"Where are the others?" Celine asked, her tone laced with impatience.
Iris stepped in front of Zarah protectively, thinking that this was when they would reveal everyone else had already left, but to her surprise Zarah put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently in reassurance.
"They moved ahead since you were taking forever to bring water," Zarah said, flashing Celine a convincing smile.
"Moved forward?" Celine asked with suspicion lacing her tone.
Zarah gave a firm nod, "Yeah, come now, me and Iree were waiting for you," she said, holding Iris's hand and pulling her along towards the west gate.
Celine rolled her eyes before following behind the two of them.
Iris was stunned, Zarah hadn't lied but she hadn't been truthful either. The others had moved forward, which was true, but they had moved towards the eastern gate rather than the western one.
Zarah had twisted her words because she feared Miss Jennifer could have given Celine some sort of communication stone. She didn't want the others to get caught.
As they walked towards the gate Celine kept complaining about the walk being too long.
Zarah and Iris turned a deaf ear to her whines, whispering among themselves about how to corner Jennifer with the financial ledger.
When they were nearing the western gate, Celine stopped in her tracks.
She called out to the two girls ahead, "Where are the others? Why can't I see them ahead?" Celine asked, feeling something was gravely amiss.
"They must have already left through the gate," Iris said, her voice overflowing with fake sweetness.
Celine's expression twisted with disbelief, "What? That can't be possible!" she exclaimed with surprise.
"And why exactly can't it be possible?" Zarah countered, "That was the plan to begin with, unless you tattled on us?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in fake suspicion.
Why would Zarah be suspicious? She already knew Celine had ratted them out, but she would have to act oblivious to that fact to not let Celine on.
Celine looked like her soul had left her body, 'Did Zarah find out the truth?' she thought while panicking.
"NO! OF COURSE NOT!" she spit out quickly, louder than she had intended it to sound.
Zarah gave Celine an unreadable look, before turning her back and continued walking.
The western gate was in view and along with it, so were the guards with Jennifer standing in front of them.
Celine smirked thinking she's in power, then she ran past Zarah and Iris towards Jennifer.
Zarah and Iris just exchanged a knowing glance, the former moved forward taking out the financial ledger and holding it tightly in her hands.
"Miss Jennifer, have you caught all the girls who were trying to escape?" Celine asked smugly.
Jennifer scoffed, "How can I catch anyone if they don't arrive?" she said irritatedly, before she looked past Celine's shoulder straight towards Iris and Zarah, "Where are the other brats?" she asked with a harsh tone.
Zarah stepped forward with an unreadable expression, "They escaped," she announced.
Iris was not entirely sure about this. Sure, they had dirt on Jennifer but what's to say that Jennifer won't turn the tables on them? But at least the others will be able to escape.
Jennifer hissed at Zarah's words before she marched forward and grabbed Zarah by the back of her hair, "ESCAPED WHERE?!" she demanded, shoving Zarah forward.
Zarah let out a gasp in pain, but didn't answer the question.
She would rather be beaten to death than open her mouth about where her friends were.
Iris visibly paled, she moved forward to try to help Zarah but one sharp look from Jennifer and two guards were holding her down.
Jennifer then proceeded to yank Zarah's head back by her hair, turning Zarah to face her as she slapped her using her other hand.
"TELL ME WHICH PATH THEY TOOK!" Jennifer shouted, seething in rage, her hits on Zarah had intensified.
Iris screamed in the side trying to push the guards away, to go help Zarah but she was no match for the guards.
Celine had been escorted bad to the dormitory bedroom.
After the fourth hit Zarah finally opened her mouth, without looking at Jennifer she said, "7th March, the shipment of dress fibres was a gift to the brothel not a purchase."
Jennifer froze. The color from her face drained.
"How do you-" she had barely began when Zarah interrupted again.
"The blue diamond necklace was gifted to the Madam by Count Hersion, yet you never informed her about it," Zarah continued, "Food ingredient orders are recorded extra but the money for the extra ingredients isn't paid to the suppliers."
To be honest Zarah was scared, she wasn't sure whether this would work or not but it was worth a shot.
She didn't want Iris in trouble, she had to make sure the punishment would be lessened.
Jennifer on the other hand had frozen completely, her throat had dried up, her voice choked, "What...how far do you know?" she finally asked with a scared tone.
Zarah finally looked up at Jennifer and flashed her an over-confident grin, "The financial ledger I found in your room," she said boldly.
"Why you thief! How dare you enter my room when I wasn't present?!" Jennifer bristled in anger. She raised her hand in an attempt to slap Zarah again but this time Zarah caught her hand, stopping her mid-motion.
That surprised Jennifer, the younger girl had never shown such obvious acts of rebellion.
Iris stared at the scene in front of her with wide-eyes.
The guards exchanged hesitant glances between themselves.
Zarah's heart was racing with adrenaline, the fight or flight mechanism making itself known as it actively chose the former.
"Miss Jennifer I have a proposal," she said with fake sweetness lacing her tone, "I will give you the financial ledger which contains the..." she let go of Jennifer's hand, letting the words hang between them with clear indication for people who knew the matter to understand but not saying it out loud for the guards to catch on.
Jennifer furrowed her brows, as she pulled back from the younger girl, "If you are going where I think you're going with this then don't," she said with a glare, "Celine knows you tried to escape, the guards know, eighteen girls are missing and besides-"
Zarah cut Jennifer off again, "I am not asking you to let me off punishment," her voice carried conviction as she spoke, "I am saying you don't send the guards after the ones who left and as for the escape plan? – I take all the blame willingly."
Iris tried to protest from where she was being held down, "Zarah ! No!"
Jennifer looked at Zarah while weighing her options. She turned towards the guards and flicked her wrist, the guards quickly let go of Iris.
Iris stood up immediately and ran to Zarah's side.
Zarah and Jennifer were locked in a quiet stare-down.
"Come, we will discuss the rest on the way back to the brothel," Jennifer said extending her hand to take the financial ledger from Zarah.
Zarah pulled it back, "No, after you get us what I asked for Miss Jennifer," she said holding her ground.
Jennifer scowled before sharply turning on her heels, "Follow along, but beware," she warned, glancing back at the younger girls as she moved ahead, "I may let them go, but for this escape stunt you pulled the Madam's punishment awaits."
Iris gulped in anxiety and fear.
Zarah gave her hand a gentle squeeze to reassure her as they moved ahead, following behind Jennifer towards the brothel as they discussed their conditions for their deal.
Zarah was aware of what was awaiting her.
It was the Madam's whip – or maybe since she had grown since last time – something far worse.