Myne

ten

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Emi asked, for what was probably the tenth time that morning. She was going along with Kim, the captain of the school girls volleyball team, and Erica, the striker. Mr Haver Skim, the coach, hadn’t approved the plan. Not that it mattered a lot. He was also the history teacher, and a very mild man, who let the girls do their thing, even if it was the opposite of his suggestion. He was one of those coaches that was so good and so successful because the players loved him and respected him greatly. It was a love and respect that reciprocated in kind and in measure.

“Yeah,” Rain said, with a smile. She wasn’t exactly a fond of sports in general. She went to the matches, because Emi cared so much. And also because Emi was a member of the team, though her title was team analyst. She sat with Mr Skim, drawing up the strategy and preparing a complete analysis of the opponents. And Rain had to show her support for her best friend. And even after all the years, Rain wasn’t completely clear about all the rules. Still, she should have gone along today. If not for the much more important thing she had to do. “I do have to go to the library. Remember?”

Emi sighed. She remembered. Of course she did. Those had been her exact words from just yesterday. How was she to know Kim would call later in the evening. And tell about the road-trip. They were off to scout the teams that had qualified for the Gold Crown Tournament. This year, the Red Oak team, their team, was a seeded team in their group. An achievement in itself. And a motivator just as much. Everyone had to bring out their best to achieve their grand dreams.

“Or,” Rain said, with a teasing smile. “I could come. And bring the book along.”

Emi shook. “No,” she said without any hesitation. “That’s okay. You can stay. Go over to the library. Return the scary book. And no more mentioning the book. Alright?”

Rain laughed. Emi took that as a yes. And left. She met Kim right under their building. Kim’s elder brother was driving them today. He was doing a PhD at Duncan University, a three hour drive from the town. Still, it wasn’t everyday that he returned home. Not even every month. He was usually much too busy. He had only come home now because he had finished his thesis, submitted it. And had something to discuss with his parents. He had volunteered to be the girls’ driver today. He was more than happy to spend time with his little sister.

*

Rain watched Emi join Kim, Kim’s brother Kris, and Delilah in the car, and then drive away. They were undoubtedly going to have a fun day. Kim and Emi were all about volleyball. Delilah was Kim’s best friend, and she had a huge crush on Kris. The only thing keeping Delilah from expressing her love in the pinkest words was the fact that she was still a minor. And if she got herself a boyfriend now, especially someone older, her mother would skin her and then send her packing to military school. Delilah shuddered at the very thought. And Rain laughed heartily remembering the sight of Delilah trembling like she had the chills as she told them about it. Of course, it was all the more funny with the astonished Kim standing right by the blushing Delilah’s side.

The good laugh felt good. Then, Rain went back in. And the green book greeted her from the bed, where it seemed asleep. And Rain looked more like the guest, and the book the host.

“What do you want?” The book seemed to be asking. “Don’t you see, I’m resting? Don’t disturb me right now. Leave.”

Of course, it was all in her head. Rain knew that. No way the book could have its own thoughts. It didn’t even have a consciousness. A part of her mind split away, and was acting as the book’s advocate. Messing with her. And she was allowing that. Why?

“What’s going on?” She asked aloud. Not the book. Not even herself. She truly was asking no one, who was the only other person in the room aside from her.

And of course, there was no answer. Not that she was expecting one.

She stood by the door, the balcony and the outside on the other side. The inside, and the book, and her, on this side. Everything in its place. Everything frozen. Waiting in the stillness.

“Come,” she heard the book say.

This time, it wasn’t her head. She was sure she heard it. The book calling out to her.

“Come,” it repeated. Again. And again. And again. Like a chant.

Until it was all she heard. Until it pushed out the stillness and the quiet and everything else. And she felt like she was in the grips of the voice. She was pretty much unconscious, led by the nose. She walked over to the bed. Kneeled on the bed. Reached for the book. And when her hand was inches from the book, she froze. Her head cleared. The voice disappeared. The book fell quiet. And she pulled away from the book.

She hadn’t been entirely honest with Emi. The book terrified her just as much as it did Emi. The difference, however, was that she was helpless. She couldn’t walk away, like Emi could. She couldn’t separate herself from the book. From the story of the girl. From the lake, and whatever was on the other side of the lake.

She knew Emi was right. She had to return the book. She had to throw it out of her life. Emi had no idea just for right she was.

She also knew, it wasn’t as easy as it might seem. She wasn’t sure the book would let her be. Would the book even leave? Would she be able to get the book to leave the room, let alone return it to the library?

She stood as far back from the book as her room would allow. Her eyes rooted to the middle of the bed, where the book lay, waiting, taunting. And on the other side of the bed, where the light of day couldn’t reach as well, where the shadows were thicker than they had any right being at this time of the day, there was something. She might very well be in the girl’s room. The bed might very well be the lake. And the other side, was the other side of the lake. And whatever that was, that thing, that shadow, on the other side, it was equally terrifying and familiar.