Chapter 1 - A MISTAKE

'No! No! No! This can't be happening!!' she internally screamed.

Everything was her fault. She gave in to temptation and had to suffer for it.

– A few hours ago –

The sun shone bright in the sky, and spring had finally arrived. Last night's drizzling had caused all the dust – which had been brought with the spring breeze – to be washed away. Even the leaves that grew in the trees had an appearance of renewal. While the temperature was cooler than usual, nature was still full of vitality and vibrant colors.

Veronica had been meaning to sneak out for a while. After seeing her few brothers and sisters sneaking out on the weekend, of course a flame ignited within her, luring her to do the same.

Every Monday night, she would hear the stories of their adventures:

"Ver, you have no idea how bustling the square is at night! Street musicians play music and couples dance. It's so wonderful."

"Ver, I wish you could eat the street snacks they sell. It's cheap and delicious. You have to eat it when it's hot. I'll save some money and buy it for you next time."Each story she heard urged her to go outside. Each story she heard urged her to have an adventure. Each story she heard urged her to be free.

Since it was Veronica's eighteenth birthday, she thought that even if she snuck out and got caught, she would be forgiven; after all, it was her special day. Her heart's beating syncopated as she grew more eager to visit the town for the first time in her life.

Veronica wore a white full-sleeved cotton top with a brown corset, and a grey skirt. She covered her head with a white scarf. She felt her blood boiling with excitement, even though she was wearing second-hand worn-out clothes. Regardless of what she decided to wear, playing dress-up was more fun than she had imagined it to be.

As the birds welcomed the new day with their melodious chirps, Veronica stealthily sauntered along the corridor. Her footsteps were lighter than feathers – inaudible, as she was barefooted. Her shoes were gripped in her hand; it was the strategy she had come up with so that she wouldn't wake others when she walked. Yet her heart thumped – thumped unhinged. Thumping as she thought someone could catch her at any moment.

Without being noticed by others, Veronica crept to the storeroom beside the kitchen. She carefully closed the door after looking around for a while. When she was confident that no one was watching her, she let out a sigh of relief.

'It looks like Goddess Juvena is on my side today. Haha – thank you Goddess Juvena!' Veronica thanked the Goddess happily. After that, she opened the back door of the storeroom and fled using that door.

Soon, Veronica found herself in the back alley. Silence had consumed sound, and the only faint noise she could hear was her own breathing. It was a sign that no one had woken up yet.

'Did I come out too early…?' Veronica pondered with a thoughtful face. Fortunately, she wasn't hungry yet and was fueled with energy to move on. While the town was still asleep, only the mellow songs of the birds accompanied her. The whole town was swathed by serenity.

Veronica took out a small piece of paper which was folded into a square. On it was a map of the town and surrounding areas drawn by an amateur. Veronica brought the map close to her and squinted her eyes, trying to figure out what the drawings depicted. 'Hmm… it says "north"… then north is…' Thinking deeply, she looked up to the sun which was rising in the east. 'If that is east, then north is on my right. I'll go in the opposite direction… towards the south!'

Veronica folded the paper and hastily put it back inside her pocket. As she wandered through the street, she was curiously glancing at her surroundings. She had seen this scenery from inside her building many times, but never had the chance to actually be there. Her biggest dreams had manifested with every footstep she took.

As her venture continued, Veronica was soon standing in the town square, realizing that it was the town's biggest market. Even still, the early morning's emptiness amplified the market's size, and the usual crowd Veronica usually could see wasn't there. The isolation made her heart a bit blue.

Yet, keen Veronica tried to keep her spirits high. She hummed a song she heard a long time ago. As her hums traveled through the gentle breeze, Veronica felt like the queen of this dormant town. With no eyes nor ears spying on her, this humming queen believed that she could do anything without asking for permission.

Feeling captivated by this freedom, Veronica strolled the quiet town and found herself striding towards the direction of a lake. She had heard that this particular lake would look breathtaking in the early morning. With the morning still rathe, Veronica knew this may be her only opportunity to see this view with her own eyes.

She decided that she would return to the town when it was to be wide awake. That way, Veronica could take in the hustle-bustle of the town as she pleased.

'It's good that I have the whole day free. I'll just return after I have breakfast in the town,' she decided gleefully.

Veronica had to pass through a narrow alley between four abandoned houses to reach the muddy road of the woods. Although the road was muddy because of the drizzling rain last night, the tall trees which were towered the woods kept the woodland path dry.

It was said that it would take a person fifteen minutes to reach the lake when using this route.

Veronica felt a wave of excitement rush through her. She walked briskly while inhaling the smell of wet mud. Before she realized, she reached her destination in only ten minutes.

Oh, my goodness!' she exclaimed in amazement. Veronica's eyes sparkled and were glued onto the lake which lay before her. The lake view was truly breathtaking, and it felt as though time had stopped her breathing's usual rhythms. No verbal narrative could equal the visible beauty of this ethereal lake.

The lake water was dyed a light blue, capturing the clear blue sky in the heavens above. Surrounding the lake were the clustered trees of the wood, whose reflection was as fine as a mirror.

Since it was early morning, a light fog hovered above the lake, and the temperature was certainly more chilly than the warmth of the town. Veronica felt a shiver run through her bones as the cold breeze blew across her. Trying to keep in her body heat, Veronica hugged herself and rubbed her arms with both hands.

The ground surrounding her was covered in green grass which was soft to her touch as she sat down on it. As she succumbed to the grass beneath her, Veronica was again enthralled by the waters in front of her. The smell of dirt, the green grass, the songs of birds, the spring breeze – they were a natural sedative. Indeed, Veronica was convinced that she was living in her own fairytale.

Veronica wondered if she should stay here for hours, without a care about when she had to return to her room. It was her one wish to stay here forever.

But reality had suddenly dragged her out of her trance. Her tranquil isolation had ceased. A man had come out of the lake. Completely naked.

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