Chapter Text
The first thing I see when I open my eyes is light, blinding light. I shut my lids, turning my head away from the brightness, squirming around in some bed that doesn’t feel at all familiar. Where am I? How did I get here? Who even am I? Struggling, I try to push through my memories, find something, anything, but it’s as if my brain has been wiped clean. The longer I search, the stronger my headache gets, as if my own mind is trying to shove me out of it.
With no other options, I force myself to open my eyes again, squinting until I can adjust to the synthetic glare. The room is completely white, smelling of antiseptic, like a hospital. Even my dress is like those papery robes given out when you have to be in surgery and my hair is completely shaved off. It’s… weird. I don’t like it. At all.
“Oh? You’re awake?” asks the voice of a young woman and I turn to see a nurse.
I nod once, eyes narrowed. “Y-yeah?” My voice sounds awful. My tongue feels like sandpaper.
She smiles professionally, handing me a paper cup full of water. “Here. You must be confused. That was quite the fall you took.”
“What-”
Just then, an older man walks in, his white hair neatly styled and his perfectly ironed grey suit and black tie contrasting with the blankness of everything else. He walks over to me, his face a mask of kindness, and sits down on my bed, way too close for a stranger. I move backwards, pulling my legs to my chest, and he sighs.
“Hello, 013. How are you feeling?”
What? Is that my name? “13? Like the number?”
“Yes, exactly. Do you not remember who you are? Hm… this is worse than I suspected.”
“...what are you talking about?”
“Well, after the accident, I knew your memory may be a bit foggy, but even your name? It’s worrying.”
“The accident? What accident?”
“You fell. Tripped and hit your head on a metal pole. You were out for days.”
Is that why they cut my hair off? To treat the injury? I reach up, feeling around my head, looking for the scar. Maybe it will bring back some memories? Unfortunately, I can’t find anything.
“Ah, well, perhaps our doctors are too good. Not even a mark left. Now come on, I can fill you in on what you’ve forgotten.”
Without waiting for an answer, he begins. According to this man, who introduces himself as “Papa”, I am twelve years old and have lived here my whole life. This is a sort of facility, taking care of children who are apparently different from others. I don’t… trust him. He seems too fake, too scripted, his smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
Despite all this, I still follow along as he leads me on a tour, taking me down identical white hallway after identical white hallway. There are cameras in every corner, doors lining the walls, yet nothing is labelled. The staff must have everything memorized, while I know I’ll just end up lost. I suppose I won’t be left alone much, though–if Papa’s firm hand on my back is anything to go off of.
Finally, he pushes open a door at the end of the hall and we step into this new place, the ‘rainbow room’. Probably about half a dozen pairs of young eyes turn to me, ranging from much younger than me to a bit older. I step back, uncomfortable at being stared out, but my back hits the closed door and Papa is gone. I guess I’m staying here then…
I find a chair at the back, glaring at everyone who looks my way until they awkwardly return to what they’re doing. The whole room is full of toys and games, looking like some sort of kindergarten class. I lie my head down on the cold plastic table, staring at the rainbow on the wall. It’s the only real colour I’ve seen all day and I find myself cherishing it, studying it, until everything meshes together. I feel sort of dizzy.
“You seem very deep in thought,” notes an unfamiliar voice. “May I ask what about this rainbow makes it in need of such scrutiny?”
I jump, holding back a yelp at being knocked out of my thoughts. I stumble, hitting the ground as the wobbly chair skids off to the side. Immediately, I hear the sound of giggling from the others. Face flushed with embarrassment, I glance up at the source of the voice, ready to snap at him for sneaking up on me, and just… freeze.
Short, blond hair, a simple, white uniform, and black shoes. His big eyes are impossibly blue and his expression of amused surprise is the most genuine thing I’ve seen all day. He kneels down next to me, his gaze flicking over me. He smells like bleach.
“Didn’t mean to scare you, Thirteen. Are you alright?” he asks with a small smile, extending a hand.
I take it, my warm hand meeting his colder, softer one, and he helps me up. “..I’m okay.”
Wait… I squint, looking past the stranger. Is that-? There’s a boy at a different table, staring at a rubix cube that’s.. Floating? How? Is he-? My eyes widen.
“Is he-?”
The man turns, following my gaze, then nods. “Making it float with his mind? He is.” He looks back down at me. “Wanna know a little secret?”
“Hm?”
“You can do that too.”