Ashes

Arch III. The Longest Road. Entry 6. Escape

The young Lord slowly came to his senses, his consciousness slowly breaking out of the fog. A deep, piercing cold enveloped his body, like shadows trying to take him. He felt every cell in his body protesting, as if briefly awakened from a terrifying dream. Pantum mixed with poison still pulsed through his veins, causing waves of nausea and weakness. The drug should have killed him, but it only pushed him into the abyss.

Ritsu felt the Darkness inside him move like a living being, causing unbearable pain. It pierced his soul like needles. This was the first time the Darkness had awakened. He had never encountered such power before and did not know the consequences. The internal conflict flared up, and every movement felt like a fight with an invisible enemy.

The young Lord tried to concentrate, but his thoughts were jumbled and every breath was difficult. The walls around him seemed distorted and the light that filtered through the curtains seemed to burn.

Ritsu sat up and only now saw Number Nine sitting on the floor next to him. She was asleep, her head on his bed. Her face was calm, and her light features, illuminated by the bright rays of the sun, gave her an almost angelic appearance.

Looking at her, his heart was filled with a strange warmth that he had never felt before. Number Nine was always there when he felt vulnerable, or when he was in danger.

He tried to touch her, but his body was like stone, every muscle refused to obey. At that moment, the girl raised her head.

"Good morning, my Lord," she allowed herself to speak without permission. "Have you rested yet?"

"Nine... You..." Ritsu tried to gather his thoughts. "What..."

"Everything is fine," she tried to calm him down. Her gentle voice gave him a strange hope for something good. "The one who tried to kill you became a shadow and now serves the Darkness. We haven't found the others yet, but... I doubt they ran far."

"They... Escaped?" he asked again

"Yes," she looked down sadly, as if blaming herself for it, and then trembled, expecting her master's wrath.

"I see," he exhaled tiredly. He didn't even have the strength to be angry "But how are you feeling?"

"I...?" She was surprised that he was concerned about her condition. "I-I'm fine."

"Tell me.... Where is One now?" It seemed he really wanted to see him.

"I suppose in the basement. Do you want me to call him?"

"Yes. I guess so." He nodded calmly.

"As you wish", - the girl rose from the floor, holding onto the bed. It seemed like she had spent a lot of time here.

For a moment, the young Lord thought she was floating above the floor. But it was only his imagination.

-----

After a few days, Ritsu felt much better. The treatment that One had given his master was very effective. On this day, for the first time in a long time, the young Lord gave his slaves time to rest.

Number Nine went down to the basement. When she entered their room, she was immediately grabbed by the arm. It was Five, who had been waiting for the right moment.

"Squeak and I will destroy you," he hissed, pressing the blade of the knife to her neck.

"But..." she started to speak, but, catching an angry look, fell silent.

"I heard you saved the lord," he began speaking, pushing her sharply against the wall. "But why?"

"I couldn't let him get hurt." she replied quickly