“The last time I saw her was that night I told you about” Emi whispers, her head hanging low and her fingers trapped under my hands. “But I heard that she caused some problems for Cleis.” She looks at me sideways, her neck twisting to meet my eyes.
“What kind of problems? How did you hear it?” The questions come fast and desperate.
“He would let us out in groups some days. Only if we had ‘behaved’ the previous night and had not caused problems with his customers. We would always be guarded by his men and he would ‘reward’ us with stuff. He would also spend time talking to each girl. It was like his words erased the horrible things that happened during the nights.” Emi’s breath quivered and she shook her head. Strands of her black hair fell to cover part of her face.
“It is because he i
