The sound was still there.

Hannah got up and went out to check.

There were no lights in the north; it was pitch black outside, with only a little flickering firelight behind her, allowing her to barely make out the ground.

Stepping on palm-sized stones, one could hardly stand steady.

About five steps away was a very old sack.

It seemed to have been dropped not long ago, because Hannah hadn’t seen it when she had arrived.

The wind blew, and the sack seemed to move slightly.

A very faint whimpering sound came from inside.

It sounded like the noise someone would make when their mouth was gagged with cloth.

"Is it a person? Or an animal?"

Hannah kept a distance and observed carefully.

As if it heard the sound of a person speaking, the "thing" inside the sack struggled more fiercely.

Hannah got up and left.

As her footsteps receded, two more whimpers could be heard coming from the sack.

His discomfort was palpable.

After a while, Hannah came back with a stick she had picked up.

She stepped forward and poked the sack with the stick in her hand.

"Are you asking for help?"

She asked.

The child’s tender voice unfolded unmistakably.

The person inside the sack quieted down for a moment and then made a muffled "hmm."

A very muffled and hoarse sound.

Hannah poked again with the stick.

Through the sack, it poked right on his head.

A hint of red seeped from the inside of the sack.

"Are you hurt?"

Hannah was surprised. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The sack moved gently, as if answering her question.

Hannah relaxed and murmured softly, "Well then, you certainly can’t beat me."

The sack didn’t move anymore.

She threw away the stick in her hand and separated the rope that was tied around the sack.

The person inside struggled twice and revealed a head of messy black hair.

He shook his head lightly, and the sack fell to his waist.

It was a boy who looked only about eight or nine years old.

Hannah looked up, and the first thing she saw were a pair of beautiful eyes, like the night sky without the moon and stars, just deep ink blue.

The boy’s mouth was sealed, and he could only emit weak whimpers.

He looked very ragged.

"Do you want me to unbind you?"

Hannah asked him.

The boy remained silent, just staring steadily at her.

The girl’s face was intentionally disguised, looking dim and gray, thin and fragile, only her eyes shone exceptionally bright.

Like stars.

The boy lowered his gaze to look at the bindings on his body.

He was wrapped round with rope.

Hannah understood and reached out to peel off the tape from his mouth.

Her motions were gentle, as if she were handling a beloved doll.

As the tape was peeled off, the boy’s face was revealed, showing a delicate yet beautiful countenance, like a prince locked away in a castle, never seeing sunlight, noble yet decadent.

The boy tried to regain his voice and said, "Thank you."

His voice was still very hoarse.

Hannah stared at him.

Gazed very intently.

The boy was well-behaved, still, and even more doll-like when silent.

"You’re very beautiful."

Hannah said.

The boy lifted his head, as if he hadn’t quite grasped it yet.

A smile appeared on the girl’s soft cheeks, sweet and docile, "Your eyes are the most beautiful."

She liked them very much.

Really wanted them.

The girl looked too docile, docile to the point where nobody could sense the depth in her words.

The boy didn’t either.

He only instinctively avoided her somewhat intense focused gaze.

Hannah stood up.

The boy thought she was leaving and finally turned his head again, asking her, "Can you help me untie the ropes on my body?"

He lifted his head, forced to look into her eyes.