"W-where am I?" Her voice rasped, strained from disuse. She looked down at herself, her eyes widening as she saw the ragged clothes barely clinging to her thin frame.
Shivering, she tried to stand. Her legs felt weak, her stomach gnawing with hunger. But an inner pull, a primal instinct, guided her steps. She stumbled out of the dense foliage, the thick, humid air clinging to her skin. It was as if the jungle itself whispered directions.
After what felt like an eternity, a massive fence materialized before her. A sprawling manor loomed beyond, its stone facade aged and weather-beaten, its windows like vacant eyes. This wasn't any familiar place.
She pushed open the creaking gate, her steps uneven as she made her way toward a half-length mirror above the fireplace. As she gazed into its dusty surface, a gasp escaped her lips.
If any woman saw her, she would die of envy.
"Is this…is this me?" she whispered, her fingers tracing the delicate contours of her face. Her eyes, the clear blue of a summer sky, sparkled with a newfound wonder. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips a perfect cupid's bow. Her silver hair, a stark contrast to her youthful features, cascaded in soft waves down her back.
"Am I…Snow White?" she questioned, her voice a mix of awe and confusion. But a quick glance at the mirror dispelled the thought. No, Snow White had raven black hair, not this shimmering silver sheen.
Mesmerized, she wandered upstairs, her senses alight with the thrill of her newfound identity. All she could find were men's clothes, but she didn't care. Anything was better than the rags she'd been wearing.
"At least I have clothes to wear," she murmured, settling onto the edge of a dust-covered bed. " This shouldn't be the famous isekai, should it? Then, should I wait for the memories of this body to come back?"
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The only sound was the wind whistling outside, a lonely melody in the silence of the abandoned mansion. Two minutes passed. Five. Ten.
"What's happening? Why aren't I getting any of those memories?" The girl's voice, laced with frustration, echoed in the room. "Is there something wrong with this body?"
A shiver ran through her spine; her heart pounded against her ribs. She was stranded, alone, with no answers. But she was alive, and that was enough. At least for now.
Her stomach rumbled, a primal reminder of her hunger. She stumbled to the window and her gaze fell on a small orchard outside. Apples, plump and juicy, hung from the branches, a symphony of colors against the green .
Sweet! Looks like I'm not ultimately unlucky at all!
Her lips curved into a grin, a flicker of hope amidst her confusion. She rushed outside, her bare feet padding over the uneven ground. The backyard wasn't just an orchard. Rows of vibrant vegetables, glistening with morning dew, lined the pathways. Her eyes sparkled.
The girl devoured the apples with relish, stuffing a few into her satchel. Washing them down with water from a nearby stream, a thought came to mind. She could clean this house and make good use of it. Maybe there were other supplies she could use? But what if someone discovered her? What if she was arrested for trespassing?
She decided to clean the main room, the kitchen, and the bathroom, leaving the rest untouched. She found blankets and cushions in a large chest, settling into the softness of the bed. As her eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion of her journey winning over, she drifted off to sleep... only to wake up moments later.
"A-aaww, what the hell! Where am I?"
The words tumbled out in a panic-stricken whisper. She was back in the jungle; but where she had woken in ragged clothes, now she was stark naked, her body exposed to the harsh sunlight. She was utterly lost.
Was I sleepwalking?
She didn't know where the manor was, but she trusted her instincts. She started to rise, but a creak, a rustle just a few feet away, stopped her in her tracks. Fear gnawed at her stomach.
She dropped to the ground, her body flattened against the rough bark of a massive oak tree. Her senses were on high alert. She could smell them—two men, strong and sweaty, their scent heavy with the musk of the wilderness.
This is clearly strange, we haven't even hunted any animals yet!
This is not good! I only hunted a rabbit yesterday, it seems like the animals here are clearly scared.
The girl remained still, her face a blank canvas. She blended into the shadows, unseen, unheard. She imagined their reactions if they discovered her—shocked, confused, maybe even horrified by her appearance.
Run? Stay? Should she fight? Kill them before they saw her?
She didn't know what to do.
The men were just a few paces away when a small, plump squirrel appeared, scrambling up the tree and attempting to snatch nuts right in front of her face. She wanted to shoo it away but she didn't know if that would make the men suspicious.
"Sh*t!" The girl cursed, a deep, guttural sound that seemed to vibrate through the jungle. Her mind raced. She was clearly the unluckiest person in the world.
The men were closing in, their voices too close for comfort. "Whose there?!"
"Sht! Sht! What should I do now!?" Her composure shattered. The thought of being seen naked, helpless, brought a wave of terror. She could see it all unfold: being dragged into the shadows, a gruesome death, or, worse, violated.
As their steps grew closer, she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
Suddenly, a new voice cut through the tension. "What are you doing?"
A young boy, his hair a halo of golden spikes, his eyes bright and fierce, stood between her and the men. He appeared as if by magic.
"Young Master!"
"Nothing sir, we thought we heard something. It might have been just a small animal," one of the men stammered, his voice strained.
"Stop dilly-dallying! If you haven't hunted any animals let's leave immediately so we can arrive at the market. I need to meet my brother soon, or else the gate might be closed before I even arrived." The young man's voice was laced with impatience.
"Yes sir!" The men saluted, turning and disappearing into the foliage without a second glance.
The girl took her chance. She bolted, her bare feet hitting the earth, disappearing into the dense undergrowth. As she ran, she could feel the boy's eyes on her back.
The young master squinted, his gaze lingering on the spot where she had vanished. A faint smile curved his lips. He seemed to know something, a secret he held close. But no one could tell what it was.