Chapter 35

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No Plagiarism!AXfPj725PvXo3VBomGYBposted on PＥNAＮＡ Anna’s pace was quick. It couldn’t have belonged to a 5-year-old girl. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMEsCJLZER 維尼

A sense of perturbation swept across the air. The villagers all said she was an omen, as she didn’t look like she had grown up at all and maintained the appearance of a 5-year-old for all these years. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIFXY0ML0N 維尼

‘How about we rest for a while, alright Anna?’ I was panting like a bull.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡezXOVBaZgb 維尼

She stopped walking, turned her head round, and looked at me with cold eyes. ‘Alright.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡYitxNpd1kw 維尼

We sat next to each other under a large tree. It was only then did I realise there was fog everywhere. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3cLODtz8R 維尼

I instinctively shivered.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDMbh8IXSQ 維尼

Why could Anna tell directions just by intuition?8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxJzXU5hcW 維尼

Could she really be the devil of the forest that legend tells of?8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡunzsdi0E0Q 維尼

‘You’re really familiar with this forest, Anna!’ I tried to sound her out. Legend says that nobody could make it out from the forest, all but Anna.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZUkTnCrSS 維尼

‘Mmhm. I stroll around here every day.’ Anna lowered her head and played with her shabby, old doll. Turned grey and covered in dust, it was made up of different rags and shared the same monotone colours as Anna’s clothing.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwwl2Q1X2c 維尼

‘Why though? Doesn’t your mummy worry about you?’ I feigned my concern, my eyes never leaving Anna’s ginger hair and blue hair, which only she possessed among the whole village. I was pretty sure that Anna’s parents weren’t from the village.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTWegLJCWh 維尼

‘Mummy never returned to the village after she had gone into the woods. But she promised me before she left. She promised me she would take her with me and leave the village by crossing the lake.’ Anna hugged her doll tightly, her face full of sorrow. ‘I waited day after night, but she never came. So I wandered into the woods to see if I can find the lake she had mentioned.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo8eH1yIic 維尼

‘Lake? Is that the lake I’m looking for?’ I was stunned.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLvfVzf8Vu 維尼

I had been dreaming of my missing mother for seven days straight. My mother wanted me to get Anna to help out with finding the big lake in the middle of the woods so I could reunite with her. The villagers said that a devil had been impersonating my mother and wanted to steal my body from this. They urged me not to risk going into the forest, as well as not to contact Anna anymore.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2jEJ9t3cP 維尼

‘I think so.’ Anna wasn’t too sure. ‘I’ve never seen that lake before.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNPzm73GDZ 維尼

‘Didn’t you lead some villagers to find the lake?’ My blood ran cold. There were around 20 to 30 villagers who followed Anna into the woods, but they never came back.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5EmLYTkKb 維尼

‘Yeah. They did see the lake. But not me.’ Anna gave a bitter smile. ‘They all dreamt about the relatives they haven’t seen in years. But I’ve never dreamt about any relatives. Neither have the other villagers. That’s why they also can’t see the lake.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd9tCKnWOz 維尼

Everything was far too creepy, which was hard to believe. No wonder the villagers said that Anna was a threat. They despised and feared her, bullying her several times so as to drive her away from the village. Some radical ones even threw Anna into a stove in the name of ‘casting evil spirits away’. Fortunately, Anna made it alive and crept out of the stove, hiding herself away in the forest to heal her wounds. Later on, she found some dirty rags and wrapped it around her body. That’s why the villagers teasingly referred to her as ‘Grey Anna’.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJZe0wOxr3 維尼

‘Don’t be afraid. Your mummy will definitely keep her promise.’ My heart grew of sympathy.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h2Jz2K4QU 維尼

Anna finally smiled.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHhM5v1I6F 維尼

Overjoyed, she read me her favourite bedtime story. ‘Once upon a time, there was a girl named Cinderella. She had a step-mother, who had 2 daughters…’ 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaP48eLfMG 維尼

