Three-sixteen’s POV
Three-sixteen didn’t know what happened or how it happened. He only knew that everything was silent, or maybe it was just that way for him. His ears hurt, but mostly his head hurt, and everything around him was covered in blood.
Three-sixteen remembered losing consciousness at some point after getting shot, but he didn't know when he woke up. He only remembered a haze of red and pain as he wondered why this was happening. Why wouldn’t Trendy and Dim’it even consider resisting the order to fight? If they had worked together maybe all of them could have survived. Daisy certainly didn't deserve what happened to her and he felt responsible for her death even though it wasn’t his fault.
As he surveyed the arena, he felt strangely detached from everything. It was like he wasn’t really there, like none of it had happened. Like he was dreaming; except it wasn’t a dream, it was all real and he couldn't wake up from it.
He got up and found the exit door; it was already open and Ivy waited on the other side with a smile.
Three-sixteen left the arena, but he didn’t return Ivy’s smile. When he approached and Ivy reached out to him, Three-sixteen continued on past her without so much as a glance back. Ivy quickly caught up with him as they made their way down the hall, but she didn't try to stop him or speak to him.
As they walked Three-sixteen tried to ignore her presence but he could feel Ivy watching him. He wished that she just cease existing, but his thoughts and emotions were inconsistent. One moment he wanted to snap her neck, the next he wanted to forget everything that just happened. He felt so many things all at once, but each emotion passed so quickly into the next that he couldn’t decide how to respond to them.
His thoughts were so overwhelming that Three-sixteen stopped walking when they reached his room, but he didn’t want to go inside. Instead he stood there staring at the door wondering why he was here; why didn’t he just leave now. He was a raven after all, so she he should be able to—
“Don’t even try it. If you run now, before the ceremony, they’ll never acknowledge you as a raven. I know it's hard right now, but you have to know that…”
Three-sixteen didn’t want to hear anything else she had to say. He opened the door, stepped inside and closed it behind himself without a word. He waited a moment to be sure she wouldn’t come in after him, then he walked across the room, wiping blood off his face before collapsing into bed and drifting into unconsciousness.
***
Some time later, Three-sixteen woke up, the stench of old blood burning his nostrils and churning his stomach. He needed a bath.
Three-sixteen blinked awake and shook his head but found himself no less exhausted as he peeled himself out of bed. His shirt and pants were soaked with blood as were his sheets. He really should have considered a bath before laying down.
As he approached the bathroom door a light flicked on inside. The tub filled itself with steaming water and a pale half full of soiled clothes opened. Three-sixteen was surprised. He’d only ever taken a cold bath under an underground waterfall, and the one sink bath he’d taken in Ashil. This was completely different and he paused for several moments as he considered how to proceed.
He tried to wash in the small basin sink, as he had in Ashil. He feared the steaming bath might burn him, but as he struggled to rinse his arms, he thought that might be an improvement over this unbearable smell. Finally, he decided to approach the bath tentatively.
It was pleasant to slip into the steaming water. The temperature was perfect and eased tension out of his muscles as he relaxed in the tub. For a moment Three-sixteen could forget about everything that just happened, but only for a moment because there was still blood on his face and he could feel it itch as it dried on his skin.
He cleaned his face in the water first, then began to clean himself from head to toe.
Three-sixteen took his time in the bath and when he finally stepped out and grabbed a towel from the pile he was overcome with emotion.
Was this fair? Was it really right for him to be enjoying such luxury while Daisy, Trendy, and Dim’it were left lying in their own blood, or probably fed to some pet beast. What about Five-ninety—no… no, he didn’t want to think of her now. He couldn’t think of her without thinking of Luck and all the horrible things he’d witnessed or been forced to participate in.
This wasn't fair at all; this wasn't freedom.
Three-sixteen dug his nails into the skin on his arms until it bled before taking a deep breath and forcing his feelings down. He needed to get past this; there was no going back and no changing the past. If there was a way forward for him, it was through being a raven and earning his freedom, just as Ivy said.
Even if he tried to fight his way out, this place was so large and filled with so many ravens. Three-sixteen wasn’t sure he would survive. He didn’t like it, but he knew there was no other choice.
