Skylar's POV

I was left baffled for the first few seconds when everything just went black.

And I don't just mean the computer screen. No, the entire library went dark. The lights, I realised in horror, had gone out.

Such specific timing to be a mere coincidence.

"What in the blind fu--" I started but was cut off by Alexis,

"Just a power breakdown." Except it wasn't just that since I'm pretty sure I heard the doubt in her voice too.

I pursed my lips anxiously and turned around in my seat, eyes wide and searching. It was pitch dark with just the sound of harsh rain pattering on the glass library doors.

It was creepy. Fucking awfully creepy.

"The lights went out just as you started the video." I broke the silence.

"Ever heard of a coincidence?"

"Oh." A small laugh out of mere nervousness left my lips. "There's no such thing as coincidences." At least not in my life.

Alexis didn't add anything to it, which made me even more anxious, because what if she left me here all alone? I probably wouldn't even notice. She'd left me stranded in a forest before.

I was just about to open my mouth again, say something that wouldn't necessarily depict the fear I felt right then, when a harsh glow of a phone flashlight filled my vision.

"Get your things." She held the flashlight towards me, though her eyes were fixed on the glass doors, alarmed.

"Why?" I whispered, but still picked up my coat and my phone. "Did you see someone?"

"No." She frowned, then cleared her throat. "I just have a feeling that someone's been following me since this morning."

My throat went dry as I stared. "Right."

She looked at me and her eyes were dark.

"What?" I snapped.

"I think I shouldn't leave you here if I do want you on my side." She seemed thoughtful, the frown long gone.

"On your side?" I nearly exclaimed, then switched on my phone because I really needed to call someone. "I'm not on your side."

"Yes, you are." She said. "You obviously know bits about Rena. She's alive. And we need to save her."

I stopped and looked up at her. It was surprising because she looked genuine. "Blake doesn't think all that's true."

"And that's why we need to show him this video." She pressed on, and then without waiting for me to say anything, she turned around. "Let's get out of here."

I was about to nod because hell no was I in favour of staying here either, when I heard a shuffling noise right behind me.

I yelped and turned around, eyes widening when I saw the computer screen coming to life once again, with the same video playing on it that Alexis had meant to show me.

"What the fuck?" I whispered, moving the mouse around. I looked over at Alexis who'd already stepped beside me. "The lights are out."

"The lights are out." She repeated my words, gaze alarmed and fixed on the computer screen.

"Yes." I hissed. "How is that?" I waved at the screen and the video playing on it. "How is that still working then?"

Right on cue, a loud thud resounded from right behind us. From towards the numerous bookshelves that only led to darkness.

"Someone's here," I whispered in horror, not even realising I had somehow gripped Alexis's arm until she patted me on my hand. "Oh fuck."

"How good are you at running?" She asked me, and she wasn't even freaking out like I was. God, what did it feel like to be so cool?

"I don't know," I whispered.

"Well, I don't have anything to fight with." She stated plenty casually, looking around. "I only had a switchblade and I gave it to you."

"Oh, you can have it bac--"

Another loud thud cut me off, books falling at a distance, and both Alexis and I stiffened. I couldn't help but notice how much closer it was to us now.

There was just silence then, agonizingly tense silence, as we stared ahead of us.

"Okay then," Alexis whispered.

My eyes flickered to the computer screen and the video was still playing on it. It showed a room. A dark, compact room, much like the cellar I'd last seen Blake in. But this one seemed muddy and old--almost forgotten. It looked like a horrifying place to be in.

The only light source in there, as I watched, was the tiny torchlight, rolling on the ground. And the room was empty as the camera moved around.

So fucking creepy.

"What is that place?" I gritted my teeth, my gaze still fixed on the computer screen.

Alexis didn't say anything.

The camera angle shifted and then the room in the video wasn't so empty anymore.

No, because now there stood a worn cement pillar right in the middle, starting from the rock bottom and ending at the dark ceiling. And someone was tied to it.

A girl with hair the colour of straw. Blonde. Long dirty hair. And she looked so frail.

Rena. My eyes widened. "Oh no."

"And this is when we run." I heard Alexis and saw her pulling on the computer cord before she grabbed my arm.

"What--the video!" I gasped.

She tugged at my arm and I think I saw the shadow figure (or figures) standing a few feet away from us at the same moment she did.

"Tell me," she whispered quietly. "Will your boyfriend be pissed if you get hurt even a little bit?"

"I...no...what?"

"Take out the knife. Use it if necessary. Try not to get killed."

"Or we can just run?" I suggested in an even lower whisper.

Alexis shifted on her feet. "Oh, I don't think that'd be so easy."

She wasn't wrong when it was exactly that same second when I saw one of the figures running at us. Pretty fast.

Alexis stepped forward and I scrambled for the knife in my jacket. "Fuckfuckfuck." And so, it did seem like I may just get killed tonight.

But who were these people? After Alexis or after me? Or were they after that video? Ones who'd kidnapped Rena?

