Cinder-Canary

Sara

            Everyday had become long and tiring ever since that one horrible day, the worst day I can ever recall in my life. My family had taken our modest carriage out, and were taking a small journey out to Centralia, but we made a wrong turn through the streets of Starling and ended up passing through the Glades. While they used to be beautiful, they were mostly now crime ridden. I had huddled myself closer to my older sister Laurel, and she whispered reassurances to me as I peered out the window with wide eyes.

Something happened and we were attacked. In the attack we were separated, and the next time I woke up I was alone. Well, until I was found by a family. Since my own family was missing, and we were attacked they presumed them to be dead and decided to take me in. How could I, as a child, have known this to be anything other than a kind gesture?

My life crumbled, and I was not treated as kindly as I had expected. In fact, I was treated more like a servant, sleeping in the dust and dirt, taking care of their messes, cooking, cleaning. Everything.

Today was like any other day I'd since then. I rose before the sun to complete my long list of daily chores and responsibilities, unlike my new 'family'. The mother and daughters slept soundly in their beds, and when they woke they rang their annoying little bells like mad, calling for breakfast in bed.

Like clockwork, just as I finished preparing the food, the bells began to ring. After so long I had timed out and begun to expect when they would rise. It made the task just that much easier, and I received less anger as they weren't waiting longer than a few moments. With a sigh, I load up the trays and bound up the stairs, two at a time. Setting a tray down I knock on the first door, signaling my arrival. "Come in." I hear her voice drawl, and quickly enter the room with only one of the trays. "Good morning Madame." I greet her softly as I bring the breakfast to her bed, setting it on the large table immediately next to it. "Shall I open the drapes for you?" I ask, stepping away and holding my hands together in front of me obediently.

"Yes." She rolled her eyes and I quickly stride over, pulling open the drapes to let light into the room. "Now go deliver the girls their breakfast." She tells me, a bored tone to her voice as she picks a slice of apple off her tray.

"Yes Madame." I bow my head and in moments I am out the door and in front of theirs, food trays in hand. Balancing one on my head I knock once more. Receiving no answer, I call out softly, "Madison? Maureen? I have breakfast."

That elicits a response and I am screamed at to enter. Rolling my eyes, I open the door and bring the food to them. Keeping my face neutral, I ask them the same question as I asked their mother. As I do every morning, the drapes. To my dismay, they speak at the same time with different answers.

"No." Madison crinkles her nose.

"Yes." Maureen nods a confirmation.

"Uh." I swallow, not wanting this to turn to be my fault somehow. "What if I open them just a little?" I ask, trying for compromise.

"No." Madison groans, "They stay closed!"

"I want them open!" Maureen whines, turning to her sister.

"Um." I pause as they continue to argue. "How about you ring the bell when you come to an agreement?" I try asking, hoping to slip away. They don't seem to have heard me so I begin to back away slowly. Once I am free of that room, I let out a breath before hurrying back outside to get a horse. I have errands that need to be run after all.

^O*