A little girl plays with bones on the floor of a room filled with demons. She's used to them now, she's learned how to fight them off so she won't be eaten, even if she's only three. They don't like her, she can tell. They don't like her, and she despises them for they are the centerpiece of her tiny existence.
She also hates the bones, they belonged to her friend, but she's three and has nothing else to play with. And they take her mind off the fact that her stomach hurts, its so empty she can hardly move. But she must, so she does. She fights off each demon that comes too close thinking she is finally weak enough to kill. She won't ever be one of the others, she'll live and get out of this hell. She won't be eaten, she won't have her hard bits spit out in that disgusting slime.
She's aware that three year olds aren't supposed to be so advanced in thought, they aren't supposed to be smart yet. Their brains are only just developing; she knows that from the books Road and Tyki read her
Road was mean, but she taught her because that's what the Earl wanted. The Earl, she hated the Earl. Tyki was sometimes nice though, he carried her up on his shoulders when they would walk down the hall.
"Number 14, it's time." Road is standing in behind the locked door, number fourteen can hear her voice so she stands. The demons part as she walks, they know if they attempt to hurt her at this point the Earl will kill them, actually kill them and not send them back to hell.
"Number fourteen, you've grown into such a wonderful young lady. I think its time for the final show, let us see if the curtain will fall or not eh?" The Earl was standing above her; she was strapped into the small chair and completely unable to move. She was afraid, so afraid. What would they put into her tiny body this time, would she finally die or would she be broken beyond repair? She tries to hold her song in her head, to wash out the fear and to bring back that make-believe world she had made.
"Tyki administer the shot now please." Out of the corner of her eye she can see him, the vial of sickly black liquid. She couldn't let this happen, she couldn't. But it was, she felt the needle pierce her left arm. Her entire body goes numb, fighting against the foreign substance. She was so cold, so very cold. But then everything was burning, her arm was burning and she couldn't hold in her screams. In her mind she keeps the song playing, over and over. Because she hurt and it hurt too, but it was okay because the song led her to light even as her tiny little body burned.
It was red now, her scarred flesh bubbling and changing. But then something in her burns through the flames, it didn't quite hurt as much anymore. The tang of blood fills her mouth, and she silently sings the words. She never knew what they meant, only she was born knowing each phrase and pause.
...
And the little girl ascended into blissful sleep. Deeply breathing
The flames within the ash shine, one by one brighter
Emerging, that beloved face even now
Suspended above earth, you dream a thousand dreams, dreaming, dreaming… forever trickling down
On the night when silver eyes were trembling what came to be born was you, as you shined. As you descend, a hundred million months and years come and gone
No matter how many prayers are returned to the earth, I will always continue to pray
Oh please, show this child what love is; please give a kiss to her hands you hold.
...
It burned and stopped the change at her shoulder, later when she would look at her hand she would find the crystal cross raised above the deformed flesh, embedded deep in her bone- there wouldn't be any removing it.
"This isn't working, she isn't dead but her body won't fully accept the blood. Road have you given her anything that might have contributed to this?" The Earl's voice is stern, and a wave of fear washes over number fourteen but she repeats the words over and over, trying to drown it in song.
...
No matter how many prayers are returned to the earth, I will always continue to pray
Oh please, show this child what love is; please give a kiss to her hands you hold.
...
"Perhaps Earl we administer another shot- that might make the difference since she isn't yet dead." Tyki's voice is smooth, and reminds number fourteen of the voices of the demons in the room. The voices that they used when they wanted to control you, to push you under their control. Tyki knew, just like the demons how to use it to his advantage.
"Yes, one more shot Tyki, quickly now." Again, the needle pierces her arm, but the blood isn't allowed to spread. Something in her is trying to save her, to keep her human. She has to run now, or she won't make it out of here alive. She concentrates; her newly disfigured arm allows her to break the leather straps while the adults are turned away. She runs, as fast as her little legs will let her, faster than any human would be able to. But it is desperation, and having nothing to lose that carries her away.
...
On the night when silver eyes were trembling what came to be born was you, as you shined. As you descend, a hundred million months and years come and gone
...
The front door is before her, she opens it. This is the first time she's seen the sun, or its the first time that she can remember seeing it. There is a road, so she follows it, tripping occasionally she scrambles back up to her feet. Farther down the road is a city, something she only knows about through books. A door that she instinctively knows is safe stops her. She knocks and knocks, until a woman with kind eyes takes her inside.
Hiding among the children who lived in the empty buildings that were constantly in danger of falling- she was known as Red. Red was mean, even if Red was tiny and only three. Red stole food and clothes like that, Red wasn't ever caught. Ever. She couldn't be.
...
Suspended above earth, you dream a thousand dreams, dreaming, dreaming… forever trickling down
...
Because number fourteen was gone, her memories locked away in the prison of her mind, only Red remained. Red and her tiny, mean self. Humming along to that song she knew, when no one could hear her. Because she was sad, and lonely and scared. But you have to be mean sometimes, to cover up the hurt
...
And the little girl ascended into blissful sleep. Deeply breathing…