Red-brown leaves swayed faintly as they drifted down, carried by the cool, gentle wind typical of autumn. A single maple leaf landed gracefully right in front of the girl's steps. Bending down, Fenella's right index and middle fingers tried to pinch the wilted leaf, damp from last night's rain.
Ignoring her suitcase for a moment, her slender fingers gently brushed away the remaining raindrops on the leaf, as though wiping away tears from reddened eyes and cheeks. To continue her journey, she once again grabbed her suitcase and dragged it toward the boarding house at the end of the road.
The twenty-three-year-old girl had just arrived in a big city to start a new life. The long journey from her hometown had been a difficult decision, but one she had to make in order to forget everything—her bitter and dark past. Whether it would succeed or not, she at least wanted to try turning her misfortune into good fortune.
When she arrived in front of the old building at the end of the street, Fenella stood there with her heart pounding. Her eyes carefully studied the structure. The white paint on the walls had faded and peeled after years—or even decades—of rain, and in some places, it had come off entirely, worn down by time.
The tall rectangular windows still stood strong and sturdy. Their wooden frames tried to show their elegance, as if any girl appearing at the window would look charming and graceful when seen from the outside. However, a faint smell of wet wood mixed with dust lingered in the air, reminding her of a rice barn back in her village.
Right in front of her stood a thick wooden door that looked ancient, fitted with an iron door knocker, as if it was urging Fenella to enter a basement. Her hand, damp with cold sweat, gripped her skirt tightly in hesitation and resignation. It wasn't bad—rather, the building was better than her home in the village.
Her small amount of money could only afford a tiny attic room. So when she entered the building, she could only accept it. The main door closed with a creaking sound, followed by a heavy thud. The long hallway, painted in faded green, was peeling in many places. As she climbed the worn wooden stairs, the creaking echoed under her shoes with every step.
Slowly, Fenella turned the knob of her termite-eaten room door and dragged her suitcase forward with her remaining strength. Her breath came out heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She had just climbed dozens, even nearly hundreds of steps. With her small hands, she had managed to carry her large suitcase all by herself.
Wow… I did it.
The girl collapsed onto the sagging, uneven bed. Lying on her back, she stared at the ceiling with her eyes closed for a long moment. Then, tears slowly began to gather at the corners of her eyes, sliding down silently—signs of both physical and mental exhaustion. If just arriving at a rented room already felt like this, what would come next? she thought to herself.
***
The next day, Fenella left the building where she was staying—not only to look for work, but also to make sure she could truly survive in this city. Wearing a deep red coat inherited from her family and a long dark brown skirt, her leather shoes once again carried her down the dozens of stairs to the ground floor. After carefully descending the decaying wooden stairs, she stepped outside and walked across the stones toward the sidewalk.
During her long and tiring journey, her eyes caught sight of an old café that looked both vintage and aesthetic at the same time. She closed her eyes for a moment, a faint smile forming on her lips. Her sharp sense of smell picked up the scent of coffee and hot chocolate—comforting in the cool weather. The aroma of cinnamon pastries spread through the air, making her want to get closer.
Walking slowly but steadily, the girl with her hair tied up peeked into the café through a fogged glass window covered in condensation. Her index finger touched the glass beside the door and slowly wiped it to see inside more clearly. Her small mouth parted slightly, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and a sparkle of hope shone in her eyes.
Beside her hand, a poster reading "Now Hiring" seemed to call out to anyone passing by, urging them to notice it. Fenella's eyes widened instantly, her fingers trembling from both the cold and surprise. Her breath caught at the good news she had just found. This was exactly what she had been looking for since arriving in the city, wasn't it?
"Woah…" Fenella covered her open mouth with one hand. Then she turned toward the café door on her right and quickly stepped inside.
Ring!
The bell rang as she entered. Warm air mixed with sweet, strong aromas immediately wrapped around her cold body. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing it in—feeling as if she had stepped into another world, unlike the one she usually lived in.
Fenella slowly scanned the room. The interior was decorated in soft brown tones, warm yet melancholic at the same time. On the right was the bar counter and neatly arranged cake displays. On the left stood wooden tables and chairs in order. Bookshelves mounted on the wall caught her attention. Finally, soft melancholic classical music played in the background, making the place feel welcoming.
"Welcome!" a man's voice snapped Fenella out of her thoughts.
She turned to the right, her mouth slightly open. Her fingers nervously scratched each other as she hesitantly stepped forward toward the source of the voice.
"Are you looking for something?" the man behind the bar asked calmly as a guest approached him.
"Uh, I'm not here to buy anything, but…" Fenella's voice trembled and stopped as she hesitated. Her worried expression shifted downward, and she lowered her gaze, hiding the tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "I'm sorry, b-but… I need a job."
Though quiet, she finally managed to explain what she wanted. She actually wanted to buy food and drinks at the café, but the money she had clearly wasn't enough—the prices were surely too expensive for someone like her from the countryside.
"From the poster outside?" the man asked.
His voice wasn't loud, but it made Fenella slowly lift her head. A name tag on his chest read "Arthur V.", allowing her to know his name immediately.
"Y-yes, that's right." Fenella's smile trembled awkwardly. She answered while squinting and occasionally lowering her head, feeling inferior. Her hand rubbed the other, trying to calm her nerves.
"You came at the right time," Arthur said briefly, glancing toward the back door behind him. "The poster was just put up. If you want, you can meet him directly."
Fenella fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "E-excuse me… meet w-who?" she asked hesitantly.
"The owner. Wait here."
Arthur turned away without much explanation. Before that, however, he briefly glanced at Fenella as if to make sure she was alright. Then he walked toward the wooden door at the back right beside the bar—and disappeared after it closed.
Fenella waited, slowly looking around the café again. Her steps carried her toward a nearby chair, and she sat down gently.
Rubbing her arms, her gaze drifted to the fireplace in the back, then to an iron door on the left side. The door was decorated with old, intricate rose carvings.
Soft melancholic music filled the space as Fenella leaned against the bar counter, lost in thought. At times like this, her past crept back into her mind.
Blood. Pain. Shattered. Broken. Ruined. Irreversible.
Only those words filled her thoughts. Deep inside, all she wanted was a peaceful life—to forget everything that had ever happened.
With her head lowered against the bar and one hand covering part of her face, she let silent tears fall where no one could see them. But then, a voice suddenly echoed loudly inside her ears, whispering something strange and terrifying.
"Give me back!"
The voice roared so loudly it almost shattered her eardrums, drowning out all other sound. Yet strangely, no one else reacted—only her.
Her breath caught. Her body froze instantly. Without realizing it, her fingers moved to touch the pendant around her neck. Cold. Colder than it should be.
Her vision began to blur. The light around her dimmed slowly. She tried to breathe—but the world collapsed around her first.
And then, in an instant, everything went dark.