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THE MYSTERY CITY PROLOGUE
« Welcome to Nightingale City!The perfect place to start over!A quiet provincial town out of time and the hardships of the outside world, which is surrounded by a ring of high mountains, creates a unique atmosphere of a secluded closed world.For entertainment, you can visit the cinema, sports stadium or the Circus on the outskirts of the city. Historical streets are decorated with shops, eateries and a real Italian restaurant. The large library contains a rich collection of books for every taste.Friendly people live their simple happy lives here. No one will ever hear quarrels and scandals on the streets.For a simple and comfortable life, everything you need is here.In the evening, fog spreads over the city, giving it a fabulous and mysterious appearance until dawn. On cloudy days, the haze makes one believe that the heavens themselves have come down to earth.The level of crime on the streets of the city is zero, as is the level of noise raised by animals and children...There
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 1
Small provincial town. Every day is like the previous one. Simple, moderately boring, but such towns are loved for this stability. The weather is always pleasant, no sudden temperature changes, no storms, no cataclysms. The town is perfect…was perfect. Thomas couldn't even remember exactly at what point a worm of doubt had sapped his confidence in a good life in a nice suburb. Each day was similar to the one before, but he always liked it, bringing a smile to his face at sunrise and sunset. Accurately calculated days. Waking up, running through the sleeping streets with a friendly greeting from the same "larks", breakfast, maintaining a neat appearance, checking all the books and shelves, and then it's the opening of the library. For Thomas, the library was never silent, it rang with silence, which gently directed his thoughts to reading the next book. Another world in which he will plunge headlong, but in no case to the detriment of his work! The library should be in perfect order:
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 2
I don't know how much I actually remember myself, but how much they remember.People don't read new books. Only those that were read the day before. I think I'm starting to go crazy. I have already seen letters written with suspicion in my own hand, but I do not remember how I wrote them. I don't remember how I hid it. What else did I remember and forget?!There are no animals.No children.There are no holidays.There are no seasons.No friends.No memories.There are no changes.There is no truth.Everything in this city is false!I'm scared. At night I have nightmares. In these nightmares, someone haunts me, calling me by name, but it was not the name that I remember, but in a dream I knew that the call was meant for me. But when I wake up, I can't remember my name.Who am I?How did I get here?How did we all get here?What's wrong with this city?!Tonight, local herbalist Hope promised to come and help me sort things out over a cup of tea. I think she shares my doubts.I'll leave
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 3
He was afraid of the city. I was afraid of the nightfall. He was afraid of the younger witch Hope. I was afraid to make a wrong move and be pulverized. He was afraid that, without doing anything, he, like a banderlog, would helplessly approach his own death under the bewitchingly frightening dance of Kaa. Who will play the role of Kaa himself in this case, Thomas did not want to decide. Each of the applicants did not suit at all.The day invariably ended at night. And at night the nightmares came again. Heavy, suffocating, throwing a trembling and frightened librarian like a helpless fish onto the fog-covered streets of the night city. Each time further and further away from the saving library. And getting closer to an abandoned part of the city, from where it will be extremely difficult to return at night, especially after a sticky nightmare, especially in fog, especially when monsters are sneaking around.Thomas tried to tie himself by the arm or leg to the furniture of the library,
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 4
In the flashback, Fox and Zoey are playing chess while the guys are sitting side by side looking for new places to visit. The room is light, and there are no old gramophones, music flows from modern speakers. The guys themselves look for information on their handheld computers, communications and entertainment sources called smartphones. Wherever they lived, this place was much more advanced in technical equipment than Nightmare City. Zoey is a regional chess champion, the guys don't even try to start a game with her, only the Fox always keeps her company. The leader always wins, but the funny Fox never gets upset because of this, saying that she likes the process of the game more than the result. Although even her amateurish strategy with hints of madness sometimes makes Zoe sweat to successfully defeat the king of her friend.New memory. Scorching sun. The Burning Man festival, they're all dressed up in alcoholic cowboy costumes, hung with garlands and bottles, like upright holiday
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 5
“ To know the boundaries of the city - the city is much larger than I thought. Because of the fog, the outlying areas seem to not exist, but apart from the center and the abandoned Brantford, there are at least two more areas. Thus, plus or minus the population of this city can exceed 10-20 thousand. Typical for the province, but I expected that there would be a lot less people. Find a way out of the city - I don't know if it's possible. I managed to catch only visiting people who literally entered the city hours ago. However, despite the fact that they were still aware of themselves and remembered their past, they could not tell how exactly they entered the city and which road they were moving along, since they had forgotten. To know the exact date, apparently, is impossible. There are no newspapers after 1996, and every week is an exact copy of the previous one. How long the city has already existed, do not know. I was looking for some photographs of residents to determine how much
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 6
