The town looked asleep, blanketed in a silence so complete it made the night feel unnatural. Not a single soul roamed about, and the only signs of life were the weak well lot houses and street lamps. A cold breeze slithered through the empty streets, whispering against closed windows and stirring up loose leaves that skittered across the pavement like timid creatures avoiding detection.
Williams narrowed his eyes, scanning the quiet scene around him. It was just a few minutes past eight p.m. according to his time, but everything about this place suggested it was way past midnight. It didn't feel like a town merely resting, it felt like a town that had exhaled its last breath.
He had been in plenty of places over the years, seen more than most people should, but this place felt… hollow. Williams didn't need to ask questions to know that this place had a story. And it wasn't a pretty one.
