Three Sentence Ficathon

He sees them everywhere after his sister departs. At first, only by following the fixed sightline of his baby sister Irina; she has never been any use at keeping secrets, and it’s no different now that her secrets are the tiny spirits of house and forest Vasya introduced them to, but eventually they become solid even to him, substantial and well fed on the old faith that fills their home.

So the day he opens the stove and the little man inside tugs at his sleeve, Alyosha isn’t surprised, doesn’t jerk back and burn himself on the hot metal, but only listens instead as the chyert tells him, “My Lady said she’s coming to visit, and to meet her at Midnight,” and somehow, he knows exactly who to expect.