After her husband’s funeral, the stepmother left her mute stepdaughter to die in the forest swamp… But a year later, a surprise awaited everyone…

Aunt Emily packed her things into a big bag, including her documents. With each passing minute, Mary became more terrified. I’ll run away along the way, she decided to herself.

Her stepmother drove her out of the city, and they traveled through completely unfamiliar places. Mary had never been in this area before, and there weren’t many settlements along the way. The road had long become a dirt track, and then disappeared into dense thickets.

Trees closed in on her from both sides, as if peering at who dared to disturb their peace. Mary desperately needed to use the bathroom, and she attempted to convey this to her stepmother with inarticulate sounds. At first, her stepmother ignored her, but then, realizing that the cursed girl might ruin her seats, she stopped and forcibly pulled Mary out of the car.

«Well, go ahead. What are you waiting for? There’s no one here.» She pointed directly to the road, but Mary, shaking her head, nodded at the thick bushes.

«Oh, how shy we are,» the stepmother mockingly declared. «Fine, go into the bushes if you want to stick your butt out. I’ll stay here by the car.»

«Hurry up.» Mary, confirming that her stepmother had sat right on the road, crawled into the bushes. This is my chance, a crazy thought flashed through her mind.

She then ran as fast as she could into the depths of the forest, squeezing through branches and shrubs like a cornered deer. «You little wretch!» Her stepmother yelled in pursuit. But it was too late, and Mary gained a slight lead.

Besides, fear gave her speed, and she ran, and ran, and ran. Her stepmother’s voice grew fainter, staying somewhere behind, and then she lost her strength, collapsing face-first into the soft moss. This was what saved her.

By some miracle, she had run into the very center of a swamp without sinking into the quagmire, jumping from one island to another, which remained firm on the surface. A log knocked down in her haste had gone under, and by the time the gasping aunt reached the spot, the swamp had closed over her with a loud squelch. Her stepmother scrutinized the chain of tracks left by the fugitive, then looked at the place where something had gone under.

«She didn’t drown. That’s your way, you wretch.» She spat into the grass, scowling with anger, and went back towards the car.

Mary didn’t hear her words. She had lost consciousness. She woke up to find herself inexplicably wet.

The girl opened her eyes and nearly screamed in horror. The mound she lay on was slowly sinking into the swamp. Mary froze, afraid to move and provoke it further.

In class, they taught her that you should grab onto a branch or rely on a stick when stuck in the swamp. But there was neither of those here. I think I’m going to die now, she thought with a strange sense of relief.

Better that way than at the hands of her wicked stepmother. However, she didn’t want to give up hope, so she attempted to crawl away. Unfortunately, she immediately sank deeper into the muck.

Mary whimpered, struggling and smearing the sticky mud with her hands. Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the other side of the swamp, moving towards her. Two yellow eyes gleamed in the distance.

A wolf flashed through the girl’s mind. She was so frightened that she stopped waving her arms and prepared to drown. But the shaggy shadow, moving purposefully and breathing loudly, was already close.

Perhaps it’s a dog after all? Mary wondered. She didn’t have time to think, and she grabbed onto the animal’s fur. Her unexpected savior yelped and pulled her out, squirming in her grip…