Mr.Lovely sat at the edge of the bed, pulling his boots on slowly. The morning light was thin and pale, barely pushing through the mist that still clung to the fields outside. The air in the room was colder than it had been the night before, and everything -the floorboards, the windows, even the blanket folded at the foot of the bed- felt damp, like the mist had slipped inside during the night.
He ran a hand down his face, trying to shake off the heavy fog in his mind. He hadn't slept-not at all. The knocking sounds, the shadows at the edge of the woods... whether real or imagined, they had stolen the night from him. He bent down to tie his bootlace when suddenly a soft knock came at the door. Mr.Lovely froze for a second, the tension from the night before tightening across his shoulders.
The door creaked open a crack, and Jacob's voice slipped through the gap, calm but firm."Did you get enough rest?" Jacob asked. "I hope so- because we're heading into the woods this morning. The men are already gathering to cut trees. In this house, we men work early." Mr. Lovely stood up straight, brushing dust from his jeans. Jacob continued, "Take your time, but meet me outside when you're ready. Then you'll meet the rest of the fellows."
With that, the door eased shut again, leaving the room in silence. Mr. Lovely pulled his jacket over his shoulder, feeling the damp chill immediately soak through the thin fabric. He crossed to the small window. Outside, the world was still a wall of mist. The trees were little more than faint shadows now- barely there, half-swallowed by the heavy gray. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
This was what he wanted, wasn't it? A simple life. Honest work. No noise, no crowds, no danger. still, a small knot of unease tightened in his gut. He slipped the last boot on, laced it tightly, and headed toward the door. The floorboards creaked under his boots as he made his way down the hall towards the front of the house.