Hunji's POV - (When he was first captured here)
Gusterian pushes Hunji inside the prison, "Go on little mortal. Behave well, unless you wanna suffer the consequences" he warned, as he left the prison
"Urgh... damn him" Hunji cursed under his breath. He gets up from the ground
"Hey there new one!" A boy spoke to him, startling Hunji a little
He looked up, he saw a boy who was around his age, like 10 years old to be precise. He had dirty blonde hair, tanned skin and amber eyes. He was covered in dirt and badly injured. But acts like it's nothing, with a smile
"What is your name, newbie?" Another boy asked and unlike the cheerful tone compared to the first boy, it was rather blank
The other boy had red hair, pale skin and emerald eyes. He was also covered in dirt and had injuries, but not as excessive as the first one
"I... I am Hunji..." He replied warily
"Funny name, but I am Fenry! And this gloomy guy here is Xen. We are the first ones kidnapped by those monsters here..." Fenry chuckled as he introduced himself and Xen, to Hunji
"He means is, he is the first one captured here while I am the second" Xen said blankly
"Aww, he doesn't needs to know about who is first and who is second~" Fenry gasped dramatically, he nudged Xen playfully
Xen rolled his eyes, "Of course, he has to know since he is in the same situation as us" he retorts
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"I guess they mentioned that they have been here for like... 3 months before I was kidnapped there at that time... We were the first three that were kidnapped, quite a bunch back then..." Hunji said to Dahlia as he sighed deeply
"The time we three were there, we all tried making plans on how to escape from here... and of course, in order to escape. We both have to know about this world and how it works here- including how one can travel back to our world etc etc. But back to the story" He said as he ruffled his hair in frustration, while Dahlia, Xinhua and many other children were listening intently
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"Soo, to sum it up... this world's name is still unknown. And you two just figured out only that there are higher ups in between these monsters. Like Yellow, Purple and Red, a code to recognize their superior. And to identify them... and that depends on their sizes?" Hunji asked both Fenry and Xen
"Correct and we could only come up with this by observing Ghouls..." Fenry laughed slightly, Hunji was weirded out on how he can laugh at the low progress...? His tone didn't held any embarrassment nor dishearteness which Hunji could make out
"Quite a shame but, yes the superiors in here are identified by sizes. The more smaller they are, the higher power they have. Usually the ones who are just around 6 feet tall are the Red ones. Clearly reserved for the... uhh... I think they call it..." Xen scratched his head as he can't remember the name of it
"They are called "Three kings"" Fenry explained to Hunji, backing Xen up. "But we have never seen them, except the ones who are yellow. They are identified by... 8 foot" He continued
"Ok... but really... those are useless information... the main thing is escaping routes... no offense tho" Hunji said, slightly frustrated
"Oh! Don't worry we will pull through it, now that we have you" Fenry suggested
"I guess so..." Hunji replied after hesitating for a while
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"The three of us worked together in trying find plan out escape routes... while also learned how twisted way this world works" Hunji said to Dahlia
"How so?" She asked, raising a eyebrow
Xinhua and the children there looked back and forth between Dahlia and Hunji, tensed up slightly by hearing Hunji's tale
Hunji paused for a while
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"The world here are controlled by the "Three KIngs", Cindra, Kindra and Findra. They are the top superiors here, ruling over this unknown world. We get kidnapped just to be a damn toy for them... be bought out.. and played around by them like some... plaything..." He explained as he stared down at the ground
Dahlia felt chills go through her spine, dread crept in
Including Xinhua and the children... even tho they all know this... they still get the chills
"But anyways... we three found a way to escape... Down on east, there is a large gate where children gets taken out from... it was where we all were transported here through... The gates might open up if we, "We wanna return back to our world" say this" He continued
"But there is a guard that always keeps watch... we wondered how to escape by not letting that guard notice us... Then the red moon was no more seen in the sky, it happens once every three days... It is the time that all Ghouls except the higher ups, blacks out cold"
