"She seems like a nice girl," Numerronius commented absently. "She seems like a nice pair of hands to help around the orphanage."

"Yes," Black Mist replied. "But that's only if she chooses to stay."

"She doesn't have anywhere else to go. She looks like she's been on the run."

"I guess you're right. Papa will take care of her then."

Numerronius didn't respond, but he was thinking. As Don Thousand sat back in his chair while the outside world brightened into morning, he couldn't help but be worried about his creation, though it was simply ludicrous. The curse was taking its toll on Black Mist, whether the Number knew it or not, and soon it would drive him insane. That would certainly make things difficult for him, but it also made him worry. He pushed the button on his orb to speak with Black Mist, once again assuming the persona of Numerronius.

"She could also take care of you."

Black Mist physically jumped, nearly falling off of the steps of the orphanage. "What are you yapping about? I can take care of myself!"

"I don't mean it as an insult. I'm talking about the curse. Maybe she could break it."

"You're still going on about the curse? The hag was old; she probably couldn't muster up a spell no matter what. Until I'm given solid proof, I'm not buying it." He refused to let his mind wander to the children whose names he couldn't remember. He could hear their teasing, but he managed to shut them out as well.

Numerronius sighed, and Black Mist could hear the worry and frustration. "I won't be able to watch over you forever. Now go eat breakfast and sleep. You've stayed up practically all night in the Shadow Realm."

Black Mist stretched. "Fine." He stood up and went back inside to eat and sleep.

~.~.~

Anuenue woke up in the infirmary covered in bandages and feeling oddly better than before. She wasn't feeling too stiff, so that meant she was only out for a short while, too short to be feeling any sort of good after the dangerous journey she went on after her home was destroyed by outsiders.

Sitting up and looking around, she noticed she was in a mostly white room that was pristine and clean. It had an antithetical smell to it like any hospital room would. She noticed an IV was attached to her arm and led to a bag over her head. Painkillers, probably. As she was taking in her surroundings, the door opened as a Number walked in.

"Good morning, young lady," the man, presumably a Number 39, said gently. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes," Anuenue answered. "Where am I?"

Hope set the tray he was carrying on a table beside the bed. "My orphanage. I'm sure you remember coming here, don't you?"

She nodded. "Yes. A 96 brought me to a room. I'm guessing I was moved to an infirmary?"

"You were. You had serious injuries that needed to be treated."

"Thank you, then." She smiled gratefully. Then, a nice scent reached her nose. Looking at the table, she noticed the tray with a bowl of soup and a plate with a sandwich of some kind.

Hope noticed her glance and chuckled. "Hungry? You ate a while ago, but I brought food just in case."

As in an answer to his question, her stomach rumbled. Anuenue blushed a bit and nodded. "Y-yeah. I haven't been eating much during my journey."

"Then go ahead and eat, just don't eat too quickly. It could come back up."

The girl nodded, and Hope brought the tray to her, and she began to eat. "Where is the 96, by the way?"

Hope shrugged. "He went outside for a bit, but he hasn't come back. Not that I know of, anyway. He probably came back while I was making you something to eat."

Anuenue nodded. Then, she remembered something and mentally kicked herself for forgetting. "Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Number 116 Musical Enchanter."

The 39 smiled in amusement. "There's no need to worry about that, you've been under stress, I'm sure. I'm Number 39 Aspiring Emperor Hope." The smile waned a bit, and he looked like he was in thought. Before Anuenue could ask him about it, though, he shook his head and smiled again. "I'm sure Black Mist would like to know that you're awake and okay. He can be a sweet boy sometimes." With that, he got up and left, leaving her alone once again.

She stared at her meal for a bit, wondering why Hope had to leave so suddenly. Well, he probably had other things to attend to, so he couldn't stay long. He did say that this was his orphanage, after all. So, Anuenue relaxed and laid back against the bed. She allowed herself to finally rest after running for so long.

~.~.~

Number 116... I didn't think any Over 100 Number existed beyond Number 107, and those are practically soulless. I suppose others beyond could exist...

Hope stopped in his tracks in front of Black Mist's room, his train of thought halting along with him. He raised his fist to knock, but he heard deep and steady breathing coming from the other side.

He's sleeping?

Just then, Triclops slithered out of the crack under the door. "Master is asleep," he hissed. "No bother."

"Alright then. I'll leave him to rest." He turned away from the door and visited the graveyard.

Before he could make it there, though, one of the little ones came up to him. She was a little girl who was particularly clingy to both Hope and Black Mist.

"Papa..." she croaked. Her throat was scratchy. "I feel sick..."