"Hey, what's your favourite colour? Mine is emerald green. It's the colour of my eyes! ...That's not conceited or anything, is it? I just meant that I feel some kind of special connection to it. Like it's part of my identity. Does it happen to also be your favorite colour... ? It's just a guess... ...Because you've been looking into my eyes for a while now. Ehehe~"

I, on the other hand, am feeling a bit odd right now. I try my best to shake off such thoughts, lest I end up like father. 

"Yes, it is." I reply, looking away again. "Err, what was it that you wanted to ask me?" I say, my voice noticeably shaking.

Mysterious woman sitting in the corner and holding a piece of chalk in her hands. "I can help you get out of here," she says. "But you see..... you have to do something for me."

"What?" I ask.

"Tell me your deepest, darkest secret."

"I don't have one," I say.

"Don't lie to me, boy," she says, beginning to circle me. "You have a skeleton in your closet that you're terrified to open."

"I don't have a--" I start to say, before looking at her more closely. "... do I?"

The woman stops circling me and raises an eyebrow. Her deep, piercing emerald eyes pierces through me. She is very fair. Her hair, which is pulled back in a pony tail, is the brightest green I have ever seen. It almost looks like it's filled with light. I can't look away.

Her voice is clear and deep like a mountain lake on a fine summer's day. It could calm a storm.

"W-w-wait! Yes! Yes I do!" I say, feeling nervous. "But it's... personal!"

"Tell me."

"I... I murdered my father."

The woman takes her piece of chalk and begins to scratch it against her dark red robe, staring at me.

"Tell me everything," she says.

I take a deep breath, recounting the story of how my father hit my mother, how I used to take the blame to protect her, how my parents got a divorce and my father's drinking habits that led to his behavior.

 I tell her about my sister, how she's a virgin by choice, and I've had to rescue her several times from the perversions my father tried to force upon her.

"It's not your fault. No one's fault. He's the villain of this story. Not you, not me, not your mother or your sister. We all just have to pay for his crimes."

"What are you going to do?" I ask.

"I'm going to get you out of here."

"How?"

"I know someone who can buy your freedom. But you have to be willing to sell. Do you accept that deal?"

"What's the price?"

"Your soul, little one."

I pause.

"OK," I say. "OK, I'll do it."

"Good. Now, give me the necklace."

I reach under my shirt and pull out the necklace, handing it to her. She puts it in her robe's pocket, looking at me.

"Get dressed," she says, turning around and walking down the hall.

I get dressed, before following her. I walk down the hall, before reaching another room. This one is filled with people. Most of them are guards, but there are a few other people here.

"This is a special kind of prison. It's so dangerous, it has its own special guards. If you try to break in, you'll just be killed. Better that they stay inside, safe and sound. We have guest rooms for situations like these. You're free to use them. I'm sure you have many questions that need answering, and I'm sure you would like to hear the story of how we ended up in this situation. I will tell all of this to anyone who asks. But perhaps one question should be satisfied before you tell yours. Who are you?"

Now that I'm out of immediate danger, my nerves start to get to me. I feel scared, anxious and on edge.

"I'm wo... I'm William."

The woman stares at me for a second, before smiling.

"Well, William, let me introduce myself. I am Celia. That's all you need to know for now. I'm sure you have many questions I need to answer."

"Can I go home? Please?"

"Sure. But I need to know where you got the necklace from."

"I found it."

"You found it. Where did you find it?"

"At the bottom of the river. A lady was drowning, and I saved her."

"You saved a lady. William, I think there's more to the story, don't you?"

"No! It's the truth!"

"I believe you. It's just that... well, we can talk about this later. Let's go."

"But-"

"No questions right now. We've been here for quite a while, and I'm sure you'd like to get home. Later, I want to know everything. But not right now."

"OK," I mumble, as she takes my hand and leads me out of the room.

I walk out of the door, and into the light. It's a beautiful, if surprising day. Spring is arriving earlier every year, it seems. However, it's still snowy. I'm eagerly waiting for full Spring.

 I walk past the guards, heading towards where a sleigh is parked. I am headed home, where I can finally rest.

"My apologies. I didn't realize you hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. Here, this is some food from our own kitchens."

The woman gives me a bowl of soup, which I quickly eat. I've been so tired, I didn't even think about being hungry again.

 Once I've eaten, the woman takes my hand once more and leads me to where a sleigh is waiting for me. 

I walk up, and get in. The woman hops in beside me, while she takes control of the driving.

I sit there in silence for a moment, as the weather outside changes. The wind blows through my shirt, and I shiver.

"It's getting colder. I'd drive faster if we expected it to last," the woman says.

"It's OK."

"No, it really isn't. You said you found a lady in the river. That was really kind. I wish you were still here to enjoy the spring, but you'll be home soon, I'm sure. It's a long way from your home to here, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It's a long way."

"You really do want to go home so badly, but before that, I have a task for you." 

"What task?"

"I'll explain it once we reach our destination."