Punish Me, Luciano

in thin lines through

body stayed tense the whole night. The bed beneat

ack-far from the cold

ith worry. Her touch, rough but still warm when she strok

en seventeen when

a city that didn't care if she starved. With no one to turn to, she ended up working at a brothel, d

ains and under tables. She started helping at nine-cleaning, runnin

said once, her voice steel.

ved her. Truste

would come when her mother wou

a man. To so

the robe still wrapped around her

ped her from

guard stepped in.

est ti

if she followed. He

irls were already lined up outside-some younger, some older

to stand b

old. Silent. No o

s, footsteps echoe

, a thin scar down his cheek. His eyes were sharp, a

of them and looked e

swer to me. You listen to me. Y

said

arry yourselves with grace, with silence, with obedience. You b

aight ahead, try

rt with the basics. Walk. Kneel.

sharply.

else. No windows. Just mirrors on one wall, a row of low be

our body properly. No slouching. No dragging your feet. Back

tapping her elbow with

eyed q

ted to the f

ly dropped to

like that

forward from

s that sparkled like she already knew everyone was

arms placed just right on her

" Markus said. "L

swal

you disobey her, you're disobey

eyes cool. She didn't sm

to her. She

ou try

g. Belle fixed her posture. Sh

, how to sit without shifting, how to respo

and arms. When a girl moved too slowly, he shouted. When one w

forw

s burned fr

he didn't know if she wo

it ha

er than sixteen-hesitated when Markus told her t

"You speak when I say. N

spered, "I-I

er. Then calle

oor o

calm steps, holdi

out softly, "

t happens when you disobey.

s arm and dragged her t

said. "Let this

er knees. Her robe was p

breath

aised t

sound Belle had never he

rl scr

t stop a

. And

e girl collapsed

thers. "That's what ha

fell lik

dragged out

ne s

ne m

t she didn't blink. She didn't b

s ever. "Tomorrow, you'll be te

each of them

dismi

hung thick in the air. The girl who had collapsed

e from her sore knees, a

p," he

down, hands folded like they'd been taught. N

ilent and moved with the others. Her collar felt tig

is one steamy and warm. The sharp chill in th

all lamps. A row of copper pipes spilled warm water into a sunken bathing pool. Steam

d with folded towels and small

black with her hair tightly tied. She held a long

" she sai

rls he

froze on the t

he woman

ises, thin bodies, and shame. Belle clutched her arms as she stepped out of hers,

n said, pointi

d into the

her knees and feet. Still, she moved

s soaked

o laughter.

nd the soft so

wash yourselves properly. No filth. You were chosen

eck. The lavender-scented soap clung to her skin, trying

She had stripped without shame. Her back straight, her hands sl

owne

lle's eyes for

oked awa

pped her stick against th

one o

to bathe until the

urselves. Mo

air of the palace. Their bodies were still damp as they reached f

ale grey in color, sleeveless with high necks, and fitted tightly at the waist with a s

n," the wom

r back turned. The fabric clung slightly

her eyes flicked to the corner where the

just the