The day of departure have arrived. All the maids, Mrs. Galkien, her daughter Rachel, and Josephine were outside saying their farewell to Francheska.

Francheska was the first to leave, for it would take half a day for her to reach their house. Francheska sees this an opportunity for today's plan.

Looking at the faces, Francheska can only feel the awkwardness. The fake smiles in broad daylight, made the weather so gloomy.

Settling inside the carriage, Shelly interrupted the silence.

"Lady Francheska you look so distressed."

"No I'm not..." Truthfully she doesn't, "ah I almost forgot!"

Picking inside the sleeves of her dress, Francheska handed a letter without a seal.

"Can you give this to one of our men, I have a message to convey."

With the letter on hand, Shelly wondered what are contents of the plain letter. She was about to ask her lady but she have already fallen asleep.

Perhaps it's just a normal letter Shelly thought.

The lady have been in rough shape since lady Rachel and her had the talk. In the future I hope I can ask about it when her wellbeing is in good shape.

Hearing the door shut, Francheska sneak through the curtain to see if Shelly really obeyed her command.

I bet she's tempted to open the contents of the letter, but no matter she open and read it she still won't get meaning behind the words.

Francheska knew her plan would be meaningless, even if she tried harming the female lead. It would still be risky if she the one to harm Josephine. the wisest choice in this plan, is to hire someone to assinate her.

...In a while, when we get to the woods I have to be ready and give my best act.

Francheska is not a fan of allowing herself to be at death's door again. She's still afraid to be at a death defying stunt again, but it is necessary. To be able to carry her plan, it needs to have a dry run, a script, and the actual acting, and lately there's a few missing from her flow.

Leaning to the window glass of the carriage, Francheska closed her eyes as she tries to expect what would happen to her expecting scenario, to the place where they are going to get raid. Rehearsing non-stop inside her head, she calm her trembling hands-- as if praying her impromptu act well be convincing in real time.

"Get away! Run as far as you can!"

Josephine heard, as the woman behind her have been having a hard time running the bumpy terrain.

"Whoever you are please stop this! Just spare her- spare her please!--" she begged, her words did not help her as the assassin have finally catched up to her.

With one strike, the man slit the throat of the woman before him. The woman's body fell to the ground, blood slowly nourish the dead plants underneath her.

Cleaning the blade with a cloth on hand, he made no hesitation and move on to his main target.

Huffing from running an uphill. Her weak child body couldnt handle the terrain. Sure, Josephine have sneaked out a plenty to play with the other kids, this time is different, everything was.

The birds sudden flees from her perimeter, have made her realize she got no time to run. Even tho her time has already run out, she could not help but still think of trying to out run death.

As she broke twigs beneath her feet, she just keeping the assassin closer each step.

Eyes burning, she can no longer hide her fear and scream loud as she can. Hoping someone or something will hear her cries.

With a swift, a hand have took her, preventing her only option. She have been caught, like an animal to be butchered.

Struggling from the grip, she saw the knife in sight trying to get closer to her neck. Panicking, wanting air from the man's grip she tried to beg, knowing it would not change anything, she bit the gloved hand. Feeling the sensation of the blade on her neck, she bit hard-- hard enough that the man throw her to the ground.

Coughing, she tried to beg again.

"P-please, I- I- I'm still a- a kid! I will not- not go o- out a-again. Please- p- please... I b-beg of you m-mister! S- s- spare m-me p-please!" The greenette forced her trembling voice to speak up.

"Sorry kid, your death is worth for me to live a normal life." With a sigh, the man swing his blade towards the girl.

With no more words left said, Josephine could not help but close her eyes and screamed her lungs out, with her hands defended over her as if it would do anything.

The blade hitting the palm of her hand only made her wince louder. The clink of the knife hit the rock from the ground, made Josephine open her eyes.

No one was around her, that person was no longer before her. Confused, she glanced at her palm, she's bleeding from the knife... but where is her killer?

"H-hello?" The fear did not leave her voice. Strained from screaming she didnt pursue asking any further.

Standing up from the ground, Josephine leaned on a nearby tree. Looking at the knife, she noticed something strange. A small hill of dusted grayish formed.

That was not there before... perhaps it is-- no hahaha no way... no way!

Looking her palms, there was only one answer from the sudden disappearance.

She have killed a person, with her own power.

I- I killed a person... no...

Trying to stop the blood from bleeding. Josephine rip a part of her dress and wrap her wounds, trying to cover the fact-- the evidence of what happened.

What have I done...?

Entering the forest, for some odd reasons Francheska can feel the atmosphere changing. Perhaps the shade of the trees provide, or how almost silent the trip suddenly became.

Unfolding her hands, it still won't stop shaking. Shelly notices this too and ask her lady.

"My lady, are you still upset of yesterdays' occurence?"

