Chapter Three
Risa led them to the worn-out couch near the fireplace, brushing off the dust before motioning for them to sit. The white-haired woman didn't say anything as she guided the kids down to the couch to rest. She watched silently as Risa gathered some wood and started a fire in the fireplace.
"There." Risa smiled, glancing at the three sitting on the couch.
"Rest here for a while," Risa said as she stood.
"I'll go check for some supplies."
Starting in the living room, Risa had some wood stacked beside the fireplace, matches and a lighter. After searching the living room, she came across an axe and a length of rope.
Meanwhile, the white-haired woman watched her, a bit confused and curious about the way Risa was acting.
In the kitchen, Risa first checked the fridge. As she opened it, a foul smell of rotten meat and vegetables wafted out. The fridge wasn't working, likely due to the lack of electricity in the cabin. She quickly shut the door and moved on to check the cupboards. There, she found some food: a can of tuna, luncheon meat, canned beans, a bag of rice that still looked good, several sealed bottles of water, some instant ramen, and half a bottle of cooking oil.
She walked over and checked the closed bathroom door before opening it and stepping inside. The bathroom was a decent size, with an old porcelain sink, a wood-framed mirror, and a clawfoot tub tucked against the back wall. A curtain rod hung loosely above it, though the curtain itself was missing. There was also a shelf with toiletries and a couple of neatly folded towels.
On one side of the room stood a wooden cabinet with its doors slightly open, revealing a first aid kit inside. Risa took the kit and quickly examined the contents. It held bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, and several other medications. She turned on the faucet to check if it still worked, but no water came out. With a slight frown, she moved over to the bathtub and tried the knobs. Nothing happened.
As she prepared to leave the bathroom, her eyes caught the wood-framed mirror hanging above the sink. She paused for a moment, then stepped closer.
Her reflection stared back at her. Her short black hair was unkempt and tangled, matted with dirt and sweat. Her face was smeared with grime, and a faint trail of dried blood ran down one side. She wasn't sure if it was hers or someone else's.
"That's not right." Her stomach twisted.
Her eyes. Something was different.
They weren't the deep black she had known her entire life. Instead, a vivid, unnatural red stared back at her.
She leaned in, gripping the edges of the sink.
Was it the lighting? Maybe she was just exhausted. She blinked rapidly, rubbed her eyes, and even tilted her head slightly, but nothing changed.
They were still red.
Her face looked the same. Her features remained unchanged. Only her eyes were different.
Her thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of it.
Had she been drugged before waking up in that barn? Could it be some strange side effect that altered her eye color?
Risa took a deep breath, steadying herself. She stood up straight and turned away from the mirror. This was something she could figure out later.
Right now, she had more important things to do.
She stepped out of the bathroom and made her way into the bedroom. Inside, she found two backpacks resting against the wall. She checked the first one and found an almost empty water bottle, water purification tablets, two energy bars, a multi-tool, a flashlight, a pair of socks and gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, a sweater, a windbreaker, a sleeping bag, and a tarp. The second bag contained mostly the same items, but it was missing the purification tablets, snacks, and tarp. Instead, it held an unopened pack of female underwear and a camping stove.
She opened the wardrobe next and discovered some extra clothes, towels, a few blankets, and a bedsheet. Sitting on top of the pile was a folded map and a compass.
As she left the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her, she noticed the white-haired woman watching her. The children were staring as well.
Risa offered a small smile, though the white-haired woman's brows drew together in a subtle frown.
"I found some clothes in the bedroom. There's canned food in the kitchen and a bag of rice. Just don't open the fridge, the food inside is already spoiled. The bathroom doesn't have running water either," Risa said calmly.
The white-haired woman didn't respond right away but gave a quiet nod of acknowledgment.
"I'll go take a look outside too," Risa added, pointing toward the door.
"Okay," the woman replied softly. She turned her attention to the children, who glanced at Risa once more before looking back at their mother.
Stepping outside the cabin, Risa spotted an old cast-iron hand pump. It was rusted in places, but still appeared to be functional. A bucket sat beside it.
She wrapped her hand around the cold iron handle and gave it a firm pump. At first, there was only resistance, as if it hadn't been used in years. But after a few more tries, she heard the gurgle of water rising, followed by a stream of clear water splashing into the bucket.
Risa let out a breath. At least they wouldn't be without water.
Risa made her way back into the cabin, her mind still caught on the unsettling discovery in the mirror. But she pushed the thought aside.
"Found a working hand pump outside. We've got water."
"Water?" the white-haired woman repeated, her voice tinged with surprise.
Risa nodded. "Yeah. We should clean up first. Then eat and get some sleep." Her eyes moved to the children. "They look like they haven't had a proper bath in a long time."
The woman let out a sigh, gently brushing her hand through the girls' tangled hair. "They haven't."
Risa rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the exhaustion pressing down on her. "I'll help bring the water inside. There's a stove here, so we can heat it and avoid bathing in freezing water."
She was about to head back outside when the white-haired woman stopped her.
"I can help," she offered, making Risa glance back at her.
"It's okay," Risa replied. "You need to stay with the kids."
The woman's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue. With a small nod, she let Risa handle the water on her own.
Once she had gathered enough water, Risa brought the full bucket inside and poured it into a kettle, setting it over the stove. The metal creaked as it adjusted to the heat, and soon, steam began to curl from the spout.
When the water was hot, Risa carefully carried the kettle to the bathroom and poured the steaming liquid into the tub. She made several more trips, heating and adding water until the tub was full, she gave a small nod of satisfaction and headed back to the living room.
While waiting for Risa to finish, the woman and the children eventually drifted off to sleep.
Risa watched the three for a moment before stepping closer to wake them. She gently tapped the white-haired woman to rouse her.
"The bath is ready," Risa said, offering a friendly smile.
The white-haired woman stared at her for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"There are also some toiletries and towels in the bathroom," Risa added.
"Come on, let's get cleaned up," the white-haired woman said as she gently woke the girls and guided them toward the bathroom.
The little ones whined sleepily but didn't resist, letting her lead them without protest.
Once they were gone, Risa returned to the bedroom to grab a change of clothes for later. Back in the living room, she set the clothes aside and finally stretched out on the couch, allowing herself a moment of rest.
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Author's Note:
Hello! This is the updated version of the story. Thanks for your patience!