When Abigail arrived at Gao, she realized it wasn't as bad as she had imagined. The city was lively, buzzing with people, though it wasn't modernized. Carriages were still in use, cars were outdated, and to make a phone call, one had to go to a call station or send a letter. To Abigail, it felt like stepping back into the 1990s.
Soon, someone came to receive them and led them to the accommodation that had been prepared. The path was narrow, flanked by tall grasses with no other passersby. It felt like an adventure through a forest.
They arrived at what seemed like an abandoned house. The driver handed them the keys without a word and drove off. As Abigail opened the door, dust swirled and the crusty sounds of old wood greeted her. Cobwebs clung to corners, and the air smelled stale.
"Are we really living here?" Abigail asked, her voice echoing in the empty room.
"Well… you've seen it," Mrs. Wen replied.
"I guess it's time to clean up," she said, bringing out a broom.
"Help me," she pleaded, handing the broom to Abigail, who only gave her a cold look.
"Please," Mrs. Wen coaxed. Reluctantly, Abigail helped, and soon they had tidied up the space. Exhausted, they retreated to their rooms to rest.
Abigail reached her room, opened the windows, arranged the curtains, and made her bed. She lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and soon drifted off to sleep.
In her dreams, she found herself in a dark, misty room.
"Hello… is anyone there?" she called.
"What am I doing here? Where am I?" she whispered.
"Abigail… Abigail," a strange voice called from behind.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"You should be asking yourself that," the stranger replied.
Abigail felt a shiver run down her spine as a white-haired old woman appeared from the darkness — a woman who looked exactly like her. Startled, she woke up, panting and sweating.
"What was that?" she whispered, glancing at her reflection in the mirror, trying to make sense of the dream.
A knock at the door snapped her back.
"Dinner is ready," Mrs. Wen called.
"I'm coming!" Abigail said, quickly dressing and hurrying downstairs.
After dinner, she decided to take a stroll outside to ease her mind. The city was lively, and for a moment, Abigail felt calm. Suddenly, someone accidentally bumped into her.
"I'm sorry," the stranger apologized.
"It's okay," Abigail said, brushing off the scratch on her palm. She continued walking but soon noticed curious gazes from the people around her.
The road became narrow and dark. Unpleasant sounds rustled in the bushes, and fear gripped her heart. She ran, but the shadows seemed to close in.
"Help me!" she screamed, but the street was deserted. Figures that looked human surrounded her, yet their movements were unnatural. Panic surged through her.
Before they could reach her, a figure appeared — tall, graceful, with long black hair that swept across broad shoulders. He radiated strength and calm, and his presence alone pushed the strange figures back.
Abigail, still on the ground, stared at him in awe. She couldn't see his face clearly, but there was something comforting about him.
"Be careful on your way back," he said, his voice calm.
"Wait," Abigail called, rising to her feet.
"Thank you," she added.
"I'm Abigail. What's your name?" she asked, but he didn't respond.
"Just keep going forward. Don't look back," he finally said, pointing down the path.
Abigail turned to see the road ahead, but when she looked back, he was gone.
"How can someone so… impressive just leave like that?" she murmured. Following his instructions, she ran home, heart still pounding.
Back at the house, Mrs. Wen was waiting on the couch.
"You're back," she said.
"What exactly is this place?" Abigail asked.
"We arrived here together, didn't we?" Mrs. Wen replied.
"Go to bed," she added and went to her room. Abigail ran upstairs, scared by the dim candlelight.
Sitting on her bed, her thoughts wandered back to the mysterious stranger. A mix of curiosity and anxiety filled her.
"What the hell…" she muttered, shaking her head. "I barely know him… why am I thinking about him?"
Eventually, she convinced herself to sleep, but her mind was still full of questions about the man who had appeared from the shadows.
"Who was the mysterious stranger Abigail met in the bushes? And why did she feel a strange connection to him?"