"Join... forces?" Gilda questioned, repeating what Krone had requested.

"With you?" Marianna scoffed.

Norman smiled. "It's fine, you guys. No need to worry."

Norman walks up front of his friends and turns to Sister Krone.

"We'll hear you out." He said as Sister Krone smiled widely and chuckles at his response.

"Excellent. It's best if we cooperate so we can each achieve our goals." She clapped her hands as she pointed to them all. "You all want to break out of here, and I want to eventually become Mom of this house."

Krone widely smirks. "The plan is to drag Isabella from her position and then seize it for myself."

"You wanna be a Mom?" Don questioned.

"........."

"To prove that I mean it, you kids aren't the only ones who wanna break free from this." Krone said as she started to unbutton two of her collar shirts and reveals that, like the other Grace Field children, she, too, has numbers tattooed on the left side of her neck, 18684, causing everyone to gasp.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

~011145~

"Are you aware of the management system here?" Krone asked as she started to circle around the seven children. "Girls who meet certain conditions and live until the age of 12 are usually presented with two different paths when they're about to be shipped out, continue and die or... aim to become a Mom."

Girls...

"What conditions?" Don asked.

"High test scores and the Mom's recommendation." Krone answered. "Meet those two requirements, and it's possible to survive without escaping... if you're a girl."

"Only girls?" Gilda mumbled.

"Although, I don't recommend it... they make it so you're never allowed to leave the premises." Krone stated as she yanked her shirt down, revealing a horrible stitched scar that made everyone gasp.

"What... is that?" Emma gasped.

"There's a chip inside, and, with it, if you step one foot outside the farm, an electric current triggers and causes your heart to stop. But, at the same time, if your heart stops for some other reason, it acts as a transmitter that notifies the higher-ups."

"We were right then." Marianna said.

"In other words, we really can't kill the adults." Norman added.

Krone smiled at Marianna and Norman's statement as she started to button up her shirt. "Because of this chip, I can only live on the farms. That's why I wanna live in the best way this place has to offer."

Emma removed her hold on Gilda's shoulders as she glares angrily at Krone. "Even if it's fake, being a Mom means you get to feel human, but to achieve that, I have to remove Isabella. If all of you escape, she'll be the one who's blamed for it. Trust me, I won't stop you if you make a run for it. It actually benefits me."

"You won't... ship us out?" Gilda asked.

"Of course not." She replied making both Gilda, Zara, and Don gasp. "So let's cooperate!"

The seven of them just stared at Sister Krone with very untrusting looks on their faces as Norman smiled, Marianna sighed, and Krone chuckles while lending her hand out to Norman.

"How about it?" She said with a genuine smile.

Norman raised his hand up towards Sister Krone's as Emma stopped him and called out, "Norman."

The said boy turned his head to Emma. "Wait a sec. I wanna make sure of something."

"What is it?" Krone asked.

Emma turned to Krone with a cold stare. "How can we be sure you're not gonna betray us in the end?"

Krone widely smiles. "Are you saying you don't trust me?"

"Answer!"

Krone smiled amusingly as she scoffs. "All right. If Ray goes and tattles on me to Mom, you can destroy me. Meanwhile, if I tell Mom that Ray's acting as a double agent, then all of you will go down with him. So, you see, neither of us will snitch, because we can't."

Krone leaned towards Emma's face. "Do you trust me now?"

"........."

Marianna pats on Emma's shoulder, making Emma turn towards Marianna and she nodded to Emma and Emma did the same.

Emma turned towards Krone again as she sighs and says, "...Yeah, sure."

Krone smiles widely. "I guess we have a deal, then."

Once again, Krone held out her hand, and this time Norman shook her hand and they all made a deal with their enemy.

Krone chuckles as she started to dance again. "I know a lot of info about this place that may be helpful for you to know, and I'm willing to share it with you all~ it's proof of my goodwill. If you're interested, why don't you drop by my room tonight?"

Krone then started to walk off as she suddenly stops and turns towards the children. "Oh~! I almost forgot! 71481!"

