Capítulo 6: Number Never Truley Free
Flashback: A Promise in the Shadows
The memory surfaced in fragments.
It was days before the plan had been finalized, back when they were still assigning roles. 00359 had pulled 00351 aside into the dim corner of their hideout, where the flickering light above barely illuminated their faces.
"You and I need to talk," 00359 had said, his voice low, urgent.
"What's this about?" 00351 asked, frowning as 00359 held out a folded piece of paper.
"It's a safe house," 00359 explained, pressing the note into 00351's hand. "If something goes wrong, if we get separated, you go here."
00351 unfolded the paper, staring at the scrawled instructions. The location was an abandoned house behind an old supermarket—a place tucked out of sight, easy to blend into.
"We're sticking together, aren't we?" 00351 said, confusion giving way to unease. "This whole plan hinges on us staying together."
00359's expression remained steely. "Plans don't always work. You know that as well as I do."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"So, what, you're saying we'll fail?" 00351 asked, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Real inspiring."
"It's not about failing," 00359 snapped, his voice low but sharp. "It's about being prepared. If someone has to stay behind, it'll be me."
The words hit like a blow. "You don't get to decide that," 00351 said, his fists clenching.
"I already did."
The bluntness of the statement left no room for argument, but 00351 pressed on. "Why you?"
"Because you're the only one who can get them out if things go sideways," 00359 said. "You know I'm right." He took a deep breath, softening slightly. "If I don't make it... that's the address. Go there, wait a month. If I don't show up, you'll know I didn't make it."
00351 wanted to argue, to tell him it wasn't fair, but the weight in 00359's eyes stopped him. It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.
"Fine," 00351 muttered, crumpling the paper into his pocket. But the resentment lingered.
Now, as 00006 carried 00351 through the dark streets, that memory burned in 00351's mind.
For three long weeks, 00006 pushed forward, carrying his unconscious ally across barren stretches and through abandoned towns. Every step was a battle against his exhaustion, but he never stopped.
"Don't make me regret this," 00006 muttered under his breath, shifting 00351's weight as they trudged along. His own injuries slowed him, but his determination kept him moving.
The safe house loomed on the horizon at last, its crumbling walls a welcome sight after weeks of evasion and scavenging. As they slipped inside, 00006 lowered 00351 onto the dusty floor and collapsed against the wall.
"We made it," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
For days, 00006 kept watch over 00351, who drifted in and out of consciousness. Each night was filled with tension and silence, broken only by the distant sounds of patrols. They both waited, hoping the others would make it.
ReunionOn the seventh day, the door creaked open, and the others appeared: 00359, 00009, and 00097.
For a moment, they all froze, as if none of them could believe it was real. Then, in an instant, 00351 staggered to his feet, his weakened body trembling, and fell into 00359's arms.
"You're alive," 00359 whispered, his voice breaking. He tightened his hold, his usual composure cracking under the weight of relief.
"You made it," 00351 murmured, his voice hoarse.
Even 00009, usually stoic, stepped forward, resting a hand on 00351's shoulder. A rare smile flickered across his face.
00097, tears streaming down his cheeks, clung to them both. "I thought we'd never see you again," he choked out, his voice a mixture of relief and guilt.
The room filled with quiet sobs and whispered reassurances. For the first time in weeks, they allowed themselves a moment of vulnerability.
But 00359 was the first to regain his composure, pulling back and wiping his face. "We don't have time to sit around," he said, his voice firm. "If they're not tracking us already, they will be soon. We need to figure out our next steps."
The group moved to the rickety table in the corner, their expressions hardening.
"We need to split up roles," 00359 began. "00006, you'll handle tech and high-risk runs. 00097, you're in charge of scouting supplies—food, clothes, anything we need to keep moving."
"What about me?" 00351 asked, his voice gaining strength.
"You recover," 00359 said without hesitation. "But when you're ready, you're our ace. If things go south, we'll need you to teleport us out."
The group exchanged glances, the weight of survival settling on their shoulders. They didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first time, they felt a flicker of hope. Together, they would fight.
