As Sage reached for the coin, her fingers brushed his. A spark, bright and sharp, leapt between them. In that instant, the bookstore's humming grew into a roar. The books on the shelves began to glow with a faint, pulsing light, and the shadows in the corners of the room stretched and shifted, taking on the forms of creatures that definitely weren't human.
It happened on a Tuesday, just as the sun was dipping behind the jagged peaks of the nearby mountains. A man walked in, his presence immediately making the narrow aisles feel smaller. He was Rome Baker, a local with eyes that seemed to hold the same deep, restless energy as the surrounding woods. raylin
Rome shook his head, his gaze locked on hers. "It’s a key. And it looks like you’re the only one who can turn it." As Sage reached for the coin, her fingers brushed his
"It’s not just a map, is it?" she whispered, the air around them suddenly tasting like ozone. The books on the shelves began to glow
"I’m looking for something specific," Rome said, his voice a low rumble. "A book that isn't supposed to exist."