The finest hour? It’s got to be three in the morning by now. Your eyes are so dry and tired, you can’t fathom why you even stepped foot in the shop to begin with. You and that old man are probably the last two people awake on the entire block.
You should have hurried straight home.
And that’s exactly what you’re going to do now.
“Oh!” The wizened old shopkeeper calls as you reach the door. “Do watch your step out there, now—the world-veil is especially thin tonight.”
World-veil?
What a strange old man.
“Sure thing,” you reply, already halfway out the door.
“Wait!” He calls, rushing to lean his head out after you, “I almost forgot! Remember! If you are in danger, remember the power of wishes!”
You pause, already halfway across the street, ready to put as much distance between you and that creepy bookshop as possible.
“The power of wishes,” you repeat with a polite smile. He really is nuts. “Got it. Thank you, have a good night!”
Before he has a chance to say anything else, you turn and hurry down the block.
Well, that was odd.
To make it even weirder, when you glance over your shoulder, the shop is gone.
Just gone.
A single streetlight flickers overhead, buzzes, then goes out.
Mysterious Hot Guy
I can’t get any damn rest around here.
Just when I’m finally drifting back to sleep, a sharp static shock jolts me awake.
What the hell was that?
3
The Hot Guy will Always Save You
You
You turn, staring back down the dark block where the bookshop windows glowed brightly moments before, but there’s still nothing there.
He must have finally gone to bed, you reason. The old man just locked up and turned out the lights for the evening.
That’s all.
Of course that’s all.
You rub your eyes, clutching the paper-wrapped book tighter to your chest as a cold wind swirls down the street, rattling the dry leaves and sending them swirling.
What a creepy night.
The old man’s words echo in your head, making you shiver:The world-veil is extra thin tonight.
You shake the uneasy feeling off, hurrying down the sidewalk toward the warm, beckoning orange glow of the nearest lit streetlight.
