I'm very happy to announce that I have found a beta reader for this story: Mominator124. Thank you very much for taking your time to beta read the chapters!

She resembled her.

-E

"Ha," Hanna's laughter echoed through the eerie stillness of the surroundings. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before her. Standing as if rooted to the spot, she found herself next to the man clothed in complete black, his silent gaze fixed upon her.

Suddenly, an instinctive impulse compelled her to turn away from him, and with a sense of urgency, she retrieved her smartphone from her pants pocket, her fingers trembling with panic. "Stay calm," she murmured under her breath, seeking to reassure herself as she powered on the device.

Hanna shielded the phone from prying eyes, leaning against the cold, rough wall behind her. The morning breeze played mischievously with her hair, partially obscuring her view, and she huddled her shoulders closer to herself, trying to ward off the chill.

Yet, panic continued to coil within her like a serpent, causing her to bite nervously on her finger as the screen flickered to life. A sigh of relief, tinged with tension, escaped her lips. Her smartphone had survived the ordeal, although remnants of dark blotches marred the screen.

Now, she had to call for help, right? With trembling fingers, she navigated to the emergency number and held the phone close to her ear, ensuring it remained inconspicuous to any onlookers.

An oppressive weight settled in her chest, the pressure nearly unbearable, as her thoughts tumbled and churned like a tempestuous sea.

She waited.

Seconds stretched into interminable moments, but there was only silence on the other end of the line. Her heart sank, crushed by the realization that she couldn't establish a connection. In a desperate attempt, she delved into the settings, searching for an alternative network, hoping that her lack of signal was merely a product of roaming woes.

A desperate sob tore through her lips, her voice breaking, as she once again received no response.

In that moment, the desire to scream, to escape this nightmarish reality, consumed her. She yearned to wake up, safely at home, free from the clutches of this malevolent dream.

Her legs, once steady and strong, betrayed her, buckling under the weight of her emotions. She collapsed to her knees, the unforgiving pavement causing her pain, a stark reminder of her vulnerability. Her smartphone, once a lifeline, now felt like a cruel reminder of her isolation.

But then, like a glimmer of compassion in the darkness, she felt something being draped over her shoulders. His coat. The enigmatic man had wrapped his coat around her, providing a comforting shield against the biting wind. With tears pooling in her eyes, she looked up at him, his eyes hidden behind the enigmatic mask, yet emanating an aura of calm and patience.

With a graceful, fluid gesture, he retrieved something from beneath his frock coat, and the sound of clinking coins resonated in the air. As the metallic discs settled at her feet, her mouth fell open in astonishment. Never in her life had she been treated with such condescension! Anger surged within her, and she glared at him, her eyes ablaze with indignation. However, he paid her no heed, not even sparing her a single glance, as he turned away and melted into the shrouds of darkness.

In that moment, Hanna felt a profound mix of emotions – anger, fear, confusion, and a lingering sense of mystery. The coins on the ground served as a bitter reminder of an encounter that left her feeling small and helpless in a world that now seemed unsettling and unfamiliar.

"Hey!" she called out desperately as he disappeared behind the door, and she quickly gathered herself from the ground. The sense of urgency and fear gripped her heart as she couldn't bear the thought of being left alone in this unfamiliar place.

With trembling hands, Hanna clung tightly to the cold, hard iron bars, trying to prevent him from leaving her behind. "Don't leave me here all by myself!" she pleaded, her voice echoing in the darkness, but there was no response, only silence.

The darkness enveloped the man completely, and Hanna felt a mix of emotions coursing through her. Betrayal gnawed at her, wondering how he could abandon her in such a strange and eerie place. She tried to reason with herself, hoping he had a good reason, but the feeling of being forsaken was overwhelming.

The door was now locked, and there seemed to be no way for her to follow him. The realization of being trapped sank in, and she felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She glanced around, hoping to find another way out, but the surroundings were unfamiliar and unsettling.

Tears streamed down her face as she took a few steps back, still hoping he would return for her. Time seemed to stretch on forever as she anxiously waited, but there was no sign of him. The disappointment and fear were almost unbearable.

Finally, she turned her attention to the coins scattered on the ground. Hanna mustered up the courage to brave the judgmental stares from passersby as she collected the coins. She pulled her coat closer around herself and clutched the coins tightly as she pushed through the crowd.

Every step she took felt heavy, and the world seemed to move in slow motion. Uncertainty clouded her mind as she wondered how she would find her way back or if she ever could.

With an empty gaze, she sat on a weathered park bench in the serene ambiance of jardin du Palais Royale. An abandoned piece of bread lay, partially bitten, in her trembling hands, and the evening light gently faded away. Time had lost its meaning as she couldn't recall how long she had been sitting there, nor could she count the number of times tears had cascaded down her cheeks. Her thoughts were a chaotic whirlpool, making it nearly impossible to find a semblance of clarity.

