Three-sixteen stared up at a black ceiling. The air stank of blood and he heard the clatter of different tools moving around. He couldn’t move to investigate the noise, he couldn’t even turn his head. He was strapped, tight, to some sort of table.

“This one should do.” The agitating voice was as harsh and ugly as it was distinctive.

Bones sunken-in face appeared in the bottom corner of Three-sixteen’s vision. The man was covered in blood and his hood hung loosely on his shoulders giving him the appearance of a demented scarecrow. His smile was equally unnerving; a cross between a coy grin and a wolfish snarl that stretched his lips so thin they disappeared entirely.

His bloodshot eyes met Three-sixteen's and his smile broadened as he said, "Oh good, you're awake."

A second person entered Three-sixteen's field of view; a woman with high cheekbones and child-like enthusiasm. “You’re one strange little number, you know that? I bet you have lots more secrets just hiding under that skin of yours,don't you?"

The woman reached forward with a small curved knife. She incised into Three-sixteen's wrist as she laughed. “You've already lost so much blood though... Do you think you'll be able to survive another... Inquiry?”

Three-sixteen wanted to fight back, but his body wouldn't move; he couldn't even scream or utter a single word as the knife scraped against his bone.

“Ah ah ah...” the woman said, shaking a finger at him. “Be a good boy and let me explore! I want to know everything about you.”

Bones hovered over her, whispering in her ear with the same unsightly expression as before. She nodded, then laughed as she glanced back at Three-sixteen. “I guess we'll have to make do with what we have.” She offered him a quick smile before stroking his face and adding, “Don’t die before I come back to you. I’ll be so disappointed if we never meet again.”

Three-sixteen struggled in vain to get free as what felt like fire traveled up his veins and Bones leaned closer, his rancid breath assaulting Three-sixteen as he whispered, “I might have been wrong about you. What a good little ruse you are…” he laughed, the sound like the rasp of a miner that swallows too much dust. “…pretending to be weak and helpless, but I see the truth now and I won’t let you hide from me any longer.”

Bones laughter filled Three-sixteens ears so completely that he didn’t notice the sound of his ribs snapping one by one. He barely felt the pain when Bones plunged his hands into Three-sixteen's chest and fiddled with some odd organ he didn’t know he had. He felt nothing as his body went numb and his mind gave way to darkness.

He awoke with a gasp, the memories of Bones and the woman with the knife fresh in his mind and his body ached as if they were still dissecting him.

It took several moments for Three-sixteen to realize he wasn’t strapped to table and no one was around. The room was empty except for the bed on which he slept and a fresh set of clothes folded neatly at the end of the bed.

A bad dream he thought? But why the physical pain, why did it feel so real and vivid?

He tried to recall what happened the day before but all he could remember was fighting a strange beast, and then the table, and now… he didn’t know where this was and was quite uncomfortable with the fact it wasn’t his cell.

His heart sped up with panic as he wondered if any of that had been real, if Bones had really tortured him and taken part of him away or if it was all just a vivid nightmare?

He got out of bed and, finding himself naked, got dressed. The clothes were not the uniform he had worn previously, but were rather simple; black trousers and a loose fitting black shirt with matching leather boots.

He didn't like the ensemble at all, but it was more comfortable than what he wore in the mines and didn’t leave him dependent like the magistrate suit Mikala gave him.

When he finished getting dressed he tried to door, but it was locked. “So this a cell; even if nicer than the previous one.”He thought aloud as he looked around the room for anything that could be used to pick the lock or help him escape. He didn’t find anything though and settled on banging on the door to see if anyone was there to open it for him.

After several attempts the door didn’t open so he returned to the bed and waited. He wondered why he wasn’t restrained like before, and where everyone else was, then a thought occurred to him as he recalled the last thing he'd heard before he passed out.

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Voices speaking of survivors, perhaps the group had escaped the collapsed tunnel and everyone else was attending new duties, or maybe they were sent back down there to clear out the rubble. If the tunnel was important to the ravens Three-sixteen didn’t think they’d just give it up.

Time dragged on, but finally he heard the sound of footsteps approaching down the hall and an instant later the door opened. The woman with the high cheekbones poked her face into the room.

She gasped as their eyes met, some mix of confusion and excitement animated her face as she smiled at Three-sixteen. “You’re awake. I was starting to think you were dead. After all that…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, instead she hurried over to his bedside, grabbed his wrist and ran her fingers along his arm. “They said it was all thanks to you that anyone survived. That you took charge and fought off a cave lurker. Quite impressive for a number…” she walked her fingers up his chest then placed one under his chin and his face so that their eyes were only inches apart. “…but you aren’t a number, are you?”

