Risk Level 7: Dorothy (6)
In an environment pushed to the absolute limit of stress, every time I blacked out as Prisoner 13, I would return to my original self. It felt like becoming a bipolar patient who laughed and cried at random. My emotions swung like a roller coaster, and being fully aware of the entire process from start to finish was more unsettling than I could have imagined.
"...Ugh..."
Of course, accepting the demon's blood brought changes to my body. Every time, Sarakael personally restored me during the re-education sessions. What she did was less healing and more like cutting away the soiled fabric of a broken doll and sewing on fresh cloth—closer to repair than recovery. Still, the process wasn't entirely meaningless. Gradually... no, Prisoner 13 gradually began to sense the demon's power and move it together with her own abilities. But there was a price.
The more I used the demon's power, the faster the signs of demonization appeared on my appearance. A sticky mass of negative emotions also gathered in my heart, whispering maliciously into my ears. Thinking that I might be in danger at this rate, I slumped against the blood-stained chair and let out a shallow breath.
"Haa... haa..."
It was getting harder to tell myself apart from Prisoner 13. Even after the physical pain and psychological pressure were blasted into her unconscious, the aftereffects lingered like a thick residue, and the duration of that influence grew longer with each passing day. There were times when I even doubted whether the thought that I was inside Prisoner 13's memories was nothing more than a delusion I had created to escape this situation. In reality, I didn't know how to return or when I could return. I was already living as Prisoner 13 herself, speaking with her voice and using her body.
Thud...! Splash...! Drip, drip... trickle...
Only after cold water poured over my head did my eyes focus forward. The re-education session had already ended, so Sarakael was gone. Two priests in clerical robes had filled a bucket with water and dumped it over my blood-covered head. Since my severed or gouged body parts had already been fully restored, I could feel the chill of the water against my skin.
"...Ah... ugh..."
I hadn't forgotten how to speak, but it wasn't as if they would answer me anyway. My lower lip trembled from the cold water. I would probably be moved for another dose of medication soon. If I could just lose consciousness, at least I could rest during that time. But ever since that thing—whether it was the demon's power or a mass of pure malice—had clearly taken root inside me, I no longer fainted so easily.
"..."
I had already abandoned any hope that someone would come to save me. Now I was thinking the same thoughts as Prisoner 13, the very thoughts I had once tried to deny.
"...I was wrong... I'm sorry..."
Unless I believed I had committed some great sin, I couldn't endure this. If I wasn't a sinner, then this unbearable suffering made no sense. This was the only way to keep the injustice from turning into hatred and eating away at my heart.
"What did that thing just say?"
"Just move her already. We can't afford to listen to a demon's whispers."
If I simply convinced myself that I had done something wrong... at least my heart could be at ease. I now understood that trying to find a reason for these cruel trials was foolish. Lowering my eyes, closing my mouth, and accepting every unfairness thrown at me—that was the best I could do for myself.
Thud... rumble...
Blink.
"What was that sound?"
Rumble... crackle... drip, drip.
Blink, blink...
"...?"
Dust spilled from the cracks in the stone walls, scattering powder. I felt grains of stone falling from the ceiling tickle the bridge of my nose and opened my eyes. The lights illuminating the corridor flickered faintly in time with the continuing vibrations and loud noises.
"Let's just move her. Probably one of the prisoners acting up again."
"What the hell are the guards in the containment wing doing?"
The two priests, who had been dragging me along with their arms hooked under my armpits, tried to resume walking as if this were nothing unusual. But then—
Rumble...!! Crash...! Thud, thud...!
Blink... blink blink...
This one had been much closer. The vibration could be felt in the air itself.
"Doesn't it sound like it's getting closer...?"
"What are you talking about? How many floors do you think separate the containment wing from down here?"
BOOM...!!! Crack...! Thud, thud...!
"..."
"..."
The regular, approaching explosions finally stopped after one last blast that sounded extremely close. The sound and vibration had been so vivid it felt like it came from right above my head, yet now everything was eerily quiet.
"...Is it over?"
The two priests, who had been bent over after the final explosion, were just beginning to straighten up when—
BOOM!! CRASH...!!
"Aaaagh!?"
"Aaaagh!!"
Whoosh...! Crackle...!!
"Agh!! Aaaagh!!"
