Alison continued her walk until she passed a pharmacy. A woman was leaning her cheek on her hand, gazing at the passersby, and something was written on her shop door.

  "W-A-N-T-E-D... W-O-R-K-E-R," Alison barely managed to read the letters. "Worker wanted!" she repeated the sentence in her head.

  She approached the shop but stopped when the scent of pus and decay began to waft from behind the smell of herbs and spices. She watched the shop until the woman noticed her, so Alison decided to walk toward her.

  "Hello... how can I help you?" the woman asked, noticing the mark on Alison’s neck.

  Alison pointed at the sign, and the woman looked at her.

  "You want to work?" A broad smile spread across the woman's face. "Excellent! You can start right now."

  "W-w-wait."

  "What... I suppose you want to agree on the price?"

  Alison nodded.

  "How about 4... no, 5 silver!" The woman held up five fingers.

  Alison’s mouth opened slightly as she scrutinized the woman’s face.

  "Listen... the shop has a bad reputation, but everything they say about me is untrue. I’ve had a hard time finding a worker, so I’m paying this high price." The woman’s shoulders slumped.

  "Hmm." Alison placed her middle, index, and ring fingers over her upper lip.

  "Hey... my name is Enide. And yours?"

  "Al-l-lison."

  "Well, Alison, do you know how to read?" Enide stepped closer, and Alison flinched back. "I didn't mean to bother you, I apologize."

  "A l-l-little."

  "That’s fine." Enide picked up a jar. "Can you read this?"

  "Cham-m-omile."

  "Excellent. And the price?" Enide pointed to the numbers written under the name.

  "Five br-r-ronze, p-per m-measure."

  "That’s amazing." Enide put the jar back in its place. "It's rare to find... ah... owned ones who can read." Enide clapped. "Anyway, your task is to clean the place and serve customers. If you need anything, knock on the room door." Enide pointed to a door near the last shelf. "The cleaning supplies are in the washroom too. You can read those books as well." Enide pointed to a shelf near the desk. "And most importantly... never try to enter, and never try to steal." Enide’s voice grew deeper, her gaze becoming sharper. "Understood?"

  Alison nodded, which hurried a drop of sweat that had formed on her forehead.

  "Excellent, little one... but you’re a bit dirty." Enide went to the shop's restroom and brought back a damp rag. "There." Enide wiped Alison’s face and hands, then brought out a perfume and sprayed it on her. "Now you can start cleaning; the place is a bit messy." Enide entered the room and locked the door behind her.

  Alison brought the gear from the washroom and began scrubbing the floor with a straw broom and some soap dissolved in water. She wiped the desk and the jars, using a chair to reach them. She cleaned every corner, looking behind the bottom shelves for anything dead, but found nothing.

  "The smell won't g-go away," Alison sat on the floor after drying the place. "It's c-coming from there." She contemplated the closed door. "5 silver... it's w-worth it." Alison stood up, stopped staring at the door, scattered some flower petals near the door's crack, then pulled a chair and sat at the desk waiting for customers.

  Many people passed by, stealing glances at the shop from the corners of their eyes. After a while, during which Alison had dozed off, a man came to buy.

  "I want four measures of ginger." The man inspected the shop while standing at the storefront.

  Alison nodded, placed the four measures in a paper bag, and counted the total on her fingers.

  "30 br-r-ronze." Alison handed the bag to the customer.

  "Here you go." The man gave Alison 35 bronze pieces.

  Alison counted the pieces, set the 5 aside, and held them out to the man.

  "Keep it." The man walked away.

  Alison placed everything in an empty box located in the desk drawer. She sat back down, watching the comings and goings, waiting for a new buyer.

  "You, give me some red tea." A woman who walked with stork-like steps stood there, carrying a bag that wasn't even large enough to hold a sandwich.

  "H-how m-much?"

  "Ugh, you stupid slave girl. I need a measure." The woman rolled her eyes.

  Alison moved and weighed a measure on the scale, placed it in a bag she closed carefully, and presented it to the woman with both hands. The woman took the bag with the tips of her fingers and started to leave.

