One decade ago
Project: Metanoia was just about complete

"Number 71! The adults have told me you've misbehaved. You're now going to compensate."

Whippings, whippings were heard. But no cries.

It was the usual, punishment time for number 71. The young teenager who did no wrong.

Selflessly took the blame to protect his friend, 72. A girl around the same age who constantly got herself into trouble with the adults. And it has been that way ever since they were little children.

"You never learn, 71. Why do you never learn? Keep this up and we will triple the whippings you recieve and feed you a measly one breadcrumb every meal." The man dressed in sturdier clothing, holding onto a slick whip glared, kicking the teenage boy to the side and leaving.

"71!" A girl with tan skin, back length white hair and a strand covering her right eye ran over to the boy. "I told you, you don't have to keep taking the blame! You're going to die at this rate. Do you want to die!?" She hissed at him. Her words stung more than the bleeding wounds on his back.

"Protecting you from the horror of this place is far more worth it than continuing to live in this hell hole." His voice was monotonous, as lifeless as his eyes.

"Don't give me that!" A tear threatened to escape 72's eye. "If you die then I'll be all alone!"

"Hm... You're right..." The boy sighed.

72 gave the bleeding boy a sad look, her eyes scanning the wounds on his back. "By the way... A girl approached me earlier."

"Someone approaching you? Did you get into more trouble?"

"No no... She told me when we hear the sound of something loud and both the guards and adults leave to check it out, we run outback and find the girl there. She claims to know an exit and wants to break us out of here with her... By us she meant just me but I'm not leaving without you-"

"72!" John stammers but in a soft voice. "Who is the girl and how would she know of an exit? No one here knows of an exit! And is there anyone here who would decide to break us out? Of all people?"

"She doesn't seem to be from here, and she's a cyborg."

"Okay but can we trust her?!"

71 was somewhat angered at the girl. "You can't just do things like this, 72! We need to think properly!"

"Oh so you're scolding me now? Mr. 'life here isn't worth it' boy." The white haired female responds mockingly.

"Ugh you..."

"I say we take the risk. Can you run?"

There was a sudden crashing sound somewhere in the facility before 71 could respond. Guards and adults lifted their brows in confusion, all leaving to take a look at what happened.

The bleeding teenager forced himself up on his feet despite the stinging sensation he felt on his back, grabbing 72's hand and dashing away with her to the facilities back area, where a cyborg girl around their age was waiting with bags full of spare parts, and necessities.

"Oooh, this one looks a little hurt." The cyborg says referring to 71. "Let's head out and catch some distance then I'll patch you up. Are you able to help carry a bag?"

71 slowly nodded his head, trying to comprehend what was going on.

"Alright then!" She hands a bag to both 71 and 72, a giddy smile on her face as she pressed her hand against the metal wall and slid it to the left.

The exit she had spent years looking for.