Off you go!

After taking the elevator back up to the ground floor, the librarian on duty from before flashes you both a smile. Is it your imagination, or does it seem like she knows something?

The restaurant is only a short walk aways, and you pass the time with idle chatter, largely ignoring the subject at hand and just talking about yourselves.

You learn that Kim is studying fashion design, she's the same year as you, and she lives off campus at a pretty nice apartment complex just a walk aways from yours.

You quickly arrive and are seated at a booth in the back of the restaurant. It's not too crowded, seeing as it's still a little early for dinner.

As you take your seat across from Kim you fidget a little, struggling to find a position that both hides your situation and is comfortable enough. You're trying your hardest to avoid being obvious; even if Kim is fully aware of your plight, you're still pretty embarrassed about it all.

The waitress arrives to take your order. You go for a spicy tuna roll and Kim gets a simple salmon roll. Keeping it chill in light of the recent excitement.

You sort of just look at each other for a moment. You smile slightly and Kim raises her eyebrows and brings them back down again with a slightly amused look. The message you're sending each other is clear: how ridiculous is this?

"So..." you begin, not entirely sure how to broach the subject, but aware that you need to. "How did you find yourself caught up in all of this in the first place?"

Kim lets out a sputtering breath with her lips pursed. "It didn't make a lot more sense than today did, honestly. I just... two weeks ago, I went out for a walk in the woods, just as a break from studying, and I went to use the old bathrooms by the football practice field on the south end of campus. Have you seen them?"

You nod. "They're definitely old, you're brave."

She puts on a defensive pout. So cute... "I had to go, okay? But anyway, when I sat down, my phone started buzzing like crazy and I heard like a loud banging from towards the entrance. I was super freaked out so I waited a minute and then checked outside the stall. The door was closed, and when I went to try it, it was like bolted shut or something, it wouldn't even move when I pushed on it."

The waitress comes by to give you both your water and Kim pauses abruptly. You both look up and say thanks as you take your drinks. She walks away and Kim resumes.

"So I checked my phone because it had been going off a ton, and I had like 4 texts from some unknown number, that basically were like 'If you want to get out then go check the maintenance closet. Follow instructions and don't tell anybo...'" she trails off and you tilt your head. She shakes her head and continues. "Sorry I zoned out. But anyway, I went to check the maintenance closet, which was super dusty and didn't look like anybody had touched it in years, and inside was that fucking belt, with a note telling me to put it on."

Kim fidgets around in her seat a little before continuing. "So I did, and the door clicked, and when I tried it that time it opened. And nobody was around outside that I could see. I was freaking out, so I just ran back to my place and locked to the door. And nothing happened that night so I just went to bed. But when I went to class the next day, I got another message, that told me to