Chapter One
It never escaped me that the whole notion is plainly ridiculous. If it weren’t for the sake of a tale, it would have no meaning to tell it to the world. At least it was this notion that motivated me to tell the tale. Alas I hardly understood I had opened up a portal to hell called reality. I must have another superpower that allowed me to change reality. It was evil of me to test it on Cynthia. Words are the magic, and they changed everything that happened around me. But I should say no more, as this ridiculous tale changed this girl into a powerhouse of knowledge. For now, let us get on with the tale…….
The Tale
It all began with a knock at the door. In Death Valley, where no-one visited anyone else, a knock on the door would be the scariest thing in the world second to death. It could have been random robbers, evil spirit or any life-threatening circumstances that would rock and destroy you in an instant. Yonger was no fool, and he took up a huge firearm ready to defend his hone. Even Shan pressed her ear to the door to listen. After a few hard bangs, everything fell into an uncomfortable silence. When Yonger put his ears to the door, a sudden explosion almost severed his good old head.
“Hey, why aren’t you all opening the darn wooden door?”
That was unexpected, and Yonger took up his gun to blow off the intruder’s head. He almost succeeded in his brave deed if his girlfriend didn’t throw herself at him. He condemned his woman for the reckless action that could easily cause her early death. And then he zipped his mouth and saw that the intruder is in fact the lifesaver of his plight. In all impossibility, his cousin from far-away land had come to visit him in the death of winter in a godforsaken day. She is a good cousin called Cinderia from Astralonzia. She must be his best female friend second to Shan only.
“And since Cinderia is here, she would serve as a witness to our marriage.” Shan said.
“How heavenly did you know to come in this winter to tie Shan and I in marriage?” I asked.
“I didn’t. I had a fight with my mother (your aunt) and I ran away from home.” Cinderia responded.
“It’s the God’s will. I shall hear no more of it.” Shan said.
“Oh, great! I could crash in your place for a few months. I would sleep with Shan, and I am willing to provide whatever heavenly service you want.” Cinderia continued.
“I knew you’re a good girl. You haven’t changed a bit in your good nature, sweetheart.” Shan said, and cut off all other conversations contrary to her wishes.
But a runaway case is never simple. For now, Shan was satisfied that she would bear witness to her marriage. Then I would find her a school to continue classes, and there was just one Forest School a thousand miles on the other side of Death Valley. That night, Cinderia consumed a month’s worth of food reserve in dinner, and I was never all out of milk and game meat. After a month, I dug my car from under the snow, and drove her over to her school in the Forest City on the other side. Forest School in the City took up her enrolment immediately, and she was in classes the next day.
Forest School
Of course, I had to answer to Cinderia’s parents in Astralonzia. As it was deep in winter soon, her parents agreed that Cinderia stayed on Death Valley for as long as she needed. I arranged school bus service to take her to school from a midway junction, so that I would spend the afternoon with Shan doing grocery and walks. She reported the school and is rotten and inhuman. It must be a good school.
Then, there was the winter ski competition!
“I must win. I have no friend and no life at school. And I need a boyfriend.” She said.
Cinderia was enrolled in the Year Ten in the Forest School High School Section. She was not well liked by other school kids, and her academics were not bright enough to impress the teachers. So, she lived a mundane life and hoped for a miracle to happen. And her dream came true, even though she wouldn’t know better if money had rained from the sky. Then, one morning the snow was so deep, she had up to ski to the front gate of the Forest School. The cheering was already there. It was no-one other than the school captain Yella and her mates.
“Have Bino in already? Seeing you line up your cheering team here!” She inquired.
“Like you know skiing for real! You would know cheering if pompom grows from your backside!” Yella jeered, and her mates joined in.
“If you are a wolf, you must be the Alpha of them.” She said, but Yella’s mates did not know what Alpha is. Poor thing.
Feeling stumped, Yella burst out in a laugh. She must have kicked two or three of her mates before she said, “You wouldn’t know Alpha if you are a boot licked of Bino there. I asked him the other day, and he said he had no words for a loser like you. If you have any gut to begin with, he would race you to the Forbidden Forest. I said no, you have a gut-“
Cinderia almost said it, “You defend me, old hag?”
But Yella was faster, and said, “You have guts, but you have no brain in you!”
That must be the last straw, forgetting school, Cinderia stepped on the gas and pushed forward to the Forbidden Forest. Maybe Cinderia liked Bino after all, she felt she would have a life if Bino liked her too. So, she had to prove herself. The wind is a cutting blade, and it whined to her as if it was complaining about her weakness. Oh, Bino. That was a nickname. He was so white that he was almost an albino wolf. She skied past the Danger Sign and she didn’t bother to look at it. It probably said that you would fall down a cliff if you pushed on, regardless.
And the snow blinded her eyes. It was almost fun when there was nothing to be seen. Suddenly she was in the air, flying to her death.
Awooooooooooooooolf………………
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