Meanwhile, in the Abyss Hill prison, Olivia sat in the medical infirmary, leaning forward on a chair. She held a piece of soft cotton, pinching the soft part of her nose (just below the bony bridge) with her thumb and index finger. She had maintained this position for the last fifteen minutes without releasing pressure.

Nora stood in front of her in silence, but she was extremely worried about her. At the same time, she was constantly battling to control the numerous emotions surfacing in her mind like endless waves in the sea.

On one hand, she felt guilty for failing to keep her promise to her idol—to take care of her daughter in the cave of monsters. Unfortunately, she was unable to fulfill this promise on the first day.

On the other hand, her heart pounded like a drum at the thought of Olivia's slim chances of surviving in jail. She couldn't understand how Olivia could endure ten years in prison, especially after receiving a violent welcome from an unknown enemy as soon as she arrived at the jail.

Additionally, she could not believe how it was possible for her to kill someone. She saw the truth in the eyes of the mother-daughter duo, which was enough proof for her to believe that Olivia was either innocent or had a reason for her actions. However, she struggled to find a strong logic behind Olivia's confession in court. There was no trace of any other character in her life for whom Olivia might lie to protect.

When guilt, failure, curiosity, suspense, and countless questions about Olivia's life tighten their grip on Nora's confused mind, she decides to break the silence between them by asking random questions before addressing the more serious matter of informing her about the harsh reality of Abyss Hill prison.

Nora cleared her throat and asked, "How are you feeling now?"

"Better," Olivia replied softly, looking down.

"Do you want to drink some water?"

Olivia shook her head in response.

Nora bit her lower lip and released a deep sigh before speaking in a calm but firm tone, her expression serious. "Olivia, I want to warn you about the harsh reality of this jail and the daily routine you'll face here."

In response, Olivia lifted her face to meet Nora's gaze and locked eyes with her, a timid expression on her face. She then nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, after receiving her welcome gift from the resident of this place in a unique way.

Nora took another stool and set it in front of the newly declared killer before sitting down. She then held Olivia's left hand with both of hers and spoke softly, though her expressions revealed her seriousness, worry, and tension. "I know you're shocked and terrified, which is normal for anyone in your position. In fact, she might be even more scared than you. But you're trying your best to hide your pain, just like your mother."

Nora stopped to observe her reflection and saw tears begin to well up in her eyes. They were a manifestation of her recent emotional turmoil: exhaustion from dealing with various incidents over the past few days, a mental breakdown after receiving tragic news about her father and friend, pain from separating from her mother shortly after reuniting with her after several years, feelings of worthlessness due to the hatred and negative comments from people who didn't even know her, and a lingering fear of the beasts awaiting her in the cells, eager to avenge themselves on her parents by hurting their child.

Upon seeing her fragile state, Nora didn't waste a second before enveloping her in a warm embrace. Olivia closed her eyes, burst into tears, and hugged back tightly. Nora bit her lips to control her own sobs and prevent herself from crying as well—a sign of her soft heart that she didn't want to reveal in front of the other prisoners.

Several minutes later, they pulled away from the hug, and Olivia wiped the tears from both her cheeks. She then gave her a weak smile that conveyed a faint ray of positivity.

Nora then tried to explain to her the reality of prison, which was also applicable to this harsh world.

"You were sentenced to ten years in prison, but you should know that you might be able to get out earlier if you maintain a good record, especially in terms of your behavior toward the officers and other prisoners."

Olivia nodded to confirm that she knew about the matter.

"Good. I know you will never create obstacles for the other captives, not even in your dreams. However, that doesn't mean they will spare you easily. Most of them will try to harm you multiple times each day using various methods, just as Fiona did today. So, be careful. Remember, if you stand in front of a lion, it's natural not to try to hurt him. But that doesn't mean you should expect the lion not to eat you just because you're not harming him.

This prison is a perfect example of a cave where several tigresses live, always ready to pounce on each other to destroy one another. So, I want to tell you that it's time to awaken your inner beast to fight against them and secure your victory without leaving any clues that could cause problems for your early release from prison.

Use your brain to tackle them. If that doesn't work, use your hands and legs to break their body parts so they will think twice before crossing you in the future, but be sure not to leave any evidence against yourself. I'll try my best to protect you, but I have my limitations as well. So remember, where my boundaries end, your fierceness must begin, leaving a significant impression of terror in everyone's mind." Nora said with a serious tone, her hatred toward the prisoners evident in her voice and demeanor.

"Yes, you're right. I have to survive here no matter what because I need to go back to my parents as I promised my mom. I'm not going to break that promise at any cost; even if the Grim Reaper appears before me, I'll fight him too to keep my promise. So don't worry, I'll survive here and make a meaningful impact with my presence." Olivia replied with confidence, her back already pressed against the wall. She had no option left but to fight her newest enemies.

"That's the spirit!" Nora said, her excitement evident in her expression.

Olivia smiled in response.

"Let's go to your new bedroom and meet your fresh roommates," Nora said in a mocking tone to lighten the seriousness of the situation.

"Yeah," Olivia replied with a giggle.

Then they both went toward the cell that had been designated as the new bedroom for the recently declared murderer.

***

They collected all the items along with the basket from the same position where they had left them and found everything was organized.

After opening the gate of the cell, both of them entered, and an unfamiliar voice welcomed Olivia in a pleasant yet sarcastic tone, which she hadn't expected.

"Welcome, Olivia. Oops! Sorry, I mean prisoner number 7209."

Olivia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and curiosity. She wondered, "Who is she? How does she know my name? Does this mean I have to start my first battle by fighting against my roommates?"

She saw a woman in her late fifties lying on a mattress while two younger prisoners busied themselves massaging her. After witnessing the scene, she understood that the woman was the leader of the jail, or at least of their cell. The two younger prisoners fixed their eyes on her like hungry hyenas, with evil smirks on their lips.

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