Kai Langford - Feb 2116.
At first, I was just curious. Who was this guy? How did he end up here?
But when he started asking too many questions about me and tried to walk away, I realised I couldn't handle talking about my past. When I went for a shower, I decided to keep him at arm's length, to ignore whatever he asked.
Yet, when he showed up later and handed me my dinner, something in my chest pinched. It had been so long since anyone had shown me even that small bit of kindness.
The last time someone brought me dinner was years ago, when Noah came to my room with a plate after Father sent me to bed without dinner for not answering him quick enough. I'd zoned out at the table and hadn't even realised he'd spoken to me. Not that he ever really does.
But deep down, I think Father did it on purpose. He wanted me to learn. I may not be allowed to speak, but I must at least listen. Always aware of how much smarter, better they are than me.
"Hey, 004?"
The voice pulls me back.
012's sitting next to me, his head tilted like he's waiting for me to answer something.
Oh… I did it again. Zoned out.
"Uh, sorry, what did you say?"
He grins. "I said, what's your favourite food?"
Favourite food? Why is he asking that? His questions are always so random… and confusing.
When he first told me there was a main facility with other kids like us, the only thing I could think was, why wasn't I allowed there?
He'd explained that this section, the one we're in, is called the "Segregation Room." It's used for those who "misbehave." But I've done everything Father's asked since the day I tried to end my life.
So… why wasn't I allowed to leave?
"My favourite food?" I finally answer. "Uh… ramen."
012's face lights up instantly. "Ramen?! Oh my god, I love ramen!"
He always looks so happy. Even when I say something simple, he reacts like it's the most interesting thing in the world. I don't really know how to handle it...it's all new to me.
"One time I went to this ramen place with my mum," he goes on, laughing. "She'd never tried it before, and she got the sauce everywhere. She was so mad because she'd just bought that shirt the day before."
For some reason, hearing him talk like that calms me. Maybe because it's been so long since I've had a normal conversation. He feels… different. Not like the scientists or the guards. Just… human.
"Did you used to eat out with your mum a lot?" I ask.
"Oh, yeah! Every Saturday, well, when she wasn't working." His eyes soften a little when he talks about her, a warm sparkle lighting up the green.
I want to ask more, about her, about his family. Maybe he has a brother he cares for like me. But I stop myself. I don't have the right to push him when I shut him out earlier.
Before I can change the subject, he beats me to it.
"So," he says, leaning closer, grinning, "the big question… what can you do?"
I blink. "What I can do?"
His closeness makes me uneasy, leaving my mind tangled and unable to fully grasp the questions he was asking.
"What power do you have?" he says, eyes glinting like he's about to hear a secret.
Oh. That.
He told me before that all the kids here took the Lunex vial at some point. So it makes sense he's curious. But… am I even allowed to talk about it?
I glance toward the one-way mirror. No one's seems to be tring to stop the conversation.
012 notices my hesitation. "Oh! Don't worry if you don't wanna say," he says quickly, leaning back, waving his hands. "It's cool!"
His sudden distance makes something cold settle within me again.
"No, it's fine," I say quietly. "I... I control shadows."
His eyes widen. "Shadows? That's so cool! Can you show me?"
I shake my head. "I can't. I'm not allowed to outside testing."
He pouts playfully, then brightens again. "Okay, okay. My turn. I can see the future."
He waves his hands dramatically like a magician, and I can't help but let out a little laugh.
"No, seriously!" he says, grinning even wider. "Wanna see?"
I raise an eyebrow, amused. "Sure."
"Pick a number between one and ten."
"What?"
He laughs and taps my arm. The touch sends a strange warmth through me.
"Nah, I'm kidding. Okay, real test. Pick a number between one and a thousand."
I sigh. "Fine. Got one."
His green eyes glow faintly. "Seven twenty-six."
I freeze. "Wait… how?"
He grins like a cat. "See? Told you."
"So your power is… guessing?" I tease.
He shakes his head. "No! I saw a future where I said the wrong number, and you told me it was seven twenty-six. So I skipped to the right one."
Before I can respond, he suddenly stands and holds out his hand.
"Come on, get up! I'll show you something better."
I hesitate, but take his hand. He pulls me up with effort, his grin never fading.
He's standing close, too close, and I can feel my pulse quicken.
"Okay," he says, "punch me."
I blink. "What?"
"Punch me," he repeats, still smirking.
"I can't do that."
"Trust me."
I sighed and decided on a fake punch. I can't risk actually hitting him. I dropped into a fighting stance, pulled my arm back, and sent a slow, weak jab toward his ribs. If he didn't dodge, at least he wouldn't get hurt.
But he dodges with ease.
"004, come on!" he laughs. "I saw how fast you can hit in the gym! Try harder!"
I grit my teeth. I don't want to hurt him, but… the challenge stirs something competitive. I throw another punch. Then another. Each one misses. He keeps dodging, laughing between movements, making me chase him around the room.
Then, his foot catches on the bed frame and he trips backwards.
I try to stop my punch, but it's too late. My fist connects with his face, and the momentum sends us both tumbling.
Bang.
He hits the floor first, and I land on top of him, my breath knocked out.
"Ouch," he mutters under me.
