7. Decided to Leave

With all her might, Amber threw the sweater at Mister Cold.

“Here … I return yours. Sorry if I ruined a day in your life. You don't have to think about the loss I caused. I'll definitely pay for it later,” the woman explained in a firm tone, even though her vocal cords were still wrapped in annoyance.

"From now on, I won't disturb you anymore. Be happy with your solitude in this cottage."

A second later, Amber came out and closed the door. No more sound was heard after her departure. Mister Cold also kept silence. The knife in his hand no longer moved to cut the pine needles. After one heavy breath, he looked at the sweater that was stuck on his shoulder.

"She decided to leave?" the man thought, blinking slowly. "Good. That way, I won't have to think how to make her miserable anymore."

With an even expression, Mister Cold stepped into the bedroom. When he got there, he opened the red box and tucked the white sweater inside. Roughly, the man threw it at the bottom of the wardrobe.

"You shouldn't have come out of there," he muttered before slamming the door and walking out.

As if nothing had happened, Mr. Cold continued to cut the pine needles in the kitchen. The gloomy look in his eyes was hard to tell. Did the man think about the tea he would brew? The serenity he had longed for over the past 24 hours? Or the fate of the woman who had just left his cottage? No one could know before the man lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"What have I done?" he regretted while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Whatever she did, she's still a human."

After snorting, Mr. Cold reached for his coat and the flashlight. A moment later, he had walked through the snow towards the road. The man had absolutely no idea that Amber was taking a different direction.

***

“Did I choose the wrong path?” the woman in the white coat murmured as she wiped her red nose. Instead of finding a house, she arrived at the edge of a vast frozen lake. “Should I go back to that cottage?”

While thinking, Amber looked up at the sky. Green light was dancing among the stars. However, instead of smiling, she let out a faint sigh.

“Or maybe … this is my last night alive? Is that why God shows me such a beautiful sight?”

While hugging herself tighter, Amber lowered her gaze. A moment later, her eyes fell on the small lamp on the other side of the lake.

"Wait! What's that?"

Squinting, the woman tilted her head. The light she saw seemed to be moving. In an instant, a sigh of relief turned into thin steam in the air.

“It must be a good person who will save me! Thank God!"

Without thinking, Amber started to run through the snow on the lake. "Hey!" she shouted while waving. The woman wanted to talk more, but her energy was limited. Afraid to miss the opportunity, the woman quickened her pace.

Getting too excited, Amber no longer noticed the way. The woman didn't realize that in front of her, the snow had suddenly disappeared and the surface of the lake was only covered with a thin layer of ice. As soon as she stepped on it, a cracking sound was heard. A second later, Amber plunged into the very cold water.

"Oh no!" the woman thought frantically. While moving her body, she tried to find a foothold. However, the bottom of the lake was below her feet.

“No,” Amber sighed while stretching her arm to the edge of the ice pool. Unfortunately, the cold had frozen the muscles. Her shaking hands couldn't reach the nearest layer of ice.

"Oh my God, why did this have to happen to me?" the woman thought as she tried to swim. "I'm not ready to die yet."

After a while, she didn't move forward either. Her wet coat was too heavy to carry.

“Help,” Amber whispered, unable to scream. Her blue lips were difficult to move and water occasionally entered her mouth.

Seconds later, the woman's movements weakened. Amber had run out of energy. Her head was getting less and less out for air. Until at one point, she began to go down to the bottom of the lake.

Seeing the woman no longer appeared on the surface, Mister Cold sped up his pace. When he was about to arrive, he quickly bit the flashlight and dropped his coat. Then, deftly, the man grabbed the hand that was still within his reach. With just one move, he managed to pull the woman out of the ice pool.

"Amber? Amber!” he called while patting her cheek.

Not getting an answer, Mr. Cold put his ear to Amber's nose. The woman was no longer breathing.

"Damn!"

Without a second thought, the man gave her the rescue breathing. Luckily, Amber then coughed. Mister Cold spontaneously tilted her head.

“Ah, thank goodness,” the savior sighed subconsciously. Gently, he rubbed the woman's back.

After expelling the water from her lungs, Amber tried to catch her breath. Panting heavily, she lay back down with eyes closed. The heavy head and shivering body made her helpless. The woman remained motionless until suddenly, a warm hand cupped her cheek.

"You have hypothermia. I have to take off your coat again.”

Hearing that explanation, Amber opened her eyes. However, before she could answer, Mr. Cold had already unzipped her coat.

"No," Amber sighed, furrowing her brows. She wanted to block the man's hand. However, her power was still limited.

"Don’t worry! It's dark. I can't see anything," the man lied, trying to avoid an argument.

Too weak to fight, Amber gave up. When Mister Cold put his coat on her body, she just bowed. Even, when the man carried her, she shut her mouth.

"I'll get your coat tomorrow morning. It won't go away," Mister Cold explained between rumbling breaths. A second later, he focused on finding the track with the least snow.

Once lowered to the floor, Amber immediately curled up against the wood heater. Even though the temperature inside the cottage was much warmer, she was still shaking.

"Are you okay?" the man asked as he added wood to the fire.

"Yes," Amber answered curtly.

In disbelief, Mr. Cold checked the woman's condition himself. As soon as he touched the snow-cold skin, he rushed to undress. "Don’t take it wrong! I just want to warm you up."

"No," Amber interrupted, gripping the coat wrapped around her. "I don't need your help."

Ignoring the refusal, the man pulled the blanket off the couch and lay on his side too. "Come here," he whispered, moving closer.

"I said, I don't need your help!" Amber rebuked in a hoarse voice. Her dim eyes looked so cold and piercing. "I promised not to disturb you anymore. So, take care of yourself. I'll just sleep in silence."

Hearing that poignant voice, Mister Cold held his breath. For the first time in two years, his heart was filled with huge guilt.

"And you don't have to worry about my presence. When I wake up, I will immediately leave this cottage. I won't disturb anything in your house."

After wiping the tears flowing down her temples, Amber closed her eyes and hugged herself tighter. Although her lungs were still churning, she held her breath as best she could so as not to make any noise.

Seeing the woman's determination, Mr. Cold gulped. After a moment of contemplation, he finally stepped aside and put his clothes back on. From his sleeping couch, the man noticed the back that kept shaking. He didn't dare close his eyes if Amber hadn't stopped shivering. The owner of the cottage realized that the woman’s misfortune was the result of his selfishness.