From the other side of the door, the laughter grew louder. The girls were enjoying the situation, and each laugh echoed in the small room where Anna lay trapped with Edrick.
Anna, with her heart racing, banged on the door again.
"What's so funny?" she asked, frustrated.
One of the girls stepped closer and spoke in a mocking tone.
"Oh, look, it seems little Anna is upset. What are you going to do? Keep begging?"
The other girls laughed, and Anna felt her anger rising. She tried to stay calm, but the taunts only made things worse.
"Just open the door! Edrick isn't well, stop messing around!"
"He's not well? Oh, that's too bad, isn't it?" Margaret's voice, the leader of the group, came through louder this time. Anna could imagine her cruel smile on the other side. "If you want us to open the door, you'll have to apologize to me."
