“Hey, give me my luggage!” Amber screamed while trying to get up from the snow. Her runny nose was already red with anger.
"Hey!" the woman in furry white coat cried again. With great difficulty, she headed to the road. "Stop right now! Don't make me mad! You will regret it if I catch you!”
Unfortunately, when Amber arrived at the shoulder of the road, the car she was chasing had already turned around. The men who had thrown her before, laughed in satisfaction. Both of them waved from the window.
“Adjö!”
Neglecting what the stranger said, Amber screamed as loud as she could. "You liar! I paid dearly to be escorted to Adam Smith, not to be abandoned in the forest like this!”
With teary eyes, Amber watched the robbers' car disappear in the distance. She realized that there was no point in shouting or chasing. The strangers wouldn't come back to pick her up.
"I shouldn't have believed them," the woman grumbled in despair.
While catching her breath, Amber began to observe the situation. There was no one around. There were only shadows of pine trees, scattered snow, and millions of stars in the dark sky.
"This is bad," the woman sighed while hugging herself tighter. The gusting wind had sent chills to the bone. "What should I do? I can't die now."
While wiping her nose with the glove, Amber turned to face her landing point at the snow pile. Two seconds later, the woman sighed in disbelief. Even it was not clear, she could see a chimney blowing smoke not far from there.
"Is that a house?" Amber mumbled as her eyes widened. She thought she had found a glimmer of hope. However, after a blink, her brows furrowed again.
“But, along the way, I didn't see a single house. Is it possible … there are people living in a place like this?” the woman murmured doubtfully.
Once again, Amber surveyed the surrounding scenery. Convinced that there were no other buildings, she let out a long sigh.
"It's the only way," the woman mumbled before blowing her gloves to warm them up. "People in that house will definitely want to help me." Confidently, the woman exerted her strength to break through the knee-deep snow.
Arriving at the door, Amber could finally breathe in relief. As she continued to rub her hands, she noticed the yellow light emanating from behind the window pane.
"Thank God! This cottage is indeed a house." After exhaling quickly, Amber knocked on the door. "Excuse me. Is there anyone inside?"
Not getting an answer, the woman knocked again. "Excuse me!" she shouted louder.
A few seconds later, still no sound was heard. The silence made Amber's annoyance rise. She had been exposed to the winter air for too long.
“Where have the people of this cottage gone? Didn’t they hear my call? Tsk, I could freeze if I keep waiting out here any longer," the shivering woman grunted before pounding harder on the door.
"Excuse me! Is there anyone inside? I really need help!” Amber screamed in panic. Her stiff hands kept hitting the thick board. “Please! I'll freeze to death if you don't help me."
After a while, the door finally opened. Finding a way to enter, Amber's smile widened. "Thank you!"
However, just as she was about to take a step, a well-built man blocked her way. With a cold stare, the stranger asked, "Can't you read?"
Getting an unexpected response, Amber suddenly fell silent. Through round eyes, she studied the face of the bearded man with unkempt brown hair. There was no friendly expression there. It was clear that the occupants of the cottage did not like her presence.
“G-good evening, Sir. I’m so sorry to bother you." The woman suddenly became polite. With great difficulty, she tried to stifle her rumbling breath. “My name is Amber and I am not a bad person. I came to this country to meet Adam Smith. But as it turned out, I got cheated. My stuff was taken and I was abandoned in this frosty forest.”
While clenching his jaw, the man brought his head closer to Amber. “I’ll ask again. Can't you read?"
Hearing the low tone that was full of emphasis, the woman suddenly shuddered in horror. Holding herself tighter, she whispered, “Read?”
After a small grunt, the owner of the cottage glanced at the board attached to the side of the door. Half of the writing was covered in snow. “Read it and get out of here!” A second later, Amber gasped as the man slammed the door.
"Gosh! Why is he so cold?” the woman grumbled in disbelief. “I just want to ask for help. Why did he kick me out? And what is written here?”
