Chapter IX:

This town is eerily town. I don’t think that is normal. Bu what can I do? I don’t have anywhere else to go. The men in carriage and I didn’t talk much. I noticed them whispering and looking at me. I don’t like this at all. They can’t be trying to rob me. I don’t have much on me anyway. One of them asked where I was headed. I said that I didn’t know. I really don’t know. I just figured I would get into town and get something to eat.

That wasn’t the only problem I had.

Who attacked my family? Why were we targeted? Who was that girl at the party? I rubbed my forehead. I should probably get some sleep too. I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. I hadn’t slept all day. The hooves and wheels eased me right to sleep.

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I woke up in town. There was no one on the street. Some of the buildings didn’t even have lights on. I looked around the carriage. The two men had already left. Huh? What’s going on?

“Oh, you’re awake,” I heard from outside. I turned my head. The driver stood looking at me. I sat blinking for a moment.

“Huh? Where are we?” I asked.

“The pub,” he said. I narrowed my eyes as I looked out of the carriage.

“Why are we here?” I asked. The driver had no reaction on his face.

“We have to stop for the night,” he said. I stared at that man like he was growing a second head from his neck.

“Night?” I asked. “It’s already night? How long was I asleep?”

“Hours, I guess,” the driver said. “You looked so peaceful that the other two gentlemen didn’t want to wake you up.” I rubbed the back of my head.

“Heh,” was all that I could say. The driver stared at me for a moment.

“You coming?” he asked. I didn’t speak. I might as well. Where else was I going to go? But I am not in a position to be here. I had just lost everything after all. I looked down at my feet.

“I don’t have any money,” I said in a low voice.

“We’ve got you,” he said. “Just come on.” I lifted my head.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“You could just stay here outside if you want,” the driver said. That was all it took for me to jump to my feet.

“Okay, I’ll come with you,” I said. It was on impulse, really. I was hungry after all. And I had nowhere to go. I did need to figure out what to do next. I followed the driver into the pub. Was it wise to trust him right away? Probably not. But I was just so hungry. I hadn’t had anything since that party the night before. Maybe this driver and the others inside could take pity on me. I hoped that I wouldn’t be too much of nuisance to these people.

Still, there was something I couldn’t get out of my mind. Why was it so quiet in this time? Where was everybody? There weren’t even any beggars outside. Sure it was snowing and cold, but I had a bad feeling wash over me at the time. Maybe I was attracted to this darkness I was trapped in and I didn’t know it. But back then, I concerned about surviving at the time.