The soles of her shoes were worn to almost nothing by the time she turned a corner and scampered into an unoccupied house. The rain would obscure her footprints, which would confuse her pursuers for the time being.

“Come on, Astrid,” she said to herself, her voice echoing throughout the house. “You can’t stay here.”

Five days have passed since the teenager slipped away from the ones that claimed to be her family, and not once did she regret her decision. Her entire life had been a lie, from the occupations of her parents to what was hidden behind the basement door-

Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps on the other side of the back door. Several voices could be heard at a slow but terrifying crescendo.

“Sir, are you sure she went this way?” someone asked.

“I’m positive,” the other replied. “This is the only place of residence within several miles that’s not inhabited.”

Her blood ran cold. Astrid recognized that voice more so than anyone else’s. Nicklaus Lavigne, her father. Without looking back at the door, she dashed towards the front of the house, certain that they haven’t reached yet. She couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t.

The door was slightly ajar by the time she reached it, though she hardly took notice of it. She slipped through it, sprinting across the yard and across the road into the forest.

“Father, she went this way,” someone called out.

I won’t go back there, Astrid thought as she continued running. I refuse to be imprisoned after the things that I have seen.

Lightning could be seen streaking across the sky as the forest gave way to a weed-infested parking lot. The rain had ceased, but it wouldn’t be long before it started up once more. With a shaky breath, Astrid looked slightly to her left and noticed a three-story building covered with ivy.

“An abandoned library?” she’d say to herself, slowly making her way across the cracked cement.

By the time she arrived at the half-broken entrance door, it started to drizzle. Looking back to reassure herself, she sighed with relief before heading inside, careful not to disturb the flawed door.

The interior of the library was dark, though it wasn’t that difficult to maneuver around the bookcases surrounding her. Eventually she came across a reading nook in a far corner, which was occupied with dusty beanbag chairs.

“This is perfect,” she said to herself, setting her backpack down on the carpeted floor. “I can finally rest without worry.”

Astrid plopped herself down on a dark blue beanbag chair, causing the dust to billow up around her. She’d cough and wave the dust away as another streak of lightning flashed in the sky.

“A nap doesn’t… sound like a bad idea,” she’d say between yawns. “Then I’ll explore… this place...”

She would lay her head down on the chair, closing her eyes. Moments later, she was fast asleep, though something strange was happening in the library. Several books were starting to glow, the brightest being one that leaned against the beanbag chair that Astrid occupied.

“Young one,” an angelic voice would call out. “Now is not the time to sleep….”