Orange and red slowly melted away to be replaced with a looming black and the faint blueish glow of the moon. I smiled and waited a bit longer. The anticipated darkness crept through the town. It blossomed in the east and slowly wafted west until it finally touched the horizon. Still, I waited. Strangely enough, this was the town at its darkest. One by one the lamps were lit. Warm glows emanated from houses that could afford to burn logs in the fall. For everyone else, faint candle light could be seen only after peering into their abode. While most knew it best to hide in their homes, there were some that dared to stay out under the city lanterns. Fewer still ventured further out, travelling to places where light could no longer reach. But when there are those few souls, be they brave or foolish, I will appear to reward them. A smile flickered across my face. The waiting was over, I stepped outside and snuck away to the designated spot. As I grew closer I heard the murmurs, there was a decent turnout tonight.

“Where’s the storyteller?”

“Is this really the place?”

“What? Is this a scam?”

“How did everyone hear about this guy?”

“I saw a flier before the guards took them down.”

“My sister in the next town over wrote about him.”

“I heard the rumors from a merchant.”

“I actually met the guy…I think. He invited me to come tonight.”

“Really? What did he look like?”

“Couldn’t say. He was covered from head to toe in black cloth.”

“My sister described him the same way.”

“You really believed someone that suspicious?”

“But what if it’s true? You could hear about things that the church denies.”

“This is absurd. I’m leaving.”

"That would be unfortunate…” I warned, my voice resonating through the halls of this ruined church. I appeared behind the skeptical man and the room burst into an uproar. Everyone scrambled back to the entrance and I chuckled. “There’s no need to be afraid. It is as you’ve heard…I am the storyteller.”

Clothed in all black, I stood facing my audience. A makeshift veil of frayed cloth guarded my face. My sleeves were tucked carefully within frayed and thin gloves. A single robe obscured my upper and lower halves. With the entirety of my being hidden away, the line between my silhouette and the shadows became vague. I watched my audience eye me over with faces of curiosity and apprehension.

“A-are you really one of them?” Someone in the audience asked. He swallowed loudly after forcing out his question.

“Them?”

“Monsters, evil spirits, uh…”

“Demons. I’ve traveled through many towns and that’s the most common name.” I smiled, although he couldn’t see it under my veil. “I’ll tell you that there is a reason for my appearance. Whether you believe it’s an act for my business or something more sinister is up to you.”

“Hmph. What a fraud.” Someone else spoke up.

“Well, we were all waiting by the entrance but he appeared behind us. There’s no other doors or open windows here.” Another man whispered to him.

“…tch.” The man clicked his tongue and scowled. “If you’re a storyteller then get on with it. I don’t have all night.”

“Thank you, but please allow me a quick warning before we begin. Firstly, these stories will be the same as my appearance, you’ll have to judge their validity on your own. Secondly, I will tell you about one advent, a notable event, each night. They won’t always be related. Third, all of my stories are told from the first person. As for why…well, that’s another thing for you to decide.”

“What about payment?”

“No payment needed.” I chuckled again. “I’m not making my living by telling stories in a dusty, abandoned church.”

“Then why do it?”

“Why indeed?” I sighed. The audience shifted around nervously. “I’ll advise you to sit somewhere comfortable, the first night will feel the longest.” I found myself grinning yet again. “Let us begin.”