The library had it's own rhythm _a quite steady heartbeat that pulsed beneath the rustling of pages and the faint whispers of visitors
It was peaceful at this hour the golden hues of dusk filtering through the tall stained glass windows casting patterns forgotten tales on the wooden floor
Rowena sat at the front desk her chin resting on her palm a stack of bookss waiting to be shelved beside her
But she wasn't reading like always she was staring blankly at the grand Chandelier overhead her mind caught in the trap of last night's dream or maybe a memory
The sound of steel clashing fire licking up stone walls screams rage
an unbearable suffocating rage coursing through veins that weren't her own
Rowena inhaled sharply pulling herself from the haunting images not now
The bell above the entrance jingled as a small group of students wandered in
They were regulars_studious quite using the library as an escape
Elera the ever serious girl with thick round glasses and curly bangs gave her a nod before disappearing into the novel section as she always did
Behind her a familiar figure entered_ the elderly Mr Halloway wrapped in his ever present trench coat it's fabric damp from the light drizzle outside
His presence was as much a part of the library as the books themselves a historian or so he claimed
Always buried in text about lost civilizations and cryptic legends
He paused at the entrance his gaze lingering on Rowena not just a passing glance but one heavy with recognition
Rowena frowned slightly but before she could ask if he needed something thing the doors swing open again
Lena arrived last pushing through with dramatic flair balancing two takeout bags in one hand and a drink in the other
You better be greatful
She said to her best friend wearing an exhausted expression she huffed setting one bag on the deck
Some granny nearly shanked me for this sandwich
Rowena smirked opening the bag and grabbing a sandwich
You'd fight an old lady just for fun
Lena gasped clutching her chest
How dare you I'm a woman of honor!
You once tackled a guy over the last slice of cake at Anna's birthday party
Rowena said looking at Lena with an mm hm expression
Exactly and I won
Rowena chuckled but the amusement was short lived she took a bit from her sandwich
Thanks Lena really
Lena's teasing softened
Hey you ok?
She wanted to say yes but the truth sat heavy on her chest hesitating
It's just....the dreams again
Lena pulled her chair leaning in
Worse?
Worry written on her face
More detailedband I keep feeling the same like....like I lost something important but I don't know what
Lena frowned
You ever think about seeing a_
No
Rowena cut in too fast
it's not like that I don't need a therapist
Alright alright
Lena held up her hands in surrender
But maybe a dream journal?track patterns see if anything connects?
Rowena signed about to answer _
Then the lights flickered
A cold draft swept through the library making the chandeliers tremble slightly the air itself seemed to change
Thick weighted with something unseen
Elera who had been deep in a book stopped mid-turn her lips parted in confusion Mr Holloway stiffened in his chair
His fingers twitching over the book passage of whatever ancient text he had been studying
Lena shivered
Did you feel that?
She asked turning to Rowena
Rowena nodded slowly
It wasn't just the chill in the air it was something else something deeper the kind of cold that seeped past skin and into bones
Whispering secrets in a language only the soul could hear
Then as suddenly as it had come the sensation vanished the lights steadied the room returned to it's normal temperature and yet...
Rowena's fingers curled tightly around the sandwich she was holding her heart thudding in her ears
She didn't know why but something had changed seen she came here
And this time she wasn't sure if her curiosity want to find out