Chapter Text
Ray’s hands grasped tightly around Isabella’s arm. “Please,” he begged, his voice quiet but harsh.
Isabella gazed intensely into Ray’s eyes, and with her fingers curled tightly into a fist, she stood her ground. “No.”
Ray shook Isabella’s arm, “Isabella- Mom, please. Not Norman. I’m sorry. Not him. Please .”
“Ray-“
“NO!” Ray yelled, before taking a deep breath. “You know how I feel about him. I don’t want to die before him. Please. Don’t take him away from me. Please .” Ray wanted to say that he saw this coming a thousand miles away, but to be honest, he didn’t. He had the perfect plan, and now it was going to be ruined because Norman was getting shipped and it was his fault . If he hadn’t slipped and failed, Emma wouldn’t have a broken leg and Norman wouldn’t be getting shipped. But no. He failed. Ray almost laughed at the irony. He always knew he was a failure, but he still thought he could help. He still thought that he could have saved Norman. And he can. He can still save Norman. If he can convince Isabella.
But Isabella wasn’t having it. “I said no, Ray. Go to bed and wait for your shipment date like a good child.”
Well Ray wasn’t having it either. This was the one thing that he had to succeed in. “I’m not leaving until you change it. If Norman gets shipped out before me, I’ll kill myself. How are you going to explain that to your boss?”
Isabella looked at him coolly. “It’s unfortunate, but accidents do happen, just like how Emma broke her leg.”
Ray laughed drily, “and what about the kids?”
Isabella smiled. “The same thing.”
Ray smiled back. “Then I’ll make my death so gruesome, so bloody, that the kids will worry and get upset. They won’t grow up happy and relaxed; their value as produce will go down. Just wait, Mom. I won’t let you live it down even if I die.”
Isabella huffed and yanked her arm out of Ray’s hands. “You won’t be doing anyone any favors killing yourself. You’ll make Emma sad; she’ll give up. And it’ll be your fault.”
Ray smirked bitterly. “That may be so, but she’ll die anyways along with the other children. It’s not like me killing myself will save them; it’ll just make your life harder. Your reputation will suffer; they’ll begin to doubt your abilities. But it doesn’t have to be like that. All you have to do is ship me out this time instead of Norman. If you do that, you’ll continue to have a happy farm. It’ll be the same thing! At the end of the day, Norman and I will still be dead. The only difference is that in one scenario, we both get shipped out like we’re supposed to while in the other scenario, Norman gets shipped while I kill myself to make your life harder.”
Isabella hummed and sat down at her desk. “You make a compelling argument, but my answer is still no.”
At this rate, Ray might as well give up. But no. He needed to succeed. “Why?”
“Norman is everyone’s hope. With him around, Emma and him will still plan and try to escape. So much trouble; what a headache. I’d rather not.” Isabella smiled down at Ray, “your greatest weakness is that you give up too easily. You want to live; you won’t kill yourself if there’s even a small chance that you’ll survive. Isn’t that why you approached me all those years ago? I know you like the back of my hand. Don’t test me.”
Ray couldn’t help it and started laughing hysterically. “You think you know me? Don’t make me laugh . You are not my mother. Don’t you see? Killing myself is me giving up. I’m just going to drag you to hell with me while doing so. Have you even considered that I don’t want to be in a world without Norman? You think I won’t kill myself? Try me. ” Rays eyes had a sheen cast over them; his tears threatening to spill over. But he wasn’t acting or trying to plan anything at this point. Everything he said was true. A world without Norman… Ray didn’t even want to think about it.
To him, Norman was so bright. To him, Norman was like the sun. Norman was warm, kind, smart, caring, handsome even. Ray could honestly go on and on about Norman. A world without Norman, even if it was just for a second? Ray couldn’t stand it. So he has to do this. He can’t let Norman die. He knows that with a little more time, Norman can escape with Emma. Be happy, like he deserves. Ray doesn’t need to be with them. He’s bland and forgettable, a traitor, a failure. Ray was certain that Norman and Emma would be sad about his death, about him getting shipped, but he was even more certain that they would move on. They would carve their own life in this treacherous world, and live happily. They’ll watch each other’s back and conquer the world together. They’re strong. Ray just needs to give them a push; a stepping stone.
So no, Isabella does not know him like the back of her hand. Because Ray would rather impale himself on the bluntest object around than live in a world without Norman for even a second.
Isabella scoffed. “I don’t have the final say in this Ray. It’s not my place to decide who gets shipped and who doesn’t.”
