Chapter 2

For the past two days, I’ve been running a fever. I told Mrs. Jane—my stepmother—but she just ignored me, hurling insults instead. Left with no choice, I used half of my savings to buy some medicine. And despite feeling weak, I still had to finish all the house chores, or else…

“Anny!! Get your butt over here!!!” Kaylle’s shrill voice rang out as she barged into the kitchen, nearly causing me to lose my balance.

“I’m almost done…” I mumbled through clenched teeth, resisting the urge to give her the punch she deserved.

“How long does it take you to clean this damn kitchen?!” she screeched, stomping her muddy feet all over the floor I’d just scrubbed clean.

Frustration simmered inside me as I watched her destroy my hard work. Kaylle flung open the cabinets with the ferocity of someone just released from prison, grabbed some leftover bread and jam, and devoured it while glaring at me with disdain.

Did I mention Kaylle eats like a pig? Well, she does.

I decided to slow down my pace, determined to clean up after her one last time. 

“Get up and make me breakfast!” she barked before storming out of the kitchen.

After scrubbing the kitchen down again, I quickly washed my hands and whipped up some pancakes with syrup, chocolate waffles, and whipped cream. I served her breakfast and darted back to the kitchen, hoping to snag a piece of waffle for myself. I had to be careful though—if I ate too much, I’d face another punishment.

With my small treat in hand, I rushed upstairs to take a quick bath.

“Oww!” I groaned as the pain shot through my aching body.

My muscles were weak, and every movement felt like a struggle, but I couldn’t afford to rest. I needed to hurry and meet Kaylle—without her, I’d be stuck walking the 45-minute trek to school.

After a quick bath, I dried off, brushed my waist-length black hair, and slipped on my favorite purple T-shirt, an old pair of faded jeans, and sneakers. Grabbing my battered school bag, I made my way to the garage to wait for Kaylle. We both attended Tony Montana High—she was in ninth grade, while I was in twelfth.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kaylle emerged from the house in all her overdone glory.

“How do I look, Bella?” she asked, striking a pose with one hand on her hip.

“No one cares, you she-goat,” I thought bitterly but kept my thoughts to myself.

“You look…extremely beautiful,” I lied, forcing a bright smile.

I could hardly stand her at this point. Kaylle was a rising star in the school’s so-called “Queen Bee” crowd—basically the mean girls. We were already fifteen minutes late, and yet all she cared about was her fake blonde hair, inflated chest, oversized rear end, and caked-on makeup. Ugh.

Finally, she slid into the driver’s seat and I reluctantly took my place beside her.

"Vroom!"

She revved the engine and sped off, blasting Rihanna’s “Diamonds” at full volume. I barely had time to buckle my seatbelt before she shot down the street, my frustration rising with every bump in the road.

“Ooo! I’m beautiful like diamonds in the sky!” she shouted gleefully.

I reached to turn down the volume, but Kaylle smacked my hand away. I flinched.

***

A/N:

Do you think Anny's hardships will ever end? How will she break free from this torment? You'll have to keep reading to find out...