FUKUSHŪ

CHAPTER 6

Chapter 6

Mukashi-mukashi, somewhere in the land of wealth and greenery, where horses and cows freely walked around eating grass, the stream of pure clear water is the only source of drink for the civilisation, there was a small village where the population just around a dozen of families. When the season changes from summer to spring, then comes the winter. Drops of crystal white snow were pouring slowly from the evening sky joining the other snow on the ground, colouring the whole terrain with a white blank sheet. The temperature had dropped for another degree when all folks hurried back home to their secure home for they knew what dangers might emerge together with the dark night. The fire from the woods in the fireplace giving off light and warmness as the children gathered around to hear the tales from their grandfather. The tales that were repeatedly told from generation to generation.

In the cold climate, two children still stubbornly play in the park not far from their small home. The girl no more than 8 years lay on the white ground, moving her arms and legs to forming a wing-like pattern on the snowy ground.

The boy stood next to her only looking, unmoving. "Ne..Sharon, let's go back home. My mom's going to scold me if she finds out"

Looking up at the boy, Sharon frown "Cain, don't be such a scaredy cat. Your mom didn't even know you were sneaking out of home. Could it be you're scared of the Snow Queen?"

"Shhh... Sharon! Don't speak of the name." Cain hugged himself to warm his body.

"The Snow Queen doesn't even exist, Cain. It just a Fairy tale. Who would believe it?" Sharon smirk.

"But it is true, isn't it. Last year, I heard there was a boy from other village who had been kidnapped by the Snow Queen. Whatever, I'm not going to stay here. If you want to play, just play by yourself. I feel cold" true to his words, the boy left Sharon all by herself to play alone.

As Sharon sat there alone in the cold white snow, she hummed the lullaby her mother always sing for her before her bedtime. Closing her eyes, she could feel few drop of snow touching her face.

"Hello"

Sharon stopped in her song and again tried to focus her hearing. Either she mistaken it for a child's voice or it is just the wind blowing past her.

"What are you doing here?"

This time, Sharon immediately jumped up and rose to her feet. Looking around for the source of the voice, she was met with another girl a few years older than her, maybe already in her teen years. The girl's hair was white just like the snow around them and her blue eyes now looking attentively toward Greta. Immediately the girl captivated Greta.

"Excuse me?" Sharon braved herself to face the stranger.

"I mean... what are you doing here, in this park? Isn't it cold? Aren't you afraid?" the tiny voice continued asking her.

"I'm playing the snow and..." Sharon patted her knees and jacket to clear it off the snow as she standing. "Why would I be afraid? There isn't anything to be afraid of"

The girl giggled at the answer. The simple and small giggle was like the sound of bell chime.

"What are you doing here?" Sharon asked the girl.