The sun was leaning toward the horizon, and the City of Emptiness grew quieter with every passing minute.
The wind drifted through the empty streets, carrying with it dry leaves that skipped across the sidewalks, while the old houses stared with their shuttered windows, like eyes watching from afar.
There were only a few families in this city, each knowing the others, but… there was always a strange feeling — a feeling that something was hiding within the silence.
Amaline sat on a short stone wall, watching her younger brother, Orvin, draw lines in the dirt with a small stick.
Orvin looked up at her, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
— Amaline… why do they call it the "City of Emptiness"?
Amaline gave a faint smile, as if trying to hide her unease.
— Father says most people left years ago… but no one tells us why.
Limara joined them, carrying a small basket of fresh bread. She sat beside them, gazing at the silent street.
— In our neighborhood, they say something happens after nightfall… but the grown-ups avoid talking about it.
Silence hung over them for a moment, until Orvin suddenly lifted his head and suggested with excitement:
— What if we went to the abandoned district on the edge of the city? Maybe we'll find something interesting!
Limara shook her head hesitantly, but Amaline didn't answer right away. She looked down the long street ahead, where the cracked houses stood side by side, as if telling old stories. Deep inside, she felt the idea was dangerous… yet another part of her wanted to know what this place — the so-called City of Emptiness — was hiding.
The friends made their way to the abandoned district, where broken houses stood in an exaggerated stillness.
While exploring, they came across an old man muttering strange words:
— The darkness… the bell… the silence… the memories… all curses…
Then he changed his path toward the children and spoke sharply:
— Go home before the bell rings and the shadows appear!
He walked past them and kept going, while they remained frozen in confusion. They turned to see where he had gone… but he had vanished.
The children left the district, but a minute later, they heard the sound of a loud bell.
Then silence returned to the place — but they were already outside the district by then.
The friends parted ways to return home.
Limara went back to her half-empty house, alone. Usually, her mother was there, but ever since her father disappeared, her mother was always busy.
All Limara did at home was watch television — unlike the siblings' family, which still had the warmth of being together.
Night fell, and everyone went to sleep.
Two days later, Limara's mother finally returned home… but Limara was not happy.
— Why aren't you welcoming me? Are you alright?
Limara replied coldly:
— As if you even care.
Her mother embraced her, speaking softly:
— Of course I care… you're all I have in this world.
— Then why are you always late? I barely see you, and I'm always alone… why?
Her mother stayed silent for a moment, then finally said:
— I have news for you… we're moving from this city to where I work.
— But I want to stay with my friends.
— We have no choice… we'll be moving next month.
Limara left to meet her friends in the park, but they weren't there.
She went to their house, and on the way, she met the old man again.
— What happened with you?
— What do you mean?
— Did you hear the bell?
— Yes.
— Did you see the shadows?
— No.
— Good… you must be careful. The city doesn't forgive those who know its secret.
That night, the old man's words echoed in Limara's mind:
"The city doesn't forgive those who know its secret…"
The sky was covered in clouds, and the moon hid behind them, as if it didn't want to witness what was about to happen.
Limara sat on her bed hugging her pillow, unable to sleep.
She felt as if something was watching her from the window.
Carefully, she pulled the curtain aside… the street was empty, but a long shadow was moving slowly across the opposite wall. There was no one there!
She swallowed hard and rushed back to bed, trying to convince herself it was just her imagination.
But only minutes passed before the sound of the bell began to ring in the distance…
One chime… two chimes… three…
Suddenly, the only streetlight in front of her house went out, and the neighborhood sank into total darkness.
Her heart pounded when she heard heavy footsteps approaching the door — slow and steady, as if they knew exactly where to go.
Outside, something was breathing deeply… drawing closer… and closer…
Limara backed away until she pressed against the wall, whispering to herself:
— It's not real… it's not real…
Then, everything stopped — no sound, no footsteps, no bell.
But before she could catch her breath, a whisper slid in from the window, in a voice not of this world:
— I saw you…
---