Crimson Lights

Homecoming

Trying to nurse an injured Inness, Samar found herself cornered by Inness after Anna let it slip that Karmen was working at the big house.

"Karmen's at the big house?" Inness asked Samar, clutching at her arms tightly.

Samar stared at Anna in anger; this was what she wanted to avoid exactly. She didn't want such a situation to arise, which was why she knew from the very beginning that it was a mistake for Karmen to talk about Inness. One way or another, she was sure Anna would somehow get herself involved in the middle of things.

"Inness, you're hurting me."

Ignoring her, Inness repeated her question. "Tell me, is my sister there?"

"Don't you think if she wanted you to know where she was she would have told you instead?"

Inness released her hold on Samar, leaving visible imprints of her fingers on her arm. She turned her back to Samar, clearly signaling that she wanted them to leave. Samar straightened up, intending to do just that yet Anna had other thoughts in mind.

"Samar..."

"Don't you start," Samar snapped, irritated with her.

"It's unfair to her. She should know."

"It's none of our business!"

"Wouldn't you want to know if you were in her place?"

Studying Inness' silhouette, Samar couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She wasn't as heartless as everyone thought she was yet she also knew the dangers and the problems that would arise when you stick your nose in a place that you don't belong.

"Anna ... Why do you do this to me? My life was full of peace before I met you."

Sensing her opening, Anna pressed on.

"I'll take responsibility for her."

"Like hell you will. You're under my care, remember?"

"Please," Anna pleaded with her. "I know how it feels like to want to know something and have the possibility of an answer in front of you yet not have it told to you. Even my memory, I don't remember any of them. I know how agonising that feels like."

Sighing, Samar turned to Inness once again.

"Karmen's at the big house – she's one of the elites."

Turning on the bed, Inness focused her eyes on Samar.

"How long has she been there?"

"Too long." Noticing Inness' steady gaze, she relented, "She came to Madam somewhere around your first year."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"She asked me not to."

"She asked you not to?" Inness snapped. "She asked you not to? Are you out of your mind? Couldn't you see that she wasn't suited for it? She was practically a princess – she never had it rough. What made you think she would know how to turn tricks?"

"She learned some of it and I taught her some as well."

Anna watched in horror as Inness got up from the bed slowly; her face twisted menacingly, with the bandages and unhealed cuts adding to the effect.

"You taught my sister how to be a prostitute?" Inness asked, standing right in front of Samar. They were almost similar in height, though Samar was around an inch taller.

"No, I simply taught her how to be one of the elites. The rest, she knew it herself."

"What did you taught her?" Inness' words were coming out slowly, one by one, as if she was trying her best to restrain her temper.