The brothel was decorated beautifully. Lanterns were hanging from corners, flowers placed in vases in every room, the doorframes decorated by colorful strips of paper.
The annual Spring festival was one of those days where the brothel girls were given a day off.
They were allowed to leave the brothel – though not alone, but accompanied by guards – to join the villagers in the festivities and enjoy the festival.
The brothel's security was low during this period of time and the girls had planned to utilize that for their escape.
The girls – those who didn't know of the escape plan – filtered out through the gates of the brothel, like bright-winged butterflies and delicate spring blossoms, accompanied by gray and dull looking guards.
Jia had been peeking out the window and watching the scene.
She had heard about the Spring festival, but she didn't think the Madam would actually let the girls enjoy something like this.
She looked over and saw that everyone had packed their bags, and they were waiting in the living room area.
At that moment Zarah and Halley walked into the room, talking among themselves.
Jia looked over towards Iris with a raised brow and asked, "What are Zarah and Miss Halley whispering about?" she asked curiously.
Iris shrugged cluelessly, "No idea," she said, with equal levels of curiosity laced in her voice.
When Halley went away after giving Zarah a file, Iris and Jia walked up to her.
"So?" Iris said while looking at the file in Zarah's hands.
Zarah's lips lifted up in a smile, one that came with an expression which Iris for the first couldn't read.
"It's the brothel's financial ledger," Zarah said, taking a deep breath.
Iris looked at her with narrowed eyes before asking, "The one with proof of Miss Jennifer embezzling the brothel's funds?"
Zarah nodded her head in agreement.
Iris said nothing, but a gnawing feeling had started growing inside her stomach. 'What exactly is Zar up to?' she thought.
Jia on the other hand was curious beyond worlds, "Why do you have that? Didn't we leave it back in Miss Jennifer's room?" she asked while pointing at the ledger.
"No, I had brought it along with us," Zarah replied calmly, before hesitantly adding, "I forgot to tell you both about it...sorry."
Before Jia could say anything more, Iris grabbed Zarah by her hand and dragged her to a corner of the room.
"What are you trying to pull?" she asked while glaring at Zarah.
Zarah's fingers were shaking, she took a deep breath and clenched them into a fist to ground herself.
She was nervous, she knew lying to Iris wasn't wise.
They had grown up together and considered each other sisters, they could tell if the other wasn't being truthful.
Iris continued pinning Zarah with her glare, "Zar? Come on, tell me, what are you planning?" she asked gently this time, reaching out and taking Zarah's free hand in hers.
Zarah exhaled gathering her nerves before she started speaking, "In case we get caught trying to escape, I can show this to Miss Jennifer and-"
Before Zarah could finish Iris completed the sentence, "And make a deal? If she doesn't rat us out, we won't rat her out."
Iris's eyes had widened and she looked thoroughly impressed.
"This will save us from punishment," she said happily, before she let go of Zarah's hands and cupping her face instead as she pulled her cheeks, "Aww, baby sister I am so proud of your brain," she teased.
Zarah huffed indignantly, swatting Iris's hands away, "Yeah, Yeah, come now, let's go back there," she said, looking towards the door as Celine entered with a small bag.
Iris laughed pulling Zarah towards the rest of the girls.
Zarah hadn't lied to Iris, she had told her a half truth.
She would use it as a bargain chip if they got caught but in a different way. She would ask Miss Jennifer to let the girls involved in the plan escape, while Zarah herself stayed back.
That way two contenders for the flower maiden candidates would remain. One would be Zarah herself and the other?
Zarah looked over at Celine and scoffed to herself.
She knew Celine had already told Miss Jennifer of their plan, she could see it in the way Celine had not packed anything since last night. The bag now? It was only for show.
That was one of the reasons she had not informed Celine, Miss Halley was helping them. Zarah did not want the old lady to get in trouble because of them.
The younger girls were carried by the older girls, who also carried bags on their backs and walked to the back garden silently.
The wall which supposedly had a hole didn't have any guards, like they had expected.
About 18 girls were involved in the escape excluding Zarah and Celine.
Zarah went forward, scanning the wall for the hole, but it was covered in vines.
Thick, green vines covering every surface of the wall.
Zarah frowned, she could hear the restless whispered chatter of the girls of various ages behind her.
