CHAPTER 2: Beneath Stone Walls

The girls were led through a heavy wooden gate, stepping into a confined space that felt more like a cage than a shelter. The walls were old and worn, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and dust. The room was filled with thin, stained mattresses laid out across the floor, barely enough to offer comfort. A separate room, barred off, housed the toilets. This was where the new arrivals were kept.

The pink-haired girl had a lot to ask, especially about the man who had captured the escapee. "Who was he? How did he have that kind of power?"

Etsuko sat beside her, voice hushed. "He's the Warden. He comes from a different tribe, one with abilities far beyond ours. He oversees everything here."

The pink-haired girl tilted her head. "Different tribe?"

"The Thalvaris," Etsuko replied. The pink-haired girl’s eyes widened in surprise. An ancient name meaning Heirs of the Abyss in a forgotten language. Nobody could mess with him—he was noble yet terrifying. She clenched her fists, anger burning in her chest.

"What he did to that girl… It was cruel."

Etsuko sighed. "You need to calm down. Getting angry won’t change anything."

"No," the pink-haired girl said firmly. "I’ll find a way to get us out of here. I’ll save them all."

A sharp, mocking laugh cut through the tension.

"Save us?" A voice sneered. A girl stepped forward, her hair was dark purple, long, and slightly unkempt and eyes glinting with amusement. "You’re just as naive as the rest of them."

Etsuko answered before the pink-haired girl could respond. "Murasaki. No-"

The girl scoffed. "Like that one earlier? You’ll end up just like her. Broken. And begging."

"I won’t let that happen. There has to be a way—"

Irritated, the bully shoved her, grabbing her chin roughly. "You think you're different? Almost every girl who said those same words ended up failing. You won’t be any different."

Etsuko had enough. She stepped between them, shoving the bully back. "Leave her alone. She doesn’t know yet."

The bully clicked her tongue, annoyed. "Then she better learn fast." She turned, glaring over her shoulder. "Just give up. Be like the rest of us. There’s nowhere else to go."

As Murasaki walked back to her mattress, followed by the other girls, Etsuko stepped closer, her voice soft. “Are you okay?”

The pink-haired girl nodded faintly. “I’m fine… I just want to make sure everyone can escape.”

Etsuko's brow furrowed with concern. “You should get some rest.”

The next day, the girls were forced awake at dawn. Breakfast consisted of thin porridge and stale bread—barely enough to fill their stomachs. Hunger lingered as they were led to the fields, their first task: clearing stones and weeds from the hardened soil until sunset.

The sun beat down mercilessly. Sweat clung to the pink-haired girl’s skin as her muscles ached from the repetitive work. When they finally returned for dinner, the portions were just as small as breakfast. Though her stomach still ached with hunger, exhaustion weighed heavier.

After a quick shower in the shared washroom, they returned to the room. The other girls moved with routine resignation—this was their daily life.

As the pink-haired girl and Etsuko walked back, she noticed a figure stepping out of the room. It was the girl who had tried to escape. Himeji. Her gaze lingered on the slightly ajar door. Inside, she could make out a wooden desk, shelves, and keys hanging from hooks on the wall—a glimmer of hope.

Later that night, the girls gathered on their mattresses. Low murmurs filled the air as they whispered among themselves.

The pink-haired girl sat with her clock resting in her palms. Its faint blue glow reflected in her eyes.

"What’s that?" Etsuko leaned closer, curiosity in her gaze.

"It’s a clock," the pink-haired girl replied with a smile. "It says we have a few more days before we can escape."

Etsuko squinted at the clock, her expression puzzled. “I don’t see anything. It looks… blank.”

The pink-haired girl’s smile faded. “What? You can’t see it?”

Etsuko shook her head, and the pink-haired girl held the clock farther away, as if adjusting her view would reveal its secret.

Movement caught her eye. Across the room, Himeji tumbled from her mattress, clutching her stomach. The pink-haired girl rushed over,

"Hey, are you okay?"

Etsuko close behind.

“Himeji..! What did they do to you?”

“I-I’m fine...,” Himeji gasped, her voice trembling. She looked so pale, her complexion nearly blending with her soft blonde hair. “I-I... just need to get to the toilet..”

“I’ll go with you,” the pink-haired girl offered, reaching out.

“N-no!” Himeji pushed her hand away, fear flashing in her eyes. "I told you I-I'm..fine..."

“It’s okay—I’ll accompany you,” the pink-haired girl insisted, her voice gentle.

The other girls in the room watched quietly, some whispering among themselves—whispers that Himeji could hear, harsh and cruel: "She is disgusting..," one murmured. "That's what happen if she breaks the rule. Now she is broken," another added. "She’s not pure anymore.." The words cut deep, and she struggled to stand, her face pale with both pain and shame.

“I-I’m.... fine," she insisted, though her eyes betrayed her fear.

