with the back of her hand. The air was stifling, she was sweating all over, but none of that

ce, every sound became an assault. She could hear footsteps echoing upstairs, the scraping of crawli

to open. The light from the hallway briefly illuminated a section of the room, but she didn'

moment, listening to t

ood was the last thing on her mind. She wasn't even hu

inking. Every day, the door opened three times, a

remained closed most of the day. New tears replaced the old ones, dried on her ch

ce she had seen anything so bright. She slowly raised her han

fifty, was watching Tiana closely. Then she nodded to the other two women, w

e ground as his lim

A sweet smell of strawberries filled the

water. A maid was stationed right next to it

ff your

noticed her cold gaze, without the slightest hint of compas

nervous. Before she could even move her hands toward her clothes, the old woman signaled again. I

days without washing, locked in the

rought a stool and made her sit down. Anoth

your

n a sharp voice. Tiana looked up at her, saw an impla

of blood filling her mouth. She hadn't yet finished rinsing when anoth

our leg

. She obeyed. Suddenly, the woman pushed

to hide her private parts.

you're told

was still ringing from the sh

aved her carefully, between her legs, und

ssed her soiled skin. The scent of strawberry and lemon was soothing. She

umed lotion that made her skin shine. She was made to wear a light c

creams were applied to her face. When she saw

ldhood. But what was the point now? If she could choose her fate, she

id's palm. She hesitated, but conti

filled with appetizing food awaited her. A ch

seat opposite her, st

full of vegetables for her a

ou must

the next five months and save her sister, she had no ch

was satisfied. Then she was led

tuous: a large curtain covered a floor-to-ceiling window, a mirror lined the wall near the sofa, and the

ed and fell asleep

ime had passed when she wa

he saw the old lady accompan

here to draw some blood.

ok out a syringe and a tourniquet, disinfected the most visible

ft imme

alm, but her hea

ed her, perfumed her, dressed her like a

hing: soon, she would have

r run through her. When she'd agreed to be his mistre