North lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.That's strange.
The girl lingered in his thoughts. The one on the road.Who was she?
But he reminded himself not to meddle. She was only a stranger. Why should he care? With that, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
The next morning, his phone's alarm rattled him awake. His final job before his so-called vacation: cleaning Racini Hotel.
Shower. Clothes. A quick meal. Work.
When he arrived, the building was empty. The Count must have cleared it. North knew why — no one should see what waited inside.
A truck stood ready. Knight always prepared one for him when the dead came in numbers. A car would never be enough.
By the time North was finished, the hotel's silence felt heavier. He loaded the truck, drove to the place he called SWAMP. There was no reason for the name; it had simply felt right.
Halfway through unloading, his phone buzzed.
"Yes, Lord Cloud?"
"North, once you're done, come by the house. Your pay is ready, and your things are packed. Six months' vacation begins tonight."
"Understood."
The line clicked dead.
North continued stacking bodies into the pyre. The fire was almost ready when—
"Why are you burning them?"
He turned slowly.
The girl. The same one. A teenager in uniform, headset over her ears, watching him with unreadable eyes.
"They're corpses," he answered flatly. "How did you find this place?"
"Does it matter?"
She stepped closer, gaze fixed on the bodies.
"Pitiful dead."
North frowned. "Why pity them? They're already gone."
She ignored the question. "Is this your work?"
"Yes."
"You look so unaware of yourself. And yet… you're doing such a… very nice job." Her words trailed, as if she wanted to say something else instead.
North felt unease stir inside him. Is there something wrong with what I do?
The girl's voice softened.
"Then… since it is your job… will you burn me too?"
North's blood chilled. She's alive. Why would I—?
But before he could speak, she stepped back.
"I should go now."
And just like that, she was gone.
North stood frozen. I didn't even ask her name. Am I… seeing a ghost?
He tried to shrug it off. But her presence clung like smoke.
Why am I seeing these things? Yesterday, a girl on the road. Now here. Am I cursed with a third eye? Was she one of those the Count killed? One I burned? Do the dead want justice? But… the Count only kills monsters. He wouldn't kill a student… would he?
Poor, oblivious North. He thought her a spirit, never realizing she was flesh and blood. A living girl.
Still, he whispered to himself:"It isn't my sin. I didn't kill them. It's the Count."
Reassured, he lit the fire and watched the flames consume the bodies.
Later, at the Count's house, Cloud greeted him warmly."North! There you are."
"…Hey."
"Here, everything's packed. No more, no less. All you need is inside."
"Good."
Cloud smirked. "No thanks for me?"
"…Thank you."
"That's better. Six months to rest, boy. Where will you go?"
"I don't know."
"Then find somewhere. Don't waste the time."
North gave a slight nod. "Maybe I should leave now."
"Take care, always."
With that, North stepped outside, the weight of uncertainty heavy on his shoulders. He didn't know where the road would lead.
Only that it would begin tonight.