Trapped

1

o n e

The sun was slowly going down and I looked over at the clock on the wall. There was still enough time to finish what I had started. I collected the books on the table, and I walked over to the librarian's desk to place them in front of her. I then walked over to the printer and made several copies of my paper. I input seven dollars into the printer, and I collected the copies.

"Here are your copies," I said, handing a copy to each of my group members.

"Thanks, let's get out of here." my best friend, Zahra said, and I nodded my head.

We grabbed our things and made our way out of the library. There were quite a few of us heading out. Seventeen to be exact. We had all come to the library to work on our philosophy papers. I flew solo but the rest of my group members had worked on their papers together. Meaning, they still had work to do.

We walked slowly into the underground parking lot, and we split ways.

"You know, this is the perfect time to get close to Bryson." Zahra said and I looked over in her direction.

"You think so?" I asked and she nodded her head. I took my bag off my shoulder, and I placed it in the trunk of Bryson's car.

"I thought that you were going to ride with me." Zahra stated, giving me a knowing smile.

She knew that I wanted to go with Bryson. I've had a crush on him for a while and I must keep on making moves. There are times where I feel like he feels the same way as I do but I'm not a hundred percent sure.

"Don't even start with me right now Zahra. You know damn well-" I began to say but was cut off.

Bryson slammed his trunk shut and the sound echoed off the walls.

"What does she know?" Bryson asked, walking towards me.

"Don't worry about it, Bryson." Zahra said, not giving me the chance to speak for myself.

"So... you ready to go? I just know you'll love it at my family's cabin." he said, and I nodded my head. "But my boys and I were thinking we should stop somewhere and have a bonfire. Is that something that you would like?"

"Yeah, I would. I like the sound of that very much." I said and he placed his finger under my chin.

We looked each other in the eye, and he smiled at me before he walked to the driver's seat. I watched as he got in and noticed that there were three people in the back seat and one in the front.

"Damn," I silently said, and I looked over at Zahra who was talking to one of Bryson's friends. I walked over to her, and I told her that I was going to the bathroom before the library closed.

"Okay, yeah, sure..." she waved me off and I walked back into the library.

I knew that I had to hurry because the library would be closing soon. I walked into the bathroom, and I went into a stall and went about my business. I walked over the sinks and as soon as I turned the water on, the lights suddenly went out.

"Of course, something like this would happen to me." I mumbled as I washed my hands in the dark. I grabbed a paper towel from next to the sink and I dried my hands off. I held on to the paper towel since I couldn't see where the trash can was.

I eventually found the door and I walked out. Everything seemed to be completely shut down. From the glass, I saw that snow had begun to fall. Snow could ruin the chances of a bonfire. I need the bonfire to be perfect. Tonight, would be the perfect night for confessions. If I can find my way out of here.

I found the door to the parking garage, and I tried to push the door open. Nothing happened. I tried it again. Still nothing.

"Bryson! Zahra! You're not funny, let me out!" I shouted but I could only hear my voice echo through the halls. I walked down the hall and looked out the window.

No cars. No people.

I let out a deep sigh and I reached for my phone in my back pocket. Nothing was in my back pocket. My phone was in my bag, in Bryson's car, probably on its way to the bonfire. Without me.

"Wouldn't be the first time someone forgot about me." I said, solemnly.

I turned around and began to make my way down the hall and looked for another way out of here. Every exit that I found was locked. Windows as well. I walked back to the door to the parking lot, and I looked out once more. Absolutely no one.

My back was against the door, the cold steel seeping into my skin. How did I manage to get stuck in a big empty library?

"They'll be back..." I told myself, as I slid down.

I sat there is silence until it was literally drove me crazy. I began to hum a song that my grandmother used to sing to me. It always calmed my nerves.

"There will be times/ When you feel alone/ But I'll be right here/ Right here with you/ All along, all along/ Little bird / Everything will be just fine/ Little bird/ I believe you can touch the sky" I softly sang to myself, and a few tears fell.

I sniffled and I wiped my tears away. I thought that they would have come back by now. Has no one noticed that I'm not with them?

I got up and walked back to the main library to look for a phone that I could use. I walked down the glass hallway with my head hung low. When I reached the main part of the library, I searched up and down for a phone that I could use. Nothing.

"What library doesn't have a phone?" I asked myself, slightly frustrated. I was ready to get out of this oversized icebox. I then saw a door that I hadn't noticed before and I made my way towards it. I peeked through the little glass on the door and saw that there were phones in there. I turned the knob and frowned when I realized that it was locked.

What now? I let out a sigh of frustration but that feeling left me when I remembered that there were computers here that I could possibly use. I turned and made my way to the computer lab.

I pushed the door open, and I walked in. I sat down and turned on the computer. It took a while to start up. I smiled when the screen lit up, but it quickly turned into a frown when I saw that I needed to have a session code.

I turned off the computer, pushed in my chair and walked out of the lab. Tonight, luck was not on my side.

My eyebrows knitted as I heard a creaking sound emanating from above me. I turned to gaze overhead when I heard the sound once more. The place was empty. There was merely darkness. I got up from where I was and started up the stairs due to an additional noise.

I walked up another flight of stairs and I walked into the room. I walked over to the large glass window and watched as snow fell to the ground. A beautiful sight.

I walked away from the window, and I skimmed through the books. When I found one that interested me, I sat down in a white armchair and began to read. After what seemed to be thirty minutes, my lids slowly began to cascade over my eyes.

When I woke up, it was darker outside. I sighed when I realized that I was still here. Trapped inside the library. I walked over to the window and looked out. The streetlights had now turned on. It was a beautiful winter wonderland outside. A small smile crept up on my face, but it slowly faded.

I honestly believed that by this point, I would have left this place. What is keeping me here? Who is worried about me, exactly? Nobody is looking for me, why? On the other hand, I have idiot friends. They struggle to understand how two things may be combined into one.

The reality that no one would be coming for me any time soon had to be accepted by me. The only thing I could do was wait until the library reopened in a few hours. I retrieved the book I was currently reading and returned to my chair. I finished the book's first 40 pages before becoming uninterested. I stood up and went to the drinking fountain to get a drink. I sensed something behind me amid the peace I had just found.

Footsteps.