Chapter 4

The library was quiet, the soft hum of the overhead lights a welcome contrast to the chaos of the student hall. I sighed, sinking into one of the plush armchairs near the back. Bookshelves loomed all around me, tall and shadowed, and the faint scent of old paper filled the air. This was what I needed—a chance to catch my breath and drown out the strange, disturbing thoughts that had plagued me since I stepped onto campus. Being surrounded by books was like slipping into a cocoon, a protective barrier…