Chapter Three

Water drips steadily somewhere in the distance, I can hardly see anything more than ten meters from me because of how dark and cold this place is, I shiver a bit as the sound of something crawling in the darkness startles me.

I look up to the lamp hanging beside the doorpost across from me.

The fire still burns brightly, I can still see the wick and it’s the very big kind, wax spilling down its side in large clumps, forming a tiny fire mountain inside the enclosed space.

My eyes drop to my dress, and I drag my legs up. The hem of my gown rising to somewhere near where my feet are has turned brown with mud.

The fabric laced above my corset is torn, hanging loosely in the stagnant dark. My emotions feel bigger than me, and I don’t know what to do so I stop bothering. Then I don’t know what to think.

How did it get this bad all of a sudden? What have I done to deserve such a fate?

Joshua had been trouble from the start. Dominic found him during his first year in college and then slowly, he started creeping into everything that belonged to him, when that no longer satisfied him, he started coming after me.

He has tried kissing me a long while in the past which is one picture I hope never surfaces out of nowhere. It was when we were on vacation with friends. And I had been away from Dominic for just a second. I shoved him off me angrily and he seemed genuinely startled that I would be upset.

He never apologised.

Instead, he started chasing even harder. It was as if I had become some kind of game for him, and he was determined to win.

But no matter what he tried, I knew where my heart was and that wasn’t something I ever played with. When Joshua found out I was getting married he was so furious, he’d gotten drunk and cornered me. Told me that this meant nothing, and that nothing changes between us.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have taken that so lightly. That’s when I should’ve reported to Dominic whether or not he believed me, whether or not it would ruin the wedding.

Now look where trying to preserve the peace has got me.

I knew there was something more to it when Joshua tried to force himself on me this morning. It seemed so flimsy and careless, not as scheming and meticulous as is Joshua’s game. Never guessed the scheme was right under my nose.

“If I can’t have you… well, you’ll see.”

I can still remember the stench of alcohol that enveloped him as he spoke those words that evening, smirking in a way that was both dangerous and unthreatening.

The whole time, he was supposed to be Sarah’s boyfriend. She’ll never forgive me if she finds out.

I pause.

I can’t believe it.

Even after what they did to me, I’m still here looking after those girls. Aren’t I just the worst big sister of all?

A tear stings in my eyes as I remember how they’d all iced me out like some criminal. The lump in my throat when Dominic told me it was they who’d told him about Joshua and me. Sylvia.

Nothing has hurt me like that in a very long while, not even losing my father after never getting to meet my mother.

My life is full of so many sob stories that it’s pathetic at this point. All I asked for was one dream come true, for something to go my way for once.

And I almost had it… I almost did.

Only for the whole thing to come crumbling down on my feet.

The metal gates of the hold squeal loudly as someone pushes them open behind me. I don’t even bother to turn around or look, I can already guess who my visitor might be. And whoever they are, there’s no chance of this being a friendly visit.

“Gosh, you’re dirty.”

Laura’s voice is filled with so much disgust that you can actually see the look on her face without having to turn around.

“Don’t you think so?” She says again.

“Mm-hmm,” I hear Sarah next, uncertain as always.

My legs move before I can stop them and the next thing I know I’m pressed against the metal bars. “Sarah, you’re in on this too? How could you let her use you like that?”

Sarah scoffs, looking stunned for a slight moment. “Please- pfft! The only person being used here is you.”

“That’s right sister,” Laura chimes in behind her, the vile mastermind. “And we’ve been using her for a very long time.”

My eyes shift. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean the only reason we’ve put up with you this long is that we’ve been waiting for an opportunity as perfect as this where we could humiliate you and put you away for good.”

“What?” It’s impossible to believe my ears right now.

“I have hated you from the first day I laid eyes on you standing behind your father at the doorstep all those years ago. You’ve never had to work for anything in your life, it’s always come so easily to you.”

“Oh, because your life has been such a nut?”

“Do you know how it feels to live in your shadow all my life?” “I never overshadowed you, I always gave you room to grow. I thought we were sisters!”

“Please, you were never my sister.”

Those words hurt so much.

“Wow. Was that what you were thinking while you were brushing my hair this morning?”

“I’m just glad I no longer have to put up with this charade anymore. I came to see your pitiful face one last time before Dominic decides what to do with you.”

I turn to Sarah. “And you? Does your love mean nothing as well? What do you stand to gain from doing all this?”

She doesn’t answer immediately.

“She gains one less annoying sister whose hands can’t stay off her man,” Laura says, turning to Sarah. “Isn’t that right S, wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where you don't have to compete for your own lover’s attention with your harlot sister?”

Sarah hesitates for a moment before lifting her chin as she nods determinedly.

“I hope you rot in there forever while Joshua and I move on and have the most perfect life, you greedy monster!”

She doesn’t say anything else. She doesn’t need to.

Grabbing her dress and spinning around, Sarah leaves first. But Laura remains, amusement painted on her lips as she watches me, pity and victory written all over her face.

“It’s so crazy that until some moments ago you were the most beloved maiden in our pack. And now you're nothing but dirt. Toodles.” With a light giggle, she walks off.

Blowing out the lamp spitefully just before she gets to the stairs. I’m left there alone, enveloped by the darkness and the evil receding sound of my stepsister’s laughter.