Nothing is more fascinating than the outside world for Nine. For as long as she can remember, she has never set foot outside the confines of the dreary compound the adults have provided her. For someone like her who has never been outside, the outside world contains things she can only dream about.
She along with twelve other kids lives in the compound but they were all given separate rooms. There were few opportunities to talk to each other. Nor are they even permitted to roam the halls of their compound. The adults always keep a close watch on them. With such a tight watch, the only places she has been into would be the white room, the study room, a couple of other kids' room (she used to sneak into them right after her visit to the white room), and her own room.
Her room does not have much. It is spacious enough for a small girl like her and she has her own bathroom. But what she likes the most about her room would be the small barred window positioned just near her bed. From there, she would have a good view of the outside world. Her favorite past time involves watching the clouds. She likes seeing them float, change shape and color on good days. She also likes it when it is night time and she could see the stars twinkle above. Sometimes she would be delighted to see the moon on its full shape. On rare occasions, birds visit her. She treasure those moments where she could just sit by and watch them flit by her window and sometimes would twit or sing small tunes to her.
She hates days when she couldn't see the view from outside her window. Those are the days she was often called to the white room. These are the days the adults would take their time examining her. Her trips to the white room are often unbearable. But she would always keep quiet regardless if the adults try to talk to her or try something that would be painful to her. She doesn't see the point of talking anyway with the way the adults are treating them that is. And if she keeps quiet, the adults often stop doing the painful things and would nod in satisfaction granting her more time to watch her window.
On her way back to her room from the white room she would usually encounter two or three kids. She would often give them a brief smile of encouragement when she sees their horrified expression. None of the kids likes being called to the white room because it never was a pleasant experience. Late though, there was a decrease in the number of kids she encounters in the hallway. Sometimes, she'll only encounter one kid. She hasn't seen Seven and Three in a long time. She hopes their okay. She plans to visit them as soon as the adults are too busy to watch over the rest of them.
Once back at her room, she was surprised to see a bird sitting by her window. It was tilting its head at her. She gave it a small wave and just continued watching. But then it turned around and she knew it was ready to fly away again. She felt envious that the bird could just fly to the outside world while she continues to live her dull life in the compound. And then she felt it, the want—the need to fly with that bird. She felt a tingle underneath her skin and she could almost feel the skin on her back itch as if something would burst out. But as soon as the changes came, one of the adults barged in her room.
The man dragged her to the wall and chained her. He had this crazy look in his eyes before he hurriedly left to look for the other adults. It looks as if he discovered something important.
Nine felt very much like a bird caught in a cage in which there was no hope of escape.