As Mindy Chow's memories resurfaced, her thoughts went back twenty years.
The Miao village.
Back then, Mindy Chow, still in the bloom of youth, was not known as Mindy Chow but as Billie, the Saintess of the Miao village.
First thing the following morning, Billie was to be wedded, she was to become a wife, to become the spouse of Norbu Miao.
That night, she was restless, always unable to fall asleep.
The Miao village was unusually quiet that night, the usual critters had all shut their mouths.
"So annoying," Billie leaned on the railing, watching the moon in the sky and whispered.
She left the treehouse, wanting to clear her mind.
Guided by the moonlight, she walked along. Suddenly, Billie heard some noise from not far away, it sounded like human screams.
She lifted her head to look in the direction of the noise - it was coming from the snake cave, a forbidden area of the Miao people, where no one was allowed to enter.
"Why would there be human voices over there?