Thief

I woke up to the sound of the door rattling open. The light refused to enter this dark room rendering me unable to see what exactly tortured me throughout the night. Yesterday was different from the other nights, I'm afraid of coming out of here because I'll be able to see myself. I'm sure I look disgusting because of the many bites I endured. Now that I'm clear headed I know why they did this, more like who suggested this. The aim wasn't just the traumatic pain, this will definitely make me look hideous and it's no secret that one of the madam's daughters is jealous of my appearance. To actually go this far " You worthless freak! You dare keep us waiting" it's her indeed but thankfully her irritatingly sharp high pitched voice snapped me back to reality.

I quickly made my way towards the door before she decided to close it. " I apologize for keeping you waiting...it won't ever happen again.." my hair was a mess, no longer tied to a bun so they covered my face enabling me to secretly look at her face. It showed disgust with what has become of me but her eyes shone with glee and satisfaction. She was indeed the one who did this. " I see that a night in there taught you proper manners, return to being disrespectful and ungrateful and see what happens!" I quickly shifted my eyes away from her face before she caught me. She paid extra attention to her appearance and wore clothes that were both elegant and revealing as if to rub it in my face.

"Quickly start cleaning the house and only after you're done with that will you be allowed to eat" I wasn't embarrassed to hear the sound of my stomach answer her, after all I didn't do this to myself but I still bowed deeply expressing gratitude. I was glad that she quickly left, bowing made me feel nauseous but I forced it down and quickly went to work. I have seen how my arms and legs look and it was indeed disgusting and unbearable to the eye. Washing my body felt very painful and I had to wear long sleeves and gloves because I was still expected to cook for them. It's only my face that wasn't covered and after being done with the house chores and cooking lunch for them I was allowed to have something to eat.

It was dried up bread and a soup that had a funny smell but compared to the air in the punishment room I didn't mind it at all. I ate and finished it like it was nothing then took the list that was left for me. The list wasn't unreasonable this time and I was able to find all the things in the list but while doing so something horrible happened. Most of the time I'm grateful when this happens but not this time, the forest healed my entire body and my body returned to being spotless. This is bad, the miraculous disappearance of the bite marks all over my body will raise questions and who knows what they may think.

There's also no use to delay returning to the house, I could try and hide it but for exactly how long. Even if I drag it enough for them to think I've finally healed it'll still be suspicious why my skin looks like it never happened. After thinking about all the possible outcomes I swallowed and stilled myself to go back. Something also happened to the magic bracelet, I don't know what the forest did when one of the trees outstretched its branch towards it. I was too worried to care about it.

I was slightly relieved to not find them inside the house. Are they maybe in some witch gathering but my heart dropped when I heard approaching footsteps coming from upstairs. " You'll see her mother, she looks like the most hideous thing on the planet" laughed Bianca together with her mother. " How dare a servant like her think she's prettier than my daughter...I want to see how pretty she thinks she is now" oh no! I should quickly leave the bag that has the things on the list here where she can see them and go clean the garden. Not that I think they won't disturb me when I'm working it's just that even if I can drag this a minute longer I definitely will. Yet life isn't that kind for me, I was about to quickly leave but I froze when hearing " where do you think you're going?" Said Bianca's mother.

" I have returned with the items on the list and was about to go clean your beautiful garden...I hope the madam allows me" although I was shaken from the inside I made sure to sound with not just respect but adoration as though she is my god. " It is good that your brain is beginning to work but do you wish to return to the punishment room tonight?" My heartbeat started racing as soon as she asked. " No madam I'm confused" , " if you don't want to return to the punishment room then why are you answering my mother with your back? Turn around this instance!" Shouted Bianca.

I took a deep breath and slowly turned around to look at them and their evil smiles froze, especially Bianca's. " Hah Y-you!...but how!" Said Bianca pointing at me with a shaking finger unable to believe what she was seeing. " Bianca dear what is the meaning of this?" Her mother who didn't see me in the morning but must've heard the details from her daughter was confused. " I...Mother I swear I saw her this morning and s-she was hideous, you also saw me do the spell correctly!" I knew exactly what was coming, it is exactly what I expected. " Then she must've stolen one of my very strong healing potions" Bianca's face turned red when hearing this " why you ungrateful b*tch! After everything we've done for you, fed you, clothe you and give you shelter you decide to steal from my mother! Biting the hand that feeds you!

Oh I promise you'll wish you were never born!". As I expected for her to use her magic or drag me back to the punishment room her mother stopped her.

"Enough Bianca! No amount of punishment shall cleanse her dirty heart. All this time I have been showing kindness to a thief!" Her next words made my back turn cold and the blood drained from my face.

"It's time for the person who threw you here to deal with you herself!"