636 walked through the destruction of the labs and watched as different chunks of concrete fell from the walls. The aftermath of her release of power was greater than she had initially anticipated. Due to the lights getting crushed during the fight and the fact that it was night out, 636 had to rely heavily on her right eye to make her way through the chaos. The dust had finally settled but it was still hard to navigate through the debris.
She listened for heartbeats as she went but none could be heard. Either they all had died or escaped. 636 didn’t care either way, as long as they were far away from her.
636 explored what remained of the labs and wasn’t surprised to see most of the equipment was destroyed. The tables she had laid on during tests when growing up had been split in two. She could almost smile at the sight.
Rummaging through the cabinets in each room, she found a small gray backpack. 636 didn’t know what to expect when she went outside but she knew she couldn’t leave empty handed.
She grabbed the bag and reached into her pocket for the bracelet made of hay. Glad to see it was still in one piece, she stuffed it into her pack and continued to look for supplies.
Although her knowledge on outside survival was limited, she was smart enough to know what basic supplies she would need. She packed food, water and the hairbrush Dr.Willow had used to brush her hair everyday. She stared at her open bag and the brush inside. 636 didn’t want to dwell on the memory of the doctor but her mind wouldn’t listen.
She remembered the way he alone had taken care of her. Making sure she learned the skills to survive here. The way he had spoken as if he really cared about her. He had shared personal information with her. Oftentimes if he needed space from everyone, he’d go to her. 636 was unsure if it had been an act on his part, but she would have liked to believe the man had loved her the way a father would love his daughter.
Taking hold of the straps, she secured the bag onto her back. She climbed through the chaos, scaling the broken walls and using her ability to lift herself up when she grew tired or was unable to climb.
It took her a while to get out, and not just because of her fatigue. There must have been twenty different floors she had to climb through to make it out of the facility. 636 took a minute to rest on the concrete slab by the hole in the ground that used to be the lab she grew up in. Finally able to rest for a little bit, she closed her eyes and tried to control her heavy breathing. Breaking out of the labs had been the only time she could remember using this much of her ability. She hadn’t known it was going to exhaust her this much. Her forearms and back ached slightly and her head felt like it was going to explode.
She turned on her side to remove pressure on her back and then finally opened her eyes. 636 was right about the whole thing being underground. Although her gravity manipulation had made the building collapse in on itself, some areas still stood, however, they were not left untouched. 636 was able to see the different levels in the dark due to the light coming from the sky.
When the realization struck her, 636 raised her head to face the night sky. She had been told about it before but that hadn’t prepared her for the beauty that was in front of her.
There were numerous stars painting the sky. A mix of blues and greens looked as though they had created paths over the stars. If she looked close enough she could see the natural light move in wave-like motions. It looked like there were a thousand tiny lights that had been thrown up in the air all at once.
While she had hoped to see the sun, she was grateful for the stars.
636 was fine with kneeling by the chasm she created to watch the stars but knew it was probably better to travel away from the place she had grown to despise. So she picked up her bag and walked through the field. Running her hands through the grass as she passed by, she was surprised by the prickly feeling they had. She found a blue flower halfway through the meadow and after admiring the color and the pedals of the plant, she picked it off the ground and put it in her pack.
Eventually she traveled to a forest, vast with green vines and tall trees. When she walked through the underbrush, bright yellow fireflies dispersed. With every step she took more and more would fly away. For a second it looked as though the stars had come down from the sky to surround her. 636 held out her hand for one to land on, but was disappointed to see its wings cover it’s light.
She had been walking for quite a long time and her feet were starting to get tired. Despite her tired and sore body, she was excited to find a place to temporarily call home. Her whole life she had slept in a cage and now she was going to experience the freedom of choosing a place for herself.
Eventually she wandered through the forest far enough to stumble upon a waterfall. From where she was standing on the edge of the lake, she could feel the mist hit her body. The water was cold but refreshing. The moonlight was being reflected off of the blue water, making it look as though it was glowing.
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636 set her bag by a rock and started to remove the bandages around her forearms. Unwrapping them slowly while she watched the water fall down the rocks. The water in the lake was almost completely clear and she could see the different stones and plants under the surface.
