°•- What if -•°

At This Point 💔

" Mama! " Emma called out while running over to where Isabella was. She embraced her by the waist and laughed. " Ray was being mean! "

" My. Don't mind him. That's just his way of communicating I guess. He likes to tease the people he feels more close to. "

Emma puffed her cheeks and looked away. " But he doesn't do that to Norman! " She complained. Behind her, Ray stretched out his leg while Norman is walking causing the albino to fall down before Ray snickered with a taunting smirk on his lips. Norman sighed and gave his usual smile to greet Ray back.
" He always teases and makes fun of me! But he's so kind to Norman! "

Isabella kept her smile before patting Emma's hair. " Then why not tease him back. It's not often the children tease Ray. "

Emma's eyes shined in excitement as she nod her head and rushes out.
" May you have fun with your time here. " Isabella muttered watching Emma's figure run towards Ray.

Ray snickered at her whining when she complained to Norman instead about Ray's bad behavior.
" It's cause you're an idiot, Emma. "

Emma pouted before pointing at Ray then looking at Norman. " See? He's a demon! "

Norman's face grew uneasy before forcing a smile. " Don't say that. Ray's just being Ray. "

Emma sighed in disappointment that no one was on her side. " Ugh I hate you guys. You two are so mean! "

" Do you really? " Ray questioned, smirk gone from his expression.

The atmosphere suddenly felt chilly and serious. Emma felt a chill run down her spine at the sudden silence.

She looked over to Norman and nervously laugh. " A- haha... Who knew Ray was so sensitive at being hated, right? "

" Do you really hate us, Emma? " Norman questioned. He leaned closer to Emma that it seemed like personal space doesn't exist. It was unusual since Norman usually didn't get close to her like this.

" C- come on guys! It was a joke! I don't hate you guys! " Emma waved her hand around in a dismissing gesture. Norman and Ray still remained quiet.

" Do you hate us too? " Don and Gilda stepped out from behind the tree Ray was leaning on. Their faces dark with anger.

" Maybe that's why... " Phil commented, his sad expression tugging on Emma's heart.

Emma opened her arms to embrace Phil. Phil grabbed a fistful of the cloth of her shirt. A small whine leaving his lips after a moment of silence.

" You left us. " Phil's body went cold. He pushed himself away from Emma. His usual white clothes was now that of a shipment child's. A flower coming out of his back blooming into red.

She flinched recalling the flower to be like what Conny was killed with. She turned to the others and saw them walking away from her while she was on the floor of the hallway. They all wore the shipment clothes she hated. They all had big wide smiles on their faces while they chatted with each other how they want their family outside to be despite how it'll never come to be.

" No! Don't leave! " Emma yelled out, stretching out her hand to reach. Them! Anyone! Someone!

Norman hugs her. " Emma... " Norman softly spoke. Arms wrapped around her in a protective way. " Don't give up... Escape with everyone... " He slowly pulls away and gave her a closed eyed smile. A smile that was empty. Empty of promises for the future.

" It's time to go. " Isabella spoke up, placing the shipment hat on Norman before Norman stood up and walked away on a leash held by Isabella. Emma reached out unable to grab Norman's hand. She buried her face on her palms trying to scream out all the frustration and sadness in her heart.

" Bye bye Emma. "

Emma looked up to see Ray. Him soaked with gasoline. Him holding a lit match. A peaceful smile that was rare to see was on his lips. 

" no... No...! Ray! Please! " She tried to stand up from where she was but even though she was able to stand, her legs didn't move fast enough to reach him.

" Bye bye Emma. "

Ray's voice repeated. The match fell to the floor and lit the entire house on fire. She screamed in terror while hear Ray's dying laughter echoed in the room as he too burned with the house.

" Emma! " Gilda and Don yelled out as they were on the other side of the wall with the children. The rope connecting to the tree to the other side was still and waiting for her departure. She stood there before the figure on the end of her eyesight caught her attention.

" Emma... " Isabella breathlessly called out. Face pale and fearful. She looked over to the others side before looking back at her as if she caught something she didn't like. " Ray is...? "

Emma tightened her lips shut, eyes struggled to keep the tears at bay. Isabella's composure crumbled and the heat seems to get to Emma.

" I burned. " Ray from behind Emma placed both his hands on her shoulder. Still on fire— his body appeared charred and the heat from the flames radiated to make the side of Emma's face sweat. " It's because you and Mama left me. "

Emma's mouth opened before it closes once more.

" Save Ray. " Norman's voice spoke up. Her eyes still on Isabella travelled to the ground inside the plantation. Norman stood there in his sweater and white clothes. A look of disappointment on his face. " Why couldn't you save Ray?! " He raised his face as his face morphed into an angry expression.
" I can't believe I trusted you! My sacrifice was for nothing! "

" Emma. " Isabella reached her hand out to Emma. She wore that caring motherly smile on her lips. It was convincing enough but her eyes were empty. She had given up. Accepted that Ray burned with the house.

" You're tired. Let's go rest. "

Emma reached out her hand. Ray and Norman embraced her for a moment before Isabella kneeled down and whispered something to her.

" Is this really okay? "

Emma opened her eyes. A hand placed on the wall. Underneath her palm was an empty space of the drawing made by the previous child that was shipped out.

A child ran out from the dining room. Eyes green and white hair. She has a calm smile on her lips while she had two other children holding her hand. A black haired male with green eyes and a orange haired female with blue eyes. They seemed haggard from playing outside. The black haired male wore a frown while the orange one seemed to wear a content smile on her lips. The white haired child raised both their hands with a big naive smile on her face as she excitedly stare at Emma.

" Mama! Dinner's ready! "

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Ray: Nope. Nope. Nope. No. Heck No. Fu—

Norman: THIS ABSOLUTELY WON'T HAPPEN!

Emma: ah... I get it... In this story Norman got shipped and Ray succeeded in burning himself... So I...

Gilda: *crying*

Don: wow that's kinda sadder than usual...

Nat: it hits different when it's about Emma...

Phil: Emma... You won't become a Mama right?

Norman: THE ONLY MAMA SHE'LL BECOME IS WHEN THE THREE OF US GETS MARRIED IN THE HUMAN WORLD!

Isabella: you make it sound like having to take care of children is easy. Being a Mama is hard work.

Gilda: ah he might mean it in a non- ' our non biological mother is shipping out children she's taking care of '  mama way.

Ray: well mines the non- ' My own biological mother is shipping out all of my siblings while I became her spy to try and save Emma and Norman then the whole family because of those two so she tries to manipulate me ' mama way.

Isabella: . . .

Ray: But Wait! The three of us are getting married?!?

Norman & Emma: Σ⁠(⁠ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ⁠) You haven't thought of marrying us Ray?!

Gilda: SERIOUSLY RAY?!