Promise: The Scarred Girl Read Online Free

that the flow elsewhere will become shallow enough to be able to cross.
    The good thing is the path to follow the river is all downhill, so she will move faster on the leaves and moss-covered forest floor. Although the grass on the riverbank is a bit slippery from the moisture, her boots will protect her feet and keep her footing sure.
    After some time of running down the path, Nea never saw the river become shallow or came across a bridge, her stomach started rumbling and her strength begins to wane. So she stops to take a deep breath. She pulls her water bottle from her backpack and takes a big swig. The water gurgles in her empty stomach. She now thinks about the dog for the first time since the morning, if she had not become sentimental over the dog and decided not to kill it, she would now have something to eat and not have to go hungry. She won't make the same mistake again. Hesitantly, she turns around expecting to see the dog behind her, but he is not there.
    There is no trace of the dog further into the distance. Apparently it knew what was best for it and went away. Nea's chance of a hot meal has dissolved into thin air. Again she tries to see the good in the situation and says that she would not have had time to cook the dog and eat it. After another long sip of water, she starts walking with hasty steps. She puts one foot in front of the other and begins to run. The riverbank is changing. To her right, steadily and wild, the river flows. To her left is the forest. It is also getting darker.
    She continues to run, even though her feet hurt and long for a break. Her steps become slow and cumbersome as the sky above slowly continues to darken until Nea feels the first cold drops on her cheek. She stops her slow walk and lifts her head to the sky. It's snowing. A flake falls onto her cheek. Small, scattered flakes fall from the sky, but she knows these are only the harbingers of many more. Quickly she enters a bit deeper into the forest to have at least some protection from the snow. It is unlikely that the river leads directly to Dementia, but she has little choice but to move on.
    She continues through the forest near the river. Snow falls in masses from the sky. It has become so dark that Nea cannot even see her hand in front of her eyes. The snow smothers the whole landscape. Nea has not noticed that the loud roar of the river has become weaker. It is freezing cold and she feels that her fingers and feet will fall off from the cold. Nevertheless, she continues to put one foot in front of the other. Instead of running, she is stumbling due to exhaustion. She cannot remain still; the snow would bury her soon.
    She keeps her head lowered, so that the snow or wind does not blow into her face. From the corner of her eye, she sees a glow from the other side of the river. Even turning her head to look hurts now, but it’s worth it. She can see three tents close together, and in the middle of them, a large bonfire flickers, which seems to be protected from the wind and snow by the tents. Just the sight of the fire is enough to make her feel a little bit warmer. She also notices that the river is much shallower for several meters, it might only be knee deep, she could easily wade through to the other side. Nea wants to just run and warm herself up by the fire, but despite her hunger and fatigue, she cannot forget the danger that can come from approaching a camp, she does not know what kind of people inhabit it.
    Carefully, she leaves the edge of the forest and approaches the river, trying to see the camp more clearly. Through the snow and darkness, Nea can only recognize outlines. She believes she sees a male shape. The man seems to see her because he begins pointing in her direction. A second person appears, and while she cannot see much, this second person seems very large, and unusual for these times, well fed, almost fat.
    Nea turns around to flee into the woods, but before she can make a run for it, she hears a voice