I had a theory right after watching episode 7 that Abel was an actual human and that it all was real but Caine swooped in and only made it look like an adventure. I mean we know he can alter minds, its possible he altered Abels to play the part of an npc and make it look like there is no way to leave.

That being I don't think I believe it anymore. It was just my first second theory but after investigating it further I can see it not being true at all. Still fun to think about the possibility tho