Together, they would survive.
The night was still, the faint hum of streetlights and distant chatter from nearby apartments blending into the quiet rhythm of the city. 00351 and 00097 moved carefully through the shadows, their hoods drawn low and masks covering most of their faces. They had waited patiently for the small supermarket to close, watching as the last employees locked up and disappeared down the street.
"You ready?" 00351 asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
00097 nodded, though his fidgeting hands betrayed his nervousness. "Let's make it quick. In and out, no mistakes."
00351 placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll be fine. Stick to the plan."
With a quiet breath, 00351 activated his teleportation ability. In the blink of an eye, they were inside the store, hidden among the shelves. 00097 immediately engaged his ability, cloaking them in a veil of distortion that rendered them nearly invisible.
Moving swiftly but silently, they filled their stolen bags with essentials—canned goods, water bottles, and fresh bread. 00097 lingered by the clothing aisle, grabbing sturdy jackets and clean shirts, while 00351 scanned for any non-perishables they might have missed.
"Got everything?" 00351 asked, keeping an ear out for any alarms or movement.
"Yeah," 00097 replied, his voice strained but focused.
They were just about to teleport out when a faint, sharp sound reached their ears—muffled screaming.
"What was that?" 00097 whispered, freezing in place.
00351's gaze hardened. He turned toward the source of the noise, the bags of supplies momentarily forgotten. "Someone's in trouble," he said, the edge of urgency in his voice.
00097 grabbed his arm. "We can't. If we blow our cover—"
"I'm not leaving someone to die," 00351 interrupted, his tone firm.
Reluctantly, 00097 followed as 00351 teleported them just outside the store, around the corner of a dark alley. The screams grew louder, sharper, and more desperate. In the dim light, they saw her—a young woman pinned against the wall by a towering figure, her cries for help echoing off the narrow brick walls.
00351 didn't hesitate. With a flash, he teleported behind the attacker, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him backward. The man stumbled, startled, and before he could recover, 00351 teleported again—this time slamming him into the ground. The assailant groaned in pain, disoriented and unable to stand.
"Run!" 00351 barked at the woman, who looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes before nodding and darting out of the alley.
"Let's go!" 00097 hissed, panic creeping into his voice.
But it was too late. The woman's scream, combined with the commotion of the fight, had drawn attention. Flashlights flickered at the far end of the alley—security guards, alerted by the noise.
"Crap," 00351 muttered, his heart racing.
"We've got to teleport now!" 00097 urged.
00351 quickly teleported them both to the edge of the city, just out of sight of the supermarket. They dropped the bags, panting heavily.
"What were you thinking?" 00097 snapped, his voice rising. "They saw you! Your teleportation! We're screwed!"
"She needed help," 00351 shot back, his eyes blazing. "I couldn't just stand there!"
00097 ran a hand through his hair, pacing in frustration. "You might have just blown our cover for good! The facility will hear about this if they haven't already!"
00351 didn't respond immediately. His mind replayed the woman's terrified face, followed by the fragile smile she gave him before she ran.
"Look, we'll deal with it," 00351 said finally, his tone steadier than he felt. "Teleport 00009 the supplies. I'll handle the footage."
"You're kidding, right? How are you going to—"
"Just do it," 00351 snapped. "I'll explain to 00359 when I get back."
00097 clenched his fists but didn't argue. He grabbed the bags, activated his ability to cloak himself, and disappeared into the shadows.
Too LateBack at the hideout, 00359 listened intently as 00351 explained the situation. His expression grew darker with every word.
"Please tell me you erased the footage," 00359 said, his voice calm but cold.
00351 shook his head, his frustration evident. "I tried. The store had an independent security system, and by the time I got close, the police were already there. They have it now."
"Great," 00359 muttered, rubbing his temples. "Just great. The facility will know by tomorrow, if they don't already."
"We can move," 00006 said, his voice level as always. "We knew this place wasn't permanent anyway."
00359 nodded, his mind already working through potential escape routes and safe locations. "We'll leave tonight. 00006, pack only what we need. 00009, scout for any patrols on the way out."
