One (A SPM AU BASED ON LN2)

The In Between: 1

I remember floating for what felt like forever. It might have been a day, it might have been two. It may have only been two hours. Either way, it felt too long. I was also starting to get a little seasick, but I didn't complain out loud.

It was freezing cold. The air was about four degrees celsius over the ocean water, and the fact that the ice-cold waves splashed up onto me every once in a while didn't help all that much. One was lucky because he at least had a nice, long jacket. Even if he was also soaking wet from pushing the boat out earlier. All I had was a simple long-sleeved shirt, pants, and some shoes. 

Although, on the topic of shoes, this was the first time I actually thought about how One didn't have any. I could look down at his feet and see that they were all messed up, bruises and cuts lining them. No wonder he wasn't as fast as me. While running I had forgotten that he didn't even have shoes. I couldn't even imagine what stepping on all those rocks, twigs, and sticks felt like. He never even complained about it or brought it up.

I felt make face soften, a frown slowly forming. I never thought I'd be so thankful for having something as simple as shoes.

"....So, the Tribe of Darkness, huh?" One asked me. I think he was trying to stop me from feeling bad for him. He could probably tell by the face I was making that I was, and he didn't want me to. "What's that like?"

I slowly looked up at him, then down to my side.  "They... they're really strict if I remember right. It's been a while since I've been with them since they've sent me out to be...er, studied. But I specifically remember a lot of rules. I wasn't really allowed to do anything."

"Interesting," he muttered, still rowing. I could tell he was somewhat starting to tire since we slowed down, but he didn't complain once, so I didn't point it out. I didn't want to be rude.

"So... I know you don't actually KNOW what you are, but what do you... think you are?" I asked, not quite sure how to phrase the question. "I mean, you look pretty human."

"Ah. Well, I have spent my whole life on my own, so the only record I've ever had is my number," He stated, holding his hand out and rolling up his sleeve, showing me the number one engraved onto the inside of his wrist. A variety of cuts and scratches surrounded the number, as if someone, maybe himself, was trying to scratch it off. But you can't scratch a number off. I myself had the number six engraved onto my own wrist. It was small and just above the palm of my hand. It was something that all higher-numbered people had done as a way to track and know a person's threat level. 

"When I grow up, I'm gonna invest in gloves someday," He laughed as if his number was a lighthearted joke. "That way no one can judge me solely on my number. Luckily for me, since my coat is a little big, the number is covered for the most part."

Gloves were actually a pretty good idea. I made a note to myself to remember those for when I got back home to my dad. 

Note to self: invest in gloves.

"Well, do you know anything about where you descended from? Anything at all?" I asked, briefly checking the compass to make sure we were still heading east, which we were.

"No," He shrugged. "I used to think I was human. You know, because of my appearance. But no human could ever be a one, so that debunks that theory. I also don't think I'm from the Tribe of Darkness like you, because face it, I don't look the part and they would have killed me at birth without hesitation. No offense. So... I guess that must mean I was descended from a tribe of ancients. Or maybe I'm half human half ancient. Who knows?"

I paused, looking down. I really hoped he wasn't half and half. My tribe had only spoken the worst of them. They had always described them as monsters.