She took a deep breath and pulled on the vines. The vines snapped softly as they were torn free from the wall.
Iris had been holding a torch to the wall as Zarah tore the vines.
When Zarah tore the last vine, the other side of the wall could be seen.
Iris and Zarah exchanged a glance, then Zarah walked forward after nodding her head in silent order.
Iris turned back towards the others and signaled them to follow along.
Jia was walking behind Iris, telling her all about her home in the North Duchy.
The forest was dark in the night. The air hitting their faces was crisp. It was the same air as in the brothel, but for some reason they all knew it felt much fresher.
All of their hearts were beating so fast, the girls swore the others could hear it.
Zarah's blood was rushing in her veins, she was nervous. She had planned this, but she knew the danger up ahead.
She stopped halfway from their original break point.
She slowly turned towards Celine and smiled at her, "Can you fetch us some water?" she asked with fake sweetness in her tone.
Celine looked like she wanted to protest and curse Zarah's ancestry out, but instead she took a deep breath and composed herself.
"Why me?" she asked with an equal amount of fake sweetness in her tone.
"Because you are the one with the least luggage," Zarah said matter of factly.
Zarah knew she wouldn't be leaving but she still packed her bags full, so as to not raise suspicions. Celine had clearly left that part out, but then again no one really questioned what she did. Everyone agreed Celine was too exhausting to talk to.
Celine grumbled unintelligible curses under her breath as she stomped towards the river nearby.
When Celine was out of sight, Zarah turned around and said firmly, "Change of plans, Lyra will guide all of you through the east gate instead of the west."
"What? Why?" Iris questioned instantly.
Lyra, Olivia and Lila had already been made aware that Celine ratted them out by Halley. They were ready to take the detour.
"What about Celine?" Clara asked, "She hasn't returned yet."
Everyone in the group broke out into different discussions and protests.
"ENOUGH!" Zarah exclaimed loudly, her eyes steel as she looked at them with a degree of finality that shocked everyone.
"Celine ratted us out and before any of you ask how I know, Miss Halley told me," she said with a sigh, "Take the eastern path, and all of you can escape."
No one knew what to do—fear gripped some, nerves shook others, and the rest stood frozen between choices.
Zarah spoke to them one by one, tailoring her words to each fear and doubt, until slowly, hesitation gave way to resolve.
Jia looked at Zarah, "You're not coming, are you?" she asked with a sad lilt in her tone.
Zarah smiled before crashing Jia into her arms and hugging her tightly.
"I will miss you, Jia," she whispered.
Jia's eyes watered up as her grip on the back of Zarah's dress tightened, "I will miss you more, Zarah," she whispered back just as quietly.
She then pulled back and took Zarah's hands in hers, "I, Jia Sterling, heir of the Northern Sterling Duchy swear on my honor and life that I will return this favour to you," Jia said with promise lacing her tone.
Zarah patted the back of Jia's hand, "I will count on it, Jia," she said with a fond expression.
With that they parted ways, the older brothel girls leading the younger ones away.
Iris said nothing and stood still, whispering something to Olivia.
Zarah thought Iris wanted to talk to Zarah alone once, before leaving.
Zarah stared at the retreating figures with a hint of resolve.
Iris moved forward towards Zarah and smacked her lightly on the head.
Zarah yelped in pain, holding her hand to her head rubbing it, "So, you planned to leave after hitting me?" she tried to tease but her voice was breaking.
Iris frowned and smacked Zarah again. Tears were falling down her cheeks. Zarah didn't block the hits, and she took them as she reached out to cup Iris's cheeks in her hands.
"I am sorry," Zarah murmured.
Iris huffed in anger, lunging forward and hugging Zarah tightly, "I am not leaving you alone," she declared.
"But-" Zarah tried to protest.
Iris smacked Zarah's back, cutting her off, "No buts, Zarah," she said sternly, "We are sisters, we go everywhere together."
Zarah pulled back and looked at Iris with an expression of quiet emotion.
Iris continued, "We may be not sisters who share the same blood," she said as she pinched Zarah's cheek, "But, we will always be sisters who have shed the same blood."
Zarah was shocked with emotion, her eyes filled with tears.
"Uh, what are you two doing?" Celine's irritated voice broke the moment.
Zarah and Iris looked over to see Celine was back with the water.
"Where are the others?" Celine asked looking around impatiently.