"Hey! Are you alright!?"

The next morning, the sun has once again basked the Pit with sunlight, showering the trees and the land forgotten by the outside world full of life.

​​

Van, on the other hand, felt the opposite of the happy trees. He could feel his cheek being pulled as his saliva dried up. He opened his eyes, only to find his face firmly planted on the table. It would seem that he passed out again last night.

Well, at least there weren't any dreams that induced him a heavy headache, so that's good.

"...Where are you staring again?"

Nisha quickly covered her fine bosoms as she lightly backed away from Van. Van didn't even notice that his eyes were situated towards Nisha's bosoms, so he just shrugged his shoulders as he got up. Van could feel the cramp in his neck tightening, so he was careful enough while stretching it.

"Your friend is still asleep, wanna wake him up?", Nisha said as she tied her bandana on her head.

"Hm…" Van only glanced at Gil for a second before walking outside the house without even a word.

"Where are you going so suddenly?" Nisha blinked a couple of times as she saw Van walking out of the house.

"...How did you get a house here?" Van asked as he kept the door open.

"Hm? There are only a few women here, so we pretty much just share our houses."

"...What if I want my own house?"

"Well, you can just make one. Just make sure to build it in a neutral spot, the groups here are quite territorial."

"Groups? Territorial? I thought Boss was the one who ruled everything here?"

"With my short time here, Boss really doesn't show herself that much," Nisha let out a sigh as she pushed Van and followed him outside the house, "She only really shows herself whenever someone breaks the rules, a newcomer arrives, or if something important happens. She rarely cares about the housing, or if she cares at all."

"...I see." Van slightly squinted his eyes as the bright rays of the sun entered his right eye.

"Yup. So that's why people have claimed their own spots. Come, let me tour you around the place and introduce you to the wonderful layout of our humble prison. Although… Are you sure you don't want to wake up your friend inside?"

"No, everyone's probably asleep because of the party last night. He should be safe."

"Hm… alright."

Walking through the Encampment, there was a noticeable decrease in people compared to yesterday. And those who were outside were either sitting on the ground groaning or had their heads down due to their hangover.

The 4 Locals that infiltrated the Encampment were still in the same spot. Although there was already an uncomfortable stench lingering in the air, maybe one of them had already soiled himself.

Once again though, as soon as Van came into their sights, they stared at him. Van didn't really heed them any mind as he continued to listen in on Nisha's tour.

"From my understanding, besides Boss, the Encampment is separated by 3 groups. One being us, the women. We're the minority and there are actually only around 12 of us, not including Boss," Nisha beckoned Van to follow her to the middle of the Encampment where the Portal is, "The remaining 87 Prisoners are split in two. Each living in one side of the Encampment."

"The West side is led by a red-haired man who I have only seen once. The muscular pervert that you brutally killed yesterday was part of his group. They call themselves Screamers and are a collection of the worst the Pit has to offer. I'd advise you not to wander around their area too much."

"Hm…"

"The side where my and the other women's houses are is on the far end of the East side, and in between is a group led by a man named Rick Dimes. He can be a bit ruthless sometimes, but his group is usually the more decent one."

"I… see," Van nodded his head.

"Although no matter how much you paint it, all of us are just stuck inside a circle. Covered by the Wall made by the Locals. If we try to pass it, we die. If we try to escape through the Portal, we die," Nisha could not help but let out a tired sigh as she shook her head.

"What about the people I saw inside Boss' house?"

"Oh… them," Nisha chuckled awkwardly, "A mix of the groups. Half of the women are actually there because they fear for their life here. My housemate… is probably there right now."

"...I thought rape was not allowed here?"

"Only if you get caught. The men outnumber us almost 7 to 1."

"...Then have you also indulge yourself inside Boss' house?"

"What!? No!", Nisha quickly waved her hands in protest, "What do you think I am? I can take care of myself, thank you very much!"

"...Your guildmates have no plan to rescue you?"

"Pft, those guys? I'd be damned if they even had the guts. Even if they did, they'd be spotted a mile away in the Deadzon and would probably be dead before they even reach the Dome." Nisha could not help but scoff as she looked at the Portal.

"...So the Portal is in the Deadzone?"

"Of course, didn't you see on your way here?"

"...I was blindfolded."

"You were tied up… and blindfolded!? Just who did you offend to get such a treatment!?"

