"What is with this book? It won't open!" Dahlia groaned as she was irritated
"Let me see" Hunji said as he took the book from Dahlia, making sure it's concealed from the eyeball's view. He tried opening it but was taken a back that it won't open
"What the-" Hunji groaned as he tried opening it but won't budge no matter what he tried
"It's either it won't open or you two are just too weak" Xinhua remarked which ticked both Dahlia and Hunji off
"Oh yeah? Then why not YOU try opening it" Hunji huffed, he hands the book to Xinhua
"Oh c'mon, what could be more hard in opening a book?" Xinhua shrugged feeling smug. He soon tried opening the book
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The book still didn't open
"What's wrong? Can't open it?" Hunji taunted
Xinhua groaned feeling annoyed and embarrassed. He soon stood up, stomping on the book
But the moment he stomped on the book
A loud groan was heard
Everyone froze in the cell, including Dahlia and Hunji
"What was that...?" One of the children asked
Suddenly, they saw Lusterian rushing towards the cell. His eyes were filled rage, he looked more scary than before
Before he can fully approach them, Dahlia immediately took the book from Xinhua
"Is this..." Dahlia wondered as she had a slight doubt. She soon stomped on the book now
Lusterian froze as he let out a pained groan
"So... this is his weak point..." Dahlia thought internally, now her doubt was confirmed
"Give me... that book... you little-" Lusterian growled in anger as he kicked the cell's gate, warning them
Everyone including Xinhua were scared and backed away
But Dahlia and Hunji stayed unfazed
"I will if you give us information" Dahlia said
Lusterian scoffed, "As if I will give you any! Give me the book. NOW! Or else... I will torture you with the most greatest pain you've ever experienced" he warned again as he gritted his teeth
Dahlia only stared at Lusterian for a while blankly, before she passes the book to Hunji
Getting the signal, Hunji takes the book from her
"Great pain you say? But how can you make us experience it when we have this in our hands?" She taunted as she smirked
When she completed her sentence, Hunji soon started stomping on the book multiple times
Lusterian groaned in pain yet again, clutching where his heart is as he felt that someone just pounding on his heart rapidly
He fell on his knees as he let out a loud screech
"So, you will give us what we want or just suffer more pain?" Dahlia said as Hunji punched the book
Lusterian's breathing hitched cause of the punch, his grip on the cell gate was cracking slowly as he was in incredible pain he never knew he will experience
"FINE!!! FINE!!! I WILL!!!! PLEASE JUST STOP HIM!!! I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE!!!" He panted as he was scared
"Great, now tell us everything about this world" Dahlia said
After she finished her sentence, Hunji stopped what he was doing to the book
Lusterian groaned but reluctantly started explaining about this world
"This world is called the "Yang side". It has around 3 species living there"
"First is Ghouls, we are the pets from the higher ups"
"There are three type of Ghouls here... first... is whisperer... who is also known to mind control any living being..."
"Second... teleportationer Ghoul... who can teleport or transport anything from anywhere in a short time..."
"Lastly... offense Ghouls... which I am from... clearly known to only attack beings in order to protect the weak ones..."
"These are the Ghouls... types... The second species is named... "Yungy"... they are like nobles who owns us all... and lastly there is... "Aungy" species... only three are here in this realm... which is known to be the "Three Kings" who rules over the entire "Yang side"..."
"That is all I know! We lower Ghouls don't know much about those who are higher then us" Lusterian finished explaining
Dahlia only hummed as she looked at Hunji, "See? Told you it was called "Yang side", believe me fully now?" she said
Hunji only stared at Dahlia but he sure was surprised. He was silent for a while before he nods
Dahlia hummed in satisfaction
"I have given you the information, now give me back the book!" Lusterian demanded
Dahlia looks back at Lusterian
"Why should I? I mean, after we give you the book. We all will be left completely vulnerable to you like before. I still haven't forgotten what pain you made me go through and those girls I have seen~" Dahlia commented as she hummed as if thinking. Her eyes pierced through him
Lusterian for the first time was scared by Dahlia, "This little... I just wonder... how come she even has that book in her possession?! I had it with me all the time as that is our core... only our masters and us have it in our possessions... how'd she obtained it...?" he thought internally as he gritted his teeth in frustration
"I've decided- you'll get this book after you do two things for us~" Dahlia chuckled smugly
"First thing is remove the moment it was recorded in the eyeball of us talking including about us trying to open this book" She ordered, coldly
Lusterian was taken a back, "How come she knows this...?" he only nods as he snapped his finger making the eyeball close it's eye for a moment before reopening them again
Indicating that the recorded moment was deleted
"There... you have it... what is the second thing..." He asked warily
"Good, now" Dahlia extended her hand to the Ghoul. "Second thing is, give us the key all the cells with the children who are imprisoned here, including this one" She ordered again
Lusterian was shocked before he hissed, "YOU DARE ORDER ME FOR SUCH THINGS!!! I WILL NEVER GIVE YOU THE KEYS!!! YOU ALL ARE PRISONERS HERE FOREVER!!!"
