The Ladder to Hell

Hannah pouted, an expression of pure mockery lining her face. Scarlet grumbled, turning away to hide the watering of her eyes. Julia quickly pushed Hannah away, and turned to comfort Scarlet while Hannah tranced away to join her friends.

They all looked similar. They were covered in make-up, lips redder than a cherry and eyelashes so long they might as well have been used for mountain climbing. The group of girls all moved away, pausing to simultaneously flutter their eyelashes at a boy who was very clearly drooling.

“We don’t need to be like them,” Julia tried to reason with Scarlet.

“They get anything they want though,” Scarlet replied. “Look at me. Liam’s still ignoring me, and I can’t get voted as head pupil because no-one even knows me.”

“Look, Liam isn’t the guy for you if he won’t speak to you, and you don’t need to be head student. I see you, and you’re amazing as you are.”

The words failed to penetrate Scarlet, and she looked over at the boy nearby. If only he’d look at her like that.

Back when he’d rejected her, his words had been, “You’re just not my type.” That was it. He’d turned and joined his friends on the football field, and Julia had walked her away, wiping away her tears.

* * *

Five years had passed since Hannah had mocked Julia and Scarlet. Now, they were out of school and had begun their careers. Julia had become a secretary and Scarlet had taken up art. Also, despite Scarlet’s worries about Julia giving up her youth, she’d married a young man by the name of Marcus. Word had quickly spread in the town when Marcus had arrived and bought the largest house any of them knew, word that he was rich, and single.

Julia had leaped at the opportunity, and begun to wear more make-up, and wear her hair differently. The change didn’t go unnoticed by Scarlet, but she shrugged it off as only the attempt to entrance him. At the wedding, Marcus’ best friend Thomas had been the best man, equally rich and much more handsome. He was pale, with dark hair and deep brown eyes while Marcus had blond hair and blue eyes. Thomas had barely paid attention to Scarlet, maid of honour, best friend of his friend’s wife.

Now, seven months later, Julia decided it was time Scarlet and Thomas knew each other better. They met in an Italian restaurant, in the style of a double date. So it was that Scarlet sat down opposite Thomas, who’d already ordered a white wine for himself. His gaze fixed on her, and it was almost uncomfortable.

“Scarlet,” he said, looking down at his wine as though he didn’t need to look at her any longer.

“Thomas,” Scarlet said. He didn’t interest her much more than she interested him.

Eyes had turned when Julia walked in beside Marcus. Their marriage had been the talk of the town, and even now, they were known everywhere, even if the buzz had died out. A glittering diamond wedding ring on her finger reflected the light, disgustingly expensive.

Dinner wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. Every time Julia stopped gazing at Marcus, she poorly attempted to inspire conversation between Scarlet and Thomas, but it never worked.

All she really learned about him was that like her, his parents had died, leaving him their inheritance. The night for Scarlet had been one of an ocean of tears, several bottles of wine, and Julia’s arms wrapped around her. The empty hole in her was yet to be filled.

Julia flashed her wedding ring every chance she got, but she never seemed to have much to say to Marcus. They hardly seemed married in actuality, almost as quiet as Thomas and Scarlet. The only indications that the couple were more than acquaintances was her constant gazing at him and that awful ring on her finger.

The night ended in even less energy than it had started with. However, Julia and Marcus had given Scarlet something to think about. Every so often, Hannah’s face still appeared in her head, even more so after her parents had died in that plane crash. As more of an outcast than ever, she had been further alienated by Julia’s marriage. No longer a teammate in this war, Julia was on a new side.

* * *

Thomas, advised my Marcus, arrived at Scarlet’s house a week later and tried again to connect with her. They managed to talk a little more, but Thomas only seemed to want to discuss his various cars, the halls of his manor house and the many, many suits he owned.

When Scarlet had asked whether he’d ever donated to a charity, he’d snorted and moved swiftly on to a detailed depiction of his gardens. It was admittedly a lavish lifestyle, not unlike the one Julia was enjoying. Thomas was just finishing when Elliot, Scarlet’s younger brother walked in. He stared at Thomas, giving his sister a questioning glance.

“He’s the friend of Julia’s husband,” Scarlet said.

“Another one?” Elliot asked, not seeming pleased.

“Yes. He was just telling me about his gardens. They do sound like heaven,” Scarlet said.

“I’m sure,” Elliot barked a laugh. “Say Thomas, do you have any family?”

“I do. Two siblings, brother and sister.”

“Okay. How often do you see them?”

