Walk of life

Days

She had been told to endure this hell for just one more year before she could finally do away with them.

A twisted smile played across her face.

Oh, I can’t wait, she thought. This exact family would have been the first one she tore apart after the four years of brutal training she underwent, according to an instructor she had never met, this household was merely a testing ground to temper her character. She still did not understand how she,someone who was supposed to be recovering in a hospital bed had instead been enduring a cruel survival regime alongside other children, the oldest of whom was only fifteen.

As the sun rose, Keira inhaled deeply and slowly got up from her wretched bed to begin her daily chores.

First, she had to wake her so-called mother and father. Doing so meant she would be beaten for disturbing them and cursed out for their lack of quality sleep. Still, that beating was nothing compared to the punishment she received if she failed to wake them at all.

Next came the eldest daughter, Louis. Louis, was the most sadistic,she forced Keira to stand close enough to inhale the foul stench of the toilet while she used it, and made her watch her bathe.

Louis loved to showcase her body, massaging herself in a bizarre way that Keira still did not understand.

After that, she had to go to Luke’s room to prepare his uniform. Even though she always readied it the night before, he forced her to rearrange it every morning.

There was a time when she grew entirely sick of him constantly rubbing her dry, malnourished chest while staring at her with a sickening gaze then didn’t go into his room, “well she never attempted it again.

“Lastly, Amelia’s room, Amelia was the least troublesome; she was usually asleep, meaning Keira could avoid her condescending, contemptuous glare.Keira suddenly remembered that before even starting her rounds to wake these dreadful souls, she was supposed to have finished cooking. Otherwise... well, there was no need to dwell on those thoughts now. Her freedom was not far off.

Another thing that baffled Keira was how the husband and wife could possibly sustain such a comfortable life. They dined on sumptuous meals every day, their table always heavy with abundance, and sent their favored children to some of the finest schools outside backspear in Darkoria. Yet their combined salaries should not have been enough to afford even a better apartment, let alone maintain such an extravagant existence.

It made no sense.

No matter how long she lingered on the thought, turning it over in her mind like a stubborn splinter, she could never trace the source of their wealth.

Still, there was one thing she allowed herself to be grateful for. No matter how cruelly they tormented her throughout the day, she was at least given a proper meal afterward.