I sighed to myself as I walked the long and narrow path. I never thought it would come to this, certainly there would be some kind of consequence, but this? The two guards beside me kept a strong grip around my shoulders, as if they thought I could run away. But no, running away from this place is impossible. I should know, as we were always told what happened to the notorious seven that went before me a long time ago. This served as a warning, so that we would know what happened to people who defied the High Masters. Would I also be added to the stories now?

"There is a new one…"

"Do you hear that mummy, someone is coming!"

"Be silent my child, we don't want their attention onto us."

I hear some voices say around me, the guards heard them too and I felt their grip grow stronger around my shoulders. As we passed them I finally saw the place where they were bringing me. We went through the end of the tunnel where a sign board hung that read 'The Ruins: Level 1'.

Once we passed that I saw the place where they would hold me, a barren cell. That's right, they were throwing me inside a prison! And not some random prison, no it was The Barrier. The prison where only seven humans were ever kept. No more. And then we never even heard a thing from them again, they just disappeared over time.

Of course this doesn't mean that it's empty, it is quite crowded in here actually. The Barrier was a prison especially made for Monsters. And I don't mean people who have done horrible things that they deserve to be called monsters, but actual, honest to God monsters.

I am quite glad that the monsters hadn't seen me yet, as it wasn't an unknown fact that they despised humans.

Once I and the guards entered the cell, they got my handcuffs off me but before I could move away freely one of them grabbed my arm. He then proceeded to put some kind of device on me, it was made of iron and had engravings inscribed on it. I looked it over but saw that I couldn't read anything from them. The guards both stood up once they finished and one looked at me and said, "You brought this upon yourself, have some self-respect and bear the consequences." Then they both stood up and turned the bars from my cell on, they glowed a very clear blue, so much that it almost hurt to look at. Then they turned around and briskly walked away as fast as they could.

I was alone now and though about what he said and I snorted to myself. "Self-respect" I scoffed, as if they have anything like that themselves. From what I had seen made it clear that they were the worst kind of people.

As I turned I looked around my small holding cell. Thankfully I could see clearly thanks to the prison bars, they shined a hard but sombre kind of blue glow. When I looked at the walls I could see that there were no windows which was logical as we were underground. Only there also weren't any lamps. I hoped that there would be more lights outside when I could go out of my cell tomorrow. In the corner stood a small bed with a normal blanket, it was barely big enough to fit me and I thought about who it could have been that was kept here before me.

In the corner stood one wall so it was shielded from view with on the other side a toilet and a shower. The only other thing the room had was one chair which actually looked kind of comfy, that was definitely a plus, and a shelf which would come in handy for books or other stuff.

I sighed and sat on the bed, this was really depressing no matter how you looked at it. I thought about the reason which resulted in me being here. The fact was, I am a mage, just your random mage, nothing special about it as there are quite a lot of us these days. We have our own hierarchy and society with the High Masters on the top of our ranks. We usually help out normal people with our gifts.

I myself am just a lowly student who had just gotten their intern by the Breakers. But one day I somehow ... kind of misplaced myself on my way to work. I was lost in the building where I had to be and was stranded in some kind of lab, it was dark but I saw that there was someone inside. I couldn't see who it was as it was dark but I did see that the person lay on a table. This alone was strange but the fact that he was on some kind of operation table and the fact that he was strapped freaked me out!

I thought about what to do, this could be some kind of crazy person and I wouldn't want to be involved with that. If I got him free he might try murder me or something drastic like that. So no, like any sensible person, I turned around and was fully planning on not doing a thing. But just as I was about the walk away I heard a groan from the person behind me.

Of course I thought as I stilled. I listened and hoped that the person wasn't waking up but he groaned once more only louder this time. I sighed and turned around and saw that he was waking up. I heard the person mumble something but it wasn't clear enough to understand.

I started to walk towards him so I could understand what he was saying, I saw he was strapped so I should be save from him. As I got closer I could see more clearly as I got used to the dark but I still couldn't make out who the person was as they were wrapped in bandages from head to toe. Strange I thought. Beside the person there were all sorts of tools, I picked one up to look closer and saw that it was some kind of drill with liquid on it. I immediately thought of blood and threw the thing away.

The person heard and realised I was there and mumbled some more, I still couldn't understand what he was saying. "What did you say?" I finally asked nervously. This time he spoke louder. "H-help… me…" he spoke with a hoarse voice. I think he tried to grab for me as he strained his straps around is right arm and neck.

I really didn't know what to do anymore but I was certain that nobody should be… experimented on or whatever they did to him! Just as I was panicking about what I should be doing I heard some talking from the hall where I came from.

I quickly made a decision and I looked at the straps and how I should unbind them. Then I saw that it had a magic restrainer on it, so does that mean this person could do magic to break out when unstrapped? Luckily these were easy to break from an outside person and broke them easily.

The voices were getting louder and I could hear footsteps now. Just as I undid the last strap I heard the door open.

They were still talking while they walked inside but stilled as they saw me. "What do you think you're doing!" I heard someone scream frantically, I whirled around fast as I heard the very angry voice and saw, indeed, three very angry people in lab coats. One started running towards me and I looked at the previously strapped person, he was getting up.

I turned and ran towards the person, a woman, and tackled her. We both fell to the floor when I heard one man scream: "NO! Stop it! STOP!" I looked up at him from the ground but saw that he wasn't screaming at me but at the person behind me. I turned to look around, but the only thing I saw was a black mist that was dissolving.

I turned my sight back towards the women and men, who were desperately looking for the bandaged man, but he was gone. While they were looking I tried to stand up but the women held me in place. Once the men realised the person was really gone they turned to me and gave a menacing glare. I looked at them fearfully as I realised I really did something bad from the looks they were giving.

"You've really done it now, that was the last one," one man said in angry tone as they hauled me up and took me away.

I did not know what they meant but at least the person got away…

And now I'm in the Barrier prison, considered the worst kind of punishment by my people. One made especially for monsters so they could not escape. I still don't know what I did that was so terrible and wondered if I ever would.

I sighed, then again, all the monsters that are in this prison aren't guilty for anything either. But still, every time a new monster is found, they are put into this prison. I don't know why, but the High Masters really hate monsterkind. Of course this doesn't mean that everyone hates them but the High Masters have a lot of power in the society. A lot of people are influenced through propaganda or simply don't know any better and don't bother to think why they would want hate all monsters. What the reason is, and just hunt them as you can get quite a price for them.

I turned my thoughts to the fact that I had no idea what I should do now. This was completely unfamiliar territory for me. They hadn't given me any kind of instruction how things worked in this prison before they put me in here. Actually, they didn't explain anything to me. As I mulled about this I decided I would think of something tomorrow as I slowly fell asleep…