The driver honked twice, summoning two armed men who began directing the girls to disembark. Their accents were unfamiliar, not from Ambrosia.

Nicole stepped out compliantly, but the girl behind her hesitated and received a harsh slap from the group's leader. The slap was forceful.

Blood trickled from the girl's mouth.

While Nicole didn't understand the man's muttered words, his tone was unmistakably scolding. The frightened girl quickly scrambled out of the car.

Nicole and the others were led to a tent.

The flap opened, and they were ushered inside, where Nicole saw about a dozen other young girls. Like her, they appeared to be treated as mere commodities.

Nicole found a corner to sit down, and the two younger girls joined her.

Once the tent door shut, darkness enveloped them. The air inside the tent was stifling, hot and humid with a pungent mix of odors, including the unmistakable smell of blood. It was evident that this space had seen much suffering. There were bloodstains and signs of others having dealt with their physical needs here.

Outside, guards kept watch, compelling Nicole to keep her voice down.

Relying on her memory in the darkness, she noticed a girl nearby, around twenty years old. Quietly, she asked, "How long have you been here?"

The girl, visibly startled, hesitated. Previous punishments for speaking had been severe, and the fear of being overheard was palpable.

Furthermore, the guards were not from Ambrosia. They showed no understanding or mercy, regardless of the girls' pleas or tears, responding only with brutality. Thus, after such harsh lessons, the girl was too frightened to speak.

Undeterred, Nicole persisted softly, “It's okay. We're together. They can't hear us if we keep our voices low."

The girl remained silent, so Nicole added, "Don't lose hope. Our chances will shrink even more if we're taken to another country."

After a brief pause, the girl whispered back, “We were brought here this morning."

Encouraged, Nicole probed further, "Were there others here when you arrived?"

The girl nodded and said, "They were just taken away."

Nicole calculated that, based on the timing, they might be taken away early the following morning. This meant they still had some time and didn't have to be completely passive.

However, it was still light outside, and everyone was awake. It wasn't a good time to act. After some thought, Nicole whispered something to the girls on her left and right, and they passed it on.

After finishing her message, everyone started to rest, even if they couldn't sleep. They closed their eyes and tried to relax.