Answers

After Class

"Remember, students," the professor called out, "I want you all to create a homework assignment on liminality. Be creative."

As the class filed out, I turned to Mike. "I need to talk to Lidia. Can you give me a minute?"

Mike smirked. "Go get her, bro."

I rolled my eyes. "This is serious." Then, as a parting jab, I added, "You can finally take this opportunity to talk to that redhead chick."

His smirk faltered.

Before he could protest, I walked away, leaving him no room for argument.

Lidia was at her desk, hurriedly gathering her things. She looked anxious, as if she had somewhere urgent to be.

"Hey, Lidia!" I called out.

She turned toward me, her brows raised. For a second, I hesitated.

"Were her eyes… glowing? I blinked, but the shimmer didn't fade. Had they always been that bright? No—something had changed.

Was she nervous? Or was I just imagining things?"

Shoving aside my unease, I focused on what I came to say. "I need to talk to you. In private. Let's go to the library."

Lidia's expression shifted. Confusion, then it flickered — as if she already knew what I wanted to ask.

She hesitated, then nodded.

"Okay. Let me grab my stuff."

Meanwhile...

Mike hesitated before approaching the red-haired girl.

"Umm... hey."

The girl looked up, momentarily stunned, as if she hadn't expected anyone to approach her.

Her dark-colored eyes studied him, as if trying to recognize who he was. Her red lips parted slightly, hesitant.

Her hair tied back, revealing her smooth, chocolate coloured skin.

"Uh, hi," she said cautiously. "Can I help you with something?"

Mike shifted awkwardly. "I just thought your response in class was... really inspiring. Just wanted to say hi." A weak excuse, even to himself.

The girl tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "It was nothing, just an opinion." Then, with a smirk, she added, "You know, you're smarter than you look."

Mike blinked. "Do I really look that dumb?"

That smirk deepened, but before she could answer, she glanced at her watch. "Look, I have to go. I've got... a class to get to."

"Wait—I didn't get your name."

She paused, then smiled. "Deidre. Deidre Ward."

"I'm Mike—"

"Mike Reynolds," she interrupted, amusement in her tone. "Yeah, I know."

Mike barely had time to process that before she waved. "See you later, Mike."

He stood there, watching her disappear into the crowd.

**************************************

In the Library

Lidia sat across from me, with her arms folded, her gaze sharp. "Alright, Ethan. What was it you wanted to tell me?"

I hesitated. "Do you remember that old book I asked you about?"

She frowned. "Yeah. What about it? Are you still obsessed over it?"

Ignoring her teasing, I pressed on. "I think something's... off about it."

Her playful demeanor faded. Her eyes sharpened, as if she had just connected some dots in her mind.

I took a deep breath. "Something's happening to me. And I think it's because of that book."

Lidia's expression darkened. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, then forced the words out. "Is it possible for a book to... fuse with someone?"

Silence.

Then, Lidia exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Ethan, come on. Don't joke around. A book can't fuse with someone. That's not how—"

I sighed. As expected, it sounded insane. Maybe I was losing it. But every time I closed my eyes, I could feel it—etched into my skin. I couldn't ignore it anymore. So, screw it. She needed to see.

Pulling up my shirt, I revealed the intricate cover and at its center, between my shoulder blades, was my Hunter's Mark.

Lidia's breath hitched. "Ethan... why do you have tattoos like that?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I leveled her with a look. "You were looking for something in the library, weren't you?"

Her lips parted slightly, eyes darting over the symbols carved into my skin.

"I don't know what this is," I continued,

my voice strained.

"I don't care what it's connected to or what it is. I just want it removed before it turns me into an even bigger freak than I already am."

Lidia flinched at my words. She opened her mouth, then quickly closed it, as if debating something.

"I don't know what you're talking about—"

Before she could finish, a sharp noise cut through the air.

The library lights flickered and the temperature seemed to have fallen several degrees.

Then—

A strange sensation rippled down my spine.

The mark on my back pulsed. Faintly, barely perceptible, a glow emanated from it.

Lidia's face paled. She took a step back, whispering, "That's... impossible."

The glow brightened.

And then—

Everything went dark.