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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe water rose higher, her clothes grew heavy, and the current tried to knock her off her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you cross that river, Anna, don\u2019t you ever come back! You will no longer exist to us!\u201d her brother shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She didn\u2019t turn around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not even for a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She only held her child tighter and whispered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBetter to disappear for them\u2026 than to stay among them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And she kept moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was when Anna lifted her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something stood on the opposite shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The baby in her arms let out a soft whimper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna instinctively pulled the child closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing\u2026 just fear\u2026\u201d she whispered, though she didn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quiet laugh echoed from behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe won\u2019t make it,\u201d someone said coldly.
\u201cThe river will decide for her,\u201d another voice replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strangely, those words gave her strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took another step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water reached her chest. The cold numbed her body, her fingers losing all sensation. But she kept going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because there was no way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The figure on the opposite shore moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now she could see clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was an old man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His face was strange, unreadable, and his eyes\u2026 his eyes glowed with an unnatural light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stepped toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then another step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And suddenly Anna realized \u2014 he had been waiting for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho are you?!\u201d she shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old man remained silent for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose who cross this river never return the same,\u201d he said calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna clenched her jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have nowhere to return to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old man nodded slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen go on. But remember\u2026 the price is always higher than you expect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna took the final step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solid ground beneath her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She made it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pulled herself onto the shore, trembling from cold and exhaustion, but still standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She lifted her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old man was now standing very close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now she could see his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t just old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was empty. As if it existed outside of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in his eyes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
it wasn\u2019t her reflection she saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was something behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna turned sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when she looked back, the old man was already reaching out his hand toward the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGive him to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Anna cried, stepping back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The man only smiled faintly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen listen carefully. You have crossed a boundary. You no longer belong there\u2026 nor to the world you once knew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cold fear spread through Anna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old man leaned closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt means\u2026 they are already coming for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind her, a sound broke the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna turned \u2014 and her blood ran cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Figures were rising from the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One by one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pale faces, empty eyes, unnatural movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And among them\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
she recognized familiar faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who had stood on the shore just moments ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they were no longer themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n