Chapter 4: The Three Who Remembered
1203 Words
Aria couldn't move.
The silver eyes remained fixed on her from between the bookshelves.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to scream.
But her feet refused to move.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
The figure stepped forward.
Aria's heart pounded.
It wasn't Adrian.
It wasn't the silver-eyed girl either.
It was an old man.
His hair was completely white, and he wore a long dark coat that looked older than the library itself.
He studied Aria carefully.
“You shouldn't have opened the book.”
Aria tightened her grip around it.
“You know me?”
“I knew the girl you used to be.”
“What does that mean?”
The old man looked toward the photograph.
“You really don't remember.”
“No!”
Her voice echoed through the library.
“I don't remember any of this! I don't know Adrian. I don't know that girl. I don't know what this door is!”
The old man sighed.
“You were never meant to remember.”
“Then why am I remembering now?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward a shelf and pulled out a small black box.
He placed it on a nearby table.
“Because someone opened the door again.”
Aria stared at him.
“What door?”
“The one you opened.”
“I was a child.”
“Yes.”
“How could I have opened anything?”
The old man looked directly into her eyes.
“Because you weren't alone.”
Aria thought of the photograph.
Three children.
Herself.
Adrian.
And the silver-eyed girl.
“Who is she?”
The old man hesitated.
“Her name was Lyra.”
Aria whispered the name.
“Lyra…”
The moment she said it, the library lights flickered.
A cold breeze swept through the room.
The old man's face changed.
“You shouldn't say her name here.”
“Why?”
“Because she might hear you.”
A book slammed shut somewhere behind them.
Aria jumped.
“Is she dangerous?”
The old man looked away.
“That depends on which version of her you meet.”
Aria's confusion only grew.
“What happened to us?”
Before he could answer, the library door suddenly shook.
Someone was trying to get in.
“Aria!”
Maya's voice.
Aria rushed toward the door.
“Maya!”
The old man grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
“That's my friend!”
“You cannot let her inside.”
“Why?”
His expression became frightened.
“Because she isn't alone.”
The door shook again.
“Aria! Open the door!”
Aria stared at the old man.
“What do you mean?”
He released her.
“Look through the glass.”
There was a tiny glass window in the door.
Aria slowly approached it.
She looked outside.
Maya was standing there.
But something was wrong.
She was completely still.
Her head was tilted slightly to one side.
Her eyes were closed.
“Why isn't she moving?”
The old man whispered,
“Because that's not Maya.”
Aria stepped backward.
The figure outside opened its eyes.
They were silver.
Aria covered her mouth.
The thing smiled.
Then it spoke in Maya's voice.
“Aria, let me in.”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
The creature's smile disappeared.
The lights went out.
A second later, the library door began opening by itself.
The old man raised his hand.
A bright silver light flashed across the doorway.
The door slammed shut.
The creature screamed.
The sound wasn't human.
Aria covered her ears.
Then everything went silent.
The old man breathed heavily.
“You need to leave.”
“What was that?”
“A shadow.”
“A shadow?”
“A thing that escaped when the door opened.”
Aria looked at the book.
“How do I close it?”
The old man stared at her.
“You can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the door isn't the problem anymore.”
Aria frowned.
“Then what is?”
He pointed at the photograph.
“You are.”
Aria felt a chill.
“I don't understand.”
“You three were chosen.”
“Chosen for what?”
“To guard the door.”
Aria looked at the picture again.
“We were children.”
“You were children when it began.”
“And Adrian?”
“He remembered first.”
“Where is he?”
The old man turned toward the shelves.
“He's trying to stop Lyra.”
Aria's heart sank.
“Why?”
“Because she wants the door opened completely.”
Aria shook her head.
“But she warned me.”
“She warned you because she needs you.”
“What does she need me for?”
The old man didn't answer.
Instead, he opened the black box.
Inside was a small silver key.
Aria stared at it.
“I've seen that before.”
“Of course you have.”
“Where?”
“In your dreams.”
Aria remembered the forest.
The enormous doorway.
The symbols.
The darkness.
And Adrian saying:
You finally came back.
The old man handed her the key.
“Whatever happens, don't give this to Adrian.”
Aria looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because he isn't the Adrian you remember.”
A voice came from behind them.
“That isn't true.”
Aria turned.
Adrian stood at the end of the aisle.
His expression was unreadable.
The old man immediately stepped in front of Aria.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“You know what happened.”
“I know enough.”
Adrian looked at Aria.
“Give me the key.”
Aria instinctively closed her fingers around it.
“No.”
His expression softened.
“Aria, listen to me.”
The old man whispered,
“Don't trust him.”
Adrian looked at the old man.
“You've been lying to her.”
“I've been protecting her.”
“From the truth?”
“From you.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Aria stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Both of them looked at her.
She held up the key.
“I want answers.”
Adrian nodded.
“You deserve them.”
“Then tell me what happened that night.”
Adrian's face became pale.
“We opened the door.”
“Why?”
“Because Lyra told us there was something beautiful on the other side.”
Aria's heart sank.
“And was there?”
Adrian looked toward the darkness between the shelves.
“No.”
“What was there?”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Something that knew our names.”
A loud crash came from the far end of the library.
Books flew from the shelves.
The old man shouted,
“She's here!”
The lights turned silver.
A figure appeared at the end of the aisle.
Lyra.
Her silver eyes glowed brighter than ever.
She looked at Aria.
Then at Adrian.
Then at the key.
And smiled.
“You finally brought it back.”
The library doors slammed shut.
And every book on every shelf opened at once.
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