The Girls of the Locked Room

Sir Mu followed closely behind Hong Wu through the dimly lit passageway. The air was stale, but at least it was dry. The walkway was wide enough for a grown man of large stature to comfortably walk down, but did not leave room for much else. Hong Wu was baffled as to how these corridors were made. 'This is still Heishan right?'

The city was fairly old, so it was normal for there to be a few secrets, but as Hong Wu continued on, she realized this was a network of corridors that branched out into various parts of the city. If what she suspected was true, then this was one of Thousand Shadows greatest secrets. These passages were how they were able to seemingly be everywhere at once and control the city.

The two walked for about a quarter of an hour until they came across a thick, wooden door. Sir Mu signaled Hong Wu to stop here. He then withdrew a keyring from his robes; selected a short, black, iron key; and inserted it into the lock of the door. He pushed the door inward to reveal a long room rowed with simply made wooden beds on both sides. Inside the room were about ten or so other girls all sitting in different positions around the room. Any conversation they seemed to be having immediately stopped.

Before Hong Wu had a chance to take in her new surroundings, Sir Mu put his hand on her back and pushed Hong Wu inside the room. As soon as Hong Wu went beyond the threshold, she heard the door close behind her and the lock turn back as if everything Sir Mu just did was a practiced motion.

Hong Wu was absolutely bewildered. Scanning the different people around her, she did not know how to react.

Most of the girls were sitting in a circle on the floor or a few of the beds that they had moved together. Most of these girls wore simple clothing. They seemed to be commoners picked up from all across the city. They all looked as frightened as Hong Wu.

Sitting on the beds in the circle were three young girls who looked to be a cut above the others. The girl on the left was clearly from money. With a stout physique, it would be hard to believe she had ever been in want of anything. She wore a garish golden robe ostentatiously designed with intricate brocade patterns like a peacock revealing its plumage. She had a scowl on her face that revealed her displeasure to everyone.

On the right was a girl dressed in a simple, yellow robe. She had a demure smile and carried herself with the utmost care. Thanks to Hong Wu's life in the brothel, she was able to notice that this girl had clearly been trained by someone in the ways of a servant. She seemed ready to differ to the girl to the left of her in all things and meet any demands she made.

In the middle sat a poised and beautiful young lady Hong Wu put at about seventeen, older than any of the other girls. She wore a beautiful red robe with elegant floral patterns sewn into the sleeves. Her phoenix eyes and pale skin augmented the beauty that radiated from her person. She sat perfectly straight and held an air of command. This girl seemed to hold all of the girls attention before Hong Wu had entered.

Hong Wu glanced around the rest of the room and noticed one girl separate from the rest of the pack. This girl was definitely not like the others. She sat on a bed on the other side of the room and was surrounded by an unwelcoming presence. If there was any word that could be used to describe this girl it would be wild. Her clothes, which looked to be that of a boys, were dirtied and discolored. Her skin was stained with filth, her hair was matted and tangled. She had a fierce look about her that told others she was not one to be trifled with.

"Do not bother with her. We have already tried, she will not say a thing. She just sits there glaring at us. Come sit with us."

Hong Wu turned back to the origin of the crystal clear voice to see the beautiful girl in command of the others smile in her direction, gesturing to her to join the group.

Not wanting to make any enemies, Hong Wu followed the request of the girl dressed in red and sat with the rest of the other girls. As Hong Wu found an open spot on the ground the girl in the middle continued, "My name is Lan Cixi."

Hong Wu's eyes widened slightly after hearing this. 'Isn't the mayor of Heishan also named Lan? Judging by her appearance she has to be related to him.'

Hong Wu snapped back to reality and attempted to conceal her shock. "It is wonderful to meet you Lady Lan. This one's name is Hong Wu," Hong Wu replied humbly.

Lan Cixi smiled slightly when she noticed Hong Wu's reaction to her name, but did not bring any more attention to it. Lan Cixi then gestured to the the servant girl, "This is my hand maid Hao Ru, and the one to my left is Lady Cang Rong. Her father owns the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

"Miss Hao, Lady Cang" Hong Wu greeted the two girls as they were introduced. Hao Ru's position was self-explanatory. Cang Rong was the daughter of Boss Cang, the richest man in Heishan. It was said that if you could not find what you wanted in his Hundred Treasures Pavilion, it did not exist in Heishan.

