Three days had passed since Zarah had pulled Clara into their plan.
During those three days, Lyra, Olivia and Lila had been recruited in the plan.
The other older ladies of the brothel were asked if they ever wanted to run away from the brothel in a subtle manner. Those who had shown interest in running away were recruited in the plan, while the others were not informed of it.
The reason for not being open about the plan with everyone was the fact that no one knew when someone would turn their back on them and rat them out to the Madam.
Celine had still not been informed.
The girls were currently having a meeting about how to ask Celine.
"I don't get why all of you are worrying so much about Celine," Jia exclaimed with furrowed brows.
Zarah gave Jia a dry look, "You have been here for a while, Jia, don't you know what Celine's like?" she asked with a sigh.
Jia tapped her chin with her finger while thinking before she answered, "She seems like she enjoys causing scenes."
"She's a tattletale," Iris said huffing, "If anyone makes even a small mistake she tells the guards or Miss Jennifer about it."
Ava nodded her head in agreement, "One time I woke up late for sweeping duty, so Iris helped me," she explained with animated movements of her hand, "Celine saw that and went to Miss Jennifer, she reported that I was taking help with my chores. Miss Jennifer ended up canceling my meals for that entire day!"
Clara patted Ava on the back before looking over at the other girls, "Celine is a tattletale, but she's my friend too," she said with a downward expression, "I know she's not the best person, but we can't leave her behind can we?"
Clara was Celine's only friend in the brothel. Celine wasn't exactly good with her either, but Clara couldn't find it in herself to break friendship with Celine.
Zarah frowned flicking Clara's forehead playfully, "Who said anything about leaving the cockroach behind? We will take Celine with us," she said firmly, "But she will be informed the day before the plan, so she can't pull anything even if she wanted to."
The girls had all burst out laughing when Zarah called Celine a cockroach.
Iris smirked, "Yeah well before that we need to pack our stuff right?" she asked as she put a bunch of hairclips in a bag.
Zarah gave Iris an exasperated look at that, "Only important things, Iris, not every damn thing you have," she teased.
Clara and Ava exchanged a glance and looked at their own bags, stuffed with dresses.
Clara sighed getting up and pulling Ava up with her, "We will pack our dresses then," she said dragging Ava with her, "Bye girls, see you later."
Ava sighed, giving up and letting Clara pull her along as she looked back and waved the others goodbye, "See you in the evening I guess."
Iris and Zarah stared at each other for a while.
"Did you see that, Zar?" Iris asked with a cheeky grin.
Zarah chuckled, nodding her head before she answered, "I saw it, Iree."
"What did you two see?" Jia asked with a confused expression.
"Something," Iris and Zarah said in unison.
"It's not for children to know," Zarah said with a wink.
Jia pouted, feeling left out of whatever secret these two had stumbled upon.
She grumbled, "Well, I am older than you both!"
Iris raised an eyebrow questioningly, "Are you?" she asked with a teasing lilt.
Jia huffed in indignation.
Zarah and Iris shared another look before laughing out loud, "Well," Zarah drawled the word out to let curiosity settle in Jia.
"Ava likes Clara," she finally said.
Jia looked at her cluelessly, "Huh? But what's funny about that?"
"Nothing's funny about it," Iris asked with confusion at Jia's words.
Jia looked even more confused, "Then why are you two smiling like that? I mean I like you both as well?"
Iris chuckled out loud and Zarah face palmed.
"Oh! Sweet, sweet, innocent, Jia," Iris cooed, then she began explaining to Jia with excitement what type of 'like' she meant.
Zarah smiled at the scene.
They were just twelve, but that didn't mean they couldn't have crushes right? Ava liked Clara, and Zarah wanted to make sure that they escaped so even something as small as a crush could have the chance to bloom as they age.
She felt her heart clenching in her chest at the thought that in three days she wouldn't be with her friends anymore.
But it was okay, because her friends would be free.
Zarah looked over to see Iris teasing Jia and smiled to herself thinking, 'I have to make sure they escape.'
Celine tapped her feet irritably in the dormitory bedroom.
"What's so important that you had to corner me?" Celine asked with a pissed tone.
Zarah took a deep breath trying to calm herself. She had to hold it in, she couldn't be angry.
"Celine, do you want to escape?" Zarah asked Celine carefully.
Celine looked flabbergasted, she stared at Zarah with eyes as wide as saucers.
Zarah was trying to read Celine's expressions.
Celine steadied herself, she was about to shout but Zarah covered her mouth before she could.
"Hush, Celine!" Zarah scolded, "Listen to me, I know we don't exactly get along, but I assure you we will run away and you will be safe," she said in one breath, before moving her hand away from Celine's mouth.
Celine wanted to argue, but instead she gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and said, "Sure."
Zarah was shocked, but Celine didn't change her mind.
That had worked out surprisingly better than she had expected.
Only one day remained.
Tomorrow would be the day the plan is going to be put in action.
Celine on the other hand smirked as Zarah left the room, she didn't want to escape. Sure the brothel was hell, but she would rather be in it to become a flower maiden and gain riches in the future.
She had always held a grudge against Zarah for being better in most things, now she knew how to get rid of that pest.
She walked out the room and headed towards Miss Jennifer's room.
She would make sure no one escapes tomorrow and all of them get punished.