The man had given her a few centimes. It was just enough to purchase some bread and the latest issue of le Petit Journal. Now, the crumpled newspaper rested on the ground, serving as a cruel reminder of her current situation. She didn't want to believe it, couldn't come to terms with the reality that everything dear to her had vanished in the blink of an eye.

No amount of preparation could have readied her for the overwhelming surge of emotions she experienced at that moment. Traveling back in time had once been a whimsical daydream, a fleeting thought of touching a stone and ending up in the embrace of a passionate Highlander. But those were mere fantasies, never meant to be real. And yet, here she was, stranded in an era where she had nothing – a time when women were regarded as second-class citizens, where they had to resort to backbreaking labor for a few measly francs, barely enough to survive.

Feeling utterly useless in this foreign time, she questioned her existence. Handiwork? Her? She knew she wouldn't last two days. The thought of where to go next consumed her, but the paltry 10 centimes in her possession couldn't even secure her a roof over her head. The stares and harsh judgments expressed in French she received from passersby, sent shivers down her spine.

Hanna stood up, wrapping her coat tightly around her as she aimlessly wandered through the garden. Where should she go now? The streets were no place for her to stay. She needed to find a solution before darkness descended upon the city. Her thoughts constantly drifted back to the man who had brought her here, the only person she knew, even though the term "know" hardly seemed accurate.

She didn't even know his name! Despite his betrayal, she couldn't deny that he had helped her too. Hanna shook her head vigorously, trying to expel those wretched thoughts from her mind. Pessimism threatened to engulf her, but she refused to let it take hold.

In her current predicament, he was the only one who could assist her. Here on the streets, she was doomed to suffer. She possessed nothing and could barely grasp the meaning of the French words spoken around her. The weight of the recent Franco-Prussian war hung heavily on her heart, making it even harder to adjust as a German in Paris, and she yearned to vent her frustration with a loud cry.

"What have I done to deserve this, God?" she whimpered to herself. It seemed like a never-ending cycle of misfortune, a relentless series of hardships.

She had to return to him, find a way through that door, whatever it took. She racked her brain, recalling scenes from movies where people used wire or picks to open locks. With newfound determination, Hanna set out to find a goldsmith or a locksmith. It took several failed attempts and being chased away from stores before she finally emerged with two picks, having spent her last centimes.

This was her last chance.

Exhausted, Hanna nibbled on the remaining piece of bread as she made her way back to the opulent building. The journey back was long, for the surroundings were so unfamiliar that she lost all sense of direction in her pursuit of a locksmith.

By the time she reached the building, darkness had settled in. Yet, with unwavering hope, Hanna approached the door and set to work with the picks. Minutes ticked by, and impatience gnawed at her as the lock remained stubbornly closed. She had to get inside, no matter the cost.

In a fit of frustration, she kicked the door with one foot, yelping in pain as she tumbled to the ground. Massaging her foot, she glared at the gate. "You won't get rid of me so easily," she hissed, resuming her efforts on the lock.

Moments dragged on as Hanna fumbled with the lock on the door... and then, with a satisfying click, it opened. Her heart swelled with triumph, and she wanted to cheer out loud. She had done it. Stepping through the door, she lowered herself to the ground, overcome with exhaustion.

Her breath came heavy, and her throat felt parched. She recalled that only a few days ago, she had been lying sick in bed, desperate to return home where she could recover. Yet, now she found herself trapped here, her forehead slick with cold sweat. She hoped it wasn't a sign of relapse, but merely the remnants of her previous illness.

As her breathing steadied, Hanna pulled herself back up and switched on the flashlight on her smartphone, using it to navigate through the dark passageway. The further she walked, the more suffocating and humid the air became. Silence enveloped her, and only the echo of her footsteps accompanied her journey.

With each step, the chill in the air seeped into her bones, and Hanna began to shiver. She was left alone with her thoughts, and as time passed, her mind descended into a darker realm. She walked for what felt like an eternity, taking several breaks along the way until she noticed a shadow in the distance.

Hope blossomed inside her that she had finally encountered the man she had been searching for. But in an instant, the shadow pounced upon her, extinguishing any joy she felt. She was pressed forcefully against the cold stone wall, her smartphone slipping from her hand and plunging the tunnel into complete darkness. A startled cry escaped Hanna's lips. This wasn't the man!

Her cry was silenced by a cold hand. She struggled, flailing her arms in vain, desperately hoping to strike the shadow that held her captive. Summoning all her strength, she bit down hard on the hand, tasting the metallic tang on her tongue before the shadow, taken aback, momentarily loosened its grip.