“ Sorry, the library is closed today !” - he hung a sign on the door as soon as he got to work, and went to wash. The day promised to be long.The mirror reflected a man even more haggard and tormented than Thomas had been before he remembered everything. He looked like a scrawny, disheveled sparrow, just as pitiful and weak in appearance.Quick change of clothes, quick breakfast. Saying aloud everything he remembered to check that all the memories were in place, he reminded himself of a city madman. Crazy look, crazy look... but today he will ask the younger witch everything.A glass of strong coffee, a sweet donut bought at the earliest-opening confectionery, and Alex quietly walked towards the Tea Shop. The girl should be taken by surprise so that she does not have time to come up with a plausible explanation or grab her tea. There was only one street to cross before the shop when a girl in a sky-blue dress jumped out into the street and skipped across the park area towards the for
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 7
“Does the Tea Witch remember everything, too?” Alex clarified, receiving an affirmative nod.“Nor does she seem to have nightmares, but I never saw her after sunset. She's weird, that's for sure. And he knows everything about the city, as if he has been living here since the day it was founded. Maybe it is, but I don’t want to think about it at all, I still work for her. So we laid out our trembling lives before her, and she offered us a deal on behalf of the city.— Deal? With the devil?!“Almost,” the Fox chuckled, “with the city. We remain to live in this city and never leave it, we also give our memories and our names to the city. All who and what we were before our arrival no longer belongs to us. We won't try to get it back. In return, the city provides us with protection.“Hmm, what?!” Protection from what?“Protection from our past and everything that haunts us from this past. Considering Zoe's fate, the exchange is quite worthy. They were already breathing down our backs , so
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- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 131
Over the years, I have long understood that the provision of choice is only a play of his own composition. Man really likes the behavior of his toys in those moments when they think that they still have freedom, but in fact he has been pulling all the strings for a long time. Everything will be just the way he wants. And these "certain conditions" will be fulfilled by me regardless of what I say or do.- The very first thing - together forever, my dear! A blanket falls off my shoulders. His cloak flies to the floor.- Easy! I smile, straightening the buttons on my vest.- And the second, - his hand, bypassing pajamas, moves along the spine, causing pleasant goosebumps, - to the King and Queen ...- Oh no!" ...should..."- No, no, no!- ...to be husband and wife!- Somehow without me! - I try to get out, does not allow.Several years have passed since Kenny's opaque hint, and each time this intriguer, in any case, specified the nearest date of that very day. Over time, Man began to th
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 130
For a month, Lis loaded herself with work and new projects so that the breaks between activities were only for sleep. She even preferred to eat food on the go, which could not but worry her friends. But it was easier that way. She did not ignore the support of her brother and the company, and almost every November evening she called to her gatherings with or without an overnight stay. It was more difficult with the nightmares, which instantly returned without the Man. Bypassing the subsequent revival in Brantford, but just as disgustingly detailed. Nights without their King literally became torture.- Would you like to visit me today? - suggested the Fox, locking the doors, although the very idea that someone would break into her cafe in her City caused hysterical laughter.“Actually, we wanted to invite everyone to our place today, Kenny will again liberate modest Wendy,” Trisha smiled, “but if you yearn for the Man, then we can organize gatherings with you!”“I miss you madly,” the
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 129
"Month of the Unknown. What if another Four comes along and challenges him and destroys him? Or will the old one gather and, shaking her gray hair, avenge her ruined lives? Or will he find himself another young sweetheart? – the last thought harassed more than others.She had no doubts about the ability of her King to foresee all possible outcomes and become invulnerable for a month with full replenishment from the Circus. As well as how greedy for his mysterious image of girls of all possible ages. And if she could tolerate the townspeople, realizing that they were of little interest to the Man, and if they wished, they would simply go to dinner for the ghouls, then the events of Saintfor ...“All his women are from this Devil City, come to think of it. Even me! she thought displeasedly, looking through the audience from behind the scenes, in search of a potential weirdo with whom the Circus would go on tour completely full. - Devil! Am I like Persephone? Will I strangle any one for
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 128
The door bell chimed cheerfully, letting in strangers.– Welcome to Nightingale City! Lis smiled.The city whispered to the girl behind the counter that the customers weren't local. But no hint was needed. It was enough to see their faces. All new people have anxiety, loss and hopelessness in their eyes. Like all guests of the city, they are confused by how exactly they ended up at the doors of the themed cafe. But they couldn't get in. The one who can is not yet born. The trinity of young people is slightly older than Alice herself.– We are glad to welcome guests of the city in our cafe “Alice in the Land of Teas¹”!She politely invited those who entered to sit down at the bar counter, into which the counter passed.Let me offer you tea. For guests of the city, absolutely free! – warning their refusal, she added.“Thank you,” one of them said in a trembling voice, “Miss…- In our small state, you can call me Alice! she winked with a smile on duty as she prepared welcome tea for them
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 127
The man sincerely grinned, gently unhooked the pale girlish fingers, dragging Lis forward to hug her from behind. Feeling the familiar warmth in her shoulder blades, enveloping her with a mute promise of protection, she closed her eyes in bliss.- Unusual. Very nice variety!Today the townspeople have outdone themselves! In a good way! she chuckled. – I think this day has become a pleasant change for everyone!“And for you, my singing queen?”“You have hearing like a bat?” she wondered, adding, “Kenny and his brother decided to have a therapy session to get rid of their sad thoughts through public humiliation. By the way, effective, although I could do without it. Holidays are great medicine in and of themselves. And I prefer to sing only to a narrow circle of the elite." Chosen, you mean? - Alice's words thrown as an excuse for timidity were very flattering.Will life be much more boring now? the girl asked, smiling when a scarlet maple leaf fell on her face in a gust of night wind.
