The Unknown Voice of the Night

Anika first heard the voice on a quiet, starless night. Her tiny community was well-known for its quiet, serene evenings. After dusk, no one wandered the streets; the only sound in the air was the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. However, this evening was unique.

Anika had just fallen asleep with her windows slightly open to welcome the refreshing night air when she heard it: a soft murmur carried by the wind. She initially believed it to be her imagination.

Seated upright, she strained to understand the faint, far-off whisper.

"Help me." Though the words were hardly more than a breath, they chilled her to the core as they floated through the stillness.

Her pulse accelerated as she went cold. She asked softly in her room's darkness, "Who's there?" but got no response. The faint hum of the wind was all that remained when the whispers stopped.

Shaking her head, Anika tried to persuade herself that it was all in her brain. Perhaps the wind was being playful, or perhaps she was just sleepy. Even so, she was unable to fall asleep, and her mind kept coming back to that unsettling voice.

At last, after what seemed like hours, she fell into a restless sleep.

The voice reappeared the next evening.

It was louder this time. It pleaded, nearly begged, "Please... help me."

With her heart thumping her chest, Anika shot to her feet. Her heart was pounding as she gazed out the open window.

Was there a person outside?

But in the dead of night,

who would be outside?

She succumbed to terror mixed with curiosity. She pulled on a shawl and approached the window with caution. Bathed in the soft light of the moon, the village lay motionless and deserted outdoors.

There was only the soft hum of the night, no footsteps, no shadows, no one in sight.

"Hey?" Her voice trembled as she whispered. "Is anybody present?"

There was silence for a bit. The voice then resurfaced, this time more distinct. "Please, just follow me."

A chill went down Anika's spine. She hesitated, turning to look back at her bed, knowing that safety was only a short distance away. But she felt compelled to move, whether it was curiosity or a sense of obligation.

With unsteady hands, she took a lantern, lit it, and went outdoors.

The village appeared to be holding its breath since it was even quieter than usual. An aura of expectation pervaded the air. She was led through the small streets by the voice, which was now a faint echo.

It muttered, "This way," pointing her in the direction of the village's edge and the start of the forest.

As Anika walked, her feet felt heavy and the way ahead was only dimly lit by the lamp. She couldn't go back now, even though she didn't know why she was listening to the voice or what waited for her at the other end of the voyage. She felt drawn in by the voice, as though there was an invisible thread connecting her to it.

The dark, towering pines loomed ahead. The voice became louder and more frantic as she entered the forest's darkness. "I am present... I'm dependent on you.

Her heart pounded. Now, she was well into the forest, far from the settlement and the security of her house.

She continued walking forward, her lantern flickering with every step, despite the wind rustling the leaves and shadows dancing in the corners of her eyes.

When she finally arrived at a clearing, a figure—pale and ghostly, almost translucent in the moonlight—was standing in the middle of the area. The creature turned to look at her, grief in its eyes.

"What brought you here?" Though it was the same voice that had summoned her, the figure muttered.

Anika was having trouble breathing. She clutched the candle more tightly as she stumbled, "I... I heard you calling." "You requested assistance."

Although the figure's countenance softened, there was still a clear melancholy in its eyes. "Yes, I did call. However, it's already too late. I had to leave now that I have waited for so long.

"All right? Where? With a hushed voice, Anika enquired. The figure remained silent. Rather, it started to disappear, blending with the fog that was now slinking across the meadow.

Anika stood there, attempting to process what had just transpired as her mind raced. What did the figure and the voice mean? She moved forward, only to find the figure had vanished and the night had become silent.

She heard the voice one final time as she turned to go—a gentle echo carried by the wind—saying, "Thank you."

With the lantern flickering in her grasp, Anika silently made her way back to the village. She had no idea whether the voice would reappear or if the spirit had at last found peace. She would always remember the night she answered the call of the unknown, though.