I descended into the basement of the slave trading company.
The air was damp and carried a musty smell.
The stone-walled space had almost no lighting, making it nearly impossible to see.
Still, I could hear the breathing of many people hiding in the shadows. There was also that unmistakable animal scent, like the one you'd smell in a pet shop.
It seemed there was a central corridor with cells lined up on both sides.
"I've come to rescue you. I think the slave collars have been removed—how are you all doing?"
"Pi!"
Mixed in with the quiet murmuring, I heard a familiar cry from the right side.
"Iferaski?"
"Pi! Pii!"
The Iferaski who had been deeper inside came right up to the iron bars.
"So it really was you. Don't get caught again. Alright, I'll get you out now."
…Crap. I don't have the key to the cell.
Going back upstairs to get it now feels like too much of a hassle.
"I wonder if I can just rip it open… Step back a bit."