"What is it?" She said hostilely.

"In HQ, you're really popular there. All of the Sister's, Mother's, Grandma, and especially the demons talk about you all the time."

Everyone gasped fearfully except Marianna who had her nonchalant expression as she asked, "Why's that?"

Krone teasingly put her finger on her lips, "Shh~ Drop by my room and I'll tell you everything~ Tata!"

***

It was dusk, and they were all gathered in the classroom, staring out the window and watching Krone play with the younger kids.

"She was one of us, and yet this is just so she can have a better life." Emma clenches her fist. "What a monster. She doesn't care if any of the kids here live or die at all."

"I agree." Zara nodded.

"She said she won't ship us, though." Gilda said.

"Not the case." Marianna added. "Did you hear what she said. It's not that she won't ship us out... she actually can't."

Gilda, Don, Zara, and Emma gasp.

"What do you mean?" Don asked.

"She can't rat us out without proof. She has no power to ship us out. The demons trust Mom a whole lot more than Sister Krone." Marianna explained.

"That's why she had no choice... but to approach the targets themselves. If Sister Krone's true objective was to actually help us escape, she had no need to approach from all she had to do was to keep quiet and help us behind the scenes when we needed it. She's already revealed so much unnecessary information to us. She clearly wants to gain our trust. Once we trust her enough to give her some kind of definitive evidence against us... Sister Krone will not hesitate to eliminate us all."

Emma, Gilda, Zara, and Don horrifically gasped as Norman started to continue on saying:

"Marianna's right." Norman said. "In uglier terms, the minute she gets her hands on any one of these things... she'll definitely betray us in the blink of an eye."

Don gasps as he breathed out, "Wait. What happens if she finds the rope we hid in the tree?!"

"It's fine. Explaining the rope is easy." Norman reassured. "We can say we were gonna use it for a game, but if we-

"If she finds the tools to break the trackers, then we're done for." Ray said.

Marianna nodded in agreement. "That's reliable evidence that we can't make excuses for."

Don and Gilda gasped again and started to feel anxious.

"No need to worry. Ray reassured. "I'm not gonna let that happen. I'm not finished making it yet, anyway."

"That won't be an issue if we can convince her that we don't know where they are or how to break them." Norman said with a smirk. "I'm sure Sister Krone would believe us if me, Emma, and Zara play our cards right."

"You're going to her room? You're dealing with Sister Krone here. It's nice she offered to give us information, but-

"Hang on. 1.) Why aren't you going Marianna and 2.) why are we cooperating with her?" Don asked.

"You think I can stay in the same room with that screw loose?" Marianna answered.

"Point taken." Don replied.

"If we use her effectively, we might learn something useful." Norman said. "Additionally, it'll keep her out of the way so we can focus on the inspection."

Don and Gilda were still worried when Norman said this, so Marianna stepped over to Gilda and took her hand.

"They'll be fine." Marianna reassured. "I trust Zara will okay without me."

Zara nodded. "Yup! I'll be just fine!"

Marianna walked over to Zara and held her hand as well. "Please be okay, Zara."

Zara smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be just fine. Plus I've got Emma and Norman by my side."

Norman nodded.

"Don't worry, Marianna! We'll make sure Zara is in perfect shape!" Emma exclaimed.

Marianna nodded. "Thank you."

"Plus we have to use every opportunity that we can!" Emma added while reassuring both Marianna and Gilda.

Norman smiles as he walks over to Don and pats his shoulder making him smile in the process.

"Ray, can I talk to you?" Norman asked to said boy. "I want to discuss the investigation."

"Okay." Ray said following Norman and exiting the room.

Emma turned to all of her friends as she said, "I have a favor I want to ask of you guys."

***

*Knock Knock*

The door opens, revealing Sister Krone with a demented smile on her face, creeping out Emma, Zara, and Norman as they both gulped and went right in.

As they were inside Sister Krone's room, they saw her holding her old and dusty doll.

