The Prison of Despair.
The ancient citadel towered over the abyss like the claws of hell itself, digging into the earth's surface. Its gloomy walls, scarred ancient runes of curses, exuded dark energy that made the blood run cold in one's veins. The heavy air was saturated with the stench of suffering, despair, and death, while in the deep dungeons languished those whose sins were so monstrous that even the gods had turned their backs on them.
The stone vaults of the ancient structure preserved the echoes of screams of torment, and every rustle here seemed like a death rattle. The shadows in this place moved as if alive, and the very atmosphere pressed on the mind, forcing even the most resilient to shudder in horror.
For centuries, this prison had served as the final refuge for those who had crossed every conceivable boundary of what was permitted. Here found their end those whose crimes were so great that society could find no other punishment for them but eternal confinement within these walls.
The dark reputation of the Prison of Despair spread throughout the world, becoming a warning to all who dared to take the path of evil. The mere mention of this place sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest hearts, and those who had the misfortune to visit it forever lost their peace and sleep.
At that moment, on the edge of the abyss, where reality itself seemed to tremble with tension, two figures stood frozen. An ancient elder, whose aura was so powerful that it warped space itself, creating bizarre distortions in the air. His presence inspired awe even in the most resilient souls. Beside him stood a young man — an astonishingly beautiful youth, whose features seemed to be carved from marble, and who, it seemed, completely ignored the overwhelming force emanating from the elder.
— Young man — the elder's voice boomed like thunder, echoing off the stone walls —what is it that you have done to have fate bring you to this place? — A genuine interest mixed with surprise was evident in his eyes.
For a long time, the elder observed the stranger in silence, studying his face, posture, and expression in his eyes. His curiosity reached its peak, and finally, he could not contain his question. How could such a young man deserve to be in this place, reserved for the most notorious sinners?
— I have committed no crimes — the youth spoke with such icy calmness that a chill ran down the old man's spine. His voice was so composed, as if he were discussing the weather rather than his fate in the most dreadful prison in the world. — It was my sole decision to come here. The Prison of Despair is the only place in the entire world where they won't be able to find me.
The old man froze, his eyebrows rising slightly in silent amazement. After several moments of tense silence, he asked cautiously:
— Are enemies pursuing you? — His voice carried genuine bewilderment.
But the young man merely shook his head, his lips curling into a bitter, almost cynical smile, while his eyes flashed with something resembling despair.
— Women who are in love with me! — His voice rang out with such bitterness that even the air seemed to grow heavier.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
The old man suddenly began to cough violently, his face expressing not just bewilderment—it reflected complete confusion and shock. His eyebrows shot up, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened with astonishment. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word, as if he had encountered something so incredible that his mind refused to accept it.
For several moments, he stared at the youth in silence, trying to comprehend what he had heard. To hide in the most dreadful prison in the world from women who were in love with him? It sounded like a cruel joke of fate, the most absurd tale he had ever heard in his long life.
— I am perfectly sane! — Steel entered the youth's voice, and a malicious glint appeared in his eyes. — Old man, are you familiar with the term 'yandere'? — he asked, carefully observing his interlocutor's reaction.
The old man nodded slowly, his face becoming serious, and understanding flashed in his eyes. He had clearly heard of this phenomenon, and it did not bode well. His lips tightened into a thin line, and his fingers involuntarily clenched into fists, as if he had already begun to sympathize with the youth.
The old man nodded slowly, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes.
— Now imagine — the youth's voice grew quieter, taking on sinister undertones — that ten obsessive yanderes are relentlessly following you. They know no mercy, accept no refusals, are ready to make any sacrifice to get you. — His dark smile grew even more sinister, and his eyes reflected bitter experience.
The old man swallowed hard, his face paling. At that moment, he finally began to understand the true reason for the youth's voluntary imprisonment in this cursed prison. What had seemed absurd was taking on terrifying outlines of reality.