He walked over to his wardrobe and threw it open. Inside were black shirts and pants identical to those he’d ruined. He selected a clean pair and slipped into them. He felt his hands tremble as he looked in the mirror and reached up to touch his reflection, as if confirming that it was real.
A knock at the door pulled him away. Ivy opened the door without waiting for him to respond.
Her smile quickly turned into a scowl as she glanced at the messy bed then back at Three-sixteen. “Well, at least you had the good sense to clean yourself up.”
Three-sixteen couldn’t come up with anything to say so he remained silent and just stared back at her.
Ivy waved him forward with a few flicks of her wrist then left the room. Three-sixteen followed after her and wondered where she was taking him. There was a slight change in her expression but Three-sixteen couldn’t pin down what it meant. She didn’t seem particularly angry or annoyed, but she also wasn't pleased.
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Her uneven breathing made him wonder if something had gone wrong. For all her planning was there something she’d failed to consider? Three-sixteen thought about the promises Ivy made to the leadership council and wondered if her mood was related to any of those commitments.
Three-sixteen grimaced when he realized she most likely had a plan for him. She’d suggested he would be free to do as he pleased, but a gut feeling told him that wasn’t true. Ivy was lying. She had other plans for him, or goals that she hoped to achieve through him.
They walked for some time before reaching their destination. A large metal door stood before them and Ivy gestured towards it expectantly. Three-sixteen reached out to it, but stopped short. He took a deep breath then, without turning to face her, he said, “If there’s any surprises waiting for me beyond this door I hope you know that I won't tolerate it a second time. I don't care what happens to me after that; I have no desire to continue on in this place. I want only to be free of this place, free of people, and most of all to be free of you."
He gripped the handle tightly as he opened the door then stepped inside. Ivy quickly followed after him then slammed the door shut with a clang.
The room was dark and only lit by a few lanterns with dim green flames, but Three-sixteen could see quite well. He saw hundreds, maybe a thousand or more, ravens gather in a huge circle around the room. All wore masks concealing their features, but he felt their frustration, disdain, anger, and contempt. Three-sixteen defiantly met each set of hateful eyes that he could, proudly directing his own disgust back at them.
Ivy pushed him forward gently, then leaned in to whisper, “It's just a ceremony, let them see you then we can be done here. Stay strong and endure this with grace. You are a raven now. You have earned a place among us. Forget whatever ill feelings you may have and embrace your new family.”
Three-sixteen ignored her. They weren’t his family, they never would be. As far as he was concerned these people could all go die in a fire.
Another voice called out from across the room, demanding silence and promptly receiving it. “Ravens, my birds of darkness, we witnessed an anomaly unlike any other before it! This is truly a day that will be remembered for years to come! It is a day that shall be forever recorded in our history books because tonight we are joined by the newest member of our family, our brother in arms, a new face of our great nation—number Three-sixteen!”
There was cheering and applause for only a moment before the announcer continued on enthusiastically, “We begin this day with a ceremony to welcome this brave boy into our flock. Tonight we will celebrate our newest addition and enjoy the feast we've prepared. Today will be a day of merrymaking! Please direct your attention to the center stage as our newest raven is inaugurated! Let's show him our love and acceptance!”
Ivy pushed Three-sixteen forward again as the crowd clapped and cheered. He didn’t want to approach the center stage but found he had little choice as Ivy and others nudged him forward with each step. Three-sixteen could not get back to the exit. He wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go and no way to escape. The best he could do was suppress his desire to escape and allow himself to be pushed forward.
Ivy stayed by his side as a young man with no mask and odd colored eyes descended from above, landing center stage then stood before Three-sixteen. Talent, descended along side the man, though he kept a distance and didn’t meet Three-sixteen’s gaze.
Three-sixteen was confused. He thought Talent was a judge, and they’d both been abducted by this group, so he didn’t understand why the man appeared to be acting on their behalf.
Three-sixteen flinched away when the strange eyed man approached with a shining blade in his hand.
