The stinging words of her parents echoed in Suki's ears, their faces twisted with anger. "An 'A'? Just an 'A'?" her father bellowed, his hand coming down hard across her cheek. "How many times do we have to tell you that only perfection is acceptable?" Her mother’s voice, sharp and cold, cut through the air. "You're a disgrace," she hissed, raising her hand for another blow.

The emotional torment outweighed the physical pain. Tears welled in Suki’s eyes as she fled, her thin shirt and long skirt offering little protection against the cold.

She ran through the snow-covered forest, branches clawing at her. The chill seeped through her clothes, but desperation drove her on. She didn't stop until she reached the heart of the western mountains. She glanced back at her village, now distant, before collapsing and darkness overtook her.

When she awoke, she felt warmth. A fire crackled nearby, casting shadows on the cave walls. She lay on a bed of furs. As her vision cleared, she realized she was in the demon's cave of the western mountains.

"No... this can't be," she whispered, trembling. She looked around, expecting a monster. But there was only the fire and silence. "I can't go back," she murmured, terrified more by her parents than the demon. "Anything is better than that hell."

She immediately wanted to take her words back as she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from deeper within the cave. Fear gripped her, and she tried to sit up, but her body was still weak from the cold and exhaustion. She managed to prop herself up on one elbow, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who's there?" she called out, her tone a mix of dread and defiance, even as her limbs trembled and her vision swam. The footsteps drew closer, and she braced herself for whatever fate awaited her in the demon's lair.