They were told to smile.
To clean.
To obey.
But exit the premise before 8 PM!
Two girls woke up found themselves in an unfamiliar dormitory surrounded with bunk beds occupied with other girls of similar age. One by one each of them opened their eyes, scanned the surroundings and went out of their room, seems like their daily routine. The whole floor was eerily silent, no muffling only quite slow footsteps of the girls. While 2-3 girls were in a daze and frantically looking around them, holding their heads, crinkled brows, searching for something only to realise they are wearing a different piece of cloth which is not theirs. A realised this after looking at the other girls, she jumped out of the bed, tiles beneath her feet were Icey cold, but there were no shoes/slippers to slip on. Ignoring the chill, moved out of the door following other seemingly unfazed girls. They stood in front of a counter (top was covered), and saw 2 hands emerging underneath with a tub, the girls took them one by one. A followed and took the tub, it had a few bathing essentials and a uniform (lilac colored). Bathhouse had multiple shower heads but no doors/cabin, it was open. Everyone could see anyone. Much to her embarrassment they had to take the bath, washroom was on the other side, she relieved herself. Came out then took bath, she saw girls standing under a huge dryer again in a line. She followed after drying herself she wore the uniform and saw a few more colors on other girls - teal, lilac and blush pink. Wondered why though.
She followed other lilac ones, entered a lift with different carts (had cleaning essentials). When lift opened they were met with a vibrant, hustling-bustling floor with bright lights, sweet aroma of delicious street food, exquisite ladies, ear deafening laughter, and it seemed like a shopping mall. The girls stepped outside, much to her surprise they were all smiling ear-to-ear unlike their puppet face a second ago. A was in daze then she suddenly felt a soft nudge on her right side, when she turned toward the direction, the girl was moving her brows and smiling more brightly as in queuing her to smile as well. And she obliged. The crowd was happily shopping, could be seen spending like maniacs, some were eating like there's no tomorrow, some were playing games like they were possessed, whatever they were doing one thing was common - splurging money like water. Something felt off about it!
Girls were to make sure there were no spills, no spots, no torn up things/items or anything negative. Day ended at sharp 8pm, the mall announced it's closure by 7:40 and in 5mins it was clear of people. The girls rushed to clean evrything and returned to the lift at exact 8pm, ODD.
Once the door closed, the smile faded like it never existed. Girls went to their floor leaving the carts behind. Again took the tub from the counter, took a bath, wore their night tunic and went to their dormitory. However, approaching footsteps made them jump from their bed and fo a line, A followed the same (didn't want to seem odd). An elderly woman accompanied with a handsome man behind her with a soft smile walked. Woman had a stern look, approached the girls, stopped in front of 1 girl and eyes her. The soft smiled guy turned around and walked out of the door, girl followed him. Came back after 5mins with red eyes. What could have happened! The smiling guy wasn't smiling anymore, but had a stern look matching the elderly woman, was holding a baton. Girls flinched at the sight and bowed 90° for some 15mins then the woman and the guy left the room. WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
1 month passed in a daze with every morning a new girl added in the dorm, and 1 guy being punished at evening. A wasn't just following the instructions but devising her own escapade plans. B joined her and they gathered info on shift changes, lift timings, camera blind spots, emergency exits and accidently 1 day while cleaning near a window B noticed a luggage train passing by slowing its speed near their building for some odd reasons. B told A and both took note of this incident one by one every day for another 2 weeks. Same time, same place, same slowing down pace for 2 full minutes. The time was near to the loop they had found to escape. A went to camera's blindspot nonchalantly walking towards the guest washroom to clean (all while smiling broadly). B faked having periods (both had stored their blood for 2 days for this moment). Seeing the spots she was excused to the guest washroom. Both had a set of new clothes, made by stealing from the counter with no tag, stitched into an elegant jumpsuit and an evening gown, put on some light makeup, wigs, sandals (more like comfortable shoes for running), designer bags, shades bigger than their face, both strutted out the bathroom chatting, laughing like other maniacs near.
1 month passed in a daze with every morning a new girl added in the dorm, and 1 guy being punished at evening. A wasn't just following the instructions but devising her own escapade plans. B joined her and they gathered info on shift changes, lift timings, camera blind spots, emergency exits and accidently 1 day while cleaning near a window B noticed a luggage train passing by slowing its speed near their building for some odd reasons. B told A and both took note of this incident one by one every day for another 2 weeks. Same time, same place, same slowing down pace for 2 full minutes. The time was near to the loop they had found to escape. A went to camera's blindspot nonchalantly walking towards the guest washroom to clean (all while smiling broadly). B faked having periods (both had stored their blood for 2 days for this moment). Seeing the spots she was excused to the guest washroom. Both had a set of new clothes, made by stealing from the counter with no tag, stitched into an elegant jumpsuit and an evening gown, put on some light makeup, wigs, sandals (more like comfortable shoes for running), designer bags, shades bigger than their face, both strutted out the bathroom chatting, laughing like other maniacs near.
