Lesh didn't have to wait for as long as he thought as from the shadowed entrance of what was once a prison block, the freed captives emerged one by one. They moved with a halting, uncertain gait, led by the young woman with fiery red hair and the old man. The women among them seemed to keep to themselves, forming quiet clusters as the stronger ones offered silent support and protection to those whose spirits seemed utterly shattered, their faces clearly etched with exhaustion and trauma. The men, battered and weary tried to project an air of stoic endurance but the underlying current of relief and the profound gratitude for their newfound freedom was palpable. Their eyes seemed to dart around, wary but hopeful as they adjusted to the dark night, brighter than the gloom they had been in before. It was easy to notice who had been captive the longest and who was recent captures by their state of dress and expressions.
"Those who choose to follow me, stand to the left and form a group and those who wish to leave, kindly stand to the right." As he spoke, he gently reached out for Alice. With an unexpected tenderness he maneuvered her small form from Butchers grip, using his chains, now weaved into a soft cradle to gently and carefully lift her onto his back where he gently secured her, the metallic links acting as a surprisingly gentle tether, ensuring she was safe and protected as he turned his gaze back to the assembling groups.
More than half of the survivors gravitated to the right. This large contingent was predominantly women, many appearing utterly dispirited and broken, though a few strong, self-reliant figures were mixed in amongst them with various men also joining this group, their eyes hard but fiercely protective as they positioned themselves around the women, most where scar free showing a majority of them where the recent captures. The look in their eyes and their protective nature was a pleasant surprise to him, a flicker of humanity in an otherwise grim landscape peeking through that he hadn't expected to see.
On the left, the group choosing to follow was a stark contrast. It comprised of a mix of burly, scarred men, stoic old men, a few younger and thinner figures. Their bodies bore the brutal hallmarks of their imprisonment, ranging from broken limbs, fresh wounds and older, jagged scars littered visibly over their bodies. Some even had chunks of flesh missing that well healed where still visibly missing from them. All testaments to their suffering, yet they stood tall, the fire in their eyes showing they had refused to bend or break. The old man and the redhead stood resolutely among them up front, their decision firm.
A man from the 'leaving' group, his face etched with suspicion, voiced the collective anxiety. "You said we can leave, right? Were really free to go? You're not going to go back on your word? Sick those... demons on us and say something like you promised to let us go and not touch us but didn't say anything about them?" His tone was laced with doubt as he looked between him and Butcher, his companions around him tensing at his words before taking up a more protective stance towards the women.
Lesh offered a faint, imperceptible smile under his hood, signaling for Butcher to go search for useful goods like his brother before addressing the man who had spoken up. "I'm glad to see you're a fellow who appreciates the nuances of various media and verbal loopholes." he replied, his voice a deep low rumble. "I can assure you that won't happen. You've all been through enough and your choice to leave is absolute. None of us will stop you nor will we force you to join us. To compel people against their will only breeds resentment and plots that fester into becoming enemies. But for those joining us, understand this: as the old man no doubt stated you will be with us for at least a month before you will be permitted to freely leave. You cannot leave before then and you will be expected to pull your weight in whatever way you can. Those who don't will be punished and will have a deeply unpleasant time for the entire month you are with us, if you don't end up dying from the punishment." As his words settled, a few hesitant figures from the 'staying' side visibly reconsidered and slowly drifted over to the 'leaving' group, the weight of commitment and the level of punishment proving too heavy for them.
"What about those of us with useless classes or skills?" a small, soft voice asked barely audible. It belonged to one of the younger girls on the staying side, her eyes wide with worry as she fidgeted nervously. She was clearly afraid of being punished for not contributing, yet the thought of facing the unknown world without a form of supported or joining the leaving group seemed to be far more terrifying to her.
Lesh's gaze seemed to soften slightly. "No, no," he explained patiently. "There will always be something to do regardless of class or skill. Even something as simple as cleaning can be considered pulling your weight if you put in the effort. However, we can assign jobs to avoid situations where someone tries to shirk their responsibilities or opts for easy tasks instead of what they're truly capable of, but only if we feel it's needed to be done. Any more questions? Don't be shy, I don't bite." A few faces in the remaining group darkened at that. One by one more began to shuffle over to the leaving side. At this point, only sixteen people remained: eleven men and five women including the old man and the redhead, each and every one of them seemingly resolute in their choice to follow him.
"Are we leaving first thing in the morning or risking the trip in darkness?" the redhead asked, cutting straight to the point, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Lesh.
"No, we will be leaving tonight," he informed them. "We'll fashion some torches for light and head out once the big guys return from their patrol and their search for any useful loot or items this place might hold. And no, it won't be everything from this place, rather just a small portion leaving the rest for all of you in the leaving group to scavenge." His announcement drew a mix of surprised, alarmed and somewhat confused looks from both the remaining followers and those who had chosen to leave.
One of the men who had committed to following Lesh spoke up, his tone laced with uncertainty. "Won't it be better to stay here for the night and head out in the morning when there's light? Traveling in the dark would increase the chance of creature attacks or encounters with other hostile groups. Many of those leaving plan to wait till morning and prepare before setting out so wouldn't there be strength in numbers?"
Lesh shook his head decisively. "That is their choice to make and the actions they wish to take." he conceded. "My concern is that if one of those bastards we didn't catch escaped or if one of their superiors come to investigate what happened here relating to their main force, in such an event they may send stronger forces. In that scenario, I wouldn't be able to guarantee your freedom or safety under me. So, even with the risks of moving at night it would overall be safer than waiting for any possible variables falling upon us."