Seizing the opportunity, Hanna drove her elbow into the shadow's ribs, attempting to break free. But she was too slow. The shadow quickly recovered from the surprise and impulsively pushed her to the ground.

Her head collided with the unforgiving surface, and a searing pain surged through her skull, causing the world around her to blur into a dizzying array of colors and shapes.

She lay there, immobile, on the frigid floor, a profound sense of disorientation washing over her. It felt as though time had paused, and in that suspended moment, twinkling lights resembling a starry night sky danced before her eyes. Each flicker seemed to mirror the pain pulsating through her head.

Attempting to move proved futile, her body felt leaden, as if anchored to the ground. Each time she tried to rise, a wave of nausea engulfed her, thwarting her efforts. A deep sigh escaped her lips, followed by a pained groan, as she instinctively reached for her throbbing head, hoping to alleviate some of the agony.

When she opened her eyes, she flinched together when two radiant golden eyes hovered above her face. In the darkness, those eyes seemed to be the only source of light as he stared at her and then abruptly turned away.

Hanna's heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself up from the cold, hard ground, using her arms for support. The throbbing ache at the back of her head intensified, causing her to let out a pained groan. In the darkness that enveloped her, she desperately searched for any sign of those golden eyes she had encountered before. "The shadow?" she dared to inquire, her voice barely above a whisper. It dawned upon her that it could very well have been him who had callously dragged her to the ground, her intuition told her that such an act would be well within his capabilities.

"Taken care of," he retorted coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion, sending shivers down her spine.

Her fingers fumbled anxiously in the darkness, seeking her smartphone, which must have been somewhere nearby. She yearned for the comfort of its light, a beacon of safety amidst the oppressive obscurity.

"Why are you here, Hanna?" the haunting voice whispered, its breath brushing against her left ear. Startled, she jerked her head to the side, only to feel his presence seemingly inches away. The question repeated itself, echoing like a haunting refrain, now behind her, then in front of her, making her imagine the chilling sensation of his cold breath on her exposed neck.

"Where are you?" she implored, extending her trembling hand into the empty air, as if trying to grasp a wisp of smoke. But her futile attempt only drew a sinister laugh from the shadowy figure, a laugh that echoed with mockery and sent a chill down her spine. She instinctively covered her ears, trying to block out the tormenting sound that seemed to pierce her very soul.

"I don't know where to go," she finally managed to stammer amidst the haunting laughter. The laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by a bone chilling touch that trailed down her chin. A shiver of dread coursed through her as she felt the icy sensation on her skin. Instinctively, her hands shot up to her throat, an instinctual reaction to protect herself from an unseen threat.

His laughter resumed, reverberating in the air like an ominous symphony. "Oh, Hanna," he sighed, his voice close behind her, laden with an unsettling mix of amusement and disdain. "A fool! A fool is what you take me for" The grip of his bony fingers tightened around her shoulders, sending jolts of pain through her body. "You were desperate to escape from me, even if it meant embracing death itself."

A tremor of fear ran through her, but she refused to let her vulnerability show. The darkness seemed to magnify his malevolence, and her resolve wavered, unable to see her adversary. "But can I blame you? I am a flesh failure, a living cadaver, unflinching in the face of any act of violence," he whispered into her ear.

The hold on her shoulders loosened, and she slumped forward, her arms struggling to support her trembling form. Cold sweat formed on her brow, her mind echoing with the haunting words of the man. In the suffocating darkness, she felt as though she was teetering on the edge of a nightmare, one from which there might be no escape.

"Leave this wretched place, for it holds nothing but sorrow and despair," his voice echoed ominously in the dark.

A chilling wind swept through the desolate surroundings, sending shivers down Hanna's spine. "Go back to where you belong," she heard a distant whisper. The weight of his words was like an iron grip on her soul, causing her fingernails to embed deeply into her trembling palms. Oh, if only she could! Tears brimmed in her eyes, reflecting the turmoil within her.

Quietness closed in around her, as he left her alone again and she felt panic rising again. She was afraid of him. But the fear of being all alone in a foreign world was greater.

Hanna reached for the smartphone that should be somewhere lying on this cold floor. As her trembling fingers found the device, she let out a relieved breath, grateful for the fleeting semblance of light.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she dared to glance next to her. She let out a shriek. There was an unconscious man, slumped against the frigid stone wall, his vulnerable form a stark contrast to the imposing shadow he had projected. A mixture of relief and confusion washed over her, realizing that this shadow that attacked her wasn't the man with the golden eyes.

Her head snapped in the direction where that mysterious man had vanished, the one who had tried to instill fear in her with all his might. Yet, paradoxically, he had also saved her.

