Silence. That's all everyone heard from 296.

Her still, non penetrating silence was one that was unmistakably evident. Even 291 seemed to talk more, with bold–and admittedly exaggerated–arm movements flashing beside her friend.

She kept guessing what was on 296's mind, and everyone else did, too. Though it was all futile.

What happened yesterday, 296? 291 tried asking with shrugged gestures and touching her jawbone with her thumb. 296 just sighed, shook her head, and glanced away.

Where did Harpostia go? I haven't seen her since yesterday. I miss her quite a lot. 291 asked with stuck out arms and indicated a ponytail with her making a spiral with her hand, stemming from her hair–as if she was putting on a ponytail herself. With compressed lips and averting gazes, 296 stood up and walked away.

And though she never wanted to say, 296 felt...guilty. Confused. Her stomach ached every darktime when she laid on the spreaded cloth on the floor, many numbers sleeping soundly beside her. The light from the Youmlay berries above shone no light as 296 was swallowed in her thoughts.

But why was it like this? She deserved her life's end. That's...what Dr. Sir Exor said. She thought, hands sweating despite the cold air of the room.

She still helped out Dr. Sir Exor greatly though, right?

She touched her neck, the groves of the stamped 296 still present. She remembered Dr. Exor's words in the "outside".

And her mind twisted in thoughts she never deemed imaginable.

He doesn't care about me. He lied and hid so many things from me. I should've gone for Dr. Exor inst—

She let out a small gasp at the last words etched in her mind. No. This was her life purpose, to serve and help Dr...Sir Exor because he was a good person who would never hurt anyone and helps everyone. That was what her transient life was solely for, and that's where it will be valued. He's given her so much, and she wanted to do the same back, because that was what mattered to her the most.

She squeaked out a small gasp as a tear rolled down her cheek and she shivered. She pushed herself off from the floor, her chest heavy and tight, her mind aching, fuzzy, and the atmosphere as dark and cold as the very room.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, one silent tear falling out after the next with a trembling body. She sobbed that night, thoughts stuck in the same place.

Because a part of her was starting to not believe that anymore.

#

The next lighttime went as usual. Mealtime, silent conversations between 291 and 296 as they ate their mashed potatoes. Dr. Exor served them with stained robes this time, much different from his usual pristine demeanor.

Or was it 296 herself that's changed?

"296, I will need you for another experiment, so please follow me right now. Quickly." Dr. Sir Exor said, handing 291 a bowl. And not even batting an eye towards 296's unusual behavior.

"Alright." Her voice, whispery and cold. She stared up to him and forged a smile. "Let's go."

#

"Look, I think you have been completely quiet for no reason at all." Dr. Sir Exor said as they walked through the hallway. And he was right, for 296 did not respond back. "So why, huh?"

296's eyes were dark, in the sense that no light shone on her eyes. Those pupils–once as blue as the ocean and as light and pure–were unmistakably cold. Dr. Sir Exor shivered when he glanced at her.

"296, I am still talking to you." He said again, barely keeping his patience in with a louder voice. There was a shake in his words. "I would like to know, so I can help you." He gave an exhausted sigh.

296 clenched her fists.

"You said that Harpostia was someone who defied you. You said that those types of people 'lose the most valuable thing ever.' And that was their life."

"I am surprised you remember my words so vividly. You don't take me for granted at all, do you?"

"But what about you?"

Dr. Exor glanced at her, quickly darting away from her frozen heart. "What do you mean?" He pushed his voice to hide the small tremble.

"What I'm talking about is your reciprocated feelings. Tell me, Dr. Exor, how much times has these people here lost their most valuable 'things'?"

Dr. Exor gave a disgusted glare. He bit the inside of his lip.

"Do you want to end up like Harpostia?"

"You didn't answer the question."

296 reciprocated the glare back, along with a grin. Dr. Exor, meanwhile, fiddled with his robe, his hands constantly tugging near his chest.

"I am just saying. That—"

"That what? Those times when you burned me alive were for my own good? That those needles stabbed into my flesh would benefit me in any way. You never said how. You never told the full story of anything. You didn't even tell me of that place with the blue roof."

"That's Oceanuris." He snapped.

"Well I would've known before if you taught me during those 'learning sessions' of yours. But you didn't, did you?" She gave a painful laugh. But her heart cracked, at the sight of the fact that her trust was an illusion of light all along.

"I trusted you. It was literally what my whole life meant to me."

She turned to the other direction, to the dark–far from where Dr. Exor and her were once walking together.

"But that precious thing doesn't mean anything to me anymore." Her dark eyes stabbed him in the chest.

"Goodbye, Dr. Exor."