A spirit between us (bxb)

Chapter 5 - Library.

Finally, they reached the library, a sprawling labyrinth of knowledge steeped in the quiet reverence of forgotten tales. The air was heavy with the scent of old paper and wood polish, mingled with that faint, unmistakable tang of dust. Sunlight filtered in through tall, arched windows, casting long beams of gold that illuminated swirling motes of dust like tiny galaxies suspended in the air.

Archie led the way with an ease that suggested he'd spent countless hours here, weaving through the maze of towering shelves as if they were old friends. Finn trailed behind, feeling like an intruder in this sacred space, his sneakers squeaking softly against the polished floor.

As they ventured deeper, the shelves seemed to grow taller, their wooden frames dark and weathered, the grain etched with the passage of time. They loomed overhead like ancient skyscrapers, their spines faded and cracked, each one whispering of countless years spent absorbing the secrets of those who dared to open them.

When they reached the back of the library, the atmosphere shifted entirely. This corner felt forgotten, untouched by the bustling students who only ventured into the front for last-minute homework assignments. The air was thicker here, cooler, and carrying a faint, earthy smell that made Finn think of basements and hidden attics.

The shelves were draped in thick blankets of dust, their neglected contents coated in layers so dense Finn had to resist the urge to sneeze. Books of every size and color stood crookedly in their places, some leaning precariously as if they might topple over with the gentlest nudge. Others lay sprawled open, their yellowing pages frozen mid flip, like they'd been abandoned decades ago.

In the back, nestled among the literary relics, was a small sofa that looked like it had seen better days. Archie flopped onto it as if it were his second home, perfectly at ease among the cobwebs and the faint smell of old paper. He sank into the cushions with a satisfied sigh, a king on his throne.

Finn stood there for a moment, feeling like a bewildered lost puppy, trying to figure out how to approach the situation. He couldn't just stand there like a statue, could he? So, with all the grace of a newborn deer, he awkwardly lowered himself onto the sofa beside Archie.

Once seated, Finn was suddenly acutely aware of his hands. What was he supposed to do with them? Were there specific 'sitting next to your crush' rules he was unaware of? He decided on a classic move and placed them on his knees, hoping that would make him look cool and collected. Instead, it just felt stiff and awkward, and he cursed himself internally for being such a dork.

"Nice, right?" Archie said, grinning as he gestured at the dusty books surrounding them. "It's like a museum."

"Right," Finn replied, fighting the urge to laugh at Archie's cuteness.

Archie shifted in his seat, turning his body to face Finn fully, his legs crossed in front of him like he was about to spill the secrets of the universe. "About that spirit of yours... Sorry if I scared you. It's just that usually, ghosts attach themselves to people they have some kind of emotional connection with, like a departed parent or a close friend or something. But you mentioned that no one you knew had passed recently, right?"

Finn nodded, feeling like he was trapped in a crossover episode of Ghostbusters and Dr. Phil. All his family members were alive and kicking, and as far as genuine friends went, he wasn't exactly swimming in those, dead or alive. "Yeah. So... who is it? If you can see them, can you describe them to me? Are they, like, wearing a sheet or something?"

Archie shook his head gently, as if Finn had just asked him to recite Shakespeare in Klingon. "It's not like those made-up stories. To me, spirits look like a ball of white light—just a bundle of bright energy in the shape of their shell. So, I can tell what kind of spirit they are. If they want to communicate with me, they can... kind of... telepathically? It's hard to explain, but I know what they're saying without hearing their voice."