28. LOST IN TIME

Alina wandered aimlessly through the old library of her college, her feet moving of their own accord while her mind remained a million miles away. She had spent the last few weeks preparing for the upcoming Chinese-themed literary event, pouring her energy into every last detail. From securing the authors to getting the final approval from Mrs. Henley, everything had finally fallen into place. Yet, despite her triumph, an unshakable restlessness clung to her, driving her to seek solace in the quiet corners of the library.

The sun was descending in the sky, casting a soft, golden glow through the large arched windows. The library was nearly empty, save for a few scattered students lost in their own worlds. Alina found herself gravitating toward the back of the library, where the ancient books gathered dust and the towering shelves cast long, eerie shadows.

She reached out to steady herself against one of the statues lining the corridor, supporying herself with her hands. Her fingers brushed against cold marble, and the statue shifted slightly beneath her touch. A soft click echoed in the silence, followed by the creaking of ancient hinges. Startled, Alina stepped back and watched as a hidden door slowly opened before her, revealing a darkened chamber beyond.

Her eyes widening as if she has seen a magic spell.

Curiosity sparked within her, banishing the fatigue that had weighed her down. Her mismatched blue and green eyes, a striking contrast against the dim light, gleamed with intrigue as she stepped forward, peeking her head inside and slowly bending herself into the chamber. What lay beyond the door took her breath away, a forgotten chamber, untouched by time.

Her breathing ceased as her fingers tightened into a small fist against her heart.

The room was vast, its dust-covered walls adorned with relics and artifacts from another era. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and aged wood, and the silence was almost reverent.

Alina’s mouth dropped open in awe as she ventured further into the chamber, her fingers brushing against the dust-laden surfaces of ancient books and trinkets.

“What is this place?” she whispered, her soft, husky voice echoing faintly in the chamber.

Her words were swallowed by the vastness of the room, but the sound stirred something within her, a sense of wonder, of discovery. She felt as though she had stepped into another world, one far removed from the hustle and bustle of college life.

Faint, familiar giggles suddenly echoed through the chamber, jolting Alina from her thoughts. She turned on her heel, searching for the source of the sound. Her heart quickened with excitement as she noticed a spiraling staircase at the far end of the room. Without hesitation, she began to climb, her footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust on the steps. Her heart thudding with excitement, rush and fear.

At the top of the stairs, she found a small balcony overlooking a hidden garden, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Alina gasped at the sight before her. The garden was a secret paradise, nestled within the ancient walls of the college. It was wild, untouched, with overgrown flowers and ivy creeping up the stone walls. She hadn’t even known this place existed.

She leaned over the balcony, heaving a deep breath as she took in the beauty of the garden below. The scent of blooming flowers reached her, carried on a gentle breeze. Her eyes, always drawn to romantic scenes, soon landed on a couple seated beneath a sprawling tree. They seemed out of place, like a living painting amidst the fog that began to drift into the garden.

Alina squinted, trying to make out the figures more clearly. As the fog shifted, her breath caught in her throat. The couple under the tree was none other than Caelan and, herself.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She blinked, certain she was mistaken, but the vision remained. She could see herself leaning close to Caelan, her hand reaching up to gently stroke his long, white hair. His grey eyes softened as he gazed at her, a smile tugging at his lips.

Time seemed to stop for Alina. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, her thoughts scattering in a thousand directions. How was this possible? How could she be there, in that garden, with Caelan? It felt so real, yet so utterly impossible.

For a moment, she forgot where she was, her entire being consumed by the vision before her. It was as though she was watching a scene from a dream, a dream that felt far too real. The fog thickened around the couple, obscuring them from view. Alina’s breath hitched as the vision began to fade, slipping through her fingers like sand.

“Alina!” Mrs. Henley’s sharp voice shattered the silence, reverberating off the ancient walls. Alina’s trance broke abruptly, her body jolting back to reality. She turned frantically, searching for the couple under the tree, but they were gone. The garden was empty, the scene vanished as if it had never existed.

Panic surged through her as she stumbled back down the staircase, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t understand what she had seen, what she had felt. It was too surreal, too impossible. And yet, the image of her and Caelan together lingered in her mind, a haunting memory that refused to fade.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found herself face to face with Mrs. Henley. The older woman’s face was a mask of fury, her hands planted firmly on her hips.

“Nobody is allowed here!” Mrs. Henley’s voice was low and controlled, but the anger behind it was unmistakable. Alina’s heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She had trespassed into a place she had no right to be, and worse, she had lost herself in a dream, a vision, that shouldn’t have existed.

“I’m sorry,” Alina stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn’t bring herself to look Mrs. Henley in the eyes, her mind still reeling from what she had witnessed. What had she seen? Why had it felt so real? And why had it involved Caelan, of all people?

Mrs. Henley’s stern expression softened slightly as she looked at Alina’s pale face, her mismatched eyes wide with lingering fear and confusion. “This place is off-limits for a reason, Alina. You shouldn’t be here.”

Alina nodded numbly, her thoughts still trapped in that hidden garden, in that impossible scene. She couldn’t shake the feeling that what she had seen was more than just a figment of her imagination. But how could she explain that to Mrs. Henley? How could she even begin to understand it herself?

Without another word, Mrs. Henley turned and began to lead Alina out of the chamber, her steps quick and precise. Alina followed in silence, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. As they exited the hidden door, she cast one last glance back at the chamber, half-expecting to see the vision again. But there was nothing, only shadows and dust, as if the entire encounter had been nothing more than a dream.

But deep down, Alina knew it was more than that. Something had changed within her, something she couldn’t yet comprehend. And as she stepped back into the familiar world of the library, she couldn’t help but wonder what secrets the ancient chamber still held, and whether she would ever uncover the truth behind the vision that had shaken her to her core.

She turned behind to get a glimpse of the now closed chamber and began walking behind her teacher. As if promising to come back.