Chapter 3 The Library
2308 Words
I woke up and immediately forgot where I was. I look around and I keep thinking that this is a dream. But no, it is not a dream. It is real. And now I have realized I am straight up being haunted by some icky looking frail thing. Who, by the way, wants to suck out my light? And for what? Just so he can continue to live in a world that will eat his very existence. Literally. I mean those caught in-between are like super models. They never eat and the day they get to. I so don't want to go anywhere near there.
I jumped out of bed.
Now where is that sister of mine? Of course, the library. I put on my slippers and grabbed the robe that was laid out for me and opened my door. I could hear them talking. Her and our grandfather had been in communication for quite some time. But I am not surprised. Saraphine had a way with people. She could have them do what she wanted. It was weird and kind of cool at the same time.
I walked into the library.
"Morning sis! How did you sleep? Are you hungry? "
She picked up the phone and then hung up.
"I am having food brought to you. Don't worry, the food will be prepared to your taste."
I shrugg off her last comment. I am not a difficult person. Come to think of it. Everytime we play the the invisible game, she is really nice to me the next day.
"So, umm, Saraphine, what is all this?"
Looking around I see books scattered everywhere. Notes here and there. Coffee and danishes. Was she having a book club meeting or something. I grab a danish and flop myself on the couch.
"Oh damn, this thing is so soft."
"Right!"
I have got to get one of these one day. I look up and she is still into whatever she is reading.
"Okay, I have some questions for you. I need you to answer them to the best of your ability. Brutal honesty."
"Brutal honesty?"
"Yes."
Now this has peaked my interest. She is fishing for something, so I'm game. I can do this.
"Alright, I can do that."
"Seriously, no games."
"What games?"
"Just please RubyLyn."
"Alright, I will be completely honest."
She looks at me studing my face.
"Okay, I believe you."
She sits down across from me and takes a deep breath. She looks up into my eyes.
"When you say invisble, what image do you automatically see first."
"Dad"
"When you you close your eyes after saying invisible what image comes to mind"
"The picture dad always shows me"
"Dad always showed you a picture before the game."
"Yes, he alwasys sends it on my phone and says it's my job to find out where this landmark is, whats around this place, population, crime, available oocupancy with certain key features, like two rooms adjoining."
She smiles and then thinks about some stuff.
"When does he usually do this?"
"Well about every three weeks. And then on the fifth week we go there."
"Okay, now, this one I need you to really focus?"
"Okay"
"Do you ever feel anything after you close your eyes?"
"Sometimes"
"What do you feel?"
"Like I am being watched. A bad dream. Dad was always there. Or you recently. Holding my hand. Keeping me on the path. Making sure I take the right one."
"There are two paths?"
"Yes"
"I always thought it was one."
"NO. There are two paths, the one with the light and the one with no light, it's dark and always looks like the branches are trying to snatch you up."
Her expression changes.
"What is in-between?"
"You don't ever want to know. You should never think about it."
"But isn't the in-between where you walk us through."
"No."
She stands up and paces.
"Saraphine, the in between is like a wall. If you haven't crossed when it presents itself. You can never come out. Once it presents itself you chose the path. Don't you remember?"
"No."
"Dad said you wouldn't."
"Did he say way."
"No, but I remember once he said as long as we are together, the dark can never take us. They are afraid of you."
"Afraid of me?"
"Yes, because, you are the-"
We werer interrupted by the maid bringing in my food."
"Thank you, umm where's Evie?"
"Evie?"
"Yes Evie, my grandfather said she will be our server, no one else. So who are you?"
"I am the server."
"No, you are not. You don't even work here, do you?"
"I do work here. Just not as a server."
"What do you want? Obviously, it must be something? Did you bring my sister some type of poison in her food? Maybe, a little something to make her pass out? Why?"
"I-I -I.."
"Stop studdering and answer me. You have nine seconds before Uncle Oliver busts through that door."
"I was told by Evie's step mother to come take her place"
"Why?"
"Too late."
Suddenly the doors bust open and within seconds Uncle Oliver has this poor girl cornered. She now has tears streaming down her face. I hate to say it but she should of just been honest. Saraphine did warn her.
"Uncle before you punish her, I need to know what is in that cup."
He goes to touch it but Saraphine stops him.
"Do not pick it up."
He backs away.
We all look at her.
"I do not know what is in the cup. Mrs. Dark said to make sure she drink the whole glass."
"Very well you drink it."
"But-"
"But? You brought it for my sister and surely if it is goos enough for her and you are the help, please you should drink it."
"NOW!"
She picks up the glass and takes a deep breath. Puts it too her lips.
"Go on."
And takes a drink.
"all of it.!"
And down it goes. Into her mouth, down her throat, into her stomach.
We watch.
"She is going to pass out."
And just like that the girl faints. Uncle Oliver picks her up and takes her away.
"And that is why dad says they are scared of you."
We both laugh.
"All I did was ask her a question."
"Or ten , like in roll. I mean if you already know the answer why even bother asking?"
"It keeps me fresh. Like on my toes."
"Yea, your not wierd at all."
"I know, your the weird one."
"Anyone who doesnt like to read is weird. I mean how else are you going to learn to do things. Not everyone has someone that shows them first hand. And that someone actually know what they are talking about."
"I am going to make my own food, want anything?"
"No, I am good. Besides gramps should be here any second with lunch."
"Suit yourself."
I walk out and sure enough.
"Afternoon grandpa."
"RubyLyn."
