I sat hunched over my notes in the empty auditorium, the sound of my pen scratching against the paper the only noise cutting through the thick silence. Despite my best efforts, my mind kept wandering, a restless feeling tugging at the edges of my thoughts. The stillness of the room, which usually comforted me, felt suffocating today. Maybe it was the strange tension that had been gnawing at me since morning, or maybe it was just one of those days where everything seemed... off.

Just as I was about to brush the unease aside and refocus on my assignment, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the hall. I stiffened, my head snapping up. And there he was.