Volume 1.8 Dawn

The storm had passed, and nothing more appeared to be pursuing them. Rebecca wanted to feel relieved, but something inside her told her that things weren't finished yet. No, she would only be relieved if she could escape this horrible place with her children.

And there was one thing that troubled her, 'Wind.' Wind was still not providing her with any news. 'I hope you're alright, my friend.'

Rebecca had no opportunity to investigate the surroundings of the mansion for over a decade because she was always watched by those three. Frayah, the head maid, Hilgard, the cook, and Ares, the elderly gardener.

Wind, her friend since she left the original place she was living, was the only one she could always rely on. Wind informed her that if they made it to the end of the forest, they would see the sea, where he had built a tiny ship for them and had all the goods they needed to escape. While he was doing all of this, he left specific markers for Rebecca to follow. Like the wind's movement, the secret cave, and the other required route they would need to reach the destination.

'If it weren't for you, Wind, I don't know how I'd get out of here with my children.'

That was the direction Wind had given her. To the sea and the little ship that Wind had prepared for their escape.

It had been hours since they had been going and walking while resting frequently and briefly. 'At this point, Frayah must have learned of our escape. No, she might have figured it out by the time I confronted that chef.'

"Mother, how much further are we going to walk?" Rebecca's son inquired.

"Just a little bit more," Rebecca said. Regardless of the fact that both of her children were exhausted, they just nodded.

They were now having a little rest behind a massive and ancient oak tree.

Myrene stayed silent the entire time they were out of the cave. There was this peculiar sense inside her that told her they were being observed. But she was unable to point it out.

'Mom, her clothing were tattered and there were some small blood stains when she returned.' Possibly indicating that she battled the monster that was pursuing us. But, like Mother's possible concern, if we don't get out of here, we're still in danger.'

"I can go on now, mother," Myrene remarked cheerfully. She was then followed by her brother. "Me as well!"

Rebecca smiled at her two children. "Alright let's get going, it's not that far away from here."

And true to her words, soon they finally reached the end of the forest.

However it was very different from what Rebecca had expected.

There were no blue seas or the ship that Wind had assured her she would find.

"This," Rebecca said, tightening her grasp on her children.

A cliff in front of her was exploding and blazing with voracious magma.

'Did I go to the incorrect location?' But this is where the wind's flow ends.' Her heart began to beat rapidly. And a terrifying notion entered her mind. 'No. I'm quite sure I went down the wrong path.'

'There is no way Wind would lead us to such a spot.' Rebecca began to back up with her children, refusing to accept the reality in front of her.

"Mother, is this where we are going?" The tired eyes of her son looked at her.

Myrene also looked at Rebecca with worry.

"No," Rebecca shook her head. "I must have just made a mistake. Let's go back. We are supposed to see the sea where a beautiful ship is waiting for us at the end of the forest."

Myrene looked at the trembling of her mother's hands that was holding her. "Mother who told you about this?"

"A trusted friend of mine." Rebecca answered then faintly smiled. "Let's go back and see the other path. I must have mistaken something on our path."

Myrene took a glance around at where they were. It was just a long cliff with a boiling magma beneath it, no matter where she looked. She couldn't see anything but a never-ending sea of lava on the other side. It seemed as though they were at the end of the world.

"Mother, brother," Myrene called out to them. Her brow furrowed, apparently showing her inexhaustible concern. "Wherever we go, this is the end of the forest; your friend lied to you, mother."

Rebecca's face twisted when she heard words she didn't want to hear from her daughter. "No-no, he will not lie to me; I-I must have miscalculated our course; let's go back right away. My daughter you're still a child to say such words."

Myrene could see that her mother was panicking now. She firmed herself. There was no use acting child at this dreadful situation. "Mom! Please listen,"

Myrene could see how her mother's eyes were becoming more distorted.

"Let's find a proper place to hide first rather than recklessly going around the forest. They must have been looking for us now."

Rebecca was quite surprised at the words of her daughter.

"Mother, let's go," Myrene demanded when her mother still didn't move. She grabbed her mother's and brother's arms. However, before they could even take a single step. Myrene was pulled back by the strong force of her mother.

Rebecca drew her children to her and concealed them behind her back. She looked with extreme cautiousness in front.

Someone was emerging from the darkness of the forest. Her long dark hair, which was usually wrapped in a bun, cascaded over her shoulders as she wore the usual maid uniform. At the three person in front of her, her purple eyes appeared menacing.

"Madame Rebecca, young lady, and young master. I finally found you," a lopsided grin curved into her darkened lips. "Let's all get back to the mansion."

"Frayah, I'm leaving with my children right now; please just let us go; we've been together for all these years now; please show compassion to these children," Rebecca begged as the wind began to encircle her and her children.

"Compassion and letting you go?" Frayah tilted her head. "That is not for me to decide. You should know of most people that whoever seeks freedom, only death could give them that. And His greatness is the one who have the will to grant compassion."

Rebecca firmed herself hearing Frayah's words. "It seems we don't have any room for negotiations." The wind surrounding them intensified. However a familiar voice resounded inside her head. The voice that she was worried about since they left the mansion.

"I'm sorry, Rebecca." Wind's voice was cold. "But this is the only way."

Rebecca's eyes widened when something hard hit her causing her to cough out some blood. And her body... The only thing she could hear was the shrill shout of her children as she was sent flying towards the cliff.

"Wind, why?!" the only thing she could say as she felt her body gradually falling towards the ravaging lava. "My, my children." She tried to reach her hands but the strong force was continuously dragging her down.

"Mother!" Myrene who tried to jump to reach her mother wasn't able to move when a red liquid like the blood started to enveloped her together with her brother.

Both of them screamed with horror as they watched their mother fall in the lava.

"No! Mother!" Myrene used all her strength to remove whatever the thing was binding her. She struggled and struggled and struggled...

With all her strength... But what strength does she have right now?

Ultimately, when all she could see was the unending magma, she felt devastated. 'Mo-mother, this-this can't be...'

'This can't be...'

The sun could finally be seen in the horizon painting the sky of red and orange.

After the raging storm, a new day dawned, and in the midst of this supposed new and promising day, two piercing screams of children rang true across the forest, yelling and calling for their mother repeatedly.

***

June 18th, 206

The Death of Rebecca Windsfield

The dawn of tragedies of Myrene's reality to her new world and life had finally begun to turn.