As I walk out I can hear my sister.
"Old man, you missed an eventful morning."
"Well what's taking you so long to tell me already. No holding back."
I am glad she finally has someone whom she can share all the moments dad never wanted to hear about.
Saraphine Thomas (Black-Star)
I have been reading all night. Talk about a bender. BUt I just can't stop. All this information. At times it feels like I am getting stronger. I laugh out loud. Look at the time and man hasn't. RubyLyn slept enough. And just like that my sister walks through the door.
"Morning sis! How did you sleep? Are you hungry? "
She picked up the phone and then hung up.
"I am having food brought to you. Don't worry, the food will be prepared to your taste."
I know my sister and she is a picky eater. She can't have food touching, She has to have her eggs on a different plate. Man if I was a guy, ther is no way in hell I am doing all that.
"So, umm, Saraphine, what is all this?"
I see her looking around at all the books scattered everywhere. Notes here and there. Coffee and danishes. Of course she would grab the danish.
"Oh damn, this thing is so soft."
"Right!"
"Okay, I have some questions for you. I need you to answer them to the best of your ability. Brutal honesty."
"Brutal honesty?"
"Yes."
This girl, she is always thinking I am fishing for something. I mean I usually am but not today.
"Alright, I can do that."
"Seriously, no games."
"What games?"
"Just please RubyLyn."
"Alright, I will be completely honest."
I search her face for doubts. I see is serious so I move on.
"Okay, I believe you."
She sits down across from me and takes a deep breath. She looks up into my eyes.
"When you say invisble, what image do you automatically see first."
"Dad"
"When you you close your eyes after saying invisible what image comes to mind"
"The picture dad always shows me"
"Dad always showed you a picture before the game."
"Yes, he alwasys sends it on my phone and says it's my job to find out where this landmark is, whats around this place, population, crime, available oocupancy with certain key features, like two rooms adjoining."
I totally need to think about all the games dad love to play. At least now I know what it all meant.
"When does he usually do this?"
"Well about every three weeks. And then on the fifth week we go there."
"Okay, now, this one I need you to really focus?"
"Okay"
"Do you ever feel anything after you close your eyes?"
"Sometimes"
"What do you feel?"
"Like I am being watched. A bad dream. Dad was always there. Or you recently. Holding my hand. Keeping me on the path. Making sure I take the right one."
"There are two paths?"
"Yes"
"I always thought it was one."
"NO. There are two paths, the one with the light and the one with no light, it's dark and always looks like the branches are trying to snatch you up."
Her expression changes.
"What is in-between?"
"You don't ever want to know. You should never think about it."
"But isn't the in-between where you walk us through."
"No."
I stand up and pace..
"Saraphine, the in between is like a wall. If you haven't crossed when it presents itself. You can never come out. Once it presents itself you chose the path. Don't you remember?"
"No."
"Dad said you wouldn't."
"Did he say way."
"No, but I remember once he said as long as we are together, the dark can never take us. They are afraid of you."
"Afraid of me?"
"Yes, because, you are the-"
That's not Evie.
"Thank you, umm where's Evie?"
"Evie?"
"Yes Evie, my grandfather said she will be our server, no one else. So who are you?"
"I am the server."
"No, you are not. You don't even work here, do you?"
"I do work here. Just not as a server."
"What do you want? Obviously, it must be something? Did you bring my sister some type of poison in her food? Maybe, a little something to make her pass out? Why?"
"I-I -I.."
"Stop studdering and answer me. You have nine seconds before Uncle Oliver busts through that door."
"I was told by Evie's step mother to come take her place"
"Why?"
"Too late."
Suddenly the doors bust open and within seconds Uncle Oliver has this poor girl cornered. Maybe I should stop him. Nah, he gots this.
"Do not pick it up."
He backs away.
We all look at her.
"I do not know what is in the cup. Mrs. Dark said to make sure she drink the whole glass."
"Very well you drink it."
"But-"
"But? You brought it for my sister and surely if it is goos enough for her and you are the help, please you should drink it."
"NOW!"
She picks up the glass and takes a deep breath. Puts it too her lips.
"Go on."
And takes a drink.
"all of it.!"
And down it goes. Into her mouth, down her throat, into her stomach.
We watch.
"She is going to pass out."
And just like that the girl faints. Uncle Oliver picks her up and takes her away.
"And that is why dad says they are scared of you."
We both laugh.
"All I did was ask her a question."
"Or ten , like in roll. I mean if you already know the answer why even bother asking?"
"It keeps me fresh. Like on my toes."
"Yea, your not wierd at all."
"I know, your the weird one."
"Anyone who doesnt like to read is weird. I mean how else are you going to learn to do things. Not everyone has someone that shows them first hand. And that someone actually know what they are talking about."
"I am going to make my own food, want anything?"
"No, I am good. Besides gramps should be here any second with lunch."
"Suit yourself."
I hope she doesn't get lost. Finally this man has impeccable timing.
"Afternoon grandpa."
"RubyLyn."
He is gonna freak out.
"Old man, you missed an eventful morning."
"Well what's taking you so long to tell me already. No holding back."
"When have I ever held back. That is beneath me. I tell the event as it unfolds!"
"I am still waiting?"
"Then you should have been here at 10 am sharp. Late arrivals lose out on everything"
I tell him jokingly.
"You little-"
"I 'am only joking."
I go into detail about the events that transpires and he adds a few mental notes.
This is gonna be interesting.
- Writer
