I was brought to a place where I could only see darkness. I did not know what happened next after they froze me; my consciousness withered for an unknown reason. When I woke up, I was already there—the floor was wet, and my hands were cuffed by chains. I couldn’t move an inch, and my mouth was also covered by some kind of cloth, so I remained silent and didn’t say a word. The only thing I could do was wait for them to free me.

I glanced around. It was dark, and I couldn't see anything. Is this the consequence of my decision to come here? Why did I have to be curious about that map? This shouldn't have happened.

After several minutes, I heard footsteps approaching. The door opened, accompanied by the emergence of a faint light that was enough for me to see clearly. Some people entered the room.

I first saw the lady who I can say is the leader of the group. She’s in her mid-40s, I guess? She’s wearing fine clothing like she’s the most powerful woman in this world, and her red-like blood lipstick made her face fiercer, together with her pointed brows. The way she walks with elegance completes her look.

"Good evening, miss," she greeted me while walking towards me. I need to adjust my head just to look at her; she’s too tall for me, and the fact that I am sitting in front of her is probably one of the valid reasons why I need to adjust my head.

"Why has a lowly Anthropoid found its way to our place again?" Again? So it means that I am not the only one who discovered this world? I sat up straight when she removed the cover from my mouth, now I can speak.

"What are you doing to me?" My voice became weak due to fatigue; I also don't know why I'm tired, but all I know is that I feel like a wilted vegetable right now.

I heard her laugh in a sour way. My brows knitted because of her sarcasm. "Do you know what they did to us back then, miss?" she asked me. My brows furrowed even more because of that.

"A question is not answered with another question," I replied, making her face frown. I know I am being an idiot because of what I am saying right now, considering this is not my world. It may result in my death if I continue doing this, but who cares? The woman in front of me is irritating me.

"The answer to your question, you will know in time, for you will experience what our ancestors endured from your forebears." I was about to ask her again what my ancestors did to them when I felt the chain slowly loosening, freeing my hands from the handcuffs, but my neck felt numb. I don't know why, but it feels like someone is strangling me right now.

I glance at the woman in front of me and saw her hands look like she was throttling someone, and I guess that’s me. I tried to hold my own neck to grasp the hand strangling me, but I only grasp nothing. There is no hand strangling me, but I feel the tightness of its grip on my neck.

I can’t breathe anymore… I am now freaking struggling to breathe! I heard her quickly enchant something that made me fall to the ground. Apparently, I am floating while she does that. I didn't notice this because I was focused on my neck. I felt some pain in my lower back and intense pain in my neck. I just coughed while holding my neck. No mercy. Tsk.

“Take her and bring her out, my students are waiting for her,” she commanded and snapped her fingers three times. Some men in warrior outfits harshly assisted me.

When we exited the room, that's when I realized where we were. Looks like we are in a cave. I surveyed the surroundings again. I sighed when I understood why the smell inside the room was so foul earlier.

Well, if I'm in the mortal world, the word that can describe this place is a prison. Obviously, because of the cells that had been engraved room by room, and the pleas that you will hear when you walk in the aisle. Help. Help. Let me get out of here. That's what you'll hear here if you translate it into English.

Several meters away... I was dazzled by the light from the outside. Blinding. I blinked a few times to adjust my sight, and when I finally recovered, I slowly opened my eyes and saw some students - based on the uniform they're wearing - they are students. They are mumbling something that I can barely hear, or I really can't hear a thing.

“Show respect to the headmaster!” shouted the guy holding me. I heard them shout some words that I can't even understand, and I saw how the woman beside me smiled.

“Good evening, my students!” she shouted too, making her students shout again. I just closed my eyes due to the loud cheering. Finally, the woman gestured something, making her students quiet down.

“Don't you want to see what would happen to Anthropoids if they experienced what our ancestors went through?” she spoke, walking left to right and vice versa on the stage. I saw how the students were very interested in her speech; they are so focused on what the woman will say next every second she was speaking.

“And! I know you're itching to feast your eyes on the lowly creatures in front of you right now!” I saw the students react to her words. They tilted their heads and furrowed their brows, staring at their headmaster.

“Today is the happiest day of your life! Because I introduce to you the captured Anthropoid in our midst! You, my lowest-ranked students, but now, there's someone even lower than you!” To correct her, I am not one of her students for Pete's sake. Why is she claiming that? With furrowed brows, I raised my hands, making them shut their filthy mouths.

