'Live and stay healthy, my little Autumn.'

The sound of droplets continued to echo outside the cell, where a little girl lay, curling up into a ball to keep the warmth near her body. It seems that winter has finally come, a notion that wasn't proven nor acknowledged by the people who forcibly placed her in this damp room.

Nonetheless, seeing how she continued to shiver due to the cold, such an idea isn't far-fetched. It seems like a huge task, however, to keep herself awake as she curls her fingers beneath her face, puffing and huffing as air comes out of her mouth. She flinched, even if she just moved her legs closer to her chest, knowing that the pain came from her bruised and bloodied ankles.

'Always wear a scarf around your neck, especially when it's winter!' She continues to see a blurry image of a woman smiling while patting her little head. The hand of the woman, even in this hypnotic state, felt so gentle and warm, which the little girl craved the most.

Then the sound of a gate being closed echoed through the room. Footsteps were heard, followed by whispers and laughter, one of which sounded so ominous. It took a few more seconds until it began to move away, an act that alleviated the tension.

'Aki, my dearest autumn...' She once again sat up without taking her eyes off the bars that held her captive. A woman, whose face became blurry, towered over her small frame, kneeling as she caressed her face. 'In times of pain and injustice, remember never to lose hope and to understand that there is still beauty within the darkness. Can you do that for me?'

"It's a bit hard, Mommy." She whispers under her breath, letting herself drown in misery. Without a blanket to keep her warm or clothes that were thick and flurry, the only thing she could do was hug her small and shivering body, refusing to sleep and believing that she might never wake up.

'Live and stay healthy, my little Autumn.'

She once again chanted that line inside her head, clinging to that thin thread of hope of seeing the outside world once more. Where the birds flew into the horizon, passing through hundreds of trees in a forest, discovering new species either on land or in the sea. Just thinking of that last word made the little girl smile amid the cold.

Oh, how she loved reading books about how people created boats to sail through the vast waters, whether they were wild or gentle, soothing or stressful, or whether they had a positive or negative opinion; it didn't matter to her. She believes that experiencing it will most surely become a memorable experience that can never be forgotten.

If… she does experience it,

Optimism left her once again as she shivered from the cold air that was brought through those metal bars. She gritted her teeth and gripped her thin arms, widening her eyes as they got heavier with every second that passed.

And yet, even if her current circumstances continue to torment her, the little girl couldn't help but reminisce. Without those memories and the warmth, which she tries so hard to recall, even a little girl like her understands the consequences of not trying to fight back.

So, with all her might and with all her will, she dreams of those peaceful days, hoping for them to serve as a beacon—a way for her to escape from this hellish reality.

But fate is as cruel as ever.

The memory of her district, which was once so peaceful and merry, now becomes a nightmare. Houses continued to burn in the flames; people were running out of them, and some were stuck below the debris from fallen stalls. She didn't know how the fire started or the reason why their district was suddenly attacked, so in the middle of it, she stood, watching the people wearing black coats tie the arms of the people her mother used to talk to.

"M-mommy…" The little girl whispers, hugging the handmade doll her mother gave her years ago while watching the intruders tie her mother down as well.

She only stood there in the middle of the main street, along with a few more kids from the district. Most are crying, and some are calling out to their parents. However, she only stared at her mother, not knowing what to say or how to react in that situation.

'Live…' Her mother spoke to her as the intruders raised their arms, a silver gun clutched in their hands. 'And stay healthy, my little-'

Her breathing then became harsh as she inhaled a sharp intake of air, causing her to flinch in pain. She clutched her thin and ragged clothes, tears streaming down her face as she recalled that memory. The cold continued to prick through her skin, drowning out her thoughts of how her mother looked while staring at her as blood continued to gush from the hole in her forehead.

'Autumn.' The little girl thought, thickening her face once more.

With no mother to guide her, a father to protect her, or a brother to be with her, all she can do is hope that she'll survive on her own.

'If only I knew how to do that...' The little girl raised her head to prevent tears from falling. 'I don't even know what to do now...'

Then suddenly, like clockwork, 'he' came. A pair of legs that she had begun to associate with fear then found themselves in front of her cell, like they always do every other hour. The drowsiness she felt instantly vanished as it was replaced by what is known to be terror and madness.

"Number 009," he spoke—that 'monster' spoke. "Tsk, tsk, it's not healthy for you to sit on the floor, you know. Have you forgotten about the box I gave you?"

Reflexively, the little girl's eyes traveled across the corner of the room, eyeing what was supposed to become her makeshift bed.

The man—that monster—ever so slightly smiled. "Yes, that's right. So, why aren't you using it?"

'That tone…' The little girl couldn't help but flinch, knowing full well what was to come if her answer wasn't correct.

"You know how I hate to repeat myself, right?"

"I-I can't," Both fearful and traumatized, the little girl tried to open her trembling lips. "T-too… c-cold, to m-move..."

"Hmm…" As if he were in deep contemplation, it only took a few seconds before the sound of a cell being opened alerted the trembling girl, forcing her to move backward in a desperate attempt to flee. "Still so frightful. I like that about you. Unlike 'her'... tsk, just remembering the look she gave me earlier-" And just like that, a hand immediately went for her throat, blocking her ability to breathe. "It makes me so… damn… mad. Say, nine, why can't she be like you?"

His grip then tightened, making the little girl gasp. As her way of retaliation, she tried her best to move his hand away. But alas, it bore no result.

'Why me?' The little girl thought to herself just as she tried to move the fingers that were around her neck. 'Why… is this man… always venting his frustrations out at me?'

'And who is this girl that he always speaks about?'

With her questions left unanswered, just as she was about to lose consciousness, the grip he had finally lost became loose, just as he opened his mouth to continue. "You know, sometimes… sometimes I just want to break every… single… one of your bones. Oh… Just imagining your screams… fills me with joy, my lucky nine."

"L-let…" The little girl tried her best to kick his chest, as tears began to moisten her eyes. "L-let go!"

"Silence!" Without even an ounce of remorse, a slap echoed through the vast room. As if blocking her access to air wasn't enough, the man repeatedly slapped both of her cheeks, to the point where blood began to flow through her newly acquired wounds.

"Ah… I forgot that I was wearing a ring." Just as he said those words, he eventually pulled his hand away, freeing the battered child. "I'm sorry, does it hurt? Here, let me help-"

But before he could even touch her once more, the little girl immediately stood up and made her way to the very back of the room. However, because of the wounds on her legs, it only took her a couple of steps before her whole body fell flat on the ground.

'Please…' She lifted her hand and tried to crawl her way toward the wall. "S-stay… back…"

"Who? Me?" Like a true maniac, he gleefully laughed. "You're practically pushing me to do the exact opposite, my dearest nine. Oh, how pure… how youthly naive you are!"

"Ah!"

'Mommy…' Just as she felt her hair being pulled by that monstrous being, knowing full well where he would take her, the little autumn could only close her eyes and weep, as hope – slowly but surely began to become even dimmer than it should look.

'I miss you.'

'When…'

"… Will you take me with you?"

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

"Yuzu?" After hearing her friend call out to her, a lady in her early twenties eventually broke out of her daze, realizing how real her reminiscing felt. "Did you say something?"

"Huh?" After blinking a few more times, she slowly replied. "I… probably did."

"Is it another nightmare?"

"…"

Narrowing her gaze, the little autumn could only nod her head, unsure of what she had experienced. It has been 13 years since that exact memory of hers happened, and yet…

It's still there, ready to haunt and devour her.

For that is the fate of a Numbered.

*****