Story 429: The Library

The staircase ended abruptly, spilling the team into an expansive, dimly lit library. Rows upon rows of ancient books lined towering shelves, stretching so high that the upper levels disappeared into the gloom. Dust particles hung in the air, caught in the faint glow of floating orbs of light that hovered between the shelves.

“This is... unexpected,” Shadow murmured, her voice echoing faintly.

Rook held up a hand to silence the team, his sharp gaze scanning the room. “Unexpected, but not safe. Stay alert.”

Ghost moved ahead silently, his footsteps barely a whisper against the stone floor. “This place feels alive,” he said, running a hand across a shelf. “These books… they’re whispering.”

The rest of the team exchanged uneasy glances. Viper stepped closer to one of the shelves, her fingers tracing the spines of the books. “This isn’t just a library. It’s a vault of knowledge—old, forbidden knowledge.”