From the perspective of: Lena, Secret Number 7
After the school day ended, the ten of us—those who had been chosen—gathered in the third-floor meeting room. The space was warm, adorned with old wooden carvings. At its center stood a round table surrounded by luxurious chairs. An eerie silence filled the air, thick with tension.
I stood first and spoke with a calm yet bold voice:
"I'm Lena. Secret Number 7."
Then the others followed one by one:
"Riven, Number 1."
"Eloise, Number 2."
"Kael, Number 3."
"Liora, Number 4."
"Damien, Number 5."
"Vex, Number 6."
"Mira, Number 8."
"Zane, Number 9."
"Thorne, Number 10."
Each of us bore different expressions, different pasts—but we all shared one thing: the pain that shaped us into what we were.
The door creaked open. In stepped Mr. Radmore, the headmaster—a man in his fifties, face stone-cold, eyes sharp as blades. He dropped a thick folder onto the table and said in a hoarse voice:
"You've been gathered here because you all carry the blood of Number 0—the one who gave you your powers. But he escaped... before we could contain him."
Riven, Number 1, rose from his seat with a cocky smirk, arms crossed:
"If you mean the guy who gave us these abilities, why should we care now? I'm stronger than any threat that remains. I could wipe out the rest of the Erotica Project with ease."
The headmaster let out a scoffing laugh.
"If your negative energy is a glass of water... his is an ocean."
Silence fell.
Damien raised an eyebrow. "If he was that powerful, why did he run?"
Mr. Radmore replied, "Dr. Hayden—the lead on the Negative Blood Project—couldn't suppress him. Not even with the inhibition device. As for why... we still don't know."
I narrowed my eyes and asked, "So why us? Why this school?"
His gaze swept across us like a blade.
"Because Number 0 is here. Somewhere in this school. Maybe a student, maybe a teacher. Dr. Hayden's last words before he died were: 'Their bodies will feel his presence. Their blood will recognize its origin.'"
My mind flashed to that mysterious boy I had locked eyes with in the hallway a few days ago. My racing heart, the pressure in my chest… That couldn't have been coincidence.
"I want to be transferred to Class A," I said.
Mr. Radmore looked at me. "Why?"
"There's someone suspicious. I don't know who he is... It's just a feeling."
He nodded. "Granted."
---
From the perspective of: Arin
After classes ended, I didn't head back to the dorm right away. Something pulled me toward the third floor. I slipped behind a pillar in the long hallway, just in time to hear the muffled voice of the headmaster inside the meeting room.
I couldn't catch everything, but words like "Number 0", "Negative Blood Project", and "a distinct aura" were enough to freeze the blood in my veins.
They were looking for me.
I am Number 0.
But not in the way they imagine. It was my blood—mine—that was used to create ten "successful" projects. Those ten who now flaunt their powers… don't even realize they're carrying pieces of me inside them.
I don't know how I survived the lab… or how I managed to partially erase my memories. But I remember one thing:
They must never find out who I am.
I returned to my dorm room, mentally drained.
To make things worse, the one waiting for me there was Nero—that overly cheerful student who insisted we'd become best friends.
He opened his arms dramatically and said, "Fate has crossed our paths again, my friend!"
I sighed and collapsed onto my bed.
---
The next morning, I went to class, trying to keep a low profile.
"Good morning!"
I turned abruptly—only to find a girl with silver eyes sitting beside me.
"You…?"
She smiled warmly. "I've been transferred to Class A. Looks like I'll be your seatmate now. My name's Lena."
My entire body tensed. My heart pounded like war drums. She sat beside me, spoke gently, even helped with lessons... but I remained on edge.
Days passed. Then weeks. Lena continued trying to get closer, sincerely or not—I couldn't tell.
And Nero... never stopped being a walking headache:
"Let's play dodgeball after school!"
"Let me borrow your notebook—we'll study together!"
One day, he barged into the room while I was changing. He nearly saw the number etched at the base of my neck.
I rushed him, buttoning my shirt collar. "Get out!"
He blinked. "Oops! Thought you were in the bathroom."
Then grinned. "You got a tattoo?! You're so mysterious!"
"Get out before I show you what mystery really means."
That's how my first month at this school went.
Pursued by a girl I couldn't fully trust… and a boy who didn't understand the concept of personal space.
But I had one goal, and one alone:
To make sure no one finds out... Number 0 is still alive.