Single for Eternity
Chapter 53: Black Hollow Tavern

Chapter 53: Black Hollow Tavern

I stood still, staring at the thick black membrane surrounding the town. A suffocating presence settled over us, unseen yet palpable, like a predator lurking just beyond the edge of our perception.

’Absolutely great.’

Mael pressed his palm against the barrier, his brows furrowing. "It’s... solid."

Ben, ever the skeptic, cracked his knuckles before throwing a punch at it. A dull vibration spread through the air, but the membrane absorbed the impact without so much as a ripple. No cracks. No signs of stress. Just an unmoving, impenetrable void.

I exhaled sharply. "Looks like we’re locked in."

Flavia’s face had paled, her breathing quick and shallow. "You don’t think this is—"

"The shadowy bastard?" I finished for her, my tone flat with irritation. "Yeah, I do."

It was too much of a coincidence. The second we stepped through the town’s entrance, this thing formed, sealing us inside like rats in a cage.

A trap.

Mael clenched his jaw. "We should’ve expected something like this."

Ben’s gaze swept across the town before he spoke, voice low and measured. "The people don’t seem to notice."

That was the strangest part.

Inside the town, life went on unchanged.

Merchants still called out their wares, bartering with customers over sacks of grain and dried meats. Children still ran along the dirt roads, their laughter ringing in the air. Guards patrolled lazily, their hands resting on the pommels of their swords.

No panic. No fear. No reaction at all.

Flavia gripped the hem of her cloak, her fingers trembling slightly. "Are they... not aware?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Either they’re oblivious, or they’re used to it."

Ben exhaled slowly. "Or they aren’t real."

A heavy silence followed his words.

I glanced at the townsfolk again, watching the way they moved.

Their actions were too precise.

Too repetitive.

Like actors performing the same scene over and over again, trapped in an endless loop.

A shiver crawled down my spine.

I forced my expression into something neutral and turned back to the group. "We’ll figure it out soon enough. For now, we blend in."

Mael gave a slow nod. "And if someone—or something—is watching?"

I smiled thinly. "Then we make them think we’re just passing through."

...

The Black Hollow Tavern sat at the heart of the town, its wooden exterior bathed in the glow of dim lanterns. A well-worn sign creaked in the wind, depicting an old tree with hollowed-out roots.

The atmosphere inside was warm, thick with the scent of ale and roasted meat. A stark contrast to the unsettling silence outside.

We stepped in—and nothing changed.

No heads turned.

No one noticed.

It was as if we didn’t exist.

My eyes flicked across the tavern. People sat at long wooden tables, talking, drinking, laughing—yet something about it felt off.

Too perfect.

Too orchestrated.

I led the group to an empty table in the corner, keeping my back to the wall.

A barmaid approached moments later. She was young, with auburn hair tied in a loose braid, her apron spotless. Her expression was polite—but empty.

"What can I get you?" Her voice was smooth, practiced.

I didn’t miss the way her eyes didn’t quite focus on me.

I held up two fingers. "Four drinks."

She nodded and turned away without another word or did she?.

’Interesting.’

Mael exhaled sharply, his shoulders stiff. "Did you see that?"

I tapped my fingers against the wooden table. "Yeah."

Flavia shifted in her seat. "It’s like... we’re background noise."

Ben crossed his arms. "They’re acting, but not reacting. Like they’re following a script."

I leaned back in my chair, watching the tavern patrons more closely.

The conversations didn’t change.

The same laughter at the same moment. The same hand gestures. The same glances exchanged between strangers.

Like a loop.

My fingers tightened around my mug.

This town isn’t normal.

The drinks arrived, placed before us without ceremony. The barmaid didn’t ask if we needed anything else. She simply walked away.

Mael finally broke the silence. "What’s the plan?"

I tapped the rim of my mug, thinking.

"First, we find a place to stay. Second, we gather information. Third..." My gaze swept across the patrons. "We figure out what the hell is wrong with this town."

Flavia swallowed hard. "And if we’re already trapped?"

I smiled coldly.

"Then we find a way to break the cage."

Ben leaned back on his chair. "How exactly are we gonna do all this?"

I smiled mischievously. "All of these can be attained by just a singular stupid skill called observation."

"Hahahahahah..."

The next moment we all burst into laughter, our laughs loud and boisterous most definitely resonated in the tavern.

’Still no response, figures.’

I stood up from my chair, slowly moving towards the bar manager. He ignored me—of course.

I jumped on his side, crouched and grabbed all his stored gold, silver, bronze, copper. ’Still no response.’

I did get a response from the mercenary group, they bawled their eyes out.

Mael immediately came after me—whispering he spoke. "Why did you do that?"

I ignored his discomfort. "Why are you whispering? They don’t care."

He tried to retort. "How do you know?...oh"

Yeah, I shoved my stolen coins in his face. ’Now, try to retort.’

From the background, Flavia and Ben puckered up. "Now! Now, I don’t think it’s a bad thing that they don’t react."

’Hey? Did I awaken their inner fraudulent tendencies?’

That could never be a good thing.

I clapped my hands garnering their attention. "Now! Now, Let’s go upstairs and get a room. I guess everyone needs rest."

They all nodded and made their way upstairs to get a room. I followed them until they settled in their respective rooms.

’Now, let’s check on that barmaid.’

I returned back downstairs, the barmaid was acting distant with other people too. ’Interesting, isn’t she an amazing actor?’

"Hello Miss, Can I get your name?"

No reaction, whatsoever.

’Nice.’

She was busy serving the equally daydreaming people like her. Was she the only sane person? Was it like some zombie virus-infection?

If it was like that. ’Then maybe I should wait until she is all alone.’

With that reasoning, I went back upstairs to sleep.