𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓

◆𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓◆

❝𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐘𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘❞

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     ◆𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐈𝐓, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃, 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓. The strange phenomenon of the entire town changing in a blink of an eye happened again. During the day, it was the perfect suburban neighborhood. But when it turns dark out, the whole town changes into it looking abandoned. The once clean white houses now in disarray, windows broken and shingles falling off the roofs. No one was outside besides you. It was eerie, off-putting. You walked past the city hall, and the proud pillars that stood so tall just hours ago were now crumbling, one being completely broken off. 

A total ghost town.

     What happened? Where was everybody? It wasn't that late out, surely someone still had to be roaming the streets. But still, even if people go to bed early here, there still isn't a reason on why the whole town falls apart when it hits 10:00 PM. There wasn't even the chirping of a cicada or cricket, though it being summer. It was dead silent. But when you thought about it more, you never seen any animals or bugs when it was day either. Not a bird singing, or a pesky fly that wouldn't stop buzzing around you. Of course you didn't notice it at the time, but it was weird now. Just like with the cicadas, it's the middle of summer, surely some animal would be out and about. A person would be walking there dog or something. But, no.. that wasn't entirely true. The forest where Valerie resided had a whole bunch of birds! 

     You thought back to when you had to deliver that package. About how you could finally breathe and calm down the minute you left Sycamore. Was it the same for animals too? That they too could just feel that there's something wrong with Sycamore? Well, there was definitely something wrong, or else you wouldn't be standing in the middle of an abandoned town that was in shambles. 

     You shook your head, clearing your thoughts. Now's not the time, you should head back to the motel. You took a step but then tripped over something. Thankfully you caught yourself and looked down. It was a flashlight. You reached to pick it up. You toggled with the on and off switch, and it flickered on. This would definitely come in handy, you smiled.

You obtained the item [FLASHLIGHT].

     While being able to finally see where you're going, your scenery was still making you feel paranoid. The trimmed grass now knee-length high, there was debris everywhere. It's a wonder you only tripped over a flashlight and not a cement block or piece of rubble that had fallen off a house. 

     On the brighter side, you've finally gotten some new clothes. They were definitely better than what you were wearing before. Maybe now you won't get so many odd looks. But your trusty messenger bag stayed the same, you don't think you'd ever replace it. It was the first thing that was actually 'yours' after you woken up on that train. It has a weird sentimental value to you now. What bothered you was that it was so light. You wanted to fill it more, to put all your belongings in it. But you didn't have belongings, besides your brand new clothes and flashlight. It saddened you slightly. As silly as it sounded,  it made you feel lonely. You had nothing. No friends, no belongings for you to keep care of, no home... no memories. 

     Thinking badly wouldn't help your situation either, though. Maybe it'd get better. You can make friends, buy some little things to put in your bag. But could you reobtain your memories? You weren't entirely sure. You'd have to see a doctor for that. And one, you didn't have enough money to afford a doctor. And two, you doubted there was a doctor qualified enough in Sycamore to help you. Maybe you could just slowly remember them on your own? Hopefu-

*SCRATCH! SCRATCH!*

     You paused. What was that noise? Normally you wouldn't care, but this was the first noise that you heard the whole time you were out here.

*SCRATCH! SCRATCH!*

    There it was again! Where was it coming from? It happened again, and it sounded like it was sounding in the direction of- your heart jumped. 

It was happening directly behind you? 

     Should you turn around? It could be nothing, but your gut's telling you that it's definitely something. Something that you would not like at all. *SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH!* The noise was now becoming faster and louder.  It sounded like it was coming closer as well. The hair on the back of your neck rose. 

You took a deep breath and turned around.

You held up the flashlight, it shaking slightly due to your nervousness. 

...

...

You were running. 

Why?

     Your body probably acted faster than your mind did when you quickly realized whatever the hell was behind you was not human. You couldn't make it out fully, but when you saw way too many eyes and three rows of sharp pointed teeth, you bolted. You didn't bother to look back, either. Was it following you? You weren't sure. 

     No wonder no one goes out at night, there's monsters! You took a right turn down the street that lead to the motel, but you crashed into something. You groaned in pain and looked behind you, nothing. You sighed in relief, you lost it. 

"(Y/N)?"

       You had to choke back a scream and quickly looked back. "K-Knell? Silas?" Why are they out here? Nobody else is. Oh well, you felt way better with them around. You wondered where Ambrose was. "You taken quite the fall, are you alright?", Silas asked, pulling you up gently. Knell quietly laughed, "Oh my! You look like you just saw a ghost! Did something happen?" "I.. No, I'm fine." You lied to them. For some reason you thought it'd be best to not tell them anything. Silas's smile widened, "For someone who's fine, you look very shaken up." "Oh- I'm just quite tired, that's all." You tried to smile to make it more convincing. Knell's smile widened, as if he knew something you did not. "Mm? Is that so? It's best to rest then, we can't have you feeling unwell in the morning, can we?", Silas said, while putting his pale hand on the small of your back to push you gently towards the motel.

     You looked back, and noticed Knell had somehow vanished. You double checked, just to make sure you weren't going crazy. And, sure enough, he was just.. gone. How? You looked away for at least five seconds, how did he just leave so quickly?

You chalked it up to your brain being too tired to realize it has been longer than around five seconds and that he just decided to walk home without saying goodbye.

     "Oh, and I've been meaning to ask you..", you looked back over to Silas, "How about having some tea... just us, no one else?"

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