"Ravaged by a civil war that plagues our country apart, many wanted this war to end. Many wanted peace to prevail. But when someone powerful prevents it, we are at a stalement of war. We'll try anything to become capable as soldier... or we die tryi...
As I fall to my knees in this platform, I turn to look back at the guard and glare at him until another guard forcefully gets me up.
"On your feet, you!" said the second guard in anger as the platform that we are in descends.
Once on my feet, I look around my surroundings as the screeching noise of this elevator makes me a bit scared. Even still, I try my best to keep my composure as we go down.
As we go further down to pass a level, I start hearing the voice of angry prisoners banging in their cells as a way to create the clanking sound on their door. The captain of Sub-Level 3 comes in and shouts at their prisoners to stay quiet, saying that the inspection team will not be happy if the noise persists.
As the noise continues, the captain tells her guards, "Get a select number of them out of their cells and beat the ever living sh*t out of them until they submit!"
"Yes, Captain!" says the guards in seriousness as they follow her orders.
Just as she ordered, the guards let a few prisoners out and start beating them. I hear their cries as they tell them to stop, many using Tagalog or English to get them through that they are serious. Before I could witness any more of this, we finally pass that level and their shouts die down, leaving me in shivers while the guards chuckle at my fear.
As the platform reach to Sub-Level 4, the gate opens and the guards grab me by the arms to make me follow them. But as I was about to leave, one of Sub-Level 4 guards walks in front of our path and pushes the guard on my left away from me.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Kukunin ko ito mula rito. Tapos ka na para sa ngayon. (I'll take it from here. You are done for today.)" he tells the previous guard seriously in Tagalog, causing him to look disappointed as he walks back to the elevator.
Surprised, the guard on my right asks the new guard, "Why do you replace him?"
He responds, "They are orders from the Warden. I can't answer anymore than this."
"Okay?" I softly replied at an answer, not directed at me, as they force me to follow them.
I look around my surroundings and saw the prisoners glaring at me, something that creeps me out as I guess that they are not welcome to new prisoners. The guards in charge of this level look uninterested of my presence, which I kind of share the same feeling since they've dealt more of this from the prisoners that they're tasked to keep an eye on.
I calmly ask the guards, "What prisoners does this level hold?"
After a few seconds of no response, the guard on my left finally tells me, "It holds the most dangerous criminals in the entire region. Many criminals who had sympathies with the Loyalists and those who serve with them are sent here to live the rest of their lives in this hellhole."
