Chapter 7 - Joining Forces

"I feel better now that we told them the truth" Emma said as Norman nodded in agreement.

"One week until we carry out our plan. The preparations are going well too. We just have to figure out how to escape with everyone." Norman informed.

"Hey Norman, about that...Y/n tried to figure it out on her own on how to escape with everyone." Emma said as she looked at Norman.

"Do you think it's reckless?"

"It is"

"But with this plan, we can catch Mom off guard. Realistically, this is the only way to escape with everybody."

"Yeah" Norman agreed which made Emma smile.

"Should we tell Ray?"

"No"

"Do you think Ray would really have everyone escape?"

"Of course he would. Ray's been moving all this time while thinking about us. Always, for the three of us."

"Three of us?"

"Oh. Don't worry. I'll bring it up to Ray sometime soon."

"Okay"

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"By investigation, you mean we'll go past the fence to climb the wall and look outside?" Emma asked as Norman nodded.

"What about the tracking devices?" Gilda asked. I'm glad they're joining our discussion.

"We just have to make sure they don't check on them." I answered as I hanged from the tree upside down which scared Gilda.

"We'll have both Mom and Sister looking somewhere else, and create a situation where they won't look at their trackers." Norman explained.

"But how?" Don asked.

"I'll have Ray stall Mom. I'm having him give her false information." Norman smirked.

"But even if we leave Ray to deal with Mom, what about sister?" Don asked.

"Yeah, if she finds out, we'll be shipped immediately, right?" Gilda asked.

"Don't worry, I have an idea for that." Norman said as he stood up and we got ready to go back.

"Y/n, you said someone heard our conversation, right?" Emma asked. I nodded.

"Do you know who it could possibly be?" Norman asked and I caught a whiff of a different smell.

'It's not Gilda, Don, Emma, Norman nor Ray. Someone is here and I know who it is.'

"Yeah. I already know who that person is." I said as I picked up a rock.

"Really? Who is it?" Don eagerly asked.

"You'll find out once she gets out of her hiding spot." I said as I threw a rock at a tree.

"Come out Sister Krone." I said and the others gasped. She stepped out which made me glare at her.

"S-Sister Krone? Do you need anything?" Norman asked, trying to stay calm.

"It's true. I saw it. I was watching the whole thing. Talking in the dining hall last night, all of you!" Sister Krone said doing weird poses. Is she a ballerina or something?

"The ones who know about the secret of the House are Norman, Emma, Ray, Y/n, Gilda, and Don, the six of you!" Sister Krone started twirling towards us.

"So...would you like to join forces?" Sister Krone asked as she went close to my face. Join forces?

"Don't worry, everyone. Everything's fine. We'll hear you out." Norman stood in front of us.

"That's right. We should cooperate together so we can achieve our goals. You all want to escape. I want to be Mom of this House. I want to drag Isabella down from her position as Mom, and seize that position myself." Sister Krone said. Mama's position?

"Just to clarify, those are my true intentions. I also want to break free from this situation." Sister Krone showed us her code.

"Do you know about the management system here?" Sister Krone asked us.

"I actually have a theory on that. Girls who fulfill certain conditions and live until 12 years old can choose between two paths. Either become Mom or get shipped out, right?" I explained my theory.

"Correct!" Sister Krone clapped.

"What are the conditions?" Don asked.

"Scores above a certain number and the mom's recommendation. If you can meet these two conditions, you can survive without escaping. If you're a girl." Sister Krone explained.

"But I don't recommend it. Your body will never be able to leave this area." Sister Krone started to unbutton her shirt as she showed us her scar.

"What is that?" Emma asked.

"There's a chip inside. If an adult steps one foot outside of the farm, an electrical current will be sent through this and their heart will stop beating. At the same time, if something else makes the heart stop, then it acts as a transmitter that notifies the higher-ups." Sister Krone explained.

"So we couldn't kill the adults after all." Norman said as Sister Krone grinned.

"I can only live inside the farms. That's why I want to live the best possible life here. As a Mom, even if it's fake, it's a life for humans. But to get that, Isabella is in the way. If you all escape, she will be blamed. I won't get in your way. Escape. That will become a benefit for me." Sister Krone buttoned her shirt.

"You're not going to ship us out?" Gilda asked as she hugged Emma's arm.

"I won't. Let's cooperate!" she smiled. Emma had a scowl on her face. Don and Gilda looked shocked. Norman grinned. While I only kept my smile on my face.

"Let's work together" Sister Krone held out her hand towards Norman. Norman was about to shake her hand until I stopped him.

"Wait. I just wanna verify something that crossed my mind." I said as I stepped in front of Norman.

"Oh? What is it?" Sister Krone said as she smiled.

"How can we trust you?" I asked as I looked at her in the eyes with my smile.

