Chapter 2
Ranzo stood at the very edge of the lethal precipice, his muscles screaming as he anchored Marein with both hands. His breath came in ragged hitches as he leaned toward her ear, his voice trembling with a mix of exhaustion and suppressed fury.
"I have spent my whole life hating the idea of losing," he hissed, the cold wind whipping his words away. "And today, because of you... I almost lost my life."
Marein remained frozen. In a moment where she craved even a shred of comfort, Ranzo offered nothing but the bitter truth. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the terrifying drop below. Ranzo's grip tightened, his tone turning even more abrasive.
"Do you even realize the position we're in? If my footing slips by an inch, we are both dead. I'm not ready to shake hands with death just yet. I should never have brought you with me."
Marein had no strength left to argue. A single tear escaped, trailing a warm path down her freezing cheek. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The sight of her crumbling, her quiet apology, seemed to strike a chord in Ranzo. His anger didn't vanish, but it fell silent. He looked down into the abyss with a look of pure frustration. Suddenly, a voice drifted down from the ridge above.
"Are you two okay? Hold on! We're coming for you! We're lowering a rope!"
Ranzo could barely hear the man over the roaring wind. A sudden, violent gust slammed into them, throwing him off balance. He dug his boots into the icy ledge, every fiber of his being straining to hold on. Is this it? he thought grimly. My shoulders are giving out. I can't hold her much longer.
He turned his gaze back to Marein, his eyes clouded with a dark resignation. "Forgive me... for the harsh things I said," he muttered.
But Marein didn't answer. The biting cold had finally claimed her consciousness; she had fainted, oblivious to his apology. Ranzo let out a faint, hollow smile. "Perhaps it's better that you didn't hear that."
The rope hit the ledge beside them. "Listen!" the man shouted from above. "Tie that rope around yourself and the girl! We'll pull you both up together!"
Ranzo looked at the rope, then at his hands, which were occupied entirely with holding Marein. A surge of helpless rage boiled within him. How was he supposed to tie a knot without letting her go? He let out a primal roar of frustration that was swallowed by the storm, then fell deathly quiet.
Drawing every ounce of remaining strength into one arm, he made a desperate gamble. He lunged for the rope with his free hand, nearly slipping off the ledge. With agonizing effort, he managed to loop it around his waist.
"I'm secured!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "Pull me up!"
As they were hauled toward the surface, Ranzo quickly lashed the remaining length of the rope around Marein. Seconds later, they were dragged onto the flat, snowy ground. A group of men rushed toward them.
"You're incredibly brave," one man remarked, reaching out. "Is the girl okay? She looks terrible."
"She's unconscious," Ranzo snapped, his voice cold as ice.
The man pressed his hand to Marein's forehead and recoiled. "Her body heat is dropping too fast! We need to get her to a warm place immediately, or she won't make it!"
Ranzo, despite his own exhaustion, slapped the man's hand away from Marein. "Don't touch her."
"Are you insane?" the man shouted. "She's dying! If we don't handle her, how are we going to move her?"
Ranzo didn't bother responding. He reached for his heavy coat, unzipped it, and pulled Marein's limp body against his chest, tucking her head inside the warmth of his garment before zipping it back up.
"She won't be cold anymore," Ranzo stated flatly. "Just show us the way."
The man scoffed, offended by Ranzo's attitude. "Fine. We were all trying to help, but if you want to be ungrateful, stay here in the snow." He turned to the others. "Let's go. There's no room for kindness in this world anymore."
The crowd dispersed, leaving them alone in the silence. Exhaustion finally overtook Ranzo. He collapsed onto the snow, Marein still cradled within his coat, and drifted into a heavy sleep.
When he finally opened his eyes, the sky had turned into a bruised purple. Evening had arrived. He shifted slightly, looking down at his chest. Marein was awake, her eyes peeking out from the opening of his coat, watching him silently.
Ranzo lowered his head back onto the snow. "Get out now. You're heavy."
Marein climbed out without a word, sitting beside him as she smoothed her clothes. "You say you don't accept me as your sister," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "But what you did today... even a real brother wouldn't do for his flesh and blood. The warmth I felt against your chest... I don't have the words to describe it."
Ranzo stood up, brushing the snow off his clothes. "It's late. We need to get to the hotel."
He started walking, and Marein followed closely behind, a small, secret smile playing on her lips. They eventually reached the lodge—a rustic building meant for tourists where Ranzo had pre-booked a room.
Once inside, Ranzo pointed toward the bathroom. "Go. Take a hot shower. I'll try to get the fireplace going."
A while later, Marein emerged, her damp hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Ranzo was crouched by the fire, soaking in the heat.
"I'm done," she whispered. "You can go now."
Ranzo turned around, and for a split second, his breath caught. His eyes widened slightly as he took her in—the way she looked with her hair down, the firelight dancing in her eyes. He quickly regained his composure, masking his surprise with his usual indifference.
"Sit by the fire and get warm," he commanded. "I've ordered food. Eat when it arrives."
As Ranzo headed to the shower, Marein extended her hands toward the flames. You can deny it all you want, Ranzo, she thought, but you are a good man. I've lived with you for fifteen years, yet I still don't know the secrets in your heart. You saw me with my hair down for the first time today... you could have at least said something nice. But that's just who you are.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"The food must be here," she murmured, standing up to open it.
But the moment the door swung open, the blood drained from her face. Standing there was the mysterious stranger from the morning. A predatory, lethal smile stretched across his face.
The man stepped inside, forcing Marein to retreat.
"How about I kill you right now?" he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "I missed my chance this morning because your boyfriend saved you. He's in the shower now... it'll only take a moment to snap your neck. That boy is becoming a real thorn in my side."
He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with a dark intent. "This time, you die. Prepare yourself."
In that moment, a chilling realization hit Marein. There were secrets buried deep in her past—secrets so dangerous that someone was willing to move heaven and earth just to see her dead.