"We thought it would be a perfect time to make a escape and go to that gate" He said
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After 3 days arrived
Xen kept guard as Gusterian was sleeping
"Now" He whispered, giving a signal to Fenry and Hunji
Fenry was taking a while in preparing the tools in unlocking the door... it was suspicious to both Hunji and Xen
"Hey! Hurry up!!!" Xen snapped
Fenry finally gets the tools and immediately unlocked the door by breaking the lock, he carefully goes out first
"Ok, come slowly and quietly" He said as he holds the prison door out for Xen and Hunji to get out from while keeping a smile
Xen held Hunji's hand, he guided Hunji carefully. Making sure no sound was made when they walk
After they successfully came out, Fenry closed the door silently and carefully
When he was done, he followed after Xen and Hunji
"Stay close, guys. And be on full guard" Fenry said in a cheerful tone, he was relaxed doing all this unlike the two
"What is wrong with this guy...?" Hunji thought as he was clearly suspicious of Fenry
But ignored it. Xen and he was on full guard and kept eyes on everywhere
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They suddenly become suspicious when everything was eerily silent
"Hey... don't you think it's too silent here?" Xen whispered, he was confused and was tensing up, as the moments ticked by
"...I guess it's better... maybe they all are asleep!" Fenry remarked, he tried laughing it off
"It's no laughing matter! It's serious!" Xen snapped
"What? What does me laughing a little has to do with this mission?" Fenry asked curiously
Xen was getting pissed and before he could snap more at Fenry, Hunji put both his hands on Xen
"Hey calm down! We are so close to escaping! So... we have to focus on that, instead of arguing" Hunji tried calming Xen
Xen grumbled as he only nods, after remaining silent for a while
Fenry just kept silent as he just stared at the two with a smile
The three then reached the gates, clearly on a cliff. Falling down from the cliff mistakenly was a complete death sentence for them, if they ever slip up
The end was nowhere to be seen... it was only covered in mist
But one can make out that it's really deep
"Ok... we are here... so..." Hunji said as he looked both at Fenry and Xen. "Who is gonna do it first? I am kinda scared to be honest..." He asked as he admitted that he is scared
"I will leave it to Xen, cause I know I might mess up so~ " Fenry remarked as he smiled
Xen and Hunji were tensed up by hearing his remark... especially Xen...
Silence filled in
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"Well?" Fenry asked Xen, turning to him
Xen gripped the edge of his shirt, he tried grounding himself
He was nervous and scared, but tried not to show it
Sweat formed on his forehead, "Fine..." he reluctantly said
He goes towards the gates, in front of both Fenry and Hunji
He takes a long deep breath before letting it out
"Let me... return to my world...." He said to the gate. He closed his eyes tightly. Waiting for worse...
"Hey... open your eyes! I guess it worked!" Hunji said as he gasped, seeing the gates lighting up
Xen immediately opened his eyes, he was shocked. A smile appeared on his face
"It-... It worked! IT REALLY WORKED!!! WE CAN FINALLY ESCAPE!!!" Xen exclaimed as he never felt this happy before
Tears welled up in his eyes, he can finally go to his parents. and feel their warm embrace... the warm food he hated before... but was now one of the very things he missed
Xen finally steps outside of the gate, feeling free and happy
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Pause
"Hmm? What happened then?" Xinhua asked Hunji on why he stopped in the middle
"... It's nothing... just..." Hunji hesitated
Dahlia stared at him, she could guess what happened to them. "They didn't make it... if my guess is right... but let's hear it from him..." She thought
"You all didn't make it?" She asked finally
Hunji signed shakily as he had a conflicted and another... maybe... it was betrayal look? Or maybe she is reading too much into this
"I am sorry... Uhm..." He covered his face as he felt warm tears forming in his eyes. "... Just slightly dejected cause of the damn betrayal..." His voice became shaky along with his body
"Betrayal?" Xinhua asked surprised yet confused by his last sentence
"Yes... betrayal... basically..." Hunji continued on
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The moment Xen stepped out from the gates, his whole body was suddenly cut into two. And two Ghouls started eating his body away
It was a horrifying sight as Hunji covered his mouth, his eyes wide open as he felt sick to the stomach
Suddenly Fenry started laughing darkly
