Moonflower

The loud and cracky voice was sending Naria shivers down her spine, it was Mirai, her best friend who was pushing her to get ready.

The house that was usually filled with laughter was thanks to her, her loud and easy-going personality was something that this house required to get rid of negative thoughts, and it was something that Naria needed as well.

"I'm not going!" Naria finally spoke loudly.

It wasn't because Mirai was deaf but because Naria feared the most... If she went down there tonight, she had no idea what could happen to her anymore.

The rules of the performances were simple, to promote themselves, every girl out of four would need to give a public performance in the house in front of many masked men.

Then, the highest bidder will get a private performance with the girl he chose, and that usually is Naria.

To avoid losing gold and clients, Naria's aunt Verna, decided to make every girl useful and while the bidder gets to enjoy Naria's performance, the rest will entertain them in public.

With laughter, intelligence and jokes, even a piece of advice if it was needed, Verna wasted no time or money. She was a greedy and selfish person, but deep down inside caring for her adopted daughters.

But she couldn't understand that her controversial movements and business ideas were the reason why the other two performers started hating Naria, jealousy was involved and that kept ruining Naria's self-esteem.

Every night, after the performances were done, Veronica, Naria's step-sister and Abigael would cut Naria's clothes into pieces, not allowing her to wear them again.

This kept leading Naria to more and more spending, and in the end, her being the most liked and fancied dancer, she was also the poorest of them all, thanks to her all her spending on the same outfits.

"Nothing will happen, he won't come back tonight," Mirai tried to comfort her best when she sat down next to her, "You have to go..."

"I know, but what if it's not him, what if another one will try to touch me or do something, what then?"

"Then Hector will kick his ass!" Mirai raised her eyebrow and moved her hand which was formed into a punch.

"Stop kicking the air!" Naria chuckled.

"I will not leave until you do," Mirai looked at Naria with her black-like night eyes and gently lifted the right corner of her lips, "You can run away after tonight..." She paused.

"..."

An awkward silence echoed through the room, leaving both girls completely speechless...

"...You know..." Naria took a deep breath and spoke, "I can't run away just yet, but I will keep this in mind," as she turned to Mirai, she saw how a piece of her short, dark hair was stuck to her lips.

"And you're calling me clumsy," Naria let a long sigh out as she raised her eyebrows, "let me get ready!"

As Mirai got herself comfortable on Nari's wooden bed which had nothing else but a cold blanket, she watched her best friend get dressed.

It took a few minutes until Naria was able to stand in front of the full-length mirror, almost ready for the night, admiring her outfit.

She had put on a long white skirt that flowed to her ankles, made of a light and airy fabric that felt soft against her skin. The skirt was slightly sheer, adding a hint of mystery to her look.

Naria paired the skirt with a crop top that looked like a scarf, made of the same fabric as her skirt. The top left her naked shoulders exposed, allowing her to show off her white-like porcelain skin.

The top was tied in a knot just above her belly button, leaving her midriff exposed.

She added some extra sparkle to her outfit with thick golden bracelets on her arms and matching ones on her ankles. The bracelets jingled softly as she moved, adding to the allure of her outfit.

Naria twirled in front of the mirror, watching the fabric of her skirt float around her. She felt beautiful and confident in her outfit, ready for whatever the night had stored for her.

As she looked down for a second, she felt a gentle touch on her forehead. She turned around to see Mirai, standing behind her with a small red and green ruby in her hand.

Mirai smiled warmly at Naria and said, "You look stunning tonight, my dear friend. And this ruby will add the perfect touch to your outfit."

Naria was intrigued and allowed Mirai to place the ruby on her forehead. As soon as it touched her skin, Naria felt a rush of energy flow through her body. The ruby glimmered in the dim light of the hallway, reflecting the colours of her eyes.

The ruby was set in a delicate gold filigree that wrapped around Naria's forehead, adding a regal touch to her outfit. The gemstone was cut in a unique shape, making it look like it was alive and pulsating with energy.

Naria felt a surge of confidence and power as she looked at herself in the mirror once again. The ruby on her forehead seemed to enhance her natural beauty and make her stand out even more. She knew that with Mirai by her side and the ruby on her forehead, she was ready to take on the world.

As they walked out of the building, Naria felt the weight of the ruby on her forehead and the warmth of Mirai's hand on her back. She knew that with her outfit and the ruby, she was ready to even face her biggest enemy.

"Remember, don't mind Veronica and Abigael today, this night belongs to you and you only!" She whispered to her friend, as she could no longer speak loudly.

"Mirai, I gave up a long time ago too," Naria shook her head, gently, trying not to make the ruby fall off her forehead.

"Kill them with your performance tonight!" Mirai cheered.