Chi: And we're back for another installment of Cinderella. I bet you're all thrilled.

Ha: That's the spirit! -smiling-

Chi: Yay! on with the story!

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Hakkai's skull felt like it was on fire, and he moaned, eyes heavy.

Chin had been shaking him, and then...

That was all he remembered.

Hakkai sat up, shivering. He had been lying in that dirty water for a few hours, and the wet chill had soaked through his thin clothes

and into his bones.

In the next room over, he heard laughter and raucous chatter.

They had completely ignored him. It was like he was just something in the way to step over.

Slowly, pulling himself to his feet, Hakkai's legs cramped for a minute, but he continued into the next room.

Instantly, everyone went silent as they glared at the intruder. They had either been stuffing their faces for a long time, or they had

attacked the food ravenously. Either way, most of the table's enormous spread was eaten.

Hakkai's stomach rumbled painfully, and he lifted his head, not really looking at anyone.

"I..I'm hungry. Can I please have something to eat?"

He heard someone put their silverware down, and he chanced a glance at his family.

His stepmother was pushing her chair back, and when he realized she was coming for him, he withdrew, shrinking slightly as if that

would protect him from anything.

"Did you do all the chores you were asked to complete?"

Hakkai barely shook his head, staring at the floor.

"What did I tell you earlier, boy? Speak to me when I am asking you a question!"

Hakkai looked up, frightened of her menacing glare. "I...I didn't."

"And why is that?"

At this point, Chin decided to speak up. "He decided he needed a nap instead!"

"Oh really?" His stepmother paused for a second, and then he felt her painful nails dig into his shoulder, and he winced in pain. "Then

tell me! Why do you deserve to eat if you didn't work?"

Hakkai was very tempted to point out that they did absolutely nothing, yet ate like pigs. Doing so, however, would only increase his

pain.

So he kept quiet.

"Well? Why should I give you something to eat?"

His eyes went to the floor again, and he bowed his head. "You...you shouldn't."

His stepmother's grip relaxed slightly, but her clawlike fingernails were still digging into his flesh. "Exactly. But...if we didn't feed you,

you would be worth even less. If that's even possible!"

Hakkai watched as she grabbed half a loaf of bread off the table and shoved it into his shaking hands.

"There!"

The teen looked at the bread, noticing someone had taken a bite or two out of it. "But...it-"

"It what? What is it now?"

"Someone...has eaten off of it."

The stepmother paused for a moment, and a cruel grin appeared on her face. "Would you like something else, then?"

Falling for the bait, Hakkai nodded fervently.

Unfortunately, she was not an accomodating woman. She ripped the loaf out of his hands and threw it back on the table with a clatter,

knocking over a pitcher of water. "Well, if you ever did any work around here maybe you would get something else to eat!"

Hakkai was jerked forward as she started dragging him out of the room, and he stumbled slightly, quickening his pace to keep up

with her.

"I'm sorry! I'll eat that; I was just kidding!"

"It's too late for that, boy. Now that you've had a chance to eat, you'll go to bed now!"

Hakkai struggled against the tight grip she held on his wrist. "No! Please! I said I was sorry!"

His stepmother stopped at the shabby wooden door that he had to call his room, and smirked. "Hopefully you'll remember this

tomorrow and not slack off like you did today! There will be a lot of work for you to do, not mentioning the work you didn't do today."

The wicked woman opened the door, and thrust Hakkai in, who tripped in the darkness and fell painfully to the cold stone floor.

"You had better not make any noise in there, boy!"

Hakkai curled into a small ball, pulling his knees to his chest.

Another night without any food.

Another night of him wishing he was anyone but himself.

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Chi: And there ya have it! Chapter two! I still feel bad for poor Hakkai though...I always seem to have to torture him...ah well

XD I have no idea what will happen next, so I guess you just have to wait and see for yourself.