"What! What are you saying, Aunt Silvia? You want me to sell off Hazel to the slave buyers? Mother will never forgive me if I do this!" Janet's voice trembled with disbelief. She was angry, confused, and terrified all at once.
Aunt Silvia held her niece's arms tightly, forcing her to listen. "Janet, listen to me very carefully. That girl is a burden to your family. She's done nothing but cause misery. First, she's the reason your parents stopped talking. Second, she's the reason your father is dead. And don't forget—she's partly to blame for your mother's sickness too! If your father hadn't died, your mother wouldn't have fallen so gravely ill. It's been almost a month since his death, and look at her,Hazel behaves as if nothing happened, smiling and living freely while your mother lies at death's door! The only way to cure your mother and bring peace back to your family is to sell her off. Sell that curse out of your life!"
Janet stood there, silent, thinking deeply. She hated Hazel—always had—but never knew how to take revenge.
Aunt Silvia continued, her voice cold and persuasive. "Janet, this is your only chance to get revenge. Because of her, your wedding was called off! Because of her, people now call you a criminal's daughter. No man will ever marry you now. Your life, your dreams—she destroyed all of them! Don't you see? This is your moment to make her pay."
Janet clenched her fists, anger burning in her chest. "You're right, Aunt Silvia. She's the cause of everything—Father's death, Mother's sickness, my ruined future. I've always hated her, and now… now I can finally make her pay. I'll sell her to the slave buyers and end this curse once and for all."
Aunt Silvia smirked. "Good. All you need to do is send Hazel out around seven in the evening to deliver flowers at Cross Bridge. I'll speak with Mrs. Veronica and have her contact the man. He'll be waiting there."
Janet nodded silently and went home. When she entered the house, she found her mother unconscious again. Tears filled her eyes as she knelt beside her. "Mother, please forgive me… I have to do this. I'm sorry," she whispered, wiping her tears before preparing a bouquet of roses.
Meanwhile, Hazel had no idea what was happening behind her back. She was busy working in the flower garden while Aunt Silvia went to meet Mrs. Veronica to finalize their dark plan.
Mrs. Veronica sat on her porch, sipping warm tea as the evening wind brushed through her silk shawl. Her sharp eyes lifted when Aunt Silvia arrived.
"Silvia," she said calmly, "so you've made up your mind?"
"Yes," Aunt Silvia replied, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "It's about the girl—Hazel. I want her gone by tonight."
Mrs. Veronica's lips curved into a cold smile. "The same Hazel who works at your niece's home? She's quite pretty, I hear. That'll fetch a fine price."
"She's the one," Silvia replied firmly. "I need your help arranging the buyer. He must meet her at Cross Bridge near the forest."
"Consider it done," Mrs. Veronica said, pouring herself another cup of tea. "By dawn, your niece will have her peace—and that girl will belong to someone else."
Aunt Silvia nodded, satisfied. "Make sure he pays well. My niece deserves to be free of that cursed girl once and for all."
When Hazel returned home that evening, she was exhausted from work. The sky was painted in the soft hues of dusk, and her hands were stained with earth. As she entered the small house, she saw Janet mopping the floor.
"How is Mother?" Hazel asked gently.
"Correction, she's your stepmother, not your mother," Janet said coldly without looking up.
Hazel sighed. "Alright… how is she, then?"
"Can't you see? Still on the bed, dying." Janet's tone was sharp, full of hidden hatred.
"Okay," Hazel muttered, ignoring her as she went inside to bathe.
When she returned, she asked, "Did you cook? You didn't go to work today."
Janet nodded, pointing to the food. Hazel smiled faintly and began to eat. When she was done, Janet turned to her suddenly.
"I just received a letter from a man named Mr. Oxyborn," Janet said smoothly. "He needs a delivery of flowers this evening."
"Have you packed them, or should I do it?" Hazel asked, wiping her hands.
Janet held up a neatly wrapped bouquet of roses. "It's all ready. Just deliver it for me while I stay to take care of Mother." She handed Hazel a small folded paper. "Here's his address and all the details you'll need."
Hazel nodded cheerfully, unaware of the trap awaiting her. "Alright then, I'll be back soon." She picked up the bouquet and hurried out.
She had no money for a carriage, so she walked all the way, humming softly to herself. "At least I'll make some sales today," she murmured with a smile.
Back at home, Janet fell to her knees beside her mother's bed, crying silently. "Please forgive me, Mother… but this is the only way to save you. The only way to heal you."
After a long walk, Hazel reached the outskirts of the village. She glanced at the paper again—it said Cross Bridge.
"The Cross Bridge?" she whispered, frowning. She had never been there before, so she asked a few villagers for directions until she finally arrived.
The bridge stretched across a quiet stream, with mist curling at its edges. Few people were left—some hurried across with their lamps, others leading goats and children toward the last evening carriage.
Hazel spotted a man leaning against the railing, his face hidden under a hood. She approached with a bright smile. "You must be Mr. Oxyborn, the one who ordered the roses?"
The man nodded silently.
Hazel sighed in relief. "Finally, I found you."
She handed him the bouquet. "It's starting to drizzle. I should hurry back before the rain gets heavy," she said softly. "Please, my payment?"
The man patted his pockets slowly, pretending to search for his money. Hazel frowned, glancing around—the few people remaining on the bridge were already leaving.
"Sir, please, hurry up. My home is far from here, and the rain is coming down harder," she said anxiously.
The man muttered an apology. "Forgive me, miss… I seem to have misplaced my coins."
Hazel began tapping her foot impatiently. "Oh my God, I walked all this way just to be cheated?" she mumbled under her breath.
"Sir, please give me back the flowers if you can't pay for them," she said sharply.
But the man didn't move. "I'm sorry, my daughter needs these tonight. I can't return them."
Hazel's patience snapped. "You're a nobleman, yet you can't find a few silver coins? The rain's falling, and I have no time for games!" she said, stepping closer to grab the bouquet back.
The man gripped it tighter.
"What are you doing?" Hazel demanded.
When she tried to pull it away, he seized her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back. Hazel gasped in pain.
She tried to fight back, but his strength was unbearable Desperate, she lifted her leg and used her toes to flick a small wooden stick from the ground. She caught it with her left hand and jabbed it into the man's eye.
He howled in pain, clutching his face. Hazel turned and ran, screaming for help.
But as she reached the middle of the bridge, three men appeared from the shadows.
Relieved, she rushed toward them until she saw their eyes.Glowing red.
Her heart stopped.
Before she could scream again, one of them seized her by the waist. Hazel kicked and struggled, but their strength was monstrous ,beyond human.
"Let me go!" she cried, her voice muffled as one of them pressed a cloth against her mouth. The scent was sharp, sickly sweet, and dizzying.
Her world spun, the sound of thunder echoing in the distance. The last thing she saw before everything went black was the blood-red moon rising above the bridge.
And then, darkness claimed her.