Chapter 6

• With a loud thud, Elena's vision went black, and her forehead burned fiercely.
• "Do you know where you are? Still pretending to be dumb?"
• Gloria let go of her hand, and Elena fell to the ground. Just as she tried to get up, she was kicked in the waist.
• In all her years, Elena had rarely been yelled at, let alone faced the dark side of the world. She thought dealing with Chloe was dark and complicated enough, but little did she know it was just the beginning.
• Now, Elena was lightheaded and helpless from the beating.
• "Stop hitting me!" She held her head, only to be kicked in the back a few more times. "I didn't pretend..."
• "Didn't pretend?" Another woman with short hair squatted down, pulling her hair up. "I heard you killed someone? Or are you just a fake who stole someone else's life?"
• Elena was stunned. "How... How did you know?"
• Gloria laughed, squatting down to squash Elena's hand with her foot. Then, she arrogantly said, "Of course, someone paid us to find out."
• "Who?" Elena winced in pain, the skin on her hand almost being torn from getting crushed.
• "What? Feeling guilty now?"
• Gloria leaned close to Elena's ear. "You don't have the right to know who it is."
• Could it be Chloe?
• But why?
• She had already taken the blame for her and endured all the accusations and dirt thrown at her. So why would they still treat her like this?
• Suddenly, Elena's eyes widened, and a strangled sound came from her throat.
• Another inmate was ruthlessly pulling her hair back.
• "Look at that reaction. It must be true." Gloria stood up straight, gesturing for the person to let go. She then kicked Elena's leg. "From now on, you're the errand girl in this cell. Try doing one less thing and see what happens."
• Elena collapsed on the ground, her ribs hurting with every breath. She touched her forehead, feeling the sticky blood on her fingers.
• "Still standing there?" The woman with short hair kicked her again. "Didn't you hear what Gloria said?"
• "I heard." Elena struggled to stand up, but she ended up swaying as the blood from her forehead trickled down her cheek.
• Unbothered by Elena's weak state, Gloria pointed to the bucket in the corner. "Go fetch water first, then scrub the floor three times."
• Elena picked up the bucket and headed to the water room, the bucket's iron handle digging painfully into her palm.
• Inside, a few people were doing laundry, and they all stopped when they saw her.
• "Is that the imposter?"
• "I heard she killed someone, but she doesn't look like it."
• The gossip felt like needles piercing Elena, but she gritted her teeth, also ignoring how the water was splashing on her wound and causing her hands to tremble.
• Back in the cell, she was squatting on the floor, scrubbing, while Gloria sat on the bed, staring at her.
• After the third round of scrubbing, Gloria suddenly extended her foot in front of her. "My shoes need cleaning too."
• Elena hesitated for a moment with the rag in her hand before finally moving over reluctantly.
• There was mud on the leather shoes, which she dutifully wiped off. But then, Gloria suddenly lifted her foot and stomped hard on the back of her hand.
• "Put some effort into it! Haven't you eaten yet?!"
• Elena winced in pain, feeling her fingers to be seconds away from breaking. "I did put effort into it..."
• "You dare talk back?" Gloria forcefully withdrew her foot, then kicked Elena on the shoulder.
• Elena then fell onto the freshly scrubbed floor that was still wet.
• "Clean it again."
• Gloria crossed her arms and watched her. "Clean it until you can see your reflection."
• Elena got up and soaked the rag again.
• The wound on her forehead continued to bleed, dripping blood onto the floor, and she could only wipe it off repeatedly.
• It wasn't until the bell rang, signaling lights out, that she finished scrubbing the floor.
• Gloria then pointed to the top bunk in the corner. "You sleep there."
• Elena climbed onto the bed, finding the wooden plank uncomfortably hard and the blanket musty smelling.
• She curled up, feeling the pain in her ribs coming in waves; any slight movement made her gasp in pain.
• Soon, snores filled the cell, while Elena lay awake staring at the moon outside the small, iron-barred window.
• "Hey." A voice suddenly came from the lower bunk; it was the woman with short hair. "Gloria wants you to wake up at five tomorrow morning to make breakfast, so don't oversleep."
• Elena didn't respond; she just pulled her blanket closer to her body.
• Then, in the early hours of the morning, she was jolted awake by a shove.