The scent of old paper and dust hung heavy in the air as I scanned the anatomy textbook, its diagrams of flayed muscles and exposed bone fascinating in their complexity. A soft rustle caught my ear, and I glanced up to see a person – new, I noted with interest – slipping a book onto the shelf.

They had a certain vibrancy about them, a spark in their eyes that hinted at a spirit not easily broken. Intriguing.

"Lost, are we?" My voice was a gentle purr, a stark contrast to the gruesome images dancing in my mind.

My gaze lingered on them for a moment, taking in every detail. A potential subject? A new puzzle to unravel? Only time would tell. But one thing was certain: Alicia Rossi had piqued my interest in a way few others had.