I've written myself into a corner - I am not sure how to continue this.

If someone has a suggestion, I'd love to brainstorm for a rewrite. But, for now, I need to take some time and think about this:

In summary of the story that was planned

The sister in the main world was going to investigate the situation and use her follower base to pressure some government investigation (this will take a lot of time to do).

Before that, she would recruit her parents into the effort - both of which are capable and highly motivated in finding their son.

Ultimately, they will discover that he went to the depth of the earth which has its own ecosystem. Said depth has access from two points, the Arctic, and the location where the brother vanished.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

I did not intend for Kyle to end up there, or prisoned - but I feel cornered with him as a slave. I am not sure how to get him out of it, and what else he would be expected to do while there.

Perhaps a group of people would attack the Ram village, and free their slaves - and when he joins this group he'd be more free to search for his brother.

Potentially gaining leadership role, falling in love, wanting to bring that group to the surface - but needing to fight his way there.

Ultimately, the brother is in fact the soldier who we meet initially - he was caught the same way Kyle was. But, unlike Kyle- he chose to become a soldier for the same group and have spent most of the years going back and forth between the two places, but mostly spending his time underground.