I wake up before the bells.
That’s the first thing that feels wrong.
The temple is always louder than this. Even before sunrise, there are footsteps, someone sweeping the stone floors. Someone coughing. Someone praying too loudly.
But today, there's nothing.
I sit up slowly. My room is cold. The air feels still, like it hasn’t moved in a long time. I wait, listening. 'Maybe I just woke too early.'
There are no bells or noises coming from outside.
I step outside.
The long corridor stretches ahead of me, empty. The lanterns are still lit, their flames barely moving. Usually by now, someone would have put them out.
“Hello?” I say.
My voice sounds wrong. Too loud. It doesn’t echo the way it should.
I walk forward anyway.
My footsteps feel heavier than usual. The floor is clean. It’s like no one has walked here for days.
I pass the main hall. The doors are open. They’re never open this early.
Inside, the statues stand in silence. The incense burners are empty. I step in.
Something feels… off. Wrong, like I’ve walked into a place that doesn’t belong to me anymore.
I look around. There's no one; usually you would see priests and servants walking around.
I turn back toward the door, suddenly unsure why I came here at all.
For a moment, I think I hear something behind me.
I stop and listen. Nothing.
When I turn around again, I feel like the statues are looking at me differently.
I don't turn back.
thanks for reading.
