Duskvale, October 23, 1997
The moonlight fell softly like gray velvet. The night fog crept slowly through the trees until it enveloped the small town. It wasn't too thick, but it did slightly obscure the view. The sky was clear, with no stars, only a full moon covered by clouds. It hung perfectly above the cemetery, which was too quiet.
The cemetery was well maintained, like a cemetery for nobles guarded by trusted people. The gravestones stood tall and small lights lined the rows of graves, illuminating their masters as if unwilling to be shrouded in darkness. Death was truly respected here.
But that night was different.
A brown-haired boy with bright hazel eyes scanned the cemetery with a small flashlight in his hand. He looked around as if searching for something. He checked each gravestone, hoping his little sister was there.
"ELLIE!!"
Arlan ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He sat down on one of the graves and buried his face in his hands. Sighing heavily, he felt hopeless. His sister had not returned from her afternoon outing. He knew very well that this cemetery was where Ellie and her friends played. Besides being beautiful, it was the perfect place to play hide and seek. His mind wandered to his sister's words a few months ago.
"I like this place," Ellie had said one day. "It's peaceful, and they welcome me."
"Who welcomes you?"
"Omistruv!"
Arlan never understood what she meant. Who was Omistruv and did he have anything to do with Ellie's disappearance?
"What's that smell?"
Arlan turned around, searching for the source of the smell, which was like the smell of something burning. He then stood up and followed the source of the smell, leading him deeper and further away from the highway. It guided him into the forest, right behind the noble cemetery.
The longer he walked, the more disgusting the smell became. The smell of blood and burning mixed together. It was as if someone was roasting meat.
And in the middle of the open space in the forest, there was light. It was brighter than the sunlight that illuminated the city of Duskvale. Arlan furrowed his brow sharply. Was there some kind of festival in the middle of the forest behind the cemetery? He chose to stand behind one of the old trees. He watched from a distance to see what the scene before him really was.
A circle of people, five, or maybe seven, stood wearing long black robes. Their faces were covered with cloth. In the middle of the circle stood an old, unmarked gravestone. On top of it lay a small body that he recognized very well.
The body did not move.
Arlan's eyes widened, his body refused to move, he wanted to scream but his voice seemed frozen in his throat. He took a step back but unfortunately a dry branch cracked under his foot.
Instantly, all the heads in the circle turned to him.
They didn't speak. They didn't move.
They only stared.
Arlan ran. As far as he could. He didn't dare look back. He even let his flashlight fall to the ground.
The next morning, no one spoke of the scream from the night before. No one smelled burning flesh. Even the local police didn't dare come to the cemetery.
Because that morning, it was clean.
No traces. No blood.
Only the angel statue, now with a fine crack in its eye.
And Ellie?
She was never found.