Living With Dimitrescu

2) Comfort in Silence

As you leave the building, the cold breeze sends chills down your spine. You place your hands back into your pockets, putting the metal charm in your left pocket. "You see that pointy thing over there beyond those trees, kid? That's what you're looking for. If you wanna go that way, you better make it there before night falls." You gaze at the path in the distance and look back at Karl to ask "what happens at night around here?" The man smiles and straightens his poster, shifting his leg to cross his arms. "The village will get yah." You take your phone out to see the time and when you look back up, the man was gone. You seemed shocked that not even a footstep was heard. You followed the path Karl told you to go and it lead you to a red locked gate. It only opened one way and wouldn't budge. "Of course the one direction I need to go is blocked off." As your eyes trailed around, you notice a small building that was much too small to be a house, but seemed like a shrine. The door had yellow paint over it and stood out from the rest of the area. You walked towards the small building hearing the chimes from the hanging wind charms by the door. After stepping into the small building, you see candles lit around the room, giving the atmosphere a warming glow. "who built this place and why is there nobody here?" There was only one table in the whole room and a giant plate rested there in union of the rest of the décor. You picked up the plate and ran your hands along the etched picture on it. You lifted your head to see four large pictures on the wall, and gasp from a familiar face in one of them. "its that man! he must of built this place or have something to do with all of this." You look at the plate and decide to take it with you. When you opened the door, a dark figure stood in the distance. It was looking down and carving a symbol in the dirt with the staff it was holding. You walked towards the figure and it turned around to look at you. It was an old woman who had a terrifying laugh. She coughed and pointed at you, asking to come closer.

She grabbed the plate from my hands and said "Don't go touching things that aren't yours. You will not be needing this." You gave her a confused look and before you were going to apologize, the woman gave you a necklace chain then pointed to your left pocket. You reached into your pocket and pulled out the metal charm Karl gave you. She then put the necklace strap through the charm and placed it around your neck. "there, my child. What you have with you is all that you need for now." She talked in tongue as she walked away, disappearing into the village and you turned around to see the red gate wide open. "What the heck was that about?" you thought to yourself. Beyond the red gate you were met by a forest trail. one of the trees had yellow paint over it and you have had good luck with these yellow markers so far, so you trusted it and kept walking.

You crossed your arms and tried to keep warm as you walked through the trail, feeling like being watched from every direction. A loud howl was herd and a large flock of crows flew past you, forcing you to duck down and take cover. You stayed close to the ground as a horde of crawling four legged creatures galloped towards your direction. Their eyes sunken into their twisted faces, hair half fallen out, teeth jagged and drooling with hunger. You couldn't move and were frozen, crouched down in the snow as the pack of starved creatures glared at you in anger. You heard them picking up pace and growling louder as their eyes set upon you and your fear kept your muscles from moving. All you felt was your heart beating loudly, causing your whole body to pound from the fear weighing you down. As one of the beasts reached within arms distance to you, a loud bell rang, causing all of the creatures to continue running through you. Your eyes were half shut from embracing being attacked but your blurred vision only saw dark figures running right past and around you. You waited till the footsteps got softer and quieter to open your eyes fully and caught your breath, grabbing your chest in disbelief. "I..im alive. What happened? Shit.. I can't.. I don't want to go back there. I'm going to walk away from those things."

Your legs felt wobbly as you struggled to stand up, shaken still and the snow made it feel like walking under water. The force of fear residing in you kept you from moving forward easily. You were met by a giant carriage and a great wall with a picture of a creature with a missing face. You gazed at it and noticed an opening within the picture but the last piece is needed to move forward. You opened you mouth to stutter your thoughts about it before a loud door swing interrupted you. "Uuughhh.. well there you are in the flesh. You had me waiting quite a while.. but it was worth it" The strange voice said. You walked towards the carriage and as you walked around it, the back was open with a large man in formal attire with a book in his hand. "Ah, yes. You are just as I pictured you too" the man said. You look puzzled at his words and comforted to find someone to talk with after your near death experience. "How do you know me and what were those things? How do I get out of here?" The man chucked to himself and coughed before clearing his throat then set the book down. "now, now. All will tell in due time, young [Y/N]..but for now, answer me this. Are you willing to go a little further despite not knowing what lies ahead?" You took some thought into his question and said "Anywhere is better than being out here in the cold with those things." The man clapped and smiles to your response. "Haha, good! good! I like to hear your enthusiasm arise to thee occasion!" He shifted around the carriage and grabbed a round stone plate, holding it out to you.

"The Duke is thy name. I'm here merely to watch over this place. If there are people, such as yourself, in need then there is coin to be made. Use this to venture further, you're almost there." You took the plate and walked over to the stone picture then placed the plate over the missing piece reveling the stone picture of a demon. The doors open and in the distance, you hear the Duke waving you off. "I'll await your next arrival, young [Y/N]." You wave back at him before turning around to walk through the large stone doors, seeing a castle past them. "This must be the entrance to this place." You walked up the front stairs then pushed on the smaller doors to the building and a gust of dry heat relieves your cold face, inviting you to come into the cozy atmosphere. Inside it was so quiet you could hear the candles flicker around the front room. The door shut behind you, letting out the sounds of the trees, the gusts of the cold wind, and the patter of snow falling to the ground. It was dead silent and you never felt more comforted by it.