After the second man left, we turned right and spotted a narrow tunnel branching off to the side. At the end of it was a small room with a wooden table sitting squarely in the center. Aiden signaled for us to wait, scanning the space to ensure it was clear. Once satisfied, he waved us over.

We stepped inside cautiously, but the room was barren. The only object of interest was the table—scarred and stained, likely from years of misuse. But as I swept my phone’s flashlight toward the ceiling, my stomach churned. My usual blank expression cracked, replaced by a grimace that felt foreign even to me. The sight above us was… evil. Pure, unfiltered… evil. Just fucking evil.

Elves—ten, maybe fifteen—hung from the ceiling by ropes around their necks. The victims ranged in age, from small children to young adults barely older than me. Their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition. Some had organs crudely removed, with remnants still dangling from open wounds. Every one of them was stripped bare, their skin bearing horrific signs of abuse—blackened eyes, torn-out teeth, missing limbs, and countless bruises.

“Oh, gods…” Seker collapsed to his knees, retching violently.

Leo stood frozen, his face pale. “These… these must’ve been the ones they couldn’t sell. They butchered them for parts and then—” He broke off, his voice cracking.

My flashlight swept lower, revealing something worse. Just two steps ahead of me lay a placenta, glistening darkly in the faint light. In the corner, piled haphazardly like discarded trash, were the bodies of newborns. Their tiny, lifeless forms had been hidden in the room’s shadows until now.

“Fuck… this is…” Seker whispered, trembling.

Leo placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice firm despite his shaking hands. “Seker. Deep breaths. Now’s not the time to break.”

“I know… I know…” Seker stammered, clutching his chest. “Just… give me a second.”

Before anyone could respond, the sound of a cage being rattled echoed from behind the room’s only closed door. Leo pulled Seker to his feet as we crept closer. I crouched low, peering through the keyhole.

Two cages stood just beyond the door. In one, two elves—barely older than me—huddled together, their bruised and malnourished bodies trembling. In the other, a young girl, no older than seven, stared blankly ahead.

The guard kneeling in front of her cage fumbled with the key, a twisted grin spreading across his face. One hand unlocked the cage, while the other moved to unbuckle his belt. His lips curled in anticipation, and bile rose in my throat.

“What’s going on?” Aiden whispered, his voice low and taut.

I gestured for him to take a look. He crouched beside me, his eyes narrowing as he peeked through the keyhole. A deep, controlled breath escaped him as he straightened up. His jaw tightened, and he pressed his hands together. A moment later, a sword materialized in the air before him, shimmering faintly before he grasped it.

Seker raised a hand and muttered an incantation. Aiden and Leo’s bodies glowed faintly green before the light dimmed. The tension in the air was… something else. This was it, we were going in.

A sound behind us broke the moment. A man stepped into the room, his eyes widening at the sight of us.

“Who the fu---”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Without hesitation, Leo whirled around and hurled his dagger. It struck the intruder in the leg, sending him crashing to the ground with a sharp cry.

Aiden surged forward, delivering a brutal kick to the man’s head. The impact knocked him unconscious, his body slumping lifelessly to the floor.

“Shit…” Seker whispered, staring at the downed guard. “You almost killed him.”

Leo shot him a glare, his voice cold. “What the hell did you think was going to happen when we burst through that door? You think we’re going to politely ask that bastard to stop? Get your head in the game.”

“I… I don’t know,” Seker muttered, glancing away.

“No time for this,” Aiden interrupted, gripping his sword tightly. “We move on my mark. Got it?”

“Yeah,” Leo said, grabbing his dagger.

Aiden nodded, steadying his breath. “One… two… three!”

Aiden smashed the door open with a solid kick, and Leo surged forward without hesitation. The man inside barely had time to blink before Leo drove a foot into his stomach, sending him stumbling backward. He then followed with a shove, slamming the man’s head into the wall. The sickening thud echoed through the room, and a brutal punch to the face ensured he was out cold, collapsing in a heap on the ground.

The commotion, however, had been loud enough to alert the others. The sound of hurried footsteps filled the adjoining room, accompanied by shouted orders. Seker darted to the door, slamming it shut just as the first men reached it. His hands fumbled with the lock, twisting it into place as heavy fists pounded on the wood from the other side.

Aiden stepped toward the small cage where the little elf girl cowered. She recoiled, her back pressing hard against the metal bars.

“Hey. Calm down,” Aiden said, trying to keep his voice steady, though his tone was more forceful than he intended.

The girl whimpered, her small hands clutching her knees. “Please… no… don’t hurt me.”

Aiden cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “We’re trying to help! Come on, we don’t have time!”

Seker pushed Aiden aside with a shake of his head. “You’re useless with kids.” He knelt beside the cage, his movements slow. Holding his empty hands up to show he meant no harm, he gently opened the door.

“No…”

“Hey there,” Seker said softly, offering her a reassuring smile. He shrugged off the guard’s bloodstained cape and draped it over her trembling form. “It’s okay now. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”

The girl hesitated but allowed Seker to wrap her in the fabric. She clung to it, her wide eyes brimming with tears.

The two adult elves in the second cage gripped the bars desperately. “Please,” one of them rasped. “Get us out of here. They’ll kill us if you leave us behind!”

“Help us!” the other cried, her voice frantic. “They’re monsters—they’ll come back for us!”

Seker picked up the little girl, who clung to him like a lifeline. “We’re getting you all out of here,” he said firmly, turning to the others.

Another kick rattled the door behind them, splintering the wood slightly.

Aiden leaned in close to Leo, his jaw tight. “Are you sure about this? Elves can’t be trusted. They’ll turn on us the moment we give them the chance.”

Leo shot him a glare that could cut stone. “What the hell is wrong with you? We’re not leaving them. Not like this.”

“They’ll stab us in the back,” Aiden muttered, glancing nervously at the door. “I’m just saying—”

“Shut up and start helping,” Leo growled.

The door shuddered under another kick, nearly giving way.

“Crap…” Aiden relented with a frustrated groan. “Fine! But if they betray us, I’m saying I told you so, you moron!”

The third kick sent the door half off its hinges.

“Here they come!” Leo called, drawing his dagger and stepping toward the door. “Brace yourselves!”

Seker shifted his stance, positioning himself protectively in front of the girl. “Get ready, boys,” he muttered, his voice firm. “We’re not dying here… right?”