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Emma nervously walked through the hallways of the House she loved. Her crutch was hovering over the floor, making no sound. It was mostly for show now, anyway. If Norman was correct, this would be her last night here. Well, for her and most of the others. Her plan was working so far, all the kids had vastly improved their skills during their games of hunt-tag. Phil was also doing really well, for having the House’s secrets revealed to him at age four, and with the knowledge that his siblings were going away for around two years. She was so proud of all of them. Emma continued walking along slowly; it had been around 11 pm when she got out of bed. She hadn’t been able to sleep all night, her racing thoughts keeping her awake. Norman’s letter was burning a hole in her pocket, and Emma couldn’t help but tear up slightly at the thought of her now-dead friend. She paused in front of the wall with all the drawings from the younger kids, the space where Connie’s was still empty, waiting for a new drawing from another four- or five-year-old. She put her hand on the missing space, allowing a moment of emotion as a few tears slipped down her face.
After a minute or two, she wiped the tears away and the depressed and exhausted look took its place on her face once more, her destination changing from the old drawings to the dining hall. Walking slightly faster now, she let her thoughts move toward what Norman had predicted would happen tonight. Their, no, his plan seemed to be flawless, ignoring one small detail.
A fire...?
Norman had mentioned in the letter that Ray had been planning to set the house ablaze, which she could barely believe. Emma understood that Ray had known about the House’s secrets for far longer than she or Norman ever did, but she never understood just how much he was willing to do to get rid of it. She couldn’t understand the amount of dark genius that her best friend had, that he was willing to use against the House and all its occupants. He wasn’t planning on saving everyone. Only two three people. One of which had died anyway. Emma was planning to march into the dining hall and talk to him about doing something else, something that would secure the safety of the other children she’d promised Phil she would save. Of course, that’s not all the letter included about his plan, but she refused to think about the other part that Norman had written. After all, it was impossible, right? Who would want to kill themself? That sounded like some nonsense from a horror movie, because Ray might be grumpy a lot of the time, but he was never suicidal! Norman must have been reading a scary book or something… There’s no way someone would want to end their own life… It’s impossible!
Right…?
Emma pushed her… rather depressing thoughts to the back of her mind, away from where she’d ever have to see them again. Taking a deep breath to ground herself, she turned to the dining hall, pushing the large wooden doors open. Despite Norman’s letter, Emma was still slightly surprised to see Ray in the dining hall (even if that was the whole reason she was in the dining room in the first place,). She took a good look at him as she walked over. Her best friend had seen better days, dark bags taking refuge under his dull emerald eyes. The longer she looked, the more tired and sad he seemed. He matched what she imagined anyone who knew their death was planned to be the next day would look, like someone who was waiting to die. She pushed the thought away. After all, he can’t be shipped out if he wasn’t there.
“Ray,” she said, “What are you doing at this hour?”
He took a deep breath before answering. “It’s my last chance, so I’m saying goodbye to this House.” Ray avoided eye contact with her, instead, he was looking up at the ceiling.
“It’s your birthday tomorrow,” Emma reminded him, aware of the implications of what she said. After all, it’s not every day someone turns twelve, right?
“Yeah. Tonight’s the last night. Tomorrow I’m getting shipped out.” Especially not at the House, where a short twelve years were the maximum amount of time to live. She refused to think any further about that fact. They were not dying here, no one would die here anymore. Ray’s visible eye met hers. “Hey, Emma. Tell me.” She tensed. “Did you really give up?” Of course, I didn’t give up! That would mean all my siblings here and the kids in the other plants are going to keep dying! I won’t allow the farms to keep going. We’re going to end this! Emma’s thoughts raced through her head again. “You haven’t actually given up, right?” Instead of answering him, she smiled. A determined grin took place on her face. Emma was surprised to see a similar grin on his face as well, albeit a smaller one.
“Yeah, I haven’t given up. You haven’t either, right?” As of she needed to ask. Ray’s face told her everything she needed to know. Besides, he wouldn’t give up on their siblings now. He said he believed in her, even if the thought of taking everyone was naïve.
“Yeah. So in the end we’re on the same page. We were planning the escape while pretending we had given up,” he said slowly.
