Descendants: The rise of red

An unfair life

Chloe arrived before an ancient stone archway, surrounded by intricate wild shrubs, which served as the entrance to a vast garden immersed in darkness and neglect. The plants within the flowerbeds were irreparably withered, and dry leaves completely covered the cement floor, creating a desolate carpet. In the center of the garden stood a fountain, once grand, now reduced to a pile of trinkets and broken objects, used by crows as a perch for their sinister calls.
Perplexed, Chloe knocked on the massive door of the house, which exuded an unsettling aura, worthy of the most macabre horror film sets. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and decisively knocked her fist on the door. To her great astonishment, it was Ella who opened it. Chloe could hardly believe that her mother, as a young girl, had lived in such a gloomy place.
Ella, surprised, stared at her for a moment. "Um... what are you doing here?" she asked, stepping cautiously outside and half-closing the door behind her.
"I wanted to see you," Chloe replied, trying to muster a smile.
"WHO IS THERE?" boomed a shrill and authoritative voice from above. An elderly lady was looking out from the third-floor window.
"A friend of mine stopped by," Ella explained, maintaining a cautious tone.
"You'd better get to work if you don't want to miss dinner," the elderly woman ordered, re-entering the house with an imperious demeanor.
"Sorry, but my stepmother..." Ella began, but Chloe interrupted her abruptly.
"She's really a witch! Oh sorry, I didn't mean to offend her, but..." Chloe stammered, trying in vain to justify herself.
"Don't worry, if you want to stay, you'll have to help me clean." Chloe entered the house and followed Ella into the dining room, where the girl handed her a broom. "Here, the floor needs to be washed," she explained, "and it also needs dusting," she added with a sigh.
Embarrassed and clumsy, Chloe started to wash the floor, although she had never held a broom in her life. "Do you do all the house chores?" she asked, curious.
"Yes, they're all mine," Ella replied as she skillfully and precisely dusted a chandelier.
"Look, I came here because I wanted to talk to you. I think you shouldn't give up. If Charming doesn't make the first move, who says you can't?" Chloe said, slipping inadvertently. "Better take off those... glass shoes," Ella advised, with a hint of disdain for her new companion's ostentation.
"But it's a gift from my mother. They're a reward for my volunteer work, high grades at school, and because I'm good," Chloe explained with satisfaction.
"But are you still a good person if you get a reward for being so?" Ella asked, not expecting an answer.
"Anyway, Charming likes Bridgette. I'm not the kind of girl who insists until the boy she likes notices her," Ella continued.
"But why not? Bridgette was aware of your feelings for him, and let me tell you, a girl who doesn't care about your emotions isn't a real friend," Chloe countered, seeing Ella freeze, lost in her thoughts. "What should I do, according to you?" Ella asked, with a mask of inner conflict.
Chloe took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I think you should talk to Charming. Tell him about your feelings. Don't wait for someone else to take control of your life. If Bridgette doesn't respect your feelings, she's not worth chasing for her approval."
Ella bit her lip, clearly troubled. "But what if he doesn't like me? What if by doing this, I come across as ridiculous?"
"You're not ridiculous, Ella. On the contrary, you are and will be a fantastic woman. Don't do it for Charming or anyone else. Do what makes you happy. Look inside yourself for what you truly want and don't let anyone, not even Bridgette, influence your heart. No matter what happens, it will make you stronger."
Ella nodded slowly, as if Chloe's words had lit a spark within her. "You're right, Chloe. I have to be the master of my own fate. I need to figure out what I really want, not what others think is right for me."
At that moment, Chloe approached to hug Ella and accidentally bumped into a vase, knocking it over and shattering it into a thousand pieces.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" the stepmother shouted, hearing the crash. "NOTHING, MOTHER," Ella replied, but the lie was futile. Lady Tremaine descended quickly to check for herself.
"Help me throw the pieces into the fireplace, so she won't see them," Ella whispered. The two gathered the shards as quickly as possible, but the elderly woman was faster.
Lady Tremaine entered the dining room, her gaze fixed on Ella. Her face was gaunt, her expression disappointed and bitter. "It's all my fault," Chloe admitted, trying to take responsibility. "I'm very sorry, I assure you it won't happen again."
"You let this stranger into my house and let her break my beautiful things," Lady Tremaine said, addressing her stepdaughter. "It's unacceptable."
Chloe, seeing Ella mortified, intervened. "I apologized."
"YOUR APOLOGY DOESN'T REPLACE THE VASE, DOES IT?" the woman retorted, turning back to Ella. "Moreover, you're grounded. Tonight, you'll sleep in the barn."
The two girls didn't dare utter a word. Lady Tremaine headed to another room. "Anastasia, Drizella, let's try on your dresses," she said, entering another room and slamming the door behind her.
Ella resumed cleaning. "Ella, I'm so sorry," Chloe said with a trembling voice.
"That doesn't take away my punishment. In the future, don't act like a princess," Ella replied bitterly.
"But it was unfair, really," Chloe countered.
"You know what's really unfair? My mother died when I was little and I barely remember her. My father remarried and he died too. And since then, this has been the only family I've had." A tear slipped down Ella's face. "It doesn't matter if I behave well, to them I'm trash." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and knelt to pick up the broken pieces of the vase. "Yes, it's unfair, because life is unfair. Now go away."
Chloe stood motionless for a moment, then obeyed, leaving the house with a trembling "sorry."