Chapter 14: Shadows in the Library
Chapter 14: Shadows in the Library
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The Careful Dance of Normalcy
The school day unfolds in a predictable rhythm, a carefully choreographed dance of avoidance and forced normalcy.
I walk the hallways with practiced ease, eyes scanning the crowd—not for friendly faces, but for potential threats.
The whispers still exist, lurking just at the edges of my awareness.
But today, they don't seem as sharp.
Today, they feel distant.
Like white noise I've learned to tune out.
Is this progress? Or am I just getting used to it?
The morning classes pass in a blur, my mind split between the droning voices of my teachers and the thoughts clawing at the edges of my consciousness.
The bruises have faded.
But the memories haven't.
My fingers tighten around my pen as my teacher's voice fades into the background.
Serena.
I find myself thinking about her more than I should.
The way she spoke to me in the library.
The way she saw me when no one else did.
The way she made the world feel—if only for a moment—less suffocating.
She didn't flinch when she looked at me. Didn't pity me.
She saw me.
Why does that feel so foreign?
I glance at the clock.
Lunchtime is approaching.
And with it—the weight of expectation.
---
A Familiar Sanctuary Turned Trap
I don't even hesitate as I head to the library.
The cafeteria isn't an option. Too many people. Too many opportunities for things to go wrong.
Here, at least, I can breathe.
The moment I step inside, the scent of old paper and dust washes over me, the familiar stillness wrapping around me like a fragile shield.
Safe. For now.
I navigate the rows of shelves with practiced steps, my body knowing the path before my mind fully registers it.
Far corner. Back table. The usual spot.
I sink into the chair, letting out a slow breath I didn't realize I was holding.
My fingers trail over the book's cover before flipping it open. The pages greet me like an old friend, promising an escape—however temporary.
For the first time all day, I feel something close to calm.
And then—
Laughter.
Low, sharp, cruel.
It cuts through the quiet like a knife.
I don't even have to look up to know.
Jason.
---
The Unmistakable Presence of Malice
The air shifts.
That subtle, unmistakable energy that comes when something unwanted enters your space.
A shadow falls over my book, blotting out the words.
I sigh internally.
Of course.
Slowly, deliberately, I lift my gaze.
Jason Carter stands at the front, arms crossed, his usual smirk playing at the edges of his lips.
But his eyes—his eyes are different.
Calculated. Cold.
Behind him, the usual cast of parasites. Their laughter has died down now, but the amusement still lingers in their eyes.
They move closer, step by step, slow and deliberate.
Like a pack of wolves deciding how long they want to play with their food before they tear it apart.
I keep my face neutral.
I won't give them a reaction.
Jason tilts his head slightly, like he's studying me.
The silence stretches.
Long. Suffocating.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The distant sound of the library clock seems unbearably loud.
I should say something. Should break the silence before he does.
But my voice doesn't come.
Jason steps forward, the smirk deepening.
And then—
"Got a minute, Steins?"
---
The Game Begins
I blink slowly, forcing myself to exhale through my nose.
"Not really."
Jason lets out a soft chuckle, feigning amusement. "That so?"
He pulls out the chair across from me and sits down like we're old friends having a casual conversation.
His lackeys linger nearby, loitering around the shelves, making a show of flipping through books they have no intention of reading.
I grip the edge of my book, careful not to let my tension show.
"Relax," Jason says, leaning forward. "I just want to talk."
I don't respond.
We both know that's a lie.
Jason drums his fingers against the table, eyes scanning my face like he's searching for something.
A crack in the armor. A sign of fear. A reason to push further.
I keep my expression blank.
He exhales, shaking his head. "You know, Steins, I've been thinking…"
That's new.
He grins, as if reading my thoughts.
"You're acting different lately."
I say nothing.
"Something change?" he presses. "Or did you finally grow a spine?"
His words are bait, carefully laid out, waiting for me to take the hook.
I won't.
Instead, I tilt my head slightly, mirroring his amusement. "Is there a point to this conversation, or are we just wasting each other's time?"
For a split second, something flickers in his eyes.
Annoyance? Surprise?
Then it's gone, replaced with that same easy smirk.
"Oh, I don't mind wasting time," he muses. "Especially when it's yours."
A low chuckle echoes from his friends.
I exhale slowly, glancing down at my book. "Then I guess we're done here."
Jason doesn't move.
Neither do I.
The library is quiet, but the tension is deafening.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Jason leans back, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Alright, Steins," he drawls. "I'll let you enjoy your little books for now."
He stands, shoving the chair back with a deliberate scrape against the floor.
Then, just before turning away—
He leans down, voice low enough that only I can hear.
"Don't forget your place."
And then, he's gone.
His group follows, laughing amongst themselves as they disappear into the rows of shelves.
I let out a slow breath.
The book in my hands feels heavier now.
I should have said more. Should have done more.
But for now—
I just sit there.
Letting the weight of the moment settle.
And knowing—
This isn't over.
Not by a long shot.