Monday.
9:02 A.
M.
Blackthorn University’s library was known for one particular rule.
Silence.
Not the enforced kind.
The accepted one.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting long ribbons of color over the book-filled shelves.
Sam and Mehjabeen sat across from each other at the large wooden table in the center of the library.
The blue project folder lay between them, untouched.
“So…” Mehjabeen finally said, tapping her fingers against the wood.
“Where do we begin?”
Sam surveyed the library.
“We already have.”
She frowned.
“I asked where.”
“You asked when.”
She blinked.
“…That’s annoyingly clever.”
“I wasn’t trying to be.”
Five minutes later…
Ollie burst in with a mountain of books balanced on his arms.
“I come bearing knowledge!”
Three books tumbled from his arms, one landing square on Ethan’s foot.
“Oww!”
Claire didn’t even look up from her novel.
“That’s exactly what I expected.”
Ollie sighed dramatically.
“Nobody appreciates my sacrifices.”
“You tripped over air.”
“I prefer to think the floor attacked me.”
Even Mehjabeen laughed, very quietly.
Sam caught it.
He said nothing.
The five of them gathered around the same table.
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
“So…
What’s everyone’s assignment?”
Claire was first.
“A librarian.”
“Ours is a janitor.”
Ollie looked crestfallen.
“I wanted a spy.”
“You got someone who mops floors.”
“I can dream.”
Finally…
Mehjabeen glanced at Sam.
“Ours is…”
She hesitated.
“…Different.”
Ollie immediately leaned forward.
“Different how?”
Sam calmly placed the paper on the table.
They all read the same sentence.
Observe the person observing you.
Silence.
Ollie looked up.
“…That’s either incredibly deep…”
“…Or someone forgot to finish writing.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“No professor makes mistakes like that.”
Mehjabeen nodded.
“I agree.”
Ethan scratched the back of his neck.
“So…
Who’s observing you?”
Nobody answered.
Professor Holloway’s voice echoed through the library.
“Interesting question.”
The group turned to see him standing near one of the bookshelves, holding three books.
“I was hoping someone would ask.”
Mehjabeen stood.
“Professor…
Is our assignment a mistake?”
He smiled.
“What makes you think that?”
“It doesn’t identify a subject.”
“Perhaps…” He set the books back on the shelf “…that is the subject.”
Before anyone could ask another question, he simply walked away.
Ollie stared after him.
“…Your professor enjoys being mysterious.”
Claire corrected him.
“No.
He enjoys watching people become curious.”
Sam quietly smiled.
The morning passed quickly.
Everyone worked on their assignments, occasionally helping or annoying each other.
Mainly Ollie, who somehow convinced Ethan that psychology could identify the most likely survivor of a zombie apocalypse.
Claire eventually closed her book.
“I’ve reached a conclusion.”
Ethan looked hopeful.
“About zombies?”
“No.
About you.”
“…Should I be worried?”
“Probably.”
Leon would have loved this group, Sam thought, smiling to himself.
At exactly 12:14 P.
M…
Sam set down his pencil.
His gaze fell on the far corner of the library, where a young man sat alone.
Black hoodie, messy hair, and an open textbook.
He hadn’t moved for hours.
Mehjabeen followed his line of sight.
“What is it?”
“That student.”
“The one reading?”
“He isn’t reading.”
She looked back.
“He hasn’t turned a page.”
“Maybe he’s thinking.”
Sam shook his head.
“No.”
“Then?”
“He’s waiting.”
“For whom?”
“I don’t know.”
She studied the student for a long moment.
At first, she saw nothing wrong with him.
Then she noticed his bag.
Still zipped.
His notebook.
Untouched.
Even the coffee beside him was full.
He wasn’t studying.
He was pretending to study.
“…You’re right.”
Sam didn’t respond.
He simply turned back to his notes.
An hour later…
The student stood.
Without reading a single page, he picked up his bag and left.
Nothing happened.
No meeting, no conversation.
Just…gone.
“That’s it?”
Sam nodded.
“That’s it.”
“What was he waiting for?”I still don’t know.”
Claire closed her notebook.
“But now we know he wasn’t waiting anymore.”
Everyone looked at her.
She shrugged.
“Observation.”
Sam smiled.
“Exactly.”
For the first time…
Mehjabeen understood.
Observation wasn’t about finding answers.
It was about noticing questions.
The library bell signaled closing time.
Students gathered their things as the five friends walked toward the exit.
Outside, the sky had turned a soft orange.
“So…” Ollie stretched.
“Same time tomorrow?”
Ethan nodded.
“I’m in.”
Claire sighed.
“I suppose I don’t have much choice.”
“You do.”
“I know.”
“…I’ll come anyway.”
Everyone looked at Mehjabeen.
She nodded once.
“Agreed.”
Finally, their eyes turned to Sam.
He adjusted his glasses.
“I’ll be here.”
Ollie grinned.
“Congratulations.”
“What?”
“We’re officially a team now.”
Nobody disagreed.
Because somehow…
It was true.
That evening, Sam returned home.
After changing out of his coat, he opened the blue psychology folder one last time.
Something slid onto his desk.
A small white card.
He stiffened, certain it hadn’t been there before.
Slowly, he picked it up.
Only one sentence had been written.
Good.
You brought four witnesses.
Sam read it twice.
Then a third time.
He didn’t panic.
He didn’t call anyone.
He simply looked out of his bedroom window.
Beyond the gardens, and beyond the estate walls, London stretched on into the horizon.
Someone…
Somewhere…
Already knew the names of the people closest to him.
Sam quietly placed the card inside the folder.
Then whispered,
“…Now you’ve made it personal.”
Outside, the wind carried away the last light of day.
And somewhere in London…
Someone smiled.
End of Chapter 10
TO BE CONTINUED…..