Beyond the Village

Chapter 11: The Stranger in the Night*

Here is a draft of Chapter 1, Chapter 11 of "Beyond the Village":

*Chapter 1: The Unseen Path*

*Chapter 11: The Stranger in the Night*

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting a dark shadow over the village. The air was crisp and cool, filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Akira sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes fixed on the small, flickering flame of the candle that lit her room.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It had been three days since the stranger had arrived in the village, and yet, no one seemed to know anything about him. He was a mystery, a ghost who haunted the edges of their community.

Akira's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be. The knock came again, this time more insistent.

"Akira, are you awake?" a low voice called out.

Akira's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the voice. It was Kaito, the young man who had been tasked with watching over the stranger.

"Yes, I'm awake," Akira replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

The door creaked open, and Kaito slipped inside. He was dressed in his usual attire, a pair of worn leather pants and a simple white tunic. His eyes gleamed in the candlelight, filled with a mixture of excitement and concern.

"What is it, Kaito?" Akira asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I've seen something," Kaito replied, his voice low and serious. "Something that I think you should know about."

Akira's heart began to beat faster as she leaned forward, her eyes locked on Kaito's. "What is it?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaito hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if he feared being overheard. "I've seen the stranger," he said finally. "I've seen him sneaking around the village at night, talking to...things."

Akira's eyes widened in shock. "What things?" she demanded.

Kaito's face was pale in the candlelight. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I think we should be careful. I think there's something going on in this village that we don't understand."

Akira's mind was racing with questions and fears. She knew that she had to talk to the stranger, to find out what was going on. But as she looked at Kaito, she knew that she couldn't do it alone.