Introduction (
Synopsis[]
After Emma takes in the day's events, she finally meets the group behind Goldy Pond.
Plot[]
It's currently the night after the attack, many children killed like Monica and Jake. As Emma cries about losing the people she wanted to protect, she's snapped out of thought by someone who hits her on the head. The said person is the same one who warned her to hide in the first place, and instructs her to come with them to the windmill.
As they enter the windmill, a larger man named Adam opens the door, revealing a small symbol on his chest. Due to his size, being nonverbal, and a symbol other than numbers as his marking, it's believed he could've been a mass-production farm child. Emma is then brought behind another door to be introduced to more human children, all seemingly waiting for her. Emma remembers a few, notably the ones who helped with first aid after the attacks. She is then introduced one by one to everyone, including the person who lead her here, who reveals themselves as Violet.
Once introduced, the kids explain they're not escapees like Emma, but rather were taken to Goldy Pond, as almost all of the children are from the other premium farm, Grand Valley, which is overseen by Lord Bayon. From what the children know, only three others are not from Grand Valley (Adam possibly being a mass-production baby, Emma from Grace Field, and another character introduced later in the chapter). The children then explain what exactly Goldy Pond is:
Goldy Pond was made by the demons in order to hunt and kill humans as their ancestors did. Since it's no longer allowed, they do it in secret. The thrill of the hunt was what lead them to making it in the first place. The village is all for recreational purposes for the demons, and when children die they simply replace them over and over again. Attacks are normally every few days, meaning replenishing children is most likely often. Due to the number of children that have died, the nine have sworn to take down Goldy Pond.
The group decided it would be a bit easy since reinforcements would be replenished within Goldy Pond, and the demons would most likely not get any help; since the hunting ground is meant to be secret, it's very unlikely a bigger group knows about it. From what Oliver says, their plan will go into action soon, and now with the help of Emma, things will most likely go better than originally.
After agreeing to help the children, Emma questions how they know so much; none of the children other than Emma is an escapee, and only knows about this information because of personal experience in the outside world, and teaching herself. The children then explain they got their information from another person, referencing them as "him". He is the only adult in the village, and is meant to be kept a secret since he "doesn't exist anymore".
Through the door, a fully grown adult with scars and marks on his face introduces himself as Lucas. Emma is quick to remember something from back in the B06-32 bunker, seeing the name scribbled on the wall when investigating rooms. Lucas then proceeds to ask about her pen, and asks to talk about Minerva with her.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first official appearance of Lucas
- The children's roles are revealed in this chapter
- Oliver: Leader
- Sonya: Second-in-command
- Violet: Look-out / watch
- Nigel: Mechanic
- Pepe: Refueling / Food
- Gillian: Refueling / Food
- Paula: Refueling / Food
- Sandy: Relief / First Aid
- Zack: Relief / First Aid
- Branding from Grand Valley, another premium farm, is revealed to be located on the chest, and follows a certain pattern
- The sequence follows a roman letter, followed alongside a roman numeral, and then proceeded with a set of six numbers in total, a dash separating three numbers (ex. AI 123-456)
- It is possible the letter could represent what "batch" the children are from, like how Oliver and Paula are the same age and have the roman letter A, but it contrasts Gillian and Zack's branding since they're both Q's, but Zack is older than Gillian
- The letter could also possibly represent what time of the year they were born, and the numbers could represent what week of the year
- The sequence follows a roman letter, followed alongside a roman numeral, and then proceeded with a set of six numbers in total, a dash separating three numbers (ex. AI 123-456)