Luna looked at Aurora with teary eyes, feeling both desperate and hopeful. "But the master has men everywhere. If they catch us..." she whispered, her voice shaking.
Aurora felt scared about their situation. The mafia was powerful, and trying to escape could get them killed. But she couldn't let Luna's fear take away her hope. "We'll be careful," she promised, trying to sound strong. "We'll find a way."
Aurora remembered Miss Catherine's words: 'You're new, you don't know who Lily is.' She wondered if Lily could help them or if she would be against them. She thought that making friends with the other girls might be strange, but if it helped them survive, she was willing to try.
Aurora looked at Luna, feeling sad for her. "Come on," she said softly, helping Luna stand up. "You need to wash up and rest."
They walked to the bathroom, the cold floor uncomfortable under Aurora's feet. She turned on the shower, and the sound of water was a little comforting in the quiet room. She helped Luna step into the tub, and the warm water started to wash away the dirt and injuries from the night.
"You're so kind," Luna said quietly, eyes closed as Aurora gently cleaned her. "I've never had anyone care for me like this."
Aurora felt sad for Luna's lonely life. "We'll take care of each other," she said firmly. "We're in this together."
As the warm water washed over Luna, Aurora felt protective of her. "You're brave," she whispered, holding back tears. "You made it through tonight. We'll make it through tomorrow, together."
When Luna got out of the shower, Aurora wrapped her in a soft towel and smiled at her. "I'll be your big sister now," she promised. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."
They cuddled on the bed, Aurora's arms around Luna. Aurora thought about plans, but for now, they had to wait for the right moment to act.
After a while, Aurora asked quietly, "Can I ask you something, Luna? Who is Lily?"
Luna tensed up at the name. Aurora felt a chill in her stomach. "What's wrong?" she asked, worried. "What do you know about her?"
Luna looked scared. "Lily," she said softly, "is the master's favorite. She used to be like us, but he likes her and she...she does terrible things."
Aurora felt a sinking feeling. "What kind of things?"
Luna whispered, "She tells the guards who to hurt or punish. She doesn't want anyone to be prettier than her, and she won't like you being here. She's jealous."
Aurora's mind raced. "What do you mean, she tells the guards?"
"They do what she says," Luna replied, shaking. "If she thinks someone is getting too much attention or doesn't listen to her, she tells the guards to hurt them."
Aurora felt sick at the thought. "But why?"
Luna's voice was quiet. "Because she can. She's the master's favorite and has power. If you annoy her, she'll have you punished. She's not like us."
Aurora held Luna close, feeling scared for both of them. But she had to stay strong. "Don't worry," she said softly. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Luna relaxed a bit in her arms. "Thank you," she said, tired.
Aurora nodded, thinking hard. If Lily had that much control, they needed to be extra careful. She didn't want Luna to suffer anymore, and she didn't want to become a target for Lily. But they couldn't live in fear forever. They needed to find a way out of this terrible place.