The cold morning air bit at my skin as we stood in a straight line, shivering under the governess's sharp gaze. The tension in the air was suffocating, thick like fog, pressing down on us as we waited for mother Olga to address us.
None of us knew what would happen next, but we knew it wouldn't be good.
The guards were fully dressed and lined up around all the exits. It smelled like trouble.
A chill ran down my spine as the first girl was dragged forward. She stood stiff, her head bowed, hands trembling at her sides. The governess ran her fingers over the girl's arms, pressing and feeling for anything hidden. Then she moved to the pockets of her dress, yanking them inside out. Empty.
She ordered the girl to empty her small clothe bag and she ran her fingers through the pile, scattering the clothes around the ground as she murmured to herself.
"Next," the governess ordered as soon as she was done searching the girl.