After a few chitchats, Anna and I grew tired and fell asleep together under the large tree.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡJM6nxoNcDf 維尼

The next day, the fog vanished.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uIoWwyQKt 維尼

I tried to prop up my body and forced my heavy eyelids to stay open.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JuTeJCbDf 維尼

What? How come there’s a lake not far from us? How come we didn’t realise it for the whole night?8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfV9VjzWu3 維尼

‘What’s wrong?’ Anna let out a yawn and looked at me sleepily.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡH33dl52VOm 維尼

‘Can’t you see it?’ I pointed at the lake.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAjCdtOtvp 維尼

‘Lake? I don’t see a lake!’ Anna sensed that I’d seen something, but looked askance at me. She sprinted towards the direction I was pointing at, until she reached the centre of the lake which I saw. Ripples didn’t appear near her steps. Finally, she steadily stood on the surface of the lake and didn’t sink into the water. It was as if she was walking on flat land.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡqurYu6DPKL 維尼

I mustered up my courage, as I walked towards Anna tremblingly.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvLlHsLBxm 維尼

My shoes were already soaked by just a few steps. Besides, my feet could feel the icy-cold sensation of the water. ‘I can’t walk near you!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsTiSxUHHt 維尼

‘You can just stand by the lake!’ She returned to my side. ‘See if there’s anything special nearby?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEeNTIWut1 維尼

I checked my surroundings.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK9P43sqtS 維尼

Thick fog appeared suddenly, billowing the lake surface. Everything was trapped within the mist.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mOWWzXROl 維尼

Ripples spread across the lake from its centre. An unmanned, run-down boat was coming our way and stopped at my feet. ‘A… boat…’ I was almost scared to death by the chilling atmosphere, and ended up stuttering.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPHimPvgro 維尼

‘That’s your boat! It will guide you the way to leave.’ Anna had explained, before she immediately turned around and left.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL22YvSCQ2 維尼

‘Anna!’ I cried out. ‘Are you leaving with me?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNDb6LDwcS 維尼

‘I can’t see the lake or the boat. So I can’t leave!’ A smile hid away her disappointment.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYlLtu9I2G 維尼

I hastily took out a few sweets from my coat pocket and shoved them into her hands. ‘I only have these… I don’t have anything else to repay you.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrPKakFWBn 維尼

‘Maybe you could help me by asking around where Mummy is. And tell her that Anna misses her a lot!’ Anna cried while speaking about her mother. People said that she was a girl void of tears, not even revealing her vulnerability when being bullied repeatedly by the villagers.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnZM4JElRb 維尼

Yet, she shed tears for her mother.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9CIQqIyfd 維尼

‘Alright…’ I petted her ginger hair gently so as to comfort her.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbIigRuPGo 維尼

I got on the boat, and sailed towards the depths of the haziness.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQqoX1cbBp 維尼

Anna’s figure became more and more blurry… 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhdh1YD8vy 維尼

I opened my eyes and I sprung up. Beside me were 2 unfamiliar ugly-looking old women. And also…8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34qjdCeFoa 維尼

‘Dad? Mum?’ I cried tears of joy. Thrilled, Mum and Dad darted forwards with and wrapped me in a warm embrace.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWviRkccII 維尼

After having a full meal, I rejoined my parents and the two women.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HhV7IJyX7 維尼

According to my parents, I had passed away due to a car accident a few days ago. Because of that, they found the witches to bring me back to life again. Now I had to stay here for one more night under observation. If everything went smoothly, then I could return home.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCpyfH7QSp 維尼

Night fell and my parents left the small house. The two witches and I sat next to the fire in our rocking chair while savouring tasty hot chocolate.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡq06JvRfGNq 維尼

I brought up Anna and things about her, hoping that the witches could help to find her mother.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAGnp7DFBw 維尼

Silence filled the room.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdLyL2tVJu 維尼