"It's Ray. If Ray tells this to your Mom, you can crush me. But if I tell your Mom that Ray's a double agent. I can crush him. That's why neither of us will betray each other. We can't. That's fine, right?" Sister Krone bent down to look at me in the eyes.

"That would be lovely." I said as I placed my hand on my cheek as I smiled.

"Then we have a deal." Sister Krone's grin grew wider as she shook hands with Norman.

"I'll also share any other information that only I know about. It's proof of my friendship. Why don't you come to my room tonight?" before Sister Krone could leave I called her.

"Sister Krone. I hate liars. So you better not be lying to us." I informed her as I dropped my smile.

"Oh, I'm not. That reminds me, how did you know I was listening to your conversation last night?" Sister Krone turned around and looked at me.

"I have my ways. So don't lie to us, if you do I'll immediately know. Understood?" I asked and she nodded and ran off.

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"She wanted to live the best possible life. She was even one of us too." Emma said. She's mad.

"She didn't even care at all about the lives of ours and the lives of my children. She only thinks of herself." I said as I looked out the window and watched Sister Krone play with Eugene.

"But she said she won't ship us out." Gilda retorted with my statement. I sighed and turned around.

"It's not that she won't. She can't. If she really wanted us to escape, she just needs to assist us quietly when the time is right. She's showing us her cards only because she wants us to gain our trust." Norman said as he looked at Gilda.

"Why does she want to gain our trust?" Don asked as he looked at Norman.

"She wants evidence that shows our rebellion. I can smell emotions too and she wasn't technically lying. She does want to help us but she'll betray us when she gets the evidence." I explained.

I hugged Ray's arm and leaned my cheek on it, enjoying the warmth he gave off.

"Hey, what if she finds the rope we hid in the tree?" Don asked as he looked at Norman then at Ray.

"It's fine. We can say various excuses to explain the rope. Like we were going to use it to play with, but-" Norman got interrupted by Ray.

"We're doomed if she finds the equipment that breaks the tracking devices." Ray said.

"That's reliable evidence that we can't make excuses for." Norman said which made Don and Gilda gasp.

"It'll be fine. Ray would never make that kind of mistake. Besides, it not even finished, right Ray?" I asked as he nodded.

"If we have her believe that we don't know where the tracking devices are, or how to break it, it shouldn't be an issue. I'm sure sister will believe us if we play the cards correctly." Norman smirked.

"Are we really going to go? You're dealing with Sister Krone! It sounds nice that she'll tell us anything we want to know, but.." Gilda paused.

"Rather, why do we have to join forces with her? Does it give us an advantage?" Don asked.

"If we use her well, we might obtain some information. And that's one less person getting in our way. Then we can focus on the investigation." Norman said.

"It'll be okay. We have to use every opportunity we can." Emma reassured Gilda.

"Ray, would it be ok if I interrupt your little date? I need to talk to you about the steps of the investigation." Norman chuckled.

"I-It's not a date! And I don't mind, let's talk." Ray stuttered which made me giggle. I removed myself from his arms and left the room.

"Anyways, bye-bye!" I waved as I went outside and decided to go play with the children.

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I watched as the kids danced together. I leaned against the wall, next to Ray, and watched them.

Ray had some device and it made a weird sound and something flat comes out of it.

When Gilda, Don, Emma, and Norman appeared, we went somewhere to discuss the plan.

"When we start free time after lunch, I'll distract Mom. Norman and Emma will climb the wall to inspect the vicinity. Don and Gilda, stay outside where you can see the South window on the House's second floor. Just in case, I fail to distract Mom, I'll signal you. Let Emma and Norman know to cancel the inspection immediately

Y/n, distract the children and Sister Krone. Make sure, they don't suspect anything. " Ray instructed and we nodded.

"We have 6 days until the escape, but at least until January, we have two and a half months until it's time for me to be shipped out. So if something happens, immediately cancel the inspection. Everything needs to be done secretly. We need to pretend to be controllable." Ray said.

"Don! Play with us, Gilda you too." I heard the children call for Don and Gilda. They ran to them and it was just the four of us once again.

"Ray, Y/n, can we talk?" Norman requested and we went to a private room.

"Sister found out that we can break the tracking devices?" Ray's mad. Norman and Emma nodded.

"So I want to move up the escape day. When can you break the tracking devices?" Norman asked.

I heard Ray sigh and a snap was made. I turned around from the window and saw that Emma was freaking out.

"What was that?" Emma asked as she slowly opened her eyes.

"With this, I have all the necessary parts. I can break them anytime now." Ray handed the camera to Norman and he had a square paper thing.

"This is really a double-edged sword. Will we break it and escape or will Sister Krone find it first and turn us in." I said as I walked over to Ray.

"Don't worry, I've taken care of it." Ray said as he smirked at me. I blushed and looked away.

Dummy

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(A/N: Eyoo! Surprise! I actually made 2007 words instead of 3000+, I was shocked and quite happy. Anyways, Peace out!)