Chapter One — Citta Miasto
XIANDRA curiously peeked outside the carriage she was riding in when it suddenly came to a stop. The only thing that greeted her sight was a wooden sign with the words "CITTA MIASTO" engraved on it. However, instead of a town, all she could see was a vast expanse of forest stretching before her.
"Why did we stop?" she asked the coachman with concern.
The coachman checked his watch—an action Xiandra imitated. It was only a little past five in the afternoon.
"This is as far as I can take you, miss."
She frowned. "Excuse me? But—wait, sir!"
She was forced to step down from the carriage when she saw the coachman unloading her belongings.
She couldn't understand why he was dropping her off there. She had even paid double to ensure she would be taken all the way to the town.
"W-Wait a moment. We agreed you'd take me to the town, didn't we?"
Instead of answering, the coachman took out the payment she had given him and returned it to her hands.
"Yes." he said hastily before climbing back onto the carriage. "But this is the entrance to the town. And I cannot take you further. Please, be safe. "
"Wait, sir!"
Xiandra was unable to stop the old man from leaving. Disheartened, she could only watch as the carriage disappeared into the distance. Whatever his reason was, there was nothing she could do now.
She let out a deep sigh and surveyed her surroundings. Aside from the dry leaves scattered along the roadside, all she could see were towering trees and tall grass. The only sounds she could hear were the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of the wind.
Xiandra had no other choice. She focused her attention on the narrow path leading to the town of Citta Miasto.
She was a teacher who offered free education to children in remote areas. The joy of sharing knowledge without expecting anything in return was enough for her. However, due to Mrs. Lopez's request, she had agreed to temporarily replace her as an instructor at a university in Citta Miasto.
This wasn't the first time she had traveled to a secluded place, but as she stared at the path leading to Citta Miasto, she couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. The trees and grass along the way were so overgrown that it looked as though she was about to enter a dense jungle. The air grew even colder as the wind brushed against her skin.
"Was the road really so frightening that the coachman would rather leave me here alone?" she muttered to herself.
Carrying her luggage, she mustered her courage and walked along the rocky path. She needed to hurry before nightfall.
"If I were you, I wouldn't go any further."
Xiandra flinched as an old man suddenly appeared in her path. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to have come from Citta Miasto—leaning on a wooden staff, wearing tattered and dirty clothes, and barefoot. His long white hair and beard added to his weathered look, and he carried a large woven basket.
"Excuse me?"
"It's dangerous." That was all he said before walking past her and continuing on his way.
Confused, Xiandra could only watch him go before resuming her journey.
She found herself wondering.
"If that old man came from Citta Miasto, then he must know what time I'll arrive there."
Before she missed the chance, she turned back to look for him. But in an instant, Xiandra felt the blood drain from her face, and her heart nearly dropped to the ground when she saw nothing—no trace of the old man on the road. He had vanished before her eyes.
"W-Where did he go???" She couldn't believe what she had just seen.
She quickened her pace, almost running down the path. Cold sweat trickled down her spine from the eerie encounter, and the chilling wind brushing against her skin only made it worse.
***
Citta Miasto
Xiandra reached the town just as dusk settled.
In a hurry, she pushed open the iron gates and stepped inside. Large houses greeted her sight—quite different from the hidden villages she had visited before.
A chill ran down her spine as the cold wind embraced her. The entire town was eerily silent. She noticed that there wasn't a single person wandering the streets. She glanced at her watch—ten minutes before six, yet it seemed like everyone had already retreated indoors. Not even a stray dog or cat was in sight.
"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed in shock when a woman suddenly appeared in front of her, holding an unlit lantern that she raised close to Xiandra's face.
"You're an outsider," the woman said.
Judging by her appearance, she was likely in her sixties.
Xiandra straightened her posture. "G-Good evening," she greeted, but the old woman's expression remained stern.
"Nothing is good about this evening," she replied. "Come, follow me."
With that, she turned her back on Xiandra.
Xiandra hesitated, watching her go. She was a complete stranger—should she trust her?
The woman seemed to notice her hesitation. "Are you coming, or would you rather sleep outside?" she asked gruffly.
"Ah, w-where are we going?" Xiandra asked, still unsure.
The woman pointed at a nearby house, standing beside a small park. It looked old, but it still stood tall with pride.
"To my boarding house," the woman replied before walking ahead.
Xiandra let out a breath of relief. She shook her head at herself, realizing that her earlier suspicions had been unnecessary.
"Don't trouble yourself over how quiet our town is," the woman said once they were inside. "The people here have made it a habit to stay indoors before six o'clock."
"Ah, that explains it."
They were now making their way through the dark hallway on the second floor of the house. The only light guiding them was the dim glow from the old woman's lantern.
The house itself was also eerily silent. The creaking floorboards and their soft footsteps were the only sounds in the air, as if making noise at this hour would bring an unknown consequence.
Carrying her luggage, Xiandra carefully followed the elderly woman. She struggled to keep up, weighed down by her bags, especially with the slow pace of the old woman. Because of this, she accidentally bumped into a small table positioned at the hallway's side.
"I live alone here, so I never bothered to install lights in the hallway," the woman remarked.
"Aren't there other tenants?" Xiandra asked.
"Just you," the woman replied before stopping in front of a door at the end of the hallway. She sighed deeply before speaking again. "It has been years since the first and only tenant never returned." She looked straight at Xiandra. "Good thing I found you outside. And now..." She turned the doorknob. "This room is yours."
She pushed the door open.
"A-Are you saying… I'm only the second tenant to ever stay here?" Xiandra asked, stunned by what she heard.
The old woman simply nodded.
"My room is downstairs. Just call me if you need anything," she said, handing over the key before walking away.
"Thank you, Lady," Xiandra called after her.
She was truly grateful that it was the old woman who found her outside. At least now, she had a place to stay for the night.
She let out a deep sigh before stepping inside the room.