The newly arrived recruits were quickly separated.

The children and women were herded in one direction, while the men were taken elsewhere.

Ashley had already explained to the others how a place like this operated.

Women and children were kept separate from the men because they served different purposes.

The children would be trained as soldiers.

The men were assigned to hard labor.

As for the women... they were expected to provide every kind of service—except handling weapons.

*

*

*

Once the women and children reached one of the base’s wings, they were greeted by a middle-aged woman.

"Teach them the rules," one of the armed escorts said before leaving.

The woman’s hair was already streaked with gray. Her hair was neatly tied into a low bun, while her worn dress was faded and stained with dirt. Deep wrinkles etched her stern face, while the hands clasped before her were marked with countless old scars.

She simply nodded without lifting her head.

Only after the guards walked away, having delivered their latest batch of "goods," did she finally raise her eyes to inspect them.

Her gaze swept across the frightened faces. There was nothing unusual. At least, nothing she hadn’t seen countless times before... until her eyes landed on one woman.

A beautiful young lady who seemed far more interested in looking around the hallway than in mourning her fate.

"You should wash that off your face," the older woman said.

Ashley turned toward her, pointing at herself. "Huh?"

"Otherwise, you’ll attract attention you don’t want."

Instead of looking afraid, Ashley flashed a dazzling smile.

"I heard this place is like a kingdom." She folded her arms beneath her chest. "Since I’m already here, getting attention and special treatment is exactly what I want."

She wrinkled her nose in disdain.

"I’d rather be the queen of hell than spend my days washing everyone’s filthy sheets."

The hallway fell silent, letting those words echo.

The women stared at Ashley as though she’d lost her mind.

Even those who had ridden the bus with her looked at her in disbelief. They had noticed her earlier, but their own fear had left little room to pay attention.

"If getting fucked by fifty men in one night is your definition of being a queen..." the older woman said flatly, "...then good luck."

She turned toward the other women. "You might even end up helping the rest of us."

"Us?" Ashley repeated, raising an eyebrow.

The older woman shot her a brief warning glance.

Ashley merely smiled and said nothing more. She’d already made her point.

"I oversee the kitchen and the daily operations in this wing," the older woman began, addressing everyone. "Eventually, each of you will be assigned to different departments. But since you’re all new, you’ll start by helping in the kitchen."

She turned around.

"Follow me."

As she led them down the hallway, she continued explaining the rules.

"The rooms here are shared. If you need basic necessities, you’ll have to earn them yourself. There’s a small store inside the compound."

She didn’t sugarcoat anything.

Unlike prison, where inmates were at least provided with the essentials...

Here, they had to work for everything.

"You’ll still be paid," she continued. "One dollar a day."

The amount was laughable.

As they walked, she explained the daily schedule, the endless house rules, and the reminders every newcomer needed to hear.

The women would wake as early as four every morning to prepare food or handle chores throughout the compound.

At night, some of the soldiers would come to choose women.

And resisting was the worst decision anyone could make. Being beaten half to death would be the least of their worries.

No one needed the rest explained.

Everyone understood.

If they resisted these "special night duties," they’d disappear. Or worse.

"If I were you..." the older woman said as she stopped outside a row of old, filthy rooms.

She turned to face them.

For a brief second, her eyes lingered on the children. The loose skin around her neck tightened before she quietly looked away.

Her expression hardened once more.

"...don’t resist." Her voice remained calm. "It won’t make things easier."

She nodded with a sharp breath. "But it might stop things from becoming even worse."

It was cruel advice, but it was the truth.

And the sooner they accepted that truth, the less likely they were to become examples.

"For now, these will be your rooms," she continued. "Rest for a while. Three hours from now, meet me at the entrance of this building for dinner."

She glanced at the children.

"Watch over them until then. I’ll come back later and take them to the children’s quarters."

The women silently nodded. Some lowered their heads. Others simply stared blankly ahead.

The children clung tightly to one another, too frightened to let go.

"Go."

The older woman watched as they slowly dragged themselves into the rooms.

Only one person remained behind.

When the older woman lifted her gaze, there she caught that bold beauty several steps from her.

Ashley leaned casually against the wall beside a broken window, quietly looking outside.

The older woman frowned.

This foolish girl... she still hadn’t realized where she was.

Marching over, she stopped a few steps away.

"Get inside," the older woman ordered, but Ashley didn’t move.

"If you think this room is beneath you, then wait until night falls. Wait until dinner is over." Her voice turned colder. "You’ll realize just how badly you’ve underestimated this place."

She couldn’t understand how someone could arrive here dreaming of becoming a queen.

"This place is hell," she warned. "Don’t make me say I told you so."

With that, she turned to leave. But she had barely taken a single step when Ashley’s quiet voice stopped her.

"Ophelia..."

The older woman’s body froze in surprise.

"Do you have anywhere else to go... once you finally leave this place?"

Slowly, the older woman, Ophelia, turned around. Deep wrinkles creased her face.

"...How did you know my name?"

Ashley smiled. The corners of her bright red lips curled into a knowing smirk. She tilted her head. Then she slowly raised one hand to her face.

She turned it over with a casual flick of her wrist, saying a playful, "Boo."

Ophelia’s eyes instantly widened. Her breath caught in her throat.

That gesture...

Ashley lowered her hand and smiled gently.

"Do you remember me now?"

Ophelia’s lips trembled as a thin layer of tears welled in her eyes.

"Miss..?"