The guy came into view, wearing an identical hood like the others with him, and I watched from the corner of my eye as Alexis grabbed one and threw a mean punch to his face. Which he somehow dodged and delivered right back.

I finally, finally found the switchblade and took it out.

And then all of a sudden, the chair I'd just been sitting on was thrown across the library, and there was another hooded guy right in front of me, literally appearing out of nowhere. I think I shrieked.

"Stab him!" Alexis yelled from somewhere behind me, too busy grabbing the other guy in a headlock.

"Stay back!" I pointed the knife towards the hugely muscled man. He seemed to stop for a second only before lunging at me with a speed so fast that I nearly would've been hit in the face if I hadn't sidestepped on time, gripping the hilt of the knife in my fist, before swinging forward. "You fucking asswipe!"

There was a grunt of pain that did not come from me. And as I staggered back with the knife still in my hands, the hooded guy didn't follow because he was too busy gripping his arm. His bleeding arm.

"Oh no." I think I was hyperventilating.

Fortunately enough, Alexis stepped in right on time, hastily grabbing for me and running for the exit doors.

It was still pitch dark and I nearly would've fallen twice on my face if Alexis hadn't been dragging me with her. Footsteps chased after us and I was only given a quick warning of, "Duck!" before a thick leatherbound book came flying right towards me--over me--and hit the guy behind me right on the face.

Alexis and I pushed past the doors and ran.

And I did not look back. Not even once.

•••••

There was a big full moon up in the sky by the time I made my way back to my apartment. There was no hooded guy or girl who tried catching up to us--Alexis and I--after the incident at the library. And I was shaking--from the cold or nerves, I didn't know--by the time I opened the front door and locked myself inside my bedroom.

It was highly absurd for a second there. How come my life wasn't normal, not even a little bit like everyone else?

It was that video. Something about that video. Alexis had been followed by those men. And Rena really was alive.

God, things really couldn't get any more complicated, could they?

I sat down on my bed and placed my trench coat aside, bringing my hands to my face and rubbing tiredly.

Sleep, sleep, sleep. I should sleep. Nova was already asleep in the room next door. Chicken was too on the couch outside when I'd arrived. And I didn't, I realised, I didn't want to think of this anymore.

So I stood up, made sure one more time that my bedroom door was locked, and didn't even bother opening the lights before kicking off my shoes.

I'll sleep and forget all about this for the time being. Then when I wake up, I'll think of whatever Alexis had told me. Of the video that I'd watched on that library computer. Of all that. And maybe then--

There was a knock on my window and I screamed.

"Fuck!" I breathed out, hand over my heart as I stared at my window and the face right behind the glass. "Fuck you, Caden! What the hell?"

It was him, I realised as I neared the window, pulling it up. Right there, partially drenched, and green, curious eyes on me.

"What are you doing here?" My voice sounded much worse than I felt right then. And my heart...God, why did everything have to be such a big fucking jumpscare?

"Funny you should ask." He said and heaved himself up before sliding inside. I stepped aside before closing the window behind him, making sure to lock that too.

I peeked out into the night. The streets were all empty. Good.

"I heard," he said, raking a hand through his drenched hair and pushing them back. "we were spending time together."

"Were we?"

Caden's gaze raked me whole from top to bottom before he narrowed his eyes at me.

"We were...not." I nearly bit my tongue, wincing. Alex, I thought. Why Alex?

"Yes." He said. "Or I'm sure I'd know why you're dripping wet right now."

I sighed and moved sluggishly towards my bed, pulling on my white turtleneck. "Was it Alex?"

"Yeah. He had a feeling you were doing something that you really shouldn't be doing."

When I turned around, Caden had one of my small canvases in his hands, eyebrows drawn together as he stared at it.

"What is that even supposed to mean?" I grumbled, pulling off my socks.

"You didn't finish this." He gestured at the half-finished painting in hand, before answering my question, "It means you were doing something stupid."

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. My hands were cold. Every inch of me felt cold. And I was still jittery from what had happened in the library. I'd stabbed a man in the arm without even wanting to.

"So." Caden broke the silence again. "Where were you?"

Excuses, excuses. But then I thought, I really didn't have to make excuses just because I was exhausted out of my mind.

"It's a long, long story." I eyed him. "One which would require details. And I'm tired, Caden."

He stared at me and one corner of his lips turned up in a slow smirk. My eyes involuntarily flickered down to his black tee, stuck so shamelessly to his chest, and all of a sudden, I was having entirely different plans.

But then Caden had to ruin it because, well, this was Caden.

"I've got all night." He said, pulling out my desk chair and sitting down right in front of me.

Ugh. "I said I'm tired."

The smile he gave me was devilishly knowing. "And I said I've got all night, Anderson." So fucking stubborn. "The sooner you speak, the faster I will take those clothes off you."

A promise. Ugh.

"Fine," I muttered, gave him a stink-eye, and crossing my arms.

And so I told him everything that had happened, from the very start when I'd seen Alexis and to the very end when we'd dashed out of the creepy library.