Tomorrow Was Written

Chapter 1: "Just Another Monday"

"Just Another Monday"

Elena Marlowe had a complicated relationship with mornings. She didn't exactly hate them, but she had never understood why classes had to start so early when perfectly reasonable people were still asleep. Her alarm went off at 6:30 every weekday, and almost every weekday, she turned it off and promised herself she would get up in five minutes. Somehow, those five minutes always became fifteen.

That morning was no different. When Elena finally checked her phone, it was 6:52. “Oh, come on,” she muttered, throwing off the blanket and rushing to get dressed. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail, grabbed her bag, and hurried downstairs, where her mother, Margaret Marlowe, was already making breakfast.

Margaret glanced at the clock and then at Elena. “Did you just wake up?”

“I’ve been awake,” Elena said, reaching for a piece of toast.

Margaret raised an eyebrow.

Elena sighed. “Fine. Five minutes ago.”

Noah Marlowe, her twelve-year-old younger brother, laughed from the table. Elena looked at him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“That was definitely not a ‘nothing’ laugh.”

Noah shrugged and went back to his breakfast.

Elena reached for another piece of toast, but Noah pulled the plate away. “Hey. That’s mine.”

“You have cereal.”

“And?”

“You don’t need both.”

“I want both.”

“It’s one piece of toast, Noah.”

“It’s still mine.”

Margaret shook her head. “Elena, leave your brother’s breakfast alone.”

“Fine.” Elena grabbed her coffee instead. Margaret watched her for a second before asking, “What about Noah’s history project?”

Elena stopped. “What history project?”

“The one you promised to help me with,” Noah said.

“Oh.”

“You forgot.”

“I did not.”

“You just asked what it was.”

Elena sighed. “Okay. I forgot.”

Margaret laughed. “Help him after dinner.”

“I will.”

“And bring bread home.”

Elena stared at her. “Why does everyone keep giving me things to remember?”

Margaret smiled. “Because you forget them.”

Noah started laughing again.

She grabbed her bag and headed out before either of them could say anything else.

The bus to Blackwood University was already crowded. Elena stood near the back with her coffee, checking her phone whenever she could. A message from Sophie appeared.

"Where are you?"

Elena replied, "On the bus. Why?

A second message came almost immediately.

"I have news."

Elena smiled. That was very Sophie.

Sophie Bennett had been Elena’s best friend since their first year at Blackwood, and she always had something to tell her. When Elena arrived on campus, Sophie was waiting outside the history building with two coffees. She handed one over. “You look tired.”

Elena took a sip. “Good morning to you too.”

“I’m just being honest.”

“Honesty before eight in the morning should be illegal.”

Sophie laughed. “Someone has to keep you grounded.”

“I’m grounded enough.”

“Sure.”

They started walking toward class, and Sophie lowered her voice. “Okay, so this is about Daniel.”

Elena groaned. “Of course it is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve been talking about Daniel for weeks.”

“Because something is finally happening.”

“What happened?”

“He talked to me after class yesterday.”

Elena waited. “And?”

“And he remembered something I told him.”

“That’s the news?”

“Yes.”

“What did he remember?”

“My coffee order.”

Elena tried not to laugh.

Sophie narrowed her eyes. “Don’t.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“You’re about to.”

“So he remembered your coffee order,” Elena said.

“That means he listens, Elena.”

“I never said he doesn’t.”

“You’re ruining this.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Not really.”

Sophie shook her head. “You’re terrible.”

“And yet you still love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Their first class was History of Modern Europe with Professor Wells. Elena actually liked history, but being interested in a subject did not mean she was always awake enough to understand it. About twenty minutes into the lecture, Sophie leaned over and whispered, “Are you listening?”

Elena kept her eyes on her notebook. “Yes.”

Sophie looked down. “Then why have you written France three times?”

Elena glanced at the page. “Maybe France is important.”

Sophie covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Professor Wells stopped speaking. “Something amusing, Miss Bennett?”

Sophie immediately sat straight. “No, Professor.”

He gave them a suspicious look before continuing.

As soon as he turned back to the board, Sophie whispered, “You almost got us in trouble.”

“You were the one laughing.”

“Because you wrote France three times.”

“Maybe I really like France.”

“You don’t even know what you’re writing.”

Elena looked at her notebook again and tried not to smile. “Just pay attention.”

At lunch, they went to the student center. Sophie brought up a party happening Friday almost immediately.

“You’re coming.”

Elena shook her head. “I have work.”

“You always have work.”

“I need the extra hours.”

“You also need to have fun.”

“I have fun.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow. “When?”

Elena thought about it. “Sleeping.”

Sophie laughed. “That doesn’t count.”