He imagined the scene: ten possessed women, ready to do anything for their goal. Their madness, their obsession, their ruthlessness… Now he began to grasp the scale of the problem.
Looking at the darkened face of the youth, which bore the marks of countless sufferings and struggles for survival, the old man let out a brief, bitter laugh. It was the laughter of a man who had finally understood the depth of another's pain and despair.
There was more sympathy than mockery in that laugh.
— At least you're still alive! — the old man laughed heartily, his laughter echoing off the stone walls. — Ha-ha-ha! You never did tell me your name — what is it? — His voice carried genuine joy mixed with curiosity.
At that moment, something astonishing happened — the powerful aura that enveloped the elder like a cloak of pure strength began to slowly dissipate. It was as if the very essence of his power was melting into the air until not a trace remained. Now he appeared as an ordinary elderly man, devoid of even a hint of his former majesty. His figure seemed to shrink in size, and his movements became more human and relatable.
This sudden transformation created a strange atmosphere — as if a powerful spirit had decided to become one of the mortals for a moment to better understand his interlocutor.
— My name is Chen Ge — the young man said, a slight, barely noticeable smile touching his lips, as if he was trying to hide the full weight of his destiny behind it.
— So, Chen Ge… — the old man looked at the youth attentively, genuine sympathy shining in his eyes. — Are you truly ready to spend your entire life hiding within these gloomy walls? To renounce freedom, to abandon life beyond these walls?
The young man merely nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if he could see something there that was inaccessible to the elder.
— And what else can I do? — Chen Ge replied after a long pause, deep weariness evident in his voice. — The moment I leave these walls, they will find me immediately. Their obsession, their madness knows no bounds… — He fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in heavy memories.
— It's better to stay here forever — he continued, gazing through the space before him. — Maybe one day someone strong enough or merciful enough will come to put an end to my suffering. Even if it means the cost of my life… — His voice faltered briefly, but he quickly regained his composure.
These words carried more than just resignation — they told the story of a man pushed to his limits, ready to accept any fate just to be freed from his curse. In them lay the tale of someone who had reached the end of their rope, willing to embrace any destiny to be rid of their torment.
At that moment, the old man seemed to plunge into the abyss of his own thoughts. His gaze became distant, as if he could see something hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals. The wrinkles on his face seemed to come alive, and something mysterious, ancient, and powerful flashed in his eyes.
— What if I told you there is a way to leave this place? — the elder suddenly said, his voice booming like thunder. — A way that would allow you to forever escape the pursuit of these… women? — Confidence rang in his words, causing Chen Ge's breath to catch in his throat.
— If such a way existed — Chen Ge bitterly chuckled — I would not only sell my soul but everything I have. — His voice trembled with despair. — But in all these years, I have explored every corner of this world and found no answer anywhere.
The old man rose abruptly to his feet, his figure seeming to grow in size. His laughter — wild, mad, filled with the power of ancient times — echoed throughout the surroundings, causing not only the walls but the very space around them to tremble. This laughter was so powerful that it seemed as if the world itself shuddered from its might.
— Perhaps fate brought us together for a reason… — the elder's voice sounded mysterious, as if he knew something inaccessible to others. His eyes gleamed with ancient knowledge, and a barely noticeable, meaningful smile appeared on his face.
— Try to avoid meeting yanderes in this life! — he added with a hint of warning that made Chen Ge tense up.
In the next instant, the elder made a sudden sweep with his right hand, and the world around Chen Ge began to rapidly darken. A blinding flash dazzled him, and then darkness consumed his consciousness. The last thing imprinted in his memory was the elder's mysterious smile and a dazzling light that seemed to penetrate the very essence of his being, dissolving the boundaries of reality.
Time appeared to stand still, and space distorted in a bizarre dance of energies, carrying Chen Ge into the unknown.
— Damn it… — Chen Ge croaked, struggling to regain consciousness. His eyes snapped open, meeting an unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up abruptly, looking around. His heart pounded frantically — he clearly realized that there was not a trace of the gloomy walls of the Prison of Despair around him.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as realization dawned on him. Where was he? What had happened? Where had the old man gone?
