Ink and Embers

chive, the books, and most importantly, Dr. Voss. She spent hours reading through her father's cryptic notes, but

of a time when her father had been involved in something far larger than she could have imagined. The symbols, the coded lang

pushing her away, even as his presence pulled her closer. He'd been different in the days since-guarde

the room. Dr. Voss was standing at the counter, chatting with a colleague. His posture was stiff, his usual calm dem

his attempts to distance himself, the pull between them was still there-stronger than ever. She

A flicker of something passed between them-something charge

s acting this way, why he was avoiding her when it was clear there was s

he café, her thoughts consumed by

way back to the history department. She'd decided to confront Dr. Voss,

. She hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open. Inside, it was even quieter tha

hadn't heard her enter, or at least, he hadn't acknowledge

ce before she said a word. He turned t

most weary. "I told you before-you don'

swers. I've been reading the notes my father left behind, and they don't

ugh he were weighing her request. Then, with a sigh, he moved toward the bo

in," he said quietly, handing her the book.

ed with age, and the title was barely legible. But as she flipped open to the first page, her e

iments, strange occurrences, and theories about power beyond comprehension. But there was something

Voss. But how? What was t

e?" she asked, her vo

was a flicker of something in his

g of everything. Your father and I... we were involved in something

art racing. "What are you

uld have remained closed. And now, that door is beginning

n cold. "What door? What

. When the lights returned, the air felt different-thicker, heavier. Eliana's breath caught in h

ld come this soon," he m

sked, her voice

d toward the door, his movements quick,

" Eliana demanded,

, the door to the archive slammed

sed in black, his face obscured by a mask

s said, his voice

twists or d