The Numbers

[Violet]

Laying on the hard surface of the capsule, the blue haired man sat up straight, rubbing his temples. His vision was blurred and he couldn't exactly make out where he was. The loud voices in the room did no justice to his headache. Sliding his legs to the side of the capsule, a marker rolled across the floor, hitting against the man's foot. Picking it up, he set it beside him and looked around the room.

Some of the people looked panicked and eager to leave. There was a creature laying dead near the exit, covered in its own guts and being well avoided. Curious on the situation, the man grabbed at the next person who ran by. "Hey! Easy on the arm, pal!" The red haired boy wrenched free from his grip.

"Your hands are flippin' freezing." On the boys shirt was a numerical IV written in black. The man furrowed his brow. "What's the number for? And what the hell is this place?" When he stood, his whole body felt wobbly like he hadn't walked in months. He grabbed on to the boy's shoulder to balance himself.

Number 4 shied from the man's grip, and reached for the marker on the bed. "I have no clue where we are. Nobody knows their names so we were told to write these numbers on our clothes. Here." He handed the marker to the man, eager to leave his presence. Taking the cap off, the man hesitated and looked up.

"Um.. is 6 taken?" "No, I don't think it is. Hurry up, someone else is needing the marker." Quickly scribbling a sloppy "VI" on his chest, he slipped the tool into the boy's hand. After he left, 6 went to the center of the room to get a closer look at the creature.

Kneeling down before it, he made an attempt to touch the goo that oozed from its body. “Don't touch it!!” The man in the scientist robes sounded impatient. “For all we know, it could be toxic. Please step back and wait for the rest.” 6 narrowed his eyes and grunted in disagreement, but did as he was told. Pushing someone out of his way, he went to lean against the nearest wall.

This was a predicament he didn't want to be in. How long was this wait going to be and why were they all in this room? More importantly, who was he? These were the three questions that ran through 6's mind. He wanted to know, and he wanted to know now.