Slowly, the evening sun sinks away so that the whole country is shrouded in darkness. A chilly December wind drags invisible fingers on everyone's clothes and hair. Frost forms on the high mountain peaks as moist flakes of snow slowly escape from the clouds. The small village that will soon be forgotten is already several miles behind her, and yet the road is still long.With a deep sigh, Heinrich pushes Katinka onto the cold ground. "Here," whispers Godfried, and puts Wolfgang down next to Katinka. Blowing, he rests with his back against a thick tree trunk and stretches his leg uncomfortably. "We've come a long way already," Thedon says enthusiastically. Albrecht smiles amusingly and kneels at Wolfgang's side. He gently presses his leg. Wolfgang moans angrily between his teeth. "I'm sorry Wolf, this is going to be annoying", Albrecht whispers and removes the bloody bandage. Godfried washes the bandage in the river while Albrecht cleans his wound.Silently, Heinrich removes the rope between Katinka's lips and places his gourd on her lips.What are you doing? Wolfgang grumbles and looks up at Heinrich. Without an answer, Heinrich ties the rope around Wolfgang's wrist and connects it to Katinka's. "At least that way I know she's not going anywhere," he finally answers, handing them both a few apples. Wolfgang rolls his eyes and bites the apple hungrily. Albrecht carefully closes the bandage again and stands up.Katinka looks unobtrusively at Wolfgang's broad wrist. How could she free herself from him? His muscular arms betray that he is well trained.Wolfgang opens his eyes suspiciously and looks at Katinka. "What are you looking at?" he grumbles. Katinka hastily averts her gaze. Wolfgang smiles and closes his eyes again.Grieving, Katinka thinks back to Alana. Hopefully, she got away.Startled, she lets out a cry as the rope drags her to the ground. She looks up indignantly at Wolfgang, who has laid himself down.That was just a small example of his strength. She thinks remorsefully and lets out a haunted sigh. Before her eyes slowly close, she thinks one more time about her father. Hoping he will keep Alana safe, she slips into a restless sleep.Alana took a deep breath and looked suspiciously over her shoulder. Behind her, a loud cry blared between the dark rocks.Startled by the deep cliff at her feet, she screams. The torch slips from her hands, shrouding the cold cavern in darkness again. Frightened, she tries to peer into the darkness.Whatever creature it was, it would find her. Reproachfully, she asks herself why she had walked into the tunnel. The idea that she could hide here seemed so stupid now.She screams frightened when two invisible hands grab her. "No" she yells loudly. Ruthless, she is dragged back into the dark tunnel.Bravely she grips the stone wall. "Damn" she curses. Her bloody palm loses all grip and Alana disappears into the darkness.She closes her eyes whimpering as her head thumps against the cold marble floor. Whatever the entity was, it's gone now. Why does an invisible force drag her through the darkness only to let it go again? Why did they want her here? In the heart of the cave?Cursing, she scrambles straight and looks at the stone cave where she ended up. On the dark stone, the ground adorns a neat solar cross symbol finished by fine silver lines circling the octagonal platform. The high cliffs are decorated with various carvings and caves, as if an entire village is hiding in the dark walls.Curious, Alana turns around, looking for a way out. In the back, in the dark corners, she sees a diamond-shaped doorway, dimly lit by a fading torch against the wall."Where are you?" she whispers. A filthy and cold laugh echoes through the mysterious lair. Distrustful, Alana takes a step back when an older man abruptly appears in front of her. His pale face and sunken jaws finally revealed where she ended up... The Cave of the Dead...Frightened, she stares at the gaping neck wound, partly hidden under his gray beard. "Why are you here?" asks the man arrogantly. His pirate hat has some burn holes here and there. "I ... I'm lost", she answers nervously and steps back. The captain smiled viciously. "Now you will be lost forever.""No," Alana whispers. "Anyone who enters this cave is dead or about to!" Alana lands on the floor with a thud after she clumsily stumbles over an invisible object. With her eyes fixed on the captain, she tries to crawl back out the door. Ignorant how many ghosts are actually present in the cave. She swallows, trembling as her back hits the cold wall.The pirate laughs and shows his rusty weapon. "Don't worry, you'll be one of us before you know it" mocks the captain. Alana closes her eyes in fear as he lifts his weapon high. "I didn't think so" suddenly echoes. Startled, the captain turns and stares at Hate. "Damn" he curses. "Damn," she curses."This is my domain, you know that! She belongs to me now." Hate nods and quietly walks over to him. "Normally that is the case... father" he mocks and continues; "but she is an exception." Father thinks Alana confused. This is Hate's father? And her grandfather? Suddenly, she finds the situation even more uncomfortable.Laughing, Hate walks up to Alana and kneels down by her side. "Look what you are doing now. I almost had to kill my own father again. Just for you", he mocks and strokes Alana's chin. Disgusted, Alana pulls her head away. Again? So he had already killed his father? Why would anyone want to kill their own father. Hate grabs Alana with a grin and drags her straight. "No," she begs."Forgive me son" the captain stammers, and continues: "I had no idea who she was". Hate smiles softly. "No, not again" Alana thinks angrily, and grabs the dagger from his belt. Hate smiles amusedly and watches her hastily step back. "What are you going to do?" he asks mockingly. "Stay away" she hisses. Hate laughs coldly. "For real what are you going to do? Here are nearly three thousand ghosts. I probably shouldn't tell you who they're listening to. And the only thing you have is that toothpick?" He laughs again.Alana looked around tensely. Three thousand, she thinks nervously. Startled, she screams when a strong hand grabs her throat. "Geolias that is not necessary" laughs Hate. Does he mean King Geolias? Is King Geolias the one who abruptly grabbed her and then pushed