𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ✔️

003

"Test one," the woman says, smoothing back her bright red curls. She scratches a few things down in her yellow notebook. "Roll the dice," she instructs.

You had no choice but to follow her orders. She'd been the one organizing all your lessons the past few weeks with the occasional appearance of Papa. Recently, he'd grown busy with work. The details of it were unknown.

You look at the dice in front of you. They were average, normal-looking dice. As was everything else in the plain room. Average and normal looking. The only thing that was unaverage, unnormal was the fact that she wanted you to roll them without your hands. The goal of this test was to use your mind instead

You lean in close, your way of concentration was being entirely in tune with the dice. You had to be, if you wanted to move it. The energy built up inside of you. You felt the weight of the object in your mind. Now... you just had to lift it. Quickly, you make them rise and drop. The dice scatter across the table.

A five and a six looked up at you.

"Good job," the woman compliments, but there was little enthusiasm in her voice. She writes a few more things in her notebook. "Now, try rolling two threes."

Your focus settles back into the dice. After a moment, the cubes roll again. Two threes stared back at you. You smiled proudly and it's only then that the woman gives you a nod of approval. "You've come a long way," she applauds, "Now try rolling a two and a four."

The more you do it, the easier it gets. A second passes and the dice display the same very numbers. A laugh that's no more than a breath escapes your lips. This was child's play.

It seems the woman didn't think so. She strings out many more requests after that. You would think there were only so many combinations you could make with two dice. Thirty-six to be exact, but then she added another, and another, and another. She finally stops at six.

"Roll a six, four, three, two twos, and a one," she states. "In that order."

This game was hurting your head. You must've rolled these dice at least fifty times. Each time, you'd done exactly what she had asked. Evidently, your lack of failure wasn't enough. What did she want you to be if not perfect? This "game" was becoming an irritation.

You barely look at the dice this time. The numbers she listed don't concern you anymore. You sigh and let the energy from your mind move the dice. They line themselves up into a row and float into the air. You make sure six straight ones are staring back at her. You held back the urge to send them soaring in her face.

"Missing 001, I see," she sighs, pushing up her glasses. "Alright then, come for the next test."

She leads you out of the white room and down the hallway. It was empty and silent, except for the women's footsteps. Your own were muffled with white socks.

007

008

009

010

011

You look at the numbered doors as they pass by. The rooms behind them had been empty since you arrived. You wondered if there would ever come a day when they would house other children. Maybe then, it wouldn't be so silent.

For now, it was just you and 001.

After turning a corner, the red-headed woman uses her keycard to open up the door to a large room. You'd never been here before. White light bulbs illuminate the charcoal black walls and floor where Papa stood in the center. The room was empty except for him.