She understood all too well how treacherous that ледяная river was, yet she had no idea that something far more terrifying than the raging current was waiting for her on the opposite shore.

It all began with quiet whispers behind her back. At first, just murmurs, then judgmental glances, and soon harsh words she could no longer escape. In the village, her fate was decided quickly: she could stay… but without her child. Or she could leave — forever. No one even tried to pretend there was another option.

Anna didn’t argue. She didn’t cry. She didn’t beg.

That night, when everything became окончательно clear, she silently gathered a few belongings, carefully wrapped her newborn in a warm blanket, and held the baby tightly against her chest. The house filled with memories was left behind — along with the people who had called her family just yesterday.

At the first light of dawn, she was already walking away.

There was only one path ahead.

To her left stretched a dense forest — dark, damp, filled with unsettling sounds. To her right yawned a deep ravine, offering no chance of survival. And straight ahead — the river.

Wide. Freezing. Violent. As if it had a will of its own and refused to let anyone pass.

The forest meant the unknown. The ravine meant the end. The river was the only chance.

Beyond it lay the road to the city… a place where no one knew her name and no one judged her past.

As Anna approached the water, she felt eyes on her. They were already standing behind her — relatives, neighbors, familiar faces. But there was no warmth left in their gaze.

She took a step.

The icy water pierced her body like a blade.

But she didn’t stop.

Another step. And another.

The water rose higher, her clothes grew heavy, and the current tried to knock her off her feet.

“If you cross that river, Anna, don’t you ever come back! You will no longer exist to us!” her brother shouted.

She didn’t turn around.

Not even for a second.

She only held her child tighter and whispered:

“Better to disappear for them… than to stay among them.”

And she kept moving forward.

When the water reached her waist, the current grew stronger. Every step became a struggle, as if the river itself was trying to hold her back.

That was when Anna lifted her eyes.

Something stood on the opposite shore.

She froze.

At first, it looked like a person. A tall, motionless figure, almost unnatural. But the longer she stared, the more she felt something was wrong.

The baby in her arms let out a soft whimper.

Anna instinctively pulled the child closer.

“It’s nothing… just fear…” she whispered, though she didn’t believe it.

A quiet laugh echoed from behind her.

“She won’t make it,” someone said coldly.
“The river will decide for her,” another voice replied.

Strangely, those words gave her strength.

She took another step.

The water reached her chest. The cold numbed her body, her fingers losing all sensation. But she kept going.

Because there was no way back.

The figure on the opposite shore moved.

Now she could see clearly.

It was an old man.

His face was strange, unreadable, and his eyes… his eyes glowed with an unnatural light.

He stepped toward her.

Then another step.

And suddenly Anna realized — he had been waiting for her.

“Who are you?!” she shouted.

The old man remained silent for a moment.

“Those who cross this river never return the same,” he said calmly.

Anna clenched her jaw.

“I have nowhere to return to.”

The old man nodded slowly.

“Then go on. But remember… the price is always higher than you expect.”

Anna took the final step.

Solid ground beneath her feet.

She made it.

She pulled herself onto the shore, trembling from cold and exhaustion, but still standing.

She survived.

She lifted her head.

And froze.

The old man was now standing very close.

Too close.

And now she could see his face.

It wasn’t just old.

It was empty. As if it existed outside of time.

And in his eyes…

it wasn’t her reflection she saw.

It was something behind her.

Anna turned sharply.

Nothing.

Only the river.

But when she looked back, the old man was already reaching out his hand toward the child.

“Give him to me.”

“No!” Anna cried, stepping back.

The man only smiled faintly.

“Then listen carefully. You have crossed a boundary. You no longer belong there… nor to the world you once knew.”

A cold fear spread through Anna.

“What does that mean?”

The old man leaned closer.

“It means… they are already coming for you.”

Behind her, a sound broke the silence.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Anna turned — and her blood ran cold.

Figures were rising from the water.

One by one.

Pale faces, empty eyes, unnatural movements.

And among them…

she recognized familiar faces.

Neighbors.

Relatives.

Those who had stood on the shore just moments ago.

But they were no longer themselves.

Anna screamed.