As the first rays of the sun streamed in through the window casting soft, warm light on Zarah's empty bed, she finished folding the blanket and placed her pillow neatly on top.
It was early morning, and Zarah was on sweeping duty that day.
She stretched her arms and drank some water, shaking the last of her sleep away.
She had work to do and a certain someone to look for.
Zarah had planned to look for Jia in the morning as she swept the brothel.
It was a good thing it was her turn that morning, that way she could search the entire brothel without having to worry about what excuse to use in the chance she got caught.
Knowing how harsh the Madam was during punishments from first hand experience her heart ached for Jia.
Jia was a duke's daughter, she probably has never lifted a finger her entire life and now to be stuck in such a place as this brothel and be abused?
Zarah's stomach lurched.
'Focus Zarah! Feel bad for Jia later, you have to find her first" Zarah thought, reminding herself.
Zarah was in the hallway, sweeping in front of the infirmary when Halley, the nurse came out.
"Good morning Zarah, you're on duty today?" Halley asked, greeting Zarah with a smile.
Halley was old, her skin wrinkled with time. She was in her early sixties probably. She used to serve as a brothel lady before but she aged and was assigned other duties, due to her knowledge in medicine Halley was made the nurse.
"Good morning Miss Halley" Zarah smiled looking up at the old lady.
"Yes it's my turn today" Zarah replied as she stopped sweeping for a while to talk to Halley.
"Ah well Zarah do you think you can spare me five minutes?" Halley asked hesitantly.
"I have to grab a few herbs from the garden, the new girl has some nasty scars from yesterday" Halley said her expression saddening.
Zarah's ears perked up as she felt her heart beat pick up.
New girl?
It's Jia cause she was the only one who got punished that week and nobody else was new in the brothel that month.
"You mean the one who got punished yesterday?" Zarah asked her tone controlled, expression neutral.
Halley nodded with a small smile, "Yes her....can you watch her for a while Zarah? I will be quick"
Zarah nodded.
Who would miss this sort of opportunity? She was looking for Jia to begin with after all.
"Okay Miss Halley, I am here don't worry" Zarah said reassuring Halley.
Halley patted Zarah on the back calling her a good girl and walking off towards the garden.
Zarah leaned the broom on the door frame as she wiped her hands down on the skirt of her dress before she entered the infirmary.
She was a bit anxious.
Her hands trembled a little as she fully entered the infirmary and saw Jia laying on the bed.
Jia's white hair sprawled across the pillow, her golden eyes staring at the ceiling in hopelessness.
Jia's hands were bandaged, the lower part of her body was covered by a blanket.
As she walked closer she saw Jia was wearing a short sleeved sleep gown.
Jia's eyes averted at the sound of footsteps and her gaze landed on Zarah.
Their eyes met.
Zarah's breath hitched as she froze.
She felt her chest tighten.
She had planned to search for Jia, had been planning escape routes even before Jia was here because she knew she wouldn't be able to stop from Jia coming to the brothel.
But what Zarah hadn't planned or thought was, what would she say to Jia?
How would Zarah converse with her?
She felt nervous and her stomach fluttered in anxiety.
"Hey? What's your name? I am Zarah" Zarah blurted out loudly.
Then felt embarrassed.
She knew who Jia was.... but well her question wasn't stupid, because this was their first time meeting.
Technically Zarah shouldn't know who Jia is.
It was a valid question, because after all like everyone in the brothel all she should know about Jia is that she was punished by the Madam the night before.
Jia stared wordlessly at Zarah.
The girl looked her age, had sharpened green eyes and blonde hair which curled beautifully at the ends. Jia's eyes were caught.
Jia was brought here the day before and she hadn't seen anyone other than the guards, the cruel lady they called Madam who hit her till she fainted and the nice old lady Halley.
And now this girl....what did she say her name was...
"Zarah?" Jia asked looking at Zarah.
Jia hadn't expected someone her age to be in a place like this.
"Yes I am Zarah" Zarah nodded giving a faint smile.
"Jia Sterling" Jia said holding Zarah's gaze, her face expressionless.
"How are you feeling?" Zarah asked, her gaze sweeping across Jia once more.
Jia scoffed weakly, "What does it look like I feel?" Jia's words were biting and angry.
Given her situation her reaction was understandable.
Zarah gave a small smile, "Well from experience it hurts like hell" she said with a dry tone.
"Experience?" Jia said her eyes widening.
Well why was she shocked? Jia thought, how cruel that woman was it shouldn't have been a surprise that wasn't the first time she laid her hands or in this case her whip on someone.
Jia looked at Zarah again, "How old are you?" Her tone was curious this time.
"Twelve, what about you Jia?"
Jia was shocked.
Not at the age.
But the fact someone called her by her name.
Well the Madam hurled insults at her....and the old lady hadn't asked her what her name was but being a noble no one had ever just called her by her first name like that.
"Thirteen...." Jia murmured.
Zarah looked at her with a look that wasn't pitying rather one fellow soldiers gave each other.
"Here" Zarah took a chocolate out from her dress pocket.
"I was saving this but since I met you today, you can have it" she smiled.
A lie.
Zarah had read Jia liked chocolates in the webcomic and that's how Melody melted her way towards Jia.
She kept that in mind and had kept a chocolate with her since last night to give it to Jia when she looked for her this morning.
Thinking it may help her be somewhat close to Jia.
Jia stared at the chocolate, her eyes glistening for a while before she frowned.
She couldn't reach her hand forward, she was too injured to move.
"My arms are injured" Jia said stiffly.
Zarah gave a little chuckle and opened the chocolate packet and held out a piece walking closer to Jia.
"I can feed you, we are friends now that we know each other's names aren't we?" Zarah said offering a smile.
She knew that's not how you make friends but she needed Jia's friendship to have her trust her enough to believe in her escape plan.
Jia was shocked.
Friends? Just like that ? Was it possible?
As Zarah fed Jia the piece of chocolate, Jia's racing mind seemed to calm down a little.
A friend.
That sounded nice.
A friend who wasn't after her status or money....not that any of that would work here.
Jia looked at Zarah and for the first time she had arrived at this cursed place she smiled.
"Thank you Zarah" Jia said a smile gracing her lips.
At that moment Halley came back with the herbs.
Zarah placed the chocolate beside Jia's pillow.
"I have to go now, I still have sweeping duty today" Zarah said to Jia before giving Halley a curt nod before heading off.
Zarah smiled as she walked out grabbing the broom which was still leaning on the door frame.
She started sweeping along the brothel again.
Jia smiled at her.
That was something good.
That was progress.
Zarah could work with that. She would gain Jia's trust.
She would help Jia escape.
Though if the Madam caught on to Zarah's plan...that would be more than trouble.
She has to be careful.