"Why should I apologize for the monster I've become. No one ever apologized for making me this way."

-

CHAPTER THIRTY — DARKNESS

"Number Zero, come with me."

Those were Father's words when he barged into my room without warning that day.

"Yes, Father," I stood up from my armchair, placed my book down and straightened my blazer.

It wasn't 8 pm yet, so we weren't allowed to take off our uniforms and the rest of the Academy was either training or studying in their rooms.

Father lead me out of the room, Five skidded to a stop in the corridor when he saw us and gave me an encouraging smile.

"Number Five, please resume your studies immediately," Father glanced at him briefly before descending the stairs towards the foyer.

"Father, where are we going?" I asked, rubbing the tattoo at my wrist.

"You'll see," he replied.

I placed my hands in front of me and quickened my pace, catching up to him until I was right behind him.

Vanya was in the living room and we walked past. She had her violin up and she stared at us curiously.

"Dad," she greeted us. "Hi, Zero!"

"Hi, Seven," I smiled, waving at my sister. Dad didn't like it when we don't use our numbers.

Father didn't spare a glance at her. "Number Seven."

We walked through the back doors and into the yard, passing the stone tomb and into a cube-like building.

"Father?"

He stayed silent, grabbing a flamethrower that hung on the wall and began descending the staircase.

"Father?" I tried again.

We approached a door and Father pressed his hand on the wall beside it, there was a click, and the door opened to a dark room.

"Get in."

His voice echoed through the gloomy room.

I gulped, the flamethrower the only light source, illuminating the doorframe.

There was a bed, a wardrobe, and a toilet.

"Father? What is this place?" I whimpered as he pushed me into the room.

"Five hours," Father spoke. "Find light."

I launched myself to the door just as he closed it.

Darkness consumed me.

"Father!" I pounded on the heavy door. "Let me out!"

My breathing quickened as I looked around my surroundings.

"Five! Klaus! Ben! Diego! Anyone? Help!" I cried. "Anybody?"

A sob escaped my lips and I immediately clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Find light," I whispered to myself. "Light."

I walked around blindly in the darkness. It was a miracle that I found the bed and sat down.

I curled up in the sheets and closed my eyes.

-

-

I couldn't see through the dense mist in front of me. I threw out my arms but couldn't feel a thing.

I coughed, my hands over my lips as I tried to breathe.

The smoke was suffocating and I waved a hand in front of me to clear the mist.

I walked blindly forward and emerged into a wasteland, fire surrounded me as I walked down the dirt path.

The sky was black and there wasn't a being insight.

"Zero."

I spun around, finding a tall stage next to me and looked up.

I stumbled backwards as I realised what was in front of me.

My family was on the stage, their head hanging from the nooses holding them up.

They hung lifelessly from hooks as they swayed in the wind.

I watched as a body rotated towards me.

A scream spilt from my lips as Five's head lolled towards me and suddenly jerked up.

His face was half-scarred and a leg was missing from his body and his green eyes found mine.

"Boo."

I jerked awake, screaming my lungs out.

The cold floor heightened my senses as I sat up, my hair tangled and I looked around.

I was sprawled on the floor at the opposite corner from where the bed stood, the sheets were torn and were scattered across the room.

The wardrobe had toppled over, its contents spilling out.

The room was a blinding white, a stark contrast from what it was when I walked in before.

I tucked into myself as I leaned against the wall, gasping as my hand touched something slick and wet.

I breathed shakily and looked down, a black substance bubbled and boiled around me, sticking to my body.

They drip from the ceiling and on to me, slicking against my stark black hair and staining my uniform.

My fingers tingled and my palms heated up as I concentrated, manipulating the liquid as it crawled on my body. Tendrils wrapped around me and I gave into the shadows, instinctively embracing them and merging with the shadows.

I looked down at my body, completely surrounded by shadows and I smiled.

The door clicked open and Father strolled in with a flamethrower again, the walls reflecting the fire and bouncing back on to the shadows.

The shadows around me hissed as they came in contact with the tendrils of light and I threw my arms out, the shadows flung out and disappearing back to their original spots.

I collapsed on the ground in a heap as Father chuckled.

"Wonderful Number Zero, wonderful," he beamed like a Cheshire cat.

I groaned as I stood up, my body tired out.

"Great work today, Number Zero, you have learned the basics of your power," Father said. "Tomorrow, you'll try again."