Something was up; I could tell from their expressions. ‘Do you know Anna?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaFeqzs43D 維尼

They didn’t answer me, but instead talked about their own stories on their own…8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlKhNLozx3 維尼

It was 70 years ago, and the civil war had just ended. People had to face the plague and famine again.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlu2TO3CBT 維尼

Two toddlers, less than 10 years old, followed their witch mother as they roved the streets. Later on, they were adopted by a woodcutter. To return him the favour, the witch married the woodcutter and took care of their child—Anna. Unfortunately, the woodcutter died from the plague, leaving the witch behind to look after their three daughters.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡKboKLQ3qN1 維尼

The four of them had neither enough food nor clothes. At the same time the witch was worrying about how to feed the family, she found out that the millionaire in the village was willing to hire anybody who knew witchcraft, hoping to resurrect his beloved wife. Turning the offer over in her mind, the witch decided to go for it. She exploited Anna, who didn’t know what was happening, and used her as a medium to guide his beloved wife…8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKohVOHhtV 維尼

‘Why weren’t you two chosen as the “medium”, but Anna who knew nothing about witchcraft?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxftGwME3rI 維尼

‘Would there be any mother who would be willing to risk her child?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHp0nqh7h9 維尼

‘After the deed had been done, why didn’t she bring Anna back?’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfhvdaQTve 維尼

‘Because the money was stolen. We had to play the same old trick and used her to make a living…’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr0bcdUQUf 維尼

‘And then what? You were robbed again? Aren’t you having a life of ease? See? You’ve got hot chocolate! A fireplace! Rocking chairs! But Anna was bullied everyday! She was even tossed into a stove!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡefWyOADZ3E 維尼

‘It’s too late! Anna’s body had long been decomposed. She can’t come back to life.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7etRR8vSj 維尼

‘Well then at least you have to go and apologise to her. That’ll stop her from waiting blindly and start a normal life again.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmVtHz18eC 維尼

‘We… We dare not… We’re scared that she’ll fly into such a fit of rage that her powers might grow too strong. She’ll turn into a vengeful spirit and seek revenge against us…’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzpFLGN4Ik 維尼

‘She has a kind heart. Maybe she’ll forgive you.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOME2LndZk 維尼

‘Who can guarantee that?’ 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoKzN1e07g 維尼

It was true. Nobody could guarantee Anna wouldn’t be enraged.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKBwPTr1Z4 維尼

Seeing that I didn’t answer back, the witches passed the buck to me with their tongues, one after another.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbtYoc2YbF 維尼

‘How about this? You kill yourself and tell Anna the truth, then persuade her to lead a normal life.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6AVBZ12Tp 維尼

‘But we aren’t sure whether Anna would be willing to guide you once more.’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQxLeQppoI 維尼

‘Hopefully Anna won’t tear you into shreds!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzAd6QEHTe 維尼

‘Why are you pretending to be all high and noble? You don’t have the guts either!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPnzN5pv3f 維尼

I was so livid that I threw the thermos cup I had been holding into the fire, and threw the rocking chair down. Unexpectedly, the witches were so amused by my outrageous actions that they laughed until they arched their backs.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJjcdmoYIw 維尼

‘Are you angry because you’re embarrassed of yourself? Haha!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrhqfvglew 維尼

‘Your parents spent a fortune just to save you, you little brat!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡew9ZbG0CZ8 維尼

‘The world is never strictly black and white!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pRPuipkyk 維尼

‘You’ll get it soon, kiddo!’8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡeppWjc48L0 維尼

I knew I had been completely defeated.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LSItYXr9v 維尼

Not only was I defeated by the witches, but more importantly, I was defeated by myself.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6o6XSkn4q 維尼

I wasn’t as much of a good-two-shoes as I thought I had been. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2CH6aQv3d 維尼

So… I’m sorry, Anna.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvDNCkRx2S

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