.

One by one, the cells were slowly opened. Ironically, there was a simple latch on the outside that didn't even need a key to open - a sort of implied lock that could only be opened from the outside and was probably to mock the slaves. Even the latches seemed uncomplicated - a bare metal bar with a narrow slit in it for the loop that connected with the frame of the cage. It was as if the cage was saying, 'Ha! How stupid you all are too, being trapped by such a child's play mechanism." 

Jylan's mouth was now a serious line. Sebastian could take a decent guess at why. These people had gone through the same thing he had. How unfair life was. 

"Let's go, Jylan," Sebastian said. Soon all 700 (or about 700) slaves were released, looking around in bewilderment as they stretched. 

Sebastian knew Jylan probably wanted to linger a little longer, but there was no time if they were to find the Oculus. It had already been 5 hours. So, he held out his hand, Jylan took it, and then stepped back up the ladder again. 

In the darkness, Sebastian could see a faint smile on Jylan's face.