Hungry!

Zoe grew to the age of 17 as she struggles to survive, throughout all her years that she had spent in madam Elisabeta's store she was never treated like a slave but even worst she was treated like a dog.

All the years Zoe spent in madam Elisabeta's store was torture, as she grew with the worth of being treated like a dog, although she was part of the slaves madam Elisabeta had chosen, she was forced to become her personal help. Madam Elisabeta had only done that so Zoe wouldn't and couldn't be bought by anyone who came into the store.

Zoe grew up to be very beautiful, she had long stunning dark hair that grew all the way to her waist, her eyes were crystal blue and it had an elegant and peaceful aura, she had long lashes that made her blue eyes look even prettier, her lips were naturally light rosy pink in color, she had a fair and beautiful smooth skin, and a slender and beautiful body that complimented her looks.

Madam Elisabeta didn't like Zoe, she hated her and wanted to make sure that as long as she was alive and with her that she would make her suffer, she wasn't happy with what she saw in Zoe, she hated the fact that she grew to be more beautiful than she was with every passing year, so every time she saw her she would glare out of pure jealousy with the thought of killing her, at the same time she knew she couldn't kill Zoe but only torture her, but if madam Elisabeta really wanted to kill Zoe she could kill her but that would mean her status and reputation would be destroyed and ripped away from her, because Daron had filed a report to the board against madam Elisabeta for stealing a slave from the institution and restraining him from taking back the slave.

There was no evidence to prove that madam Elisabeta had taken a slave illegally, so Zoe was being kept on standby (not to be killed) until they had found out the truth .

Jealousy had grown in madam Elisabeta with the years that passed by, as she deprived Zoe of her freedom making her do degrading chores like washing her feet's, being a foot stool for madam Elisabeta when she stepped out of her carriage or when she wanted to take a pedicure, using her bare hands to wipe off the mud on Madam Elisabeta's shoes anytime she came into her store, and to make it even worst madam Elisabeta would always step her shoes on muddy grounds just to make Zoe suffer by cleaning her shoes. Madam Elisabeta would always find faults to whip Zoe every time she had made even the slightest mistake.

But Zoe endured hoping that one day she would escape from the clutches of madam Elisabeta's jealousy.

~ ~ ~

Zoe woke up, standing from the cold ground as she sleepily walked out of the storage room to complete her daily work as she had slacked behind falling asleep because of the tiredness she felt. Unable to keep herself awake, her eyes slowly shut close but it immediately snapped open when she heard the store's bell ring, 'Amber might have entered the store', she thought to herself.

Her crystal blue eyes looked left and right, squinting tightly in an effort to overcome the sleep that lingered in her eyes. Taking a rag she soaked it in water squeezing it dry as she wiped the table clean, dropping the rag on the side she looked around to find a sweeper and dustpan sitting next to the trash bin, grabbing it in her hands she brushed the sweeper around the floor gathering the dust before packing it into the pan and throwing it into the bin. Zoe continued with sweeping the inner sides of the office, she reached for the mop, mopping and cleaning the floor steadily, she swept back and forth with every movement making her feel dizzy and tired, squeezing the mop with her hands she wiped it a few more times before looking up to see how clean she had made madam Elisabeta's office look, a sigh escaped her lips as she had now finished the last chore she had for the day, 'at least' [she thought to herself], before madam Elisabeta would be back and her misery would begin all over again.

At least the one she had done was enough to receive food from madam Elisabeta, The morning sun shone through the windows of madam Elisabeta's office making her stare into the clear light of the sun.

Anytime she hadn't done enough chore she would have to sleep hungry because madam Elisabeta would deny her food until she was able to complete the task, she shook the chains that was attached to her hands to reduce the pains she felt on her hands, sitting on the floor she dropped the mop close at her side as she rested her aching back on the wall, 'if madam Elisabeta find's me slacking off I'm sure she's going to punish me.., but why not enjoy it while it lasts'.

