Number Ninety-Six: Memory #1

I stared as one of the servants placed two pieces of wood into the fireplace.

They struggled to light a fire, and I waited.

They couldn’t start a fire.

“I’m cold,” I said as I brought my legs to my chest.

“I don’t care if you’re cold,” he stated, “You’ll have to wait until I light it.”

I frowned at the older male. He didn’t have to be so mean about it.

“Screw this,” he said before throwing the smaller sticks at the larger chunks of wood, “You can light your own damn fire.”

I felt heat slowly rising in my body, and I was about to lose my temper. I didn’t want to hurt him. I didn’t want to hurt anybody.

Fire erupted around me, and I heard the male servant scream as the white fire engulfed his entire body.

After a minute, I was able to compose myself, but the servant was dead, scorch marks stained the walls, and the fireplace was lit.

I sat still as I tried not to cry. It was all my fault.

The servant lay not too far from me, and his remains were charred to the point he was unrecognizable.

I heard laughter outside and running feet.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I sobbed. No one liked me, no one here was like me.

Lucia, how did you do it? How did you survive here?

I wiped my eyes, and I willed myself to stop. I didn’t want to be alone right now. I wanted to play games with all the other kids.

They were going to let me this time, they didn’t have a choice.

I got to my feet, and I ran to try to catch up with the kids.

I could hear them playing in the study, so I pulled open the door.

All sound stopped.

Every single set of eyes in the room was on me, all seven children stared at me with wide eyes.

“Hey,” I said a little too awkwardly.

“Sorry,” number ninety said, “I just remembered I promised to help Ms. Meghan clean the washroom.”

“Me too,” number eighty-three said.

All of them agreed and offered to help.

I wanted to play with them, but I really didn’t want to clean anything, besides I knew they were only trying to get rid of me anyway.

I watched as all the kids followed the first two out, and they moved a lot quicker than any reasonable person would have.

Part of me knew they weren’t really going to clean anything.

I stood there alone again, and I felt sadness and anger all at the same time.

Why didn’t they want to play with me? They knew what happened when I got mad, so why do they make me so angry?

I shook my head. I know someone who won’t run away from me.

Lucia, where are you?

I shut my eyes, and I could feel her not too far away.

I told myself again not to cry, and I opened the door before running out of the study. I didn’t get very far, I collided with someone.

My head hit something kind of soft, and I flew backward, hitting my head on the hard floor.

“Are you alright?” an older boy knelt at my side.

I was confused, but I realized then that I was already crying again.

I faced the floor. I didn’t want him to see.

“Hey,” he whispered, “Are you alright?”

He reached for me, but I was quick to smack his hand away.

“How dare you touch me,” I growled before thinking about it.

I felt his gaze on me.

“How dare you hurt your master?!” I shouted.

There was a short silence, and I was nervous. I didn’t want him to run away like the others.

“Eaden?” he asked.

I finally looked up at him, and I stared into his bright green eyes. I noticed the two brown spots near the center.

Who was this boy? He had to be new here.

I forced his head to the side to see his number.

It was completely healed, how has he healed when I had never seen him?

“Number ninety-six,” I said, “Rub the back of my head.”

Maybe he would do it, perhaps I will finally have someone to spend time with.

He stared back at me with an odd expression on his face.

Not him too, he has to be different.

I can’t handle any more rejection.

“Do it now!” I stomped my feet.

Of course, I knew I was acting like a child, but he can’t just say no.

“No,” he growled at me, “My name is not number ninety-six.”

“You don’t get a name anymore!”

I couldn’t keep my voice from cracking. My face was red, and I could feel my temper flaring.

“I have always had a name,” he hissed at me, “And you have no right to take it from me!”

I stood up, feeling so mad that I might explode, but I didn’t.

He stared at me again with a strange expression, and it wasn’t until I saw the look in his eyes. It was the same look I’ve seen countless times.

That was when I lost it.

Fire erupted around us. To me, it felt cold, but it all vanished.

His arm was straight out, and I couldn’t help but cry.

I didn’t want to hurt him, and he survived.

“My name,” he said quietly as he dropped his arm back down to his side, “Is Boone.”

I couldn’t help myself, I clung to him. I was so grateful that he didn’t die.

He was like me. He was really truly like me.

I wouldn’t be alone anymore.

Boone was going to stay with me, no matter what he had to stay with me.