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  Chapter 32 — The Devil’s Prison

  The sun rose over a foreign land.

  Hirauka and Sayaka stepped out of the airport into the cold Swedish air, their journey finally bringing them to unfamiliar ground. Formalities were completed in silence, and moments later they stood outside the terminal, luggage beside them.

  “So,” Hirauka said quietly, exhaling, “we’ve finally reached Sweden.”

  “Yes,” Sayaka replied, scanning the surroundings. “But this isn’t our destination. We’re still miles away.”

  Hirauka nodded.

  “Then let’s move. We don’t have time to waste.”

  They hailed a taxi and climbed in. The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

  “Where to?”

  “The central jail,” Hirauka answered.

  The driver’s face drained of color.

  “…Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  The driver swallowed hard.

  “You’re sure? That place is dangerous. Not exactly the best way to start a visit to Sweden.”

  “Just tell us whether you’ll take us there or not,” Hirauka said calmly. “If not, we’ll find another taxi.”

  The driver hesitated.

  “It’s not just me. Anyone would refuse. People say whoever goes there never comes back.”

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  “Don’t worry,” Hirauka replied. “We’re government cooperatives. We’ll make sure you return home safely.”

  The driver frowned.

  “Who exactly are you people?”

  Sayaka said nothing. She simply lifted a small bundle of cash and let him see it.

  The driver exhaled slowly.

  “…Alright. Please sit back properly. I’ll take you.”

  They began driving northward, toward the most isolated part of Sweden. Snow-lined roads stretched endlessly ahead. Hirauka stared out the window, his eyes tracing landscapes that felt disturbingly familiar.

  “You’re looking at the scenery like you belong here,” the driver said.

  “I do,” Hirauka replied. “I lived here as a child. We left long ago.”

  The driver nodded.

  “I thought so. You don’t look like a tourist. Who are you going to meet there?”

  “The prisoner.”

  The car screeched to a halt.

  “What?” the driver shouted. “Are you insane? That’s suicide!”

  “I warned you earlier,” Hirauka said calmly. “We know what we’re doing. Now drive.”

  “But—”

  Sayaka leaned forward.

  “I can offer a special tip if that helps you decide.”

  The driver went silent.

  “…I apologize.”

  The car resumed moving.

  Eventually, they reached the outer border of the central jail. Massive fencing, warning signs, and armed watchposts surrounded the area.

  “This is as far as I go,” the driver said nervously. “From here, you’re on your own. Be safe.”

  “You’ve helped enough,” Hirauka replied.

  Sayaka handed over the promised cash.

  “May God keep you safe,” the driver muttered before speeding away.

  They turned toward the gate.

  Armed guards immediately noticed them approaching.

  “Stop right there!” one guard shouted. “You can’t go any further without proper permits.”

  “We’re here for an important task,” Hirauka replied.

  “I don’t care what your task is,” the guard snapped. “Turn around now, or I’ll shoot you and bury you right here.”

  Silence fell.

  Hirauka raised his hand.

  With a single finger flick, the guard collapsed unconscious onto the frozen ground.

  Hirauka looked at the others.

  “Anyone else want the same treatment?”

  The remaining guards froze in terror.

  “N-no, sir… please go ahead. We won’t stop you.”

  “Good.”

  The gate creaked open.

  As they stepped inside, Hirauka noticed a rusted billboard.

  CENTRAL CONTAINMENT — 6 MILES

  “…Six miles,” Hirauka said. “I won’t even break a sweat.”

  They took off running.

  Their speed was inhuman—nearly sixty miles per hour. The cold air sliced past them as the abandoned land stretched endlessly ahead. Within an hour, they reached their destination.

  The jail stood before them.

  A three-story structure, ancient and decaying. Rust ate through iron bars. Paint peeled like dead skin. The main gate barely held itself together.

  Hirauka grabbed the handle and pulled.

  The gate screamed open with a sound that echoed through the emptiness.

  “…Holy crap,” Hirauka muttered. “This place is decades old.”

  Sayaka shuddered.

  “I’m getting horrible vibes from here. Are you sure we should go inside?”

  “That’s exactly why we’re here.”

  The interior was worse.

  The stench of rot filled the air. Rats scurried across broken tiles. Insects crawled freely along cracked walls. The building felt less like a prison—and more like a grave.

  “There’s no elevator,” Sayaka noted. “And those stairs won’t hold our weight.”

  “Teleportation it is.”

  They clasped hands.

  “Third floor,” Hirauka said.

  In an instant, space folded.

  They reappeared on the third floor corridor.

  Darkness swallowed them. The air was thick, suffocating, and foul. Every step echoed unnaturally, as if the building itself was listening.

  They moved forward slowly.

  And somewhere ahead—

  Something waited.

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