Derek broke into a full sprint, the cracked pavement blurring beneath his boots.
The library towered ahead, blackened at the edges from fire and collapse, its once-proud glass façade now a gaping mouth of broken teeth. Half the roof had caved in, burying the western wing under steel beams and shattered brick. The remaining structure leaned like a drunk on its last leg.
Derek's heart pounded as he closed the distance, his mind grinding through thoughts faster than his legs could carry him.
The thought barely formed before his boots hit the crumbled steps. The air smelled of burning wood, ash, and something fouler—rotting flesh. It made him gag, but he ignored it, not giving in to his stomach.
