The Woman From Hell

My heart sank. I met his sharp gaze and tried my best not to avoid it. "Even if I wanted to, what should I do to get in touch with the outside world?"

Even though my heart was pounding like a deer's, I maintained my calmness while facing him. "I don't even know where this is. Even if I had the heart for it, I'm not that resourceful."

Matthew's eyes that were fixed on me finally relaxed. He shifted his gaze and pondered for a moment before fixing it on me again. "I'll look into this, Wanda. Don't try to challenge me." He looked serious, and his last sentence sounded like a threat.

I smiled slightly. "Investigate as you please."

Pretending to be angry, I took a step forward and ignored Matthew who was behind me.

There were so many people. The store owner probably would not remember me, but if he did, would I not be exposed? How should I solve this, then?

Biting my lower lip, I could not come up with any ideas for a moment.

In a blink of an eye, I arrived at his home. Matthew opened the door, and I went straight back to my room. I was afraid that I would expose myself even more if I continued chatting with him. This night, I tossed and turned sleeplessly.

It was not only because of physical discomfort, but also inner suffering.

I did not know how long it took before I finally fell asleep in a daze. I seemed to have dreamt of Theo. I missed him so much, and I also missed Munchkin.

When I woke up the next day, Matthew had already gone out.

and investigate things today. I wondered what

dining table, lost in

I heard Aunt Nessa's voice. She opened the door and ran toward me. "Wanda, everyone says they're going up the mountain to ask for

for

but I hesitated, "But Matthew isn't

be with you too, so he won't have to worry." Saying that, Aunt Nessa pulled me

to the temple, there was a bus parked in the empty lot. I looked at Aunt

only an hour's

the bus and found us a seat by the window. It was a good thing to

fell asleep on the bus for a quite while. Aunt Nessa then woke me up when we

was a temple

the village. People around me climbed up the steps one after another. Aunt Nessa also helped me up slowly. Looking up, the

a hefty wish and want the gods to bless you, you have to be sincere Take one step at a time

will come true."

spiritual. Everyone

you can't say something

powerful. They won't blame me

these steps seemed to take half my life's worth of strength. Looking at my feet, it

look around. I'll go in first