her back to the chilly ground? Why? He was the king!She looks frightened at the dagger that had landed a few steps away from her. She looks thoughtfully at Hate again. It's impossible to take the dagger before it gets to her. She has no choice. She has to run! She jumps up abruptly and runs through a dark doorway. She has no idea where she's going; she can only hope it's in the right direction. Hate laughs and fastens the dagger to his belt again. Shaking his head, he walks after her. Searching for a way out, she runs her hands over the rough walls. It can't be that she's lost. She has to find a way out! She refuses to give up! This can't end like this! After everything, after all the victims, she can't die in a dark cave!She takes a breath of relief when the pale light hits her face. "No" she screams scared as he grabs her shoulder. "Yes" he laughs and pushes her against the cold wall. Alana stares at the light in defeat as a tear slips from the corner of her eye. She was almost there! Hate laughs and removes the hair from her neck. A small burst of electricity burns his fingers. "What was that? ," he hisses. Alana swallows. The amulet... "Don't let him know you have this." "Nothing" she stammers. Hate smiles softly. His finger slides over her neck. Protect the amulet Alana, sounds in her head. With a sudden fit of bravery, she hits his jaw. Hate looks shocked. He smiles indignantly and turns his face back to her. "You .. dare" he laughs. Alana swallows as he takes her shoulders tighter. "I'm sorry, I ... I had no idea what got into me" she whispered, frightened. Hate chuckles and pushes her relentlessly to the cold floor. Her head bangs against the rocky wall. Hate chuckles and pulls her up again. "Come on honey" he jokes. Alana felt anger bubbling up inside her. Recklessly, she pushes her knee into his crotch. Coughing, Hate drops to his knees. She wants to run from him but he grabs her leg. Hate grows and creeps up. He angrily drags her against him. "No" begs Alana. "What are you going to cry now" he teases and looks into her eyes. A smile appears on his face as Alana trembles her lower lip. "Hate" she begs. "Yes do that, beg. To be honest, it turns me on." Shivers run down her spine. Alana bites her lip and looks into his eyes. Her chest violently rose. Out of the blue, she bumps her head onto his. "Damn" curses Hate. Alana rolled hastily away from him. He grabs her again, but she kicks his cross. Groaning, he sinks down again while she makes a run for it. "Little annoying brat" he groans and pulls her against him. He slams her back against the rocks " Hate" she groans and tries to escape. A soft scream escapes her lips when he places his teeth back into her neck. This time you die, she growls and pulls the dagger from his belt. She hastily plants it on his neck. Growling he takes a step backward. She hits his nose, kicks his stomach, and takes another attempt to run out the door. "That's it" Hate growls furiously. But Alana her braveness isn't over yet. She kicks him one more time between the legs so he falls down on his knees. She pushes her amulet against his eyes. Hissing Hate let's go of her. He places his hands on his eyes. Blood runs over his face while he drops to the floor. Alana looks surprised at him. She hides the amulet again and swallows.Hastily she makes her way out of the cave. A smile creeps on her lips when she walks out. But not for long. As soon as the bright light touches her head something hids the back of her head. Alana groans and then everything turns black..Katinka moans angrily when Heinrich pushes her onto the musty sandy soil. "This is quite open," stammers Godfried, and puts Wolfgang down carefully. "Yes, the wide desert, what do you expect" Wolfgang grumbles. "It is impossible for us to spend the night here," Albrecht protests angrily and continues; "I can't take care of his leg without water."Godfrey shakes his head. There is just enough water to drink. "Then so be it" Wolfgang mumbles wearily and removes the rope from Katinka's mouth."That plant is gonna do more for his leg than water" sighs Katinka. The boys follow her gaze to a bush of green plants waving in the wind. "What" asks Rogue.When applied correctly, it has a healing effect. Wolfgang looks at Katinka. "And very coincidentally you know how to do that correctly" asks Heinrich. Katinka nods. "But if you don't believe me", she answers arrogantly and hangs herself again. "Do it," Albricht hisses.Katinka looks at the young robber. "Then I must be able to move," she hints. Heinrich sighs and removes her ropes." I'm watching you," he grumbles. "I don't expect anything else" she whispers and walks to the flowery bush. Silently she plucks some green leaves and walks back to Wolfgang. Wolfgang watches suspiciously as she removes the bloodied linen from his leg. ."I'm sorry," she whispers. "For what?" he asks with incomprehension. "Your wounds are inflamed, this is going to burn."Carefully, she tears the leaves in half." Why are you helping me?" he asks almost inaudibly. Katinka looks at him deeply. "Despite the fact that you almost killed my sister" she begins and continues, "nobody deserves this. No friend or foe. Your leg looks really bad. If I didn't do this you would have lost it." Wolfgang smiles gently under the mask. Katinka gently squeezes the leaves and rubs the juice over his injury. Wolfgang's muscles tense as her hands pass his wounds. Katinka stops abruptly and looks deeply at Wolfgang. "Can you handle it?" "Yeah" he growls. Slowly, she massages the juices from the leaves over his leg. Katinka wipes her hands dry and wraps the bandage around his leg. "That was it" asks Albricht surprised. Katinka nods. Heinrich reconnects her wrist to Wolfgang's. Katinka looks disappointed at the ropes. She should have been faster. Wolfgang whispers incomprehensibly soft words of thanks and closes his eyes. Katinka smiles. Had she acted correctly? What if she hadn't healed Wolfgang's leg? He couldn't follow Alana, she thought bitterly. But there was something about the boy. Something she couldn't describe. She couldn't let him suffer. And Hate would probably kill him if he really lost his leg. Why did that idea make her so sad? He just doesn't deserve that. He didn't choose it. Katinka sighs and closes her eyes when she thinks of Alana again.