Books of the Dead by Morris Fenris Page B

at Mr. Stevenson. Her puzzle pieces didn’t fit. Why, who, when and where didn’t make sense. She was going around in circles and coming back at the same spot; that she could understand. She felt dejected as there was no other way that she could go from there. The situation was just like her dream and she was stuck in it. Even though she knew that it was Mr. Summers who questioned Nora, and it was him who took the year book. Yet, there was no way she could question him on that. She knew she had to find a way very soon.
    If she couldn’t confront her professor, the only to find out about him was through the students. Nothing could be kept hidden within the premises of the university. Even if there was a slight rumor, it would spread like wildfire. So if there was something about the aged professor, it would be known, but going about it could be difficult. Going about asking about a professor could come off as creepy, and if caught, it would guarantee punishment.
    There was a lot of planning in her mind: whom to ask or what would be the right source. She could ask Kelly to help her, but then she didn’t want Zoë or Camille to know. Things were already a bit out of her hand to control, and Merly didn’t want to make things worse. The chill in the air was back and she hurriedly walked back to her dorm. Merly wasn’t feeling all that irritated anymore. She knew some way would work out if she tried. The only regret she had was that she was unable to concentrate very much in her class, and her mind drifted. She liked going to the classes, listening to her teachers speak, but the recent turn of events was providing a distraction and that displeased her and she wanted for things to go back to normal, but all that was left for her was to sigh and think back.
    Kelly was standing in front of her door when Merly arrived. She was pushing a fairly large box in front of her door, but stopped when she saw Merly coming towards her. “Someone left this for you. It was in front of our door so I took it in, but it is addressed to you,” Kelly said. Merly didn’t take the box in. She took her pocket knife out and cut the tape that secured the packaging. There inside lay more books on spirits, souls and evocation. Merly harshly pushed the box away and separated herself from it.
    There was no peace for Merly at that moment, but she desperately craved it. The act of anonymously sending books to her address gave her the creeps. Someone knew her address and was doing it on purpose to scare Merly out, and she was sure of that. The incident occurred twice in a row, and Merly didn’t want to take the incident very lightly.
    Kelly stood there the whole time and saw the ordeal that Merly was going through. A layer of clear discomfort was on her face upon seeing the way Merly separated herself from the book, and she wanted to help. Kelly was aware and knew that Nora was not in the dorm and Merly might need someone to support her. Kelly invited Merly in, “Leave them be. You don’t need them I suppose,” she said and Merly didn’t contradict.
    Once inside, she saw that Zoë was not there and Kelly informed her that she was out with her friend. There were numerous things that Merly wanted to tell her, but she started with the basic. She told her about the anonymous delivery of the books, the missing criminology books, Nora leaving and about Zoë and Camille. As a part of the promise, Merly omitted the part in the library or what Mr. Stevenson told her.
    Kelly listened to her very patiently. Merly could see there was a change in expression when she mentioned the growing closeness between Zoë and Camille, but she didn’t add anything.
    “Yes, Camille is my friend and she takes interest in this stuff, but that is all I know,” is the only thing she said, but after a few moments of pause, she asked Merly again, “Did Zoë return those books to you?”
    Merly kept silent and Kelly knew what the answer was.
    All the while, Merly played in her head