Summers went by, and the whole family blossomed with age. Snow and Red began to go to work to afford to help pay the taxes. One night, a young girl rapped on the family's door.
The whole house was asleep except for the stepmother; she was enjoying a cup of tea by the dying flames of the fire in the fireplace. It was raining outside, and the thunder made it almost impossible for the knocking to be heard, but even then, she got up to answer the door. If the stepmother could express emotion on her face, then she would be angry with the girl on the other side of the door ahead.
"Who dares disturb my peaceful evening?" The stepmother said as she peeked in between the cracks of the door. On the other side, she saw a very beautiful girl peeking back at her. She had what seemed to be cinder smudges on her face, and a basket in her arm. Out peeked a hopeless kitten with gray fur. Seeing the young girl and how poor and sad she looked, the stepmother wondered how much popularity she could gain from saving this poor girl.
The stepmother cautiously opened the door, and stood in the doorway. "If you shall stay here, you will have to help pay the dues the taxman collects. Also, you can work with the other sla-I mean, adopted daughters, to keep you company. The girl nodded, then stepped inside.
The stepmother escorted to the living room and sat her new guest down in a rather uncomfortable chair opposite her.
"My name is Ella." The girl stated. The stepmother grinned a tight grin, as if she were being forced to do so. "Ah, but with that cinder smudged all over your pretty face, we shall call you Cinderella." Said the stepmother. At this comment being said, the girl was beginning to stand up and leave; she could not understand why she was treated this way, they had only just met after all.
"I really must be going." Said Ella. The stepmother got up so quick it startled the maiden. "But you can not leave. You came to this house in a time of need, cinderella, and I refuse to not help any person who travels through the rain when her life can become ill. This house is filled with people among your rank for you to socialize with while you do work. I'm sure you'll find your stay here quite enjoyable." The stepmother finished her statement with a wretched sneer. "Fine, but what do you mean by 'people in my rank'? I need to know where I stand before I stay here. If I am to be a part of this house at all, I need to know where I stand in life, what rights I have. So tell me, Where do I stand?" Cinderella fought back.
"My dear, that is none of your business. Your business is in the kitchen... With a pan!" The stepmother dumped the flowers out of a nearby vase and smashed it over Ella's head. Cinderella fell to the ground and her eyes closed. The last thing she remembered seeing was the stepmother peering over her with a sly grin.
When she woke up, she was in a room with one door, which was currently blocked by a very blurry figure.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
