Chapter 285 - Life and death *Harsh content warning* (1/2)

Rin spun on the filthy floor and was just about to run his blade through the other man's ċhėst when a rough, female voice from the corner stopped him.

”He's telling the truth...” The voice cracked in a weak stoic tone.

Rin let the sword fall to the ground beside him as he hefted the other man's weak body off him. He turned his attention to the shadowed girl in the corner. ”If this isn't what I think then why is that bastard feeding from a girl?!” His hateful glare moved back to the blonde vampire, who had begrudgingly released the dirty-haired blonde girl he'd been feeding on. Rin's anger flared more as a flash of Shelly shot across his mind. His lips snarled over his teeth as he bit out. ”The bastard's killed her no doubt.” He kicked the vampire hard with a booted foot.

”She was already dead...” The stoic voice answered.

Ry bent by the girl and Mattie. He nodded his head. ”Looks like she's been gone a few days...” He turned his attention to the two vampires laying side by side on the ground and held his hand out to them.

Drake shook his head. ”We're too weak to walk out of here. Take Mattie first... then the girls... You can come back for me.”

Ry arched a brow as he lowered into a squat. ”I'm sure you don't mean that.”

Drake nodded weakly. ”I do... you don't understand the horrors inside this room.”

Ry looked around. Though it was dark he could still hear the scurry of rodents, could hear the raspy, shallow breathing of those still alive inside. ”Yeah, I get the gist...”

Russ held one hand out to Rin as he held his shirt to his nose. ”What is this?” He asked as he looked around.

”Hell...” The stoic voice answered.

An overhead light flashed on, revealing a fragment of the room. Russ forced his eyes to adjust to the room. The more of it he saw the more red-tented everything became. ”What the fuċk...” He murmured. There were at least thirty girls of various ages chained to the walls and not all of them were living. They were covered in their own waste, surrounded by rotting scraps of food and putrid water. It was hard to decern which of the prisoners were alive and which had passed. Many looked as if they were caught in a hellish in-between, their weak bodies being devoured by malnourishment, rot, and...rodents. He felt a sickening roll in the pit of his stomach as he took in several maggot-covered bodies that hung from the chains by decaying arms. He caught movement in the corner of his eye as Jos stepped into the room. ”NO! Get her out of here!”

Arei's hand shout out and pulled Jos against him, hiding her face against his ċhėst. ”Holy fuċk...” He muttered as his eyes traveled around the dark room in disbelief. He caught Gigi's hand and began backing away from the cellar, but the wolf girl pulled away.

”No... I... I've been where they are... it's fine... I want to help...” Gigi answered.

Arei nodded. He tugged Jos away from him and pressed his phone into her hand. ”Go out into the stairwell and call for backup. Call Peg, he'll know who all to contact.” Arei brushed a hand over her hair. ”Don't come back in here alright... Please.”

Jos nodded as she clutched the phone to her ċhėst. She didn't fight against him as he nudged her toward the door.

Arei waited until she'd stepped outside before turning back to the hellish dungeon the others were now inside of. Light radiated from the room now, but it didn't make the horrors inside any less disparaging. He made his way over to the two vampires who were now resting against the wall of the cellar. He held his arm out to them. ”Here, feed. We need all the able-bodies we can get in this hell hole.”

Drake sent him a skeptical look. ”Your friend nearly killed us for feeding off a dead girl... You think we're stupid enough to-”

Rin tossed two bottles of blood roughly at them. ”You were feeding off a girl that looks nearly identical to my wife... a wife your uncle tormented,” He kicked Mattie's leg bringing a whimper from the vampire. ”tormented my wife on numerous occasions and KILLED me.” He gritted his teeth as he glared down at the men.

Drake sent him a questioning glare as he worked open the bottle and took a large drink. ”You look well for a dead guy...”

Arei caught Rin's hand as he drew back for a punch. ”We have other things to deal with, yeah?” He stood and cupped Rin's shoulder. ”I know how you feel man... I do... but your grudge isn't with these boys.”

Rin nodded begrudgingly as he stepped away. ”Don't make me hate them any less...” He growled as he turned back to the hellish room.

Arei moved his attention back to Drake. ”What can you tell me about this room?”

”Only what the one girl told me...” Drake shook his head. ”I'd heard about it growing up... but I never expected it would be like that... I'll never get those images or smells out of my brain no matter how long I live...”

Arei nodded. ”You're probably right about that...” He arched a questioning brow. ”You feeling better yet?” When Drake nodded, he held his hand out and tugged him to his feet. ”Alright... As much as I hate to ask this, at least some of the girls seem to trust you. We're going to need your help.”

Drake nodded. ”After two weeks in there, I guess we built a kind of comradery.” He followed Arei back to the dungeon but froze at the door. He shook his head. ”I... I don't know if I can go back in there...”

Arei nodded in understanding. ”That's fine. Just stay here and help the girls out into the main room as we free them.” His eyes moved back to the room. Regardless of her words, Gigi was nearly as frozen as Drake. He cupped a hand on her shoulder. ”Do you think you could help by finding some blankets and water for the girls?”

Gigi nodded hesitantly. ”Yea... yeah...”

Arei forced a smile. ”Good, see if Jos can give you a hand, alright.”

He turned his attention back to the room. A weak girl spoke as softly as her hoarse, stoic voice would allow to the other girls unwilling to leave the room, though her wrists were now free. Ry and Russ were each lifting girls into their arms as Poseidon broke the chains. He nodded to Rin. ”Can your magic break the chains without hurting the girls?”

Rin nodded. ”Should... Do you want to take this side with me?”

”Might as well...” Arei was about to step forward when a hand caught his arm. He turned to see the smaller of the two vampires.

”I want to help...” Mattie whispered.

Arei searched the young vamp's eyes, but finally gave in and nodded. ”Alright... We'll take that side...”

Drake swallowed hard. Squeezing his eyes tightly closed he stepped forward. ”Count me in...” He nearly vomited as he followed the others through the room, stepping over what remained of some of the older corps.

”Hold it together, kid. You'll not do anyone any good if you hurl up that blood.” Arei coached as he handed the first limp but living girl to Drake.