Subject twelve stared at the ceiling, his countdown had just reset again.
That made it the fifth time this month. The previous four from experiments and this time...voluntarily.
His eyes turned white, and he looked like he is having difficulty breathing.
After a while, he stopped.
Breathing ragged, he Slowly brought his head down, he slumped on the ground, unable to sit upright.
But a smile was plastered on his face and he looked genuinely happy. Which was rare, especially in this kind of environment.
Moments later, he noticed something wrong.
Looking up at his right side, he saw almost all the experimental subjects looking at him.
However, non of them even made a single peep, all looking at him.
He immediately blushed, he had large, almond-shaped eyes and sapphire- blue eyes, long and thick eye lashes, which add softness to his gaze, well defined jawline,and thin, pink lips.
All this features combined, made him look soft and easy to bully.
He didn't say anything and kept looking at the ground.
It was number three who spoke first.
"Twelve, what did you see?"
Number twelve's voice was as quiet as a mosquito when he spoke, so no one heard him.
"What did you say? Can you speak louder?"
"I said, "i saw us outside".
he spoke a little louder.
As soon as his voice sounded, everyone held their breath.
"We went out?"
"Where?"
"For how long?"
It was still number three who spoke out, asking what everyone wanted to ask.
"I don't know "
He paused, thinking.
"We were in another clothing, with lots of people there".
One of number twelve's power, is seeing the future, but he can only see two months ahead.
Indeed, his words did not dampen the enthusiasm of the kids at all. After all, the oldest among them is only recently turned seventeen.
Number Five, just fourteen, looked perpetually sleep-deprived.
He blinked slowly, the shadows under his eyes dark and heavy.
"Why are you so happy?" he asked.
"You don't even know why we're outside. Maybe… it's to eliminate us."
His words were an instant cool down.
The whole room fell quite.
And that's the scene I walked into.
The moment I stepped into the room, I knew something was off.
Everyone was still.
My eyes were turn to Twelve, who was slumped on the ground, with a smile frozen on his lips.
Weird.
"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice breaking through the silence.
They all ignored me, or perhaps hadn't heard me.
At last, Number Ten glanced at me, like he'd just remembered I existed.
"Twelve saw us Outside."
I blinked.
Outside?
Outside where?
They told me everything they knew.
However, it was still unbelievable to me
Was it a trick? Or was Twelve finally losing it?
Before I could ask, murmurs rose. Just enough to stir the stale air.
We didn't get long.
Because that was when the door opened again.
Dr. Yan stepped in.
His white coat was slightly wrinkled, and his shoes were still wet with the rain that had started hours ago. But it was his face that made us all go quiet again.
Tired,Pale and Grim.
Even his usual smugness was missing.
He looked like someone who had just signed away his soul.
"I see you've all gathered," he said, voice low. "Good."
No one spoke.
He rubbed his temple as if the weight of a decision still sat there. "The council has made their decision."
He pause.
"You're all going outside."
I heard a sharp inhale behind me...someone couldn't help it.
"To a school," Dr. Yan added, expression unreadable. "You'll be inserted as students."
I turned to glance at Twelve, whose eyes were wide and shining.
He had seen this.
He'd actually seen it.
We were really going out.
To the world.
To a shool?
My heart pounded in my chest.
But Dr. Yan wasn't finished.
"Don't get the wrong idea," he said, gaze sweeping over us like a cold wind. "This isn't freedom. You're being tested and will be observed. Outside is no safer than in here. One wrong move, and you're done. Erased."
Silence again.
"It is forbidden to mention this facility, before going, you will be oathbinded in case of disobedience". He continued.
" and of course you will be assigned names,
Some of you who already have names before being brought here will assume their original name"
He reached out his hands and the assistant beside him handed him a clip board.
He glanced at me. "Nine. Step forward."
I took a step.
"You'll be known as Mo Yao," he said.
I nodded.
Next.
"Three. Come forward."
Zhào chen will be your name.
"This is your new identity. Fitting, I think."
chen didn't react. But I saw his knuckles whiten at his sides.
"Five."
Five slouched forward.
"Lín Liangyu. That's your name now."
Liangyu snorted. "Don't see how a name changes anything."
Dr. Yan didn't bother replying.
"Ten. Huáng Ruiren. Your file says you used to answer to that name. You'll keep it."
Ruiren blinked. "So… I wasn't always just a number?"
For a moment, I saw something like grief flicker across his face.
Then...
"Twelve."
He stepped forward slowly, eyes still hazy from the aftershocks of his vision.
Dr. Yan paused. "You'll retain your real name. Liú Ziyan."
Ziyan blinked, surprised.
"That's the name you were given at the orphanage before we took you."
He flinched.
I felt something twist in my chest.
He had a place to live.
He had a name.
Yet He remembered none of it.
"Cherish it or don't. But answer when it's called." said Dr yan without even lifting his head up.
A shadow passed through Ziyan's eyes, but he nodded, silent as ever.
Others were called.
Some names were met with quiet acceptance.
Others sparked something ...either pain or faint hope.
But it didn't change what we were: tools in a controlled experiment.
Just now, the tools had names.
Dr Yan and his assistant turned to leave.
Just when he as about to go out, he turned.
"Oh right, tomorrow someone will be going along with you, i expect you to be nice".
"After all, she is your 'sister'"