Prisoners of Monsters

Drip. Drip.Drip.

Gentle droplet's slowly fell from the ceiling, splashing against Estelle's cheek. She was unconscious, but this managed to wake her. She sat up and immediately, her eyes scanned the room. She was in some sort of cell. She wasn't the only one locked in here. All around, there were other's. None of them looked to be in good shape. They all had battered and dirty clothes and some of the people looked sick.

"...Where is this?.." Estelle muttered to herself. She wasn't expecting an answer, but someone overheard.

A young man, somewhere in his 20s came over. Bandages were wrapped around his head, covering a not-so-pretty head injury.

"This is one of the cells they keep their subjects in." He said.

Being called a subject didn't sound nice at all. It really sounded like they were all a part of some lab experiment.

"Subjects?" Estelle asked.

The man nodded and gave more detail.

"That's right. We are all subjects. At any given moment, one of us could be taken off to the experimental area. Once that happens, it will be a world of hell. The things they do to us are unbearable. Torture, rituals, mind games. According to the ones that keep us here: It's all for the sake of creating special beings."

The sound of this wasn't pretty. And it goes without saying, the amount of despair some of these people went through is horrifying.

Estelle started noticing how some of the people here had minor to severe injuries or missing limbs.

"God."

The man replied."I know, right. Everyone has that same reaction on their first day here."

None of this was even close to morally right. Whatever organization that was behind this deserved to be crushed.

Estelle stood up, tightened her fist and straightened her posture.

"Today will be the day you all will be freed. I am Royal Knight Estelle Amberson. As of now, I will break us free from this cell."

When she finished talking, she expected at least some sort of reaction, but everyone still looked hopeless.

The man with the bandaged head let out a sigh and sat down.

"It's no use. I believe that you're a Royal Knight, but this place is just on another level. Look around, see how there's no guards? Wonder why that is?"

Until now, Esteel hadn't noticed that nobody was guarding the cell. In fact, it looked almost too easy if she wanted to escape.

She stayed silent, letting the man continue to explain.

"That's because the ones keeping us here are confident we won't survive if we leave the cell. They somehow taimed the monsters of the mist and have full command over them. Whoever leaves this cell will get slaughtered. I've witnessed it too many times. It's best if we just stay here. Maybe if we act good, they'll recruit us and we won't have to stay in this cell anymore."

It was truly sad. From his words and from the atmosphere of the cell, it was clear that everyone's spirit's had been broken long ago. Not a single one of them had any hope at all.

Truth be told, Estelle could beat almost any ground monster alone. But if she guided these people out of the cell and through this labyrinth, they would only be in more danger than they are now.

She took a seat on the cold floor and sighed. Waiting was the only option for now.

The man with the bandaged head extended his hand out.

"I know you didn't ask, but my name is Shiloh. Nice to meet ya."

Estelle shook his hand, replying with a smile, "Likewise."`

4 hours went by and she was already acquainted with most of the people in the cell, though there were a couple rude ones. Overall, most of them were kind, even if they'd been through alot.

Tmp..Tmp..Tmp…

A pair of boots could be heard walking outside of the cell.

The expression on everyone's faces nearly turned pale. They each knew what was about to happen. One of the organization members were coming to fetch one of them.

Finally, a figure came over to the cell. This Individual wore a black robe and a traditional white mask. Just from their energy alone, Estelle knew that this person could cast black magic.

This figure unlocked the door of the cell and specifically spoke to her.

" It is time for your questioning. I will be escorting you to a different area. Surley, you won't resist, will you?"

Of course, this wasn't the time to let her pride act up.

Estelle stood, reassuring her cooperation.

"You can be at ease. I have no intentions of fighting."

A magic rope was tied around her wrist to potentially keep her from trying anything. From then, she was led off down the gloomy hall. It was then that her eyes caught a glimpse of one of the modified monsters. It was a creature that looked like a hovering cloak and it's arms were deadly silver blades. It was just standing by, guarding the halls. The further Estelle was led, the more of these creatures she saw.

After what felt to be at least 15 minutes of silent walking, she was finally brought to a room and thrown to the floor.

She was forced to look at a man sitting up ahead. A man whose facial features were hidden by a shadow. The only thing visible was a part of his blonde hair. Estelle also noticed a specific figure standing off to the side. It was the silver-haired guy who knocked her out previously. The guy who introduced himself by the name of 'Zane Al-Dieu-le'

A twisted smile was worn across his face while quiet seconds passed.

All the while, Estelle could feel a deadly aura pouring from the blonde man's body, until he finally spoke.

"To have been visited by a very known Royal Knight, it's an honor. But at the same time, it's an insult to only have sent a group out here in the mist. Tell me, what kind of business are you up to?"

Estelle remained silent and gave no reply. Her only action was a lasering galre.

The blonde man stood from his seat and leaned over to her. His features remained covered by a sort of shadow magic. But his emerald green eyes were visible at the very least.

He spoke with a loud sarcastic tone.

"That's not very nice. You just ignored me, I'm soooo hurt. Here, I have to do something about that attitude."

His finger slowly grazed Estelle's face.

In the very specific instant, she felt an incredible sense of torture.

Every muscle in her entire body cramped and each of her organs felt tightened. Her lungs didn't feel like they were working as she gasped for air.

The torment wasn't over yet. A powerful surge of electricity ran through her till blood spurted from her mouth and nose.

Before she could actually die, the Blonde man ended his spell.

Estelle fell over and lied still, gasping while the oxygen filled her lungs once again.

The man kneeled beside her and started to stroke her hair.

"Now, beautiful. I'd hate to hurt you any more than I have to. Now, I think you ought to learn how to respect me."

Estelle bit her lip in anger. She wasn't going to give up just because of a little pain.

"Respect you?...Not a chance In my knightley heart I would do that."

She spoke while keeping a brave smile, even with the pain she was in.

The blonde man shook his head with his hand over his face.

"I told you, I'd hate to have to have you hurt. But it seems like there's no choice. Don't worry, I won't do that little trick you experienced a while ago, you'd die from a second time of that. I have something else in mind."