It was almost dawn when Lia fell asleep. She laid on her back all night, staring at the ceiling, letting the stillness in the air lull her to sleep. Her mind wandered back from what happened in the previous week. It was a whirlwind of emotions and events starting from when Eldric appeared in the forest.

With Eldric’s absence, it seemed like the cottage was so quiet which also unsettled Lia. It was not even that long since he had been there. But his absence could be felt in the entire house, making it a lot emptier.

It felt like years since the last time she experienced this kind of silence. Lia longed for her normal life, the mundane daily life. Those days were repetitive and sometimes flat-out boring. But it was quiet and serene too. Yet despite that fervent wish of hers, the silence that lingered in the air was troubling as if these stolen moments were calm before a storm.

She pressed her eyes shut, willing her body to succumb to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day. A new start. And hopefully, a peaceful one.

But peace seemed as elusive as ever when someone banged the door, the noise reverberating within the house. Lia’s eyes flew open, sitting up straight on her bed. She peered outside her window. The forest was still dark. Even so, a few glimpses of sunlight broke through. She tried to soothe her irritation; it was not that long when she had fallen asleep.

Still, too early for a visitor. ‘If that is a visitor.’ And that was a big if.

The furious knocking continued as if their visitor hoped to destroy their door instead. That meant, whoever that was, brought them the bad news. Bracing herself for what was to come, Lia left her room and found her mother standing in front of hers. Tamara’s face mirrored that of Lia, a look of consternation.

Lia gripped Eldric’s dagger that she always kept on her and crept to the door.

“Hey! Are you there?? Hey!” Another round of knocks but the voice seemed familiar.

Lia unlocked the bolt and peered from the slight opening of the door. There stood a frantic Frankie, looking flushed and frazzled. Lia opened the door wider when she made sure that no one was with him.

“Finally –” He sighed in relief but paused as he stared blankly at Lia.

Lia did not mind him. Instead, she glanced behind him once more, making sure there really was no one with Frankie. She spoke in a low voice, her eyes glued to the darkness behind him. “What are you doing here?”

“My… my mother told me that the witch can cure.”

“You’ve got the wrong house. There’s no witch here.” Lia started closing the door.

Frankie shoved his body and used it to block the door. “Wait! Please!”

“Please don’t disturb us.” She tried to close the door, putting her weight into it.

He pushed back. “I need your help! Please! My mother –”

Lia felt a soft touch on her arm and found her mother standing beside her. Tamara gazed at Lia and nodded. Lia reopened the door.

“Come in,” Tamara said.