1 Prologue

Rough walls scraped a girl's sensitive skin, leaving calluses and scratches. She let herself hang from the edge for a moment to catch her breath. The light of the moon outlined the impurities of the stone walls and the moss growing over it. Repulsed, the young child turned her head away.

It would've been miserable enough if the girl and her brother, who climbed under herself, were caught while climbing through a window. Their father would scream and shout at them for missing curfew. Alas, they never did make it to the window.

A slight drizzle flowed from the sky, and the little girl stared as water built up around her hands, petrified. If she moved her hands, she would fall. How could she survive the fall?

Her arms felt as if they were burning. Her shoulders needed to collapse. Her hands were sliding ever-so-slowly, as if to antagonize the poor child. In one swift motion, both hands slipped clean off the wall's ridges. A blood-curdling scream filled the silent night. Her brother did not try to escape from her trajectory; he knew it was her only shot at life. Even if he died, she could survive.

Down fell brother and sister, towards the muddied ground. They hurdled faster and faster until… Impact.

Through a blurry gaze, the girl saw figures rush towards her. They lifted her into their arms and sprinted somewhere far away. Every time the child started to close her eyes, she was bumped slightly, and she remembered to hold on.

Urgent yelling flew across the air. Another figure took the girl to lay her on a bed. More shouts sounded until she was sure she couldn't take it anymore. Now, only a slow hum filled the room. A sweet voice sang of life and death, hope and sorrow. It reminded the little one of a lullaby her mother might sing her. Soon, her eyes felt heavy and she closed them, for just one short nap. Her breath cut short.

"Save her," an exasperated cry pleads, "anything you desire is yours. Save them."

"I shall save one," the sweet voice was steady and sharp, with seemingly no remorse. This witch could-and would-only save one child, no matter what bribery or threats were issued. The father looked at his children with tears in his eyes. He brought those eyes to his wife, who let out a heart wrenched sob. In a despondent voice, he managed a short answer.

"Save our daughter."