Emma took a deep breath, letting the grin slip off her face. It’s now or never. “Let’s run away. I came here to talk to you about it.”
“Perfect timing. I wanted to talk to you, too.” His eye met hers again. “We couldn’t talk for two months because we were worried Mom would see us,” he finished saying, looking oddly relaxed.
Emma started talking to him about her plan, how she used Don and Gilda, the preparations they made, and the improvements she saw in each of her siblings. When she got to telling him about how and when she planned for them to run away, he interrupted her. Ray started to tell her about his ideas for the escape. She sat down as he started explaining the main two problems they were facing. Mom, and the security. In his fashion, he made escaping sound impossible. Emma was determined to prove him otherwise.
Even after Norman’s letter, Emma was still surprised to hear Ray talk so casually about setting the House on fire. Getting up and stomping her previously broken leg on the floor to convince him she was okay. She was also very surprised and confused once he revealed his stash of light fuel. Overall, however, Ray’s plan made sense. There was a problem with it that Emma could see. Before she could ask, Ray continued talking.
“M-Molotovs?!”
“Don’t take my six years of preparation lightly,” was all he said in response. Ray convinced her to change when they ran to that night. She watched as he started spreading the fuel on the floor, avoiding stepping in it. Emma started growing more and more anxious. Ray, apparently sensing her discomfort, told her that the dining hall was the farthest away from the bedrooms and that everyone would be able to evacuate. It eased a part of her, but she remained anxious. Before she said anything, Ray started sharing his opinion on taking everyone. When he mentioned leaving behind the babies, Emma started feeling guilty that she didn’t tell him the full plan, that she left him out of some crucial information. The words were stuck in her throat as Ray shared the conclusion he came to a while ago, that it was better she escaped with everyone than not at all.
Emma tried making her voice work, to say something, but the words weren’t coming out. She took a few calming breaths.
“What are you doing?” Ray asked, turning to face her again. “Go tell Don and Gilda.”
Emma finally managed to speak up. “Hey, Ray. I’m worried about something,” she started saying. “Even if we start a fire… what if Mom decides to abandon the building? She might give up on putting out the fire and refuse to take her eyes off us, the merchandise.”
“You realized that, eh?” He sighed, looking more tired than any eleven-year-old should. “Yeah, you’re exactly right. There’s a good possibility of that happening. Just starting a fire won’t be enough.” Emma swallowed nervously, trying to ignore the part of her that knew what was happening. Because it’s impossible, she said to herself, repeating it like a mantra. “If we don’t stop Mom for sure… there won’t be an opportunity to shake her off. But no worries. I’ve thought of that.” Emma watched Ray’s every move with wide, anxious eyes as he grabbed another can of fuel. “It’s simple. I just have to do this.”
“Ray?!” she exclaimed as he doused himself in lighter fluid. She watched in horror as a wide smile crossed his face. It was the biggest smile she’d ever seen on him, mixed with happiness he’d never had before.
“Isn’t it awesome? The perfect score with the set shipment date will burn up. She won’t be able to abandon me. I’ve been waiting for this day.” Emma was frozen. She could hardly believe this was happening, her best friend was actually trying to kill himself, just like Norman predicted. It was horrifying, seeing him look so happy when talking about his demise that he had planned for only he knows how long. Ray kept talking about how he was taking their feast away from them in a final, childish retaliation, but Emma was barely listening, desperately raking her brain to find what to do. He started talking about his guilt at watching all his siblings being shipped out when Emma ran forwards. Only to be stopped by Ray.
“Listen, Emma. You only have one chance. Make this work. Don’t waste my life or Norman’s life. I beg of you.” He turned to a book that was placed on the table that Emma hadn’t noticed. “Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you,” he said, handing the book to her. She flipped through the pages, only to find pictures Ray had taken with his camera of their family. Her fingers shook as she took one out. It was a picture of her and Norman. Emma felt her eyes burn. She looked back up at the sound of a match being struck. The clock hit midnight, twelve chimes echoing through the dining hall.
“It’s time. I’m now twelve years old. It was a life I wanted to curse… But the time I spent with you and Norman was really fun.”
“No, please don’t...!”
“Thank you. Goodbye, Emma.”