636 watched her reflection in the water as she removed the gray armored vest, unfastening the four straps on her sides. One under each armpit and another above each side of her waist. Once the vest was off, she removed her tank top and then took her time unwrapping the bandages around her stomach and back.
With all the bandages gone, she had a clear view of the scars on her spine and arms. Skin now covered the crystalized salice, but there was still a slight raise from the implants that caused her body to look scarred.
636 thought back to the bodies and blood that was left after she destroyed the labs. She had killed all of them. Some weren’t even there for her upbringing. The fact that there were maybe a few with good hearts hadn’t stopped her from killing them. She hadn’t cared.
She stared at the scars and then back at her face. The gold in her right iris stood out against the darkness. Monster. She thought to herself.
She was a monster. A weapon. A murderer.
She had gotten her freedom but at what price. Her humanity? She didn’t think she had any left.
636 splashed her reflection in the water, sending ripples through her face in the mirror nature had provided. She didn’t want to think about what she had done. Leaving it in the past was her best option for moving on.
She removed the blood splattered clothes and dunked them underwater. Washing the blood and memories away. The thought of forgetting her time in the lab used to scare her, now she welcomed it.
After cleaning her clothes, she walked into the lake. The rush of the cold water on her skin made her shiver. She was grateful the water was deep enough to cover most of her body but also thankful it wasn’t too deep because she had never learned how to swim.
If worse came to worst she’d use her ability to bring herself out of the water but she didn’t like using it unless it was necessary. It was just another reminder of what had been done to her. She was grateful Seth had died before he could see what she had become. If others thought of her as a monster she could live with it, but if he had ever thought of her that way… her heart would have broken for a second time.
636 quickly dunked her head under the water as if it could wash that thought away. She ran a hand through her wet hair and walked over to the waterfall. Standing under it, she closed her eyes and welcomed the feeling of water falling on her. She felt every droplet hit her skin. Heavy and cold down her shoulders. 636 closed her eyes at the feeling. It was foreigen but not unwelcome. Anything was better than the cleaning tactics in the lab.
Her state of relaxation was interrupted by a distant hissing noise. She opened her eyes and looked around the lake but couldn’t see anything. The hiss echoed in her ears again and this time she turned to the waterfall. She walked further in until she was on the other side. A large dark cave stood in front of her. She couldn’t see in the cave until she closed her left eye, giving her right the focus it needed.
The sight wasn’t much better than before but it was still an improvement. The cave had a few rocks scattered about but still seemed rather empty. If it weren't for the hissing that was echoing through it, she would have thought the place to be abandoned.
Finally she saw some movement from the corner of her eye. The beast was fast, too fast. She didn’t get a good look at it as she dunked under the water to avoid it’s attack. Whatever it was, it was huge. Probably three times bigger than 636 in height alone. The beast landed in the water and swam towards her, she didn’t waste any time activating her ability and raising the creature out of the water.
Calling the thing ugly would be putting it nicely. It’s body was covered in both scales and fur. It had a bat-like face and a big nose. It’s blood red eyes looked like they were glowing. It had big gold spikes on each side of its face and long muscled legs. Six total around its body.
The creature hissed again and 636 grew tired of looking at it. She pulled the monster into two when it started spitting a golden color saliva at her. It’s halves revealed a similar color to be it’s blood. The gold matched the color in 636’s right eye and the salice running through her veins.
This was the creature they had used to experiment with. What they had used on children taken from their homes. When they had taken her from her mother. This creature’s blood was also hers and she hated it.
636 threw the monster’s remains into the forest, hopefully far enough away so she wouldn’t have to look at it again. She hopped out of the water and gathered her clothes. They were still a little wet but she wore them anyway.
She looked to the forest and then to the waterfall, thinking about the cave behind it. 636 moved the water so that she could get through without getting wet again, and parted the waterfall. Bubbles of water that she had created floated in the air around her, glowing due to the indirect effect of her using her powers.
She entered the cave that she knew was now empty, and set her things down. 636 looked through the opening of the waterfall and at the water still being held up by her ability, and released it all at once. The water came crashing down again and her light faded.
Resting against a cold hard rock, 636 drifted off to sleep. The only thing in her mind was the thought of seeing the sun shine for the very first time.