"It was a Cliff"

"Attention." Isabella called out cheerfully to the children. "I have good news. A foster family chose Norman. I know it's sudden, but he'll be leaving tomorrow night."

At that, Sherry dropped her bowls and let out a shocked scream. All of the other kids looked shocked as well.

"That soon?"

"Congrats!"

"This is great, Norman!"

"Is this goodbye?" Phil asked.

"But why..." Lannion looked shocked. "...so sudden?"

Thoma put an arm around his brother. "We're going to miss him, aren't we?"

Lannion looked at Thoma and weakly nodded his head.

Norman kneeled down in front of his beloved siblings, smiling softly as they gave him congrats.

"Congwats!"

"Let's play a bunch before you go!"

"I'll miss you!"

Norman smiled gently at the little kids surrounding him. Some looked happy while others looked sad that he was leaving. Hearing someone sniffling, Norman looked up to see Sherry bawling her eyes out. "I'm happy for you!" she sobbed, tears rolling down her face. "Congratulations, Norman!"

Norman smiled sweetly at Sherry and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you all so much..."

Isabella looked over at Ray and Emma, who were glaring at her. She turned away with a smile, and Ray gritted his teeth. Emma looked horrified, and Don shared the same expression. So did Gilda.

"Now," Isabella said, walking past the four. "Let's eat dinner before it gets cold."

Ray looked up from his book at Penny, watching her dig through her meal hungrily. After a moment, Penny slowly stopped, and Ray glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

"Will....will the plan work?" She mumbled.

Ray sighed, and grabbed one of her hands and looking at the ten year old determinedly. "It will work. It has to. He'll disappear tomorrow and we'll provide him with enough food until our escape. Don't worry, it will work."

Penny smiled weakly at him. "I hope you're right..."

It was a morning like all others.

They ate, and took our tests.

They were at a happy orphanage. Playing their usual outdoor games like tag, catch, etc, etc....

Everything was the same as always. All of Penny's siblings, Mom, and the older kids...Ray, Emma, Norman, Don, Penny, and Gilda.

And then...

....Norman disappeared.

Penny sat next to Ray anxiously, her crutches at her side. She glanced at Emma who shared the same anxious look.

Ray placed a tender hand on Penny's shoulder, causing the girl to look at him. "Don't worry. It'll work out."

She smiled softly in return, though it was weak.

Emma smiled softly at the two and glanced towards the direction to the wall. "Norman..."

Norman ran as fast as he could, over the fence and up to the wall, the rope Gilda presented him earlier in his hand. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the device to break the trackers, pressing a button to make sure it worked. He grinned and climbed a tree, securing the rope tightly around it, making sure it was secure. He hopped down and tugged the lower rope a couple of times, and once he felt it was safe enough, the boy started running up the wall. He kept running until he reached the ledge, grabbing it. He grunted as he dangled on the other side, but quickly pulled himself up.

What he saw made him gasp.

The wind rustled through his hair as the boy sighed glancing around the area in front of him. He closed his eyes with a somber smile.

That evening, it seemed that the plan was going well. Mom hadn't noticed Norman was gone yet. Penny slowly grabbed Ray's hand and squeezed it, the two watching Mom smiling at the children, and then she looked up with a curious frown. "Where's Norman?"

Emma, Penny, and Ray narrowed their eyes.

Isabella gasped and pulled out her tracker, opening it. Ray smirked as he watched, squeezing Penny's hand reassuringly. A second later, Isabella smiled, closing the tracker and turning around. "Oh, good, you're back. Norman."

Penny, Ray, and Emma gasped at the sight of the white haired boy trudging towards them until he came to a stop in front of Mom, smiling.

Emma looked horrified. "But why...?" she squeaked out.

Ray gritted his teeth and angrily looked away, while Penny put her hands to her mouth, tears threatening to fall.

Norman, why?....

"IDIOT!!" Ray roared, grabbing Norman' collar and pulling him up to his face. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!"

"There's still time for you to get away!" Emma cried.

"Why?!" Penny sobbed, causing the three to turn to her. "Why would you give up like that so easily?"

Norman smiled gently. "Sorry, but I don't intend to run. But please, just hear me out."

Penny let out a squeak as Ray angrily shoved Norman away. Norman straightened his collar and walked over to the window. He smiled as he turned to them. "It was a cliff."

Emma, Penny, and Ray gasped.

Norman smiled. "Beyond the wall is... a cliff."

"What?!" Emma squeaked out. "Seriously?!"

"And it wasn't a height we could easily jump from." Norman said. "Krona definitely wasn't lying. And the demons don't take us lightly. A cliff like that..." Norman looked up seriously. "Needs no security."

Ray gritted his teeth.

Penny clutched the blankest of the bed she was lying in. "So what you're saying is that we actually can't use the wall when we escape?! Now what?!"

"Well..."Norman smiled. "There is a way."

130146

Norman pulled out Penny's sketchbook and flipped to a clean page, pulling out a pencil, drawing a line. "I ended up going to the edge of the wall. It's split into two more. One side still faced the cliff, the other made up the side of the house here. They were both in 60 degree angles. And the two walls in the inside were identical. I saw the same scenery ahead."

Ray gasped, and Norman nodded, turning back to the sketchbook. "So basically, what I've learned from this, is that the house is on a hexagonal properties surrounded by a cliff."

Emma gasped.

"And the lot that's directly west of where we are in Plant 3, is likely the headquarters. It was the only lot of the bridge, since we can't escape by using the wall, that bridge is our only way out."

The door opened, and Phil grinned at them. "Norman, Mom's calling for you!"

"Tell her I'll be right there!" Norman said with a smile.

"Okay!"

The door closed, and Emma, Penny, and Ray gave a sigh of relief. "Well, I should get going." Norman hummed.

Ray's eyes widened. "Just wait a minute!"

"Norman!" Emma and Penny both cried.

Norman handed the device to Ray. "Here. I didn't use it."

Ray's eyes widened. "Seriously?!" He angrily stomped up and grabbed Norman's shoulders. "You were gonna come back from the start, weren't you?! You said we'd...survive together! But this whole time....you were planning...."

"Yeah." Norman smiled. "Sorry. I lied."

"Norman...." Penny squeaked out, tears threatening to fall. "Why?"

Ray staggered back, staring at Norman in shock.

"I can't risk making any mistakes." Norman pointed out. "'Cause I can't let you die. The plan might be ruined if I run, and that would be a problem for me. I don't even wanna chance of losing." he looked up with a smile. "You can't change my mind. I've decided."

Ray staggered back, slumping on Penny's bed, shuddering. "Ray!" Penny gasped, carefully leaning over and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

Norman placed the device on the stool. "So, I did what I could today. I'm leaving the rest to you. Make sure the escape succeeds."

"Now wait a second...!" Emma and Penny let out a surprised yelp as Norman caught his three siblings in a tight hug, closing his eyes. "You're warm...thanks, you guys. Because of you three, I had a good life. I had fun. I was happy. I was fortunate."

Ray choked on his sobs, squeezing Norman. "No....you can't! Darn it!"

Penny buried her face in Norman's stomach, clutching his waist and sobbing. Emma wrapped an arm around him, shuddering. "Hey...Norman... it's not too late to run...just go hide in the forest..."

Norman smiled softly and let go, gently pulling Penny off him. "It's like I already said, I made my choice."

He gave Penny one last hug and walked towards the door.

"Goodbye."

When the door closed, Penny began sobbing uncontrollably, and Ray and Emma hastily grabbed her in their arms, both trying to comfort her.

Through her sobs, Penny choked out one word.

"Norman..."