The year 1703.
The moon shone brightly, while the mists and fog that enveloped the land created an ethereal haze, casting a mystical veil over the night sky. A chilling breeze swept through the dark forest, breaking the silence of the night with its whistling sound.
On a tree branch perched an owl, swivelling its head and hooting incessantly. Its haunting hoot resonated in the air, reaching the ears of the unconscious girl who lay sprawled on the forest floor.
'Damn bird,' Eva groaned, her eyebrows pulling together in annoyance. She was growing more and more agitated at the obnoxious noise.
The soft grass beneath her gently tickled her skin, and when she attempted to move, a sudden wave of pain surged through her body, causing her to wince. She felt as if her whole body had been run over by a truck.
Eva's eyelids fluttered open, and it took a moment for her vision to sharpen and the surroundings to come into focus. She remained still for a few seconds, while her mind grappled to comprehend what was happening around her.
Her memory slowly began to piece together the events of her day. She remembered performing a surgery, spending time with Emily, and going to the Eden Club. But then, in a sudden rush, she recalled the encounter with the black-cloaked person who had forcefully shoved her from the rooftop.
Her purple eyes widened in shock, and a loud gasp escaped her lips as she sat up abruptly, "Oh my god, did I actually die and end up in heaven?"
She quickly turned her head to survey her surroundings. There was a certain foreboding feeling in the air, that caused her heart to race wildly. Narrowing her eyes, she murmured, "This doesn't look like heaven though. Where am I?"
A gust of strong wind swept through the place, causing Eva to sneeze and her cheeks to turn red from the cold. She sniffled loudly before questioning herself with a frown, "What if I am having another nightmare?"
"That must be it. I must have fallen asleep due to exhaustion, and everything about the fall is just another nightmare," closing her eyes tightly, she clapped both her cheeks, repeating to herself, "This is just a dream, Eva. Wake up."
She opened her eyes, hoping to find herself back in her bed, but to her dismay, nothing had changed and her eyebrows creased in confusion, wondering why she was still trapped in the same dream.
"Maybe... I should pinch myself harder," she muttered to herself before pinching her arm with force, only to yelp loudly as the sharp pain shot through her.
The pinch only confirmed her fear- she wasn't dreaming.
If she was neither dead nor dreaming, then what on earth was happening to her? Could it be that the mysterious figure in the black cloak had somehow hypnotized her, causing her to believe she had fallen from the building, only to be later kidnapped and abandoned in this unfamiliar forest? Eva's mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of the situation. Anxiety gripped her, making her feel as though her heart would burst out of her chest.
While she was lost in her thoughts, a sudden, loud howl pierced the air, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. She felt a pair of cold eyes fixated on her back and a shiver ran down her spine. With a quick motion, she turned her head to check for the source of the gaze, only to find no one there.
Upon hearing the wolf's howl echo through the air once again, Eva sprang up from the ground swiftly, even though her legs felt weak beneath her.
"I'm not going to become a meal for a hungry wolf. Not today," she gathered her strength and steadied herself, then began walking in the opposite direction of where the howl had come from.
As time passed, the cold of the night started to bite into her skin. To her dismay, her thin-strapped, floaty dress wasn't helping either, and her heels made it even more difficult to walk properly. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, as the chilly wind swept along her exposed shoulders and arms, causing her teeth to chatter uncontrollably.
"Why is it so cold in April?" Eva muttered under her breath, rubbing her hands together to produce some heat from the friction. When she heard the howl again, which sounded closer than before, she quickened her pace and started running as fast as she could.
Luckily, the distinct sound of voices reached her ears from a distance. She hastened her steps toward the source of the sound and, to her immense relief, a small town came into her view.
In the heart of the town, a warm glow emanated from a crackling bonfire, casting dancing shadows upon the faces of a group of people huddled around it, engaged in animated conversations and hearty laughter.
Eva's purple observed the sturdy brick houses with thatched roofs made of straw. Noticing the old-fashioned and dull-coloured attire worn by the people, as if they belonged to a different era, she couldn't help but wonder if she had stumbled upon the shooting set of a historical period drama.
When the people sensed someone walking towards them, their chatter ceased and their eyes fixated on a beautiful woman in a wine-red dress.
Eva came to a stop, standing a few feet away from them, mindful not to appear rude for trespassing. Even though the light from the bonfire didn't fully illuminate her, the people were already captivated by her stunning beauty and wondered who the woman in the strange clothes was.
"Umm... Hello. I'm sorry to disturb you all. I seem to have lost my way home. Could you please tell me how to get back to the city of Zenis? Also, if it's not too much trouble, could I borrow a phone for a few minutes to call my family and let them know where I am? I would be very grateful," Eva made her request in a gentle tone, but her words elicited furrowed brows and a sense of confusion among the people, leading to hushed whispers and murmurs exchanged among them.
"City of Zenis? What city?"
"I have never heard about it before."
"What is she talking about? What is a phone?"
"Look at her strange clothing. Do you think she might have escaped from the asylum?"
"What if she came from the brothel to lure the men of our town with such revealing clothes?" remarked a middle-aged woman, her voice slightly louder than the earlier murmurs. Her eyes glinted with rage as she noticed her husband ogling at Eva.
Eva's eyes narrowed at the woman's words, but she made a conscious effort to remain calm, not wanting to get into a conflict with her.
"I'm just trying to reach my home. Please help me, and I will repay your kindness once I reach my fam--," Eva's words were cut off by an older woman who spat out with disdain, "Why have you come to our town, woman? We have no place for women like you here. Go back to whichever filthy place you came from."
Eva internally clapped for their performance, 'Wow. They were still immersed in their characters.'
"I must admit that you're all great actors, but I don't have the time or patience to play along with this charade," she remarked in a serious tone. "I want to speak to the person in charge of this place. The director or producer of this drama you've been cast in, anyone will do."
The freezing cold was already taking its toll on her, and she could feel her limbs growing numb. Drawn to the inviting warmth of the bonfire, Eva unconsciously took two steps forward and heard the loud gasps of the people.
"Did you see her eyes? She is a witch," a woman exclaimed loudly and soon, many people joined her.
"Only a witch can possess the eyes of such colours to bewitch men. No wonder she looks so beautiful on the outside. It must be a facade."
"Her true appearance might be just as hideous. Capture the witch and don't let her escape."
"We will make this vile witch reveal her true appearance while we burn her at the stake."
"Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn the witch!"
Eva was stupefied at the yells and shouts of the raucous townsfolk. Were they freaking kidding her? What the hell was wrong with these people? Why would they think she was a witch? It was true she had a pair of rarest purple eyes in the world. But what does that have to do with her being a witch? Why would anyone believe in witches and stuff in this era?
"This is absurd! I am not a witch! What era are you living in to believe in such ridiculous superstitions?" Eva cried out loudly, widening her eyes in disbelief.
But their behaviour grew more impertinent as they shrieked and yelled even louder, "Get the stake and fire ready. Don't let her escape."
Eva had a baffled expression on her face as she stood there, staring at them with a look that read, 'Had they gone nuts?'
Suddenly, a burly man from the crowd abruptly dashed forward from behind her and yanked her hair, catching her off guard.
"Ahh," Eva grimaced in pain before she snarled, "Let me go, you bastard."