The silver box landed in the front yard of Esmeralda's place. She settled the girls into the mattress one by one.

She examined their faces, they were still in deep slumber.

She left the house and went to the tree.

She faced the tree wearing a bright smile on her face.

"Ah, the girls are back! How is it? Did you have a good time in the stream?" the tree asked.

Esmeralda nodded her head. "Yes, we enjoyed our little bonding in the stream. The girls love that place so much!" she enthused.

"That's good! I'm glad you enjoyed their company," the tree said.

Esmeralda grinned. "Tree! I have good news for you!" she exclaimed. She had a hard time containing her excitement.

"Oh, what is it? What happened? What is that good news? Did the stream turn to ice and got frozen or the flowers there produce an intoxicating wine? Which is which?" the tree joked.

"Guess....what happened in the stream?" she asked wanting to tease the tree.

"Hmm... I dunno. I can't think of anything right now. Why don't you spare me the suspense and spill the beans!" the tree said with a hint of irritation.

Esmeralda's face broke into a wide grin. "You won't believe what just happen back there!?" she said excitedly.

"Blah...blah...blah...common...tell me now!" the tree demanded.

"Okay, open your trunk now! Let's talk in private, the girls might suddenly awaken from their slumber and eavesdrop on our conversation. What I'm about to tell you is confidential!" she said giddily.

"Alright," the tree said and opened up its trunk. "Get inside!"

Esmeralda entered the trunk and disappeared inside. The trunk shut off again.

Inside the trunk, Esmeralda settled comfortably in the wooden chair. The wall inside the tree was composed of roots knotted in a mat-like pattern. It was a windowless place the size of an ordinary room that can be seen in every house.

The tree transformed itself into a handsome guy and sat on the opposite chair, facing Esmeralda.

"What is it? What is your good news! Spill the beans now!" the tree demanded.

Esmeralda smiled. "Calm down. Just relax...Let's get started. You only know that I brought the girls to my private paradise, right?" she asked.

The tree nods his head. "Correct! Continue..."

Esmeralda breathed deeply. "I let the girls bath in the stream as long as they want. They were squealing with delight and love that place so much. After getting tired of bathing, they got off from the water and picked up beautiful flowers. Then they return to the picnic blanket and I put them into a deep sleep..."

The tree's brows knitted together. "Huh? Why did you put them to sleep? Are you planning something behind their back?"

Esmeralda nodded her head. "Yes, I do!"

"This is getting interesting! Continue then..." said the tree.

"I produced a knife and a ceramic bowl and cut Kate's arms to take her blood, and I repeated the same to her elder sister, Ivy," she said.

The tree's eyes bulged. "Huh? Do you want to drink their blood? Are you a vampire now? Since when did you transform?" he teased her.

Esmeralda guffawed. "Shh...don't interrupt, or else I will never be able to finish telling you everything...!"

The tree threw his hand in the air and shrugged his shoulders afterward. "Go on! I can almost smell the juiciness of your story..." he said.

This time Esmeralda is determined in finishing her story in one go. "After getting enough blood from the sisters' arms. I left them inside the invisible enclosure and went to the blazing barrier. Without further ado, I throw the ceramic bowl into the barrier...at first nothing happens...but when I was about to go back to the girls' side...I heard a sound of cracking...and when I looked again...the barrier was opening up...there was a gap...a size of my fist!" she said in elation, her voice rose higher.

The eyes of the tree widened in shock and disbelief. "WOW!" His remark was short but carried a heavy vibration of astonishment to it.

Esmeralda smiled.

"A-are you kidding me, Esme?" the tree asked again wanting to verify if his friend was telling him a prank or a joke.

Esmeralda shook her head. "I'm not lying, I'm not kidding either. I'm telling you the truth!" she said.

"Wow!" the tree can't contain his happiness and excitement, he clapped his hands vigorously in glee. "This is fantastic! Congratulations! You finally found the perfect method for our escape! You're the best!" he roared enthusiastically.

"I plan to do it again, do you want to see it for yourself?" Esmeralda offered.

"Yes, please!" the tree raved with enthusiasm shimmering in his eyes.

"Alright, the day after tomorrow, I'll take the girls back to the stream. This time you will be able to witness with your own two eyes the power of the sisters' blood in creating a gap on the deadly barrier," she talked cheerfully.

