Holding a cup of beer, Raphael sat on an old wooden chair that made a creaking sound with the slightest movement. He leaned back into the chair and listened to the night insects and birds filling the silence with their noises. His eyes shifted to the sky, which was clear, revealing dozens of stars shining brightly.
Raphael adjusted his coat before chugging down a mouthful of the liquid in his hand. It burned down his throat, making him cough a little. The warmth from the drink lessened the effect of the chilling cold. He drifted into deep thought when he noticed the stiff silence around him, the birds and insects had gone silent.
He frowned, dropped the cup on the ground, and rose to his feet as he listened for anything. But there was nothing, just utter silence. It unsettled him, for it was unusual for everything to go silent in the middle of the night unless there was something lurking in the darkness that kept the night creatures away.