The three seemed pleased at the difference Hong Wu showed to them. "May I ask what part of the city you hail from Sister Hong?"

Hong Wu prickled at this question. "I would not expect Lady Lan to know of the establishment I am from. The Red Veil is …"

A trace of understanding flashed through the three girls on the beds. Cang Rong interrupted, "That is a pretty ugly scar you have. Was one of you clients so unsatisfied with you to the point you earned such a disfigurement?"

With that, the same realization the three girls had spread to the others, as they tried to hide their mirth towards Cang Rong's biting remarks.

"Quit that Cang Rong, we have only just met. There is no reason to be rude."

"It is quite alright Lady Lan, this one was born with this disfigurement. As such, I was never even considered as worth the money it would cost for a girls maidenhead," Hong Wu replied in a cool tone, showing her indifference to the ridicule.

Pity flashed in Lan Cixi's eyes mixed with surprise at Hong Wu's bluntness. Cang Rong scoffed, unconvinced.

"We were all just discussing our current predicament," Lan Cixi continued, "we have all come to the conclusion that we are currently being held by the Thousand Shadows Guild, but have yet to piece together why. Does Sister Hong have any information that might help us?"

Hong Wu thought back to earlier that day. "Madam Ji simply told me to follow the man that brought me here. I did hear him mention something about a tribute though."

"Tribute? What could that mean? Are we to be handed off to some higher up in the Thousand Shadows?"

Barging back into the conversation, Cang Rong bellowed, "Preposterous! My father would never allow such a thing. And you Lady Lan, you are the mayor's second daughter! The Thousand Shadows may have a fair bit of power in the city, but I can hardly believe they have enough pull to take you from your home without any resistance."

"Perhaps you are right Sister Cang, but then what could this tribute mean?"

"This girl is probably just lying to scare us. Aren't you? You little whore," Cang Rong scowled.

Hong Wu's jaw locked and eyes narrowed, bitter from the large girls remarks, yet unwilling to cause trouble. "Enough!" Lan Cixi exclaimed, "we are all stuck here together. What reason does Sister Hong have to lie to us?"

"Humph," Cang Rong exhaled, showing displeasure, but not daring to continue pursuing the issue after Lan Cixi's words.

The girls continued their discussion, talking in circles and getting nowhere. Lan Cixi dominated most of the conversation with Cang Rong butting in to complain every few minutes or so. All of the other girls would share their own experiences of the day, answering questions when asked.

The only one who did not speak was Lan Cixi's handmaid Hao Ru. She maintained perfect silence, showing discipline that Hong Wu did not see in even the most talented of Madam Ji's women.

Every now and then, Hong Wu would steal a glance at the only girl separated from the rest of the group. The girl seemed to be staring daggers at the other girls, but Hao Ru in particular. Hong Wu was curious about this, but naturally would not ask the girl, as she was clearly deranged.

As time passed, a few more girls were brought to the room. Just as Lan Cixi had done with Hong Wu, she invited the girls to join them in their discussion.

By the time there were sixteen girls in the room the door opened once more, but instead of another girl, four men dressed the same as Sir Mu entered with trays of rice bowls and jugs of water. "Eat, then go to sleep. We will come fetch you in the morning."

Cang Rong boisterously replied, "How are we to eat without chopsticks? Are we animals to you?"

The man apathetically answered, "You have hands don't you?"

Without so much as another word the men placed the food and water down and left, leaving the girls once again to their own devices.

"Let's all eat," Lan Cixi said, "none of us have had anything since we got here and we all must be hungry. Whatever they have in store for us, we will have to deal with it later. Keeping up our strength right now is the best option for us."

"Well said Lady Lan," Cang Rong said, trying to curry favor. "I cannot remember the last time I went this long without a good meal."

'I bet you can't,' Hong Wu thought to herself.

The girls all ate quietly, then each chose a bed to lay down in. Hong Wu found one for herself to tuck into, then ruminated on the day's events.

'I wonder why Madam Ji sent me here? If I am being grouped with Lady Lan and Little-Rich-Piggy then I can't imagine that there is anything too horrid in store for us. Still, what Sir Mu told Madam Ji worries me. Just what did he mean by tribute?'

Realizing that she would not find the answers that she was looking for, she pushed her thoughts aside and drifted into a slumber. Whatever happened tomorrow would have to be dealt with then.