Chapter 29: Another Key

Caroline opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by her friends crouching around her. Eloise stood behind them, her hands folded against her chest, lips pursed.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Nadine asked, her hand still on Caroline’s arm. Caroline nodded, but she felt disoriented, unsure of what had just happened. She was on her back, rows of books rising up around her, and she remembered they were in the library. She raised herself up onto her elbows and looked up to the slight void in the bookcase where she’d pulled the book from. 

“We heard you scream. Seriously, it was one of the creepiest sounds I’ve ever heard,” Tilda said, rubbing her arms with her hands as though cold.

“I’m sorry, I…” Caroline trailed off as she saw the edge of the photo pinned between her leg and the carpet beneath her. She sat up further, ignoring the dizziness as she picked it up.

“What’s that?” Corbin asked, and she held it up for them all to see.