24 Perspectives (2)

373's hands were as heavy as lead as they fell to her sides. Just as the small girl couldn't find the strength to push Michael Caelum away, she couldn't find the strength to bring her hands up to her ears or to look away from everything unfolding in front of her.

Although the metallic shelf and Michael's figure limited what 373 could see, it didn't stop her from seeing the scene unfolding in front of her.

Michael looked away. Unlike the other adults, Michael closed his eyes. But 373 couldn't. She couldn't move her gaze away from the gigantic machine and its many wires and tubes. She couldn't keep her eyes from staring at the dark-skinned girl who was writhing and whimpering in pain.

Even though she was finding it hard to breath, 373 could sniff out the smell of metal mixed with the stench of anti-septic, alcohol and other chemicals. Even though her ears were ringing, 373 could clearly hear one scream became two until the entire hall was filled with a cacophony of crying.

She had seen Leon suffering on the first night she stumbled into the other side of Elisium's white walls. She had heard his yells, seen the other children in the cells, smelled the stench of the dead bodies being carried in and out of the rooms. But she had never seen something like this before. She had never seen how all the children in Elisium had died – never seen how children around her age were being pricked, prodded and tortured even after they breathed their last.

What about the other children living up in the fake paradise of Elisium? Were they all going to die in the same way? Was she going to let Zain Amina die like this?

As if reading her thoughts, Michael Caelum slightly turned his body and whispered, "If you save her now, can you keep her alive? Even if you do save her, there are still hundreds of innocent children of Elisium. Will you take responsibility of their lives and save them too?"

"You can't. Even I can't. We're ants in the eyes of high-ranking Spellcasters – even less in the eyes of a Magno Deorum. We might need a miracle just to get out of here," Michael Caelum said bluntly as he opened his eyes slightly. There was an indescribable sadness in the depths of his eyes that washed over 373 like waves embracing a shipwrecked survivor in the middle of the sea. "That's why, even if I don't like what I see, saving just you is enough for me. Knowing that you're safe is enough for me."

373 felt warm after hearing what Michael said. Yet it didn't dispel the wrenching feeling in her gut.

"It's not enough for me." The words escaped her lips accidentally. But the moment they slipped from her mouth, 373 had to admit they were true. She did not plan on forgetting this day, nor was she planning on standing by and doing nothing. With a breath, she gathered her energy and cast two spells: one to completely mask her presence, and another to give her strength to escape the back that was trying to protect her.

"Celo. Fulcio."

373 felt the magical flow of energy around her change and concentrated on reducing her presence and making sure her spell was undetected. She took a deep gulp of air and climbed up the metal shelf. The howls of pain and humming of machines masked the little noise that she made. She slowly jumped down as quietly as she could and turned around to look at the confused gaze of Michael Caelum.

"Sorry." Before the young man could move, 373 touched his wrist and cast a restriction spell. The older male felt her hand and glanced at the place where their skin touched. He didn't move – or rather, he couldn't move unless 373 released him from her spell. The small female ignored the guilt gnawing at her chest and scanned the room. She didn't move a single step. She didn't dare walk close to the white-coated adults in the room.

The moment she had stepped foot in Elisium's hidden laboratories, 373 had understood that Elisium was filled with strong Spellcasters. She understood that completely well enough but had relied on the fact that no sane person would cast a tracking spell without reason. Unless someone dispelled her concealment spell, no one would be able to see her. But now, faced with the reality that she was weak – weaker than the adults around, she knew better than to take a step towards the girl she wanted to save.

At first, 373 had thought about doing the same thing she did when she first saw Leon. But to make her live another day? To prolong her life while causing little accidents here and there?

What a joke! She had seen the torture Leon went through. She knew the pain Leon had to go through every single day.

If it were her, she would rather die.

Because in death, there was no pain.

In death, there was peace.

The little girl could taste a bitter metallic taste in her mouth. But after thinking things through, she knew what she had to do. She couldn't fight, couldn't ask Zain Amina to suffer and wait for her to get stronger. But even without getting closer, she could cast a spell – one simple spell – and then it would all be over.

She stood quietly amid the noise that echoed in the room. She engraved each scent, each sound and each sight into her memories. She watched as Zain Amina writhed in pain and screamed until her lungs ran out of air. 373 listened to the dark-skinned girl's yells, her pleading voice resonating through every inch of 373's body like an earthquake. Tears fell down Zain Amina's face as she begged for the researchers to stop.

373 extended her hand. Her fingers shook as she released her spell and cast it on Zain Amina.

"Somnum Diu," 373 whispered so softly as she closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she was no longer surrounded by the machinery and metallic walls of Elium.