The village was unnervingly silent. It wasn't the peaceful kind of quiet, but the kind that made the air feel heavy, as if something unseen was watching. Lucian walked through the dimly lit streets, his eyes scanning the worn-down houses and flickering lanterns. The few villagers they passed kept their heads down, whispering amongst themselves, their fear palpable.
"Something's off," Lucian muttered under his breath.
The girl beside him—his temporary partner from the guild—nodded slightly. "They're scared of something. And I doubt it's just a simple monster."
The two had arrived just before sunset, taking the mission under the assumption that some rogue beast had been attacking the village at night. Yet, there were no signs of struggle. No claw marks on the walls. No scattered remains. Just people who vanished without a trace.
Lucian approached an older man sitting on his porch, his gaze lost in the distance. "Excuse me, sir. We're here to investigate the disappearances. Could you tell us anything?"
The man flinched at the question, his fingers tightening around the wooden cane in his lap. "Leave," he said hoarsely.
Lucian narrowed his eyes. "You know something."
The man exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. If I speak, I'll be next. Just go while you still can."
A chill ran down Lucian's spine, but he didn't press further. Fear this deeply rooted wasn't something that could be overcome with a simple conversation.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the streets emptied. Doors shut. Windows locked. The village prepared for another night of silent terror.
Lucian and his partner stood at the village square, waiting. Watching. The wind howled softly through the empty roads.
Then, the first scream tore through the night.