he Stranger

h's

enter areas where

had a keen edge that could pierce thro

e's warmth. My eyes shot to the guy who was speaking, a shadowy figure seated at a

d in a defiant attempt

ard me." I was held in place by his piercing, almost predatory, gray ga

rs and added, "I hav

over the man's lips. "Work," he said again in

Everyone appeared to look toward us as the conv

asked, maintaini

rticularly fascinating riddle. "Just that most locals are

e," even though his intense

d in a tone that was bo

was broken by the ba

said, appreciat

o a seat at the bar. With a reserved face, t

nor?" His voice was so low that

und the cup to kee

er and murmured, "Be careful." "Out

tter coffee and mumbled,

I could collect my thoughts. As I turned, I saw the guy from the corner coming cl

way and remarked, "You d

the eye and said, "I didn't r

p and menacing. "All

a strong suspicion that he was

the manor?" His eyes were way too focused,

iguity, I said, "Ca

his facial angles in the fireli

" I fir

oken meaning weighed heavily on hi

ing into the wall with such power that the windows shook. A g

e said, holding against

filled with a feeling of collective fear as

than's voice was s

n's eyes finally fell on Ethan. He sai

ent and horror echoed

told the bartender, "Get

ey and slumped onto a chair b

, "They're in the woods." "I observed

ead his face. He glanced at the bar

" My voice rose a

ft no opportunity for debate

edulous, I repeated. "You ca

ou don't understand." "You'l

r, I didn't back down. "Shouldn't some

"Everyone here is aware

a sword and reverberated through the night be

saw genuine terror in Etha

ible above a whisper as

With my pulse pou

ders straightened and his motions del

't stop even when

d questions and no answers a

atmosphere, and then there w

voices raised, and the pl

darkness, my breath hazing the glass. Rain a

em-figures navigating the trees, t

t all, his outline highlight

running,

s evo