“Hardly ever. They don’t often accept my invitations. Isla and Harry aren’t doing so well,” Thomas answered.

“Interesting,” Elliot replied sarcastically.

Scarlet, on hearing this, remembered her own time at school, feeling inferior wherever she went. Hannah’s face was particularly clear this time. She had to save herself.

The next time Thomas and Scarlet met, it was back in the Italian restaurant. Scarlet had picked out a red mermaid dress for the occasion, and her lips were a match to the fabric. She giggled at him far more often than before, although it certainly came out rather forced. Thomas didn’t seem to notice that though. He repeated the descriptions of the property he owned, and didn’t make any reference to his parents. However, the link must connect them, right? It wasn’t a coincidence that they shared the same tragic past?

Date after date. He bought her anything she wanted, even the ridiculously expensive wine. Meanwhile, the town took notice of this new relationship, and now they stared at her with admiration when she went past. Scarlet began to emulate her make-up style more often, although never at home when Elliot was around. He refused to speak to Thomas, and while he may not be the perfect guy, Scarlet wished Elliot could try to get along with Thomas, if only for her sake.

Every month, Scarlet visited a nearby charity shop with anything she could donate. It had been a tradition ever since her parents had died. But two months after meeting Thomas, she skipped a visit. She just didn't have the time right now, but she knew part of her was thinking about Thomas’ snort when she’d asked him if he donated. She spent more time with him and less time with her other friends. Now, she got the treatment Julia had received after her marriage, and Hannah’s face hardly popped up in her mind anymore.

* * *

Only five months after the Italian restaurant, Thomas proposed. He’d told Marcus, who’d told Julia, who’d warned her a week in advance.

“Propose?” Scarlet cried.

Julia nodded. “What do you think you’ll say?”

“I don’t know!” Scarlet snapped. “I mean, he does finally give me status, and I guess I probably need some love since…”

“So you think you’ll say yes?” Julia whispered.

“I suppose I do,” Scarlet said, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “He’s pretty much everything I could dream of.”

“You bet. I almost chose him over Marcus, but Marcus proposed first,” Julia said. “You’d be so happy!”

So, when Thomas asked, she said yes. Immediately, Thomas paid for the wedding preparations to begin. Occasionally, Scarlet tried to suggest something, but it never seemed to end up in the final plan. Elliot had taken the news horribly.

“You’re actually going to marry him? Sis, he’s not right for you,” he’d protested.

“He’ll give me everything I need,” Scarlet argued. “I could be happy with him.”

“I really don’t think you will,” Elliot pleaded. “I swear, if you marry him, I won’t be at the wedding.”

“I have to, okay.”

Scarlet turned, leaving Elliot to stand in the living room, shaking with tears. She quickly dialled up Julia for some support.

“I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I?”

“Just look at me and Marcus. I’m doing great, aren’t I,” Julia reassured her. “But listen, Marcus says he’s moving us to Hawaii after your wedding. He thinks Thomas wants to stay behind.”

“So you’re leaving?”

“Unfortunately,” Julia answered. “Oh, hun, got to go. Bye!”

Before Scarlet could reply, Julia hung up.

A month later, the wedding day arrived. As promised, Elliot was nowhere to be seen. He’d gone off to live with his new girlfriend up north. The day was certainly spectacular, but nothing spoke to Scarlet as she walked down the aisle. Thomas barely looked at her as they said their vows, and the afterparty was short and relatively dull.

There was no honeymoon booked, Thomas had vaguely said they’d handle it later, but it didn’t seem that important to him now. In the following days, Scarlet hardly went outside. In fact, she couldn’t. As soon as they’d got back to Thomas’ manor house, he’d brought her to a bedroom without windows and shut her in.

“I don’t need you interfering in my business,” he’d said. “You’ll just come out with me when I need you. Servants will bring you all the food you need.”

“But we’re married!” Scarlet protested. “You’re meant to be in love with me.”

“All I needed were the documents saying I had a wife so that people wouldn’t question me,” Thomas said. “Can’t you imagine what being unmarried by 30 years old would have done to my reputation?”

The door slammed, and the lock clicked.

“By the way,” he added. “If you try to expose or divorce me, I can… persuade lawyers to see my point of view.”

So, Scarlet was locked away without any means of contacting anyone because he’d taken away her phone. When they went out, she had to hold on to his arm, smile, and be silent. Those were the rules for a comfortable life. Two years after their marriage, she gave birth to a son in her same chamber. Thomas quickly took his son away to raise him as he had been raised. She never saw the child again. She may have social status, but it came with no control over her own life.