While walking to the help-desk, Crescent noted down the number of CCTV cameras around and their angles.
At the same time, the old lady came back holding books in her hand.
"Here you go. You wouldn't need more sources to compile a good presentation."
"Alright, thank you so much." Crescent smiled and took it from her to issue them and that old lady went from there.
Crescent walked to the help desk.
A girl was sitting there, way younger than the old lady. She was probably in her twenties right now.
Their eyes naturally met and Crescent smiled at her, getting a smile in return.
"What may I help you with?"
Now feeling much liberty, Crescent passed the books to that girl behind the computer. "I would like to issue these books."
"Sure. Pass me your identity card." Crescent did as asked and leaned a little over the desk.
She initiated the conversation. "It is such a nice library. I have never come across one as huge as this before." Crescent gaze went to the designation plate kept on the table.
Library Assistant.
"I know. I have been working here for the past one year and it has been an amazing experience." The library assistant smiled as she filled the details in the computer system.
"Oh really?" Crescent acted surprise, "You are really lucky. As a book lover, I myself would love to just be engrossed here."
"I can understand." Crescent had checked the waters.
The Library Assistant was way more easy-going than that old lady.
"I have heard before that this library is unlike any other library."
"Yes, here, you would find sections covering all the subjects. Besides that, sections are formed for better understanding."
"Oh."
"There are private rooms and many other facilities for students. There is a private section as well where not all can go."
"Uh? What does that mean?"
The Library Assistant seemed very happy and proud to advertise the library as she gave the details. "That section contains either extremely rare books or the ones that are delicate. These books you are getting is from there. It's the original copy so don't ruin it."
"So can we not go in there?"
"No. Only the ones with the authorization can go. You would need a pass."
"What kind of authorization?" Crescent ensured that her questions were not immediate and she appeared casual while asking them.
"One can get it from either the trustee of the library or from the Principal. It's a very long process and ninety-nine percent times, the application gets rejected by the Principal."
"That's too bad."
The lady behind the desk chuckled. "I can understand you. I am interning here but even I couldn't go there."
Crescent barely nodded as her gaze deepened.
The Library Assistant took the stamp out and stamped the card attached to last page of the book with today's date. "Its done. Here you go."
"Thank you so much." Crescent smiled.
While walking downstairs, Crescent was about to call Misty when she found her sight. Putting the phone down, she waited for Misty to approach her.
"You done?" Crescent noted that her hands were empty.
"Yeah, didn't get what I need." Misty shrugged and walked along with her.
"Okay." Crescent did not give it much thought and instead asked, "Have you ever heard before about the private sections?"
"The one which needs authorization here? Yes." She casually nodded.
"I didn't know that before." Was it such a hyped fact around here?
"Even I wouldn't have had my grandmother not been the trustee of this University."
Crescent looked at her. "Was she? Then did she have the pass?"
"She had it if I am not wrong." Misty thought about it.
Crescent stopped at once. "Can I get it?" She really needed a way to enter. It would be good if she could go without using any other medium.
Misty sadly smiled, "Unfortunately, she disappeared a few years ago. Don't know where she is now."
"Oh-I am sorry!" Crescent continued walking.
Misty replied, "Don't be. I have moved past it."
Crescent sighed, realizing there was no other way.
As the night set again, Crescent cautiously sneaked out again. She knew this was the move that she could not pull again and again. But she would need to let the university to spend another night in darkness.
Moreover, the lights were really not an issue for her. It were just the CCTV cameras. She wouldn't want to get caught sneaking into that private section.
Crescent had for a moment thought about letting Misty know that she would be going to the library. But for what exactly?
It wasn't like their course had begun fully, also they had been to the library in the evening already. And if she were to tell Misty that she was going to read some novels, she would have definitely tagged along.
The best option was to sneak out again.
Crescent purposefully walked faster. Her plan for the night was just to find a way to enter that section because she didn't believe that it would be easy.
The moon lightened the night sky with thousands of stars tonight. It would have been quite a sight to savour if she wouldn't be almost running to get to where she wanted.
However it happened too sudden. There was a fast sweep of wind somewhere near her. Crescent stopped and instantly her gaze went to all the directions.
There was just silence.
Even the leaves of the trees showed no effect of having felt what she did. She was sure she felt something. It was almost as if something crossed her with inhumane speed.
Paranoid, Crescent walked a few steps out of the bushes and looked around. She must not forget that she was weaponless and had nothing as such to protect herself in case the danger greeted her.
She waited a few minutes there, to see if there was going to be something or not.
Nothing.
Just pure silence.
Probably it was all just a natural wind.
Gathering the reassurance, she again directed her feet to the the library.
Crescent had thought it already. She would try her best to not come in sight of anybody for extra precautions. However, if that happened, she was already prepared with the answers.
She slowed down her steps as she held the handle of the glass door. The otherwise automatic door was working manual in the absence of electricity.
But she was pretty sure that this library would be secured tightly. It wasn't just possible that the authorities wouldn't have laid back-up security plan in case of any such issue.
The only problem was that Crescent didn't know what could it be. She would need to be extra careful. Slowly opening the door, her focus shifted to the right side of corridor from where a light flickered.
She could hear the distant murmers indicating there were students here.
She slipped into the left side before they could have seen her and waited for them to leave.
"Do you think it makes any sense that all our money goes into the university which can not even maintain the electricity?" a boy grumbled as his friends laughed.
The voice came nearer and eventually it went farther. The slid of the glass door and no other voice came. Crescent cautiously walked up to the staircase and went up.
Even in the second floor, she could make out the students sitting in the reading room. Crescent ignored them and instantly went up to the third floor.
The scenario was a little different in the third floor. Unlike the first floor and even second, it was pretty much lit.