When Amber got to the library, she was met with something unexpected. Someone else from her home had gotten there before her. Amber recognized the voice of this individual but it's tone was so foreign to it that she couldn't be sure it was who she thought it was. She peeked into the library and saw that she was right. Her mother stood right in the middle of the library, arguing angrily with the librarian.
Mrs. Julia, an angry mess, paced and strutted. Her breaths came out in grunts and her eyes flashed with anger. When she spoke, it was with a high-pitched and shrill voice. Old Ann, the librarian on the other hand, looked thoroughly chastised but she held her ground impressively for such a small woman. Opening the door slightly, and leaning in as far as she could without being caught, Amber could eavesdrop on pieces of their conversation.
'And how many books did you give her?' Mrs Julia asked.
'I can't tell you that', Ann responded.
'This!' Mrs Julia held out the journal with the burnt back 'This is not yours to give!' She cried, shaking the book vigorously. 'Where and how did you even get it?' She asked, cooling off a bit.
'It was given to me by the owner,' Ann responded. 'You had no right to take it away from Ophelia, she has more claim to it than anyone else' she continued.
'I knew it, you were behind Pearl's disappearance' Mrs. Julia's accusations continued.
'She came for the truth and I was obliged to give it to her, just like I did when you also came to me not so many years ago' the librarian smiled sadly at this memory.
'You plan to take everyone from me until I'm alone just like you!' Mrs. Julia was in hysterics now.
'You chose to stay. You can leave whenever you want. That is a privilege, not all of us have' Ann answered cooly, her demeanour changed and her voice was crisp as she continued,
'I'll have to ask you to leave that book in the library on your way out. As the librarian, I cannot let you have it without due procedure'. She folded her hands in front of her and stared straight at Mrs. Julia. She wasn't mincing words. Amber winced at the thought of her mother getting prosecuted for theft.
Mrs. Julia who understood the position she had been placed in by the librarian was in shock. She blinked twice before she finally vociferated on the top of her lungs and with tears in her eyes, 'Due procedure? She was my sister!'
'Yes, but she left the book with me. For Ophelia, not for you' Mrs. Guliever's voice strained momentarily as she struggled to keep on a calm demeanour despite her turbulent emotions.
Mrs. Julia stood dazed for a second, as though contemplating the gravity of her words, but just as quickly, she comported herself and walked towards the exit of the library, leaving the book on the counter.
Amber was thrown into a state of panic to see her mother headed in her direction. She rushed out and hid, keeping herself hidden till she was sure she wouldn't be caught, not even venturing to check if her mother was gone. Amber was sure Mrs. Julia wouldn't approve of her library visit today.
After waiting a good while, Amber stepped up to the door, about to go in but then paused. She wondered what sort of reception she would receive. How was she to go in considering the scene she had just witnessed. Amber, not one to dwell on contingencies, collected her thoughts and immediately decided not to take the easy way out. There was no point in pretending as though she hadn't observed the entire argument. She decided to apologise on her mother's behalf as soon as she walked in. With this resolve, she reached out for the library door but a voice called out from within before she could enter.
'How long have you been there?' It was the librarian.
'Long enough, I heard most of it' Amber stayed true to her resolve. 'I'm sorry about what my mother said' she apologised, opening the door to see Ann's somewhat disappointed face.
'Amber. Why have you come here today?' The librarian's tone betrayed her surprise. She was expecting someone else.
'For the truth' Amber had a knowing look on her face and Mrs. Harry understood what she meant.
'Your mother-' Ann started evasively but Amber cut her short, reminding Old Ann of her self-proclaimed obligations.
'I have come for the truth. Will you deny me?' Amber was desperate to have her way. No one, not even her mother would stop her if she could help it. Her words silenced the librarian. 'I have questions,' she continued. The elderly lady leaned against the counter, exhausted. Amber felt pity for her but she knew her time was limited. Her mother may have gotten home by now and once she discovered Amber was missing, there was no telling how much time she had until her mother tracked her here.