"So...what do you plan to do with the girls? Are you going to kill them? Sacrifice their lives so that we can escape this place?" asked the tree in a curious manner.

Esmeralda's brows knitted together as she staggered with her friend's question. "I have no plans to kill them," she answered quickly.

"Oh...but you need their blood to create a gap opening in the barrier!" he reminded her.

Esmeralda nodded her head. "Of course, I know that..."

"Exactly! A small bowl of blood can only open a small gap which is just the size of your fist. You need all the girls' blood to create an opening safe enough for our size!" he elaborated. "You are still hesitating to kill the girls, are you?" He looked deeply into her eyes.

Esmeralda nodded her head. "Yeah. I can't bring myself to hurt the girls. They are so pitiable and innocent," she finally revealed her weakness.

"Ah...I see. You're such a kind-hearted soul. You never change at all. Maybe it's about time you will set aside your compassionate self and harden your heart. This time think of yourself first before others. Follow your heart's desire and happiness. You will never be happy if you keep thinking of other people's safety and well being. I have to remind you that we've been planning our escape for a long time and now that we are presented with a golden opportunity to leave this place, you are hesitating to do it? You are not thinking straight my friend!" the tree scolded her.

"B-but...I can't do it! I can't kill the girls with my own two hands!" she protested vehemently.

A burst of amused laughter erupted in the tree's mouth. "Oh, that's not a problem at all. If you can't do it then I will. I'll do it for you, for us!"

Esmeralda sighed and ignored her friend's offer. "There's another thing...I almost forgot to tell you..." she said.

"What is it?"

"The gap created by the girls' blood closes after a few minutes, about 3 or 5 minutes, that's my rough estimate," she said.

"What—? That's too fast! But still manageable for me. We just need to escape quickly!" said the tree.

Esmeralda closed her eyes while shaking her head. The thoughts of killing the girls in cold blood drained her energy. She can be of many things but she is not a cold-blooded bitch who kills innocent people for personal gains.

"Esme, don't torture yourself. Let me do the dirty work for you. This way you won't feel guilty and your hands are clean. Let me take the girls' blood with my hands and I'm going to do it privately. You don't have to see the gruesome process," he said with a persuasive tone.

Esmeralda was shaking her head, wearing a grim expression on her face. "I'll think about it," she said with a gloomy sigh.

"Please do it quick. Let's strike while the iron is hot!" the tree said with a smile.

Esmeralda stood up. "I'm leaving now..."

"Okay, think wisely my friend! Think about my offer," the tree said and made the opening.

Esmeralda exited the trunk of the tree.

Outside.

She happened to see the bird delivering Ivy's ration and flew away, she picked up the bundle and went straight to her house. She paused in front of the door... listening if the girls are already awake.

Meanwhile, inside the house.

The girls were just opening their eyes at that very moment, they noticed that they were already lying comfortably on the mattress inside Esmeralda's house.

Their brows furrowed together.

"Huh? Why are we back in the house?" asked Kate in confusion.

"Yeah, that is also my question. The last time I remember, I feel sleepy and lie down on the picnic blanket. Then after that...here we are waking up inside the house. What's going on?" Ivy narrated.

Kate looked at the table and saw the flowers. "Look, the flowers are there in the table!" she said.

Ivy glanced at the flowers. "Maybe, Granny, put us in the silver box while we're sleeping because she wants to go home early," she answered her own question.

Kate nodded her head in agreement. "I think you are correct!"

Ivy looked at the window and noticed the darkening surrounding. "Oh, it's already early in the evening," she observed.

The door opened and Esmeralda entered the house bringing the bundle containing the food inside brought by the messenger bird. "Oh, the girls are finally awake! Here's your dinner, girls. As usual, the bird delivered it especially for you," she said looking at Ivy.

She walked towards the table and put the bundle containing the food above it.

"Enjoy your dinner," she said with a pleasant smile on her face. "In case you're wondering why you're suddenly back in my house. You fall asleep so I decided to transport you back here," she explained.

"Thank you, Granny!" Kate said.

"Don't mention it," Esmeralda smiled and went inside her room.

The delicious aroma of a delectable dish filled the room. The girls rose to their feet and ambled towards the table. Feeling hungry they settled on the chair, excited to eat dinner together.