Three-sixteen scoffed as he turned away. “No? Then what are these numbers on my arms, what have I been doing the last however many years digging up crystals? If I’m not a number then what the hell am I?”

The woman stood, raising a brow with an amused smile on her face as she looked down at him. Her voice was condescending and belittling as she spoke, like an adult addressing an upset child. “I was hoping you’d tell me, but I don’t mind if you want to keep your secrets. I’m not so sure the others will like your attitude though.”

Three-sixteen was ready to snap. What difference did it make what anyone thought? Wasn’t that the whole point of this place—the whole principle behind the raven’s idea of freedom?

He took a deep breath, calming himself as he asked, “Who are you? Where is everyone else? And why am I here and not in my cell?”

The woman placed a hand on her hip as she watched Three-sixteen with curiosity. Mockingly she answered, “Thank you Ivy for looking after me. This room of yours is quite nice and much more comfortable than the ruined dungeons. I’m super grateful that you didn’t leave me down there with wild beasts and a gang of idiots so eager to escape they’d feed my unconscious ass to the monsters as a distraction.”

Three-sixteen narrowed his eyes on the woman. He didn’t quite care who she was or what she claimed to do for him. He just wanted answers to his questions.

The woman watched him expectantly, waiting for a response, but when he remained silent she clicked her tongue with disappointment and said, “My name is Ivy Redrum, this whole place is called The Nest and today you get the opportunity to be made free.” She offered a forced smile as she reached for him.

Three-sixteen backed away.

Ivy looked annoyed at that but she didn't comment on it before continuing, “Or you could just rot in this room until your health deteriorates and you die alone, without friends or family. Your choice really… Well, actually it isn’t really much of a choice but you get the point, right? Anyway I have to go attend to some things and then there are others that want to meet you, so be a good little pet and fix your sour attitude while you wait for my return.”

Her words were laced with sarcasm and disdain. She didn't like Three-sixteen, that much was obvious. As for what she meant by others wanting to meet him, Three-sixteen didn’t want to imagine who they might be or what they could want with him.

If they were anything like Ivy, or Bones, Three-sixteen would be just as happy to pass on the meeting. Unfortunately Ivy didn’t seem like someone that was easy to deal with or defy for that matter. He had no desire to antagonize her further, but he was still quite annoyed at her.

“So, to be clear, you’re not letting me out of here?”

Ivy shook her head. “It’s for the best. And it’s only temporary. I’ll be back later to show you around and introduce you to all the people that matter.” She smiled in a way that looked like she was trying to be friendly but it felt hollow.

Three-sixteen waited a moment for her to go on, but when she didn't he said, “Fine. Do what you want to me, I don’t care, but what about everyone else? My crew I mean. What happened to them?”

Ivy looked tentatively at the door before turning back to Three-sixteen. “I don’t have time to explain in full, but something happened in that tunnel and for the time being it’s overrun with powerful beasts that continue to try and breach our defenses. The Raven King himself has gone to clear the tunnel, but it seems the beasts continue to come like waves to a beach. Most of the workers are still in the cell blocks, but they are no better than fiends and we aren’t in any position to try and control them. To be blunt, I have no idea what’s become of the crew you worked on. I could try and find out if it makes you feel better, but you must understand how impossible such a thing would be right now and it should be the least of your concerns. Once the situation below The Nest has stabilized, then you go investigate to your hearts content.”

Ivy spun on her heals and went for the door without waiting for Three-sixteen’s reply. As she reached for the handle she turned back with a smile and added, “You seem a bit disoriented and confused… I hope you’ll be more grateful when I return. It wasn’t easy saving you and convincing the others that you were worth the effort.”

Three-sixteen glowered at her. He had nothing to say so he said nothing and watched her leave.

Then he moved back to his bed and sat down in defeat as he listened to Ivy lock the door behind her. If it were possible, Three-sixteen would have burst through the door and made his escape. Given the situation Ivy described, it seems now would be the opportune time, but he didn’t really know what he’d find on the other side of the door. He didn’t know how many ravens might be out there, and he didn’t know how he’d find his way out of this Nest, or whatever. It seemed only natural to assume the building was massive and likely as complex as the mines he grew up in. If there was an exit, he might need a map to find it.

He sighed with resignation and decided that he didn't have enough information to act. All he could do was wait.