As they wandered through the village in search of an inn, an eerie silence blanketed the empty streets, intensifying the strange, creeping sensation that seemed to hang over every corner. The houses lining the narrow road looked more like empty shells than homes. Each one had only a single, flickering candle glowing in the windows, casting faint, trembling light onto the cracked wood and stone. The dimness lent an unsettling contrast against the deepening twilight, and the few villagers who passed them kept their heads down, their faces hidden under hoods or scarves, shuffling along without a glance.
Maria hugged her arms tightly, her skin prickling with goosebumps. "Why does this place feel so eerie… so creepy?" she whispered, her voice barely breaking the silence. Her eyes darted around, as if expecting something ominous to emerge from the shadows.