  "H-hey!" Alison raised her voice. "Th-th-that’s 30 br-r-ronze."

  The woman didn't look back.

  Alison jumped up and began knocking on the closed door repeatedly. The door finally opened, and a scent of chemicals and sweat stronger than before poured out. "What?" Enide’s face was tense.

  "Sh-sh-she d-didn't p-pay." Alison’s breathing grew heavy.

  "Who is she?" Enide stepped out and stood near the storefront, and Alison followed her.

  Alison pointed at the woman.

  "That bitch is the wife of the village trustee," Enide whispered to Alison. "If she comes again, give her whatever she wants without an argument." Enide retreated back into the room.

  Alison returned to her spot, watching the door with a racing heart.

  "Hello... how are you?"

  Alison turned but found no one. She looked right, then left, then lowered her head and found a woman.

  "Hello, little one. I’d like to buy some herbs for my children; they are a bit ill." The woman’s face was barely there, her features were so small.

  Alison nodded.

  "I want cinnamon, thyme, lemon verbena, and some cloves."

  "H-how m-much?"

  "Half a measure of everything except the verbena; I want a full measure of that."

  Alison moved, using the half-measure weights to weigh the cloves, thyme, and cinnamon, and measured the verbena. She gathered everything into bags and gave them to the woman.

  "Ah..." Alison stared at the price sheets. "15... 16... 22... 30," Alison thought. "E-eighty-f-four... ah, no, e-eighty-th-three."

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  "Eighty-three!" The woman held out the money in her hand, counting it. "Can I have a discount... please? I haven't bought bread yet... if I don't buy it, we'll spend the night hungry on top of being sick." The woman’s eyes, already narrow, tightened, and her mouth pulled into a frown.

  "Ah..." Alison scratched her head. "E-eighty?"

  "Yes! That will be enough for me to buy a loaf!" The woman handed over the money and took the herbs. "Thank you, my daughter."

  Alison gave the woman a crooked smile as she waved at her.

  Another woman had been watching what happened from a distance.

  "Hello... oh, you’re a slave... how disappointing. Anyway, I want some turmeric and pepper, a measure of each spice."

  Alison moved again.

  "Did you know the shop owner might be a witch?"

  Alison stopped pouring turmeric into the bag. "W-w-witch?"

  "Yes, a witch. She turns people into ugly monsters and kidnaps children... like you."

  Alison swallowed hard and continued working.

  "I’m not talking nonsense. I want you to save yourself before it’s too late."

  Alison’s hands trembled as she closed the bag and headed for the pepper jar.

  "At night, a faint moaning is heard from here. Once there was a young man working here, and he disappeared too."

  Alison handed over the spices, her face having turned pale. "Th-th-thirty." Alison let out a short exhale with her words.

  "Also... she might make you ugly like those creatures in the forest." The woman grabbed the bag, and since Alison’s hand was still holding it, she gripped Alison’s hand.

  Alison let go of the bag and pulled her hand away, her face losing its relaxed features.

  "This is your due." The woman gave Alison the money and left.

  Alison watched her leave, thinking about following her away from this place. When the woman vanished from sight, Alison began staring at the door in a daze, until another customer arrived and snapped her out of it.

  A few more customers came by, and soon there were 420 bronze coins in the box. As the sun neared the horizon, the door opened.

  "So, how was work today?" Alison’s body stiffened as Enide’s hand touched her shoulder. "Where did you put the money?"

  Alison pulled out the drawer containing the earnings.

  "I didn't expect all this." Enide picked up the box, turning over the coins inside. "It seems you attracted the customers..." She paused, narrowing her eyes. "Or perhaps they needed spices and only came once they saw you." Enide set the money aside. "As we agreed, Alison... 5 silver for you." Enide pulled the coins from her pocket, took Alison’s sweaty hand, and pressed the money into it. "You look pale. Have you eaten?"

  Alison stared at the floor without answering.