"If you deem it appropriate, I would like to ask what your ancestors truly did to you that your anger towards us has intensified to this extent?" This is an obvious question that has already been answered when I was in the City of Eupharsa. Our ancestors brutally enslaved and maliciously abused their power, but one of them stood firm and fought the injustices they were experiencing. That's why now, the suffering they endured for years or months has come to an end.

"You will see this too, my dear, when you experience it firsthand..." the Principal suspiciously said while grinning. I felt somewhat anxious when I heard those words. If my suspicion is correct, he will make me feel the hardships they implied in 'The Anarchy of Anthropoids.'

—

A sensation of pain all over my body is all I can describe. After they put me unconscious, I don't remember anything except I'm now in an open area field with so much work to do or, should I say, suffering to endure.

"Hey, why are you just standing there?" I heard one of the supposed students of the Principal say. I winced as this person violently pulled my hair. I gave them a disdainful look, causing them to raise their eyebrows while looking at me.

"Does making me suffer make you feel better?" I asked, unvarying the pain I felt. They're torturing me for nothing. What satisfaction do they get from oppressing me?

"Do you understand?" I saw them shrug their shoulders.

Their faces look innocent, but they have the demeanor of a devil. They hated when their ancestors were treated like animals by humanity; however, they're acting like one. The curious faces vanished when they heard my agonized moan, replaced by filthy smirks, enjoying the scene of my woeful encounter. I shouted again when the girl's fingernails got stuck on my skin, and I couldn't help but whimper in pain.

"Cry all you want; I only used my pinky. Imagine what we can do with our powers," she said with a malicious grin. I remained silent, enduring the pain I'm feeling now. It's evident that she's annoyed with me because I ignored her, embarrassing her in front of her classmates.

I was shocked when I felt something strange. The event happened too fast, and I couldn't even see it coming. I looked down. I am floating for Pete's sake!

“What are you going to do?!” I shouted, and I saw how their lips curved. Oh my God, I don’t know what they are going to do with me, but I already know that it is bad, really bad. “We can see your attire below, miss…” the mischievous grins of the guys below flashed when one of them said that.

Then I realized I was wearing my uniform skirt. Our school skirt is a bit short, so I also wore brief shorts underneath. I don’t know what to do; they are maniacs and evil, the way they are smirking while looking above me is killing me, ashamed of what they might see down there. This is beyond humiliation!

They are so evil. The only thing I could do in this situation was to cover myself using my hand down there, but I couldn’t do it because something was holding my hand, preventing it from moving, and it spread my legs even more.

The tears that keep running down my cheeks won’t stop. I am shouting for help knowing that no one will come and save me. My chest is tight. How can anyone possibly do this to a living being? Why are there creatures like this? I thought they are just like in the books that I read, kind-hearted and considerate immortals, but I am wrong. They are worse than my family! They’re worse than my life.

“Stop peeking, freaking idiots!” I yelled at them, however my screams seem like music to their ears. They just laugh while looking at me from above. They don't care.

I was frightened when I felt somewhat hot beneath me. I took a glimpse beneath me, and my jaw went slack when I saw something more terrible. They are building a fire using their hands! Oh no… they’re going to kill me! The fire is getting bigger and bigger. It is now difficult to catch my breath. I only see smoke around me, and I hear laughter that makes me more anxious.

“H-Help…” I could only speak with my hoarse voice. My two hands are also numb as if I am nailed to an unseen cross.

Why did I enter this world? Because of my curiosity, I put my life in grave danger. I might die here. Oh, wrong choice of words. This is way better; I will die here.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I can't do anything. I don't have the ability to stop them. I am just a mere mortal who trespassed their world, and I guess, I should accept that I will suffer and die in their hands.

I am at the last step of the bridge, losing my hope to live again, then someone pulled me. I looked at this person, but I can't clearly see his face because of the smoke. “Miss, are you okay?” I heard a voice near my left ear. If my body isn't numb, I would be tickled because of it. I felt my hand loosen, and I was lifted by someone I don't know. I can’t see him clearly because of the smoke, but I know he is a boy, judging by his body.

“Caspian! Hurry!” a familiar voice shouted from somewhere. I can’t remember who, but I am sure that I met that guy earlier.

I heard them screaming about something, but I couldn’t hear it, as my consciousness is now fading. I am tired and felt way beyond humiliated; I can’t open my eyes. I will just trust whoever helps me today, and may these guys be blessed by the Almighty.