Death's Overture

Chapter~1 A Place to Stay

It was light again. Trace could hear the hustle and bustle of the town. He could feel nothing but amusement at the sight in front of him, yet he moved with a face full of shock, his bluish green eyes drawn outward, his mouth half open and half closed, his face betraying his true thoughts.

'What is it lad?' asked a known voice. 'Rathway ain't up to your tastes?'

'Mayor!' Trace said with a startled voice, turning himself to greet the visitor.

'Sorry sir, it's just... I got startled.' said Trace regaining his composure.

'Call me Mr Turner, everybody does so.' said the man as he came to stand beside Trace.

'You still haven't answered my question lad, ain't the town up to your liking?'

'It is a good place to live for sure, the people are good and the place is peaceful and cheerful.'

'That ain't what your face says though, from what I can see you are full of shock and surprise, or should I rather say afraid.' The Mayor said as he looked towards Trace, a curious line appearing on his forehead.

'It's not what you think Mr Turner; I was just shocked by the scenario present in front of me. It just seems as if the town is living in some other world with no concerns of war or the royal family.' said Trace while subtly changing his expressions from shock to fear to nervousness.

'I told ya already lad, didn't I? We aren't acting as if we are unaffected by the war but we are trying to lead peaceful lives here, just think of it as a daily routine and soon you will get used to it'. said Mr Turner smugly.

'If you say so....' Trace said, a pause breaking his rhythm and implying that he still had something else in his mind.

'Mr. Turner, may I ask you a question?' he added.

'Of course boy, of course, go ahead.' The mayor said with an eager face.

'I don't know the town's timings, like when the town wakes, when it is at its peak and when it sleeps, things like that. That is also making me confused about what should be the suitable time for opening the store, so can you guide me a bit there?'

'Hmm, well if you ask me the best time to start would be three hours past the first bell.'

'Three hours past huh, that means I am late! I believe that I should move on then sir, I got a shop to open.' replied Trace without looking towards the mayor.

'With your permission sir.' He said and moved ahead towards the dusty old tracks which lay a path in front of him.

As he strolled down the path, he saw the different parts of the town for the first time, while he had already laid his eyes on the drug store and the wine shop; he now saw the bazaar as well as other relevant shops alongside it and while the bazaar seemed to him of the average kind; made of tents of different colours and things lying on benches with people shouting in hopes of attracting customers, the stores which had a concrete footing looked dull to him with all grey and dark tone and relatively low number of customers around them.

However, the environment in all seemed too friendly to him making him awkward. Thoughts started to haunt him. He tried to move past the busy crowd without exposing himself and failed. Sighing, he entered one of the bigger shops on the side so as to escape both the crowd and his thoughts.