"But those big demons you called, Butcher and Carnage? They could handle anyone couldn't they?" a young woman from the remaining group interjected, hoping to convince him. "They're so strong and monstrous! And what about the sleeping girl? Wouldn't it be better this way for her aswell?"
"Even so, they're not unbeatable or invincible," Lesh countered, his expression grim. "They feel and bleed just like you or me and even have their own weaknesses thus I would prefer not to risk it. furthermore, I am completely drained currently. Just standing and talking normally like this is already tiring and that's not even considering the how tiring the walk home will be once we leave here." He said, ending the conversation with a note of finality.
As if summoned by the very mention of their names, Butcher and Carnage returned. The ground seemed to vibrate faintly with each heavy tread as they made their way over with three ragged figures dragged behind them: two women and a slimy-looking bald man, all clearly bruised and terrified as they looked between the demonic looking beings and him.
"I see you've brought some guests," Lesh remarked, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Good. Tell me where all the loot, items and food are kept and I'll let you go. If you don't? Well, I don't mind letting Butcher and Carnage 'play' with you three a bit more and I promise it won't be pleasant and should you survive that it will likely be with less than half your bodies intact though." Butcher and Carnage let out guttural chuckles as their massive forms loomed, their eyes fixed on the captives as if silently begging them to keep their mouths shut.
The bald, greasy man instantly crumpled to his knees, practically yelling with a desperate plea. "It's over there! In the main building! There's a secret basement where everything is kept and even an icebox room! It's made of solid steel and that's how we keep most of the meat cool! An ice mage comes once a week to freeze the walls for us to keep it that way! Please, just let me go! You can even have these two fetching women as my tribute to you just spare me!" The two women stared at the greasy man then at him, their faces a mixture of shock, betrayal and boiling anger.
"You said you would help us get out of here! To protect us!" one of them shrieked, her voice thick with regret and disbelief. In response, the bald man surprisingly sprang up and slapped her hard across the face.
"That was then and this is now!" he roared back, surprising them with his sudden ferocity. "Or what? Don't you think a guy like him, who could bring this place down won't be able to protect you? I'm doing this for the two of you!" His frustrations and fear seemed to gain a strange control over him as his panic began to transform into a twisted, desperate logic. "Listen and try to understand this," he continued, his voice slightly calmer now though still trembling. "I have no delusions of my own survival out there. I got lucky to latch onto Blade and be taken in under her; she was the protective umbrella that I used to shelter the two of you. Now she's gone and this person was responsible for it which shows his far stronger than her. By giving you two to him I know you will be safe, even if things may no longer be easy at least I know you two will be alive." He finished, not even bothering to look at their stunned reactions as he turned to stare at Lesh with a determined glint in his eyes, dusting himself off as he matched Lesh's gaze, the previous fear and cowardly nature nowhere to be seen.
"All I ask is that you take these two in," he declared. "I told you what you wanted to know, so I can leave safely now correct? I will even tell you that up the steps, in the first room on the right is where all the weapons are kept. The door is a solid steel safe door that was somehow installed but I'm sure you can find a way through it, or even around it as only the door is solid steel. Use what's there to protect them and as an additional incentive to keep them safe." With that, he turned and sprinted away as quick as he could, not giving Lesh any time to speak or reject. The suddenness of his departure shocked everyone present. Butcher and Carnage made to give chase but Lesh waved a dismissive hand to stop them.
"Let him go," Lesh said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I did promise after all that they would all be free to go if he told me what I wanted to know. I didn't expect him to pull that move though or show such courage. Clearly, he's somewhat clever or sly. I Honestly hope he does survive and that we can meet again." He turned to the two women, who seemed to still be in shock at what had happened, tears streaming down their faces. "Now, what am I to do with you two? I didn't agree to his request after all but it would feel wrong to toss you two away." His words caused them to snap their heads up, eyes wide with fear. They didn't know what to say, the stark reality that they wouldn't survive on their own was clear and yet they didn't have anything they could offer him for his protection. As they started to crawl pathetically towards him, no doubt to try and beg him to take them in the redhead stepped forward, her posture resolute.
He met her gaze, his cold eyes piercing and for a moment, an intense silent battle of wills played out seemingly daring her to argue. The redhead began to sweat slightly under his scrutiny, but she did not flinch. Finally, Lesh gave a small almost unseen nod at her, a silent acknowledgment of her strength and resolve to take the pair under her care.
"very well," he began, his tone sharp, cutting through the murmurs of the harsh wind outside. "They will be your responsibility from this point forward. Integrate them into how things will be and ensuring they will pull their weight, understand? No coddling, no exceptions. They will need to work and earn their keep like everyone else in this camp, pulling their weight like everyone else."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before he continued, his gaze sweeping over the others present, a silent reminder of the unwavering rules that governed their future survival under him. "And should they not manage for the first month, should they prove a drain or a liability, failing to pull their weight then they will be cut loose like anyone else who fails to contribute."
The pronouncement hung heavy, a stark testament to the unforgiving world they inhabited. There was no room for sentimentality here, only pragmatism.
"I understand." The words where needed along with the heavy tone used to address her. She knew what "cut loose" meant in their desolate landscape, it was a sentence of loneliness and probable death or worse once kicked from the budding camp Lesh was attempting to create. His rules where not just to keep them alive and ensure work would be done but rather to, keep them moving forward.
Lesh gave a final, appraising look over each of them before turning and signaling Butcher and Carnage with a quick flick of his wrist. Both demonic creatures moved with an almost silent efficiency towards the main house, their eyes already scanning the area as if seeking out any unseen threats. As Lesh strode towards the main building for the last of the planned looting before they would depart, the others fell into step behind him, a few talking excitedly about the prospect of getting some decent weapons and proper food.