A piercing wind howled through the cracks of the old wooden window, its mournful wail a harbinger of the inevitable storm. Each gust made her shiver, pausing mid-step in the middle of the room to draw in a deep breath of the cold night air.
“I’m doing the right thing… This weather, just like the day I was born—it’s a sign from above. I have to do this!” Her thoughts raced as frantically as her feet across the worn parquet floor, searching through cabinets and drawers for the things that truly mattered to her heart. Her fiery red hair flared like a cloud, flashing here and there, barely keeping up with her hurried steps.
Midnight was the deadline. With the new day, a new life would begin. In a new world.
In the dim light of the small room, illuminated by just a couple of candles, the red cloud of hair finally stilled and sank to the floor alongside a heavy bag, stitched specially for this journey.
All letters had been sent.
All affairs had been settled.
All necessary belongings had been packed.
Only one final step remained. Into the unknown that had beckoned her for so long. It was no accident that she had found this path.
Doubts be gone. There was no one left here she’d miss, no one who’d miss her in return. Ahead lay an exhilarating adventure. If only it would work!
With a fierce act of will, she pushed the troubling thoughts from her mind, drew a circle around herself with chalk, and began filling it with special symbols, placing specific herbs and powders in their designated spots. She had prepared for this moment for so long, rehearsing every detail in her head, but now that the time had come to act, her hands trembled, and her stomach clenched in a tight knot of uncertainty. Still, she couldn’t turn back. It was too late.
At last, the final elements of the circle were in place. All that remained was to stand in the center and light the bundle of dried herbs from the candle—the last piece that would open the gateway to a new life.
One minute to midnight.
She rose on shaky legs, the bag weighing heavily on her shoulder, and reached out with the bundle of dried herbs toward the candle. A sudden flash of lightning split the sky in two, briefly flooding the small room with blinding light and illuminating the slender figure standing within, her mane of red hair like a cloud kissed by the setting sun. The deafening crash of thunder that followed shook her to her core, but her hand didn’t release the bundle of herbs. As the last echo of thunder faded, the indistinct silhouette of the redheaded traveler was swallowed by the portal that opened in the middle of the dark room.