'I know there's a pathway in this library. The way Mr. Guilever took the first time, there was a hint in his book' Ann's eyes widened, not only had Amber read the book, she grasped the clue contained in its contents. A clue which Ophelia, its intended recipient had completely missed.
'I want you to take me there' Amber demanded and Old Ann could not refuse.
'Alright' she sighed 'Come with me' With that, she led Amber westward into the library. They went up some stairs into the living quarters of the old house which had been left untouched when the house was renovated into a library.
Amber lost track of the way they took but she knew she had arrived when they got to their destination. It was a large room, filled with aged baby items. Amber could see a small baby cottage off to the side. The room looked like it hadn't been disturbed in years. This was the room where Mr. Harry and his wife had raised their children, 'shared their first joy'.
Old Ann's eyes drooped, sadness laced over her every word, making them hang heavily in the air.
'Before you try this door, I want you to understand something. Some of us are unable to go' She said, as she spoke, she closed the door and opened it, revealing a cradle Amber had failed to notice earlier. The elderly lady continued in a grave tone, 'When you try to open this door, a portal may or may not reveal itself to you. I have seen countless of those who have gone this way but I have also seen those who, like me, are unable to cross this plane' Old Ann closed the door once more then turned to Amber.
Amber stepped forward and placed her hand on the handle. She felt the librarian grip her hand strongly, reassuringly, 'You must will it' Mrs. Harry gave her last piece of advice and let go.
Amber faced the challenge with an unwavering heart. She was absolutely sure she could open the door, the portal to the other plane. She reached out to the door handle and turned. A shimmer of bluish light entered the room, the light had been absent from the baby room previously behind that door. Old Ann gasped, she knew Amber had done it, The door had only opened for a fraction of a second, when it was banged shut. Pearl looked down to see another hand holding the handle with hers. Old Ann was shocked to see Mrs. Julia in their midst. Both she and Amber had taken no note of her arrival.
'We're going home', she commanded.
Amber bowed sheepishly. A revolt rose up from deep within her but she had the common sense to silence her protest. There would be plenty of time to come back to the library, at least now, she had gotten a little closer to where or who she was looking for. Amber would just have to be patient. Without a word to the librarian, Mrs. Julia stormed out holding her daughter's hand in hers only letting go outside the library. Amber steeled herself for a confrontation but none came. The Mrs. Julia she saw earlier, with fiery passion and blazing eyes was all but gone, in her place was the docile mother Amber had known all her life, and she was glad for it. In the silence, Amber collected her thoughts. A lot of questions came rushing through her mind in the evening glow of the setting sun but the most prominent question that kept popping up was about the journal her mother had so ferociously tried to keep. Whose was it? What did it contain? Why was it so important to her mother? And why was Ophelia the one who had the most right to it? Was that why her mother had come back, to keep the journal after all? How had her mother found her? And why did she close the door? With this final question dawned the realization that Mrs. Julia knew the way to the room and possibly- no without doubt what it contained. The librarian had mentioned that her mother had been there before, for the truth! What else did her mother know? And who exactly was she?
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Benjamin's library shift started at 8am. He had a tendency to arrive a little earlier though. Benjamin enjoyed the smell of books and loved reading through the vast amount of books in the library. The library held all sorts of books, ranging from history, philosophy and the sciences to other queer books that detailed the most minute accounts of life. Benjamin had even stumbled upon a book that detailed the effects and steps to an effective handshake. The only explanation he could produce was that the initial owner was a collector of some sort, the affluent had a tendency for such strange hobbies. Benjamin thoroughly enjoyed finding these sorts of 'easter eggs', and once in a while he stumbled upon a really good one. He had volunteered for the job and it fitted him perfectly, he genuinely loved his job.
Benjamin set about his work, first opening the windows and dusting off the books. The library was almost always open but he wasn't expecting anyone to come in at this early hour of the day. He left his job post, being physically incapable of idleness, and set about cleaning the library. The elderly librarian wasn't to be expected to keep the library clean.
