Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 31
‘Kyden must have returned to the cabin by now. Did he see the note?’
As she thought of the cabin, flashes of the warm fireplace, the food that would fill her belly, and his yellow gaze passed through her mind like a swift montage. Even amidst the bone-chilling cold, such thoughts brought a warmth to her heart.
Overwhelmed by a terrible longing, Roel regretted her decision to run away.
She should have trusted him, and talked to him honestly. Perhaps there was a better choice than the one she made. Just because he went down to the village didn’t necessarily mean he would learn of her story, especially since he seldom interacted with the villagers as an outsider.
He might not even know of the crimes she feared being accused of.
‘Ah, why was I so afraid? He must have seen the letter. Is it okay? Is it too late?’
Struggling to her feet, Roel realized she couldn’t muster the courage to cross the mountains.
She was indecisive and weak, and she hated herself. But there was nothing she could do. Roniti may be right about her being poor, unfortunate, and irritating.
Ashamed of not finding the way and having to return, she also sought excuses. The path was hidden under the snow, she couldn’t see it. FInding her way is more difficult than expected.
Kyden might not have turned her in. Maybe she mistrusted Kyden too much.
She decided to go back to the cabin to check if the villagers had come looking for her. Just to see if he had discovered her wrongdoing before leaving. It wouldn’t be too late.
With these justifications and self-blame for not finding the way, Roel staggered back the way she came. But even that was difficult as night fell and she couldn’t tell the direction.
She didn’t know if she was walking correctly. Did she take a wrong turn? Fear set in, making her steps even more chaotic until she fell.
She scraped her knee and sprained her ankle. As the situation grew dire, her longing and desperation for Kyden intensified.
Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled along.
“Ah!!”
Caught in a trap hidden under the snow, Roel screamed as she fell. The thorns of the trap tore through her clothes and into her flesh.
She groaned in pain for a while before bending over to try and free herself.
“Huh, huuh!!”
It feels like God has abandoned her. She felt as if being whipped to die quickly without struggling.
“It hurts, it hurts so much.”
Roel knew crying wouldn’t help, but she sobbed foolishly anyway. She struggled with the tightly secured trap that she lost control several times until her fingertips were torn.
With an injured ankle and having lost her way. She didn’t have the strength to walk further. She considered sleeping there until dawn and only moved then. Since she couldn’t see ahead anyway.
The overwhelming want to rest made her want to close her eyes, despite knowing the danger. Even after freeing herself from the trap, Roel didn’t get up to walk but lingered.
Knowing it was dangerous to sleep in her condition, she nonetheless slumped down and curled up.
‘Stupid b-tch. Did you think you could kill someone and live comfortably? You deserve to die too!’
Roniti’s curse echoed in her ears. Roel was startled and scanned her surroundings. Only the chilling wind, the darkness of the trees, and the cold moonlight circled around her.
The towering trees seemed to be pointing fingers at her, judging her like a panel of judges sentencing a criminal. Roel hugged her shoulders and bowed her head. An unbearable fear engulfed her.
It was night—the very time she dreaded the most.
She was alone, without the warmth of a comforting presence to shield her. She had to endure this terrible pain and guilt all by herself. The panic crushed both her mind and body.
‘I’m, I’m going to die.’
Her breath became shallow, and she trembled uncontrollably. Roel turned pale as if being strangled by an unseen force.
Then, from a distance, she heard rustling sounds approaching. Was it a beast? Terrified, Roel abruptly looked up.
The sound of something large approaching, thudding against the ground, was ominous. It had to be a large beast.
Trying not to give away her location, Roel held her breath. She shivered as she stared into the darkness where nothing could be seen.
Like a miracle, a familiar voice reached her. Discovering hope amidst despair, Roel forgot why she had run away and called out to him. Her body was flooding with joy, and she felt strength surged through her as if she had never lost her strength.
“Kyden! Ky, Kyden, I’m here…!”
Roel waved her hands frantically. She felt a rush of relief as she realized she was alive. A salvation from her despair.
“Roel…!”
Hearing her voice, Kyden ran swiftly towards her. He reached her quickly and stopped abruptly a few steps away from where Roel was. She tried to get up but fell back several times, partly because of her injured ankle and partly because her strength had drained away.
She wished he would come closer. She wanted him to reach out his hand, and help her up. She didn’t understand why he just stood there, watching her without moving.
“Kyden…”
The way Kyden stood still in the dark forest started to instill fear in her. Perhaps he had discovered something?
The fear felt like a noose tightening around her neck.
