Lara left the Ferraz gate behind her, feeling the weight of the day settle on her shoulders. The envelope with her payment was tucked into the inner pocket of her blouse, pressed tight against her chest as if afraid the wind might snatch it away. The sun was already setting, painting the sky in shades of orange. On the way home, she stopped at the village's small grocery store, an old building with dark walls and a polished wooden counter.

  "Good afternoon, Mrs. Olivia — Lara greeted, forcing a smile",I'd just like some bread and a bit of milk, if there's any left.

  The elderly woman, with a headscarf and lively eyes, leaned over the counter.

  "There's still some, my dear. But you look tired. You work too hard in that house", she remarked, as she put the bread into a paper bag.

  Lara gave a shy smile in return.

  "It's what there is to do… — she murmured, hesitating before continuing", Mrs. Olivia… can I ask you something?

  "Of course. You know I know half the world in this region. What is it?"

  Lara glanced around, making sure no one was nearby.

  "The manor... that one at the top of the hill, by the old path... what is that place?", she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

  The grocer's smile vanished. For a moment, her eyes fixed on Lara with a serious expression.

  "Ah... that place... some say it's cursed", She made the sign of the cross and lowered her voice, "They say that many years ago, a whole family lived there. The patriarch went mad and, one night, killed his wife and children. Since then, they say footsteps are heard, voices... and sometimes, someone is seen at the window, a figure looking out over the valley. People who went up there were never the same again, some even say there's a bloodsucker there... a vampire."

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  Lara was startled by what she heard and put her hand to her mouth in shock, feeling a chill run down her spine.

  "But... what I saw seemed real. Like it was a person..", she murmured, almost to herself.

  "Pray that you saw a living one, girl", Mrs. Olivia handed her the bag and straightened up,"Those lands know no rest."

  At that moment, more people came in. The conversation ended abruptly. Lara thanked her, paid, and left, her heart still pounding. The wind blew cold as she resumed the path home, and the distant caw of a crow made the chill spread through her body. After what Mrs. Olivia had told her, her mind wouldn't rest.

  When she got home, she found the door ajar. The smell of alcohol hit her as soon as she stepped inside. Her father was at the table, bottle half-empty, his gaze lost.

  "Dad... I brought bread — she said softly."

  He looked at her, eyes red and heavy.

  "Bread? Where's the money?",he growled, staggering to his feet.

  "I... I need it for tomorrow, Dad, please...",she tried to explain, stepping back.

  But he snatched the bag from her hands, letting the bread fall to the floor.

  "You're just like your mother! Always hiding things!", he shouted, and his hand rose before Lara could get away.

  The slap echoed in the small space, cutting through the air. Lara touched her face, eyes welling up.

  "Dad..." — she whispered, but he had already turned his back, grabbing the bottle again.

  Without another word, she picked up the fallen bread, straightened up, and went to her room. When she reached the small space, she sat on the bed, her chest throbbing, and finally let the tears fall.

  Why always the same? Why so much weight on her heart?

  After recovering from the encounter with her father, memories of the previous night returned, mixing with Mrs. Olivia's words. Outside, the wind battered the windows as if something or someone were calling her again.

  Her curiosity was stronger, she wanted to know if that man was really a vampire, and if the legend was true. Because the truth was, he had seemed like an ordinary person... just imposing and cold.