Morning Ritual

"Where's that good for nothing girl?! Still in bed?!" A woman in the building yells at her sleeping daughter.

Wrong.

Her Stepdaughter.

The sound of pounding footsteps echoed around the house and at the same time, the sound of an opening door opens as well.

The person standing by the door looks to be around 19 years of age with platinum blonde hair which was obviously rudely taken away from the comfort of the pillow.

"I'm awake. I only had to freshen up and come downstairs." Natalie explains to her scowling stepmom.

Her Stepmom is obviously looking for faults and reasons to take her anger out on the poor girl.

Natalie stands at the door earnestly hoping not to get slapped.

Her stepmom takes a once over again and glances into the room.

She smiles to herself.

She looks down at Natalie and slaps her.

Natalie's hair fly due to the impact of the slap. Her hair cover her face which has turn bright red

Natalie raises her head back up, looking at her step mom defiantly, telling her silently to explain to her why she was slapped today.

What petty reason she got slapped for like every other day.

"How many times did I tell you to lay your bed after you get up in the mornings? At this rate, nobody will want you for a wife if after they see all your bad habits." Her stepmom, Eve shouts harshly at the girl in the front of her.

"I laid it when I got up from bed."

"Then why is it scattered?"

Natalie turns back to look the made bed with only a few creases by the top left edge.

"It's not scattered. It's just creased in the top side because the sheet is not big enough for the bed."

"Whose fault is it? You should be happy you're living here after killing your mum. Work well and your Dad might just decide to change it for you."

"..." Natalie says nothing in response and just looks at the ground, hoping Eve will leave her alone or just assign chores like she always does.

By the next room door stands Gina.

The only person in the entire building who actually looks out for her.

Gina is one of the girls from a batch of girls that didn't completely sell out. She was kept behind as worker for Eva and the bar until the next batch of girls arrive and she can be sold along with the other girls.

Gina stands by her own door expecting the already in a good mood Eve in her room next.

Eve seems to be in a good mood every day after the ritual of slapping Natalie.

After Natalie doesn't respond to Eves rantings anymore, Eve moves over to Gina.

She looks around and does not pick up any issue in her room.

She steps back and takes a once over on both girls.

"Before you head to the bar downstairs, Natalie, wash last night dishes and cook breakfast, while Gina, you should clean my room including the bathrooms and do the dirty laundry by the door to the room as well. You must be done in two hours so you can leave together for work in the bar before it opens.".

Eve turns to leave and suddenly turns around, startling both of them.

"Is that CLEAR?!" She suddenly barks out

"Yes"

"Yes."

Both girls reply immediately to avoid slaps on either of their faces.

Eve smiles wickedly and goes down the stairs.