that Ray had taken.

Phoebe looked over Emma's shoulder and grabbed a picture she saw stand out.

She gasped. It was a picture of Harper smiling. She was hugging Phoebes leg while Phoebe was also smiling. She had her hand on Harpers head. They were in the dining room.

Phoebe put a hand over her mouth and her vision got blurred by tears.

"This is from..." Emma stopped as she gazed at the picture of her, Norman, and Phoebe standing next to each other. Her vision got clouded with tears as well.

Then the clock went off.

Phoebe stuffed the picture in her pocket, making sure it didn't get crumbled. Then her head shot up at the sound of a match lighting.

"Ray...I swear to-" Phoebe began with an agitated look on her face.

"I'm finally twelve. It was a life I wanted out of but I cherished the time I spent with you guys." Ray smiled.

Emma held out her arm in protest, "No please don't!" Emma cried.

"Thanks a lot. Nice knowing ya. Emma, Phoebe. And Emma, tell Phoebe." Ray smiled one last time before flicking the match out of his hand.

Emma and Phoebe both acted quickly.

Phoebe ran and tackled Ray. Emma caught the match right in time.

Ray and Phoebe both landed with an oof.

"Nice catch huh?" Emma smiled and showed Ray the broken match sitting in her hand.

Ray looked up at Phoebe and Emma. Phoebe got off of Ray and stood up.

"What the-!" Ray began.

"Sorry but we're not letting you die. And the other kids aren't either." Emma smiled.

"I'm not sorry." Phoebe rolled her eyes and held her hand out for Ray to take.

"Wait other kids?" Ray had a look of disbelief on his face. He grabbed Phoebes hand and she pulled him up. Then he flinched when he heard a knock on the door.

Emma walked over to the door and opened it.

"Emma. I brought what you asked me for." Thoma smiled while holding a box.

"Yeah and everyone's ready to go now." Lannion smiled too.

"Thanks you guys. You were a big help." Emma smiled and took the box from Thoma.

Ray looked over to Phoebe.

"You're mad aren't you." Ray raised an eyebrow.

"Nope. I'm ecstatic right now, you can't tell?" Phoebe rolled her eyes.

Ray sighed.

"Alright Ray. Time to change. And Phoebe I assume you got lighter fluid on you so I asked them to bring some clothes for you too." Emma smiled.

Lannion and Thoma were giggling and holding two clean changes of clothes.

~end of chapter~