“But you have sway and you can lie. I know you can. I’ve seen you do it before. Tell them Norman is sick, but will recover within the month, and instead, you send another top scorer. Me .”
“Fine; I’ll see what I can do,” she said stiffly.
Ray hardened his eyes and stepped forward. “Do it now. Call them right now and tell them.”
With a click of her tongue, Isabella rose from the chair and took Ray down into her hidden room. Ray watched her intently as she slid into her chair and picked up her communications device, and did exactly what Ray had wanted.
After the call, Isabella guided Eay back up the stairs and ushered him towards the door, but before he allowed her to kick him out, Ray turned around to face his biological mother. “Please keep this a secret from everyone. Tell everyone that the people that were going to adopt Norman are sick and can’t pick him up yet. And don’t tell them about my adoption or about Norman until the last minute. Please.” Isabella raised her eyebrows, but before she could say anything, Ray added, “it works in your favor since Norman won’t be planning anything until I leave.”
She pressed her lips together, considering the idea, before finally nodding her head. “Very well. Now go to bed.” And with that, Ray was gently pushed out of the room.
—————————————
Ray opened his eyes slowly. Today was the day that ‘Norman’ was getting shipped out. Ray was content. Scared. But content. After all, he had planned on dung anyways. Maybe how he was going to die was different than he had originally died. But it achieves the same purpose: Norman was safe. That’s all that mattered.
The raven haired boy mechanically went through his usual morning routine before going downstairs to help with breakfast. Emma was struggling to be happy, smiling and greeting everyone happily, but Ray could tell that she was broken. It’ll be alright, Emma, he’ll live . Norman soon joined them downstairs, his smile filled with melancholy if you looked hard enough. It’ll be alright, Norman, I won’t let you die.
Soon, everyone was seat, the ignorant chatting through their breakfast while wishing Norman happiness with his new family. Norman sat across the table from Ray with Emma by his side, chewing his food slowly while thanking everyone for their thoughts and wishes. However, before breakfast was over, Isabella stood up from the head table and clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention. Here it comes.
“Children,” Isabella smiled, “I’m glad everyone loves Norman to this extend. I’m sure he’ll be very happy with his new family. However, I just got a call last night from the people that were coming to pick him up today. Unfortunately, they’re deathly sick and won’t be able to come today. Until they get better, Norman will continue to stay with us. Let’s all be glad and appreciate this extra precious time with Norman, ok?”
A chorus of agreement rang out from the nescient while Norman and Emma froze with their eyes filled with confusion and hope. Emma looked ready to burst with a million questions, he eyes blown wide and cheeks slowly colouring. Norman looked at Ray with the smallest frown, his eyes calculating and slightly narrowed as endless explanations wizzed through his head.
Ray almost smiled and sighed out of fondness. He loved that look on Norman almost as much as he loved his smile.
“On another note, we can still hold a celebration because I got another call last night saying that Ray has been approved to be adopted and will be picked up tonight. Isn’t that great?”
Norman's eyes flashed dangerously as his blue eyes captured Ray’s green eyes. The noise dialed down around Ray to a soft murmur as he held Norman’s gaze with his own, a small, sad smile slipping past his nonchalant facade. Norman’s grip on his fork was deadly, and despite Norman’s small “congratulatory” smile, his eyes were on fire. Ah, Ray thought to himself, he’s angry at me.
Ray was also vaguely aware of Emma who was froze in slight disbelief, but mostly horror. Ray turned away from his only friends to address Isabella, “thank you, Momma! This is great news. I’ll be ready tonight.” When he looked back towards his friends, Norman refused to look at him and stayed focused on his food. Figures that he get upset with me.
At the end of breakfast, Ray was crowded around with some of his family pulling on his sleeve, asking to play with them one last time. Norman walked up to him with a scary smile plastered on his face and his hands behind his back. “Yeah Ray, won’t you play with us? We can play tag; you and me versus everyone else; what do you say?”
There was no way Ray could say no to that face, no matter how scary Norman’s smile was. As usual, the kids were given a head start, leaving Norman and Ray alone in the open field. Ray was content with just playing the damn game and getting it over with without actually talking to Norman, but as expected, Norman was not planning on letting Ray go; not after the stunt he pulled. Ray could feel the burning stare that Norman was giving his back. Defeated, Ray turned around to face Norman with a sigh. Norman walked up to Ray and gently took Ray‘s hand with his own; cradling it like it was the most precious thing in existence. “Why did you do this Ray? Are you an idiot? Everything was going fine, but now-“
“Now nothing, Norman!” Ray interrupted. “I’m not the idiot here, Norman, you are. Do you really think that if you get shipped today, that any of us will get out of here alive? No! I would give up, Emma would try to come up with a plan, and Momma would revel in her victory.”