In essence, all they have to do is to make sure they don't give themselves away.

"We're allies now, so ask me anything." She said as the dolls head twisted towards them, earning creeped out faces.

Krone suddenly notices that a specific person isn't here, she then asks the three, "Where's 71481?"

"She had a lot of stuff to do so she won't be joining us." Zara answered.

"Hmm... I see." Krone mumbles while inching closer to the three.

The three immediately put on cold stares as Norman asks, "We can ask whatever we want?"

"Let's plan out our questions before we leave."

"Yes. It can be about the farm, headquarters, or even 71481."

Emma made a "tch" sound as Zara made a very cold stare to Krone.

But the three had to play their part so they looked at each other and then looked straight at Sister Krone again as they said simultaneously:

"Then...

"Show it to us."

"The thing that receives signal from our trackers."

"Ohh." Krone gasped as she then smirks and lets out a chuckle.

"Oh... of course." Krone reached down her pocket and pulled out the same tracking device that Isabella had when looking for Naila.

Krone walked towards Norman and handed it to him, opening it and only seeing a map and one single green dot.

"There's not a lot to it, is there?" Krone started to explain. "It shows the current location, but doesn't say who it is."

All three of them sigh as Krone smiles even wider. "So you knew that there were tracking devices?"

"...Yeah. We found out from Mom, but we don't know where they are or how to destroy them." Norman said.

"Do you know, Sister?" Emma asked.

"Yes. They're found in your ear." She answered earning fake gasps from the three as she pointed to her ear. "Around here, on the left."

All three of them sighed again, earning a "hmm" from Krone.

"I don't really know how to break them... but I do know that, if they're broken, it notifies the tracking tool and HQ, you'd either have to take it out or just cut that part off." She explained while putting her doll on her bed.

"So Marianna was right." Zara mumbled.

"How? There are no sharp blades here." Norman said.

"There is one, a scalpel." Krone added.

"There's no medicine outside, and I don't wanna start our escape with blood loss or infections." Norman added.

"The infirmary has medicine and anesthesia you could use, tools as well." Krone placed her finger on her chin. "Now, the supplies should last at least five kids. I can teach you how to use them. I'll even lend you the key. Since that's settled, anything else?"

"........."

"........."

Both Emma, Zara, and Norman look at each other and sigh.

Emma turns to Krone, "How old are you, exactly, and have you always been a product?"

Krone's smile faded as she shook her head in disappointment. "Mm-mm-mm. It's pretty rude of you to ask a lady her age. But I'm gonna let it slide this time. I'm 26. I was born and raised at this house, though not here at Plant Three, mind you."

All three of their eyes widened as Norman said, "There's more than one?"

"And from what I saw in the records, it seems Isabella's 31." Krone added.

Isabella was born before that book was even published... and yet she was born on a farm like the rest, too.

Neither of these adults are from the outside world.

"Tell me, have you seen the outside?" Norman asked.

"Not once." Krone replied rather quickly.

Both of them gasped.

"Oh? Did you think that I'd lie and say yes? I haven't." Krone said.

"........"

"But there are humans out there. The higher-ups and us adults make all the food that you kids eat. However, there are humans who bring your clothes and supplies from outside. I've seen them at Headquarters once, and it seems like they were all in equal standing with each other. What you all need to do is get mixed in with the humans who won't get eaten."

Humans... who won't get eaten.

If this is true, there's definitely a higher possibility of Mr. Minerva still being alive.

If this is true.

Krone was a farm animal since birth. She's never been in the outside world.

"So just how long... have the demons been around?" Zara asked.

"Demons?" Krone questioned. "Oh, you must mean them."

"And how did the world get like this? If you know." Emma asked.

"I don't."

"Where is this house located?"

"No idea."

"What about the security?"

"Now, that, I know. There isn't too much. They rely on the tracking devices, so there aren't many guards posted. I doubt they even patrol." Krone said with a wide smile adorned on her face.

It's true that Norman couldn't hear anything on the other side of the wall.

But this is probably still a lie.