"You can’t go alone," the pink-haired girl said firmly, her green eyes steady with determination. "Please, don’t force yourself."

Himeji hesitated, staring into those unfamiliar green eyes—eyes she had never seen before. Shy and uncertain, she finally nodded, accepting the help.

Etsuko approached and placed a hand on the pink-haired girl’s arm. “Only two girls are allowed to leave at night. Better come back soon, okay?”

The pink-haired girl nodded. Despite Himeji’s protests, she helped her up, her heart heavy with worry as they headed toward the barred door leading to the toilets.

As the pink-haired girl and Himeji approached the barred door, a guard stepped forward, eyeing them with suspicion. “Where are you going?” he demanded.

“She’s sick… please let us go to the toilet,” the pink-haired girl replied, her voice steady.

The guard scoffed, eyes narrowing. “Sick, huh? Probably faking it. Just don’t take too long,” he muttered, stepping aside and giving them a rough push as they moved past. The pink-haired girl held onto Himeji and asked, “Is it hurting?” Himeji shook her head. “I’m fine.” The pink-haired girl couldn’t believe the guard would be so harsh on them, but she just sighed and let them continue walking toward the hallway, the guard’s gaze fixed on their backs.

The narrow hallway beyond the door stretched ahead, dimly lit and lined with rough stone walls. To their right stood the office room—the same place where the pink-haired girl had glimpsed hope earlier. But Himeji was scared to even look at it again. The air smelled faintly of damp earth and old wood, the distant echoes of footsteps faint against the stone floor.

At the end of the hallway, they reached the toilet. The pink-haired girl asked, "..What was that room we just passed..?"

To her notice, Himeji's hand began to shake again, fear returning to her eyes. "It's... the access control room," she whispered. The pink-haired girl realized this might be a way out. But Himeji's voice trembled as she continued, "It's where the men... forced me in... and did... whatever they wanted." Her eyes darkened, and she shivered.

Worry crept into the pink-haired girl's chest, tightening like a vice. She couldn’t grasp the full extent of the nightmare Himeji had endured—or what the men had done to her. It was too much to think about, too much for someone her age. After all, they were only teenagers.

She suddenly placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No matter what happened, it doesn’t change who you are inside. You’re still you—kind, brave, and stronger than you think." She offered a soft smile, her green eyes warm and genuine.

Himeji could see the unwavering gaze, her own eyes widening in response and so her fear softening into something closer to gratitude. "Why.... are you so kind to me..? People... hate me because I broke the rules..." she whispered, her gaze lowering.

"Because I'm not like the others," the pink-haired girl replied with a soft smile, "Well then, I'll be waiting. Please take as much time as you need," she added as Himeji nodded and stepped inside.

Left alone, the pink-haired girl leaned against the wall, her thoughts churning. She glanced toward the access control room, temptation pulling at her mind. Before she could decide, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Her breath caught in her throat. She pressed herself against the wall, holding still as two guards approached.

“I heard another group of Elyssians is coming in next week,” one guard said.

“Good. The more we have, the faster we can restore the land. Fertile fields don’t grow themselves.”

The other guard snorted. “They brought this on themselves. Starting that war with Caelivara was the worst mistake they ever made. Now they pay the price—working off what they owe.”

“Serves ‘em right,” the first guard replied. “Kidnapping the poor, homeless ones makes sense. No one misses ‘em. Besides, separating the girls and boys makes sure they focus on their tasks without distractions.”

“And it keeps their numbers down,” the other added with a cold chuckle.

The pink-haired girl’s fists clenched at her sides as she listened. She knew the history: the war between Elyssians and Caelivarians had devastated the land, leaving once-lush fields barren. Caelivara had won with help from the Thalvaris—whose schemes had sparked the war in the first place, all to seize power and control Elyssian magic.

The guards' footsteps faded as they walked past. Taking her chance, the pink-haired girl peeked into the access control room through the slightly open door. Her heart pounded as she spotted the keys still hanging on the wall. She committed their location to memory.

“Where are you two!? What’s taking so long?” The guard’s shout echoed through the hallway.

Himeji stepped out of the toilet just as the pink-haired girl turned back to her. Together, they returned to the barred door, where the guard scowled but said nothing as he escorted them back to the sleeping quarters.

Inside, most of the girls were already lying on their mattresses. Etsuko approached as they entered.

“Himeji, are you okay?”

“I’m fine…” Himeji murmured.

“Get some rest. We have work tomorrow,” Etsuko said gently.

Himeji nodded and held the pink-haired girl's hand for the last time as a thank before she settled down.

While on the bed together, the pink-haired girl pulled Etsuko aside, her eyes shining with excitement. “Etsuko, I know how we can escape!” she whispered.

Etsuko’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes! I saw the keys. I know where they are.”

Murasaki, lying on the bunk above them, shifted slightly but said nothing. She closed her eyes, her expression unreadable as the whispers of escape lingered in the air.