“It absolutely counts.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“When you’re tired enough, sleeping is a full activity.”

“You need a life.”

“I’ll think about the party.”

Sophie pointed at her. “That means no.”

“It means I’ll think about it.”

“You’ve already decided.”

Elena smiled. “Maybe.”

After lunch, Elena had a free period, so she headed to the library. She liked studying there because it was quiet, and she could usually work without being interrupted. The main library was one of the oldest buildings on campus, with tall windows, dark wooden shelves, and floors that creaked whenever someone walked too quickly. Elena had spent so much time there that most of the familiar noises barely registered anymore.

She found a table near the history section and opened her laptop. About an hour later, someone stopped beside her.

“Is this seat taken?”

Elena looked up and recognized Adrian Cross from two of her history classes. They had barely spoken before. He was quiet without seeming unfriendly and usually kept to himself.

“No. Go ahead.”

Adrian sat down with a couple of books. They worked quietly for a while before he glanced at her screen.

“Professor Wells’s assignment?”

“Unfortunately.”

“I found a few useful sources.”

Elena looked over. “Really?”

“Yeah. I can send them to you.”

“That would help. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

They returned to their work. It had been a short conversation, but Elena was surprised by how easy it had been to talk to him.

By late afternoon, Elena headed back to the library for her shift. Mrs. Harris was already behind the circulation desk. She had worked at the library for years and seemed to know every rule and every student who had ever tried to break one.

“How was your day?” Mrs. Harris asked.

“Long.”

Mrs. Harris smiled. “That’s university for you.”

Elena looked toward the shelves. “What needs to be done?”

Mrs. Harris pointed toward a cart of returned books.

Elena stared at it. “Did those multiply?”

“Not unless books have learned something I haven’t.”

Elena laughed. “Great.”

The evening was ordinary. She sorted returns, helped students find books, answered questions, and reminded one student that food wasn’t allowed in the reading area. Sophie stopped by before heading home and leaned against the circulation desk.

“Last chance. Friday?”

Elena smiled. “I’ll think about it.”

Sophie laughed. “That means no.”

“It means I’ll think about it.”

“You already said no in your head.”

“Good night, Sophie.”

“Good night. And you’re coming.” Sophie replied.

“We’ll see.”

By ten, the library was almost empty. Rain had started outside, tapping lightly against the tall windows. Elena didn’t mind the quiet. She actually preferred it. She was checking returns when she noticed the entrance to the west wing at the far end of the library.

It was blocked by a chain and a sign saying the area was closed. She had passed it hundreds of times and barely noticed it anymore.

Mrs. Harris noticed her. “You’ve never been in there, right?”

Elena shook her head.

Mrs. Harris glanced toward the chained entrance. “Good.”

Elena frowned. “Why did you say that like I was planning to go in?”

“The wing is old, and it’s closed for a reason.”

“What reason?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

Elena smiled. “You’re making it sound mysterious.”

“I’m telling you to stay out of there.”

“I wasn’t planning to go anywhere near it.”

“Good.”

At around 11:30, Mrs. Harris gathered her things. “Don’t forget to lock the front doors.”

“I know.”

“And check the computers.”

“I know.”

Mrs. Harris picked up her bag, then glanced toward the west wing again. “Stay in the main section tonight.”

Elena noticed the look. “Why?”

“Just do me a favor.”

“Is something wrong?”

Mrs. Harris hesitated. “No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Elena watched her for a moment, but Mrs. Harris only gave her a small nod. “Good night, Elena.”

“Good night.”

After Mrs. Harris left, Elena finished the last few tasks and sat down at a nearby table to read. The rain had gotten heavier, and the library was completely quiet. She checked the clock. 11:47. Thirteen minutes left.

She opened her laptop, but a few minutes later the screen froze. Elena clicked the mouse, pressed a few keys, and sighed. “Of course. Why would tonight be easy?”

Nothing happened.

She tried again, then gave up and packed her things. She could finish the assignment at home.

She was almost at the front desk when she noticed a faint light at the far end of the library.

Elena stopped.

The light was coming from the direction of the west wing.

She stared at it for a few seconds, trying to think of a reasonable explanation. Maybe someone had forgotten to turn a light off. Maybe Mrs. Harris had left something behind.

Then she heard a soft sound from somewhere beyond the shelves.

Elena went still.

It sounded like a page turning.

She looked toward the exit, then back at the light.

Mrs. Harris’s warning came back to her.

Stay in the main section tonight.

Elena tightened her grip on her bag. She should leave. She knew she should. She had absolutely no reason to find out what was back there, and every reason to go home.

Then she heard another faint rustle.

Elena took a slow breath and looked toward the chained entrance.