There's no way... that the security is going to be this lax.

"Thank you for all your help." Norman said handing back Krone tracking device.

"Is that it?" Krone asked, grabbing her tracking device.

"Yeah. Have a good night." Norman said turning towards Emma and Zara and the three were about to head out the door.

As Krone just stood their and watching the three leaving her room, a big and wide smirk started to form as she started to leg out:

"Fufufu..."

Emma, Zara, and Norman gasp as they slowly turn around and suddenly see Krone lifting her head up high and cackling like a witch.

"AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"!!?"

"SO... YOU ALREADY KNEW WHERE THE TRACKERS WERE AND HOW TO BREAK THEM! I'M ACTUALLY IMPRESSED. I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS DURING OUR TALK TONIGHT."

Both Emma, Zara, and Norman gasp as their eyebrows furrowed.

Krone calmed herself down as she plastered on a happy but crazed smile. "Info... can be provide without words.

"!!!"

"Humans tend to give away a lot of information, even if they're just standing there. Blinking, gaze, sweating, attitude, gestures, pupils, and pulse, they all hint at what you're really thinking. What gave it away was when I said the tracking device was located in your ear and neither of you even bothered to check. Then when you found out how to remove them, you didn't look the least bit happy about it."

Krone then starts to circle around as she started to sing. "So why did you ask when you already found out all on your very own?"

"Is there something you want... to hide from me? I bet there's a secret you're all keeping, isn't there?" Krone's eyes trailed over to the three as she then later giggles.

"Anyway, have you heard of him?" Krone asked making all three of them loudly gasp with each of their eyes widen.

Krone chuckles as she faces them with a wide grin. "I bet that you haven't. Do you want to know?"

"Wait!" Zara interjected. "What about the issue about Marianna?"

Krone's smile only got wider and wider. "Oh that? Well 71481 isn't here now is she? That conversation is between her and I, but I will say this, she's in grave danger so beware."

All three of them gasp horrifically as Krone inched closer to their ears as she whispered:

"I'll save that for your next visit here, so come back anytime, and we can talk much more than we did today.

***

Ray was in Isabella's office as he was holding his reward, a black Polaroid Camera. By the looks of it, he looks really fascinated by this object that he had just gotten as he examines every piece and corner.

Isabella just stared at the floor for a minute until she heard Ray say, "Hey, Mom."

Once she saw that the camera was aiming at her, she smiled and a flash of light was seen and not a moment later, a picture started to come out of the camera.

Ray pulled out the photograph and saw nothing put a black screen.

"I see." He said in amazement. "So nothing shows up here at first."

"Your last reward is a camera, huh?" Isabella asked displeased.

"I was just curious about how these things work, since I've only ever seen photographs and cameras in books. If I were greedy, I would have wanted to develop them."

Ray was immediately interrupted as he gasps and the photograph started to change into colors.

"Wow. It looks like you froze a moment in time." He says in awe.

Ray places Isabella's photo portrait aside as he stood up, holding the camera in his arms.

"About that other thing, can it wait 'til after lunch?"

"Yes. That should be fine."

And with that, Ray left the room, leaving Isabella to stare at the portrait of herself as she too was amazed by this technology.

***

As Ray was walking through the hallway, he noticed a familiar and long icy bluenette walking out of the library and closing the door.

The two noticed and the two locked eyes with each other.

Ray looks at her for a second, looks down at his camera and then looks back at her again.

An idea pops in his head as he smirks and started to make his way towards the icy bluenette.

"Hey Ray-oh."

Ray grabbed Marianna's hand and started to drag her back into the library.

He dragged her into the very back of the library and turned on the lights, leaving Marianna to be very confused.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"I just got my reward from Mom." He said.

"A... camera?" She questioned.

Ray nodded as he pointed to a wooden table. "Go stand over there."

Marianna was confused but she just went with it and did what she was told. She turned around to Ray, waiting for what he wanted next.

"Look my way and don't forget to smile." Ray teased.

