In response, the basket fell to the ground and the boy ran off screaming. Since beholding his grotesque image in the barber’s mirror, he now quite understood the reaction he was receiving from people. He sighed and quickened his pace to leave the village before encountering anybody else. Returning to the bridge, he crossed over and followed the forest trail back towards the graveyard. As he walked, his felt his leg becoming numb again and he was forced to stop. He rubbed it until the familiar prickly sensation returned and then continued his journey, thankfully without further incident. Back at the graveyard, he was glad to find it deserted. He walked past Horace’s grave which had now been filled. Fresh flowers had been scattered around it, adding a splash of colour to the otherwise bleak surroundings. Olligh noticed the stone chamber in the distance. It was linked by a small passageway to another larger building, perhaps a church. He was tempted to investigate further but he didn’t know who his captors were or, more importantly, their intentions. On this occasion he decided to play it safe rather than make dangerous, rash decisions. Staying out of view, he reached the stone chamber and crept back inside through the hole.
