Be my doll, won't you? (Donna Beneviento X Oc)

Salem

"October 19, 20xx.
Today I helped Miss Luiza with chores around her house. I'm not quite sure why she asked me of all people but I'm glad to help. I just turned 19 and I don't know how I ended up here. We are trying to prepare for winter and we are already short on food. Lots of our livestock has died due to unknown causes.
I'm worried we might not make it this year… Mother Miranda seems to be leaving us, although I hate to say it. Each time I see her I feel a strange aura, I just hope she means well. I was going to walk through the Beneviento manor's garden today but I decided against it.
I want to leave this place, something about it isn't right but it's better than being back home with my parents. Still, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched during the night, even now I feel eyes on me….
I hope I can leave soon. - Salem"

This was the 182nd diary entry since Salem had arrived in the small unnamed village. What was supposed to be a one week stay to try and escape their abusive parents had turned into an almost year and a half long living situation. The place looked like it was from a fantasy world or medieval times, especially with the large castle in the background of the small town. Everyone dressed in mostly traditional Romani clothing aside from a few exceptions. Nothing really was electrical like in their hometown, a few lights and stoves here and there but most everything was fueled by charcoal or water. Salem fit in quite well here and was able to learn much about their countries culture and traditions. Except for the part where everyone worshipped Miranda.
Salem set their small writing quill on the table and closed the leather bound book that was almost full now, it had a picture of a cow and small flowers engraved on the cover. From what they could tell, it was handmade, and was a gift from the town's priestess. Salem tied the small rope around the book and stood from their chair, stretching their arms over their head and letting out a small yawn. It had been a very long day and their hands were tired from weaving with Luiza and her daughters. Salem left their small bedroom and walked through the door which was left slightly adjacent.
"Well good afternoon, Salem" Mrs. Maria said, looking backwards to face them "I was just about to start cooking dinner. Would you like to help?" Salem made their way over to Maria and leaned over the counter. Salem was quite a bit taller than Maria (who is only 5'1), standing at around 5'7 but their slightly long hair and gentle curves made it hard to identify them as either a man or a woman. "Sure, I can help" Salem says softly, picking up a small knifer off the counter and starting to chop the carrots laying on the cutting board into thin slices just the way Maria liked. "Thank you so much dear" Maria said, patting Salem's arm gently "My hands aren't what they used to be" she let out a small giggle and made her way over to the freezer, pulling out some recently killed and skinned meat. "I suppose we can make beef stew tonight, I have nothing else until we get some more ingredients from the market" Salem just nodded in reply, as they were generally quiet and only spoke when needed. Plus, they weren't picky about food. Maria starts to cut the meat into small bits, watching Salem to make sure they didn't cut their fingers
"Salem, darling, please be careful. You're cutting a bit too close to your fingers'' Maria leaned over to adjust Salem's hands, her soft fingers running over Salem's rough hands. Salem looked down at Maria and nodded, their slightly tanned skin turning a bit pink from the touch. "Make sure to make a claw with your fingers just in case you accidentally cut too close, that way you won't lose a finger" Salem nodded again "Got it" they said, following Maria's direction and continuing to cut the carrots. Once that was done, Salem moved on to potatoes, which were considerably harder to dice than carrots in their opinion. In the end Maria ended up having to take over as Salem was getting frustrated and almost lost a finger. After not too much longer, Maria threw everything into a large pot and added water, a small dash of milk, chicken broth and some creamer. "Thank you dear" Maria said kindly "Now Salem, it will be awhile before dinner is ready. Will you please go fetch the others and bring home some bread? There are coins in the jar by the door if you need some" Salem nods and slips on their coat, tucking some hair behind their ear and heading out the door,.making sure to take the extra money with them.
Before Salem can even get a few feet from the house they are suddenly attacked by a small child. "Salem! You've been in there forever I thought you'd run away!" Salem smiles a bit and stoops down to the child, a small girl with blonde hair and light blue eyes "Hello, Marcella, I just saw you earlier this morning" Salem says to the girl, scooping her up into a hug. "I know but that's so long!" Salem giggles and shakes their head. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'll try not to do it again." The girl nods and puts her arms around Salem's shoulders to hold herself up "Say, Marcella, do you know where Adelina and Felicia are? Maria wants them for dinner." The girl shrugs "haven't seen em, maybe they are at Miss Luizas house" Salem sighs "Okay, thanks'' they were a bit annoyed that now they had to go and search the whole town to find the girls since they didn't know how to come home when the dinner bell was rung. Salem wasn't even from this town and they were a more obedient child than Maria's own daughters. "Well Marcella, I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Marcella nods and slides down from Salem's arms. "Bye!" She shouts before running off back towards her own home. Salem waves and starts to head to the market, that would be the first place to look, they had to get some bread anyways. As they are walking a couple people greet them, some are gossiping about their gender while others believe they don't belong in the town. Salem just ignores it, as it's a daily thing at this point. As they reach the bakery they walk inside, the fresh scent of pastries and cakes filling their nostrils. A small smile appeared on their lips.
"Good evening, Salem" the baker said, leaning on the counter and taking a puff of his cigar. "More bread for Maria I assume?" Salem nods "Yes, she asked me to get some more for dinner. Have you seen Felicia and Adelina at all?" The baker takes another drag of his cigar and thinks for a moment. "Not since this morning, they came running by the window. Haven't seen them since" the smoke leaves the man's mouth as he speaks, earning a slight cough and groan from Salem. "Okay, thank you anyways. I want two loaves of the usual please". The baker nods and goes to retrieve Salem's order, coming back with a small fabric bag and handing it over the counter. "This was extra, it's on the house" Salem tilts their head "Are you sure? I brought some coin with me." The baker nods "Take it, it's all good" Salem smiles "Thank you very much". The baker nods to Salem and takes another drag as they walk out of the store with the bread in tow.
'Well, that's one thing off my list… ' Salem thinks to themself, biting on the inside of their cheek as they think of where to look. 'maybe they are in the field finding flowers again'. Salem continues to walk down the path while searching for their sisters, if you could even call them that. They were always a bit rude to Salem and had said some horrendous things when they first arrived, but Salem cared for them anyways, it would probably just take more time. They were the only outsider who lived in the village, so the fact that they were uneasy with them there wasn't surprising. Making their way to the field by Luizas house Salem hears familiar giggles, that was definitely them. Salem walks closer to the noise and looms over the tall grass "Hey" they say bluntly, scaring the two girls who were making flower crowns from weeds "Maria says to come home". The girls groan and stand up, brushing the dust off of their dresses "I don't know why you still call her that, just call her mom" Felicia retorts, Adeline nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it's kind of rude. I mean she is like your mom isn't she?" Salem ignores them and starts to walk back to the cabin, rolling their eyes as they do. Sure Maria had taken care of them since they got here, but she wasn't like a mother, she was much more like a dear friend. The girls continue making comments all the way to the house.
Salem enters first and sets the bread down by Maria, turning and walking straight to their room. They shed their coat and laying it on the chair by their desk. They sit on the bed and comb their fingers through their hair. Today wasn't going great and they didn't have a very good appetite. Salem may have helped cook but they really weren't that hungry. They lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling. Today wasn't a great day, they felt more and more like they didn't belong in this place every day. Maybe tomorrow will be better. With that they closed their eyes, falling asleep in their clothes for the third day in a row.