The Library

Chapter 3- The Others

I feel the paper with my name on it crinkle in my back pocket with every step I take. I've been so tempted to just whip it out and soak in every word that's written, but I constantly remind myself that that wouldn't be fair to Sage, so I've resisted the temptation. 

To settle my curiosity, I've put even more of an effort in our search to find Sage's paper. "This one has an 'N' on it, I think we're getting closer." I chirp while we sift through more papers. "Yeah, maybe..." He mumbles.

Layla Nance.

James Ned.

Frank Nich.

Carly Newman.

But no Sage Mickelson. I decide to throw out that folder and pick up a new one, hopeful that this could be the one with his name in it. I open the folder up slowly and anxiously, scared of the letter that awaits. Once I see that these last names start with 'G's' I can't help but let out a sigh. 

"No 'M's'?" Sage asks from his end of the bookcase. "Nope." He nods, seeming unfazed and continues looking through his current folder. I'm about to pick up another folder when I hear something, voices.

"Shut up Clyde someone will hear us!" Then whispering, then....silence. "Sage...."

"Yep." Is all he says before throwing down his folder and jogging over to me. Together we crouch down behind a bookshelf, waiting to see if we hear them again. "Have you ever heard them before? Because I haven't, but then again I only know a few people in here, but you've been here longer so-"

"Sienna shut up." 

I do, and that's when I hear it. Talking.  And it's getting closer. 

"You're so loud, we're in a library...." 

Footsteps, just on the other side of our bookcase. "Yeah? Well at least I'm not a scare dee cat." 

"That book didn't jump by it's self Clyde! Someone pushed it!"

"Yeah right, there's no one else in this place."

I glance at Sage with raised eyebrows. "Should we?" I whisper. He thinks before nodding. Together we both jump out from our hiding spots, startling two teens who happened to be passing by our isle. The girl screams and the other one, the boy, raises his fist.

"Who are you?" He asks, shaking his fist like he's about to jump the distance that's between us and punch either me or Sage.

"We could ask you the same thing." Sage says cooly. 

The boy frowns but lowers his fists. "I'm Clyde and this is Jess." 

"Hi." Jess says very quietly. Sage nods at them both, acknowledging them, while I wave.

"You didn't tell us your names."The boy notices. 

Sage sighs and motions to me. "That's Sienna, and I'm sage." 

Clyde nods, seeming satisfied. 

"How long have guys been here?" I ask.

"We just got here, we didn't think anyone else was in here or we would have been quieter, sorry." Jess mumbles. "It's not a real library..." Sage mumbles back while I think over what she just said. "Wait you said you just got here? How?"

"Well....we...." Jess frowns. "I-I don't know. We were just here. How is that possible?!" 

"Don't be dumb, we got her somehow. How else would we be standing here?" Sage doesn't say anything, he just stares at something at the end of the isle. "I'm sure there's a perfect explanation for all this Jess, we just haven't figured it all out yet." 

"What! What do you mean you haven't figured it out? How am I here?" She asks before breaking into hysterics. Clyde rolls his eyes so I'm left to tend to Jess while Sage continues staring at that damn piece of paper.

"It's okay, it's okay...." I mumble while rubbing her back. "Sienna...." Sage calls.

"A little busy right now Sage."

"But Sienna look!" The paper he was staring at flutters to the ground right at his feet. Without hesitating he bends down and picks it up. "Jessica Carter and Clyde Holt...."

"How do you know our last names?" Clyde demands, which only makes Jess cry even harder. "It's on this piece of paper." Sage says while waving the paper in his face. He snatches the paper and frowns. "That's impossible. We only just got here and I know we didn't fill out any paperwork. Did we Jess?"

Sniffling Jess takes the paper from him. "N-no we didn't. That's not possible!" She screams, throwing the paper down like it's burned her. 

"Nothing's impossible in the library..." I whisper.