It was around 7pm ( train arrives at 7:15pm), they had 15mins to reach the second floor (currently at 10th), entered the bathroom, tied & threw the rope outside (made with their maid uniform his inside their designer bags), slipped down (already 7:14pm) they could hear the train whistle, and the vibration on the track. They could hear guards shouting behind, gunshots heard but they didn't turn back and dashed forward as fast their legs could handle, the train arrives and slowed down exactly the same way, A jumped inside the cabin and pulled B. They saw 5 more girls running towards them, so others had noticed them. She extended her hand and one by one all 5 girls boarded the train. Surprisingly the guards didn't cross a certain line (piece of land) to catch them.
Train stopped at a station, seemingly full of normal crowd of people. All 7 offboarded the train and walked towards the exit gate, tears in their eyes with innocent smile. A noticed 3 girls holding a food cart in 3 identical dresses (lilac, teal and blush pink), oddly familiar to their uniforms. she panicked and urged everyone to rush outside the door. Quick on feet as once they were at the door it suddenly blew red with a loud alarm and started to shut down. The 7 girls barely managed to escape. But they were joined with 5 more girls who wanted to escape like them. Outside world was vastly different than the one they were in.
One of the girls screamed - "This is my hometown, I remember it now. I was leaving my family behind to follow my love and came to this station to board a train but once we went in everything was a blur."
A- "When did this happen?"
Same girl - "It was last year, June 20th, 2013."
A - "You should see today's newspaper, look at the date."
It was June 20th, 2023. 10 whole years she was trapped inside that horrible world!
A and B came there by June 20th, 2022 (they thought it was only 2 months, but it had been 1 whole year). Everyone was shocked to know how quickly passed inside that bubble and they had no idea. One girl whispered loudly, "I came here on June 20th, 2003, and I thought it had been 5 years." She always kept a diary with her to mark the days every day without a miss.
Everyone was shocked! But they decided to travel together to their homes one by one dropping one by one. A and B were neighbors, so they were the last ones to reach home. Everything felt same, they knocked their doors, family came out one by one and cries could be heard in that silent night. Girls explained the scenario, their escape and coming home without any harm. Welcomed with a warm meal, hearty hugs from families, they went to their bed. Budding each other bye from their bedroom window. Drifted to sleep.
Next morning they woke up, mom screamed for breakfast and that they are late for their college. Come down now or you will be late!
The family was having breakfast, sitting around the table, her father reading newspaper as always, laughter broke out at their sibling's silly behavior. Suddenly A noticed something on the newspaper and panicked. She went to her room upstairs leaving her family bewildered. Closed the door, *beep* got a text - "Did you see the newspaper? B texted her. A opened her window curtain and saw B having same horrid expression.
**Newspaper Article about a famous high-end Mall inauguration in their city, on June 20th, 2022.**
It was June 20th, 2023. 10 whole years she was trapped inside that horrible world!
A and B came there by June 20th, 2022 (they thought it was only 2 months, but it had been 1 whole year). Everyone was shocked to know how quickly passed inside that bubble and they had no idea. One girl whispered loudly, "I came here on June 20th, 2003, and I thought it had been 5 years." She always kept a diary with her to mark the days every day without a miss.
Everyone was shocked! But they decided to travel together to their homes one by one dropping one by one. A and B were neighbors, so they were the last ones to reach home. Everything felt same, they knocked their doors, family came out one by one and cries could be heard in that silent night. Girls explained the scenario, their escape and coming home without any harm. Welcomed with a warm meal, hearty hugs from families, they went to their bed. Budding each other bye from their bedroom window. Drifted to sleep.
Next morning they woke up, mom screamed for breakfast and that they are late for their college. Come down now or you will be late!
The family was having breakfast, sitting around the table, her father reading newspaper as always, laughter broke out at their sibling's silly behavior. Suddenly A noticed something on the newspaper and panicked. She went to her room upstairs leaving her family bewildered. Closed the door, *beep* got a text - "Did you see the newspaper? B texted her. A opened her window curtain and saw B having same horrid expression.
**Newspaper Article about a famous high-end Mall inauguration in their city, on June 20th, 2022.**
