The dim glow of the chandeliers flickered as we moved toward the side of the stage. The hum of conversation and clinking glasses masked our footsteps, but we still kept low, careful not to draw any attention.
The heavy curtains draped before us swayed slightly with the occasional movent behind them. The backstage area was close. We just had to get through unnoticed.
I turned my head slightly and whispered, "Don’t make any noise."
"Roger that," Hina responded, flashing a small grin.
Serina simply nodded, her expression serious.
We inched forward, sticking to the walls, blending into the shadows cast by the decorative columns and dim lighting. The guards and event organizers were standing nearby, engaged in a hushed conversation. We pressed ourselves against the cold stone, listening carefully.
"Sad one escaped," one of the guards muttered, his tone laced with disappointnt.
"Yeah... she had it really big, you know," another man replied with a chuckle.
"For house use *and* bed use as well," the third added, shaking his head as if lanting a lost investnt.
Then, they all laughed. A deep, vile sound that made my stomach churn.
I felt Hina stiffen beside , her aura flaring slightly with raw anger. Her fists clenched, and she took a half-step forward, her eyes burning with fury.
Before she could do anything reckless, Serina quickly tapped her shoulder and gave a firm shake of her head. The silent ssage was clear—*not now.*
Hina exhaled sharply through her nose, forcing herself to stay put.
I gave her a glance before whispering, "Let’s go."
Staying low, I crawled ahead, leading the way toward the back entrance. Hina and Serina followed silently, their movents fluid despite the tension thick in the air.
Just ahead of us, two guards stood stationed before a large curtain, their postures relaxed but alert.
One of them checked his watch and sighed. "Twenty-five minutes left."
The other groaned. "Ugh, we have to stand here the whole ti?"
"Well, yeah," the first guard muttered. "We aren’t allowed to leave them alone for even a minute."
"Co on, nothing’s gonna happen," the second one argued. "Let’s just grab so tea or sothing. I could use a damn break."
The first guard hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tch. It’s on you if anything happens."
"Yes, yes. If we co back and find sothing wrong, I’ll take the bla," the second guard waved him off.
With that, they both turned and walked away, their footsteps fading into the noise of the main hall.
I smirked. *Idiots.*
We waited a few more seconds, making sure they were out of sight before moving forward. Slowly, we slipped past the curtain and entered the backstage area.
The mont we stepped inside, the atmosphere changed. Unlike the grand, luxurious hall outside, this place was dimly lit, the air thick with whispers and hushed cries. A faint glow illuminated the room from a single lantern hanging overhead.
And then we saw them.
Ten large cages lined the back of the room, each holding a captive. Humans, demi-humans, devils, unique creatures of all kinds—each trapped within iron bars, their expressions a mixture of fear, exhaustion, and resignation.
Hina let out a sharp breath. "This is...horrible."
Serina nodded slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "They’re treating them like... like things to be bought and sold."
I walked forward, hands still tucked into my pockets, my gaze sweeping over the cages. The captives barely reacted to our presence, their eyes dull, their bodies motionless. So of them were unconscious, others curled into themselves in silence.
At the very last cage, a flickering green glow caught my attention.
We stopped in front of it, staring through the iron bars.
I saw a small figure in the shadows.
His body was covered in smooth, jade-green skin that shimred under the dim light. His hair, a fiery erald color, matched his body almost perfectly. His eyes, slightly larger than a human’s, glowed softly in the dark.
He wasn’t even the size of my palm.
"Nox," I muttered, realizing he looks like her sister.
The tiny demi-human stepped closer, his gaze lifting toward us, filled with both confusion and caution.
Nox just stared at us, his small, glowing green eyes filled with hesitation. His tiny hands gripped the cold tal bars of the cage as if the world beyond them was too far for him to reach. He blinked slowly before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Who are you...?" he asked, his tone cautious yet curious.
Hina crouched down in front of the bars, her expression gentle. "Nox, we’re here to get you out of here," she said, her voice soft but firm.
"Out... in the free world?" His voice wavered as if the concept itself was too foreign to believe.
"Yes, yes!" Hina nodded eagerly. "Where you can enjoy life with your sister."
Nox’s small body stiffened at the ntion of his sister. His glowing green hair flickered like a fla in response. "Sister... Billie... where is she?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"She’s with us. Don’t worry, she’s safe," Serina reassured him, stepping forward.
His eyes widened, and a spark of hope lit up in them for the first ti. Slowly, a small smile tugged at his lips, uncertain yet real. "Billie sister... she’s with you guys?" he whispered, as if afraid the answer would be taken away from him.
"Yes," Hina said, her tone filled with warmth. "She asked us to save you."
His tiny hands clenched the bars tighter, and his eyes turned glossy with tears. He bit his lip, trying to hold them back, but a single tear rolled down his cheek.
His whole body shook slightly, his emotions overwhelming him. It was as if the weight of his captivity was finally lifting, and the idea of freedom was no longer just a dream.
Serina let out a quiet breath and placed a hand on her hip.
"Now how do we get him out of here, Esther?" she asked, turning toward .
"Yeah, what should we do?" Hina added, her eyes filled with urgency.
They both turned their faces toward , waiting for an answer.
I glanced at all three of them—Nox, Serina, and Hina—as my mind raced to co up with the most efficient solution.
The cages were made of reinforced steel, ant to contain beings of all kinds. Breaking them with sheer force would be reckless and loud, alerting the guards. Stealth was our best option.
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