I was more than surprised to see that the sky was dark when we emerged from the cave.

Shock seemed too mild a word; if there were a term more expressive than shock, I would gladly use it.

What the hell! Or perhaps, What in the heavens!

Beside and behind me, my friends all stood with their jaws dropped—well, except for Rachel and Raul.

"Can you see why I was hurrying us out of the library? It's already late outside," Rachel stated matter-of-factly, as if that explained why it was night already when we had entered the cave at what felt like nine a.m.

Where had the hours gone? We...