I push myself up on my hands to get a better look. Oh no... I didn't mean to actually hit him. I rest my palms on either side of his head to steady myself, but when I peer down he turns his face to the side as if avoiding me. Shit. I went too far. Now he won't even look at me. I've messed up.
"I'm sorry," I stammer. "I didn't mean to hit you..."
He doesn't say anything, just lies there. I gently turn his face toward me to check. When I finally see his face, there's a faint red mark where I hit him... In fact, his whole face is flushed, bright with an unexpected blush. .
My heart skips. For a second, our eyes meet. I can't move. Heat crawls up my neck.
Then I push myself back up quickly, turning away. My face burns. "Sorry," I mumble again.
He laughs softly behind me. "Don't worry about it. I did tell you to punch me."
Before I can reply, the lights cut out.
"Lights out," a voice says over the speaker.
The words jolt me back to reality. For a moment, I forget where I am. Then the realisation hits me like a brick, and I trudge to my bed, slipping under the covers.
Across the room, I can hear 012 stretching, then flopping into his bunk.
Maybe he's fine. But what if he won't talk to me tomorrow?
I stare at the bunk above me, the silence thick, until a quiet laugh breaks it.
"Man," he chuckles, "for someone who's supposed to see the future, I can't believe I didn't see myself falling over like that."
His laughter washes over me, softening the ache in my chest.
"Still," he adds, "I dodged your punches pretty well, didn't I?"
There's warmth in his voice, and for the first time in a long while, something inside me feels lighter.
I don't really know who this guy is, but somehow, he's made me feel something I haven't felt in such a long time.
_________________________
Two weeks pass in the same routine.Wake up early.Train.Lunch.Experiments.Gym.Dinner.Sleep.Repeat.
Only this time… someone else is here.
I used to hate the quiet moments between the training and testing. The silence always dragged me into bad thoughts.Why am I still doing this?Does it even matter if Noah doesn't want to see me?Would it be easier if I just stopped existing altogether?
But now those same quiet hours are filled with laughter. With him. For the first time, they don't feel so empty.
It's lunchtime, and I've just come out of the shower after training when I spot 012 lying flat on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.
I walk over, towel still in hand, drying my hair. "What are you doing?"
He doesn't move. "Just thinking…"His usual brightness is gone, and something in me tightens. He was fine at breakfast...
"Did something happen while I was gone?" I ask.
He shakes his head, forcing a smile. "Don't worry about it."
Yeah, right... Something's bothering him, but how am I supposed to help if he won't say what it is?
I crouch down by his head, leaning closer so I can look at him properly. A few drops of water drip from my hair onto his face, and he flinches.
"Ah, 004! Stop that, you're getting me wet!" he laughs.
"Not until you tell me what's wrong," I tease, shaking my head harder.
More water splashes down on him, and he bursts out laughing, trying to block it with his hands.
"Okay, okay! Stop! What are you, a dog?"
His usual grin is back, and for a moment, I feel relieved. Then he goes quiet.
"I was just thinking," he says softly, "about how long I might have left here with you before they send me back to the main facility."
I freeze. He's… leaving?
Of course he is. To him, the segregation room is just punishment. He'll go back once it's over. Back with the other kids. I just never thought about what that meant for me.
"Oh…" is all I manage. The air feels heavy.
Then, suddenly, he gets up and reaches out a hand to pull me to my feet. "Never mind that! I'm starving. I need a good lunch before whatever torture they've got planned for me today."
His grin is back, light and carefree, and he tugs me along.
As we walk, he chatters on about something. I don't even catch the words. My chest feels tight. The idea of him leaving… it hurts more than I expected.
By the time we reach the canteen, I can't hold it in anymore. I stop walking.
012 turns to me right away. "What's wrong?"
I look down. "Do you… want to go back?"
He hesitates, eyes thoughtful. "I don't really know. The tests here are rough. I'm not used to doing them every day. It's exhausting."
I nod. He's right. I just hadn't thought about how hard it must be for him.
He once told me that, in the main facility, since there are more of them, each test subject only has to go through experiments twice a week.
"Yeah… I guess so," I mumble, feeling stupid for not realising it sooner.
Then I hear his footsteps coming back toward me. Before I can react, he grabs both my hands, his touch warm and grounding.
His eyes still carry a hint of sadness, but his smile softens.. "But… being here with you has been the most fun I've had since coming here. I've really enjoyed the time we've spent together."
My heart starts pounding so hard it almost hurts. For a second, I forget how to breathe. The warmth in his voice feels so real, so genuine, it sinks deep into me, spreading like a spark I didn't know I was missing.
All this time, I thought I was the one being lucky to have someone like him around, filling the silence with laughter, reminding me what it feels like to smile to be human again. But hearing him say that… it feels like something inside my chest twists and softens at the same time.
I want to tell him that I feel the same, that the thought of him leaving makes my stomach sink, but the words stick in my throat. Instead, I just hold his gaze, trying to memorise this exact moment. The way his fingers are still wrapped around mine, the faint shine in his green eyes, the small, crooked smile that makes everything in this place feel a little less dark.
If he leaves… I'm not sure what I'll do. No. I can't think like that. I can't get to close to him, because one day he will leave.