TROA)Bringing Them Back

“Ar-Are you really going to take us out of here?” A small voice asked. I looked over to see a young boy skinner than a stick looking up at me with a hopeful expression.

I knelt down and smiled at him. He looked to be only six to seven years old, but he was stuck in this slave pit and forced to fight others. “Yep. I will take you out of here, and you can live a somewhat normal life again. No more fighting.”

“I-I will go….” The young boy said before pushing back into the crowd. He then came back with another young boy who looked even younger than him! “My brother too…”

“We will go as well.” An old woman stepped out. She pulled with her a man with only one arm. Her old face looked at me as if I was her last hope.

“Us as well!”

“Me too!”

Soon, the entire crowd in front of me was saying they wanted to go. I nodded but had to make sure they understood I was not joking either. “Since you all have agreed, Then I will take you all but…. Remember that you are not to cause harm to those living under the same roof. One offense means death.” 

With these words, I took out my little remote and opened a portal. “If you wish to live, step through the portal.” 

Some of them stepped back after seeing the portal, but the little boy who stepped out first pulled his little brother with him and walked right through it. He had a lot of courage. He must really have wanted to go to a better place, that he was willing to risk it all.

It only took one with the courage before the rest followed. In no time at all, the slave pits were empty once more. I looked at the disgusting room and sighed.  To live in such conditions was already bad. And to make it worse, they were forced to fight to even live in such a place.

I turned and walked through the portal. As for the people left here…. Well, they can die and rot in hell for all I care. Some may be innocent, but that doesn’t matter to me. Only those willing to keep their pride are worth my time. I am saving those who will be the hope for humanity. Not those who would sell themselves at the first idea of a better life. I saw many young girls up in those stands, some even younger than me. But they only watched on while the people down below were being slaughtered. They even had smiles on their faces.

Can one’s environment change a person so quickly? Luckily, they were not forcing people to do those things. There were plenty of pretty faces in the slave pits. Some of them could have gone up top, but they held onto their pride, stayed in the pit, and suffered with the rest. The only thing they could do was fight for their lives with the others in hopes of staying alive.

To be able to suffer this long was already proof of their determination. These were the people who would take the carrot I stuck out in front of them and make a better place. At least, I hoped anyway.

When I stepped through the portal, I saw Ice already busy at work. “Everyone line up! Do not push. Make a single line. We have one bar of soup and a fresh pair of clothes for everyone. You will also be allocated a room. So do not worry.” 

“You seem busy.” I walked over with a smile.

“Leader! You are here!” Ice looked up and smiled. No idea when he decided to call me leader. But I kind of like it, so I will let him.

“How is it? Everything okay on this side?” I asked. I was curious since I basically put him in charge of it all.

“Yeah. We already have a few people working out a way to farm with the supplies you gave us. They are downstairs now, slowly cultivating the land and getting it ready for seeding. But I am surprised that you have so many grow lights. With this many, we can grow food for a long time.” Ice enthusiastically replied.

“It’s a start. I do wish to go above ground at some point, but I found out some bad news while I was out. I won’t share it since it doesn’t mean anything to you guys yet since it’s not a threat for the time being. But just know that soon, we will need sweaters and coats at some point.” I explained.

“Is the temps going to change that much!?” Ice was startled.

“Just think of it as a flip flop of the situation. The temp will probably drop to below -60. If you think it’s bad now, just wait until then. We will all need to bundle up if we want to go outside, but… at least we can go outside, even if only for a short time.” I explained. The human body can keep itself warm, and I plan to ask my mother to make gear that could produce heat instead of cold air.

“Okay, I will start going through the winter clothing and pass a set out so we are ready for when that time comes.” Ice was very quick to tackle things. I think he makes a good leader.