  "Hah," Enide sighed. "I assume they told you." She went into the back room and returned with a piece of bread, handing it to Alison. "Whatever you heard about me being a witch or evil or whatever they say—it’s wrong."

  "Th-th-the s-s-smell," Alison barely managed to get the word out.

  "That smell? I grow a rare flower that smells absolutely foul, but it remains rare nonetheless." Enide smiled, raising an index finger. "Do you want to see it?"

  Alison didn't move.

  "I’ll show it to you." Enide went into the room and brought out a red plant; it looked like a flower, but the petals were fleshy and spotted with brown. "Go on, smell it."

  "Ugh." Alison leaned her nose toward the flower, and the stench rushed into her nostrils. Her diaphragm spasmed, bringing her close to vomiting whatever undigested remains were left in her stomach.

  Enide patted Alison’s back, watching her with a smiling face, yet her eyes searched for any hint of something she didn't want to see on Alison’s features. "Do you believe me now?"

  Alison nodded, covering her mouth and nose.

  "I'll put this back... you go now. I’m closing up... Oh, Alison," Enide turned back just as she was about to leave. "Have you seen any strange creatures... at least not like the usual monsters?"

  Alison shrugged her shoulders.

  "Fine." Enide bolted the door behind her after taking the money and the plant.

  Alison ate part of the bread Enide had given her, then crushed the rest between her hands and stuffed it into her pockets. She set off, walking through the alleys back toward the agreed meeting point. On the way, she passed a shop where the aroma of grilled vegetables wafted out. She stood there, watching the vegetables as they let out small pops when they touched the hot grate, kissed by the flames.

  "Get lost! We don't sell to slaves," the shopkeeper shooed Alison away.

  Alison obeyed and moved on, still looking back at the shop, then sighed and continued her journey. One eye was watching Alison, and another was watching her pocket.

  The first thing Alison saw when she entered the street where the four had agreed to meet was Berthold’s swollen, bruised face and the dried blood on his lip. Berthold didn't lift his head when he noticed Alison had arrived. She pulled two silver coins from her pocket and gave them to him, then leaned against the wall, waiting for the others.

  "Oh... where did you get this... and what about you?" Berthold looked at the two coins, which were coated in a faint black tint that dulled their shine.

  "D-don't w-worry," Alison replied.

  "And do you have money for yourself?"

  Alison nodded. Berthold lowered his head further and remained completely silent for several minutes.

  "Alison... we aren't having dinner today, are we?" Berthold whispered.

  Alison shook her head.

  "Damn it." Berthold buried his face in his hands.

  From a distance, heavy footsteps approached, accompanied by a hunched back. Alison stood up, and Berthold removed his hands from his face.

  "Oh, my back," Ivan whispered as he walked toward them. "You two are here." Ivan sat on the ground. "How much did you collect?"

  Alison held up three fingers.

  "And you, Berthold?"

  "One." He stole a glance at Alison.

  "That's great... I only collected one silver piece." Ivan pulled a coin from his pocket. "Did you find work?"

  Alison nodded, then covered her mouth and turned away from Ivan and Berthold.

  "I... I haven't found any yet." Berthold gripped the money he had.

  "Oh... why don't we work moving cargo tomorrow?" Ivan suggested.

  "No, I’ll try again tomorrow." Berthold stood up abruptly, raising his fist, but when he turned toward Alison, he lowered it. "What do you think?"

  Alison wasn't listening to what he was saying.

  "Alison!" Berthold raised his voice, and she turned to him. "What do you think? Should I try again tomorrow?"

  Alison shrugged her shoulders.

  "Yes or no?"

  "On one hand... y-you'll d-die like this. On the other... if you f-f-fight every d-day, you'll b-become stronger and the money will be e-easier... and on a third hand, what if we c-can't p-provide the money? ... Also... since we are s-slaves, they will n-never s-sell us f-f-food."

  "What? They won't sell us food? Is that why they put that... mark on our necks?"

  "Maybe. Keep going."

  "Keep going? Really?" Berthold smiled.

