Whispers Of Enigma

Chapter 14 - The Librarian

ANYA

Thursday 12:15 PM

Exiting my economy class, I gathered all my research papers—Jordan's extensive research and a few additional articles. The missing page in the book was nagging at us, and we were determined to uncover more about Silas Blackwood and the book's origins. Online information was rare, with only vague accounts from witnesses linking it to supernatural events.

Jordan promised to print more documents for Miss Wren while I wrapped up my class. We agreed to meet in front of the school library.

As I approached the designated spot, Jordan greeted me with a brief smile. His laptop and messenger bag accompanied him, as always. He eagerly shared some findings: rumors from decades years ago about Silas Blackwood's involvement in suspicious activities. Unexplainable phenomena, supernatural occurrences—the works.

Opinions on Blackwood varied widely. Some believed he held knowledge beyond what he revealed in his writings, while others dismissed him as crazy or criticized him for venturing beyond conventional beliefs— Not believing in God and all that.

The articles, however, were riddled with contradictions, and it seemed like we were missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. This is why our discussion with Miss Wren might be more important than we think. Marcus informed us yesterday that Miss Wren had suggested he and Alex visit her if they had any questions about the book. According to him, she hinted at having additional insights to share, which could be good for us.

Entering the library to meet Miss Wren filled me with joy—the familiar scent of books always does. I love the library; it's a haven for me. Marcus shares this love, but Jordan and Alex aren't as enthusiastic about it. If I could, I'd spend all my days surrounded by books in this vast library.

Each visit feels like the first time—the towering shelves, the expansive windows at the end casting light on the entire space, and the mezzanine with even more books and cozy reading spaces.

As we approached Miss Wren's front desk, she wasn't there. It occurred to me that she might not know who we are, so I suggested to Jordan that we should properly introduce ourselves when she arrives. It's only polite, after all.

Jordan observed my happiness and couldn't resist makin a playful comment. "You seem thrilled to be in here." He continued, mentioning his dislike for reading, particularly on paper. He's a tech guy after all, which kind of makes sense.

Smiling, I replied, "Books are different. The internet is great for in-depth research, but there's a unique reality to books, at least for me." Playfully teasing, I added, "Besides, we would never have noticed a ripped page in a PDF document like we did in this book."

Before I could say more, a familiar exchange of banter reached my ears.

"You're so stupid, man. I should beat the shit out of you for not listening to me. You should've stayed in the dorm."

"First off, you'd probably knock me out, and second, I don't want to pass out again in the middle of the library," he replied with a hint of humor.

I turned around to see Alex and Marcus approaching. They spotted us and made their way to the front desk.

Alex greeted us with an incredibly wide smile on his face, radiating happiness. He joyfully proclaimed, "Guess what? Marcus is officially an idiot for not listening to us and leaving the dorm." His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "And no, I would not be able to knock you out." added Alex.

"He does need to rest," I agreed, understanding Marcus's curiosity. After all, he was the one who introduced us to the mysterious book and probably knew more about it than any of us.