The sun was quickly setting over a private military base hidden deep within the mountains. The compound was massive, large enough to house hundreds of people.

As darkness approached, life inside continued as usual.

Tonight was the scheduled arrival of the month’s newest "recruits."

An old, rusted bus slowly rolled toward the heavily fortified gates. Barbed wire crowned the towering fences, while armed guards surrounded the vehicle as it came to a stop before the entrance. They inspected every inch of it, making sure nothing posed a threat before allowing it inside.

The bus was filled with people.

Men, women, and children.

Despite their differences in age and gender, they all wore the same expression — dread.

Their eyes were lifeless. Some bore bruises, while others still had dried blood on their faces. They silently watched the armed guards inspecting the bus before collectively turning their eyes toward the towering gates.

Children clung tightly to one another. Women paled as horrifying thoughts filled their minds.

The men had long since lost hope.

From the outside, the place looked less like a military base... and more like a prison. At least, it was a prison for those forced to enter.

For those who ruled it, however, it was their kingdom.

A place where they were the law.

Almost everyone aboard already knew they might never leave this place alive.

Almost everyone.

At the very back of the bus, one woman calmly applied another layer of lipstick—a striking, almost blinding shade of red. She puckered her lips before checking the result in the tiny mirror of her compact powder.

Ashley.

Her face was hidden beneath layers of heavy makeup. Her eyelashes were so exaggerated they looked capable of creating a breeze whenever she blinked. Dark eyeshadow framed her eyes, thick eyeliner sharpened her gaze, and several fake beauty marks dotted her face.

"The hell...?" Red muttered from the seat across from her, watching in disbelief. "She’s still not done?"

As far as he knew, she’d been putting on makeup since they boarded the bus.

As for how they’d gotten inside...

Simple.

They’d forced the driver to swallow a tiny explosive chip before threatening to detonate it if he breathed a word.

Despite the excessive makeup, Ashley’s naturally beautiful features still managed to show through. She looked almost unrecognizable—but undeniably attractive.

Red simply shook his head and leaned against the window.

Outside, one of the guards gave a signal.

A moment later, the massive gates slowly opened.

"It really is just like a prison," he murmured, completely unfazed.

Ashley and Red weren’t the only members of their group aboard the bus. Gin was with them as well.

Seated near the front, Gin quietly looked over the passengers. His gaze lingered on the children before he lowered his head, his lips pressing into a thin line.

His chest tightened at the thought playing in his head.

Every person on this bus had ended up here for a different reason.

Some had been handed over to repay their family’s debts. Others had simply offended someone from the Di Carpio family.

Most of the children were orphans who had been lured into traps.

A few had been sold outright.

Regardless of how they’d arrived, not a single one of them wanted to be here.

Gin slowly turned back toward the windshield as the bus crawled deeper into what could only be described as hell on earth.

Eventually, it came to a stop in the middle of a wide-open yard.

Two armed guards immediately climbed aboard, rifles hanging from their shoulders.

The passengers flinched at the sight of them, while several began trembling uncontrollably.

"Get out," one of the guards barked. "Move!"

When no one moved fast enough, he grabbed Gin—the closest person to him—by the back of his collar.

"Move faster!"

He shoved Gin so hard that he stumbled forward, barely catching himself on the nearest seat before collapsing to his knees.

"Ple — please, don’t kill me!" Keeping his head lowered, Gin hurried off the bus.

Seeing what had happened, everyone else scrambled to their feet. Fear swallowed whatever hesitation remained as they hurried down the aisle, avoiding the guard’s gaze.

When Red reached the door, however, he stopped. He looked the guard directly in the eye.

The guard stiffened.

"What are you looking at?" he growled, shifting his rifle into a ready position. "You want to die?"

Red looked exactly like the kind of man who had offended someone powerful enough to be sent here for torture. Yet, Red didn’t flinch at the gun being raised at him. But as the tension thickened, a cheerful voice spoke from behind him.

"Excuse me? You’re blocking the way!"

Both Red and the guard frowned before turning around. The moment Red saw Ashley, he nearly jumped.

That almost scared me.

Ashley smiled sweetly before nudging him aside.

Red clicked his tongue and continued walking. Her interruption made the guard forget the defiant look from Red.

Ashley stepped forward and stopped in front of the guard.

"Hi." She gave him a playful wink before casually walking past him.

The guard raised an eyebrow as his eyes followed her.

Unlike everyone else, she walked as though she were on a sightseeing trip rather than entering a living nightmare.

A slow grin spread across his face.

Women were brought here from time to time, but even prostitutes usually arrived terrified once they realized where they were.

"Pretty," he muttered, licking his lips before turning back to the remaining passengers.

His expression instantly hardened.

"What are you all waiting for?" he barked. "Don’t make me drag you out myself."

The remaining people hurried off as quickly as their battered bodies allowed. A few limped, revealing fresh injuries that made every step painful. Fortunately, they all managed to leave before the guard’s patience wore out.

Once everyone was outside, they instinctively looked around the compound. Armed men patrolled every corner. Some people were looking out the windows from the buildings.

Ashley quietly surveyed the surroundings. Then, her gaze settled on a group of five men walking across the yard.

One of them carried what appeared to be a rolled-up blanket over his shoulder. But it wasn’t just a blanket. Dangling from one end was the small arm of a child.

Ashley’s hands clenched into fists as she silently watched them disappear into another building. Only after they were gone did she slowly turn her attention back to the compound.

A familiar sickness tightened in her stomach.

I thought I’d never come back here. And I never wanted to... especially not with my own two feet.

If there was one place she wished she could erase from her memories, it was this place.

Her eyes slowly hardened.

Maybe the only way I’ll ever erase this place from my mind... is by erasing it from existence.