Opened Hearts 2: Levody

Chapter 20: Hard Knock Life

  | Credit goes to artist for base, crappy five minute fill in by me(Also apologies ahead of time because my POV writing style isn't normal, gah!)|
 June 24th, 2017 

It's been a little less than a month since I was sold. My owners are very strict, but I don't get disciplined that often, as I know how to do most of the things I am told. When I don't, they take away one of my meals and lash me with a belt ten times. I wear shackles on my wrists, ankles, and neck the majority of the time. They get taken off at night. 

In the mornings, I wake up before dawn. I don't have more than the dress I wear, so I wash it the night before. I quickly wash my face and hair, brushing through it and putting it up in a bun as I am told. There's a couple other slaves here, but they're all adults. They pity me; but admire my hope.

~~~

"'Ere, Song." One of them said as they pulled a strand of her hair into the bun. "Fere you go, darlin'."

"Thank you, Ms. Verana." Melody said softly, then hugged the woman. Verana hugged her back.

"Be a brave song today, huh?" Verana said softly with a slight smile.

"Always, Verana." She smiled.

Song was Melody's name among the slaves, due to the face her name was Melody and she sang herself to sleep. All of them called her that. She grew accustomed to it, even liked it.

Melody quickly scurried to the Master's house and into the kitchen, where she washed dishes for the others to use in preparing the food. Her mouth watered at the sight of baking bread, eggs and bacon sizzling on the stove, and syrup being warmed in a pot.  The sweet and savory scents hung in the air and her stomach growled. She blushed in embarrassment, but kept herself in check. She wasn't supposed to eat that food. It was for the Master and his family. After she finished the dishes, she went into the backyard and fed the animals. She could get away with stealing some of the chickens' scraps. They didn't taste the best, but it was so much better than nothing. She dropped a lot of weight in that short month.

After she fed the animals, she raked the yard and swept the patio. She wiped a couple beads of sweat off her forehead. Then she put the broom away and cleaned up the children's bedrooms. She changed the linens and made the bed, and cleaned up all the toys nice and neat. She did all eight bedrooms by herself. 

Next, she cleared out the fireplaces and put in new wood. After that, she ate a slice of bread with a generous (meaning she never gets) blob of cheese. The Master's youngest daughter gave it to her. She was thankful for this rare gift and savored every bite of it. After her short lunch, it was three in the afternoon. She took the gardening supplies and went to the fields, with everyone else. There she worked until sundown, when she returned to wash more dishes, floors, and walls. Her muscles were sore and tired, and because of this, she tripped onto the floor. As she was getting up, the Master caught her and scolded her. Fear was struck into her eyes as she was forced to her feet, and dragged outside. The master took off his belt, and proceeded to whip her back ten times.

Fwap! Melody dug her fingers into the wall of the house, closing her eyes from the burning pain. Fwap! She bit her lip. Another two lashings brought tears to her eyes but she bit her tongue. Three more pass. Only three more, she told herself. She whimpered quietly in pain, and knew her back would be bruised and bleeding when she got into the quarters. The final three came and she was ordered to her quarters. She curtsied, though in pain, and limped into the wooden cabin. One of the men, Nathan, rushed over to her and picked her up and brought her to the softest bed. They buttoned down the back of her dress to look at the lashings. They cut deep into her back, and they were bleeding bad. The servants combined their little healing powers to help make the scars smaller. Melody cried into the straw pillow in pain. Although it was healing magic, it burned like fire. After they finished, they embraced her, and whispered in her ear. They said soft, encouraging things. Things that soothed Melody to tranquility. She pulled away, wiping her tears.

"I need to see a friend tonight." She said quietly. They all nodded, and she left the quarters swiftly and quietly. She crept through the walls of the city and to the meeting spot they had. She saw Levin hiding there, and she hurried over, and he hugged her tightly.

"You're usually here before I am, what happened?"

"I was whipped again..."

Levin looked at her worriedly. "Again?"

She nodded. "Because I tripped on his wooden flooring."

He sighed and hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry."

"Did you get punished today?"

"Thankfully not." He said quietly.

They stayed silent for a few moments as a guard passed by. 

"You should head back." Levin said softly.

"I don't want to..."

"They can't cover your back forever, Melody."

She sighed. "Okay."

He hugged her once more before disappearing into the dark. Melody headed back to the quarters, and thankfully, before 10 pm, when they were given their nightly 'Check-Up'. She pulled the thin blanket up just as the door opened. She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe slowly. When the monitor left, she let go of her breath and let herself fall asleep.