A Hero Complex in the MakingAs the group hurriedly prepared to leave, 00351 lingered by the window, staring out at the city lights in the distance. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—guilt, fear, and something else.
The way she had smiled at him... the gratitude in her eyes. It reminded him of something he hadn't felt in a long time: purpose.
"We're not heroes," 00359 said, stepping beside him. His voice was softer now, but there was no mistaking the warning in his tone. "We can't afford to be. You know that."
"I know," 00351 replied, though the words felt hollow.
But deep down, he couldn't shake the thought: if saving someone meant risking his own safety, wasn't it worth it?
As they left the hideout that night, 00351 vowed silently to himself. No matter what the others said, he couldn't turn his back on people in need. Not anymore.
It was reckless, dangerous, and maybe even selfish—but if he could bring even a little hope to someone's life, he was willing to risk it.
Little did he know, that decision would set them on a path none of them were prepared for.
The hideout was dimly lit, the faint hum of a dying bulb in the corner punctuating the tense silence. 00359 sat at the center of the room, his arms crossed as he stared down 00351 and 00097. 00009 leaned quietly against the wall, watching with a detached expression, while 00006 was busy inspecting their gear.
"You call that a run?" 00359's voice was calm but carried a weight that made everyone in the room straighten. "That was reckless, sloppy, and almost got us caught."
00351 shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening. "We got what we needed."
"And in doing so, you nearly compromised all of us," 00359 shot back. "Do you even know what happens if the facility finds us again?"
"I know," 00351 muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.
00359 sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Clearly, you don't. Let me explain how a run is supposed to go, step by step, so we don't end up dead or back in that hellhole."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut.
"First," 00359 began, his voice steady, "you wait for the target location to close. That means we avoid cameras, staff, and any witnesses. No exceptions." He glanced pointedly at 00351, who refused to meet his gaze.
"Second, you teleport inside," he continued. "Not near the front, not near the cameras. Find a blind spot, a storage room, or somewhere quiet. That's where 00097 comes in. You cloak yourselves with his ability immediately—no wandering around out in the open."
00097 nodded, his face a mix of shame and determination.
"Third, and this is important: you only take the essentials. Food, water, clothing, medical supplies. Nothing flashy, nothing excessive. The more you take, the more noticeable it is when it's gone. We're not here to stock a pantry; we're here to survive."
He paused, his sharp eyes scanning the group to make sure they were listening.
"Fourth," he said, his tone hardening, "you teleport out without drawing attention. No noise, no mess, no witnesses. Clean and quiet. That's how we stay off the facility's radar."
00359 leaned forward, his gaze locking on 00351. "And last, while we're out there, you call each other by your codenames. Not names, not nicknames, just codenames. 00097, 00009, 00006, 00351, and me—00359. That's it. We don't leave anything personal behind, not even a trace of who we are."
00351's fists clenched, but he said nothing.
"You want to play hero? Fine. But do it when the risks don't put us all in danger," 00359 said, his voice dropping to a quieter, more deliberate tone. "You showed off your teleportation tonight. That's not just a slip-up; that's a signal to anyone watching that we're out here."
For a moment, the room was still, the weight of 00359's words sinking in.
"Then why bother with codenames if they already know us?" 00351 asked, his voice tinged with defiance.
"Because they don't know who we are yet," 00359 replied, his gaze softening slightly. "They know numbers. Files. Data. But real names? They can't track what they don't know."
"Real names," 00009 said suddenly, her voice quiet but curious. "Do we get those?"
00359 paused, considering his answer. "Eventually," he said. "But not until we're safe. Real names mean freedom. They mean being human, not experiments. When we're ready, we'll choose them. Together."
The words hung in the air, a fragile hope in the midst of their reality.
00351 looked away, guilt flickering across his face. He thought of the woman he had saved, her grateful smile. It was a reckless move, sure—but it had felt right.
"I'll do better," he said finally, his voice low but sincere.
00359 studied him for a moment before nodding. "You'd better. One more slip-up, and we might not get another chance."
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