Marianna grumbled at Ray's request as she only let out a sigh.

Marianna closed her golden eyes, put up her hands in a peace sign and smiled widely, showing her pure white teeth in the process.

Ray smiled at this as he raised his camera, he pressed the button and a flash of light emitted out of it and the only thing that came out was a blank portrait.

Ray pulled out the photograph, waiting for the photograph to gain its color.

Marianna rubbed her eyes from the flash as she walks towards Ray and saw a blank page.

Marianna had an unamused look on her face until the colors started to show and, just like with Isabella, it showed her own portrait of herself, almost as if she's seeing her own reflection.

"Oh!" She said amazed as Ray's eyes just trailed over to her and he just smiled at her.

As Ray was glancing at Marianna, his eyes then avert to the photograph he had taken and he only sweetly smiled at his photo.

———————————————————————

Thursday,
November 2nd.
6 days until
The escape.

———————————————————————

All of the younger children were dancing around with each other as Ray grabbed his camera and took a picture of his dancing siblings.

The black haired boy then turns to the icy bluenette who was refilling the water with the metal buckets.

Ray turns his camera towards Marianna and he says to her, "Smile Marianna."

Marianna turned to Ray's direction and smiled with the lever still in her hand, waiting for Ray to take the photo.

*Click*

Marianna stopped her smile as she commented, "You really love that camera, don't you." Ray only nodded in response as she noticed that he just stared at the photo.

Marianna and Ray then turn around as they saw their friends walk up behind them with metal buckets in their hands.

"Let's review." Ray said as he layed his camera on the table and leaned against the white cemented wall. "During the free time we have after eating lunch, I'm gonna be distracting Mom. Meanwhile, you four will inspect above the wall."

Ray glances at Don and Gilda. "Don and Gilda, stand outside where you can see the second-floor window to the south."

"?"

Don and Gilda looked at Ray with confusion in their eyes.

"Stay alert. I'll signal to you if I'm not able to distract Mom, and that's when you two tell the others to cancel the inspection." Ray explained as the two nodded. "According to our original plan, there are six days left, but we have the 2 1/2 months 'til I get shipped out. So if things go wrong, we can bail. We do everything in secret and pretend to be controllable."

Don and Gilda nodded their heads once again until Mark's voice called out to them.

"Don! You should come play with us!"

"Gilda, too!" Naila said.

"Sure! Are you ready to play tag?" He smiled as all the children were laughing and began to play their little game of tag with Gilda tagging along.

"Ray, Marianna, we need to talk." Norman said with him, Emma, and Zara having disappointed looks on their faces.

***

"What?! Krone found out that we can break the tracking devices?!" Ray asks.

"You're kidding." Marianna added.

Both of them shook their heads as Marianna went up to Zara.

"She didn't do anything to you, did she?" She asked in a worried tone.

Zara shook her head as she had a reassuring smile. "No. She didn't do anything to us."

Marianna sighed as she hugged Zara and she returned the hug back.

Emma and Norman smiled at the two as Norman faced Ray with a serious demeanor.

"We should move up the escape." He suggested. "How soon can you break them?"

Ray sighs before pulling out his camera from his cabinet and suddenly took the photo of the four: Emma was taken by surprised by the flash while covering her face, with Norman laughing, and Marianna and Zara who were hugging each other, Marianna closing her eyes while making a cute doggy face and Zara accidentally crossing her eyes.

"What even was that?!" Emma exclaimed.

"It's his new toy." Marianna said sarcastically while rubbing her eyes again.

"With this, I've got all the pieces that I need." Ray said handing the camera over to Norman. "I can break them whenever."

Emma giggles as the girls see him just staring at the photo. They see Ray grinning and laughing at the photo.

Curiously, Emma let out a confused "hmm" as she, Marianna, and Zara walked over to Ray to look at the photo.

"Look at your faces." Ray chuckled.

"Hey!" Emma pouted.

"Your crossing your eyes again, Zara." Marianna turned to Zara with a stern look.

