with her. On the contrary, I wanted to talk to her, stay with her for longer. But I felt like her slave and trembled before her.
My friends came out of the tunnel and froze in confusion. They did not know how to behave. They moved aside, and I joined them, taking a few steps back. Our ghost friend managed to hide, and we did not give him away. We realized that no one had thought of him. I also realized that he has a plan in his head for our universal salvation.
The whole clearing was covered with ice. As when icicles hung from green trees, my grandmother was also covered with ice. The ice on the moss created a thickness and looked massive. I realized that she had brought her grandmother here to settle accounts with me, and I did not know where to start. I wanted to speak first, but I did not dare. I was ready to give my life to free my grandmother’s soul and be close to this goddess, to be her slave forever. I looked resolutely in her direction and plucked up the courage to say the first words.
– Take me to your place. That is the first thing I said. I wanted to say something completely different, but out of fear, that is what came out of me. In response, Mara laughed angrily and began to circle in the air. We stood there and were afraid to move. There was an ice statue of my grandmother in front of us, and we were afraid to be like her.
– What should we do now? A friend who panicked all the time said this.
– I will try to persuade her. She will pick me up and let you go.
– I do not think she needs it.
– It seems to me that she does not need you. She needs my grandmother and me.
– Do you mind staying here along the way! I understand that!
– Which is noticeable. I said without denial.
– Yes, indeed. It is all written on your forehead. Your grandmother was talking about an oak tree. This is the transition to our world of the living. Maybe you will distract her, and we will take out your grandmother and run away ourselves.
– How do you imagine all this? This soul needs to be conducted. I do not know what is going to happen.
The storm subsided and snow quietly fell on the ground, and we began to wait for the attack. The oak tree was not far from us and we just had to run to it. But I didn’t know what to do in order to be there, at the top. Only the grandmother knew about it. It turned out to be a vicious circle. Moreover, I fell into despair. I sat down on my knees and began to sob. My helplessness was killing me. Tears started rolling down my face, one, two, and three. They were dripping, and I heard the ice cracking. The crunch of ice made me look up. The ice began to break and fragments scattered everywhere.
This event greatly enraged the dark goddess, and she began to rush viciously. – There is no place for tears, love and kindness here. Mara threw her evil look at me, a blizzard flew at me with it, but she quickly calmed down and disappeared. The ice continued to fly apart and we had to protect our face with our hands. His crunching cut the hearing, and together with the face, we had to squat down and cover our ears.
When everything was quiet, we stood up and there was a terrible picture in front of us. We were in the same green clearing, and there were fragments of ice on it. I noticed an oak tree, it stood as before, the same green and strong, forever young, I thought. To my surprise, my grandmother came up to us, already without fear. I took it as a good sign.
– Isn’t it dangerous for you to walk around the realm of the dead like this? I asked jokingly.
«The danger is over.
– You are wrong. We looked around and saw a ghost. All the most interesting things are ahead.
I finished my story, leaned back and fell silent.
– «So that’s the thing. Said my neighbor.
– In what? What do you mean?
– I did not tell you. Moreover, the doctors do not really care, but you had better find out now.
– What?
– Come with me.
– Where to?
– You said that fragments of ice were flying.
– Yes, I did.
– You also said whether I believe you. I told you that yes, I do. Therefore, we do not have a mirror in our room, but you should see it. I do not even know how to tell you about it. In addition, we got up and left the ward.
We went into the men’s room and went to the mirror. My friend took me to the mirror, and I did not look at my reflection boldly, for the first time in all these days.
– All these days I have been trying to shield you from this, but I will be discharged soon, it is time to see.
The main character from the horror movie was looking at me in the reflection. My face was scarred and its color was bright red. For some reason. The scars were long healed, there were many of them. I looked like a monster. In addition to all this, my head was like a gray harrier. I felt like an elderly freak, in my twenty-five. I stood silently by the mirror. My friend Vova stood aside and was silent. In the reflection, I saw this man’s tears welling up looking at me. I was pleased with his friendly love for me. The dead pause continued, and I sank into despondency, looking into my eyes in the reflection. – How could something happen in such a short period of time that not everyone would believe it? – For what? I thought. I hit the mirror with my fist and stepped aside.
– Let’s smoke. Suggested Vova. I gladly agreed and it became easier for me. We returned to the ward. The thought that my neighbor would be discharged tomorrow made me sad.
– Don’t be sad. We will definitely meet again. I looked at him sadly. My thoughts occupied my scars on my face. I could not understand why I did not feel them. My face just burned from the resulting cold. I have not washed for so many days; maybe that is why I did not feel them. My face was smeared with some kind of cream, and it gave me relief. I plucked up the courage and touched the scar. To my surprise, my face felt smooth to the touch. How is this possible? I ran both hands over my face and felt nothing. I got out of bed and went out. Going to the toilet, I went to the mirror and looked at myself closely. What a freak I am. I was terrible. But running my hands over my face, I didn’t even feel burns.
– It is strange I do not feel these scars. Maybe they were a long time ago, and I do not remember.
– I do not think so. You need to remember everything to the end. When you were brought here, your scars were fresh.
– Maybe it was not scars, but a severe burn that burst.
«I couldn’t have been mistaken. I do not know how to explain it all myself, but maybe it is not over yet and there will be a sequel. In any case, you will have to get out of here, out of this city, and I will personally control it. I hope that you will be safer there in your city. Her territory is here all year round. Now she is a full-fledged host, now is her time. We both fell silent and looked out the window. It was bitterly cold outside the window. A street lamp illuminated the street and snowflakes could be seen circling. This street darkness reminded me of the darkness in which I had been for so long. It was warm in the ward, and it gave me peace and protection. I looked at my hands and was surprised. They no longer bothered me and there was no trace of what had happened on them.
– How can I? So fast?
– What do you mean?
– My hands. They do not bother me anymore, and there are no marks on them. When I woke up, I could not bend my fingers. I remember that.
– I remember that too. That is why I decided to help you. Your condition was terrible. And I thought you had been beaten up and wanted to sort it out. Nevertheless, you recovered so quickly that I am surprised myself.
– This