Chapter 5: Nighttime Break-In at the Library

The sky over Oakwood University had darkened to a bruised purple by eight o'clock, the rain replaced by a biting wind that rustled the ivy clinging to the campus buildings. Ava stood outside The Grind, her breath fogging in the cool air, her bag slung over one shoulder. Inside it were The Ivy Codex, the crumpled note from Lily's bed, the handwritten chapel message, and her sketchbook—everything she'd gathered since last night. Her stomach fluttered with nerves, but beneath that was a quiet resolve. She'd told Sarah she was meeting a study group, a flimsy lie Sarah hadn't questioned, and now she waited for Ryder, the stranger who'd somehow become her lifeline in this mess.

He arrived right on time, his leather jacket catching the glow of a nearby lamp as he crossed the quad. His strides were long and purposeful, his hands tucked into his pockets, and when he reached her, he gave a brief nod. "Ready?" he asked, his voice low, his dark eyes scanning her face.

"Yeah," Ava said, adjusting her bag. "You sure about this? We're not exactly supposed to be sneaking into places after hours."

Ryder's lips quirked into a half-smile, the first real hint of warmth she'd seen from him. "Not my first late-night adventure. We'll be fine. Chapel's the goal, but you said something about the library first, right?"

Ava nodded, pulling out The Ivy Codex. "This book—Lily borrowed it two weeks ago. That note about the chapel was inside, but I didn't get a chance to read it properly last night. There's a map mentioned in the 'Order of the Ivy' chapter, something about hidden spots on campus. I think it's tied to where she went."

Ryder took the book, flipping it open to the marked page with a practiced ease. His brow furrowed as he skimmed the text, then he handed it back. "Makes sense. If she followed that note, the chapel's the spot. But a map could tell us more—why there, what's waiting. Library's got the resources to figure it out. Let's move."

They crossed the quad in silence, the wind tugging at Ava's sweater as they approached the library. Its gothic facade loomed against the night sky, the windows dark except for a faint glow near the entrance. Closing time had been hours ago, but Ava had noticed earlier that one side door, near the staff parking lot, was often left unlocked—careless janitors or lazy students, she wasn't sure. She led Ryder around the building, her boots crunching on gravel, until they reached the door. She pressed her shoulder against it, and to her relief, it gave way with a soft creak.

"Nice call," Ryder murmured, slipping inside after her. He moved like he belonged there, his steps silent on the tiled floor, and Ava followed, her heart pounding. The library smelled of dust and old paper, the air still and heavy. Dim security lights cast long shadows across the shelves, turning the familiar space into something alien, almost menacing.

"Where's the map section?" Ryder asked, keeping his voice low as they crept past the circulation desk.

"Back corner, near the archives," Ava whispered, pointing toward a hallway lined with glass cases. "They've got old campus plans there—blueprints, historical stuff. If there's a map tied to the Ivy group, it'll be there."

They moved quickly, sticking to the edges of the room where the shadows were thickest. Ava's pulse raced, every creak of the floorboards making her flinch, but Ryder stayed calm, his presence steadying her. She couldn't tell if he was fearless or just good at hiding it, but either way, it kept her moving. They reached the archive section, a maze of tall shelves and locked cabinets, and Ava scanned the labels: Campus Development 1800s, Architectural Records, Student Organizations. She stopped at the last one, her fingers brushing a dusty binder labeled Oakwood Societies, 1900-Present.

"Here," she said, pulling it free. She set it on a nearby table, the thud of it landing louder than she'd intended, and winced. Ryder shot her a look—half warning, half amusement—then leaned in as she opened it. The pages were brittle, filled with typed reports and grainy photos of students in robes, their faces blurred by time. Ava flipped through, her eyes catching on a section titled The Order of the Ivy: 1920s Expansion. Below it was a folded sheet, yellowed and taped shut.

Ryder reached for it, his scarred knuckles brushing her hand as he peeled the tape away. "Careful," he said, unfolding it with a gentleness that surprised her. It was a map, hand-drawn in faded ink, showing Oakwood's layout from decades ago. Familiar landmarks stood out—the library, the quad, the chapel—but there were differences too: paths that no longer existed, buildings marked demolished, and, near the chapel, a small symbol. A circle with an ivy leaf inside, circled in red.

"That's it," Ava breathed, her finger tracing the symbol. "The Ivy group. That's where the note wanted her to go."

Ryder nodded, his jaw tightening. "Chapel's got a basement, old storage or something. Locked up now, but this map shows an entrance—side door, off the east gate. Bet that's our spot."

Ava pulled out her sketchbook, flipping to the drawing of the gate and the fleeing figure. The archway matched the map's outline, the rusted gate a perfect fit. "This is it," she said, her voice trembling with excitement. "Lily must've found this too. She went there."

Before Ryder could reply, a beam of light sliced through the darkness, sweeping across the shelves. Ava froze, her breath catching as footsteps echoed from the main hall. "Security," Ryder whispered, grabbing her arm. "Under the table, now."

She dropped to her knees, sliding beneath the table as Ryder followed, his shoulder pressing against hers in the cramped space. The binder and map stayed above them, open and exposed, and Ava's stomach twisted. If they were caught… she didn't want to think about it. The footsteps grew closer, a flashlight beam dancing across the floor, and a gruff voice muttered, "Swear I heard something."

Ava held her breath, her heart hammering so loud she was sure the guard would hear it. Ryder's hand brushed hers, a silent reassurance, and she gripped it without thinking, his calloused fingers steady against her trembling ones. The light lingered, sweeping over the table's edge, then moved on, the footsteps fading toward the front of the library. Ava exhaled shakily, her grip on Ryder loosening as the danger passed.

"Close one," he said, his voice a low rumble beside her. "We've got what we need. Let's get out."

They crawled out, Ava grabbing the map and stuffing it into her bag with the book. She left the binder open—better to make it look like a careless student than a break-in—and followed Ryder back to the side door. The wind hit them hard as they stepped outside, the night air sharp against her flushed cheeks. They didn't stop until they were halfway across the quad, hidden by the shadow of a towering oak.

Ava caught her breath, clutching her bag. "That was insane," she said, a shaky laugh escaping her. "But we got it. The map—it's real."

Ryder grinned, a rare, full smile that softened his sharp edges. "Told you we'd be fine. You're not bad at this sneaking-around stuff, Grey."

She smiled back, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Guess I'm learning. You're pretty good yourself, Carter."

"Years of practice," he said, his tone light but his eyes serious. "Chapel's next. That basement entrance—if Lily went in, there'll be signs. You still in?"

Ava nodded, her resolve firming. "Yeah. I'm not stopping now. She's my roommate—my friend. If she's there, I need to know."

Ryder studied her for a moment, then dipped his head in agreement. "Tomorrow night, then. After dark. We'll need gear—flashlights, maybe a crowbar if the door's locked. Meet me at the café again, same time."

"Deal," Ava said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her. She felt lighter, somehow, like the map was a key unlocking more than just the chapel. Ryder's presence helped too—his calm, his confidence. She didn't know him well, but she trusted him, and that was enough for now.

As they parted ways, Ryder heading toward the engineering dorms and Ava back to Sarah's, she glanced at the map one more time. The ivy symbol stared back at her, a quiet promise of answers—or danger. She'd find out soon enough.