The day passed in a blur of half-heard lectures and restless thoughts. Olivia struggled to focus, her mind anchored to the night ahead. Every time she tried to listen to her professor drone on about existential philosophy, her thoughts drifted back to the eerie call from Evelyn and the unsettling pull she felt toward the cemetery.
Mia, of course, was in high spirits, her excitement masking any sense of dread. "Olivia, you've been spacing out all day," Mia whispered, nudging her as they packed up after their last class. "Are you really that nervous about tonight?"
Olivia forced a smile. "It's not nerves, exactly. It's just... something feels off, like we're stepping into something we don't fully understand."
Mia shrugged. "Isn't that the point? An adventure! Cleaning graves under the moonlight—it's practically poetic."
"Or tragic," Olivia muttered under her breath, but Mia didn't hear her.
As they left the campus and grabbed a quick meal from a nearby food stall, Olivia found herself staring off into the distance, her thoughts circling back to the cemetery. The dream from the night before still lingered in her mind, the gravestone and the strange symbol etched into it calling to her. It felt like more than a coincidence that they were headed to the same place that haunted her dreams.
When the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the campus in dusky shadows, the weight of their decision settled in Olivia's chest. Something waits for us there, a voice whispered in the back of her mind. But what?
By the time they returned to their cramped apartment to change, Olivia's nerves were on edge. Mia, meanwhile, was practically bouncing with excitement as she stuffed a flashlight into her bag.
"Okay, essentials checklist: flashlight, check; snacks, check. Ghost repellent?" Mia winked. "You sure you don't want to bring some salt or something?"
Olivia smirked despite her unease. "You think salt's gonna stop whatever's out there?"
Mia laughed. "Hey, it works in the movies. And besides, we'll be fine. Evelyn's not gonna let anything happen to us."
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Olivia pulled her jacket tighter around herself. The streetlights flickered as they walked, the darkness creeping in from the edges of the city. The closer they got to the cemetery, the quieter the world seemed to become, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
The wrought-iron gate loomed ahead, the sign above it barely legible in the faint light: Signum Caini. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something older, something long forgotten. Olivia's heart pounded as they approached the gate, the weight of her dream pressing heavily on her chest.
"Are you ready for this?" Mia asked, her voice lower now, as if the atmosphere had finally gotten to her.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Olivia murmured, pushing the gate open with a creak that echoed in the stillness.
As they stepped inside, the air grew colder, heavier. The cemetery stretched out before them in a maze of gravestones, some so old their inscriptions had worn away. Shadows danced in the moonlight, and Olivia felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
At the center of the cemetery stood a small cabin, its windows glowing faintly in the darkness. Evelyn was waiting for them outside, her silver hair catching the moonlight. She looked older than Olivia had remembered, her face lined with a quiet wisdom that spoke of years spent among the dead.
"Welcome," Evelyn greeted them, her voice warm but with an undercurrent of something Olivia couldn't quite place. "I'm glad you decided to come. There's much to do tonight."
Olivia swallowed her nerves and nodded. "Thanks for having us."
Evelyn's smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she gestured for them to follow. "Before we begin, there are a few rules you must follow. The dead are not to be disturbed. Treat their graves with respect, and in return, they'll leave you in peace."
Mia chuckled softly, but Olivia could sense the tension in her friend's voice. "No problem. We'll be model grave-cleaners."
Evelyn's gaze lingered on Olivia for a moment, her eyes searching, as if she could see something deeper in her. "Good. Now, let's get started."
They followed Evelyn as she led them to the first gravestone, an old, weathered slab half-covered in moss. Evelyn handed them each a cloth and demonstrated how to clean the stones without damaging them.
As Olivia worked, she felt an odd connection to the gravestone beneath her hands. It was more than just stone and earth—it was a life, a story long forgotten. Her fingers traced the worn letters, and she couldn't help but wonder about the person buried there. Did they still linger, watching her? Did they care?
The night wore on, the cemetery growing quieter with each passing hour. The moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the graves. Every so often, Olivia would catch movement out of the corner of her eye—a fleeting figure or the rustle of leaves where there was no wind. But each time she looked, nothing was there.
"Do you hear that?" Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.
Olivia paused, listening. There it was—a faint whisper, like voices carried on the wind, too distant to make out. She glanced at Mia, who looked unnerved but intrigued.
"Maybe it's just the wind," Olivia offered, though she didn't quite believe it herself.
Before Mia could respond, Evelyn's phone buzzed, shattering the fragile stillness. She pulled it from her pocket, her expression shifting from calm to concern in an instant.
"Excuse me, girls," Evelyn said, stepping away to take the call. Her voice was low, urgent, as she spoke into the phone. Olivia exchanged a worried glance with Mia.
A few minutes later, Evelyn returned, her face pale. "I'm afraid there's been an incident at another cemetery. They need my help."
"What kind of incident?" Mia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A disturbance," Evelyn said, her voice tight. "I'll have to leave you here to finish up. Don't worry, just stick to the areas we've covered."
"Are you sure we'll be okay?" Olivia asked, unease creeping into her voice.
"You'll be fine," Evelyn said, but there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "There's someone here named Cain. He... belongs to this place. He won't hurt you, but if he shows up, just stay out of his way."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "Cain? Like... a ghost?"
Evelyn's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not exactly. But he's bound by certain rules. You'll be safe as long as you don't disturb the dead."
With that, Evelyn hurried off into the night, leaving Olivia and Mia standing alone in the cemetery. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves and carrying with it the faint echo of whispers.
"Well, this just got a whole lot creepier," Mia said, glancing around. "Do you think this Cain guy is real?"
"I don't know," Olivia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I think we're about to find out."