Wednesday. 3:22 p.m.
The school library smelled of old books and cheap cleaner.
Alex walked in during the last period.
No uniform. Black coat. Hands in pockets.
The librarian, Pani Kowalska looked up from her desk.
Recognized him.
Smiled.
"Alex? You're back?"
He nodded.
"Just visiting."
She waved him through.
He took the back row.
Same computer he used to type the first chapters.
He sat.
Logged in with an old guest account.
Opened the school's internal directory.
Searched.
Found her.
Katarzyna Lis.
English teacher.
Class 3B.
Same room he used to sit in the back of.
She was 32 now.
Still wore those tight sweaters.
Still graded papers with red ink.
Still looked down on "genre trash."
Alex closed the directory.
Stood.
Walked to room 312.
Door open.
She was alone.
Grading.
Red pen moving fast.
He stepped in.
Closed the door.
Locked it.
She looked up.
Froze.
"Alex Thorn."
Her voice was flat.
Surprised.
He walked to her desk.
Sat on the edge.
