The night was calm. A cool breeze drifted through the streets, carrying the faint scent of rain.
Streetlights flickered, casting long shadows on the pavement. Ves walked with his hands in his pockets, his steps steady, his expression unreadable.
Another shift at the convenience store was over, and now he was heading home.
Just another day. Just another routine.
His gaze wandered as he walked. Ahead, a young couple strolled hand in hand, their two kids laughing and chatting between them.
The boy ran ahead, pretending to be a superhero, while the girl clung to her mother's arm, giggling at something her father said.
Ves slowed his steps.
A small, almost invisible smile tugged at his lips. Must be nice…
For a moment, he imagined himself in the boy's place, gripping his father's hand, listening to his mother's laughter. The warmth of family. A home filled with voices, with love.
But reality had long since robbed him of that.
His fingers brushed against the inside of his pocket, where a small, worn-out photograph rested the only picture he had of his parents. He never looked at it anymore. Didn't need to. Their faces were burned into his memory.
Ves exhaled, shoving his emotions aside. No point thinking about things that can't change.
Picking up his pace, he walked past the family, not looking back.
The house came into view after a few more minutes of walking.
It wasn't much. A small, single story home on the quieter side of town. Not too big. Not too small. Just enough for one person.
The porch light flickered as he approached.
"Still haven't fixed that damn thing," Ves muttered, shaking his head.
He fished out his keys, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Silence greeted him. No voices, no footsteps just the familiar emptiness of a house that wasn't really a home.
Shrugging off his jacket, he tossed it onto the couch and made his way to the kitchen. The fridge hummed softly as he pulled it open, scanning its contents. A few eggs. Some vegetables. A pack of meat that probably had a day left before it went expired.
He sighed. Gotta go grocery shopping soon.
Taking out the ingredients, he set them on the counter and rolled up his sleeves. The knife moved swiftly in his hands, chopping vegetables with practiced ease.
The sizzle of oil filled the air as he dropped them into the pan, stirring with a wooden spoon.
Cooking had always been… calming. A way to keep his mind busy. A way to silence the thoughts that crept in when the world got too quiet.
His mother used to hum while she cooked. He could still hear it sometimes, buried in the back of his mind.
He didn't hum.
Didn't see the point.
The meal was simple but filling. Ves sat at the small dining table, eating in silence.
The food was good, but there was no one to share it with. No one to complain about the seasoning or steal bites from his plate.
He used to hate eating alone. Now? He was used to it.
After finishing, he stood, gathering his dishes. The water ran hot as he washed them, the warmth seeping into his skin.
A quiet routine. Something to do with his hands.
Once the last plate was clean, he dried his hands and grabbed the remote, flopping onto the couch.
The television blinked on, filling the room with light.
The news was on.
"Another disappearance has been reported in the city, marking the third case this month. Authorities have yet to find any leads"
Ves frowned. Another one?
Something about these cases felt… off. No traces. No witnesses. Just people vanishing into thin air.
He switched the channel. Some late-night drama was playing a story about betrayal, revenge, and some rich bastard getting what he deserved.
Ves barely paid attention. His mind was elsewhere.
Something was changing.
He could feel it.
Something was coming.
He just didn't know what.
Yet.