Hearing his laugh, Hunji looked over in utter shock. "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING!!! OUR FRIEND JUST DIED AND IS BEING EATEN BY THOSE MONSTERS!!!" He yelled at Fenry as his voice shook in fear and anger
"Hahahaahaaah, it's funny. You both are really naive" Fenry snickered
"You really think there is a thing called freedom? I have to remind you, there is no freedom. We all are just scapegoats. I just used you two just to be noticed and... bought" He stopped laughing
"I lied about being the first... OKAY?! I WATCHED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN... INCLUDING MY OLDER SISTER DYING!!!" He trembled as he covered his face. His voice rose in volume
"There are spells everywhere, if one dares to pass through it. They break the law of the "Three Kings", ending up with a punishment. That is being eaten by them" He explained as he pointed at Xen who is now being eaten. He has a blank face as his eyes were glossy
"So... to survive... I had to use Xen. When the Ghouls, see that how entertaining this is... they will take me in... I will... I will be finally free!!!" His voice trembled a lot as he tried keeping himself together... he forced a smile as tears trickle down his cheeks
It was obvious how much he is trying to remain "normal"
Hunji froze up as he heard him. He now sees just how broken Fenry is now
"... Get yourself together... we... can still get out of here together... Please..." He muster out only these words as tears welled up in his eyes as well
"Hah... getting ourselves out... It will never happen... we are stuck in this damn world... we have to just accept and live with it..." Fenry said as his amber eyes pierced through Hunji. He gripped his hands to fists as he wiped his tears away
"If we wanna survive here, that is. So... live on... and never trust anyone... unless you wanna end up like Xen here" He warned Hunji coldly as he tried keeping his smile
Hunji was frustrated and was about to punch Fenry to put some sense in him, until a Ghoul came in and stopped him by using it's power. Clearly restraining Hunji
"Heheheeheeheeeheeeheeh, nice one~ What a good show~" It walked towards Fenry, towering over him, it had it's usual far stretched disturbing smile
"A betrayal of a friend? I like that, it gives me the chills. And suits my tastes~" It snickered. "I will buy you~ for making me witness this spectacle" It said in a sing song tone, as it caressed Fenry's jaw
"I am honored and glad my letter helped you" Fenry said who acted perfectly normal
"Wait... what letter?" he thought internally as suddenly realization hit him like a ton of bricks
"When... taking out the tools to break the lock earlier in the prison... did he left a letter there... for these monsters to track us down?" He thought again
He again looked at Fenry, hoping his guess isn't true
Until, Fenry turns his head away. Which answered his question that the guess he made was truly true
Tears kept trickling down his cheeks as he looks back at Xen's dead body
His body was still there... but eaten by the Ghouls...
The whole atmosphere was eerily silent, except the crunching noises of Xen's body being eaten by the Ghouls
Hunji can't help but think of moments with Fenry and Xen... even tho with a short time together... they both bonded well... even tho being in this situation
They laughed at silly things... hugged each other when one of them especially him, who felt lost... gave hope to one another
In other words they were family
Hunji hiccuped as he finally lets out a loud agonizing cry, which was filled with betrayal and great pain
Fenry bit his lower lip as he tried not to react to Hunji's cries, "I have to be strong... I can't become weak... for my sake and survival..." he thought internally
The Ghoul nearby was feasting on Hunji's negative emotions as they all laughed at him, their laughter broke Hunji more then he already is
"Hah~ What a great emotion~" The Ghoul who chose to take Fenry with it remarked. It licked it's sharp razor teeth in great delight by feeding from Hunji's emotions
End of Hunji's POV
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Dahlia, Xinhua and many other children stared at Hunji with conflicted looks
"... Don't give me those... I still survived after all those things" Hunji gruffly replied
"But to sum it all up, we can't ever escape. The only escape is being bought out by those monsters and be treated like a damn toy... that is all to it..." He let out a deep sigh
"... Do you know how many children are kept here in total?" Dahlia asked suddenly
"...Yeah... I know... but why...?" Hunji asked, caught of guard by her question
"Let's just say... I have a plan..." Dahlia replied as she sighed deeply. "And for it, I need to know about the total number..." She again said