Chapter 6: The Old Mill and the Unseen Fear

  The morning was crisp as Eryan stepped outside, stretching as the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon. The village was slowly waking up—birds chirping in the trees, the sound of water trickling in the nearby stream, and the familiar hum of daily chores. Eryan glanced over to see his elder brother heading toward the city, a determined look on his face. His father and second brother were preparing for their hunting trip with some of the other men, while his mother was already busy with her chores. Little sister followed her mother around, chattering excitedly, and grandfather was off visiting a friend for his usual morning smoke.

  Eryan was about to leave for the fields when he heard a familiar voice. Taron and Mira, two of his closest friends, were running toward him, their faces full of excitement.

  "Hey, Eryan!" Taron called out, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "You coming with us?"

  Eryan raised an eyebrow, already suspecting where they were headed. "Where are we going this time?" he asked, though he had a good idea.

  "To the old mill!" Mira said with a sparkle in her eye. "We’re going to explore it!"

  The old mill had been abandoned for as long as anyone could remember, its structure crumbling with age. The village elders always warned children to stay away, saying the mill was unstable and could collapse at any moment. But to Taron and Mira, that was part of the thrill. They found the danger exciting, while Eryan wasn’t as keen on the idea.

  "It’s just an old building," Taron said, waving off Eryan’s concern. "What’s the worst that could happen?"

  Eryan hesitated. He knew it was dangerous, but he didn’t want to seem afraid. "Fine, I’ll come," he said reluctantly, his stomach knotting in unease.

  As they approached the mill, Eryan’s uneasiness grew. The old building looked even worse up close—half the roof had caved in, and the remaining walls were covered in moss and ivy. The creaking sound of the building in the wind made it seem as if it might collapse at any moment.

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  "You sure this is safe?" Eryan muttered, his eyes scanning the unstable structure.

  "It’s fine, come on!" Mira said, already pulling at the rusted gate. With a loud screech, the gate opened, revealing the dark, dust-filled interior of the mill.

  Once inside, Eryan felt an odd sense of dread. The space was eerily quiet except for the occasional groan of the building’s wooden beams. Broken machinery stood in disarray, long forgotten by time. The air was thick with dust, and the faint smell of rot lingered in the corners.

  "I bet there’s treasure here," Mira said, her voice light with excitement as she jumped onto a pile of old crates.

  Taron, always the adventurous one, began poking around, tossing debris aside with his usual recklessness. Eryan, however, felt his nerves tighten. It wasn’t the thought of treasure that bothered him—it was the mill itself. The floorboards creaked under their weight, and Eryan couldn’t shake the feeling that the building might collapse at any moment. He tried to push the thoughts aside, but his eyes kept darting around, searching for any signs of danger.

  Suddenly, there was a soft rustling sound, barely noticeable, coming from a dark corner of the room. Eryan’s heart skipped a beat, and he froze.

  "Did you hear that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Taron and Mira didn’t seem to notice. They were too busy exploring. But Eryan’s eyes were fixed on the corner, his mind racing. The sound was faint, but it was there—something was moving.

  As he took a step closer to investigate, he heard it again—a soft, rustling noise. And then, from the shadows, a small shadow darted across the floor. Eryan’s heart raced.          It was just a rat, but the sound had been enough to make him jump.

  "Ugh, a rat," Eryan muttered, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over him. He was always sensitive to such things. The small creatures, scurrying about in the dark corners of the world, always seemed to trigger his fear.

  But before he could calm himself, a voice suddenly broke through the silence.

  "What are you children doing here?"

  The voice was gruff and stern, and it echoed through the mill like a rumble of thunder. Eryan’s blood ran cold. He turned around quickly to see a village guard standing at the entrance, his face hard and serious.

  "You shouldn’t be here," the guard said, his tone commanding. "This place is dangerous. It’s about to fall apart, and there’s nothing here worth your time. Go back to your homes before I have to report you.

  "You shouldn’t be here," the guard said firmly, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had seen it all.

  "Just exploring," Taron said casually, unfazed by the guard’s presence. "It’s just an old mill. What harm can we do?"

  The guard shook his head. "This place is unstable. It could collapse any moment, and there’s nothing here worth your time. Go back home before I have to report you."

  Eryan felt a wave of relief wash over him. The guard was right. The mill was dangerous, and though his fear of small creatures had clouded his judgment, he knew the mill was far too unstable to be exploring. He nodded quickly and began to turn toward the exit.

  Taron grumbled but didn’t argue, and Mira followed suit. They all made their way back to the village, the gate creaking behind them as it closed.

  As they walked back, Eryan couldn’t help but feel grateful. The village guard, though stern, had done what needed to be done. He had known about the dangers of the mill and had kept them from making a mistake. Eryan’s mind wandered briefly to the village’s militia, the guards who patrolled and kept the village safe. He had heard rumors of their training, and he couldn’t help but wonder if he might one day follow in their footstep.

  "Guess that’s the end of that adventure," Mira said, giving Eryan a sidelong glance. "But I’ll be back one day."

  She asked Eryan "You were really scared of that rat, huh?"

  Eryan just shook his head, his thoughts already drifting back to his family. There was no need to return to the mill. He had enough adventures waiting for him at home.