Ivy hissed a warning in his ear and the man smiled at him like a predator who'd just spotted his prey. “This blade is your salvation, your key to freedom. Will you allow me to sever the bonds that keep you beholden to this world and set you free, my friend?”
The man's words sounded more like a threat than an offer of friendship. Three-sixteen remained tense even as the man eased into a reassuring smile. Three-sixteen got the distinct impression that if he refused, or said anything inappropriate, he would surely suffer a fate worse than death.
Three-sixteen gritted his teeth, forcing a smile of his own as he nodded once and closed his eyes as he fought against himself to remain calm.
The noise of the crowd and the blade, now pressed against his sternum, drew him back to a memory of Magistrate Luck and how he ended up here in the first place. Hadn’t he promised himself that he would never suffer at the hands of another person again?
Piercing pain seared through his chest, forcing Three-sixteen’s eyes to open. The sword didn’t appear to have pierced him, but blood soaked into his shirt and slid down his skin.
He felt something reaching inside him in a way he couldn’t explain. It was like an infection spreading through his flesh but without the pain of sickness; instead it was calming and blissful. Three-sixteen felt his body grow lighter and his Ming felt clearer. He felt so peaceful, so satisfied in this moment that he could never imagine being happier.
It felt so good that it scared him.
“It seems friends, that even numbers can be freed from—”
Three-sixteen’s chest tightened and the man’s odd eyes locked immediately with his. As Three-sixteen stared vacantly into his purple and silver eyes he became keenly aware of something wrong. The man was…Three-sixteen couldn’t explain, but he felt like a beast. The light feeling in his chest turned violent, ripping and pulling at his insides.
Talent seemed to notice something, but he only stood by, his face twisted in confusion. Ivy frowned, and the man seemed to pause as if considering what to do next.
A moment passed then the man coughed as if he was choking on air then leaned forward with a wild smile as he whispered, “This is…”
Three-sixteen frowned and pulled back from the blade—a mistake, he realized immediately. Something inside pulled tight, squeezing his lungs and heart, pressing on his skull like it was going to crush him.
Three-sixteen quickly looked around for a weapon, an ally, an escape.
Nothing presented itself and the man slowly wrapped his free hand around Three-sixteen's shoulder like a friend, then whispered in his ear, “I will devour you now, before you wake to your potential.”
Three-sixteen panicked.
The room exploded with chaos as ravens shouted questions and tried to approach the stage. A barrier rose up around them, cutting the space off completely.
“What is this? What are you doing?” Talent demanded.
The man with different colored eyes turned Talent with a frightful look in his eyes. A wave of his hand sent the boy flying back into the barrier. The man turned back to Three-sixteen, ignoring everyone else.
Three-sixteen tried to pull away again, but it seemed impossible and the man growled as he grabbed Three-sixteen around his throat. Three-sixteen tried to pry himself free, but the man had inhuman strength. He lifted Three-sixteen into the air? As he said, “A strange choice for a vessel. The lordling would’ve been better.”
He was talking at Three-sixteen, but it didn’t seem like he was speaking to him. It didn’t matter, he needed to focus on getting free.
The room spun and something reached out to him from within his chest, toying with him like a cat with its prey. It seemed so eager to consume him, to take him apart piece by piece until nothing was left.
Ivy placed her hand on Three-sixteen’s back, startling him. He’d forgotten she was there.
Her face twisted in confusion as she squeaked, “But he passed the test, I don’t understand.”
Talent was back on his feet. He crept up slowly and circled around the man as if afraid to approach directly.
The man ignored Ivy, spinning round to face Talent. “That crystal you wanted back, it’s useless to you so long as he lives.” The man’s voice was distorted and sounded like three people speaking at once. “If you interfere, I won’t hesitate to kill you too!”
The room filled with whispers, but Three-sixteen could only pay attention to the man crushing his neck and his lungs screaming for air.
He blinked rapidly as his vision began to fade. Noise filled his ears and his head felt ready to explode. He clawed desperately at the man’s hands, but the grip on his throat only tightened.
Three-sixteen’s heart beat loud and slow as he saw a pair of red eyes floating and something inside him pulsed to life like a crystal engine switching on. “Find my crystal, LIVE!”