Capitano

The wind whipped at the hem of his uniform as he stood motionless at the very edge of the cliff. The silence pressed heavily against his ears, but he felt it against his skin—someone was behind him. A stranger's gaze burned into his back, causing his muscles to tense imperceptibly. He did not turn around. He did not even flinch. Only his voice, dry and piercing, cut through the air:

— Who are you? And what is your purpose here?

The question hung over the abyss, met with no answer.