Pio and forty more (1)

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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Duke took a minute to remember where the so-called landslide was. He led the way over the clearing, and we entered the forest. It was not far from the mansion, only a few minutes of walking.

Of course, there was no landslide, but we found hidden among bushes a door that was cracked open.

The stairs led underground, and we lit up an old-fashioned torch to see our way.

Just like the rest of the house, the place was looted.

The smell inside was stale and I was confident that something died inside. Duke scrunched his nose, but he didn't comment on it.

The stairs stopped on a wide landing where a busted table and two wooden chairs were. And one pile of cracked wood might have been a bench some time ago. I assumed that this was the place where the guards were sitting while watching over prisoners.