The streets were quiet and empty, much to Evangeline’s confusion. The building she had awoken in was brightly lit, but when she looked at the many houses,  she found they were completely dark. The streets were empty. The stores were closed. The whole atmosphere was off.

The broken glass in the windows and streaks of red washing off a building wall into the storm drains only served to make her more agitated as she continued down the road. The rain continuously fell on her head and shoulders and trickled to the ground.

She walked idly for thirty minutes, staring at the crystal heart in her palm, until finally she jerked to attention at the movement in her peripheral vision. When she raised her head, her eyes settled on the figure ahead of her.

It was a man, she observed. His back was turned, his head was bowed, and he appeared to be distracted by something. Oddly, he wore no rain clothes; a black leather jacket with the left sleeve torn off draped over his torso, and his unkept, gray-brown hair almost reached his shoulders.

After a moment’s hesitation, Evangeline called out to him. “Hello?”

The man stirred slightly, his head turning to look at her through the corner of his bloodshot eye. He turned around as he quickly tucked his hands into his pockets. Evangeline couldn’t hold back a shudder as she locked eyes with him. He was clearly breathing, but... she saw no life in his eyes. They were dull and soulless. He smiled unsettlingly at her as he turned to face her completely.

“...Hello.” He replied in a voice that sounded as if his vocal cords were half-broken. Evangeline couldn’t tell for sure, but she thought she saw a flash of deep red on his teeth.

“Do you know where I am?” Evangeline inquired, stashing her crystal in her raincoat.

“Of course.” The man tilted his head as his eyes drifted towards Evangeline’s pocket. A long pause followed, before he stared into her eyes again. “...Do you not?”

Evangeline shook her head slowly, her gaze settling on his pockets before she furrowed a brow at the blood dripping from the fabric. He noticed her attention shift, and he took a few steps towards her.

“Are... you okay...?” Evangeline asks as she stumbled back warily. “You look like your- hurt.”

“Hm...?” He continued to advance towards her before he pulled his hand out of the dripping pocket, Evangeline gasping when she saw it; it was completely red, coated in half-dried blood. “Oh, no, I’m fine.” He gave her a crooked smile. “...It’s not my blood,” he added, as if that was supposed to reassure her.

“O-oh, really?” Evangeline stepped back to keep the distance between them, her eyes darting around nervously. “So then... whose is it?”

The man ignored her question, changing the subject. “Well, you are in Stormfall Hills, of course.” He continued to stare intently at her pocket containing the crystal, pacing towards her with wide steps to cover the distance quicker. He flashed a wide grin at her, revealing the blood and gore covering his sharp, pointed teeth.

In response, Evangeline backed up hastily, nearly tripping over her own feet. She spun around to run away, squeaking in surprise when she bumped into another man who came out of nowhere. He stared at her, smiling. Panicking, Evangeline shoved him back desperately and bolted off, dread overwhelming her the moment she heard them take off after her.