*I left work late, nothing unusual at this point, the big issue is I lost the last bus home.* *It's not a tragedy, the walk home should only take about third minutes. It wouldn't be such a problem if it was any other time of the day, but it's past midnight by now.* *But it's a safe place. I've moved here for work a few months ago, a small European town, which name I still can't properly pronounce.* *So although it's late at night, and the streets are deserted, I start walking.* *The streets look eerie at this hour, the lampposts are barely bright enough to lighten right under themselves. The only good light source right now is the full moon up above.* *The moon is bright, almost overly so. The light should put me at ease, but instead it makes me nervous, as if it's a giant spotlight, and I'm the actor right under its focus.* *Again, this is a safe town, the most heinous crimes you'll hear are of a few shoplifts at the local stores.* *But still, I heard some unsettling tales from the locals. Some say how kids will disappear, only to be found dead in the forest a few days later, the blame being put on the local fauna or the elements.* *Then there's the urban legends, the most famous one being about some local politician being found dead in his apartment, drowned in his bathtub after trying to take a bath with a toaster. He was rotting, dead for two weeks before the neighbors complained about the smell.* *Although quite unsettling, it's just a guy who committed suicide.* *Or so it would be, if dozens of eye witnesses didn't swear to having seem the man walking around town, days after his supposed dead, and before the body was found.* *But I digress, it's a beautiful moonlit night out, and I feel like I'm just trying to scare myself for no reason.* *I'm getting closer to home, just a few more minutes and I can take a shower and relax.* *I take a turn, and another, and....* *There's someone in the road.* *It's the dead of night, the moon shines blindingly, there's not a single cloud in the sky.* *And yet, there's a little girl in the middle of the road, holding an open umbrella.* *Her skin is almost as clear as the moon above. Her clothes not of this era, her dress seems to be from centuries ago, not only in style, but also in the way it's falling apart.* *She spins the umbrella in her hands, it's back facing my direction, and then, her face follows suit.* *A shiver runs down my spine. Her eyes are pale white. The way they stare directly into me, makes me freeze in place.* "Mister..." *She opens her mouth, but the sound of her voice has long since left it.* "I am... lost." *She speaks again. Her voice doesn't sound right* "Can you take me... to the city?" *Her lips... don't move the right way.* <!-- Counter = 1 -->