The Glassy Sky

CHAPTER SIX: The State Library

"Where are we heading now, brother?" Sam asked. "To the library." I replied. We're walking out of the park and wandering the Luxury City. I was thinking, I'm happy that Sam is alive and well. But on the real world, we buried him along with our parents as they were pronounced as dead by the physicians. "Somethings bothering me." I said. "What is it?" Sam asked. "You can say what's on your mind, brother."

"I'm sorry Sam, please don't be shocked of what I'm going to tell you."

"I'll try my best." As he was preparing to listen, I'm also preparing myself of what he's going to say. "You see; you've been trapped here for a very long time. In the real world, we buried your body along with mom and dad because you were dead according to the doctors." Sam was horrified of what he heard, and tears well up in his eyes uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Sam." I said.

"I figured that would happen," Sam replied, "after all I wasn't able to escape this world after that accident happened. But you know what, brother? I'm not mad at you. Not at all. I'm just so happy that I saw you for the last time. I'm happy to know that I still have a family I could lean on. So this will be my final mission, to help you escape for good then I'll be happy to live here for eternity." I hugged him and reassured him. "Don't worry, Sam. Whatever happens to both of us. We'll find a way to escape this world, together."

"You promise?"

"I promise." He's still a kid inside despite the fact that he matured a bit. Hours have passed while we're walking along the streets, Sully descended from the sky to help us navigate this vast city. "Tell me what you need to find?" He asked. "Can you tell me where the state library is?" I asked back.

"That depends, there are a lot of libraries here in this city. What specifically are you looking for?"

"Do you know a library that used to be a museum in the past?"

"You must be looking for the Allison State Library. Just straight ahead, this is Allison street so you won't get lost."

"Thanks again, Sully." Sam said. "We'll be lost without you."

"No problem, I was designed that way." Then Sully flew away, reassuring us that we're on the right track. Then a few moments later, we found what we're looking for. It was a state library that used to be a museum of arts and history in the real world, and it looks exactly like how I imagined it to be. We climbed the tall stairs of the library, hoping that we'll find some clues. When we opened the door, there's an elderly woman in her 60's and still healthy, sitting in front of the lobby. "Why isn't it Zack and his brother!" She said. "Have you come to retrieve your memory?"

"Yes," I said, "We're here for my memory."

"Then follow me." We followed the librarian and we went to the top floor of the library. This place is huge and filled with lots of books. As we climb the stairs, I can't help but notice that people from the paintings hanging on the wall are like they're from a Victorian era. Then on the top floor, there's a giant vault that requires a code. The librarian entered the code, and we went inside. "This is where you hid your memory." The librarian said. "Get the golden book on the middle and start reading."

"Okay." I said.

"If you need me, I'm just here." The librarian said. Sam and I went inside the vault to get the golden book in the middle. We went outside the vault and sat on the table next to it. Then we tried to open the book, but it's empty. "How could that be?" I asked. I turned the pages, then suddenly the book floated in front of me and pages turning all by itself. The pages shined bright yellow light that blinded me for a moment, then I remember the fragment of memory that was hidden in this book. I thank the librarian then we move out of the building.

We went outside and Sam asked where we are headed next? I told him that we're heading to the City of the Sirens. "Oh, are you talking about the city where there are sirens all over the place?" Sam asked. "By sirens, you mean mer-folks? Then yes, we're heading there now." I said. But then again, Morpheus came to ruin the day. This time he's flying above us. He looks like a six-foot giant shadow being with eyes red as blood, horns like a goat, claws like those of the tigers and giant pair of wings like a bat. He descended in front of us and all of the sudden we can't move a muscle. Morpheus has a way to draw out people's fear and attention, to the point that we can't move. Not even a nibble. "You two really are a pain in the neck. But this time you won't escape me." Morpheus said. Sam took the courage and threw a big stone that landed on his eyes, so we ran for it. As quick as we can.

"You can run, but you cannot hide from me, Zack." Morpheus said. We hid on the alley, but then Morpheus saw us and tried shooting fireballs with his hands. Luckily, we're agile so we're able to escape his fireballs. "We have to hide." I said. "Where?" Sam replied. We saw the Grand Manson Hotel, and we tried to hide there. But even before we're able to go inside, Morpheus destroyed the door by shooting fireballs with his hands. Morpheus descended from above, then a miracle happened. We see tanks, airplanes and soldiers. Then one person went down on one of the tanks and said; "This is General Luis Martial, we are from the National Defense Commission, we're here to defend this world with people who wants to destroy it. Power down or we'll be forced to power you down ourselves."

"Bite me." Morpheus said.

"Now's our chance, brother." Sam said.

"Good idea." I said. We ran for it as quick as we can, then Morpheus blasted a fire from his hands to this sky showering rains of fire. He's meant to destroy the entire place. Then suddenly, the soldiers, the tanks and planes began to fire their arsenals towards Morpheus. We tried to run, but unfortunately it's impossible for there are fires and building rubbles everywhere. Sully came to us on the most perfect timing. This time he's now the size of a horse. "Hop in, if you want to live." He said. We hopped in his back and flew away as far as possible. "How did they know that we're on trouble?" Sam asked. "Your brother designed this world to have protection against those who are trying to destroy it. So it's only natural that they will be triggered because that demon tried to destroy buildings."

"I did that?" I asked.

"Yes," Sully said, "you designed everything to be a perfect utopia in your own reality. Now, where are you headed next?"

"To the City of the Sirens."

"Unfortunately I have some business to attend to after this, but I can land you to a train that can bring you to the city."

"That would be great." Sully landed us to a train station where there's only one train waiting. "This is called the train of souls." Sully said. "Why was it called the train of souls?" Sam asked.

"Because some said that this train catches the souls wandering your limbo. And they take everyone to their respective routes. By the way, the fourth station that you'll be landing is the station going to the City of the Sirens to the marshlands."

"Interesting, let's go inside to find out for ourselves." We went inside the train and we can see people that are translucent like holographic technology. So we sat and waited till we arrive at the fourth station.