The ceiling above us collapsed with a deafening explosion. Before the debris could even reach us, a wave of scorching flames greedily swallowed the two priests. Screaming with their bodies on fire, they stumbled down the narrow corridor, collided with each other, and fell. They rolled in agony for a few moments before going still.
Step... step...
And finally, a shadow emerged through the rising cloud of dust, gradually becoming clearer.
"...Found you."
It was a voice I had definitely heard somewhere before. Yet for some reason, I couldn't place it right away.
"Scarlet...?"
Her red hair barely reached her nape. She was a small girl, perhaps a head taller than me at most. But when I looked up and saw her face, I could speak with certainty.
"Scarlet!"
"...Sorry if it was hot. At this level, it's hard to finely control my ability with just one orb."
"I'm fine. I was already soaked in water anyway."
She wore a half-burned priest's robe she had probably stolen somewhere. Beneath it, her bare feet and slender, smooth legs were visible as she stood atop the rubble of the broken wall.
"From the way you're talking, you're the Counselor, right?"
"Huh...? I mean... yes. I was the Counselor. That's right."
"Here, put this on first. You look weird talking like that while dressed like that."
"...Ah."
Come to think of it, I really wasn't wearing anything. Another half-burned priest's robe in her hand flew over my head and landed on me. While putting it on, I looked at Scarlet's childhood appearance. She was much cuter than I had expected. Her face hadn't yet developed that sharp impression she would later have. Her round eyes looked awkward as she tried to look stern, and it felt strangely moving. Her hair, which would later reach her waist, was roughly cut near her neck. Her chest was as flat as Prisoner 13's, making it hard to imagine how she would grow into such a magnificent figure later. And the prisoner number carved there wasn't 18, but 887.
"This number? I was only caught about a month ago myself."
She noticed my gaze and adjusted the front of the stolen robe while answering. I had probably been here about that long too—maybe a little longer.
"Trying to experience being a prisoner again after so long really pissed me off. I realized all over again how terrible your acting as a priest was."
"Ugh..."
"Still, while I was here, I remembered something I thought I'd forgotten. I guess at that time, I still hadn't forgotten yet."
"...?"
Muttering to herself, she looked at her small palm as if it felt unfamiliar and gave a bitter smile that didn't suit her young appearance. She quickly hid the expression and held out her hand to me.
"It's nothing. Come on."
Perhaps because I just stared blankly at her outstretched hand, she urged me impatiently.
"...Pull yourself together and take my hand. We need to get out of here."
"Ah... right. That's what we were doing. But I..."
"You what?"
I was surprised by my own words. I had clearly been about to say that I shouldn't leave this place.
"...No, it's nothing."
But my hand was trembling so badly that I couldn't really call it "nothing." In the end, Scarlet took one more step forward and grabbed my hand herself. It was just the meeting of two small hands, yet it felt far more reassuring and reliable than I could have imagined.
"You must have gone through a lot too, that pitch-black girl... I always thought there was something off about her."
"...Did you meet Founder?"
"I don't know who I met, but thanks to them, I was able to come here."
"I see..."
I had completely forgotten. Following Founder's words, I had connected my mind with Prisoner 13 and entered her memories. The hazy memories finally surfaced clearly.
"I get that you're confused, but can we think about it or whatever after we get out? I really, really miss the outside air right now."
She pulled my hand strongly and drew me into her slender embrace.
"Haa... Seeing you look exactly like that guy feels really weird."
"...I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? Did you even copy his personality?"
"Ah..."
Even though it was a light remark I should have denied immediately, I couldn't. Seeing my blank face, Scarlet's expression grew serious. Even that serious look looked awkward on her young face, and I thought it was quite cute.
"Forget it, don't say anything. And be careful not to bite your tongue."
"Huh...?"
Whoosh...!
I had seen this once before. This must be why the team leaders called her "Fire Chicken." Flames roared to life.
Whoosh...! Crackle...!!
Holding me tightly in her arms, she spread two massive wings of fire behind her back like an angel's wings. She looked up at the many holes she had punched through the ceilings one by one and the vertical passage they created, lowering her stance carefully as if ready to take off at any moment. Then I remembered her earlier words about how she couldn't finely control her ability at this level.
"Uwaah?!"
Instinctively grabbing onto her clothes, I suddenly felt my entire body grow heavy. A fierce wind roared past us, followed by several more loud explosions. When everything finally passed, the pressure on my body disappeared completely. I found myself lying on the rooftop of a building under the bright sun.