The house creaked and groaned when the wind started blowing on it. The concrete floor was freezing it was the middle of winter so the entire room was cold, the only light in the room was a very dim candle in the corner, splashes of blood painted the walls of the basement, the chain around my neck was tight but not tight enough to kill me, it wasn't long enough to get to the candle so I slump in the corner trying to stay warm. My dirty blond hair was matted up with dried blood on it, my clothes were ripped up and blood covers what's left of my clothes. The floors creaked up stairs you could hear the bickering of my step sisters and my step mother yelling.
"Why don't we just get Ella to clean the entire house" Anastasia yelled while stomping her foot.
"Also why can't she get the food for tonight she is going to have to cook it anyway" Drizella yelled.
"Then go down stairs and get her bring her to me when you have her" Lady Tremaine yelled at the two girls.
They both stomped to the basement door, they unlocked the door and slammed it open. Drizella pushed Anastasia first into the basement. Anastasia walked up to me staring down at me Drizella stayed behind Anastasia
"hurry up it smells down here" Drizella whispered.
"Well you guys don't give me a bucket so I have to go somewhere" I say to Drizella, Anastasia slaps me hard across the face
"you are to only speak when you are spoken to" Anastasia yelled while unlocking the chain around my neck. After they take it off I stand up and start walking to the door where I'm greeted by Lady Tremaine
"wash up and put these rags on then go get the stuff on the list" Lady says sternly to me shoving the blue dress and white apron in my hands.
I walk past her and go to the maids bathroom, I fill up the bath with hot water, and rip off what's left of my clothes and throw them to the side, I slowly step into the bath pausing every few seconds because of my healing wounds. I sit in silence until I am interrupted by squeaking, I look on the floor and see two mice one is very skinny and one very fat one.
"I'm sorry little ones I don't have any food for you" I say to them. They both look up
"If you get into the apron over there I will take you to the food" I whisper pointing to the apron on the floor with the dress.
I grab the rose soap bar on the window sill and wash all the blood out of my hair, then use the soap to wash the rest of my body. I drain the tub then get out grabbing the towel and drying off. I grab the blue dress and pull it over my head, as it falls it only goes to my ankles, I grab the apron looking inside and see the letter and the two mice inside the pocket, I tie it quickly and put on my boots. I hang the towel up and go into the kitchen seeing all the staff in there.
"Ella thank god you're okay" One of my friends say getting up and hugging me.
"I'm fine Amara just a couple of scratches" I smile hugging everybody else.
"I have to go to town any of you want to come with" I say while grabbing some bread breaking off some pieces in my apron for the mice.
"We are all busy I'm sorry Ella" Amara said while sitting back down.
I start to walk out the cooks door when Lady Tremaine walks in
"Ella here is another list and the money for the food and supplies, now hurry up you don't have all the time in the world." Lady Tremaine slams the note and pouch of coins on the counter next to her then walks out.
I go up to the pouch and note and grab it. Then walk out to the garden the two mice in my apron start to move around a little bit so I look inside my apron and see them fitting over the piece of bread I gave them before. I reach into my apron and break the piece more and give them each a piece.
"Now stop fighting you two" I whisper to them and continue walking out of the garden.
The trees had no leaves on them, the clouds were grey it looked like it was about to rain, the wind was blowing giving me goosebumps from the cold.
