The three boys sat in the laboratory all strapped down to the chairs as Dr. Brenner began to give them all their numbers, their jaws clenching as they held back tears at the unbearable pain that coursed through them, once Brenner was finished he led the boys down the hall to the rainbow room, opening the door for them before it closed with a slam. 

The two blonde boys sat down at one of the tables in front of a chess board.

"Perhaps if we wait long enough they will let us out so we can go home." 001 said hopefully as he looked around the room when there was a laugh and both 001 along with 002 spun around in their chairs to look at the tall boy with eyes the color of the ocean and hair the color of coal.

"It amuses me that  you two haven't realized that this place will be our home from now on." 003 said, having stood up from where he'd been sitting with his back against the wall and made his way over to their table and pulled up a third chair and sat down with them.

"Who are you?" Henry asked, as he looked at the dark haired boy curiously.

 "I'll tell you my name, after you two tell me yours." 003 replied with the start of a smirk  playing out on his lips. 

002 and 001 shared a look of uncertainty before they spoke again. "My number is 001, but my real name is Henry." 001 said with a small smile toward the black haired boy who returned it with a soft smile of his own.

 "My number is 2, but my name is Calder." 002 said with a smile which the other two returned.

 "My number is 3, my name however, is Asher Larkspur." the black haired boy said giving them a broad grin as he stuck out his hand.

 "If we're going to survive this place, we must stick together." Asher said, as he looked at them with determination in his dark blue eyes.

 "Pain makes you strong, but love, love is what makes you even stronger." he said, before taking Henry and Calder's hands. 

"We've got each other, we'll make a vow that should one of us be in trouble, our signal will be the tolling of a grandfather clock." Calder said, his dark brown eyes glowing slightly in the candlelight.

 "Should anybody try to separate or harm us, they'll be done for when the clock strikes four." Henry finished as they all opened their eyes as wicked grins began forming on their faces.