Chapter 1 Number 41

The sun is high and not a cloud can be seen in the sky. A large Obsidian mountain range, covered by a forest home to many creatures, can be seen piercing the sky.

A collection of wooden buildings and structures can be seen half way up the mountain, in a small area where the mountain recedes into a valley and flattens before continuing upwards. The settlement appears to be some sort of mine, as those within appear to be carrying mining equipment.

Atleast a 100 people are within , going about their business. Except, something seems off about this mining town, the air feels... Heavy.

The town covers an area of 500 meters in any direction if you were to walk from the center to the wall around the perimeter.

Within the town, roughly 100m from the southern wall, a single figure can be seen hunched over a barrel filled with murky brown water. The figures cupped hands are dipped into the water and soon enough they begin to drink.

The figure lifts their head once they've had their fill and can only be described as being a young boy, no older than 16. He is a 1.6 meters tall caucasian boy with black shoulder length hair and dark green eyes.

​ He is wearing long ragged trousers that appear to be stained brown from dirt. No other clothes can be seen on the boy. Across his back and chest, multiple scars of different sizes can be seen alongside some cuts that appear fresh.

Although riddled with scars, there is a distinct mark on his left shoulder blade, branded into his skin, is a large number 41.

The sound of something slicing the air is heard from behind him, the boy turns around as fast as possible only to receive excruciating pain as the tip of a whip cuts him across the chest.

Standing 2 meters away is a bald 1.8 meter tall middle aged man with a scruffy brown beard. In his hand is a whip, but it's no ordinary whip. This whip is made up of several sharpened bones that have been attached together by some kind of string or rope.

The man is wearing a full set of leather armour across his body. The leather is dyed black rather than being it's original brown. At his hip is a holster, used to store his whip.

"AAAAAHHHH!!!" The boy cried out in pain and falls with his back to the floor, griping the spot the whip struck his chest. Pulling the bloodied whip back towards himself, the man speaks.

"Which one are you, boy? Show me your mark, NOW!" the boy gets up as quickly as his body will allow and exposes his back to the man who scoffs upon seeing the number.

"So it's you again 41... you know you're the only one in here with that many scars right? If you just did as you were told then you wouldn't have to be punished so often like this." pulling his arm back again the man swings the whip , this time striking 41's back, creating a lash from the center of his right ribcage to left hip.

41 Arches his back and falls to his knees screaming in pain from the lash," NO, PLEASE STOP! , I'll do whatever you say, just.. please stop... " 41 hurriedly spits out, trying to get the words out before another lash hits him.

Grinning from ear to ear at the site of this boy groveling before him, the man lifts his whip again, "Oho, you want me to stop? Then you shouldn't have been hiding away at the back of the camp you lazy piece of...!"

As the whip was about to move forward to land another hit, an arm stretched out and grabbed his right arm, the arm the man was holding the whip in. With a furious expression on his face the man starts turning around to see who interrupted his fun.

"Who the FUCK do you think you ar...Captain!? I'm s-sorry , I didn't mean to speak to you that way, I - I was just startled by..." before he could finish his sentence a loud bang was heard as the 'Captain' back handed the man using her left hand, the same hand that was holding his arm. Sending him tumbling across the ground for 10 meters before coming to a stop, completely unconscious.

The captain, a short woman, just under 1.5 meters tall with her blond hair tied up in an intricate bun. She has ice blue eyes and is wearing a matching black uniform with red trimmings along the edges of her jacket.

She has an aloof expression on her face, as if nothing happened. She looks at the boy on the ground and can clearly see the number on his back. "You there, Boy."

Knowing what would happen if he ignored the her, 41 looked up at her while slightly shaking from pain. The captain raises her left eyebrow and says, "Get back to work before someone else finds you. " she then turned around and began walking away until she disappeared around a corner.

41 stands up and immediately after she leaves his sight. Surprised that the captain let him leave, he starts heading to the east side of the camp, where he is meant to be working. He does so as quickly and quietly as he can, to ensure nobody else will see him.

He turns left between two buildings and stops to pick up a pickaxe that was leaning against the wall. He continues forward until he reaches the end of the building, he then looks around the corner and sees a line of men and boys of all ages, chipping away at the black wall of the mountain. There are 2 guards dressed the same as the man with the whip standing to the side of the line of men, not paying too much attention.

Each of the guards has a similar whip like weapon on their sides. When it seems like the right moment, 41 quickly moves to an empty spot between two people and starts chipping away at the mountain wall with his pickaxe as though he never left.

There is a boy to the right of 41. He is slightly smaller, roughly 1.56 meters tall, no older than 14. He's a Caucasian boy and has curly blonde hair that reaches over his ears and has big brown eyes. He is wearing the same clothing as 41, only his is torn slightly less.

The small boy looks to 41 with a look of concern and happiness and says, "L-Leo, you're back! You look hurt again.. What happened." Leo turns to the small boy and replies in an excited tone, "Nevermind that Zack, I've found it! I've found our way out of here...