1 1. Red

Red. Everything's red. I never knew there could be so much red.

Once, a long time ago, someone told me that when you die you see the color of your life. Sky blue, daisy yellow, forest green, precious pinks... there were so many colors to choose from. Yet I only cared about one color. Gold. Gold for talent, power, wealth, success, and so much more. Gold was the color I dreamed of every night, it filled my thoughts and my goals. I believed that when I died I would see a gorgeous, sparkling gold.

I guess dreams never work out though. Because all I see is red, a cruel, unhappy red full of anger and hate and injustice and despair. A sickening blood red. I hate it. Just as I hate my life. But I'm already dead — young, gone, and worthless. There was no reason for me surviving, all I did was take up space and hurt for other's fun.

If I could live again — who would even want the worthless me? — I want to die seeing gold. No matter what it takes. Because I've been stepped on by so many people living in the laps of luxury that it doesn't matter anymore. I've been pushed down again and again just so someone else, meaner and emptier, can get something they don't need. It doesn't matter if I'm already broken. No one cares. In fact, they'll still hack me to pieces just because they can. That's life. And I've already tried so hard to be the good person that I don't care anymore. If I live again, I'll live mercilessly. I will have gold, even if it means someone else must have this horrible red.

An ugly red, yet it is somehow attractive. It gleams like rubies, as if it's mocking my poverty. I guess even in death I can't be peaceful.

"Lady Scarlet."

Well I suppose you could call the color scarlet. In fact, it seems to be more fitting the more I look at it.

"Lady Scarlet."

Lady? I guess it is elegant, although whenever I see it my teeth grind in hatred.

"Lady Scarlet!"

I blink and find myself staring into a luxurious mirror embezzled with various jewels. A young, beautiful lady with silky scarlet locks stares back at me. She's wearing a long, fancy, green dress that matches her emerald eyes. Her porcelain skin is well taken care of and her hands are soft and gentle, having never done physical labor before.

The maid behind me coughs. "Lady Scarlet, it is time for dinner."

I turn around in shock, and find myself staring into an extravagant bedroom filled with the finest cloth and items of the highest quality. Jewels sparkle from every nook and cranny and the sweet smell of roses fills the air.

"Live to be condemned." A voice whispers in my ear.