After cleaning up her makeup, Emma went to her closet and grabbed another outfit

(Christ, I'm going all out for these clothes-)

She didn't know why she had so many dresses but she liked their color. She smiled, like usual, and left her room. She skipped through the halls, humming the lullaby any her father used to sing for her when she was little (making him a good dad is prolly the best idea I've ever had lmao). She entered the elevator and went over to where Norman's room was, went to the door, put the keycard into the scanner and entered, not bothering to knock. Norman looked up from his book to see Emma in the doorway

"Okay, we're not knocking anymo-" Norman's words cut short by Emma showering as much worry as she could on him, cause, y'know, all the cameras

"Are you alright? Did they use anesthetic?" Emma said, grabbing his face and inspecting him, side to side

"Uh- yeah. They used anesthetic" Norman replied, seeing relief in her eyes, though her face remained neutral

"Good" Emma sighed slightly, resuming her posture so the guards behind the cameras wouldn't be suspicious. She inhaled and exhaled, putting her smiling poker face back on (alright then, Dream- /hj). Norman noticed how much her childish yet professional personality was slowly deteriorating, bit by bit, making him concerned.. Wait, there's no way he's getting all worked up over HER. The daughter of the man responsible for the suffering of hundreds, maybe even thousands if we're talking about other lambda farms, of cattle children... But she didn't want to do this anymore, but it doesn't excuse her from torturing her own kind

"Why.. Are you so worried about me?" Norman asked, snapping out of her thoughts

"B- because you are a premium cattle child, your mental health is important to the taste and nutrients of your flesh" Emma smiled and explained in her usual cheerful tone, with a tiny hint of anxiety, which Norman detected 

"Then, why are you lying?" Norman interrogated. His words made Emma's heartbeat speed the hell up and she started sweating nervously

"I- I don't know wh- what you're talking about, Norman.." Emma stuttered, tugging at her skirt "Norman, I am trying to help you, calm down" she whispered. Norman eyed her up and down, not amused.

"I've noticed that your breathing changes constantly, you usually go pale when I ask anything about you" Norman said, making Emma's eyes dart to all the places where the cameras were hidden she could see, making her hyperventilate slightly. Noticing this, Norman's concerns arose again

"What are you doing?" Norman asked, seeing her hand grab the other tightly, her breathing was fast and quiet, even though her mouth was closed and still in a smile, or she held her breath completely, her shoulders were tense, her eyes were wide and darting around the room to specific spots

"I- I'll be back in a bit" Emma said before rushing out the door, accidentally leaving it open. He followed curiously and saw her in a non binary washroom, puking and coughing into a toilet. Not thinking, Norman rushed in and sat next to her and patted her on the back. He obviously panicked, recognizing it as a symptom of a panic attack

(I ain't cappin, bruh)

Emma vomited for at least 30 seconds before finally stopping, Norman by her side the whole time. When she stopped, she coughed coarsely and put her hand on her forehead, signaling that she was dizzy and tired

"C'mon, get up. I'm taking you to your room" Norman got her up and helped her stand. The both of them walked the trek back to her room, of course getting a few weird stares from scientists, Emma leaning on him the entire time, coughing here and there. When they got there at last, Norman put her on the bed and checked her temperature, like he would with his little siblings back at Gracefield. Her temperature was somewhere around 99.5 Fahrenheit

"You're sick..?" Norman muttered. She didn't reply. She was too busy struggling to breathe and coughing "I think I should find Peter" he said and got up to find Emma's dad. He left and started searching, it didn't take long though, he found him within ten seconds

"What are you doing out of your living quarters?" Peter asked in a serious tone

"Emma vomited and now she's sick, is that a good enough answer?" Norman rolled his eyes

"What? Where is she?" Peter asked, his tone immediately shifted (best dad ever, frfr)

"Her room" Norman pointed down the hall, to the door. Peter speed walked past him and scanned his keycard, entering the room. Norman followed him into the room. The man put his hand on Emma's forehead, visibly worried. Norman watched, dumbfounded that THE Peter Ratri was worried about anyone other than himself (most canon thing in here tbfh)

"Father..?" Emma half opened her eyes "what's happening?"

"I don't know, but you're burning up, you have a fever" Peter said gently, Norman still watching confusedly "close your eyes. You need rest"

"Mhm..." Emma hummed and closed her eyes again, falling asleep. Peter finally realized that Norman was standing there and motioned him to come closer

"Huh?" Norman walked over and looked at Peter

"I can't be here for long, could you take care of her while I'm away?" Peter asked, relatively nicely, I might add

"Sure" Norman said before Peter left. Now I'm stuck with her, Norman thought to himself. He sighed and looked at the sickly girl on the bed beside him, each breath a different fight. Covering his mouth and nose with his hand, he used his other hand to check her temperature again. He flinched when he found that she had, somehow, gotten worse within the span of a minute. Her temperature had risen (idk, I'm stupid)

"Norman...?" Emma whispered, her voice obstructed by phlegm

"Go back to sleep" Norman said "I don't think you're okay"