It started with chills running through his spine, small bursts of sharp frozen stings spreading amongst his thin, sleek fingers. He felt sensation in what was once nothing, in each individual finger of his now existing palm as he lowered them one by one. Ten of them, he counted. Similarly, he sensed motion in what seemed to be feet, similarly consisting of ten individual nubs.

Then, there was a sudden awareness, a realisation of the darkness that engulfed him. There was a burst of momentary warmth that he’d wished embraced him for a second longer - a glimpse of a tranquil vision of white feathers flying amongst the wind, and what seemed to be a dark-haired boy sitting amongst an oak tree, warmly smiling towards him. The boy’s gentle grey eyes reminded him of gloomy skies before storms brewed, except they made him feel the relieving calm that came after them - and his eyes forcibly opened to the blinding blazing ball of light that shone through his eyelids, then to the harrowing sight of numerous eyes glaring upon his apparent naked form. Their hungry eyes gazed at his vulnerable skin like daggers tearing beneath his flesh.

Unpleasant murmurs filled the room, judgemental pupils glared and analysed every inch of his figure, searching for any signs of flaws and defects amongst his skin. Droplets of water hitting the ground in constant rhythm kept the room from being eerily silent, aside from the pounding of his heart filling his eardrums.

An enormous silhouette towered him, their figure masked by the blinding light. His eyes could be closed shut and still sense the extraordinarily empyrean presence of this person, their overwhelming authority had kept the unruly audience in check - otherwise, the disorderly crowd may have already started feasting on him like vulnerable prey. A loud thud of a fist slamming against the cool metal bench he laid on startled him, his soul almost leaving his body in sheer fright. All he could do was squirm in place, only now noticing the shackles that restrained him onto the bench.

“Do as you will with him, but know that I have carved him to absolute perfection. He will take care of that matter, I'm certain. I drilled his sole purpose into his mind. But do not let him out of your sight, as I cannot make another without any more disturbances,” a voice thundered, a low rumbling of the room echoed, breaking the daunting silence. “I expect nothing but exceptional results.”

“Of course. We will see to it immediately,” a cold voice hummed in response. 

The heavy doors slammed shut, with the creaking of its hinges echoing in the distance. Shortly after, resounding footsteps grew louder as they approached towards him, stopping for a moment. He couldn’t see them beyond the bright light, but the heaviness of the numerous eyes that gazed upon him were apparent. 

“You serve us now. Both in body and soul,” a deep voice boomed. “We expect great things from you. Of course, we’ll train you to perfect the job, but do know that you’re in good hands.”

He shivered in fear of anticipation of what was to come next, wishing to feel that fragment of warmth once more, but it never came. His body trembled, quivering as a cold snap of chills spread across his body once he removed himself from the cold hard bench he laid on. The shackles remained as they led him away.  If only I could escape to him - that warmth, he thought to himself. But there was nowhere for him to escape, nowhere for him to turn to as he was taken away into a foreign, yet familiar darkness.  

All he had was a name, and a purpose, and nothing more. 

That was what they thought, at least. 

He sought nothing more than the boy’s warmth, although momentary, he needed to feel it again. For the sake of his sanity, and his freedom out of the wretched, unforgiving darkness.