"Why are you following me around?" Clara asked suspiciously, looking over her shoulder at Zarah.
Zarah had been following Clara around the brothel all morning as she swept.
Zarah's batch currently consisted of six people: Iris, Ava, Clara, Celine, the most recent addition – Jia – and herself.
There used to be more girls, but most were either sold or killed before they got to their age.
Among the six girls in her batch, two were already in on the escape plan.
The plan was designed to make sure Jia escapes, so she never meets Melody and Melody can't use Jia in the future to kill Empress Ines.
But Iris and Jia didn't know of that; they only knew the plan was for everyone to escape. No one knew Zarah planned on staying back.
Clara snapped her fingers in front of Zarah and broke her out of her thoughts.
Zarah looked at Clara with an unreadable expression.
"Well I have a proposal," Zarah said suddenly, flashing a sheepish grin at Clara.
If Zarah counted herself then three were in on the plan and the other three remained.
Convincing Ava would be easy, Iris would be able to do that on her own.
Pulling Clara in would be harder, but Zarah knew that as long as Clara saw a benefit, she would agree.
Celine would be the tough nut.
Zarah watched as Clara laughed at her words.
Clara raised a questioning brow at Zarah's words before asking, "Does it involve putting a mouse in Celine's drawer, in exchange for you doing my chores this week?" her tone carried a hint of wary amusement.
Zarah laughed at the memory, before shaking her head as she replied in a conspiratorial tone, "No, no, it's a different sort of proposal."
Clara felt intrigued at that and gave a faint nod of her head as a sign to continue speaking.
"Do you want to escape?" Zarah asked in a hushed tone, her expression serious.
Clara choked on air in disbelief, dropping the broom and covering her mouth as she coughed.
Zarah moved forward to gently rub Clara's back, "Are you okay?" she asked with concern.
Clara then turned towards Zarah like the latter had grown two heads, "ARE YOU-" she began before taking a deep breath and quieting her voice to a whisper, "Are you out of your mind Zarah? What are you saying? Do you not know what happens when someone tries to escape?! You of all people should know that!"
Zarah closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
She knew what happened when people tried to escape. Of course she did, after all she went through punishment because of the same allegation once, even though she wasn't trying to escape then.
"I know," Zarah said with a knowing glint in her eyes, "But I promise you we won't be caught, Clara. Come on, I know you want to leave this place."
She took both of Clara's hands in hers, giving them a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
"On what grounds are you promising that?" Clara asked, still in shock.
Zarah gave her a firm look, "On the same grounds that Miss Halley is helping us escape," she said with a smile.
Clara's eyes widened as she felt her heart beat increasing and her blood rushing faster in her veins.
She couldn't believe her ears and neither could she stop the hope from building a nest in her heart.
"Are you...you're not kidding right?" Clara finally managed to choke those words out.
Zarah shook her head before speaking with conviction, "I would never."
Clara looked at Zarah for a while, her expression unreadable.
Then for the first time in twelve years, in all the time they spent growing up together in the brothel, Clara hugged Zarah, "I am in," she whispered so lowly, if Zarah wasn't paying attention she would have missed it.
Zarah returned the hug patting Clara's back in comfort.
Then she pulled back and saw tears forming at Clara's eyes.
Zarah put her hand on Clara's right cheek, wiping the tear away with her thumb before it could fall, "Why are you crying silly?" she asked with a light teasing tone.
Clara sniffed before giving a big toothy smile, "Because we have a chance to live, to really live," she said with barely contained emotions.
"Thank you Zarah, also promise me that we are sisters from today," Clara said extending her pinky, "Even if we fail, I won't ever hold a grudge against you ever again."
Before Zarah could respond Iris arrived with a mock glare.
"What is this? You're stealing my twin Clara?" Iris accused jokingly.
Clara shook her head, her hands flailing animatedly as she explained, "No, no, Iris, of course not! Zarah is your twin," she said matter of factly.
"You're finally admitting me and Zar are twins?" Iris asked with a raised brow.
Jia had moved to stand next to Zarah, Ava on the other side of her as they watched the scene unfold in amusement, knowing full well Iris was pulling Clara's leg.
Zarah talked to Ava and confirmed that she had agreed to the plan and was now on their side.
Clara looked like a helpless puppy trying to defend herself, "Of course you two are twins by soul," she said with all the determination of a soldier, "And what I meant is all of us are sisters! We grew up together after all."
Iris laughed out at that, no longer able to maintain the angry demeanor.
"I was joking, Clara," Iris said, going over to Clara and giving her a tight playful hug.
That was Clara's first time hugging Iris as well.
Clara finally eased, the tension leaving her shoulders as they sagged.
Zarah chuckled and jumped in shouting, "Group hug!"
Soon Ava came and joined the hug.
Jia protested at first, but was later pulled into the hug by Zarah and Iris.
Today was a day marked by first hugs for everyone.
Though the clock was still ticking and only six days remained till the Annual Spring festival.
Zarah and the other girls still had to convince Celine.
And that would be a prick – because knowing that girl... Celine always had dirty tricks up her sleeve.