The Secret Librarian Society

Chapter 2

Ana sat in her room with her head between her knees. Shouting and pointed fingers bounced from downstairs and up to her room. As the voices grew louder, her head sunk lower. Broken glass crashed somewhere below her bed and caused the girl to jump. Red-rimmed eyes glared at the closed door that hid her from the horrors downstairs. Incoherent threats muffled through the door. Every sound weighed down on her shoulders. Her parents had fought since the moment they entered back in the house after the burial. It was starting to become too much for her as more glass shattered. She crawled off of the corner of the bed she resided on. Light steps tiptoed to the door and creaked it open.

"It's all your fault! Why couldn't you have checked in on him more!?" Ana's mother hissed bitterly.

"What did you want me to do, Linda!? The boy was in school!" Her dad echoed the woman's hatred through his tone.

"Oh, you know that's just what you tell yourself."

"And where were you!? Just sitting around all day with nothing better to do since you lost your job!"

"I work from home, Richard!"

"You do nothing but suck the mailman off while you're here!"

"Richard, what are you-,"

"Daniel's security camera! Did you forget!? Huh!? You damn slut!" Ana paused in the hallway as a deathly silence fell on the house. "He's dead because of you! We had to bury our son today because of you!" A door slammed as loud as a bomb going off. Low, female whimpers ensued along with more shattered glass. Ana's head fell slightly as it shook in pity. She slowly tiptoed down the hallway and toward the last door on the left. The door almost glowed as it stood there. Ana gulped down the tears that wanted to escape as a trembling hand fell on the bronze knob.

The door opened and revealed a bright blue room. Highschool trophies stood on a desk along with a diploma on the wall above them. Sandalwood wafted into her nose as the door softly shut behind her. Her eyes trailed to the three bookshelves that towered the far wall of the room. Books were stuffed in the black cases and gleamed against the evening sunset. Ana trailed over to a bed that sat across from it. She slowly crept onto the bed and laid her back against the wall. Her knees tucked into her chest as her eyes trailed to the door. Memories flooded through her mind. It was so distinct that for a second, she played a scene right before her eyes.

****

Carson walked into the room with a dirt smudged uniform and overstuffed bags. He tossed his backpack next to his dresser along with a gym bag. A tired sigh escaped him as he glared at the backpack with disdain. "Screw homework," he grumbled, as he trailed into the room. Before he could take another step toward the bed, a curious head popped in. Ana's smile broadened as she stepped into the room with her hands behind her back.

"What do you want, brat?" Carson asked, annoyed.

"Geez, no hello?" Ana bit back with no real bite.

"You're in my room. What d'you want?" Ana's eyes rolled up in mock annoyance as she revealed a wrapped gift from behind her back. The present was tossed toward Carson which was barely caught by slippery hands.

"Happy birthday butterfingers." Carson's head fell to the blue and yellow wrapping paper as a smile grew across his face. His eyes beamed toward his little sister as the present was held up.

"Thanks!" His eyes sparkled as she walked into the room and jumped on his bed.

"Well, hurry up and open it!" Carson wasted no time as he tore into the wrapping paper. A brand-new book was revealed. 'Soul Train' printed against a steam engine. Smoke billowed around it ominously which drew his eyes to a golden ticket at the bottom of the cover. His brows furrowed as he turned to the yellow backing and read the text.