Sneaking around

I wasn’t even sure why I was sneaking around. Maybe it was the quiet stillness of the place or the strange, unsettling feeling that I didn’t quite belong. Whatever the reason, having started, it felt awkward to just stop now. My curiosity had already pushed me this far, and turning back wouldn’t help me either.

As I wandered, I realised there were a dozen rooms surrounding mine. Some were about the same size, but most were larger, shared spaces with two or even three beds neatly made up, though the occupants were missing. None of the doors were locked except for one, and when I knocked, the only response I got was silence. It felt eerie, as if everyone had simply vanished.

Looking out of the window in the room opposite mine, I glimpsed at what appeared to be a small courtyard. There was a well, tables and chairs scattered about, and a modest flower garden near a pond. It seemed like a serene, quiet place, perfect for reflection or relaxation. But it was empty—no sign of anyone. Where had everyone gone? The silence of the entire building gnawed at me, but I pushed the unease aside for now.

Continuing down the corridor, it became clear I had left what I assumed was the dormitory area. The windows now opened up on one side to give me a clear view of the courtyard below.

My gaze occasionally shifted downwards as the added weight was hard to ignore. The thin fabric of my nightgown underneath wasn’t doing much to hide them, and it was hard to ignore the way they shifted and pulled with every step. Maybe I should have worn the white robe after all. It would’ve been less noticeable at-least.

I soon came upon a large door, distinct from the others. It wasn’t locked, just heavy. Pushing it open, I found myself in what could only be described as a grand library. I was on the second floor, surrounded by towering bookshelves filled with volumes both old and new. There were tables and chairs scattered throughout, suggesting this space was meant for study, but like the rest of the building, it was completely deserted.

I grabbed a book at random, but once again it was some kind of religious text this one with hymns to sing but content wise not that dissimilar from what I read in my room. Stories about Saints and fantastical events that I would have expected from a fantasy novel not a book that looked like a historical record.

Making my way down the library stairs, I exited the place and continued on my journey. Certainly looking around might have helped but I prioritised finding the others for now.

The next room I discovered was a classroom of sorts—chalkboard, desks, and chairs all arranged in rows. Still, no sign of anyone.

Moving on, I eventually stumbled into a large dining hall. It was big enough to accommodate at least a hundred people, with long wooden tables stretching out across the room. One side of the hall opened to the inner courtyard, while the other led to what I assumed was the kitchen.

That’s when things began to feel truly strange. There was something off about this place, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The most glaring oddity was the complete lack of anything electronic. No lights, no switches—just candles along the corridor and the occasional sunlight streaming through a window. I had initially chalked it up to this being a monastery, a place that valued tradition and simplicity, but the further I ventured, the more bizarre it seemed.

When I entered the kitchen, it felt like stepping back in time. The kitchen tools—or lack thereof—was strange but what they used looked old, medieval even. It reminded me of an old castle I had visited once during a tour. There were no modern stoves, no refrigerators, nothing that suggested this place existed in the present day. Everything from the stone ovens to the heavy iron pots seemed to belong to another era entirely.

My confusion deepened. What kind of monastery was this? Surely, even the most traditional places would have at least some modern conveniences. Why would they use candles in the halls instead of electric lights? And why was the kitchen equipped as if it were from a time long past?

I stood there for a moment, my mind racing with questions that I couldn’t answer. **What is going on here?**

Ps:

I also created this version but cannot decide which is better as I kinda like the simplicity of the original despite the below one being much more detailed.