"BESIDES YOU ALL CAN'T RETURN TO YOUR WORLD WITHOUT OUR CONSENT!!!" He towered over the cell as it's eye glowed bright purple
All the children cowered more in the corner, they pressed themselves tighter in the corner
"If I was you, I wouldn't have done this" Dahlia warned coldly as she smirked
Hunji soon passed the book to the children who were scared, "Step on it with all your strength" he ordered
The children were hesitant but Xinhua first stomped on it, harshly with Hunji
Lusterian hissed it pain as it fell on top off the cell, trying to ground itself
Seeing his reaction, the children were encouraged and started to the same
Lusterian screeched in pain, clutching where his heart is tightly
He was sure he will die if they continued on
"FINE!!! FINE!!! FINE!!! FINE!!! I WILL GIVE YOU THE DAMN KEYS!!! PLEASE NO MORE!!!" He growled out in pain
Dahlia extends her hand, "Great, now give it quickly if you don't wanna suffer"
Lusterian immediately gave the keys
After the keys was in her possession, Hunji stopped making all the children including Xinhua to stop too
"Now leave, we will leave the book here in the cell when you wake up from sleep" Dahlia said smiling
"NO!! I WANT IT NOW!!!" Lusterian growled in frustration and rage
"Do you want me to repeat myself?" Dahlia's voice again grew colder which send chills down Lusterian's spine
Silence
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"I will take your silence as answer, now go" Dahlia said
Lusterian groaned but soon left the prison
After he left, Dahlia looks back at everyone in the cell
She smiled, "Everyone, rest up. Save as many energies as you all can cause after the 4 days are over. We will make a escape" she said as she showed the many keys to them all
Everyone now had more trust in Dahlia than before except Xinhua, who trusted her no matter what from the very beginning
Hunji only stared at Dahlia but he slightly smiled, "Hah... she reminds me a lot of Fenry... but she is different" he thought internally
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After 3 days passed in the realm
All the Ghouls soon went to deep sense of unconsciousness, a perfect timing for all the children to slip out from the prison
Hunji carefully unlocks the cell gate
All the children including Dahlia and Xinhua, quietly gets out with Hunji following behind
"We will all go to all the prisons we've gathered information off, but we do not take off now... we have to wait more till we all strike" Dahlia commanded
The children including Hunji and Xinhua nodded, they all soon parted ways
Since there were 50 prisons on different areas, with over 100 children trapped in one prison
So they all divided into groups of 5 members with 10 groups to tell the others about their plans
After doing that, they will all meet in one place. And get back to their own cells cause they won't make a escape just yet
They have to be patient
So far... all the groups were succeeding making the children convinced including those that were bought by the Ghouls
They even handed them the keys to the cells they all were locked in
Except... Fenry, which Hunji gone himself to confront him and tell him about the plan
Fenry was looking down blankly as he had many injuries unlike what Hunji saw him in the cell earlier
One of his eye were pulled out as it was just black hole seen in it... and one arm missing
In other words... Fenry looked more miserable than before
"What... have they done to you...?" Hunji was finally able to ask, his voice cracked
Fenry still kept his usual smile, "It's normal here..." he replied tho his voice sounded weak
"HOW IS THIS NORMAL!!! YOU'RE HEAVILY INJURED WHILE MISSING A DAMN ARM AND ONE EYE!!!!" Hunji yelled out in anger
"I deserve it... after what I have done to Xen..." Fenry replied calmly
Hunji closed his eyes shut tightly, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Letting out a sharp exhale
"... You-... forget it..." He sighed deeply again
"Someone has found a way out... we can escape this... for sure!" Hunji said trying to remain as calm as ever
"Way out? There is no way out... Hunji... we already went through this before... and yet you still trust someone easily...?" Fenry scoffed in disbelief
"Maybe... I sound foolish..." Hunji replied but opened his eyes as he looks straight at Fenry
"But... I am serious about this... I don't know how... but the way this girl says it so surely... I guess..." He paused
"There is no way out, that girl you are talking about... is tricking you, like everyone else! Like how I have..." Fenry retorts
Hunji didn't replied as he blankly stared at Fenry
Soon, he finally punches him
Fenry was taken a back as he stumbles back, holding his cheek that is red by the punch now
"That should snap you out... we are going. I don't care if I die... it's way better than dying in that cell... You can come with us or just stay. It's your choice" Hunji huffed as he leaves
Fenry didn't said anything... he only stares at the retreating kid. "Is he serious...?" He thought internally
