[Ema listens quietly to his idea. It seems sound, or at least sound enough that it could work--and really, that's the best they can hope for at this point. If they can draw the cat out, and if they can bargain with it or force it to act on their terms for once... things might honestly be okay.

There's only one thing that Ema doesn't understand. After a few long moments of silence, she brings it up:]

It's reckless, but we haven't gotten anything by playing by the rules, either...

I just don't see how it saves Athena, Maya, and Mr. Gavin. It sounds like them dying would help your idea, wouldn't it?