𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 ༄ 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗈𝖽𝖺𝗂𝗋

chapter twenty six

- FAMILIAR FACES -

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

IT HADN'T EVEN been a full day since she lost her father and here she was, sitting in front of a mirror with scraps fashioned into an 'outfit'.

But that was her situation and no matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn't ask for a break. She'd be denied and probably even tortured for suggesting it.

Now, Clem had been acting off ever since she started getting Nadia ready for the night. Even Sonny noticed, the girl sharing a look with Nadia as Clem kept glancing around, her eyes whisking back and forth between the Peacekeepers and Julia.

     Naturally, Nadia grew worried that she'd done something to get herself in trouble, but it's not as though she could ask her when people were around.

     Great. Now she'd be off the rest of the night.

     She was so distracted by Clem's frantic eyes that every single one of Julia's pointers flew straight over her head. She was highly confused and mildly panicked. How was she supposed to focus under these conditions?

     She'd gotten the routine down to the minute. Sonny would help clean her up, Clem would get her dressed, Birdie and Dightery would work their magic and somehow make her look lovely despite how exhausted she was. Then Julia would clap her hands, like nails on a chalk board, signaling the start of another torturous night.

     This time as Julia clapped her hands and Nadia got to her feet having to blink to rid herself of the dizziness caused by lack of nutrients and nourishment, Clem wrapped her in a hug when she went to walk out the door.

     "Listen to what he has to say, Nadia." She whispered in her ear causing all semblance of focus to flee her head as she tried to understand her words.

"Wha—?"

"Just listen." Clem hugged her tighter to keep her in her hold, Nadia's heart rate picking up as she watched Julia over Clem's shoulder start to become impatient. "He's only trying to help."

"Who?" Nadia asked as she pulled away, Clem smiling nonchalantly as she straightened the strap of her bra.

"You look beautiful as always."

"Clem—"

"All right, boys." Julia caught Nadia's gaze and she had to fight to cover up any suspicion, the woman's eyes staring straight through her it seemed. "Please escort Ms. Holloway to our client."

     Sonny offered a small grin for good luck she supposed, Nadia only nodding in response before she left with her last glance worriedly resting on Clem.

     Her smile was replaced with a nervous mien instead, her hands folded tensely in front of her. If Clem was nervous about something, she knew whatever it was had to be a new level of serious. It was safe to say Nadia was scared for her life going into another never ending night.

༄༄༄

"Listen to what he has to say."