The darkness slowly faded as morning sunlight fell across Zarah's face, pulling her senses back from unconsciousness.
The first thing she felt when she opened her eyes was pain. Raw, unbridled pain coursing through her veins, making her entire body ache. Her back felt like someone had peeled all the skin off it — and maybe the Madam had done exactly that. She curled her toes, trying to move her feet, but all she could feel was pain, numbing her lower limbs.
Zarah tried to push herself up from the bed but failed, falling back with a pained groan and curling to the side as her entire body blazed with agony.
Tears sprang to her eyes as she took a deep breath, trying to fight the increasing ache swallowing her senses.
"Oh Goddess Aelthrya! How cruel must they be to harm a mere twelve-year-old like this?" Halley's voice reached Zarah's ears.
She felt the older woman applying some sort of balm – or was it a medicinal herb? – to her wounds. Zarah didn't know how much time had passed, but the terrible ache in her body had finally begun to ease.
With much difficulty, Zarah tilted her head and locked eyes with Halley, who was gently rubbing her feet with burn ointment.
Zarah's throat was too dry to form words, but the overwhelming need to call out to the older woman made her senses ignore that.
"Miss Halley-" Zarah managed to choke out in a strained tone, trying – and miserably failing – to reach out to her.
Halley quickly moved forward and took Zarah's raised hand in hers, enveloping it warmly.
"Yes, dear child?" she responded gently. "I am here."
Zarah had many things to ask, how Iris was and whether or not was she let out of the dark room yet. She wanted to ask if Jia and the others made it out safely, if the others had been able to find a place to stay.
"Iris-" Before Zarah could finish her question Halley cut her off.
"Iris is still inside the dark room," Halley informed solemnly, " Though you had me worried sick! You were unconscious for 4 days!" Halley told with worry lacing her tone, "To be honest, I was not sure whether you would wake up or not," she turned her head away as she said that.
Halley cared about everyone in the brothel immensely. Whenever anyone got punished or beaten by the Madam, Halley made sure to take care of them – but of course one can't avoid death no matter how hard they try, Halley had watched many girls die from dehydration due to being locked in the dark room. She had also watched several girls fall into comas and never wake up from them after the Madam's cruel punishments.
But what happened to those dead bodies afterwards? It was horrible. Halley had watched the Madam sell the dead bodies of young girls to messed up nobles, who used those bodies either as life sized dolls for their children or for even more horrid purposes she couldn't bring herself to think about.
Currently, her concerns and worries lay with Iris and Zarah. She had secretly been sneaking Iris more water and food but the conscious state of the latter girl had sent her into a frenzy, thinking one so brave enough to have actually carried the escape out would no longer be with them.
Sensing Halley's concern due to the sudden silence Zarah gave a weak smile, "Brats like me don't die so easily, Miss Halley," she teased trying to reassure Halley.
Halley exhaled in exasperation and lightly scolded the younger girl.
They sat there as Halley informed Zarah about Iris, and the concerning fact that the letter from Jia's side – that was supposed to be brought over by one of her family's men in disguise – had not yet arrived.
After two long, merciless weeks of the Madam's punishment, the doors of the dark room finally opened.
Iris was supported out of the dark room and taken into the infirmary by Halley and another girl who worked in the brothel.
Iris sat down on the infirmary bed, and started gulping water down her throat like a madwoman.
Zarah hesitantly came towards her and stood to her side.
When Iris finally quenched her thirst and tried to take an apple slice from the plate in front of her, Halley slapped her hand away lightly.
"Iris, dear, no," she warned. "You're severely malnourished, and you've just had a lot of water. If you eat right now, it could make you very sick."
Iris visibly pouted, like a hamster who had suddenly lost too much weight.
Zarah was afraid, she was unsure if Iris was still her friend or not. She didn't know whether Iris was mad at her or not after what had happened... after the punishment.
Iris finally turned her head to the side and spotted a nervous Zarah, fumbling with her fingers.
Iris raised an eyebrow, "Zar?" she signaled her closer.
Zarah staggered forward, "Yeah, Iree?" she replied, relief evident at Iris's welcoming tone.
Iris, who was about to pull Zarah in for a hug paused and stared at her, "What happened? Why are you limping?" she questioned worriedly.
Zarah gave a dry laugh before responding, "The Madam punished me," she said taking a seat beside Iris on the bed, "Made me stand on burning coal as she whipped me."
Iris's face flashed with horror as she pulled Zarah into a bear hug with the little strength she had left. Tears flowed from her eyes.
Zarah gently rubbed her back as she hugged her back, "You're not mad at me?" she inquired, her tone quivering with uncertainty.
"You dumdum!" Iris scolded Zarah. "I could never be mad at my sister! And the punishment wasn't because of you — it was because I stayed back, so don't ever think that," she comforted her.
"Aww you two," Halley cooed coming over with medication and a glass of water, then handed them over to Iris.
Iris took the glass first and took a sip, then put the pill in her mouth and swallowed it.
"Zarah, did you apply the medicine on your feet?" Halley asked as Zarah nodded in response, "Good, remember to keep applying it or it will leave nasty scars, unfortunately the burn marks will stay," Halley said with a tender look.
Iris looked at Zarah and hugged her again, Zarah poked her cheek in return.
Then as if remembering something urgent she suddenly pulled back and looked from Halley to Zarah with furrowed brows, "What happened to the others? Were they able to escape?" she questioned.
Zarah and Halley exchanged a look before Halley began to tell them the contents of the letter Jia's servant had brought. Zarah squeezed Iris's hand to ground her — whether from upcoming happiness or sadness, Iris didn't know.
The letter had arrived a few days late because Duke Sterling had fallen ill from missing his daughter. After Jia returned, she spent most of her time by his side until he recovered, and only then did she finally sit down to write.
They had successfully escaped through the east gate, crossed the forest, and reached the riverside, where soldiers of the Sterling Duchy were waiting for them. The soldiers safely took them to the Sterling estate, where the other girls were given shelter for as long as they wished. If they wanted, they could find jobs and leave, or stay and work for the Duchy – and even if they chose not to work, Jia ensured they were treated with respect. The younger girls were also provided with education.
That would be the first and last letter Jia sent. The brothel's security had been increased, and risking her people's lives to exchange letters was no longer worth it. She informed them that the girls she had taken were safe, and Halley wrote back saying that Iris, Zarah, and she herself were safe as well. That was the last exchange they had.
The news saddened Iris, but she understood the reasoning behind it.
Zarah patted her back gently, feeling down herself despite already having heard the news.
Halley gave the girls a comforting smile before leaving to gather some herbs from the garden.
Iris lay down on the bed to get some sleep as Zarah sat beside her, lost in thought.
Zarah knew how severe both their punishments had been, and she would make sure that in the future no one would have to suffer like they did.
She would make sure Empress Ines lived — and through that favor, she would close this cursed brothel down for good, even if it was the last thing she ever did.