PART FOUR

"Nothing, nothing, sir-captain! I was just—" Ichigo's frantic explanation was cut short as the captain shoved him with such force that he hit the ground hard, landing awkwardly. He winced, the sting in his joints sharp and immediate.

Before he could get back on his feet, the supervisor stormed in, seizing the opportunity to vent his frustration.

"You little rat!" the supervisor bellowed, his face twisted in anger. His fists came down hard, and Ichigo barely had time to shield himself.

Blow after blow rained down, heavy punches and sharp kicks, the supervisor's fury fueled by weeks of pent-up frustration.

"You're going to regret this, you worthless piece of garbage!" the man spat, his foot slamming into Ichigo's ribs.

Ichigo's cries for mercy were drowned out by the supervisor's rage. Around them, the other workers kept their heads down, refusing to look up. The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed in the corridor, but no one intervened.

Finally, the supervisor stepped back, panting. Ichigo lay crumpled on the ground, blood trickling from his nose and lips. His vision blurred as consciousness slipped away.

When Ichigo finally opened his eyes, the world around him felt surreal, like he was floating between a nightmare and reality. His head throbbed, his muscles burned, and his entire body screamed in protest as he tried to shift.

"Where...am I?" His voice came out hoarse, barely audible.

"You're in a cell," a calm voice replied from the shadows.

Ichigo squinted, his surroundings slowly coming into focus. A man sat across from him on the cold, damp floor of the dimly lit cell. He looked crazy, with a lean build and a face that carried a mix of weariness and defiance.

"Take it easy," the boy said. "You look like hell. You shouldn't even be trying to talk yet."

Ichigo groaned, propping himself up against the wall despite the stabbing pain in his ribs. "Who...who are you?"

The boy leaned back, arms resting on his knees. "Name's Mau. I'm a digger from the far mountain region. Been here for a while now. And you?"

"Ichigo," he replied weakly, wincing as he adjusted his position.

Mau studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You've been out for two and a half hours. We walked in here together—well, they dragged you in like trash. I didn't like it, so I told the officer what I thought about it."

Ichigo blinked, his mind sluggishly processing Mau's words. "You...spoke up for me?"

"Yeah. Not that it made much difference," Mau said with a shrug. "Cops don't care about people like us."

Ichigo's lips curved into a faint smile despite the pain. "Thanks," he murmured.

"Don't mention it," Mau replied, his tone light. "Just rest up. You're going to need your strength if you want to survive in here.It's no better here than out there,"

Ichigo leaned his head back against the cold wall, his thoughts swirling.