Winter found herself constantly glancing at Matilda, who was perched on the windowsill. The cat's eyes were fixed on the street outside, her body tense and alert. Every now and then, Matilda's ears would twitch, and she would let out a low growl, her eyes narrowing.
"What's out there, Matilda?" Winter asked softly, moving to stand beside her cat. She peered out the window, but the street was empty. The eerie silence of the town persisted, amplifying her sense of dread.
Suddenly, a movement caught her eye. She saw the same black cat from earlier, sitting on a fence across the street. Its yellow eyes bore into her, unblinking and intense. Winter's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
Matilda hissed, her fur standing on end. Winter placed a reassuring hand on her cat, trying to calm her down. But the feeling of being watched was overwhelming. She couldn't shake the sense that something, or someone, was observing her every move.
Winter decided to ignore the strange happenings as she made her way to the counter and rested her head on her folded arms. She still hadn't had a good night's sleep. She fought the urge to take a nap, but the fatigue was slightly tugging at her eyelids.
The memory of hearing a train every night still intrigued her, and she resolved to ask the Homewoods about it later, once her shift was done.
Her mum always used to entertain her stories about the Galaxy Express Railway. A phantom train that travels the universe once every year. No one knows where it goes. Only those who boarded the train were permitted to witness its journey.
Winter couldn't help but wonder if the sound she had been hearing each night was from the Galaxy Express Railway or was it just her imagination.
As she mused on the possibility, she was jolted out of her reverie by the sound of the front door opening. Matilda, who had been lounging on the windowsill, suddenly popped her head up and looked towards the entrance with keen interest.
Winter slowly lifted her head, her gaze lingering as she met the eyes of the newcomer. There he was, the man from yesterday. His presence seemed to brighten the inside of the café. The moment he walked in, everything seemed drawn to him—the light, the ambiance, even the lingering scents of coffee and pastries.
The man was dressed impeccably as always. His cerulean blue eyes, more vibrant than Winter remembered, sparkled with a knowing look.
Winter was unable to fathom the reason behind it, but there was an intense aura that made the man appear luminous even in a dimly lit place. Winter concluded that if this place ever succumbed to eternal darkness, this man could be the only source of light they could hold on to. It sounded disgustingly cliché, but it was the only way she could describe the feeling.
The man flashed one of those enticing smiles, locking his ocean-like eyes to her's. "Good day. It's nice seeing you again, Winter," he greeted before sitting down at a table close to the counter.
Winter made a mental note to be confident, but ended up faltering a little bit. "Good afternoon. What can I get for you today, sir?"
The man chuckled softly and responded, "You're too formal, Winter. I've got a name too."
Winter was a bit perplexed as to why this particular person made her feel so tense. Was it because of the fancy outfit? Was it because of the otherworldly good looks he had? Or was it just because she was insecure?
"It's Cait," he said, his gaze intense. Winter felt herself being drawn into those deep aquamarine eyes. "Sìth," he finished.
"Cait—Sìth," Winter echoed, a bit perplexed. "You have a celebrity name," she joked, letting out an awkward laugh.
The man laughed, a melodic sound that seemed to fill the room. "I guess I do have."
Winter managed a forceful smile. "Alright. What can I get for you today... Sir Sìth?"
"Cait." He replied instead, which confused Winter a bit with the casual manner.
A gentleman like him shouldn't speak so casually to her—or at least, that's what Mr. Chapman always said. "If a man doesn't speak with formality, he's either a close friend or a stranger looking to take advantage of you," she recalled his words vividly. Winter didn't understand much about how men's minds worked, but she trusted Mr. Chapman. He was the closest thing to a father figure she had, and his advice had always guided her.
"Call me Cait." He dragged each word as if he was hesitating to say them, but Winter didn't notice.
"Alright, Cait it is." Winter nodded gradually.
Cait smiled again, a soft, almost ethereal expression. "A cup of your special milk tea, please," he replied, his voice smooth and captivating.
Winter nodded and set about preparing the drink, her hands slightly trembling.
For some reason, she wanted to get out of Cait's sight. The atmosphere felt suffocating, and cold sweat started to trickle down her forehead despite the hot weather outside. As she worked, she stole glances at Cait, her mind racing with questions. Who was he? Why do I feel… weird around him?
After mustering up the courage, Winter carefully placed the cup on the counter in front of Cait. "Here you go," she said, managing a small smile.
"Thank you," Cait replied, his eyes never leaving Winter's. He took a sip, his smile widening. "This is delightful."
Winter felt a smile creeping up her lips. "I'm glad you like it."
Despite the weird fluttering feelings she was experiencing, she couldn't shake the feeling that something odd was definitely going on. The Homewoods and the townspeople were nowhere to be found. Not to mention, her weird encounter with the cats earlier— they were all over the place, lingering and giving her the creeps—especially that black one.
Cait lingered at the counter, his gaze thoughtful. "You seem troubled, my dear. Is everything alright?"
Winter hesitated, unsure of how much to share. With a small sigh, she spoke, "today has been a strange day," she admitted gradually. "I feel like I'm in a dream or something..."
Cait's eyes sparkled with a knowing look. "Sometimes, dreams and reality intertwine in ways we can't always understand. What's been troubling you?"
Winter took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "The town feels… deserted. And there are so many cats everywhere—following me, staring at me. It's unsettling. And then there's this train sound I keep hearing at night. It wakes me up, and it reminds me of the stories my mum used to tell. She called it the Galaxy Express Railway."
Cait's brow arched, his interest clearly piqued. "The Galaxy Express Railway? That's quite a story."
"It is," she said with a small nod. "Do you know it?"
"I've heard of it," he replied, taking a slow sip of his drink. His voice was calm. "You never know—maybe the train is closer than you think."
Winter's heart skipped a beat at his words. Could it be possible? Could her mum's stories have some truth to them?
Before she could press him further, Cait leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Sometimes, the answers we're looking for are hidden in the most unexpected places." He paused, meeting her gaze. "Keep an open mind, Winter. You never know what you might uncover."