Part 1

She stood in the middle of a large room, shifting from foot to foot and fearfully looking around. The situation was unusual, and the girl felt uncomfortable. She was already beginning to regret that she agreed to this work. But on the other hand, she could not count on anything more. There was no money for study, as well as there was no opportunity to get a place in a decent company. At most, this village girl could not count on, this was the place of a nurse or a cleaning lady at a local hospital and waving a rag or taking out a ship all her life. And here they offered solid earnings, accommodation and food. The ad was listed as "ASSISTANT ON THE ECONOMY". It sounded solid, although in essence it was a simple servant, a maid, a maid.

A large grandfather clock struck three times so loudly that the girl shuddered at each stroke. She even dropped her old fashioned suitcase on the floor. From the sudden alarm that arose, her breathing quickened, a deep blush filled her cheeks, her mouth was dry. Taking a deep breath, to distract herself, she began to examine the painting hanging on the wall.

- Well, hello, dear! - a tall, portly lady appeared in front of Katya, as if she had grown out of the ground, - Do you like it? This is a script and is very expensive. So do not touch your hands.

Katya, struggling with fear, looked at the hostess of the house. The woman was a whole head taller than her. Ash-colored hair was laid in an intricate hairstyle that resembled an unfinished nest of a strange bird. On the full round face, glossy from the abundantly applied makeup, a fleshy nose stood out, which rhythmically swelled to incredible sizes. In the small narrow-set eyes, thickly inked with mascara, the predilection to rule and command was read. Thick short neck, topped with several threads of coral, smoothly turned into a burly, swollen body, and a huge bust, supported by a bodice, the largest size, stuck out like a buffer from an old locomotive.

- Well, sir! - the lady sat in a high-backed armchair and stared at Katya, - What is your name, dear?

“Katerina,” the girl answered in a choking voice.

- I will call you ..., - the woman rolled her eyes to the ceiling and wrinkled her forehead, - Then I'll think of something. You will serve in my house.

Kate was struck by the stupid confidence of this woman that she would agree to work here.

- Most likely, - the girl thought, - The hostess was not accustomed to being denied anything.

After waiting a few seconds, she scored a little more air into her lungs and blurted out, looking her hostess straight in the eyes:

- What should I do and how much for it?

- What-oh! - the full face of the woman has got a bright crimson color, her eyes widened, and her mouth twisted and looked like a shark's gaping maw, - Thank Gd, rubbish that I agreed to talk to you in general You will do what they order! You will work for food and overnight! Clear wallet rustic?

- Why do you allow yourself to talk to me like that? - Katia asked in a trembling voice. - I did not come to the serfs to be hired. If so...

- Shut up! - the lady yelled, jumping to her feet, - Oh, you! I will show you, unwashed cow, how to talk with Mrs.!

The girl did not have time to bounce to the side. Strong slap burned cheek. From resentment and surging fear in her eyes, everything danced, her head began to spin, and Katya, having lost her balance, fell to the floor and immediately lost her senses.

It was already completely dark when Katya, recovering herself, opened her eyes. She was lying on a cold stone floor in a tiny room with one narrow window located under the ceiling. The glass was splashed with yellowish dirt and taken away from the outside with a thick grate. The girl looked around. All the walls from floor to ceiling were lined with shelves on which cans, bottles, and old pots were displayed.In the corner there were huge wooden barrels standing next to each other, and they were boring with acid.

Staggering and choking on sickening smells, Katya rose to her feet. The head was still spinning and rustling, like after a strong drink. Moving by touch, she found the door and pushed it. Locked up The girl pushed harder, but the door did not yield. Crouching on the bare jamb, Katya started banging on the door with her fists and screaming. There was no answer.

- Where did I go? - The girl asked herself, squatting down exhaustedly.

Finding a low wooden bench in the corner, she sat on it, clasping her knees, and lowered her head. Unnoticed by Kate dozed off. She dreamed of the house in which she was born and grew up, the goat Frosya, behind whom she ran with a twig, trying to drive into the yard, and she bleated loudly and bucked her front legs. Cat Murka sat on the windowsill, basking in the sun and squinting with pleasure ...

- Stop sleeping, dumb! - there was a sharp voice right in front of my ear, - Quickly get up!

“Give me my things,” the girl asked stammered. “I'll go home to my mom.”

- I'll go! - the hostess bellowed, - Well, get up!

The woman pulled out her plump hand and suddenly grabbed Kate by the hair. The girl leaned back, but the back of her head hit the wall painfully. The hostess, snoring like a draft horse, pulled her hand toward herself, trying to raise Katya to her feet.

- Stand up, I order! She screamed, "I will make you obey!"

Severe pain enveloped her head. The girl howled and began to flounder, threshing her hands around. A strong slap calmed her down a bit, but not for long. Then the fat woman, seeing that simple methods do not bear fruit, opened her fingers and released a strand of hair. Katya, sensing freedom, decided to escape from this room, which was fragrant with pickles, and rushed to the door.

- Where! - the hostess mockingly stretched out, - Noo! You will not be able to escape!

To her horror, the girl suddenly saw in the hand of a woman a short but thick lash. The next second there was a terrible whistle, like a cat's squeal, and piercing pain burned the girl's shoulder and back. Katya screamed and covered her face with her hands. Again the whistle, and already the other shoulder “caught fire”, as if from a torch.

- Do not! - Katia prayed.

But the hostess did not think to stop. She whipped her captive over her shoulders, stomach, chest. A few blows fell on bare legs and arms, leaving wide bloody scars. Soon the whole body of the girl was littered with bloody stripes and burned like in a fire. The girl could no longer scream, but only wheezed and sluggishly squirmed under the blows of the whip.

- Will you be submissive? - the hostess asked in an instructive tone, continuing the torture.

- Yeah! - Finally, Katya prayed, - Just do not hit.

“Add the word“ Madam, ”a stinker riffraff,” the woman nodded and continued to beat.

“Yes, madam,” the girl muttered through tears.

- Louder, bitch! - another blow struck Katie’s head.

- Yes Milady! She cried out of her last strength.

“Don't yell,” the woman lowered her whip.

Kate felt that the forces leave her. With her back to the wall, she began to crawl slowly to the floor. The blow of the lash on the legs made the girl start a little.

- To stand when the lady speaks to you! - shouted a fat woman, - On your knees to stand, rubbish!

- Yes, madam, - Katya, swallowing tears, knelt down.

- Head down! Hands back! - the hostess did not let up, - I will not repeat twice. Migom whip treat to treat.

“Yes, madam,” the girl of the last forces held back tears.

“Let's see how you learned the lesson,” smiling rather, the hostess put the whip in her belt, “Stand up and follow me.”

Kate began to slowly rise, but then again got lashed on the back.

- What should I answer? The woman hissed.

“Yes, madam,” a girl moaned, swallowing tears.

- Once again you forget, - the hostess shook her face in front of Katya, - I will beat you to a pulp.

Katya, gloomily with her head down, wandered after her mistress. Her light dress was torn to shreds, her stockings burst in several places, gaping with darkened scars. Scars "flashed" with each step.