30

"It's time. I thought tomorrow would be the end?" the girl in the cage said, her voice a whisper as Amara struggled to unlock it.

Amara knew she was doing something wrong, but she had to act. This was her way of shutting off the chaos inside her. "Do you think it will change anything?" she asked, glancing at the girl.

"Not really," the girl replied, her eyes empty. She seemed resigned, ready to accept her fate. "It's a good day to die, I guess."

Once free, Amara led the girl into the woods, where the snow began to fall faster, swirling around them. "It's good to die," the girl murmured, gazing up at the sky.

They paused in a clearing. The girl turned to Amara, a faint smile touching her lips. "Thank you for defending me. I'm happy you're the one who will kill me," she said, devoid of tears or anger.

"Turn," Amara said softly. The girl obeyed, her calmness unsettling.

"Do you have anything to say?" Amara asked, her heart pounding.

"Which season do you like?" the girl replied, her tone almost curious.

Amara hesitated, watching the snowflakes dance around them. "Winter," she finally answered.

"Interesting. Why?" the girl pressed.

"Because it drapes the world in a soft, silencing snow," Amara said, lost in thought.

The girl smiled, her eyes sparkling for a moment. "Yes. It feels as if death wanders among us, observing quietly. It gazes upon our lives, selecting its victims before retreating into the shadows. I love winter too," she said.

Amara dropped the sword and sat down beside her. "Why aren't you running?" she asked, feeling the weight of the moment.

The girl turned to her, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Why do you want me to run away?"

"Just run," Amara urged, desperation creeping into her voice.

"But where? Even if I run, I will die in this forest," the girl replied, her acceptance of fate striking a chord in Amara's heart.

She was right. Amara stood up, shedding her jacket and draping it over the girl's shoulders. "There is no escape. You should kill me," the girl said, a calm resignation in her words.

"No, I didn't bring you here to kill you " Amara said.