"...its just. I'm scared what will mother react... b-but I'm sure-- mother will punish me right?" With sad eyes, Francheska stares back to Shelly.

"Don't worry my lady, I will try to tell her grace that what you did, don't deserve harsh punishment." Shelly placed her hand on top of Francheka, reassuring that every word she said will be reached to the duchess.

Although it still didn't stop her hands from trembling. Francheska expressed those words in a way she can hide her fear for a minute now.

Leaving a heavy sigh from a small body, Shelly could not help herself but smile from the unusual sight. It looks different from their views, but Francheska is now confident of her words to convey when the raid happens.

Having the carriage into an abrupt. Francheska tries to calm her rising nervousness, inhaling and slowly exhaling.

Shelly find it weird seeing Francheska like this, its like shes a 'different' kid--

"HEY GET OUT OF THE WAY! WHAT ARE YOU--!!!"

Loud crash was heard outside. It was already time.

Francheska felt Shelly's hand firmly grasped hers.

"Stay here, I'll check what's going on."

Rising from her seat, Shelly went to open the door when suddenly a strange man in strange clothes ran up to open the door with force. Thankfully the door was barely free and Shelly was quick enough to close it again.

Tho can't let go of the knob, Shelly is now stuck trying to glue the door close.

"Shelly what's going on?" Feigning ignorance, Francheska asked in a trembling voice.

"Stay away from the windows and duck down! There are strange men surrounding us..."

Francheska decided to be stubborn and look the outside environment. Seeing their men fighting the raiders made the little girl's heart jump into a surprising pace.

They were fighting outside. The clash of swords interrupting the sounds of nature, the agonizing pain that the people gave out as they try to protect the only one girl they were escorting back home.

BAM!!!

A man suddenly rushed to the carriage as they try to open the other side. Francheska couldn't help but fell on her butt from the surprise.

It was like back then... when 'that' person wounded my leg and pushed me to the tracks of the train... I-- I--!!!

Tears forming from each corners of her eye. The flashing memories of her past self have got her again on her chains.

"I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry... I will change! I'll change--" repeating those lines again and again. Francheska mumbled those words, not sure if its for herself.

Unfortunately, the man's force led the other door unlocked. Before her, he has a weapon on his hand, the man lunged to grab her-- Francheska took this opportunity of crawling to an opening from the side of the man and ran off the carriage.

There was a scream she heard as she left the shaking carriage. Seeing the chaos and blood splattered on the guards and on the ground, the little girl felt churning in her stomach.

Trying to swallow down just like hiding her fears. She ran through the depths of the forest, hoping for safety until the fight dies down.

Hiding through a thick tree, she hides her small figure. Truthfully, Francheska did not expect such number the raiders would come-- she definitely underestimated the expectations she had in mind.

"Found you little bird."

Turning around, a slim man with eyes so dark as if light can't reach through them.

"They said that whoever can kill the little girl the reward will be theirs completely. It is a shame really, but I have to because I have a family to survive for another year-- so please just die in my hands."

The tone of the man was so eerie. He sounds so monotonous but at the same time so pitiful.

How could fate do this to them... I know they are unfortunate just like me-- although I can not compare his life to mine but--

Swinging his axe to his target, Francheska was taken aback from his sudden movement, thank the gods for her small body it barely scratched her. Fighting an adult in a childs' body has impossible survivable rate-- its clear who's victory will side.

Francheska can think logical ways on the scenario but her problem is her body. She tries to make herself move, but her feet is frozen in place, it seems that her body is still traumatized by the familiarity of death.

Stepping backwards, Francheska can not help herself but stayed her gaze on the man, scared of what every move he will make.

The longer her stare lingers, the vision of her obsessed fan slowly takes over, as if she went back to her idol life-- the end... at the same time the start of everything.

"I- I'm not who you think I a-am. I have a life! I'm not a demon-- I- I- I'm still me... I'M STILL ME!"

The little girl screamed and fell on the rocky ground. The impact hurted like hell, but if that axe will hit her then hell will be her home.

Grabbing anything behind her, she felt an object that can used as her defensive weapon. Seeing the stick in her possession, a slimy wet sensation covered her hands-- blood dripping down her skin, she quickly throw the horrifying sight.

The air became suffocating, Francheska kept her attention to her bloodied hands.

"I did this... this is my fault... its my fault... ITS MY FAULT! I'm sorry mother! Father! I'm a bad kid, I'm a bad example..."

The people of the past and memories came to her like a tsunami out of nowhere. Swallowing her whole existence into nothingness, a sinful woman that don't deserve to dream of freedom.

With words stuck inside her throat she could not think straight but let her lungs keep pumping airs.

Feeling dizzy, Francheska's world became dark, her body giving out as she lifelessly lie on the ground.