Emma felt as if time had slowed down for her. Even still, she barely managed to catch the match.
“Emma, your hands-!” Ray exclaimed. Emma ignored him in favor of throwing the match away and pulling her friend into a tight hug. Once his brain caught up to what just happened, Ray started struggling against her, trying to free himself. Emma squeezed him tighter, ignoring the pungent scent of the fuel. “Emma, please. Just let me- Emma!” Ray was talking to her again. She didn’t say anything and kept holding him. “Emma!” He was getting desperate, but he would never hurt her. Ray’s voice started cracking. “Emma, please, just let me go! Let me do this! Please!” His movements were getting sloppier, but she refused to loosen the embrace. Emma feared that if she let go, Ray was going to disappear. “Emma- Emma, please... Just let me die already!” He screamed at her, putting all his remaining strength into pushing her away. When that didn’t work, he gave up. They both fell to their knees as Ray started sobbing. “I d-don’t want to- to be here anymore.” He managed to say between sobs. Emma’s heart broke at his small voice. “I- I don’t want to esc-escape. Please, Em-Emma,” Ray continues to beg in her arms and tears started slipping down her face too. “Please, Emma. I j-just want to d-die.”
“S-stupid Ray.” She said slowly, interrupting his pleas for death. “I said we’re all going to escape. That means you too.” Emma sniffed, taking deep breaths to calm herself, breath hitching a few times. There was something in Norman’s letter that he wanted her to tell Ray, but she couldn’t remember what it was. Nor did she care at the moment. Her priority was calming down Ray. “Deep breaths Ray,” she reminded him. Emma started taking large, exaggerated breaths, Ray trying his best to follow.
Once he was mostly calmed down, Emma started speaking again. “I meant it when I said I wanted everyone to escape Ray. Norman left me a letter before he died.” She heard his breath hitch at the mention of their dead friend. “He said that you were going to kill yourself.”
“Of course, he knew…” Ray said, raising his head to look her in the eyes. “So, you knew what I was planning tonight then?” He made the question sound like he was talking about something mundane like he was asking if it was going to rain.
“Well-”
“You knew, and yet you let me have hope that I could finish it all? That it would finally be over?” He interrupted, starting to raise his voice again.
“Ray-”
“You knew what I was planning. Instead of trying to stop me before I started, or talking to me, or- or- anything, you let me go that far. You-” Ray paused, catching his breath. “You let me get so, so close. And for what!? To see me finally lose all hope?!”
“R-Ray, please-” Before Emma could continue, a hollow, desperate laugh echoed through the dining hall.
“Why am I even surprised…? Nothing ever goes my way. I should’ve just listened to your stupid, naïve plan from the beginning.”
“I didn’t believe someone would actually want to kill themselves!” Emma burst out, immediately covering her mouth with her hand. Ray huffed out a laugh.
“Poor, naïve Emma. Still learning the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows,” he said. Emma pouted. All the humor Ray had disappeared. “Emma, listen. I… I really don’t care if I get out of here alive. No, shut your mouth I’m not done.” Emma reluctantly shut her mouth. “Like I said, I don’t care. But if you’re so determined to get out with everyone… I’ll try to help.” Ray looked back up to see Emma beaming at him.
“Well Ray, you might not care if you survive, but I do. I’ll explain the plan to you then we can get it going, okay?” He nodded.
With the help of their younger siblings, the escape plan worked almost flawlessly. As Emma helped to tie Jemima to Ray, she notices his eyes widening. She finished tying the rope and looked over her shoulder where Ray was staring. In the distance, she could see Mom sprinting across the wall, trying to get to them in time. When she caught up to them, Thoma and Lannion were crossing the zipline, while Emma, Jemima, and Ray were still on the ledge.
“Emma! Wait!” their mother cried into the night. Ray averted his eyes from the older woman and started getting ready to cross. He didn’t want to see her anymore, and he wasn’t special to her anyway. So why am I hesitating? Emma’s eyes met his and she nodded at him, running off the edge and sliding across the gap. Ray looked up to the person he never considered his mother, and jumped off with Jemima, ignoring her screams at him. When they both landed, Emma helped untie them and they ran. The two eldest’s sparing a single glance behind them before moving on.