One: The staircase
Scarlett was running again.
Her bare feet pounded against cold stone steps that stretched endlessly into darkness. Up. Up. Up.
She couldn't stop.
She never could.
Every time she dared to slow down, a voice echoed from somewhere beyond the shadows.
"Run... or the debt will never be paid."
She didn't know whose debt it was.
She didn't know why she had to pay it.
She only knew that if she stopped, something terrible would happen.
Her lungs burned. Her legs trembled. Tears blurred her vision as she climbed another flight of stairs... and another... and another.
There was no beginning.
There was no end.
Just endless steps.
Then—
A loud crash.
Scarlett's eyes flew open.
She gasped for air, sweat soaking her oversized T-shirt. For a few seconds, she stared blankly at the cracked ceiling above her before reality settled in.
The nightmare.
Again.
It had haunted her every night for as long as she could remember.
"Scarlett!" a shrill voice screamed from downstairs. "Are you planning to sleep all day?"
Scarlett sighed.
And the real nightmare begins.
She glanced at the tiny alarm clock beside her mattress.
5:02 a.m.
Perfect.
She hadn't even recovered from one nightmare before stepping into another.
She quickly splashed water on her face, tied her curly dark hair into a messy ponytail, and hurried downstairs.
The moment she reached the kitchen, a wet rag landed squarely on her face.
"Since you're finally awake," Mrs. Brown snapped, folding her arms, "clean this entire house before breakfast."
Scarlett quietly picked up the rag.
"Good morning to you too."
"What was that?"
"I said... good morning."
Mrs. Brown narrowed her eyes.
"You've become too smart for your own good."
Scarlett simply smiled.
It was safer that way.
Ever since her parents died ten years ago, she'd lived under the roof of her mother's elder brother. Her uncle was kind, but his work kept him away for weeks, sometimes months.
Whenever he left...
His wife became queen.
And Scarlett became the servant.
"Mom!" sixteen-year-old Vanessa Brown walked into the kitchen, yawning dramatically. "Why is breakfast not ready?"
Mrs. Brown shot Scarlett a murderous glare.
"Because someone is standing there looking useless."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, cousin, what exactly are you good for?"
Scarlett bit back a reply.
Arguing only earned her extra chores.
Within the next hour she swept the house, washed dishes, cleaned the bathrooms, ironed uniforms, prepared breakfast and even packed Vanessa's lunch.
By the time everything was done, she finally reached for a slice of bread.
SLAP!
The bread fell from her hand.
Mrs. Brown smiled coldly.
"Who said you could eat?"
Scarlett looked down at the bread on the floor.
"I... I made breakfast."
"So?"
"I'm hungry."
Mrs. Brown leaned closer.
"And whose problem is that?"
Silence.
Vanessa laughed.
"You should be grateful we even let you live here."
Scarlett swallowed the lump in her throat.
Without another word, she picked up her worn-out backpack and headed for the door.
"You forgot something," Mrs. Brown called.
Scarlett stopped.
"The trash."
Of course.
She carried two heavy garbage bags outside before beginning the thirty-minute walk to the café where she worked before school.
Most teenagers were still asleep.
Scarlett had already lived half a day.
"Morning, Scar!"
Old Mr. Daniels smiled as she entered the tiny café.
"Morning, sir."
"You look exhausted."
"I'll survive."
"You always do."
For two hours she washed dishes, served coffee, wiped tables and greeted customers with the brightest smile she could fake.
By eight o'clock, she had earned just enough to pay for lunch at school.
Maybe.
If nothing unexpected happened.
As she removed her apron, Mr. Daniels stopped her.
"Wait."
He handed her a sealed envelope.
"It came earlier this morning."
Scarlett frowned.
"For me?"
He nodded.
"I think it's from a school."
Her heart skipped.
Hands trembling, she opened the envelope.
The first line stole her breath.
Congratulations!
She blinked.
Read it again.
Then again.
She had been awarded a full academic scholarship to Dulwich Academy, the most prestigious private secondary school in the state.
Her mouth slowly fell open.
"No way..."
Mr. Daniels grinned.
"Good news?"
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I got in."
"You what?"
"I actually got in."
He laughed proudly.
"I knew you would."
Scarlett hugged the letter tightly against her chest.
For the first time in years...
Hope didn't seem impossible.
She looked up at the bright morning sky.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
Life was finally about to change.
She had no idea that behind the luxurious gates of Dulwich Academy waited enemies, secrets, heartbreak...
And a boy named Ashton Smith, who would turn her world completely upside down.
This opening chapter introduces Scarlett's difficult home life, hints at the mystery surrounding her recurring nightmare, and ends with the scholarship that launches the main story. It also sets up the next chapter, where she arrives at Dulwich Academy and has her first encounter with Ashton and the ARC.
