Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 42
She screamed at herself like a desperate cry. Even in her frantic escape, she managed to hold onto the bag of medicine.
In her shock, she couldn’t comprehend what had just happened as she hurried up the mountain.
Her mind was blank. She struggled to breathe, and tears streamed down her face. Gasping for air, all she could do was let out strangled sobs.
‘Run! You have to run!!’
She heard noises in the distance behind her. Roniti, who had tumbled down the slope, was now back on her feet and chasing after Roel.
She had to outrun her. She couldn’t let Roniti catch her.
Faster! Run faster!!
Roel kept climbing, even if she stumbled. She crawled on all fours, like a desperate animal, using every ounce of strength to get away.
“Stop right there, you wretched woman!! If I catch you, you’re dead!!”
Roniti’s voice seemed to get closer. Roel’s skin prickled with fear. As she climbed the mountain, a thought suddenly struck her.
But where should she go?
Roniti was chasing her. Where could she escape to?
Instinctively, she was heading back to the cabin, but she knew she couldn’t go there.
Kyden will find out. Roniti will tell him everything. He might get dragged into this mess.
What should she do? Where should she run to?
Terrified and confused, she had no time to think. Roniti was right behind her. Blood trickled from her knees where she had fallen. Desperate and feeling foolish, she began to cry.
“Sob… sob….”
As the cabin came into view, Roel felt utterly defeated.
This is the end.
Kyden would learn everything. All her ugliness, her lies, everything would be exposed.
He would be disappointed, and he might give up on her. No, he would definitely give up on her.
Yet, even if everything was over, she wanted to see him one last time. The thought of it being the last time made her want it even more.
‘One last time, just one last time….’
She decided to give up without regrets. Embrace the warm memories, and be thankful for having had them.
It was the only way to escape the misery.
When Roel had given up on everything, she heard a scream from behind.
“Ahhh!!!”
She turned around to see Roniti hanging upside down from a tree just a few steps away. She had been caught in a trap.
The more Roniti struggled to free herself, the tighter the trap clamped around her ankle, as if it was designed to catch humans, not animals. The trap seemed to bind her more tightly with each desperate movement.
“….Huff, huff.”
Roel stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene.
‘Why is there a trap there…?’
Exhausted, she collapsed to the ground. She tasted blood in her mouth, and her ears were ringing, making Roniti’s screams echo faintly.
Realizing she couldn’t escape the trap on her own, Roniti changed her tone.
“Help, please!! Roel? Roel, you’re there, right?! Help me out, quickly!!”
Roniti alternated between soothing pleas, painful screams, and desperate begging, calling out to Roel.
“Roel, I’ll forgive you. I understand how you feel… You must have suffered a lot in the forest. Come on, let’s talk this through calmly. Roel!!”
Frightened, Roel hunched her shoulders. Roniti’s face, hanging upside down, was turning red, about to burst as blood rushed to her head.
“Roel!! You’ll be punished by the heavens!! How many more sins are you planning to commit?! God is watching you!!”
Roniti’s piercing screams shattered the silence of the forest. Roel was paralyzed.
As Roniti thrashed wildly in anger, the branch she was hanging from bent precariously. Roel couldn’t tell how much longer it would support her weight.
Still, she felt relieved. Roniti was trapped and couldn’t chase her anymore. Now she had a chance to say a final goodbye to Kyden. She was grateful for that.
No, this is an opportunity from the heavens. A chance for revenge!
Kill Roniti right now. You’ve done it once before. Just close your eyes and strike her down! Finish it here so she can never chase you again!
Then you won’t have to part ways with Kyden. You can continue as if nothing happened. Just don’t ever go back to the village. No one will know…
‘I can’t do it… I just can’t…’
Roel buried her face in her hands. She didn’t want to run far away, nor did she have the courage to kill Roniti. She felt utterly powerless and weak.
In the end, she decided to return to the cabin. The first thing she needed to do was give Kyden the medicine. After that, she would confess everything to him and then leave.
Far away, as far as she could.
Having made her decision, Roel lifted her head with difficulty and tried to stand up.
“Are you okay? I told you it’s dangerous to come out here.”
Kyden wrapped his arm around Roel’s waist as she sat on the ground. He effortlessly helped her to her feet and casually dusted off her dirt-streaked clothes.
Still dazed and struggling to grasp reality, Roel stared at him blankly before speaking.
“…Kyden?”
“You even got yourself hurt. You never listen, do you?”
