The Woman Of The House

The apron clung awkwardly to my chest, the thin fabric leaving little to the imagination. My bare legs were cold against the kitchen tiles, a stark reminder of my humiliation. Tessa had insisted on this outfit—or lack thereof—with a smirk that spoke volumes.

"Cook something nice," she had said, lounging against the counter with her telekinetic aura humming faintly around her. "We're having guests."

Guests. That's what she called them. A group of scavengers she'd invited into the mansion from the frozen wasteland beyond our walls. Survivors who had, only days ago, been pounding on the gates in desperation.

I stirred the pot on the stove, the aroma of stew filling the air. My hands moved on autopilot, but my mind raced. This wasn't just about food. This was Tessa's latest performance—her sick way of flaunting her power, not just over me, but over everyone.