She liked him.

He was interesting, courteous, and cheery. His eyes glittered in the sunlight, like stars in a dark sky, and his laugh was loud and full. He talked animatedly and questioned softly. He walked at her side, linking her arm with his as if they were already good friends.The air was energetic around them, the wind soft and playful against her clothing and hair; the sunlight warm against her face.

The town came into view as Esire led her to the main road. She glanced behind her at the main road heading into the forest. It was darkened, foggy, and intimidating. She shivered, and Esire pulled at her arm.

Fish. It smelled strongly of fish and sea, like the ocean had belched up its lunch, and whatever spittle had been flung into the center of the town, coating it in its stench.

There were two intersecting center streets with one leading out the other way towards a set of cliffs in the distance. A few white, two-story houses lined the streets like tombstones in an overgrown graveyard. The grass here was surprisingly tall with faded green colors, as if it was on the verge of turning to a dying brown but had not given up yet. Broken glass, splinters of wood, and the random cloth item were carelessly hung around the buildings or planted on the ground. Fish bones on the floor.

No one was there.

The town was completely silent, devoid of anything that gave a town life.

“What happened to everyone?” Leena asked.

“The darkness,” Esire replied, “You’ve seen what it does to people, to beings. Fortunately for us, this town was practically deserted before we landed here. Unfortunately, there are still some people here, but…” He glanced behind him. Leena followed his eyes.

No one was there.

“But they haven’t fallen completely yet. We have some time,” he continued, hushing his voice a bit, “Stick with Bo and I. We’ll get you back across the ocean.”

“What do you mean ‘back?’” she asked. Esire smiled at her.

“Back to your family.”

“My mother?”

“That’s what Bo said,” Esire replied, “There’s more than that, but we don’t have time to talk more about that now. I’m afraid we will have to pause our conversation until we are on the boat.”

He was slowing outside of a narrow two-story house with chipped dark green paint and dull white shutters. The stairs leading up to the door were broken, with one of them completely missing a board. A faded sign hung on rusted chains, swinging gently in the wind.

Esire led her up the steps, letting go of her arm. She felt her heart drop a bit.

He knocked on the door. They waited there a moment.

She heard shuffling and then someone fiddling with the door. Locks snapped back, and the door slowly creaked open.

There was a little old lady beaming at them from the doorway. She had long white hair that dangled down to the crooks of her arms, splayed against her yellowed-white blouse. She opened the door wider, shuffling her feet along the wooden floor in worn slippers, gesturing excitedly for them to come in.

“Please, come in! It’s so nice to see you again!” the brown-faced woman replied cheerfully, beckoning them. Esire stepped into the hallway, followed by Leena.

It was warm and smelled of hazelnut, potpourri, and dust. The hallway broke out into a sitting room to the left and a dining room to the right. Stairs led to the upstairs from the hallway and the hallway led straight back to a closed door.

The atmosphere reminded Leena of her own home, and her heart felt a pang.

“You brought someone else! Who is this lady here! Oh, do forgive me. I’m Ingrid, Ingrid Salome. You can call me Ingrid, dearie,” the lady chattered, taking Leena’s hand and shaking it gently. Leena smiled. Her voice was gentle, like her own grandmother’s had been, like a bell or a song.

“I’m Leena. Thanks for having me.”

“Yes, Ingrid has been a most gracious host during our stay here before we continue on our journey,” Esire said, smiling widely, “I’m humbly requesting, Ingrid, a bath, perhaps, and maybe we can fish out some new clothes for Leena here? She’s had a rough time of it, and it would mean the world to both of us.”

Ingrid’s eyes grew wide behind her glasses, darting her eyes back to Leena.

“Oh my! Yes, of course! Here. There’s a small bath back here we can fill up, if you don’t mind helping uh…ah…” she trailed off, motion at Esire.

“It’s Esire, ma’am,” he replied, nodding his head.

“Yes, Esire, if you could help bring some water in to warm, we can get a bath rolling down here, if you will. Maybe Carl can help you, if you can find him. Come, come, Leena.”

Leena glanced at Esire, who motioned her to follow Ingrid, flashing a nice smile at her before heading back out the door. Leena followed Ingrid to the back of the house.

Ingrid opened up a door beneath the stairs which led to another set of stairs. Leena recoiled a bit, watching the old woman carefully.

Ingrid did not seem to see her repulsion and trotted down the stairs, turning on a light at the bottom of the wooden stairs.

“This way, this way, dear. I know there is something down here for you.” Leena warily followed, the steps creaking with every step. A smell of must and earth hit her nose, and a cool feeling hit her face.

Down in the basement were stacks of boxes, some barrels, a shelf with items lined in rows like neat little soldiers, and a few sacks lay half empty at in a corner.

Ingrid led her to a stack of boxes, and she went about touching each one with her hand, murmuring to herself.

“What was I doing? Oh yes. Clothes. Something else to wear.”

“Don’t worry about it, if it is too much trouble,” Leena said, feeling a bit shy about it. She did not want to take anything that was not hers.

“No, no. I have a collection down here. In these boxes! People are always leaving things here, you know, after they take their stay here, a small vacation for the locals, really. I throw what I find in this lost and found. I am sure I have something here that will fit you. It is rather cold, isn’t it? Maybe something long sleeved, a coat, too….” Ingrid started rambling to herself as she pulled down boxes and opened them up. Leena helped her, opening up a box.

“Ah!” Leena exclaimed, eyes widening.

Inside, perfectly shaped, yellowed and unwrinkled, lay a letter with the words: “To Leena.”