Norman tightened his grip on Ray’s hand and stepped even closer to Ray while shaking his head. “Emma is smart; you both would have come out with a brilliant plan, I just know it! What you did was just unnecessary because now we’re both going to die. You haven’t changed anything, Ray. Even if I do come up with a plan within the month, Momma will still be on guard because I’m here. It won’t work. And now you’ve made Emma sad. Ray, all you’ve done is make things worse.”
Ray felt the evil grip of jealousy curl around his heart, and before he could shake it off, a traitorous thought couldn’t help but pass through. Because of course at the end of the day, all Norman was concerned about was how Emma was feeling. Ray wished that the warm and soft hands curled around his own meant something different. That the brilliant blue eyes burning into his own meant something different. Ray mentally shook his head to get rid of the thought because that’s how things should be; Norman and Emma together, not Norman and him. He didn’t deserve Norman. “That’s not true and we both know it. I just bought you time . Time I know you can use to escape. I know you know where my gasoline is. Use it . Set this place on fire and run. ”
“But the cliff-”
“Is something that I know you can figure out. You’re the smartest one here. The planner; the strategist. I know you can do it, Norman.”
Norman shook his head in denial, “it won’t be the same without you; escaping that is. Like I said, Momma will be on guard as long as I’m here; we won’t be able to-”
“And you think I could come up with a plan with you gone? Have you learned anything these past 11 years? Norman, with you here, escaping is infinitely higher than me being here. At least you’ll have a chance to escape. If I stay here, Emma will be alone because I’ll be dead within two hours of your departure.”
Norman frowned. “Ray-”
“What, you think I’ll let those demons eat me after they’ve had a taste of you? Absolutely not; the only way I’ll allow them to eat me is if you and Emma have even the slightest chance of living.”
Norman sighed in annoyance, “can you stop interrupting me?”
Ray smirked, “not if you’re going to continue to say stupid things.”
Norman smiled weakly before jerking forward and engulfing Ray with a warm hug. “I don’t want you to die.”
Ray’s heart warmed at Norman’s words while allowing himself to melt into the hug. After all, this was going to be the last time he saw Norman, he can at least have this. “I don’t want you to die either. So live, Norman. Do everything you can to live.”
Too soon, Norman unwinded his arms and stepped back with a brighter smile. “We’ve given them enough of a head start. Let’s go catch some kids.”
———————————————-
The day past by in a blur. And Ray? Ray couldn’t have been more happy. He practically got to spend all day with just Norman. Ray wanted to live, but even he could admit that he was more than happy to die today. When the sun started to set and all the kids had said their goodbyes, Ray was led to the door by Isabella. This is it , Ray thought to himself. Green eyes scanned the house, looking for a certain set of blue eyes, hoping to get a glimpse of them one last time, only to find that they were nowhere in sight. Ray tried not to feel too bad, after all, he spent all day with Norman, but he couldn’t help but feel his heart sink in disappointment. Instead, it was Emma who scurried, as well as she could with her leg, to his side at the entrance.
Ray’s heart almost stopped when he saw what was in her hand, and before she could get any closer, he jumped at her, concealing the device in her hand from Isabella’s line of sight. “Emma, what the fuck are you doing?!” Ray whispered to her harshly.
Ray could see Emma’s green (lighter than his) eyes tearing up as she half sobbed, “you can’t die, Ray; we’re a family. You’re supposed to escape with us.”
Ray hugged her fiercely and murmured in her ear, “don’t be sad, Emma, and let me go. I can’t be your priority; the children- Phil, Anna, everyone- you need to get them out. Do you hear me? You have to do it with Norman- without me. I know you can do it.”
Arms almost strangled Ray as Emma wept into his shoulder. A shadow fell over them, and as Ray and Emma looked up, Isabella looked over them with a deceptively gentle smile. “Emma, it’s time for Ray to go. We don’t want to keep his new family waiting.”
Emma unconsciously tightened her grip on Ray, so he had to pry her arms from himself. Ray smiled sadly at Emma and patted her head. “Goodbye, Emma.”
Isabella guided him with a hand on his upper back towards the front door again. Impulsively, Ray looked behind him, once again hoping to see Norman one last time, and once again, being met with disappointment.
Ray and Isabella walked farther and farther from the house towards the gate. Perhaps, if Ray had glance behind his back then, he would have seen blue eyes filled with regret watching his back through a window from the second level of the house.