457 Bell_1

Night fell, and the entire Little Town was covered in starlight. Every household was brightly lit, with the occasional dog bark echoing from afar, adding a touch of tranquility to the town.

Across the street, the fruit store owner squatted at the entrance, a bowl in his hand while a mongrel dog circled around him. The dog's mouth was open, its tongue hanging out, and its eyes were eager with anticipation.

The owner spat out the bone he'd been gnawing on into the flower bed by the road. Seeing the dog scramble anxiously for it, a grin spread across the man's face at this successful tease.

"Stupid dog."

Suddenly, he froze, noticing a figure standing at the entrance of the diner across the road.

The person was dressed all in black, almost blending seamlessly into the night.

Blinking, the person had disappeared.

For reasons unknown, a shudder ran down his spine.