The third cell Sera approached held individual cages inside the cell.
They weren't much different from the dog cages she was familiar with. These were simple metal crates with narrow slits that only hinted at what was inside. Whatever it was, was scratching at the bars.
Another crate held the remains of someone who had turned partly and then failed. Their bones showed through thin skin and you could see that the parasites had dried into hard tangles inside the ribcage.
Luci's hackles rose. A low rumble built in his chest.
"They tried animals before people," Aerenyx said. "Or after. I don't think that the timing matters all that much. They were looking for a body that would not fall apart."
Sera's attention kept returning to the sound farther down. The laughter echoed there, deeper, more focused.
The last cell on this row held empty restraints.
