After two days

In those two days, Alex and Christian never came to see Elena or Lucia.

The silence was worse than fear.

Elena spent most of her time sitting near the window, staring at the same patch of sky, counting hours instead of days. Lucia lay on the cold floor of her room, chained, replaying the same thoughts again and again—escape, survival, death.

Both of them were thinking the same thing.

I can’t do anything alone.

For the first time since arriving in this place, Elena decided to step out of her room. Waiting wasn’t saving her. Fear wasn’t protecting her. If there was a “new girl,” then maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t alone anymore.

The palace was eerily quiet.

Elena wandered through long corridors, marble floors echoing softly under her bare feet. Every corner felt watched. Every shadow felt alive.

Then suddenly—a girl stepped right in front of her.

She blocked Elena’s path casually, arms crossed.

Lixi: “So you’re the new girl.”

Her eyes moved slowly, deliberately, scanning Elena from head to toe.

Lixi: “Beautiful… and hot.”
She smirked.
“That’s usually the reason girls end up here.”

She walked around Elena in a slow circle, heels clicking against the floor.

Lixi: “So,” she stopped in front of her, “did you sleep with sir yet?”

Elena stiffened.

Elena: “It’s none of your business.”

Lixi laughed softly.

Lixi: “So arrogant.”

Before Elena could react, Lixi grabbed her hair and pulled her head back slightly.

Lixi: “I’m the boss here. You watch your tongue when you talk to me.”

Elena’s heart pounded, but she forced herself to move.

She jerked Lixi’s hand away.

Elena: “You may be the boss or whatever… but not for me.”

For a moment, Lixi just stared at her.

Then her face twisted with rage.

Lixi: “You’ll see what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

She stepped back and walked away, her footsteps sharp and angry.

Elena stood frozen, her hands shaking.

Then a soft voice spoke behind her.

Aanya: “Hi… I’m Aanya.”

Elena turned.

The girl looked gentle—nothing like Lixi. Her eyes were tired but kind.

Aanya: “Don’t worry. I’m not one of them.”

Elena studied her for a second.

Elena: “I’m Elena.”

Aanya smiled faintly.

Aanya: “How can I help you?”

Elena: “Huh?”

Aanya tilted her head.

Aanya: “You’re searching for something. Or someone.”

Elena hesitated, then nodded.

Elena: “A new girl… do you know her?”

Aanya: “The girl Christian sir brought?”

Elena nodded again.

Aanya looked around the corridor once, then lowered her voice.

Aanya: “Follow me.”

They walked quietly, turning into a less-used wing of the palace. Aanya stopped in front of a small, locked room and knocked twice—soft but deliberate.

The door opened.

Inside, Lucia lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Her legs were chained, the metal biting into her skin.

Elena’s breath caught.

She hadn’t expected this.

Aanya: “Hello. I’m Aanya.”

Lucia turned her head slowly.

Lucia: “Lucia.”

Elena: “I’m Elena.”

Lucia studied her face, then nodded slightly.

Elena: “I want to talk to you… can I?”

Lucia pushed herself up and sat straight, her back against the wall.

Elena and Aanya sat down on the floor with her.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Finally, Elena broke the silence.

Elena: “Are you a prostitute here?”

Lucia answered without hesitation.

Lucia: “No.”

Elena: “Then why are you here?”

Lucia’s eyes hardened.

Lucia: “That jerk thinks I witnessed something I shouldn’t have.”

Elena: “Did you?”

Lucia: “No.”

Elena nodded, believing her instantly.

Lucia looked back at her.

Lucia: “What about you?”

Elena swallowed.

Elena: “I think… I am.”

Lucia and Aanya frowned.

Elena’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue.

Elena: “My dad sold me to Alex. And now he’s forcing himself on me.”

Lucia clenched her jaw.

Lucia: “You mean rape?”

Elena nodded.

Elena: “Not yet. He gave me one month. After that… he said he’ll do whatever he wants.”

The room felt heavier.

Lucia turned to Aanya.

Lucia: “And you?”

Aanya sighed.

Aanya: “I’m a prostitute. I get paid every month.”

Elena: “He doesn’t force you?”

Aanya: “No. I need money. He gives me that.”
She shrugged sadly.
“It’s business.”

Silence filled the room—thick, uncomfortable, painful.

Then Aanya spoke again, her tone serious now.

Aanya: “I know this place. I know the rules. The people. The timings.”

She looked at both of them.

Aanya: “And I’ll tell you everything you should know.”

Lucia and Elena exchanged a glance. For the first time since coming here—They weren’t alone.

Aanya: “I’ve been here for six months.”

Both girls looked at her sharply.