Zoe closed her eyes enjoying the break that she got from all her work, (*Grrr*) hearing the growl that escaped her stomach she placed her right hand on her belly remembering that she haven't drank or eaten a thing for the past two days. Madam Elisabeta used the excuse of Zoe not doing enough work to deprive her of eating anything, sometimes Zoe would watch madam Elisabeta eat a whole plate of spicy fried chicken in front of her without even letting a drop fall or any specs of food remain on the platter, even the thought of it made her mouth water "curses!" Zoe murmured under her breath.

*click*

She immediately snapped her head towards the door in hearing the door click open, Zoe thought it was Amber that had come to give her food to satisfy her raging hunger, a smile made Its way on her lips but immediately dropped, as her heart sank deep in her chest when she saw madam Elisabeta walk into the room, with a plate of buttered bread in her hands. 'Madam Elisabeta!' Zoe quickly stood up dusting the rags that she wore, her mind slowly drifted into wonderland as she stared at the bread with an unsatisfied hunger, 'I wish I could eat the bread… I'm so hungry', she was so hungry that she didn't notice the glare madam Elisabeta gave her, "the way you look at my food I'm guessing you want to eat it" madam Elisabeta spoke in a cold tone making fear rise in Zoe's mind, "no! Milady I just-", "nooo, its fine you can have it… I said take it!!", her voice sounded like in had a hidden motive behind it, Zoe couldn't refuse Madam Elisabeta's request and besides she was really hungry and needed food to eat. Zoe knelt down and crawled towards where madam Elisabeta stood, she didn't want to stand in her presence as it would be considered to be another disrespectful act. Zoe stretched her hands to take the piece of buttered bread on the tray but madam Elisabeta purposely loosened her grip on the tray as she let the piece of bread fall to the floor, Zoe felt confusion with the way madam Elisabeta glared at her in anger 'what have I done wrong?', "pick. Up. The. Bread! I said pick it up, or do you want me to do it myself?". "N-no milady I'll do it myself".

Zoe reached for the bread again, and clutched it in her hands. She attempted to withdraw her hands back but was immediately stopped when she felt a prick in the back of her hands, Zoe tried to pull her hands away but it was of no use, madam Elisabeta had pinned her palms to the ground with the bottom of her heels, kicking Zoe with an inhuman force, she stepped on the buttered bread repeatedly.

Hot tears fell from her eyes as she watched madam Elisabeta destroy the only food that she had to eat "foolish slave that's where you belong, in the dirt like a useless dog *hmp!*" she watched madam Elisabeta walk out of the room majestically as she was now satisfied with the way she had hurt Zoe, 'how can someone be so cruel (sobbing)' running to where the bread was, Zoe bent down taking it in her hands, she dusted the bread and started to eat it hungrily, 'it taste's good but it's sandy.., it's the best food I've had in days' spitting out some left over sand in her mouth she continued to eat the remaining piece in her hands.

The door was slowly pushed open making Zoe's heart skip, standing up quickly she looked at the door to see who it was "(whispering) *PST* Zoe! Are you in here?", hearing the voice that spoke she patted her chest in relief knowing who the voice belonged to, "yes It's me Amber come in, I'm here", Amber slowly walked towards Zoe and stood next to her, "what are you doing here? Don't you know Madam Elisabeta is expecting an important guest?"

"I'm sorry but madam Elisabeta had demanded that her office should be cleaned daily", "oh I see... right! there are some shelves that Madam Elisabeta have asked you to clean", "yes I understand, but in the meantime do you have any food for me to eat?", Zoe asked with a hope filled voice.

"I'm sorry but eating time has passed and the slaves aren't allowed to eat anything until the sun sets", "oh…" Zoe said in a disappointed tone.

Zoe had no choice but to stay hungry again, now all she had to do was to wait for night to fall until she had something to fill her hungry stomach.