Hinata never used to believe the rumors that certain books were haunted. She spent most nights alone in the university library, surrounded by the dusty hush of paper and the low hum of fluorescent lights. It was comforting—routine. Until tonight.
She was shelving returned books when she noticed a single page fluttering down from the highest shelf, like it had been shoved out by invisible hands. Hinata stooped to pick it up, but the moment her fingers touched the paper, words began to fade in and out of existence on the page, writhing like black worms dissolving in water.
"Help me," the page read, just before the ink vanished completely.
Hinata felt cold sweep over her skin. She glanced around the empty stacks, heart pounding. "Who's there?" she whispered.
No answer came. But in the corner of her vision, she caught the outline of a figure—a girl with pale hair, staring at her through the gaps in the shelves.
When Hinata blinked, the figure was gone.
She shoved the page into her pocket, trying to calm her breath. Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe the late nights were finally catching up to her.
But as she turned to leave the aisle, she saw the book cart had moved. Books were scattered across the floor, and there, lying open atop them, was a novel she'd never seen before. Its pages glowed faintly, the words twisting and reforming like they were alive.
Hinata picked up the book, almost against her will. The title was smudged out, like someone had tried to erase it. But when she turned the first page, she saw the name *Alya* written over and over again in shaky handwriting.
A tear slid down the paper, as though the book itself was crying.
"Hinata…"
The voice was so soft she thought she'd imagined it. But then it came again, trembling, desperate.
"Hinata… don't let me disappear…"
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She clutched the book to her chest and spun around, scanning the shadows. Nothing. Just the dark aisles and the quiet whisper of old pages.
"Who are you?" Hinata breathed.
A faint warmth pulsed from the book, as though something inside it was alive—and afraid.
Hinata swallowed, her pulse thundering in her ears. "What… do you want from me?" she whispered.
And the voice, now closer, right by her ear, answered:
"Remember me. Please… don't let me fade…"