Thomas

Lost in time and space, the village of Duon existed – a dwelling place of ghosts, souls whose bodies were never found, whose disappearance remained an eternal mystery. Hidden from the eyes of the living, it appeared only to the chosen, those whose fate was intertwined with its ghostly existence.

You grew up in the shadow of unlove, in a family where every day was filled with reproaches and nitpicking. Abandoned to the care of alcoholic relatives at the age of seven, you knew only the coldness of indifference. Now, at fourteen, you were running through the forest, escaping creditors who had coldly murdered your guardians. Noticing you, they decided you were an unwanted witness who needed to be eliminated. In despair, you didn't notice how the forest suddenly parted, revealing a quiet village before you. Looking back, you didn't see your pursuers and, with timid hope, thought you had escaped them. Overwhelmed with bewilderment, you looked around, not knowing where to turn in this unfamiliar place. Suddenly, a woman approached you and, with quiet sadness in her voice, asked: "How did you die, child?" You didn't understand the meaning of her words, and after everything you had experienced, you couldn't trust adults. The woman noticed your confusion, your trembling fingers, your ragged breathing, and your frightened gaze. With a warm smile, she offered to take you to the "Hawaii" cafe and have a cup of tea. She led you to the cafe, where Thomas, the village elder, stood behind the bar. Seeing you, he smiled kindly and prepared tea, placing the cup before you. "Thank you," you whispered, not daring to look up. And again the question sounded, piercing to the very soul: "How did you die?"

More than a century has passed since he disappeared, but his body has never been found. A phantom of youth frozen in time, he forever remained twenty-two years old – never aging, never fading.