The rain pattered against the windows as I sat on my beanbag chair, rewatching my favorite TV show.

The main character was reading a book in a pretty library, but I guess rewatching a show I already knew every word of wasn’t particularly exciting though, because soon I found myself drifting off.

When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the smell. Old books. I furrowed my brow. That wasn’t what my room smelled like. Musty, sure, but not “old book” musty. I reached for my glasses, then frowned. I hadn’t taken them off before falling asleep… But then why were they placed on the table in front of me?

I put them on, and everything came into focus.

I was in a library, a giant oak bookshelf against one wall and tall door opposite. The long dark table I was sitting at was piled with books and papers, and there was a large globe on the floor. Most of the walls were floor to ceiling windows, with gilded edges and fancy designs.

It was the most peaceful place I’d ever been. Or it would’ve been, if I hadn’t been freaking out.

Because this was the same library as the one in the TV show I had been watching. How? I didn’t know.

I got up from the armchair I was sitting in.

It was the exact same color as my beanbag chair.

I looked out the windows. It wasn’t raining, but there was a thick layer of glittering snow on the ground. Winter birch trees stood quietly for as far as I could see.

I made my way to the door, thinking it would lead to another room.

I was mistaken.

As soon as I opened the door, a cold breeze blew right through my clothes. I shivered, looking out towards the woods. I had thought maybe the trees were in just one area, but now, as I stepped outside, I could see that they stretched out in every direction.

Why would there be a library in the middle of the woods?

Then slowly, out of the corner of my eyes, I saw mist creeping out through the trees. I turned to see, but it disappeared. I narrowed my eyes.

That didn’t happen in the show. Wait, what?What was I talking about?

I had just fallen asleep in the chair, reading. Right?

I shook my head, confused. It felt like two parts of my brain were warring back and forth for domination.

Weirded out, I decided to walk along the perimeter of the building to see if there was another one, trailing my hand against the wall.

There was in fact a second structure, I found after crunching my way to the back of the library. These shoes were definitely going for fashion over practicality.

The other building was smaller and slightly apart from the library, but there was smoke coming up from the chimney. The promise of fire reminded my limbs that I was cold. I took my hand away from the wall and hugged myself in an effort to warm up, but again, the mist appeared in my peripheral. Again I whipped my head around to catch it, but it retreated just as fast.

I furrowed my brow but sped up. The mist gave me an uncomfortable sense of foreboding, and as I approached the building, it appeared more frequently.

I focused my eyes ahead, but I was slowing down. I tried to go faster, but I couldn’t feel my legs. I felt a throbbing kind of pain in my fingers, and looked down. They seemed more purple than they had before.

That couldn’t be good.

My teeth were chattering, but I was so close to the red brick of the building. Just a little more.

I suddenly had the urge to take off my sweater. It was too warm. The mist was creeping up on me. Just a little more.

Too warm. The mist crept slowly. It was touching me. I was so close. I could almost feel the heat of the building. But it was too warm. Too warm. Too warm.

And everything went white.

My eyes snapped open. I was cold, but sweating, and breathing hard. Like I had just been walking. Not sitting watching a show. The episode was over and the credits rolling. My hands shook as I closed the computer.

The rain had stopped. I stood up and looked out the window.

A layer of mist covered the ground.