Chapter 1
Emma
Hey, I am Emma and I just turned 17 years old. I live with my “family” in a big house near the city. Everything sounds perfect, but it’s not...
My mom died when I was little. She got into a car accident, at least that’s what my dad told me, but he never wanted to talk about it or go into detail. My dad was never a prominent father figure for me, he wasn’t at home most of the time, was angry with me and drank a lot. But I thought that was only because mom died, so when he told me that he met a woman and wants to marry her I was all in. All I wanted was that dad would be happy again.
The first time I met Sofia was when I was around 10 years old. She looked sweet and gentle. I liked her, so I was so happy to have a new mom, but what can I say, I was really wrong...
Slowly that woman was becoming my biggest nightmare. At first, I had only to wash my home and clothes, then cook food and in the end, I become my own home servant. I thought my dad was going to stop her from screaming at me and making me do all the work, but I was wrong again. He was supporting my stepmom. I become like cinderella and I couldn’t do anything to change that.
Then when I was only 15 years old terrible thing happened, my dad died from cancer, so my stepmom had everything in her own hands now. Sofia didn’t let me go to school ever again, because according to her people need to go to school so that they would be able to find a job and I have a job already. I spend all my time doing the dirtiest work around the home, making food, and all the terrible things she could imagine.
Emma (now)
I turned 17 today and I can’t live like that anymore. I will run away, tonight. When she wakes up she will not find even the smell of me. “Emma, come downstairs quick we need to talk” I heard Sofia screaming downstairs. “I am coming” I run downstairs as fast as I could because If I don’t do what I am told to do, she will lock me in the basement I don’t even know for how much time.
“Emma, tonight we will have guests, so you have to make a fancy dinner and clean the house, if something will not go according to plan, you will be punished and you know what I mean.”
“Okey, Sofia, I will do everything” I muttered and started cleaning everything as fast as I could because if she has guests in the evening, that means I will have a free evening in my room and I will be able to pack everything.
As soon as I finished cleaning I ran to the kitchen to make dinner. She asked for a fancy one, so I am making “Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon in Garlic Butter”.
I decorated the table and was going to my room when I heard her again.
- Emma, where do you think you are going?
- I finished all the work, so I am going to my room, don’t worry I will be as quiet as a mouse.
- No, you are going to eat dinner with me and our guests, so run to your room and find something beautiful to wear, I don’t think you want to go to the basement for two days.
- Okay, as you will say, Sofia.
And my free evening was gone, I ran to my room and chose an elegant black dress, since I don’t have any other dresses, so hoping this will work. I took a fast shower, made my hair, put on a dress and was leaving my room when I heard her screaming voice again...
- Emma, can you come faster, our guests arrived!
- Coming,- I said loudly and run downstairs.
-Listen to my very careful, child, be polite, friendly, and helpful, if something goes wrong you will know what will happen,- Sofia jelled.
I nodded and went to open the door. There were standing two men, one was old and looked at me with a small smile and the other was about 20 years old and was totally checking me out. Since my stepmom was standing beside me, I welcomed them down politely. “Good evening, please come in.”
- Good evening, young lady,- the old man said, apparently his name was Valentine.
- Hey baby,- the younger one (Jack) said quietly and that made me uncomfortable.
- Welcome, welcome my, dear guests,- Sofia started greeting her dear guests.
They all started walking to the dinner table and I was slowly going behind them. As soon as I sat on my chair, jack run to me and pushed my chair to the table, and sat on the chair next to me, he acted like a gentleman and that was actually freaking me out. My stepmom was talking with both men for some time and Jack was looking at me most of the time, I was being quiet as I can all their conversation. Then we started eating, dinner was delicious, it was the first time after maybe 5 years that I was eating from the same table with my stepmom. At the end of the dinner, Sofia started to praise me for the food, I couldn’t understand what was happening, what’s gotten into her. the old man looked impressed and the younger one was smiling and looking at me even more.
- She is perfect,- Valentine said.
I was quite happy that it was the first time someone appreciated my hard work in so long, but then his words shocked me. “We will take her”
- What?- I said loudly.
Sofia slowly turned to me and in a calm voice said:
- I sold you, dear. I needed money to keep this house and you were only a burden to me.
- How could you!
I stood up from the table and wanted to run to my room, but Jack was already behind me and as soon as I stood up, he took me and started carrying me to the car, I was screaming and trying to get out as hard as I can, but the darkness took over.