The warning echoed in her mind, urging her to be cautious and heed the man's advice. But a sense of determination surged within her—she couldn't remain idle and vulnerable. In this unfamiliar time, there were also other people who wouldn't hesitate to harm her.

She looked down at the unconscious man and gave him one last nudge of his leg before slowly moving in the direction where the eerie man had disappeared.

The pain at the back of her head was a relentless throbbing that seemed to drown out all other sensations. All Hanna wanted was to escape from this eerie place and find her way back to the comforting embrace of the house by the lake. However, the path ahead felt interminable, every step an arduous struggle against her own trembling legs.

Several times, she had to lean on the cold, unforgiving walls to steady herself. Her vision became increasingly blurred, as if the very world around her were melting into an abstract canvas of shadows and shapes. Her body felt heavy, every movement accompanied by a symphony of aching muscles and joints screaming in protest.

In a trance like state, Hanna placed one foot before the other, her mind clouded with both fear and exhaustion. Her body moved mechanically, as if guided solely by an instinctual urge to survive, while her thoughts seemed to drift aimlessly in the vast expanse of confusion and disorientation.

Suddenly, her foot found no ground beneath it, and she let out a startled cry as she plummeted into a deep hole. The impact sent a searing pain through her body, causing her to crumple forward, her hands instinctively reaching for her throbbing head. She let out another cry, this time louder, as she fought to overcome the agony that enveloped her.

For how long she remained unconscious in the dark abyss, she couldn't tell. When she finally regained awareness, her face was half-submerged in a cold puddle, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Her eyelids fluttered against the glare of her smartphone's light that somehow managed to shine through the darkness.

Weakly, she called out for help, her voice barely a whisper in the desolate surroundings. She felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and fear, combined with a bone-chilling coldness that seemed to seep into her very soul.

As her strength waned, she repeatedly lost consciousness, drifting in and out of awareness, each time feeling more detached from reality. Eventually, the light from her smartphone faded away, leaving her in absolute darkness.

Hanna's tears mingled with the cold water of the puddle, her body trembling uncontrollably from a chilling combination of fear and cold. She knew she was alone, abandoned in this desolate pit, with no one to hear her cries, no one to come to her rescue.

She lay there, her mind haunted by thoughts of hopelessness, knowing that she might never escape this forsaken place. The minutes felt like an eternity, and Hanna's hope of being found gradually dissipated, leaving her in a bleak state of resignation.

In the midst of the oppressive darkness, she surrendered to her fate, feeling that she would slowly wither away, her existence fading into the oblivion of this unknown realm, a place where she would remain forever lost, unseen, and forgotten.

"Now look at you," a taunting voice echoed above her, dripping with scorn and derision. "See what you got yourself into." Hanna's heart raced as she recognized the voice.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice barely audible, a mere whisper carried away by the darkness that enveloped her. "I don't want to die."

Time seemed to stand still as she waited for a response, her mind filled with dread and despair. Then, as if in response to her desperate plea, she felt the touch of a cool hand gently resting on her forehead. She let out a trembling sigh, momentarily comforted by the unexpected act of tenderness in this nightmarish situation. Her eyes closed involuntarily, seeking solace in the darkness behind her eyelids.

As the hand retreated, she felt herself being lifted with a painful gentleness. A stifled whimper escaped her lips as her body protested every movement, the pain in her head becoming excruciating with each passing second. The world around her swirled in a chaotic dance, blurring her vision and disorienting her senses.

"I'll do anything," she managed to mumble through the haze of agony, her speech slurred. In that desperate moment, she would have made any promise, bargained any deal, if only to find relief from the torment and regain sensation in her numbed limbs.

"Anything," she repeated, her voice quivering with both desperation and resignation. Her plea hung in the air, like a fragile thread of hope clinging to the darkness.

An eerie silence followed, broken only by the sound of her labored breathing and the distant echoes of her own voice. Hanna's heart raced as she feared being left alone again, abandoned in this forsaken place to face an uncertain fate.

"Please, don't leave me here…" she began to murmur, her words cut short by a painful cough that racked her body. Sharp pangs of agony shot through her, as if each cough was a reminder of her frailty and vulnerability.

"…here alone," she managed to gasp, her voice a mix of desperation and resignation. Hot tears streamed down her face, mingling with the cold dampness of her surroundings.

"I don't know where to go," she whispered, her words trembling with the weight of exhaustion and fear. The hands that carried her clenched tightly, as if grappling with a decision that carried immense consequence.

"Anything?" he echoed, his voice almost taking on a hint of hope, as if he were a child being offered a surprise trip to an amusement park.

Dear readers, a lot of time goes into creating a new chapter's post (around 5 hours, including translating and beta reading and adjusting!), which is why your feedback, no matter how small, is very important to me. Your reviews are motivation for me to post chapters earlier as well ;)