4 32's name

After reading those words, it finally hit her with more violence that she thought. She viewed her companions as numbers, even the one that survived with her. She remembered him as the son of a noble and as number 2. But she realized that she didn't even knew his name, and never will. And that she also forgot her very name. She kept searching in her memory, but except seeing the last years of nightmares and tortures, she couldn't even recall the most important word of her life. Her last sense of sanity was beginning to fade as she was frenetically searching for an answer. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing was coming in her mind.

"Are you certain that it is the hideout of those dark mages? It seems not guarded at all!"

"Of course, it has been two weeks almost bloody moron! Do you think the knights have the time to bother guarding a destroyed cave like that? Remember, we might be the first one to enter it and grab all that stuff!"

"Are you sure it is not dangerous?"

"Shut up now! We are broke, so now Miguel, just follow my lead."

She could hear two men shouting at each other and coming this way. And from what she could understand, they were not on the good side of the law. And if after everything she had gone through, she still was capable of trusting strangers, she deserved to die a million times. She took the book in front of her and began to run toward one of the rooms where she was tortured. She barely contemplated the now destroyed equipment before crouching behind one of the fallen desks. There she saw surrounding her some broken vials and burnt papers. She extinguished the torch with her weak breath and began to wait.

If they were not that loud, she would have probably been caught. Even at that time, she heard them rampaging and searching everywhere for something. But the knights really did a good job at destroying everything. Only the secret stashes were unharmed, but how two dumb bandits could find them? After dozens of minutes, their patience was rewarded by nothing. Absolutely nothing and the one named Miguel was trying to leave this place as soon as possible.

"C'mon, leave this damned place, you see there is nothing, that's why it wasn't guarded?"

"Don't tell me what to do! Those dark mages were not that stupid, they probably hid their treasures, we have to find them."

"But we searched everywhere, where do you think it is? In the ceiling?"

"Not a bad idea Miguel, no one will look above their line of vision … nothing … damn it if only I cou AAAAAAAAAAAAAAh"

While they were talking, one of them didn't look the ground and fell on some remains laying on the floor. Provoking his anger and apparently great pain, but because of that, he was focused on the ground a little too much.

"Damn place, damn everything and damn smartass magicians. Look at that stupid broken bench on the floor and … what is that?"

"Can we go now, please?"

"Miguel shut up! Look on the floor, those footprints!"

"And what? It's a child footprint, of course. You didn't hear the news about the dozens of children rescued?"

"Yes, but that base was destroyed AFTER they were saved. So how can a footprint be seen after those knights wrecked everything?"

"Yes but … that would mean …"

32 was shocked after hearing this. She began to touch under her feet and realized that a lot of ashes were stuck on them. The possibility of her leaving a trail toward her hiding spot was big. And since she was completely in the dark, she couldn't even leave before the two men arrived. She would create so much noise that they would realize for sure that they were not alone. She desperately tried to reduce her size as much as a small girl could.

She could still hear them speak, but she couldn't understand anything until the light finally arrived in the room where she was located. If she wanted, she could try to peek at the intruders, but that would only make her more visible. As for her means of defenses, the only thing around her useful was some bottles containing some strange fluids. Most of them were broken and contained a sliver of liquid. She still managed to recognize some that were used on her. In the end, she only found two different bottles that were unknown, one containing a white liquid, the other a brown one. For the first time, she hoped that they were dangerous.

"Cortez, do you really think that this child is here? I mean, I would have left this place a long time ago, maybe he is not even here."

"The footprints stopped after entering this room. We will quickly search it and if there is nothing we will leave. And I will even acknowledge that you were right."

"Really? I mean, I knew that I was right. Anyway, what do you want to do with this child? It's not like she was a gorgeous virgin that could be sold at a brothel."

"Oh don't worry, no matter his sex, a child touched and corrupted by what happened here will fetch a high price to some occultists."

While saying this, they began to rummage through the cabinets and wardrobes laying on the ground. Those would have been able to hide a child easily. The two men were nearly going to leave when Cortez finally saw his prey behind a broken desk. He then began to approach with his widest smile.

"Sweetie, come here, I will not hurt you. Tell me what is your name?"

32 saw him getting closer and closer, but while he was smiling, his face was not sincere at all. He was a strong grown man with brown hair. But what she remembered the most was his eyes. He had the same eyes devoid of mercy that the dark mages once possessed. His companion was clearly weaker and thinner but not that younger. And on his face, only pity could be seen. When he was only one meter away from the young child, he stopped and repeated his question.

"Sweetie, tell uncle your name, I have some candy for you if you do that."

Even if he was threatening, she knew that she only had two chances. And the only way to make him drop his guard was to answer him. But she still couldn't tell that she was named 32. While she was searching for a fake answer, her eyes fell on the book that she grabbed, the one written by that Octavius lady. And she realized what she needed to say.

"Leilade"

"Great Leilade, don't worry, uncle didn't lie. Come, come here take your candy, they are in my hand."

He extended his closed hand toward her, expecting her to grab it. That was her moment to strike. She chose the white bottle and threw it at the face of Cortez. He began to scream horribly, cursing all the gods he knew. She would see his face beginning to melt under the white liquid. But he was too close to her, and before she could react, he tried to jump on her. Only to receive the second vial on his body while she dodged his attack. After falling to the ground, the bandit began to convulse a few times, before finally dying.

Miguel was clearly petrified by what happened. The young girl that should have been easily captured threw something at his friend and now he was not moving. He looked at the girl that was now curled up in a corner while he was marching toward Cortez. He knew that he was still between the child and the exit, so even if she started running, he will catch her. Before that, he would have let her go. But now that she harmed his companion, he will enjoy seeing her sold to a group that will torture her more.

"Cortez, wake up, CORTEZ!"

Even after getting near him, he was not moving at all. He tried to hit him a few times but that was not working. Looking at the immobile prey one last time, he quickly turned his friend to see his face. What awaited him was a not a face but the parody of a face. Everything above his lower lip was melted and his left eye was even gone. He could see some parts of the skull. He was dead for sure. Miguel began to cry a little but quickly remembered to not let her escape. Looking at her frail body, he even wondered that if killing her would not be better.

She could see the thin bandit looking at her and his eyes beginning to reflect the light of his torch. Only pain and anger could be seen on his face. She knew that her fate was in his hands because nothing around her could help her. As for the grown man, she didn't care about him. The fact that he was dead was good since he was clearly a bad man. For a few seconds, the two looked at each other, before the last remaining bandit stood up. She saw him searching the room with his eyes until he found what he was looking for.

He began to walk toward it, and to her despair, it was a large piece of metal. Something that she could barely carry, but that he could use as a hammer easily. She realized that she will suffer once again, maybe for the last time. Only after he was near did she realized that they were two standing up. The light of the bandit was just enough to let her see a shadow moving behind him. And when he stopped in front of her, she finally saw a skull with burned lips. Knowing what will happen, she dashed toward the exit, only hearing a scream behind her and the sound of someone eating meat. In her arms was still the book written by Leilade.