“Undress,” she said coldly. The girls hesitated. Belle’s fingers froze on the tie of her robe. “Now!” the woman snapped. One by one, the girls slipped off their robes, folding them neatly, revealing bruises, thin bodies, and shame. Belle clutched her arms as she stepped out of hers, trying not to shake, not to cry. Her collar was still on. It would never come off. “In,” the woman said, pointing to the pool. They stepped into the warm water. Belle hissed softly as the heat stung her knees and feet. Still, she moved forward. She didn’t want to be last. The girls soaked quietly. There was no laughter. No whispers. Only silence and the soft sounds of water.