Orin Duskwind, for the crime of murdering the Count Dorian Duskwind, I hereby banish you to the Hole.

"I didn't do it! Why would I murder my own father?" Orin screams out, straining his vocal cords.

Knelt on the ground and tied up, he looks around the gilded court gallery. Disdainful eyes with wicked smiles pierce into his very being. Not a single person here is on his side.

They did this, Orin thinks.

"Guards, take him," the grey-haired judge orders.

"I didn't do it! Please believe me! Don't do this to me!" Orin screams, tears flowing down his cheeks as the two guards grab his arms and drag him towards a wooden door.

"Don't waste your breath," a voice resounds in Orin's head.

The guards open the door and drag him out into the town, the gold-laced spires and buildings looming down on him.

They pick him up and dangle him over a large circular hole.

This can't be happening.

Orin looks into the hole. Large walls surround the city beneath him. But that's not where he's going. Instead, he's going into the abyssal dark hole in the middle of the city.

"This is a mistake! Please don't do this," Orin begs. He can barely breathe, his hand shaking uncontrollably. His life of pleasure and enjoyment flashes before his eyes.

The guard lets Orin go.

He falls into the hole, looking up at the floating city above him, getting farther and farther away. His mind goes blank as he faints.

...

His eyes open, looking toward the ant-sized floating city. He springs up.

"Took you long enough," a man's voice echoes throughout the room.

Orin slaps himself, thinking this has to be a dream. Nothing happens. His heart beats fast, his breathing coming in fast bursts.

"Deep breaths" the voice in his head reassures him.

Orin takes three deep breaths and steels himself for what comes next.

Orin looks around the place. Total darkness surrounds him in every direction except for one. A black-haired, bearded man wearing a simple white shirt and brown pants is holding a torch while leaning against the grey stone wall.

The Hole is a cave?

"Welcome to the Hole. Can't say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I'm Elias," the man says in a monotone voice, his face showing no emotion.

"Orin Duskwind. Can I talk to a guard or anybody important here? There's been a mistake; I shouldn't be in here."

"Everybody says that at first."

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"Do I seem like anybody to you? I'm the son of the count! Now let me speak to them!"

The man pauses for a second before saying, "It doesn't matter who you are. Once you're in the Hole, there's no getting out. And besides, there are no guards in here. Now shut up and follow me."

The man walks forward at a slow pace, lighting the way with the torch.

"He seemed confused. I doubt he even knows what a count is" the voice says.

Shut up, V. Go back to being silent.

We are the only ones on your side, yet you still want to ignore us? V says.

The path splits into three. Elias turns to the right. More and more splitting paths turn up as they walk towards their destination. The tunnel's size and height shift with each pathway.

"If you're not a guard, then what are you?"

"A prisoner, just like everybody else in here."

Voices echoing in the cave get louder and louder with each passing step.

Orin sees a brightly lit spot with several people talking to each other. As they approach, the group notices them.

"Another one fell down, huh?" The tall man has long brown hair without facial hair. He's dressed in the same white shirt and black pants. He scans Orin from head to toe.

The man's eyes open wide as a slight smirk appears on his face.

"Except you're different, aren't you? You're a noble."

"Don't say what you're about to," V warns him.

"I am! So help me get out of here!"

The entire group belts out loud laughter.

The man gets in Orin's face and says, "You are lucky. Had it been any other day of the week, I would kill you right now. But I think I'll have more fun watching you die tonight."

Orin's hand trembles with fear.

"Put your head down and don't say a word. He can barely hold back the urge to kill you right now."

Orin follows V's advice.

"Aww, I thought you would try to use your title again. Well, I'll leave you with a gift." The man punches Orin in the stomach.

Pain erupts from his stomach as he stumbles backward, trying to keep his balance. He falls onto the ground, clutching his stomach, but it still aches.

"Weak," a deeper and rougher voice spouts with anger.

Saying that doesn't help, R, V retorts.

"First time getting hit, huh? Your excellency, I'll be seeing you tonight," the man taunts and laughs before turning away from Orin.

"Get up," Elias says.

Orin puts his hand on the ground, supporting himself and getting up.

Elias continues to walk, unphased by what happened.

"It would be best if you got rid of your clothes. They give away your noble status" a softer voice advises.

"K's right. A lot of these people will have hatred against the rich and noble" V adds.

Stop talking already.

"I understand wanting to follow your father's advice and ignoring us, but that advice was for the outside world. You need us to survive in here. If you hadn't done what I said, you would already be dead," V retorts.

These clothes are that of a nobleman. You want me to switch them out for peasant clothes?

"The only ending for a noble in a world of peasants is death" V answers.

Orin sighs and asks, "Do you have clothes I can change into?"

"They're in the main room. We will be getting there soon."

Multiple sets of voices echo in the distance. A bright light comes from a bonfire toward Orin.

Elias and Orin step into an incredibly large room lit up by a large fire in the middle, with people wearing the same clothes chatting away.

That fire looks weird. It's not wood, so what is it?

"Corpses, not of the human variety," K answers.

"Doesn't matter. Stick close to Elias. If anyone here finds out what you are, you will have a ton of enemies," V says.

Orin steps closer to Elias, making sure not to make eye contact with anybody in the room.

A ton of white shirts and black pants are strewn about the floor.

"Pick one that seems your size."

Orin looks down at the clothes.

"The one in the middle fits a puny person like you," R says.

Orin picks them up and changes into them.

Disgusting material. Can this even be considered clothes?

What should I do with my clothes?

"Burn them. Don't risk giving yourself away," V answers.

Orin lifts up his old clothes, taking one last look at them before tossing them into the bonfire.