"That's the strangest part of this place to me," he says, grinning at the thought that this is probably only going to cement Caleb's opinion of him as a nerd a little further. "The idea of a longstanding history despite any solid evidence to the fact. I met someone on New Year's who said the whole city was effectively deserted about eight years ago, but good luck trying to get anyone from Darrow to admit that."

He's tried, pestering colleagues and classmates alike with delicately-crafted questions, but all he's ever gotten for his pains--at best--is a blank look just on the edge of hostile. It's infuriating, and only makes him more determined.