Aanya: “This place belongs to Alex sir. He likes to keep prostitutes here. He doesn’t believe in one-night stands—he buys girls. Permanently.”

Elena’s hands clenched in her lap.

Aanya: “Christian sir is different. He believes in one-night stands. He never keeps girls around. Alex sir and Christian sir are best friends… and partners.”

She paused, choosing her words carefully.

Aanya: “Alex sir is the leader of the gang. At least, that’s what the world thinks.”
She looked straight at Lucia.
Aanya: “But Christian sir leads everything behind Alex sir.”

Lucia’s eyes darkened.

Aanya: “Everything happens according to him. Every deal. Every order. Alex sir is short-tempered. He always ends up creating problems.”

She let out a small, bitter smile.

Aanya: “That’s why Christian sir handles everything.”

Elena swallowed.

Elena: “That’s why Alex scares me… but Christian feels worse.”

Aanya nodded slowly.

Aanya: “Alex sir acts on desire. Christian sir acts on calculation.”

Lucia leaned back against the wall.

Lucia: “So I’m here because of Christian.”

Aanya: “Yes.”

Aanya then turned to Elena.

Aanya: “Alex sir has twenty prostitutes here. Including you. And Lixi is his favorites”

Elena’s breath hitched.

Aanya: “Christian sir has never brought a girl here before. He never touches Alex sir’s women.”

She looked back at Lucia.

Aanya: “You’re the first girl Christian sir brought into this house.”

The room fell silent. That single sentence changed everything. Lucia stared at the floor, understanding settling in slowly. Elena felt her chest tighten.

Aanya: “Christian doesn’t keep things he doesn’t intend to control.”

Lucia lifted her head.

Lucia: “Then I’m not a mistake.”

Aanya met her gaze.

Aanya: “No. You’re a decision.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

Two women.
Two different cages.
One dangerous house.

And now—they knew exactly who they were dealing with.

Elena broke the silence first.

Elena: “I wanted to run away… but I can’t do this alone.”

Lucia turned her head slowly, meeting Elena’s eyes.

Lucia: “I’ve been thinking the same.”

There was no hesitation in her voice—only certainty. Elena swallowed, then spoke again, firmer this time.

Elena: “Let’s run away together.”

Aanya’s expression changed instantly. The softness in her eyes was replaced by caution.

Aanya: “They will come after you.”

Elena: “We’ll hide. That’s not the issue.”
She leaned forward slightly.
Elena: “Just tell us—can you help us?”

Aanya looked at both of them. Two broken women. Two desperate chances.

She exhaled slowly.

Aanya: “I’ll try.”

Hope flickered—for the first time, real hope. Aanya lowered her voice.

Aanya: “After two days, both Alex sir and Christian sir are going on a business trip.”

Lucia straightened.

Lucia: “Both of them?”

Aanya: “Yes. They’ll be gone for at least a day.”

Elena’s heart started racing.

Elena: “That’s our chance.”

Aanya nodded.

Aanya: “Security will be lighter. Fewer guards. Night shift only.”

Lucia clenched her fists.

Lucia: “What about the chains?”

Aanya looked at her legs, then back at her face.

Aanya: “I’ll handle that.”

Elena reached out without thinking and held Lucia’s hand. Neither pulled away.

Elena: “If we fail—”

Lucia: “We don’t.”

Aanya looked at them both, something like respect in her eyes.

Aanya: “Then listen carefully. From now on, you act normal. No fear. No rebellion.”

She paused.

Aanya: “They can smell hope.”

The room went quiet again. But this time, the silence wasn’t empty.

It was planning.
It was danger.
It was the beginning of something reckless.

And maybe—Freedom.

Elena’s POV,

The door opened without a knock. I looked up—and my chest tightened.

Alex.

He closed the door behind him slowly, like he had all the time in the world.

Alex: “You’ve been very quiet.”

I didn’t answer. I kept my hands clenched in my lap, nails digging into my skin. He walked closer, stopping just short of touching me. Too close. Close enough that I could feel his presence like pressure in the air.

Alex: “You know,” he said softly, “fear makes people interesting.”

I swallowed.

Elena: “Why are you here?”

He smiled—not kind, not angry. Curious.

Alex: “To see if you’ve learned.”

His fingers lifted—almost brushing my hair—then stopped, hovering there deliberately. The pause was worse than contact.

Alex: “Relax,” he murmured. “If I wanted something from you right now, you wouldn’t have a choice.”

My breath shook despite my effort to stay still. He leaned down, his voice low, controlled.

Alex: “But I’m patient.”

He straightened, stepping back at last.

Alex: “Enjoy that patience while you can.”

The door clicked shut behind him. I stayed frozen long after he left, my body still bracing for something that didn’t happen—Yet.

Elena’s POV End.