A Little Too Late

chapter 2

The next morning, I woke up at my usual time, which is 5 a.m., I began my usual duties. After I got done cleaning the house I started on breakfast. When I was done, I went at the back of the house, got my little bowl that I hid in the bushes. I went back to in the house took some food and sneak it back in my room. After I ate my food, I went back downstairs and waited for them to come down. I didn't have to wait long, before I heard their footsteps.

"Good Morning, sir" I spoke to my father

"Good morning, ma'am" I said to Susan.

"Good, you're learning" Susan said smirking.

I went to the kitchen and waited for them to finish eating. I watched as they ate without a word. "are you sure he's going to come?"  I heard James ask. Sometimes I don't even want to call him my father.

"He said he will be here. I already did all that was needed." Susan said smiling.

"ok Good, because we really need the money." James said.

I was really confused on what they were talking about, I wanted to ask questions, but I knew better. I continued to listen to them talk, but never said a thing. When they were done, they both looked at me and smiled. It was a real devilish smile, very sadistic. Their smile sent chills down spine, but I ignore them and their smiles. What more can they can do to me? When they left, I did what I usually do, after I got done; I decided to go to the library really quick and get some books. I mean dinner was already made, so what else was there to do right?

Right as I open the door, it flew open in my face. I stood there looking Susan eye to eye.

"where do you think you're going?" she asks

I just stood there looking at her in shock. I kept asking myself, what was she doing home so early?

"have you gone deaf?" she asks again

"um I-I was going to go get the mail" I said the first thing that came to mind.

"mmmhmm" she answers with a look of disbelieve in her eyes.

"whatever" she huffed and passed by me. "go get the mail and come see me I got something for you" she said.

I looked at her confused, shock and a little scared. The last time they had "something for me" I wasn't able to walk for weeks. All in all, I just nodded and went to the mailbox and got the mail. When I came back, I went to see Susan.

"you wanted to see me, ma'am?" I said

"oh yes, I got this for you" she said pulling out this really pretty dress out the bag.

I just stood there staring at her and the dress trying to figure out what was going on and if Susan was sick or something.

"well go on, try it on" she said after a while.

Too scared to say anything or question her, I took the dress and went to my room to try it on. The dress was a black,long and flowy, so long that it swept the floor.The dress hugs me in all the right places, it even made me feel pretty for a fleeting second. As I  stood there looking in the mirror, all I can could see where the bruises that cover my body like thorns of roses.The tears started rolling down my cheeks

"what's taking you so long in there?" I heard Susan asking.

I went back out to show Susan the dress.

"mm we need to cover those bruises, but that's no big deal" she said to herself

I just stood there without saying anything. I want to know what was going on, because the last time they bought me anything new was 13 years ago. I wear rags and hand me downs that I sneak to get from the donation shelter down the street from here.

"make sure you clean yourself up really good. We are expecting a really important guest" she said standing up.

"Do not fuck this up for us" she continues "you will be on your best behavior, because if you're not, trust me I will make sure you eat through a straw for the rest of your miserable life." She said looking me in the eyes without blinking; letting me know that she meant what she was saying. I mean. When haven't they gone through with what they said they will do?

I simply nodded my head and waited to be dismissed. When she felt that I knew she meant what she was saying, she told me to go and get ready.

"did you finish dinner?" she asks while I was walking up the stairs.

"yes ma'am" I said turning around to face her

"Good" she replied.

"Go on and get ready our visitor will soon be here" she said with excitement in her.

I just nodded and went to get ready while trying to figure out who this important visitor was. After I was done showering I put the dress back on and just stood there staring at myself in the mirror, just then my door (if you can call it that) opens. Susan walked in with all her make-up stuff.

"oh, Good God, I can't stand being in this dump you call your room, follow me" she said walking back out of my "dump" that they force me in. saying nothing I follow her to the guest bedroom.

"sit down" she said.

I did and watched Susan do my make-up. After an hour she was done with my make-up. I just sat there looking at her, well, more like waiting for her to tell me what to do next really.

"go look at yourself in the mirror" she said with a look of jealousy in her eyes. I don't know why she would be jealous of anything that has to do with me. With that in mind I stood up and walked to the full-length mirror. I was shocked at the woman that was looking back at me. She was beautiful, with no marks or bruises.  Just then the doorbell rang; letting us know that the guest was here.

"remember what I said earlier, behave, it's for your own good." Susan warning me for the last time. I nodded while walking behind her to meet this "important" guest. What I didn't know was that this was the turning point in my life. That my life was about to change, but was  it? for the better or worse?