After class, Gabriel made his way to the school’s library. He had an empty period before lunch, and due to his lack of friends, he had decided stuffing his head in a book was the best way to spend it. He loved the library, anyways. It smelled of varnished wood and old books, and there weren’t ever more than 2 or 3 people there. It definitely was an underrated place. 

As he pushed open the wooden doors, Gabriel sent a smile to Caroline, the librarian. She smiled back, before pushing her glasses higher up on her nose and returning to her book. Although they had never really talked before, Gabriel really liked her. She was such a sweet woman, and although she was probably only nearing her thirties, he thought she was the wisest person he had ever encountered. Maybe it was just an impression. 

There wasn’t anyone else in the library, today. Gabriel sat in his usual spot, in the far end corner, by a big glass window. From where he was, he could see the entire field, where people were running already. Yikes. Sucks to be them. 

Halfway through a particularity nerve-wracking chapter of It by Stephen King, a loud thud resonated throughout the library. Gabriel almost jumped at the noise, half expecting a terrifying monster to appear out of nowhere. There was nothing. 

That’s when he saw it. An open book, leather-covered and face down on the floor, in the middle of the alley he was in. Is that what made such a loud noise? He stood up, slowly setting his own book down onto his chair. He glanced around, goosebumps prickling his skin. There’s no one here. Gathering all the courage he had, he tiptoed towards the other side of the alley. There’s no one here either. He felt himself let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. So it was just the book. He suddenly felt really stupid, getting so scared over nothing. Maybe he should stop reading horror stories. 

He walked back to his alley, and stopped at the book that had fallen on the floor. It looks really old. He bent down to pick it up, and read the title written in gold letters on its spine. “Tales and prophecies of the past an the future”. No author? He picked it up, and looked at the page the book had fallen onto. “XVI : the crystal moon and the alliance between witches and werewolves”. Oh. Another fantasy book. Gabriel skipped a few pages, intrigued by the aspect of the book. This looks like it was handwritten by someone. That’s a pretty cool idea. Makes it seem more authentic. His eyes stopped at a particular page. The words “March 16th” were written in a bold writings the top of the page. Oh hey! That’s my birthday. He was about to read the whole sentence, out of curiosity, when the bell rang. Reluctantly, he put the book back on its shelf, in an empty spot from where it seemed to have fallen, grabbed his belongings, and left, forgetting his horror book altogether.