Chapter 5

After a long walk, she saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel and mysteriously, the fireflies also disappeared.

Coming out of the tunnel, she was hit by the cold air. It was crisp and the smell of fallen red and brown leaves filled the air.  

The brown leaves covered the ground like a carpet. In a way, she felt at home with these. Strangely though, there was no sound of any insect or animals. Just silence!

But the cold air has also slowed down her mood and stopped her from looking for the way out. 

Brrrrrrrr! The cold air was getting to her. She rubbed her palms together hoping to create some warmth and folded her arms round her shivering body.

 She was so tired. Her steps are shorter, her movements slower and spirits lower!

Then a whiff of a familiar smell filled the air! The smell of thick smoke!  Following it, she came to a house! The thought of a nice warm house was enough for her to forget all her fears.

With an up-lifted spirit, she almost ran to the door and knocked on it – filled with hope that somebody kind would allow her in and give her relief from this cold and chilly air!

There was no answer. She knocked again, harder this time!

Out of desperation, she tried to open the door. Just at that moment, the door creaked open on its own! Without any hesitation, she entered.

Slowly, she crept in and immediately felt the comfort of the warm air in the house.

“Hello! Anyone in? Hello!” she shouted, hoping for an answer.

Still nobody answered.

She told herself that no matter what she must rest for a few hours.  She pulled a chair in front of the fire-place, sat down and appreciated the warmth that slowly swept her body. Ho nice and cozy, she told herself!

 After a while, she walked to the window and peeped outside. What beautiful scenery!

The autumn leaves were everywhere and soon the winter chill will turn this into a snow-land. She smiled at the thought of the fun she would have with her sister.

It’s only now that she realized that she had not eaten and was beginning to feel the hunger pang in her body! Going to the kitchen was no help as there was no food or anything to eat.

Then in one of the pots, she found a bar of chocolate. Her happiness was beyond description. As much as she wished she could have the owner’s permission, she had no choice but to take and eat. 

Unwrapping the chocolate, she silently thanked the owner.

The chocolate was a life saver to her. She didn’t want to finish all of it but instead kept half of it in her pocket should it be needed later on.

Next, she thought of warm clothing to protect her from the cold. She saw a wardrobe and started looking for warm clothing to wear during her journey to find her way home!

She indeed found something – a jacket and a fur scarf.

Excitedly, she tried it on and looked in the mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door. It was a nice brown sweater.

She thought that would keep her nice and warm. She wanted to make some adjustment to the sweater wrapping her body but the mirror also needed adjusting as it was too high.

Looking at the mirror, she thought to herself,

“What a funny shape! Why would anyone want a mirror in the shape of ice? “.

At that instant, she cut her finger on the ‘mirror’ which turned out to be actual ice. Her finger was bleeding and blood was dripping down on to the floor!!

At that moment, there was a flash of lights and the ‘mirror’ literally sucked Lessie into itself.

Poor Lessie didn’t know what hit her and fainted – more from shock than pain. All she knew was that she was spinning and spinning into a bottomless pit that was in the mirror. She could not understand how this could happen. !