It had been a full day. A full day in her cell with no sign of Seth. What had happened to him? Did they hurt him? Kill him? 636 doubted they would kill him, after all he was still a subject here. At least, that’s what she hoped.

636 kept her eyes on the hallway all night, the thought of sleeping without knowing what happened to him scared her. He was her only bit of joy in this place.

636 twirled the piece of hay between her thumb and forefinger. It was the same piece of hay Seth had used to pick the locks on their shackles. She still wondered how he could do so with such a flimsy object.

She started to grow tired as she leaned against the back wall. Eyes becoming too heavy to keep open, she drifted to sleep.

The sound of the cage door opening woke her. She looked at her cell door but it remained closed. When she turned to look at Seth’s cell, it was no longer empty. Seth’s limp body laid on the floor. 636 saw he was still breathing and let out a breath, heavy with relief.

The doctors were nowhere in sight, so 636 ran over to the bars next to where Seth was unconscious.

“Seth!” She yelled out to him but he didn’t stir. 636 watched him for a few moments before she went to grab her small bed. She dragged the bed over, not taking her eyes off of him.

Laying down facing Seth, 636 reached her hand through the bars and held Seth’s hand. His face had two bandages, one near his left brow and another on his jaw. Tears streamed down her cheeks, impairing her vision. She drifted off to sleep once again. If Seth could sleep, then so could she.

“Morning Sunshine.” Seth’s voice echoed through her ears and 636 rose up quickly, causing Seth to lean back, surprised.

“No one has that much energy in the morning.” He spoke as though nothing happened but 636 couldn’t forget. The bandages on his face were all the reminders she needed. She grabbed him through the bars and pulled him in for a hug. A bang echoed through the room when Seth hit them.

“Wow you’re stronger than you look.” Seth complimented her as she held him tight. Slightly uncomfortable due to the bars separating them, but Seth returned the hug anyway.

“I was scared they would hurt you when they took you away.” 636 whispered into his shoulder.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Seth blinked back tears that threatened to fall and held her even tighter. “They didn’t hurt me, well beside the razor before they knocked me out.” He laughed slightly. In truth he didn’t seem to be put off by what had happened, it was as if he had no memory of being taken away. What had they done?

636 pulled away from the hug. “I’m glad you’re back.” She said, smiling. “Now you can tell me more stories about the outside.”

Seth smiled back when he noticed the piece of hay on her bed.

“You stole my hay.” He chuckled.

636’s face heated up. “I didn’t steal it.” She picked it up and held it out for him. “I was just keeping it safe.”

Seth rolled his eyes and got up. He pulled a few more pieces of hay out of his bed. “You can keep it, I have plenty.” He smirked at her and her face flushed even more.

“What am I supposed to do with hay? I can’t pick locks.” 636 mumbled to herself and turned her head away, embarrassed. Seth made her feel dumb sometimes. This was one of those times.

“Give me your hand.” Seth said firmly.

636 scrunched her brows in confusion but did what he said. Seth held out the pieces of hay and started braiding them around her wrist. 636 watched in awe. Observing how he moved the different strands to form a new one.

Once Seth finished she examined the braided hay. Running her fingers down the bracelet, slightly pulling on it to test its durability.

“See hay can have many uses. It’s not just for picking locks.” Seth smiled triumphantly, like he’d just won some sort of game.

636 looked at the bracelet and then at Seth’s empty wrist. She fumbled through her bed trying to tear it.

“What are you doing?” 636 ignored Seth, busying herself with finding hay that she deemed usable.

Once she found enough strands she liked, 636 started braiding them. Copying the pattern Seth had done. When she finished the bracelet, 636 grabbed his arm and tied the woven bracelet around his wrist.

It didn’t look as pretty but it didn’t look like it would fall apart so 636 was happy.

“Now you have one too.”

“Boys don’t wear-” Seth stopped complaining when he saw how proud 636 looked.

“That’s the first thing I’ve ever made.” She smiled and Seth looked away.

“I’ll never take it off.” Seth’s whisper was quiet but 636 heard him loud and clear.

“It can represent our bond.” 636 said.

“Our bond?” Seth asked, confused.

“We’re best friends, remember?” Seth smiled at her.

“Yeah, I remember.”