*Crack*
Darth broke the lock and opened the cage's door.
The loud sound of the lock breaking was enough to wake the children up.
''Mmm...'' The children rubbed their eyes innocently and saw the outline of a tall person, the first feeling they had was shock and fear until it dispelled after seeing that it wasn't the monstrous old lady.
''W-Who?'' A little girl with pigtails asked. Her face was dirtied by lack of hygiene and living in poor conditions.
''My name is...'' Darth looked at Isaac, and his face looked conflicted. He didn't want to say his or Isaac's name because they weren't exactly child-friendly.
The children were below 10 years of age, and they looked confused with slight fear after suddenly waking up to see two unknown figures appearing.
Darth seeing their fear, decided to say his real name, ''My name is Darek.'' He smiled gently, which dispelled the children's fear a little bit.
The children's focus was then locked on Isaac, and they felt more at ease after seeing his gentle face.
Darth also looked at Isaac.
Isaac sighed and smiled, ''My name is Isaac; nice to meet you.''
''Lily.'' The girl with pigtails said shyly while fidgeting her fingers.
''Luke.'' A young boy with blond hair replied with slight nervousness.
''Jasper.'' A young boy with a fatigued face but was slightly chubbier compared to other children.
''Laura.'' A young girl with long and flowy black hair said with a pale face.
''Alia.'' A young girl with a pixie hairstyle and dark brown eyes said.
''Carl.'' A short young boy said, while his dark eyes showed fatigueness and despair.
''Carla.'' A short young girl said, she looked very similar to Carl and had even the same dark eye colors.
''Sam.'' A young boy with his left eye bandaged said while scratching his arm.
''M-Mina.'' A timid black-haired young girl said, who was mostly hiding behind others.
''Peter.'' A young boy, who seemed older than others, said while warily looking at the two unknown figures.
''Van.'' A young boy next to Peter said with a small smile. He had short brown hair and dirtied face.
''Rio.'' A young girl with blond hair said while keeping her gaze lowered, not daring to look at them directly in the eye like it would be rude.
''Ilya!'' A young girl with unique blue hair said with some cheerfulness visible on her facial features.
''July.'' Another young girl said while standing next to Ilya. She has shoulder-length brown hair and beautiful blue eyes.
Isaac printed the names on his memory, while Darth had difficulties remembering after Mina.
''W-Why are you two here?'' Luke asked while timidly looking towards the entrance of the room, ''S-She doesn't like guests, that's why no one has visited us.''
''What do you guys remember?'' Isaac sat down on the ground and asked. He wanted to know their situation first to have a clear understanding.
''A-After hospital had been built, and we were associated here to get treated... It didn't take long for her to appear.'' Lily said with a nervous and fearful face.
''Why here? Why was the hospital built in the middle of a random cave?'' Darth asked.
The children looked at each other, and they nodded between each other.
It was Peter who answered.
''It was because of the fountain!'' He said with excitement, ''Apparently, if you live close to the fountain, all your injuries and diseases will be cured!''
Isaac looked at Darth and looked confused.
Darth rubbed his forehead, but then he remembered something very important about Baba Yaga.
He gulped and asked, ''Was it called... Fountain of Life?''
The children's eyes sparkled as they nodded.
Darth leaned closer to Isaac and whispered, ''In the fairytale... Baba Yaga was the guardian of the fountain of life.''
''I see...'' Isaac started having a clearer picture. He guesses that the one who built the hospital found out about the fountain of the water of life. Instead of using it selfishly, he decided to help others by building a hospital here, while the fountain will do the heavy-lifting and cure the children of their diseases, which cannot be cured by ordinary means.
But... Baba Yaga also found out about the fountain, and tragedy struck.
''What about the painted walls outside the hospital,'' Darth asked.
Lily's shoulders slumped as she replied with a tired look, ''She forces us to paint, even though we hate it... But, it is soon done, and apparently, after we are done, we can rest!'' She said the last bit with excitement.
Other children also felt much more energetic after knowing that their suffering is soon over.
Isaac and Darth looked at each other with conflicted looks. The children aren't aware that Baba Yaga didn't talk about normal rest... Instead about eternal rest.
''Well, do you guys want to leave now? Your parents must be worried.'' Darth said with a smile, but the children instantly shook their heads.
''S-She doesn't like it if we go out without her permission.''
Peter took a step forwards and looked conflicted, ''She sometimes... Hurts us if we disobey, and it won't take long to paint the stars... After that, we are finally free.''
Darth scratched his head and said, ''I don't know how should we say this, but...''
The children looked confused and curious.
''She isn't planning to let any of you go,'' Darth said and scratched his cheeks while seeing the children's faces turn pale white.
''W-What?''
Isaac bit his lip and decided to rip the band-aid right off, ''She plans to eat you guys after you are done painting.''
The children went even paler, and some even started sobbing silently. They are, after all, only children and trusted every word Isaac and Darth said.
Peter almost fell down, but he forced him to stand, ''W-What should we do?''
Isaac stood up and said, ''We will leave now before she comes back.''
Peter shakily nodded and looked at the rest of the children, ''Everyone, let's follow them... Remember our teachings, stay quiet, or she will hurt us again.''
Everyone nodded and followed behind Isaac out of the cage.
Darth was the last one to leave the cage and the room.
After reaching the spacious room, instead of rushing towards the stairs, Isaac turned around and looked at Peter, ''Can you show us the fountain quickly?''
''W-Why?'' Peter asked with nervousness; he looked fearful while gazing at the open door and was afraid of Baba Yaga appearing.
Darth also looked confused, wasn't the most important part of getting the kids safely out and completing the test?
Isaac thought it as well, but then... The voice talked inside his mind.
'Young one... Fountain of Life will change your life forever... Even if you can only take a sip because your mortal body can't handle more, it will still give you incredible benefits, but also.... It will remove your strength issue and will help you guys escape easier.'
