Annie Barbey didn't know what was happening—she managed to catch a glimpse of two strangers at the graveyard entrance before the old caretaker's somewhat hunched figure blocked her view, and the slight nervousness in his voice reached her ears, "Child, don't look over there."
The little girl became somewhat tense, "Caretaker Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"Don't move, don't speak, it's nothing," the old man whispered, his gaze still fixed on the towering figure, one hand by his side blocking Annie's restless gaze, the other pressed against his chest—where a protective amulet lay, ready to trigger the entire graveyard's alarm system if necessary.
The towering figure started walking this way.
The old man's muscles tensed up.
"Good morning," a deep voice came from beneath the thick bandages, as though carrying the echo of a tomb, "This ought to be my first official 'visit.'"
