13 years ago in Baiheng (白恒)
deep in the northern highlands of China, hidden beyond the last train station and forgotten roads, lies the village of baiheng a place where time feels frozen, and winter never ends.Only a some of families remain, their homes wrapped in wood and smoke, their lives quiet and unchanged.
In Baiheng, the snow never melts. The mountains guard it in silence. And on some nights, when the sky turns too still, the wind carries sounds no one dares to speak of.
snow outside was falling in soft, endless silence, coating every roof and tree in thick white layers. Inside their small wooden home, warmth flickered from a lantern hanging above the low table.
A little girl maybe five years old sat beside her father, cheeks pink from the cold, blowing gently on her rice to cool it.
Her mother laughed softly.
"Don't blow too hard, or it'll fly away."
Her father smiled, reaching to ruffle her hair.
"Let her. She's a snow fox already."
They sat close the child was feeling the warmth of her parents sharing food' wrapped in thick layers of wool. Beyond the wooden walls, the village was quiet.
Suddenly
The bowls on the table trembled.
A low rumble passed beneath them. At first, it was like someone had dropped something heavy outside. Then it deepened a sound that grew louder, more violent, until the floor shook beneath them.
Plates clattered. A lantern swung wildly overhead. From outside, distant screams. And something else — a sound like a roar, low and distorted, like metal tearing in the wind.
Her father's expression changed instantly.
"Stay here. I'll check
He grabbed his coat and opened the door. A gust of snow burst in. The door slammed shut behind him.
And he didn't came back
The girl clung to her mother's arm.
"Mama…?"
CRACK!
The window behind them shattered. Shards of glass rained onto the floor. they were no longer alone.
Figures stood in the snow not men there skin was pale and eyes like they didn't sleep for years Hidden in rags, holding iron and wood, their shadows taller than they should be. They weren't running. They were waiting.
Her mother didn't speak. Her arms moved before her mouth did
She grabbed the child. Cold wind rushed in. They ran
But the girl wasn't fast the snow was to deep
Behind them, footsteps. Closer. Heavier.
Her mother stopped. Not tripped. Not stumbled. Stopped.
She turned and looked at her daughter, face still gentle but eyes full of something final.
She said nothing. Not a scream. Not a goodbye.
Just placed her hand on the girl's back and pushed her forward firmly like it was the last thing she'd ever do.
And it was....
The girl ran until the world blurred into white. She ran until her legs gave out and she collapsed against a door not even knowing where she was.
The door opened. The light went out. And everything was gone.