by Melissa
Part 17. Under Sabrina's thumb.
The morning sunlight streamed in through the dusty window, casting long shadows across my cramped room of the maid's quarters. I groaned, rolling over to avoid the rays. I had been sleeping on a hard cot for two weeks, ever since I had been mistaken for a delinquent girl and forced to become a school maid at Elmwood Academy. My dreams of a posh private school had turned into a nightmare of endless chores and the strict supervision of Mrs. Henderson, the head maid. Despite my attempt to clarify the identity mistake with the Dean, Mrs. Cavendish, my situation remained unchanged. Mrs. Cavendish, with an air of unwavering resolve, insisted I maintain my duties as school maid while she investigated the matter further. This left me in a peculiar position, unsure of the future but committed to fulfilling my assigned tasks for the time being.
Today was different from other days though. Mrs. Henderson was away for several hours, and Sabrina, another school maid who I had grown to loathe, was in charge. Sabrina was often cruel to me, taking pleasure in humiliating me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as I climbed out of bed.
As I made my way downstairs, I noticed that Sabrina was already waiting for me in the kitchen. The normally cheerful room was now tense and uncomfortable. "Good morning, Melissa," Sabrina said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hope you're ready for another day of hard work." I forced a weak smile, not wanting to antagonize Sabrina further.
I followed Sabrina through the hallways, past the empty classrooms and locked doors. Today, I was assigned to clean the science lab. My heart sank as I remembered the last time I had been in there. I had accidentally broken a beaker, and Mrs. Henderson had scolded me severely.
While I wouldn't normally be allowed in, Sabrina used her fingerprint to grant me access to the lab. I felt a shiver of anxiety run down my spine. "Now, Melissa," Sabrina said, her voice low and threatening, "I want you to clean this place spotless. And if I see even the tiniest speck of dust, you'll be sorry." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I took a deep breath and began to survey the lab. It was a mess. Beakers and test tubes were scattered across the counters, and the floor was covered in a layer of grime. I grabbed a mop and bucket and started to clean, methodically scrubbing the tiles until they shone. As I worked, I couldn't help but wonder when Mrs. Henderson would return. I didn't trust Sabrina to be in charge for very long.
