Chapter 357 - 349. Touch of Memory (2)
The basement floor where the captured espers were detained was different from the detaining room in the Trinity compound.
There was no nice dorm room with adequate amenities. Here, it was a proper iron-barred room with a single bed and a desk. The light was bright enough for the guards to see them clearly, and the only privacy they had was a small bathroom in each cell.
Unlike a real prison, however, the bed was fluffy enough to be comfortable, and they were given adequate meals as well as entertainment such as books and board games. The captives were provided a change of clothes regularly, with a bonus of ability-sealing bracelets and mobility-restricting anklets.
All in all, except that they couldn’t access the outside world, they didn’t exactly live miserably. At least, they were meek now after a few weeks.
At first, they were screaming and banging, throwing things and rejecting meals, shouting at the guards in a threatening manner. But soon, they realized that the guards didn’t care; they weren’t there to take care of the captives, but to make sure they weren’t dead. There was an interrogation at first, but when it stopped, the captives started to be filled with dread.
Because they knew they were only useful when they were being questioned. On the other hand, they knew that they would be dead if they survived because they tattled. With the lack of communication from their captors, these espers slowly descended into depression of uncertain fate.
When the guards opened the door and Bassena and Zein walked into the hall, it was quiet. The captives were either lying on their bed or reading a book. But they immediately glanced up when they heard footsteps; it was past breakfast time, but not yet lunch. No one usually came for them during this lull time, except the interrogator at the start of their captivity.
Ironically, they were happier about the prospect of being interrogated than just staying there waiting with uncertainty. But the moment they saw the guide who shredded them, and the esper who abled to do so much more, they shrunk back to whatever they were doing; books, boardgame, imaginary friends--they were busy, they couldn’t see.
Thankfully for them, the merciless pair walked past the cells. Their nonchalant gait, for some reason, felt more sinister than if they came with blazing anger. Fortunately for them, the one this couple looking for was the esper who wasn’t from Celestia.