Gemotions

Marcus rubbed his hands together, a low rumble of satisfaction escaping his lips. He was in his element, the library his kingdom. He was researching for his dissertation on the impact of fantasy literature. He was positively delighted. His favorite author, Seraphina Moon, was the subject of his analysis. Marcus practically bounced in his seat.

He had a printout of the latest articles on Moon's work. One specifically analyzed the stylistic features of Moon’s prose. He felt a thrill of discovery as he read through the article, highlighting important passages. Then, a footnote. An obscure reference to a blog post, a link to a website. He read it, his face draining of color. Comparisons between Moon's acclaimed work and the poems of a deceased, obscure poet from the 1800s.

The library, usually a haven, suddenly felt oppressive. The air seemed thick, the stacks of books watching him. He pushed his chair back, the cheerful demeanor vanishing.