Nathaniel tilted his head up to look at me. “Do you think we could use this as a case study? To show that psychological manipulation can occur toanyone, religious or not?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “And we can compare it to those who already have religious inclinations, see if there are any differences. Does the article talk about what this Doctor experienced inside the cult?”
Nathaniel hummed. “A little. It’s mostly just information that his family provided after their brief encounter. I don’t know how reliable it is.”
“It’s still useful,” I said, returning to my own seat. “I’m going to try and find a case study to compare it to. Can you make notes on that one?”
“Already on it.”
We worked tirelessly on our case studies and supporting literature, our track of time fleeting as we buried ourselves in article after article.
Neither of us knew the sun had set and that the library was closing until the lights suddenly flickered off, draping us in darkness.
“What the hell?”
“Oh, shit,” Nathaniel said, pulling out his phone, “it’s nine.”
“Nine?!”
“The library is closing.”
We gathered our laptops and books in a mad dash to leave the study room and bolt toward the doors. Nathaniel went to open them, but the doors merely shook. He tried again. They were locked.
“You’re kidding,” I breathed out.
“It’s okay,” Nathaniel said, voice calm despite the rapid rise and fall of his chest, “campus security will come around soon. They’ll let us out.”
I shot him a look. “Why were there no announcements?”
“I don’t know,” he said, running a hand over his face, “there usually are! Maybe they weren’t working today!”
I groaned and tugged at the door as if it would magically open.
“There’s no use,” Nathaniel sighed. “Let’s just sit down and wait for security. I’ll try give them a call.”
He approached the cushioned booth near the entrance, dumping himself down to spread out lazily, his lips tugging up into a grin once he caught me watching.
Scowling, I sat down at the table across from him. It was less comfortable than the booth, but I didnotwant to sit with him. I could feel him watching me, so I turned away, hiding my face beneath my thick waves.
“Are we just going to sit in silence?” Nathaniel asked.
“Yes.”
“Aw, come on! We spent so long studying, I’m ready to socialise now!”
“I can think of nothing worse.”
Nathaniel laughed as if I were joking. “Are you always this grumpy?”
I whirled on him. “I’m not grumpy!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“If you say so.”
“Why are you being so annoying?” I complained.