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 126
Before the eyes of Alice, who was rapidly blushing with embarrassment, everyone who heard Andy's loud announcement, as well as everyone who knew one of them, pulled up to the small stage. Friends with hyenas' hysterical laughter pushed the girl onto the stage, taking away her bag and broom. The band members, meanwhile, descended from the stage, took large lanterns and, for the effect of bright spotlights, began to illuminate the girl from large spotlights.“Brother,” Lis sang with a wide smile of shock, “I hate you!” I'll go down from the stage - I'll kill!“Relax, Kiki,” Kenny winked at her, “consider it part of therapy. We treat despondency with public disgrace!- That's not how it works! - hissed the girl, getting a guitar in her hands. Correcting the instrument, she timidly turned to the crowd, expecting either a song from her, or ... she didn’t even want to think about the second. - Okay, hello people! You know, in my memory - this is the best holiday in our city! I'm right?The
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 125
- Why is Robin Hood not included in the support group? Andy asked, looking to ensure that the preparations were going at the right pace, but a boot flying in his direction made the guys step back from the tent one more step.- Don't peek! - the girls printed their will in unison.All three voices were clearly heard in the angry trill.– Because he performs the most important mission – guarding the entrance to the territory of the Circus! Pirate Roberts grunted, brushing off the broomstick.- And if there are no jokes?- If no joke, then with all his inclinations towards your sister, multiplied by his pathological inability to keep his mouth closed and his hands to himself ... think for yourself! Kenny answered in the tone of a mentor explaining something obvious. - Here they will pull out his arms and legs and change places, and deservedly so, and I will also assist!Three girls emerged from the tent. Sarah in a classic ghost costume and Trisha in the image of Rose Cotton paired with
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 124
The Man in the Mask himself found himself in a spiral of difficult questions. Does the King need a Queen after a complete and unconditional victory in the last chess game? As it turns out, more is needed. Which for the pragmatic part of his essence seemed strange. When the enemies stopped brightening up the dullness of loneliness, Alice's halo of "usefulness" almost completely melted away. And now that the Mask had no plans left for her, the Man's attitude towards the fragile little witch became even more reverent. As soon as all plans to conquer the city and eliminate the last coven were completed, the temporarily suppressed desire for the constant closeness of the Foxes returned. The fistula called "loneliness" did not poison his existence only with the full presence of his beast in his life. Her presence nearby, when only the body is close, and the soul is hidden in darkness, forced him to make a decision that was unexpected for him.The sun began to move towards the horizon when a
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 123
The morning of the last day of October, almost until breakfast, Lis spent in tears. The whole "raw period" Man did not leave her a single step. As in the case of her exhaustion after the first merger with the City, he could not influence the girl. All that was left was to watch helplessly. In the end, poured into the girl by hook or by crook, a transparent liquid with a cloyingly sweet and sour taste managed to stop the endless stream of tears. However, this author's sedative lasted only a couple of hours.Upon awakening, she wanted only one thing - to fall into a dream and not wake up for at least a week. However, the dream waved its tail and left the Fox, gloatingly endowing her consciousness with crystal vigor, with which it became impossible even to doze off. It was comforting that the tears had ended, and clarity appeared in my thoughts, albeit a sad one. Under the soothing roar of the Human's heart, she opened her eyes. Feeling the weightless movements of his fingers on her shou
