the ghost in library Chapter 3: The Boy With Gray Eyes

The black stone street stretched endlessly in front of them. No end. No exit.

Jennifer walked behind the boy, her friends close behind her. The Faceless people kept staring, but no one spoke. No one blinked. It felt like they were walking through a painting that was slowly dying.

After 5 minutes, the boy stopped in front of a tall door. It had no handle. Only a small keyhole shaped like a skull.

He turned around.

Now, this close, Jennifer could see his face properly. He was dangerously handsome. Sharp jawline. Straight nose. And those gray eyes... they looked old. Like he had seen 1000 years.

“What’s your name?” Jennifer asked before she could stop herself.

The boy stared at her for a second. Then a small smirk appeared on his lips.

“Call me *Asher*,” he said. His voice was calm, but there was something hidden in it. Something dark. “Asher Blackwood.”

“Asher,” Jennifer repeated. The name felt strange on her tongue. Heavy.

Asher pushed the door open. It didn’t make any sound.

“Inside is safe,” he said. “For now.”

The room inside was huge. Books. Thousands of books. But all of them were empty. Blank pages. Dust everywhere. In the center, a single red candle was burning. No wind, but the flame flickered like someone was breathing on it.

Maya walked to a shelf and touched a book. Her hand passed right through it.

“What the...” She pulled her hand back quickly.

Jennifer frowned. “These books... they’re not real?”

Asher didn’t answer. He walked to the window. There was no glass. Just darkness outside. But in that darkness, Jennifer saw movement. Shadows. Hundreds of them. Watching.

“Who are they?” Lucas asked, his voice shaking.

Asher kept his back to them. “Citizens of Nocturne.”

“Why don’t they talk?” Sophia whispered.

This time Asher turned. His gray eyes locked with Jennifer’s.

“Because they forgot how,” he said softly. “When you lose your last secret... you lose your voice.”

A chill ran down Jennifer’s spine.

“Then what happens to them?” she asked.

Asher didn’t answer. He just looked at her like he knew something she didn’t. Something she shouldn’t know yet.

The red candle flickered again. And for a second, Jennifer thought she saw Asher’s shadow move... even though he was standing still.

Before she could ask more, a loud bell rang outside. One. Two. Three.

Asher’s expression changed. His smirk vanished.

“You need to sleep,” he said quickly. “Tomorrow, the first night begins.”

“Sleep? Where?” Ethan asked.

Asher pointed to four beds in the corner. They appeared out of thin air.

Jennifer stared at him. “Who are you, Asher Blackwood?”

Asher walked past her, close enough that she could smell rain and old books on him.

“Someone who’s trying to keep you alive,” he said quietly. Only she could hear it.

Then he blew out the candle.

Darkness swallowed everything.

But in that darkness, Jennifer heard a whisper. Not Asher’s voice. Something else.

_“Night One. She’s here. Let’s play.”_

Jennifer grabbed Maya’s hand under the blanket. Her heart was racing.

She didn’t know where she was. She didn’t know who Asher really was.

But for some reason... she trusted him.

And that scared her more than the ghosts.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***