Every children including Dahlia, Hunji and Xinhua returns back to their cell
"So, has anyone objected?" Dahlia asked
All the children shook their heads including Xinhua
"Not really, rather all of them were glad that they are leaving this realm for good" Xinhua replied
"Except... Fenry has yet to answer us" Hunji commented
Dahlia looks at Hunji
"Oh... I understand... it's his choice tho... But since maximally everyone agreed. I will say that tomorrow we make a run for it" She replied
Many children were smiling, feeling enthusiastic in leaving finally yet also scared on what comes before them when they try to escape
"... How is your body holding up?" Hunji suddenly asked
"I am fine... I can handle this much compared to how you suffered..." Dahlia replied as she gave him a smile
Hunji's eyes softened a lot, he sighed deeply. "Your just like him..." He mumbled as he got reminded of Fenry a lot through Dahlia
"But, don't force yourself, we need you after all" He remarked as he pointed his finger at her
Dahlia chuckled, "Ok, let's prepare for tomorrow" she replied
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Tomorrow arrived
Hunji soon knocks Gusterian and Lusterian out by using heat
By lighting the wood on fire and throwing it on them
Dahlia's guardian told her that Ghouls are weak against heat so she packed up lots of woods and matches just in case before she left her estate
Tho she still felt weird in not talking with her guardian anymore by using telepathy cause of being here
"LET'S GET OUT NOW!!!" Dahlia yelled as she unlocks the door. She holds the door out as everyone gets out
Dahlia was the last of them coming out from cell
After she was with everyone, Hunji blows out a whistle
It was heard by every children in the cells as the whistling sound was their signal in getting out from the cells and reunite with them all
All children soon knocks out the Ghouls like how Hunji did earlier, unlocking the cell lock and coming out
Others escaped from the houses of the Ghouls who had bought them
After sometime
Every children were gathered together
"GUYS WE ALL DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME SO, STICK TOGETHER AND HOLD HANDS OF ONE AND ANOTHER!!! CLOSE YOUR EYES, NEVER OPEN THEM NO MATTER WHAT!!! I WILL DO EVERYTHING SO EVERYONE KEEP SILENT!!!" Dahlia yelled out orders
Everyone were confused but did what she said even so
They all formed a formation by holding each other's hands
Dahlia soon took out a dagger as she was about to cut her arm slightly but Fenry comes, interrupting her
Hunji looked up, he saw Fenry
"So... you came..?" He said as he was about to let go and let Fenry come but before he could, Dahlia stopped him
"No..." Dahlia said making Hunji, Xinhua and the many children confused
"No...? What do you mean by "No"?" Hunji asked
"No... cause we can never take him... he is done..." Dahlia replied as she glared at Fenry
"What do you mean by "He is done"? He is my friend even tho he betrayed me... but he still had reasons-" Hunji tried defending Fenry but Fenry cut him in the middle of the sentence
"No... I can never come with you... I have been corrupted in mind by that Ghoul... I won't survive much longer..." Fenry said
Hunji froze as tears welled up in his eyes
"Wait... you can't be... serious..." His voice cracked
"I am very much serious... when you arrived... I internally knew that if returning to our world was possible... I... would never be able to return... my place belongs here... so..." Fenry gave Hunji a small smile as tears welled up. He paused briefly
"Live happily there... dear friend... and I am sorry for the troubles I caused you... I know you can never forgive me... but still... I ask deeply for your forgiveness..." He completed his sentence
"No... Fenry... please..." Hunji hiccuped as he cried while other children also cried including Xinhua
Dahlia tried remaining strong as her eyes became glossy, "HOLD... YOUR HANDS TIGHTLY TOGETHER AND CLOSE YOUR EYES" she yelled out in commanding tone
She cuts her arm as she lets blood trickle down
Soon mists started appearing around them, covering them whole
The children gasped, they soon closed their eyes tightly
Whispers started but none dared to talk or look
Fenry watched as he suddenly felt the Ghouls approaching, he felt panic. He looks back at everyone then back at the Ghouls
He sighed shakily, closing his eyes for a moment
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Finally he opens his eyes and runs to a large tree that is dark purple, he hides behind it
Meanwhile with Dahlia
She heard footsteps approaching but were light
Almost like a child's
"Where do you wanna go to, miss?" That voice sounded familiar to her
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She finally realizes who that voice belonged to
It was that boy she bumped into earlier when she first started investigating how the children gets taken away by the Ghoul
The one her guardian warned to never look in its eyes...
She now knows why...
The entity that is supposed to bring them back to their world... was in the form of a child...