  Alison nodded. "But... you have to f-f-find food during the day... for pr-precaution."

  "I will, thank you," Berthold nodded. "But how will I find food?"

  "G-good question."

  "Do I steal?" Berthold asked.

  "No," Alison raised her index finger.

  "Aaaah," Ivan groaned. "I won't work carrying boxes tomorrow... maybe I'll work on a farm."

  Alison and Berthold turned to Ivan for a few seconds before returning to their conversation.

  "Then how will I get food?"

  "Instead of them giving you b-bronze, they give you f-food. Or work on the farm and ask for v-vegetables."

  "I'll try that."

  "Berthold, please... step on my back." Ivan lay on his stomach on the road, away from the path of passersby. Berthold stepped on Ivan’s back, and several cracks echoed from his spine.

  "Hi!" Sasha ran toward the rest with a broad smile on her face. "I found work with a nice lady. She gave me 3 silver and taught me how to make wool too!"

  "That... why did she give you all that?"

  "Oh... I told her about my situation, and I think she... felt sorry for me." Sasha’s smile faded.

  "Is there an-n-nything str-range about her?"

  "No... not really. She gave me cake, told me stories, and asked me to prepare food and clean the shop and the house too."

  "B-be careful."

  "I will." Sasha slowly put the money back in her pocket.

  Alison pulled a silver coin from her pocket and gave it to Ivan.

  "No... you’re the youngest, you shouldn't go without dinner." Ivan pushed the money back.

  "I a-ate." Alison pushed the money toward him.

  "Here." Sasha pulled out money too and gave two silver pieces to Ivan.

  Ivan looked at the extended hands of Alison and Sasha, pursed his crooked mouth downward, and wiped his eyes. "Thank you both."

  "We ate," Alison pointed to herself and Sasha.

  "Yes... but who will have dinner today?" Sasha looked at Berthold and Ivan.

  "Give it to him," Ivan pointed to Berthold.

  "What?! You need to eat too!"

  "Ber... Ber... your name is d-difficult. You are in-n-njured... but Ivan is too..." Alison’s eyes darted between the two. "Hmm."

  "Listen, whatever you’re thinking, forget it," Berthold’s face scowled.

  "It's okay... j-just once." Alison shrugged.

  "No!" the three shouted in unison.

  "Fine... g-goodness," Alison whispered.

  "Hey, you scum! Don't you see sunset is near? Get back to your master before I return you to him as corpses," two men shouted at the group.

  The four walked away from them, heading back to their master’s house.

  "It’s settled, Berthold will have dinner today," Ivan stood up.

  "W-wait." Alison led the group to a narrow alley where no one was passing and began pulling the crushed bread from her pocket. Luckily, it wasn't the very crumbly kind; it remained almost one flat piece.

  "Bread!" Ivan whispered.

  "E-eat." Alison gave the bread to Ivan.

  After Ivan extended his hand, pulled it back, then extended it again, he took the bread and shoved it into his mouth, swallowing it in a few bites.

  The three returned to the hut as the sun set.

  "Oh... what do you have?" The one-eyed man greeted the group accompanied by two massive guards Alison hadn't seen in the morning. "Search them."

  The guards frisked Berthold first and found 3 silver on him. The four held out their hands with the money.

  "You have 3." He took the money from Berthold. "Go over there." He directed him toward a place where the smell of stale, thin soup and damp bread wafted.

  The guards finished searching the rest. "You... you won't be whipped, but no dinner for you." Arnold directed the rest toward the hut.

  "The rooms are divided... like the old hut." Sasha looked at the two doors in front of her.

  "At least there’s only the smell of sweat here," Ivan checked the room, found it was the men’s, and went in.

  Alison and Sasha entered the other room. A familiar scene prevailed, though it was slightly less terrible. Alison and Sasha spread out on the floor.

  "Sasha."

  "What, Alison?"

  "W-was it a b-bad idea?"

  "Escaping?" Sasha raised one eyebrow.

  Alison nodded.

  "No... on the contrary. At least we can wander here... at least we can see new things."