Play your cards right, Cam

They both looked at her with expressions so full of emotion that it made Carmen uneasy in her stomach. These were Daphne’s parents. She swallowed hard, trying to piece together what exactly they were going to do to her from here onwards.

The woman rose first, her gown swishing softly against the polished wooden floor. This was the kind of gown Ipu had given her earlier. She couldn’t breathe in them, but the way this woman wore it was like it was normal not to be able to breathe. She couldn’t be bothered. “How are you feeling, my dear?” she asked, her voice warm and gentle.

Carmen hesitated, her throat dry. She cleared it awkwardly. “I’m… fine, thank you,” she replied, her voice scratchy and hoarse. Could these people not tell that she wasn’t their daughter from her voice? But why?

The woman’s brows furrowed slightly. “Are you sure, Daphne?” she pressed, stepping closer. "You look a bit pale. How is your health? Do you feel well enough to walk around? Any dizziness or pain?”