Memories [3]

Color.

After so much white, the forest was almost blinding in its vibrancy.

Leaves rustled overhead in a palette of green. Bark, rich and earthy. Even the sky felt alive. It was… different.

A nice change of pace.

I moved through the underbrush with measured steps, tracking my first target—an E-rank Blade-Tusk Boar. The thing snorted and charged with fury when it noticed me, tusks glinting like crude daggers.

I dodged. Slashed. Fired.

It dropped.

Too easy.

Nowhere near the monsters in that combat simulation. Those things had eyes that burned through your mind. This was just a beast.

I lifted the boar onto my shoulder. Its weight pressed down, but my body carried it without struggle. Small frame. Surprising strength.

Another inconsistency.

I moved deeper into the forest. No point staying exposed. I needed a base of operations—but without tools or time, building from scratch wasn't an option.

Instead, I looked up.

The trees were massive—old things, sturdy and tall, branches like bridges. Perfect.

Climbing came naturally. Hand over hand, my grip never faltered. My balance, inhumanly perfect. From atop the canopy, I scanned the world below.

A wide-angle view. The forest sprawled endlessly. Hidden clearings. Distant movements.

Then something flickered.

I focused—and suddenly, it was like my vision snapped into hyper-clarity. I could see it. A bird. Perched in a tree all the way across the forest.

What... was that?

A moment later, the clarity vanished, leaving only the aftertaste of confusion.

Another inconsistency.

I descended, calmly. No panic. I had bigger priorities.

The fire came first. I gathered stones, encircled the pit. Containment. Always control. No wild flames. No accidents.

The sun dipped low, casting long shadows. The sky shifted to orange, then purple.

I skinned the boar with practiced efficiency, slicing through hide and muscle like I'd done it a thousand times. I hadn't. Not before this place. But my body moved as if it remembered something I didn't.

The meat roasted over the flames. The scent hit me like a wave. Rich. Real. Nothing like the tasteless grave-food they used to stuff down my throat back in the facility.

For once… this almost felt normal.

Then, a rustle.

A bush trembled to my left. I turned immediately—calm, precise. No panic. I didn't have that anymore. Fear had been burned out of me long ago.

Two figures emerged.

The first was a girl—white hair, pale blue eyes, framed by the flickering glow of my fire. Expression unreadable. Sharp.

Behind her was a boy. Tall. Broad. Brown hair and soft features. He had a kind, almost dopey smile. Like a golden retriever. Wrong. All wrong. That kind of face didn't belong in this place.

Neither did their bodies. No visible bruises. Fewer scars. No twitch in their movements. They hadn't suffered like I had. The experiments hadn't touched them the same way.

They weren't like me.

The girl stared for a long time. At me, or at the meat—I couldn't tell. I didn't care.

Her voice was smooth when she finally spoke.

> "Hello, 059. Sorry to bother you. We were just passing through and wondering if you might let us crash here for a while."

I blinked.

Then looked away.

"...Do as you please," I said flatly. My voice dropped into a cold murmur. "But don't disturb me. And don't ask questions."

She nodded.

No protest. She sat by the fire without hesitation. The boy followed, quietly. Like a shadow.

> "Oh, by the way, I'm Test Subject 067," the girl said, gesturing toward her companion. "This is Subject 080."

The boy grinned sheepishly. "Hi. Sorry to impose on you."

I stared at them.

Then gave a single nod.

> "059."

Names were meaningless here. Numbers were easier.

They looked at the food again. Hunger thick in their eyes. My food.

I paused.

I looked at them. Then at the fire. Then the meat again.

...Ah, frick it.

I handed over two shares—just enough. Their eyes lit up like children at a festival. Without hesitation, they tore into it like starving wolves.

> "Hunt your own next time," I muttered.

They nodded mid-bite, too focused on devouring to answer properly.

I turned my back to them. The warmth of the fire pressed against my spine. Their voices faded into crackles and chewing.

Smoke trailed into the air.

And for the first time in a long time… I allowed myself to sleep.