"I can't help it!!" Zara exclaimed waving her hands up and down.

"This is quite a double-edged sword, isn't it?" Norman said, catching all their attention. "Are we going to break the tracking devices and escape first, or is Krone going to find the evidence and turn us in before we have a chance to do that?"

Emma and Zara frown while Marianna only lets out a sigh.

"Don't worry. I handled it." Ray said as he smirked and let out a chuckle.

***

"Hmm. I wonder... why did they pretend not to know anything?" Krone pondered as she just sat on her bed and patting her dolls head. "They knew exactly where the devices were and how to destroy them. But how did they even find out in the first place?"

Krone then stopped petting her doll. "Actually, how will they break them? Are they going to use a specific tool? Could they have made something to do that? If that's the case, it could be the evidence I need. Is that why they were scared and lied to me?"

"Well, then, guess it's time to start searching!~"

***

As the children were preparing for dinner, Krone peeked out from the corner.

"Now's my chance." She giggled.

Krone walked through the hallway while happily humming a tune and opened the door that went into Ray's bedroom.

Krone went into Ray's nightstand and digs through all of his stuff. When she couldn't find anything in there, she looked under his pillow, nothing their either. So the only solution was under his bed, and once again she found nothing.

Krone clenched Ray's bed sheet in anger and frustration as she thought, "Nothing! Nothing at all! It's not anywhere!"

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Krone was startled by the voice behind her as she immediately turned around and saw Phil right by the door way smiling.

Krone sighs with relief as she let out a giggle. "I'm cleaning the floors in here.~"

"Oh. Mmkay..." Phil let out as he continued his way down the hallway and into the dinning area.

Once Phil was out of sight, Krone shoved Ray's bed and nightstand aside.

When Krone shoved the nightstand, she gasps as she saw a folded piece of paper on the floor.

She quickly picked it up and sat on Ray's bed as she unfolded the piece of paper and started to read it.

Krone's dark blue eyes widened as her tongue felt like it had been tied up in a knot, refraining her to speak.

Krone immediately stood up as she ran through the hallway and into her room, abruptly opening her door and loudly slamming it.

Krone leaned over her desk in disbelief, reading the note once more. "Found it. It's true. How could something like this not be?"

Krone suddenly laughs cheerfully as she began to dance around with the note.

"How unexpected! Now I have Isabella's second weakness!"

Krone then jumped around and landed onto her bed as she says to her doll, "Well, then, how should I make my next moooooooooveeeee!! If I show this note to Grandma and appeal to her, can I overthrow Isabella?"

Krone laughed some more. "Her position as Mom will finally be mine! Once that happens, I can ship out those brats and take 71481 straight to headquarters!"

Krone then thought a little bit longer about the note as she started to be doubtful.

"Wait a sec..." She pondered. "But how does Ray even know about this? Because Isabella herself shouldn't be aware of it."

*Knock Knock*

Krone jumped as she let out a fearful gasp, hoping that the person outside of that door didn't hear what she said.

She waited a little bit until she heard another knock, but this time she bolted straight away her bed and went to her brown suitcase and put the note in there while she slammed it shut as she then went to the door and opened it.

When she opened the door, Isabella, the Mother of the House, stood in front of her, smiling while confronting the Sister of the House.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Isabella with a letter opener knife between her fingers and the feeling of uneasiness started to spread throughout her body as she thought that Isabella was going to kill her right here and now.

However, that was the complete opposite of what happened.

Isabella had a letter in her other hand as she handed both the letter and letter opener knife to Krone as she said to her, "It's from Headquarters. You should open it."

As Sister Krone opened the letter and started reading it from word to word, she breathily gasps as every inch of her body started to leave off drolls of sweat as she started to shake in fear, making the paper connected to her hands to shake as well.

"It's unfortunate, but that's how it is." Isabella's voice rang.

Krone turned to Isabella as she saw coldness in her deep purple eyes and the last thing she said to Sister Krone was:

"This is goodbye."

Fate has suddenly...

Fate lies in her hands.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]