Chapter 5:Humiliation

Natalie

The harsh clanging of the wakeup bell jolted me from uneasy sleep. Bleary-eyed, I sat up on my thin mattress, the frigid morning air raising goosebumps on my skin. Around me, the other slaves were rising sluggishly to start another day of endless menial labor.

I quickly splashed some water on my face from the basin in the corner and got dressed. The roughspun slave uniform, a plain black knee-length dress. It offered little warmth or comfort, but it was all we had. At least today was Distribution Day - the one small bright spot in our otherwise dismal existence.

Once a week, the Alphas granted us slaves a slightly larger meal as reward for adequate service. It was the closest thing we had to a celebration. Stomach growling, I joined the procession of slaves trudging toward the dining hall.

Inside, long wooden tables and benches filled the drafty room. Harsh fluorescent lights cast a sickly glow over the scarred wood and concrete floors. The hall could easily seat two hundred