The moon was waning back into new. It's crescent shape made 0 uneasy every time because she couldn't see that well in the dark without it.
3 and 4, like usual, fell asleep on both sides of her with their arms wrapped around her in some way and with her arms wrapped around them in a loose embrace. Every night since they met the three fell asleep like that. It reminded 0 that she was no longer alone.
If she could dream she imagined she would see 1 again.
"Have you ever met 1?" 9's words echoed in her head.
'Yes I have met 1,' those were the easiest words she could've said! Instead the word 'no' was forced from her voice box from some devil the earth produced.
"Oh my god! I cannot believe you!"
"What do you mean?"
"You are so tight, stuck up!"
"What? I am not!"
"Sure you are! You…you…ugh!"
"You do have to agree with me on some term, though, 0. After all you are the oldest and you have seen all that I have in that walk and probably more."
"Yes…I guess you are right, 1. But you are a coward, you have to agree with me on that."
"There is a very thin line between cautious and cowardice."
"Yeah, the line is nonexistent."
0 laughed until she awoke. That was last conversation she said to 1 before they both disappeared into the night leaving the Scientist behind.
The space next to her was empty. Where were 3 and 4?
"I see…" 0 could hear 7 from where she lay. The space close to 9 where 7 had been sleeping was empty, left only was the grass she used as a blanket. Slowly 0 got up and followed 0's voice.
"So this is why 9 asked all those questions? …That stupid…" 7 couldn't find the words. When 0 was close enough to see and not be seen she stopped. 4 was flashing something at the ground and 3 was behind him, ready to catch 4 if needed. 7 stared at the ground in anger and disbelief and hurt.
Slowly 0 looked at the ground. She recognized the handwriting as that of the Scientists! It talked about the Chancellor and how 0 stabbed him. The next that 4 showed was how 0 met 1.
Her heart sank to her stomach. She didn't mean to gasp but the sound escaped her mouth anyway. The three of them looked up. 4 tried to quickly blink away the entry but it was too late, 0 had seen it and there was no going back. They knew her lies and her secrets.
"0…" 7 took a step toward her.
In her panic she fled with 7's voice calling her name. Her legs didn't stop, though, she just kept running and running and running until she realized how far away from everyone she was and the fear of being attacked seized her.
"Damn" was the only word that escaped her mouth when 5 appeared in front of her. She sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't feel 5 when he put a hand on her shoulder. How could she? He was a ghost, after all. The only reason she noticed was from the glowing that he emanated.
"What is wrong, 0?" He asked and sat next to her.
"Everyone knows everything now!"
"So?" 5 shrugged.
"I didn't want them to know yet! They aren't ready to hear and accept the truth!"
"They're bound to find out, 0. If you didn't tell them something else would have."
0 sighed, "How are they going to trust me now that they now I've lied?"
"Same way they trusted everyone else, I guess." 5 looked up at the moon and stars and the black sky. "You need to hurry, 0. You need to stop playing around with your friends."
"Right, right. Sorry. I'll hurry up. Tomorrow, I'll be there tomorrow."
"Being there isn't enough. You have to free us soon." 5 disappeared with the light that started to come up.
0 sighed and stood. When she inhaled she felt like she was trying to suck in any dignity she had left and tried to keep it inside as she walked back to the camp. When she appeared from the forest she saw 7, 3, and 4 keeping their distance from 9. Everyone stopped to stare at 0 when she appeared.
"Lets get going. We can't stop to play anymore."