The weeks following Anna's arrival at the brothel were marked by a slow routine. The place was austere, somewhat sinister, yet also filled with a sadness that seemed to seep into the very walls of the building. Each day felt like the one before, and the other women who worked there appeared as shadows, specters who had abandoned any notion of desire or hope. They rose, carried out their tasks in silence, and returned to their work without a word.
Anna, on the other hand, was lost. She couldn't understand why she found herself in this place, nor what life still expected of her. She forced herself to comply with the rules of the house, but a deep unease lingered within her. Every corner of the house felt hostile, every footstep sent shivers down her spine. But there was one rule she couldn't ignore: Louis Bernard, her "boss," didn't want anyone to touch her.
It seemed strange, even a bit absurd. In a place where bodies were central to everything, it was hard to understand why he made it a point to protect Anna this way. Yet, it was the rule: clients weren't allowed to touch her, and even the other women weren't supposed to speak to her, unless absolutely necessary. He never explained why, but he made sure no one broke this prohibition.
At first, this bothered her. She didn't quite understand what motivated this decision. In such a place, where the exploitation of intimacy seemed to be the norm, why spare her? Yet, Anna sensed a form of protection in this rule, an exemption that, paradoxically, made her both special and marginalized. Sometimes, she felt like an enigma that no one dared solve.
The days passed, and she slowly adapted to her new life. She observed the other women working there—some resigned, others younger like herself, but all living under the shadow of an unyielding system. Anna had noticed that they all more or less followed a well-established routine: respond to their boss's demands, receive clients when they arrived, and wait patiently for the day to end.
But Anna was not like the others. She hadn't yet accepted this reality. She always held on to the thought of escaping, of regaining some freedom. But as the days went by, every time she slipped near the door, the hope of escaping collided with reality: the city seemed like a parallel world, foreign and inaccessible.
One evening, as she had taken refuge in a small room at the back of the house, she heard footsteps in the hallway. These weren't familiar steps. They were Louis Bernard's. He rarely came at night, and Anna instinctively knew that his presence here was never casual.
The door opened with a slight creak, and he stood there, like an imposing figure in the dark. He didn't speak immediately, but his eyes locked onto Anna with an intensity that she found almost… strange. It wasn't a threat, but a presence that weighed heavily in the room.
"I told you not to let anyone touch you," he said finally, his voice calm but firm. "You understand, don't you?"
Anna shrugged without really responding. She didn't understand, or at least she had no answers to give him. But in the back of her mind, a flicker of curiosity crept in. Why this rule? Why her, specifically?
"I don't intend to keep you here longer than necessary," he continued, as though he had guessed her thoughts. "But for now, it's important that you follow this rule. Don't worry about the others."
Anna lowered her gaze, trying to hide the rising sense of injustice inside her. A part of her rebelled against this situation, against this absurd world where she had no control. But another part knew that, for now, the only thing she could do was accept.
Louis Bernard looked at her for a moment longer before turning to leave the room, but his last words echoed in Anna's mind: "I haven't forgotten what I owe your mother. You're just a step in the story."
These words left her deep in thought. What did he mean by that? What was the mysterious connection between him and her mother? Anna had no answers, but she felt more determined than ever to understand why her life had taken this tragic turn. Why had the Reaper chosen to protect her? And above all, what did this "rule" really mean?
The following nights were marked by intense reflection. Anna wondered if the truth she was seeking was within reach, but also if she was ready to face it. Maybe she would never understand everything. Maybe her only chance to escape would be to ignore everything happening around her, to focus solely on her own survival.
For now, she remained there, waiting for the moment when she could finally make a decision. But the question was clear: would she accept being controlled, or would she fight for her freedom, no matter the cost?