Chapter 3 - temptation

"So, basically, you just hold the handle like this..." Frida explained, resting her hand atop Sophie's.

With a slow, sleepy motion, Frida moved the broom across the floor, tightening her grip around her new subordinate's hand as she, in turn, gripped the broomstick. "...brush the stringy part across the floor like this..."

"...and use the other end to push dirt into this little tray thing! This is called sweeping, and it's a very delicate process. Don't be discouraged if you're not the best at first."

Sophie rolled her eyes. "I know what a broom is."

"Just making sure you know everything before you start!" the pigtailed girl smiled, letting go of Sophie's hand and tucking both of hers behind her back. "Speaking of which, I think we actually DID go over everything. Hmm..."

Frida tapped her chin. "Did I explain where the ice box is?"

Sophie hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah."

"How to polish a table as economically as possible?"

"Uh-huh."

"The proper angle at which to hold a feather duster to achieve maximum cleaning efficiency?"

"Maybe?"

"Great!" Frida chirped. "In that case, one last question! Do you know what time it is?"

At that, Sophie fixed her gaze upon the tall grandfather clock on the far end of the room. She squinted at the confusing mess of roman numerals on its face, as well as the two differently-sized arrows, both oriented in what appeared to be two different, yet equally arbitrary directions.

"Um..." The poor girl replied, idly played with her lye-scented, freshly-washed hair, "N-Not really."

"Lunchtime!" says Frida, pointing pointlessly at the clock.

"What? Already?"

"Well, it's an hour and a half early, but we've got to celebrate your first day of work! So I'm taking you out to eat!" Without skipping a beat, the tall girl's pigtails bounced in sync with her step as she grabbed Sophie's wrist and marched her to the bakery's back door, "C'mon!

"B-But I don't have any money..." Sophie mumbled, only putting up the smallest possible amount of resistance against Frida's insistent pulling.

"Not to be a downer, but actually, since you're indebted to Mia after swallowing a year's wages worth of sugar, you have LESS than no money. A LOT less." Frida laughed. Having finally arrived at the back door, she finally let go of Sophie's wrist. "But don't worry! It'll be my treat! You deserve a BIG meal after working so hard this morning!"

Quickly turning to conceal her devilish grin, Frida grabbed the door's handle and pulled backwards. A gale of chilly air rushed into the otherwise warm kitchen, covering both girls in goosebumps in most of the rare places their conservative clothing did not conceal their skin.

The door slammed shut.

"Right." Frida chuckled, rubbing her arms to warm herself. "We should probably put our coats on, shouldn't we?"

"Well..." Sophie shrank back, blushing for probably the hundredth time that day. "...I don't really have a coat, either."

"Aww, Sophie!" Frida whined, running her hand down the length of the other girl's arm, "You poor thing! I can't even imagine what terrible things you've been through!"

Frida's hand continued traveling south until it reached Sophie's fingers. Smiling at Sophie, the taller of the two girls gave the five bony appendages a little squeeze before she pulled her hand back. "But I'm in charge of you now. So I'm gonna take good care of you, okay?"

"Th-Thanks." Sophie stammered in reply, not thinking much of Frida's slightly-authoritarian phrasing. Her frown was forced to concede, just a moment, to a tiny smile.

Frida, however, had turned around before she could see the fruits of her affection. "Now, wait right here!" she said, hanging playfully off the wooden trim of the kitchen door, "I'll see if I have something for you to wear out there. Don't stuff your face while I'm gone, my little piggie~"

"Hey! I told you to quit calling me a-"

With no one to hear it, Sophie's complaint faded into the void.

"Ugh." the girl sighed, pulling out a stool to sit on. Finally free of Frida's motor mouth, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. At last, she had a moment to herself. At last, she could take a moment to process her new situation.

**Is this real? It feels like a dream...** she thought, aimlessly scanning the many cabinets and shelves that lined the walls of the cozy kitchen, **I know I'm supposed to be being punished. I know I have to work my butt off the whole time, but do I really get to live here for a whole year?**

Her eyes settled on a plate of freshly-filled eclairs. Set on the counter to cool, they radiated a warm, intoxicating aroma that tickled at her nose.

**Speaking of dreams...** She thought to herself, hypnotized by the stack of sugary, fattening treats in front of her. She craned her neck backwards, eagerly sniffed the air, and let out a blissful sigh.

It had been hours since her late-night binge, but Sophie didn't have to try hard to be able to vividly remember her first experience with the chocolate-covered treats. She could still recall the quiet gasp that escaped her frosting-smeared lips the first time its sweet, goopy filling piled onto her unsuspecting tongue.

**Frida's upstairs. Mia's busy with customers...** She thought, glancing slyly at the tube of off-white cream sitting next to the pile of pastries. The stool underneath her creaked slightly as she leaned forward. **Nobody will notice a little bit of cream missing...**

**N-No! Get a hold of yourself!** Sophie's conscience scolded. She forced herself to tear her eyes away from the delectable treats on the counter. **Please! Don't mess this up...not so soon! You're lucky you aren't freezing your butt off in the streets right now!**

Now looking down, Sophie's hungry gaze settled on the old dress that, after her first bath in months, had replaced her ratty, patchy rags.

Since it had previously belonged to Frida, it didn't fit particularly well: The full-length skirt was far too long, forcing Sophie to lift up the periwinkle, flower-printed fabric each time she took a step. The upper portion, meant to accommodate Frida's more-developed chest and healthier frame, was noticeably baggy on Sophie.

Despite its obvious shortcomings, Sophie still felt her heart flutter at the simple sight of a clean, intact garment draped over her body. How long had it been since she had had any new clothes? How long had it been since she had had a bath, a roof over her head, or a belly full of food?

As the frail girl pondered these questions, a pang of guilt bubbled up from the depths of her stomach. **Why is she being so nice to me? I tried to rob her! I don't deserve all this...**

To be fair, Mia treated her exactly how she expected. All morning, the old woman had shot cold, disgusted glances at her every time she was unfortunate enough to look in her direction. Every time Sophie had opened her mouth to speak, the contempt in Mia's voice made it crystal-clear that, had it been up to Mia, Sophie would have been thrown into the unforgiving cold without a second thought.

But Frida? Frida was different. Frida was nice.

But Sophie couldn't fathom why.

Despite Sophie's desperate kicks and punches as Frida pinned her bloated body to the floor, despite the flurry of vitriol that came out of her mouth as Mia tied her up, despite her bratty, combative attitude in the following hours as Frida kept her company, the tall, pale-haired girl had always looked upon her with kindhearted eyes.

"I'm back!"

Right on cue, a familiar, high-pitched voice called out from behind Sophie, sending her train of thought skidding off its track.

Sophie turned around to see Frida with a huge grin between her cheeks. She held up a fluffy, white fur coat.

"W-wow!" Sophie replied, mouth hanging agape. She hesitated for a moment before taking it into her hands. "It's so pretty!"

"You like it?" Holding her arms to her side, Frida laced her fingers together, eyes glued to Sophie as she slipped herself into the coat.

"It's warm!"

"Well, duh!" Frida giggled, slipping on a coat of her own. She reached out to lightly tap Sophie's unsuspecting nose. "That's the point, dummy!"