Cellar

For a moment there was a dark thought in my mind, have they intentionally made this place confusing so as to lure people in?

It was a random thought but one I couldn't ignore, it was also hurting my pride as I had just argued with Azrael about why these people were treated unfairly.

The government didn't do anything? Saying so, I really felt like those inconsiderate people who just know how to blame others.

Even more time goes by without me finding any clues. I really think this place is a maze.

Useless thoughts kept dwelling in my mind, I should just focus on finding a way, nothing else.

*Weep*

If I was not wrong, I heard someone weeping. It was not far away, rather eerily close to me. It was a muffled scream at best.

I went to check where the sound was coming from, following the sound. Through an alleyway, I located a trapdoor connected to some basement.

The trapdoor was fairly well hidden for sure, under a creature carcass. The creature was some animal type, mortal rank as anything else would butcher them for sure.

I made my way down through the ladder located beneath the trapdoor. The ladder was also made by creature bones. These people really use their limited resources well enough.

Even though I said the government doesn't care about their well-being, they..no, not just them every level is given a certain budget every month.

It varies level to level but they are given, it's up to the level in charge whether to use it skillfully or just waste it.

Moving down, I was assaulted by a strong stench of rotten, burnt flesh. Ignoring the stench enough to make the strongest people puke, I moved down.

Down there was a room, cellar room to be exact. Many chains were attached at the ceiling, making the already eerie room more eerie. The entire cellar was lit by torches, which were wall mounted.

*Weep*

I heard the muffled weep again, this time with stealthy feet. I made my way towards the sound.

I kept being hidden, just in case. Deep in the cellar, a lot of people were gathered.

The room where they were, was pretty huge, huge walls made of concrete with intricate design stood tall. Many small doors were also connected with the room.

In the middle of it, the people who were gathered. Were actually circling a woman, she seemed to be going through labour pain. She was on atlar type bed, this situation seemed like some ritual.

There were no safety measures because of the lack of equipment. Her mouth was gagged by some clothes.

"The muffled screams were actually coming from her."

Even so, it doesn't make sense that I was able to hear her screams from outside. I had pretty good hearing, my senses were overly enhanced still it was not possible to hear sounds this deep.

Above anything else, she was screaming because of labour pain. No, she was weeping, crying as she was in deep pain.

Such a large gathering for a simple delivery also doesn't make any sense.

I decided that I needed to solve this mystery, so I stayed still hiding behind some barrels stashed in a corner.

Her cries went on, until finally she gave birth. None of the standing people helped her in any way, they just stood still watching her suffer with a strangely ecstatic expression?

*Waa!!*

Sound of a baby's cry surrounded the area. This time around, they made some movement. The picked.. snatched the baby away from their mother, taking them somewhere.

I tried to follow but what happened next made my blood boil.

They discarded the mother as a used rag, some of those people put her on a stretcher, afterward they threw her through one of the small connected doors.

Even if there was some cushion inside that door room, it would still definitely hurt. Throwing a woman, who just gave birth like that was inhumane.

I controlled myself from going there and beating these good for nothing people. I had to dig deep through whatever was happening here.

Abnormally enough, there were some womens in that gathering too. Their own bellies were pretty big, seemingly pregnant. Still they didn't raise any concern for the one who just got thrown.

Maybe they threw her for a health checkup or something. Whatever ways I tried to justify what I just saw was futile.

They moved deeper through the cellar with the crying baby. I followed them sneakily, still trying to supress my desire to kill them.

It was quite convenient that all of them were walking in a straight path, not a single soul was trying to act as a guard.

A strange doubt emerged in my mind, are they trying to lure me?

It was given that upper level people were actively strong, or at least someone from their family was strong.

So, it could very well be a trap. Trying to lure me, use me as scapegoat, demand something like a kidnapper.

The thought was not for nothing, it was awfully convenient that I was able to hear those weeping sounds.

Still, they probably didn't calculate the fact that I'm the one who is strong, not my family member.

I mean it's not rare for some people to come here, they usually come here as a way to reminisce about the past if they have their home nearby. Or a grave of a loved one.

Following them I arrived in another room, filled with hundreds of cradles in which they put the newborn baby.