"Why does it always come back to you?" Alex murmured, thumbing through the fragile pages of his father's journal. The words were faded but clear enough for him to piece together. Each line felt like a new, tangled layer to the mystery. As he read, something dark started to surface—a hint of betrayal hidden between the lines, one that felt personal. It wasn't just family secrets; it was his father's connection to people in the city, some who seemed disturbingly close to Alex's current problems.
Before he could dig deeper, the silence around him was interrupted by a muffled sound—a faint creak from the other side of the library. Alex froze, feeling a chill run down his spine. He quickly shut the journal and slid it back onto the shelf, glancing around the dim room. Shadows danced on the walls as he strained his ears, trying to make sense of the noise.
"Who's there?" he called out, voice low but firm.
