Her heart was hammering loudly,hands shaking uncontrollably. Simply holding the object was difficult. Tightening the grip on the handle,the girl took a deep breath to get focused.

This is my only chance.

She stabbed the beast's enormous back, retreating upon hearing his last cry. Her ears were covered yet that extremely agonizing sound pierced her mind making her black out. 

Consciousness slowly returned to her who rose a bit dizzy. Supporting her hand on the cave's wall,her gray eyes observed the lifeless monster.

I did it... I'm free.

Tears blurred her vision,a weak smile on her lips. The first since she had been chosen to be Hanlin's bride,in other words, a sacrifice to keep the other villagers safe.

Retracting the dagger,she cleaned the blade and stashed it again. When she was about to leave,a sparkling item caught her attention. It was a beautiful red necklace.

Somehow,she felt the need to take it with her. It was the only human-like thing she would see for a while,after all the forest was very dense,due to being brought blindfolded by the monster she had no clue how to escape it.

Outside of what felt like her grave,she couldn't help but breathe more easily. A small red fox came out of the nearby bushes,heading to the cave.

"Where is the hanlin?" He asked angrily.

"Follow me." She guided him to where the corpse was and the little fox went pale. 

"I'm sorry,was he your friend?"

"Ha,He stole my true form and enslaved me! He was my enemy." His amber eyes flamed in the darkness.

"How did he steal a form ?" Questioned skeptically.

"Easy,it's contained in a crimson amulet. Like the one you-" he realized that what she was holding was his " How did you get it?!" 

"I stabbed him in his sleep,then took it." She rubbed her face.

"...You're hard-hearted." Commented disconcerted.

"He was going to fatten me and eat me up,how am I the heartless one?" She said with contempt. 

"Whatever,will you give me the amulet or not?" 

"I will, if you get me out of this forest." 

"Lady, I'm the fox here." He rolled his eyes "You think I'm going to believe you won't keep me as your slave?" 

"What guarantee I have that you won't cast me aside once you retrieve it?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Why should I care about a random stranger?" The fox implied callously.

"See? I can't trust you as well." She crossed her arms.