Inmates

Red glanced around before snorting softly.

"Go first for what? Getting pummeled by something twice our size? Or making friends with those things that look like they'd eat us if we stared too long?" He gestured subtly toward a group of particularly intimidating alien prisoners.

"Maybe neither," Six replied. "If we want to find the Snow Queen and get out of here we've got to start somewhere, don't we?"

Purple chimed in. "And risk drawing some more attention? These things don't quite look human friendly so not exactly the safest play."

Thirteen leaned in, her arms resting on her knees. "We won't last long if we stay in our bubble, though. Someone—or something—out there knows what's going on in this place."

'Huh? She doesn't usually talk, so what's up right now?' The others noticed the same thing as Six. If even she were talking, then the others would be more inclined to listen. He nodded as the words to back her up came to his lips.

"Exactly. We just need to figure out who's worth talking to—and who to avoid." He glanced toward Eleven, who finally gave a small nod of agreement.

"Fine," Eleven said, pushing herself off the wall she'd been leaning against. "But we play it smart. I'm not taking any unnecessary risks. Agreed?"

A round of subtle nods passed between them.

The plan wasn't the beast, but it was something. The uneasy truce they had with the other prisoners that was forced by being new wasn't guaranteed to last, and the sooner they understood the dynamics of this place, the better their chances of surviving—and maybe even escaping.

But then came the big problem that Six had contemplated before—these other prisoners were not human.

At this point, he wasn't even doubting Stone's opinion that they were in another world anymore, there was also the possibility that this was all just a bad dream. Either way, it wasn't the real world or better said, the world he knew.

They had forgotten that they were all still standing at the entrance to the prison yard and thus, were blocking it until a guard barked at them to move out of the way, forcing them to move out.

They stayed back still for a bit as everyone was reluctant to move into the unknown—natural human fear.

Six leaned back against the cold metal wall of the prison yard, letting his gaze wander. The low hum of conversation and the clinking of chains from the other prisoners faded into the background as his eyes caught something above them.

The ceiling wasn't a ceiling at all—it was glass. A vast, thick layer of transparent material stretched over the entire yard, and beyond it, the deep, murky waters loomed. The ethereal lighting embedded in the glass cast an otherworldly glow, illuminating the yard below and holding back the crushing weight of the ocean above.

Six watched as the shadow of a massive sea creature passed overhead, its form distorted and ghostly through the barrier. It was both unnerving and made him wonder just how deep they were buried beneath the surface.

For a moment, the weight of it all settled on him—trapped not just in this fortress of metal and glass but under waters that seemed like an entire ocean. The idea of escape seemed impossibly far away, almost laughable. Yet, as his eyes scanned the glowing framework of the glass, he couldn't help but wonder:

'How strong is it? What would it take to break through?'

"Impressive, isn't it?" Eleven's voice broke through his thoughts, drawing his attention back to his companion standing beside him. She followed Six's gaze upward and smirked. "Almost makes you forget we're stuck in here."

"Almost," Six murmured, his tone laced with irony. "But it also makes you wonder—what happens if it doesn't hold?"

"That's a question I don't want answered," Eleven replied, crossing her arms as she too stared at the glass, the faint glow reflected in her eyes.

Six tore his gaze away and looked around the yard.

The others were scattered nearby, each subtly observing the different groups of prisoners around them. For now, the yard felt relatively calm, but Six could sense the tension simmering beneath the surface, much like the ocean above.

Then Stone broke the silence. "You know what? Just standing here isn't gonna do us any good. I'm gonna get some answers."

Six turned to him, already sensing trouble. "What do you mean, 'get some answers'?"

Stone jerked his chin toward a group of alien creatures sitting off to the side of the yard. They were larger than the average prisoner, with sharp, armored features and eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Their guttural language and occasional harsh laughter carried across the yard, making it clear they weren't the kind to be trifled with.

"I mean," Stone said, "I'm gonna go ask them what the deal is here. Someone's gotta know more than we do."

Red snorted. "That's your brilliant plan? Walk up to the scariest-looking creatures here and strike up a conversation? Great idea, Stone. What's your backup plan when they decide to rearrange your face?"

"They won't," Stone replied with far too much confidence. "I've got this."

"Yeah, right," Eleven muttered. "This is gonna end well."

"Stone," Six said firmly, stepping in front of him. "This isn't some comic book, it's real life, or maybe this is just a bad dream but that's beside the point. These people—things—whatever they are, you could get us all into trouble."

But Stone just grinned. "Relax, Six. I'll be careful. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Awesome last words," Purple said with a laugh, but Stone was already walking away.

Six and the others exchanged uneasy glances, but no one moved to stop him.

They watched as Stone approached the group, his easygoing demeanor in full force. He stopped a few feet away and raised a hand in what was probably meant to be a friendly wave. The creatures turned their glowing eyes on him, their conversation falling silent as they regarded him with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

Stone said something—his words too far away to hear—but the creatures didn't respond. Instead, one of them stood up, its towering frame making Stone look downright small in comparison. It stepped closer, its claws flexing, and let out a low, menacing growl that sent a chill through the air.

Stone hesitated, his confident grin faltering for the first time. He raised his hands, palms out, in what was clearly meant to be a gesture of peace. But the creature didn't seem interested. It took another step forward, its growl deepening.

"Well, this is going great," Eleven muttered under her breath.

"Shouldn't we stop him?" Red asked, his voice low and concerned.

Six shook his head slightly. "Too late now," he replied, his tone resigned.