When Benjamin was done with his self-imposed task, he took his place behind the counter. Mrs. Harry, who had been worn out by the events of the preceding night, had not yet come down. On getting to the counter, the first thing he noticed was that there was a book there. A returned book he guessed, but it was different from other books he had seen, it looked very haggard, the back was gone, leaving the book with a look like it had escaped a fire. The appearance of the book intrigued Benjamin, and he picked it up. He looked over it and wondered if it was really a library book or it had been left behind by some forgetful owner. Either way, he decided to go through it. If it belonged to an unfortunate owner, there was no way for him to know if he didn't go through it and if it was a library book, it was an 'easter egg', one of the mysterious and unorthodox books he loved best. He kept it in his bag for safe keeping, to go over it in his leisure hours.
Just then he heard the door open and a female figure with dark hair walked in, it was Ophelia, Amber's cousin.
'Where's the librarian?' she asked, surprised to see Benjamin at the counter.
'She isn't here now, I'm volunteering' He replied. Ophelia seemed relieved somehow that she hadn't run into the older librarian, for one her eyes which glanced frantically around the library, finally held his gaze.
'I have a book to return' she said and kept a book with a bluish cover on the counter.
'Alright do have a nice day' He responded gleaming. Ophelia waved and walked briskly out of the library. Benjamin somehow got the impression that she was trying to avoid the elderly librarian. He took a look at the book she dropped to keep it safe, back in its assigned location but couldn't find anything on the book to indicate the section of the library that it belonged to. Just like the other one he had taken, this book seemed out of place in a public library, it had a more homely feeling, like a diary. He resolved to leave the book where she left it. The older librarian would know what to do with it.
Mrs. Harry came down the steps not too long after, looking quite ill. She mumbled something about taking the day off, more to herself than to anyone else, as she walked in her stately gait with more effort than usual to the door. Benjamin was thoroughly sympathetic. He rushed to help her but was waved away by the elderly woman.
'I'm fine, I'm fine' she insisted when he tried to carry her belongings, just a bag containing a handful of clothes and other personal effects that she would need for daily use at home.
'Are you sure? Let me help you carry them to your house. Do you live far off?" He asked, concern evident in his eyes. But she wouldn't have it.
'Nonsense, I can take care of myself. What if someone comes when we're both gone?' At this, Benjamin relented. She was right. Mention of a visitor jogged his memory and he mentioned the book left by Ophelia.
'That book, over by the counter, where should I keep it?' He asked, pointing. Mrs. Harry did not bother to look at the book, assuming it was the one left by Mrs. Julia, she promptly gave the details as to its proper replacement. The location of the journals wasn't supposed to be public knowledge but Mrs. Harry suspected that withholding such information would only spark curiosity in the heart of one so young. She turned and left the library, while Harry set off on the task of replacing the journal on its shelf immediately, in order not to forget the directions to their location as they were quite complicated.
Later on that day, the library had a second and most welcome - at least to Benjamin - visitor. It was Amber, his crush. When their eyes met, he involuntarily took in a breath of air, this caused Amber, who never let any of his actions go unnoticed to smile.
'Do you know where Mrs. Harry is?' Amber asked sheepishly. Benjamin was enthralled by her and all her little mothions. Everything she did made his heart flutter, even her voice was like music to him.
'Yes, she has gone home. I am the librarian on duty today' He spoke with a different tone than he usually did, deeper, more refined, All subconsciously of course, his desire to impress Amber manifested itself like this sometimes, but Amber always noticed. His mannerisms had charmed her as he had intended but not in the way he planned, her pleasure came not from his actions themselves but from the fact that they were born from an innate desire to please her. She smiled and his heart skipped a beat. The realization that they were alone suddenly dawned on him.
'Please tell her I was around', Amber left the library on that note and Benjamin's eyes followed her, unable to utter a word. He watched her until he could do so no more and let out a breath he had no idea he was holding in. He really loved her but had no way to approach her. He was hopelessly shy.