ACT 03: #déjà vu I

0‘…Sometimes things are not what they appear to be.’—Nagato KyoukoWhen I regained consciousness, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. It was a sensation as if I had experienced this before, somewhere, sometime in the past. My head throbbed painfully, and my body felt weak as I lay face down on the ground, my fingers brushing against the hard, cold texture of the white marble floor. Struggling, I managed to sit up, groaning.The room I found myself in was bathed in darkness, save for the occasional flickers of dim blue light that illuminated the floors and walls. It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the low light. As I glanced around, I realized that this was a different part of the library, one I had never seen before.The bookshelves here were old, covered in layers of dust and cobwebs, and the atmosphere was damp and musty. White particles floated in the air, crumbling on even the slightest touch, creating a surreal, hazy ambiance. And a few bookshelves were toppled over, broken. What could have happened to the bookshelves? Musing over the ruined bookshelves behind me left no clue as to what happened. Moreover what was I doing here? —I remember 102 giving me a book... 'Princess knight'... after that what happened? I couldn't recall how I ended up here or what had transpired. The last thing I remembered was sitting with Number 102 in the white lounge chair, reading a peculiar picture book. Now, I was in this eerie, forgotten corner of the library.A growing unease settled over me as I ventured deeper into the dimly lit aisles. Something felt profoundly wrong about this place, and the sensation of being watched intensified with every step I took. My strength seemed to drain away, leaving me feeling vulnerable.Suddenly, a sharp thud echoed through the air, and I found myself collapsing to the hard marble floor. The impact sent a cloud of accumulated dust into the air, creating a choking haze. I struggled to move, but my body refused to respond. Only numbness wrapped around me, like an invisible cocoon. Panic set in as I tried to make sense of the situation. White froth bubbled up from the corners of my mouth, filling my senses.It was then that I saw it—an ominous black shadow emerging from the darkness, its form shifting and writhing. It appeared to be the size of an average human, yet there was something unnatural about it. It moved on all fours, resembling an animal, but it was no animal I had ever seen.I was transfixed by its grotesque figure, my mind racing with thoughts of impending doom. It felt like I had fallen into a trap, preyed upon by some unknown predator. I was utterly powerless."Help!" I managed to croak, my voice weak and desperate. The voice from before, the one that had echoed through my mind when I passed out, seemed to reverberate through the air once more, seeking salvation.With that cry for help, another figure fell beside me, landing on the white marble floor with a thud. I turned my head, my eyes widening in horror.It was Number 102, her small, lifeless body sprawled beside me. But something was terribly wrong. Her lower half was missing, replaced by a pool of crimson blood that spread across the marble. Her bright blue eyes, once as clear as the summer sky, had turned dark and wild. Blood trailed from her lips, staining her chin, and her once pristine hair was drenched in crimson.The sight of her lifeless form sent a surge of fear coursing through me. What had happened to her? Had she been attacked by the grotesque shadow creature?My gaze shifted back to the creature, which seemed to be watching us, its wriggling form mocking our helplessness. Anger and fear surged within me, and I felt a burning determination rising like a storm."I promise... I'll definitely save you," I muttered, my voice shaking with a newfound resolve.For the first time, I had witnessed someone being killed before my eyes, and it was a chilling experience. I was helpless to prevent it, and yet it felt as if it had happened before, in some distant, distorted memory.I longed to take action, to confront the pain and anger that coursed through me. A sudden urge to leap at the shadow creature, to fight it with all my might, surged within me. But before I could make a move, an electric sensation coursed through my body, rendering me numb. My vision blurred, and I felt a searing pain as I coughed up a mouthful of warm, salty blood.Glancing down, I realized that my lower body was gone, replaced by a pool of blood. Before I could comprehend what had happened to me, the shadow creature rushed toward me.My body was being torn apart, piece by piece.The creature's teeth sank into my flesh, its gaping maw holding my limbs in a vice-like grip. Its teeth were sharp and rotting, nearly covering its entire body. With each bite, it devoured a portion of my being.I screamed in agony, my voice echoing through the nightmarish scene. The pain was excruciating, but mercifully, it seemed to be growing distant, dulled by some unknown force.Suddenly, a small, fuzzy white cat appeared, its form radiating an odd blue light that bathed the area in an ethereal glow. The cat's eyes shone with a radiant serenity as it gazed upon me, surrounded by a shimmering aura.The cat whispered a few voiceless words that I couldn't comprehend, yet it felt as though it was here to rescue me from the clutches of the grotesque creature. 
With that, I slipped into unconsciousness, and the nightmarish scene faded away.
When I finally regained consciousness, I found myself submerged in a pool-sized bath. The sensation of being underwater overwhelmed me, and I gasped for air as I struggled to the surface. My surroundings were a stark contrast to the—, with pristine white walls and a soft white light that illuminated the bathhouse.—Huh!? Wasn't I supposed be doing something? It felt like I had forgotten something important. 
I recall I was in the library with 102...