"...Apparently someone high up in the Explorer Association," Van frowned as he once again remembered being chased for half a day. It felt like it had happened a long time ago due to the fact that a lot of things have also happened inside the Pit.

Hearing Van's words, Nisha could only click her tongue, "Tch, corrupt fucks…

...Anyway, it would probably be best if you stay at Rick's side. Plus, you'd also be near this big sister," Nisha said as she winked at Van.

Van only squinted his eyes as he turned his head slowly to the side, "That house… which side is it on?"

"Hm?" Nisha slightly giggled as she thought that Van was trying to change the topic, she then looked in the direction where Van was pointing, "Oh, that house belongs to the Screamers."

"...If I kill the owner, will the house belong to me?"

"What? Can't you stop killing people!?"

"...Why?" Van tilted his head in response.

"What do you mean why!? It might not be much coming from me since I also killed someone to get here, but taking a life should not be taken lightly!"

"They are prisoners anyway?"

"Even so!"

"I… don't understand. If I want something, can't I just take it?" Van furrowed his eyebrows. Through all the years that he has been living in this world, he had always taken the things that he wanted. Even on his first day in the Academy, he accepted the Crystals that Beatrice and Harvey did not accept.

Seeing the visible confusion in Van's eyes, Nisha was slightly taken aback, "Where did you even learn that?"

"The Relic Graveyard?"

"...Right."

Nisha completely forgot that the first time he met Van was in a Portal at one of the Relic Graveyards. Since Van was a student in NYSA, she always imagined her to be living somewhere in the city.

Speaking of which…

"Don't you have any plans on changing your clothes?"

"Hm?" Van quickly checked himself, only to find himself still wearing his uniform, which was now completely dyed in dried blood. There were a lot of clothes sprawled on the ground from the party last night.

But for some reason, he didn't really want to take off his uniform, at least not yet.

"Maybe later," he said, "No clothes will fit me here anyway."

"Right… How old were you aga--"

"Hey you, boy! Child, look here!"

Before Nisha could finish her words, a loud shout echoed through their ears.

"Are you and your mother alright!?"

Nisha and Van quickly looked at where the voice was coming from, only to see the leader of the scouts, Eugene, still staring at them.

"...Is he talking to us?"

"We will get the two of you out of here, okay!?" Eugene said, slightly glancing at Solomon who seemed to have no interest in stopping him from speaking. "Once our people arrive, I will request more food so we can also bring the two of you out of this hell!"

"...What?"

"You, you're the boy's mother, right!? Think of your child. Look at him, he is so thin!"

"Mother!?" Hearing Eugene's words, Nisha slightly tilted her head side to side, "Do I look like a mo--"

"Really!? You will get us out of here!?"

However, her words were once again stopped as Van stepped forward and pulled her back.

"Yes! We will get you out, I promise! If we trade more food, I am sure that dark-skinned woman will let us bring the two of you!"

"Really!?" Van let out a wide smile as he walked towards the Locals.

"Shh!" Eugene, however, raised his palm to stop him, "Just stay safe for now, okay? We will get you and your mother out of this place!"

"T… thank you!" Van raised his hand before grabbing Nisha's hand, "L… let's go pack our things, mother!" He said, pulling Nisha away before she could open her mouth. And as soon as they were out of view, Van immediately let go of her hand.

"...What are you planning?" Nisha furrowed her eyebrows.

"Getting in Boss' good graces."

"Tch, I hope you know what you're doi--"

Once again, before Nisha could finish talking, she was interrupted. This time, however, it seemed to be the will of the Pit as the ground itself trembled. And a slight rumble could be heard echoing through the skies. The birds that were hiding in the trees all flew into the air, momentarily covering the Encampment in darkness.

"...An earthquake?" Nisha whispered.

Van, on the other hand, focused on the birds that were flying in the skies, "...There are birds here?"

***

Somewhere in the Pit where only the comforts of darkness reached, a man's eyes could be seen-- but not enough to see the color.

"...Did I fall asleep again?" The man's hoarse voice reverberated and repeated in the darkness. "Was it just a dream after all?"

A cracking noise snapped in the air as the man slowly stood up, "No… I can feel him. He really is here… the Messenger is here."

"Finally…

...Finally!"

The man roared as he slammed his fists behind him, and as soon as he did so, light seeped into the darkness as the wall that seemed to constrain him cracked ever so slowly… but surely.