— Old man… — he whispered, his voice trembling with tension. — You didn't sell me to those… creatures, did you? — he practically spat out the last words, filled with poison and bitterness.
Struggling to get to his feet, he discovered that he was lying on a luxurious bed covered with soft fabrics. But what he saw next made his blood run cold — the bed was draped with a red canopy, creating an eerily familiar romantic atmosphere.
His mood deteriorated rapidly as he surveyed the room. Everything around him was decorated with ribbons, flowers, and garlands. In the corner, as if mocking his situation, hung a huge banner with a screaming inscription: «Happy marriage!»
His mind instantly filled with dark assumptions. He had little doubt that the old man, whom he had trusted, had betrayed him, selling him to one of his pursuers. And now he faced the fate he had so desperately tried to avoid — a forced marriage to one of the obsessive yanderes.
For these women, such a situation would not just be ordinary — on the contrary, they would perceive it as their greatest achievement, as a victory in their obsessive pursuit. Each of them had dreamed of this moment, and the thought that the old man might have become their ally filled Chen Ge's soul with icy horror.
— Chen Ge… — the voice that sounded in the silence of the room made him flinch. — You've finally woken up! — there was obvious relief in the speaker's tone, but Chen Ge no longer trusted anything. His hand instinctively reached for his belt, where his blade was usually kept, but it wasn't there.
Soon he noticed a girl gracefully entering the room. Her youthful freshness and radiant energy revealed her age — she was barely sixteen or seventeen years old.
Her hair cascaded down to her shoulders like a silk veil, shimmering in the rays of light. Her skin, resembling snow-white jade, emitted an ethereal glow, and its impeccable purity captivated the eye. Her expressive eyes revealed remarkable softness and kindness, while behind her lips, red as peony petals, lay a row of perfectly straight pearl-white teeth.
She wore an exquisite long dress woven as if from stardust. Its snow-white folds shimmered as if sprinkled with tiny diamonds — an attire worthy of the most majestic ceremony. Every element of her appearance spoke of the upcoming celebration, creating the impression that spring itself had entered the room.
Her appearance was nothing short of divine: flawless features, delicate bone structure, and an otherworldly grace that seemed almost supernatural. The way she carried herself, combined with her radiant beauty, created an aura of pure enchantment, as if she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
— What happened to you? — her voice trembled with concern. — I was told you fainted as soon as you saw the bride! — genuine fear was audible in her words. —You scared me to death… Tell me if anything hurts — she leaned forward, her eyes filling with sincere anxiety, and her delicate fingers trembled slightly.
Chen Ge stared silently at her worried face. Such genuine concern reflected in her large eyes that for a moment he became even more confused. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her lips were pressed into a thin line — she was truly worried about him.
He shook his head slowly, feeling confusion and questions swirling in his mind like a whirlwind. What was happening seemed so unreal that he couldn't find the words. Everything around him looked like a bad dream from which he couldn't wake up.
— Rest for a while and don't worry — she said with a forced smile, in which Chen Ge caught a barely noticeable bitterness. — Very soon you will marry the woman you have been chasing for so long — her voice sounded unnaturally cheerful, as if she was trying to hide her true feelings.
There was such piercing sadness hidden in the depths of her soft, expressive eyes that Chen Ge's heart skipped a beat. It seemed as if she knew something he didn't, and this secret weighed heavily on her soul.
The girl approached him several more times, as if mechanically performing some kind of checking ritual. Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched his hand, but every time their eyes met, she looked away, unable to withstand his confused gaze.
Finally, pretending to be satisfied with his condition, she quietly left the room, carefully closing the door behind her. Her footsteps faded away in the corridor, but the feeling of incompleteness lingered in the air.
As soon as the sound of the closing door dissolved into the silence, Chen Ge sat down on the bed. His hands automatically clasped his head, as if trying to hold back the memories trying to break free.