In The Dark

TWO.

"We're here."

Jeff stopped in front of a bookstore at the far end of town. It was the quietest part of the town and there was barely any passerby- probably just one in every half a minute. An old dusty signage that said Dilton's Book Emporium swung back and forth, creaking as it swayed to the wind. I released Jeff's waist from my killer grasp and got down. I thought I heard him exhale, an obvious sign of relief, but I didn't tell him it was my first time to ride a motorbike and his driving was suicidal to me. I walked over to the entrance and found another sign that said CLOSED in thick red letters.

"It says closed."

He smiled, obviously amused and motioned for me to follow him. We went all around the bookstore, at the back of the building and into a door that said Unauthorized People: Keep Out. He turned the knob which opened easily- they didn't need locks after all. The door took us to the very back part of the bookshop where the bookcases and everything in them were older and dustier than the rest. I let out a hearty sneeze.

"Do you ever clean this place up?" I scrunched my nose.

"I guess the dust suggests how business has been going these years. Samuel has his hands full to even bother to try and crank this place up with customers."

"But all this isn't even real. Just a set up to keep you in town."

"Of course. But now that meetings are often being held here, I think he's closing up the place for good."" Jeff paused to look at me and there was his lopsided smile again. Annoying as heck.

"I can't imagine what you do to the unauthorized people who happened to have ignored the signs." I said, avoiding his gaze and forcing an edge to my voice.

He just winked.

The whole book emporium was a large hall that looked more like a library than a book shop. It had two levels and we were already climbing up a flight of spiral stairs to the second level. After a couple more shelves, we reached a double door that lead to Samuel Dilton's own private space which he occasionally converts into a summoning pit. Nicely put, it's where he meets people to speak with them privately. Being a bookshop owner, you'd think he's a scrawny old guy in a starched shirt who owns a study complete with an oak desk and more bookshelves. In truth, Samuel was just in his early twenties, buff and tanned, has a weird fetish for Coke products and owns a study without any desks or shelves. I've only been to his place once before but I remember what it looked like. It was basically a huge living room with a flat screen stuck to the wall, black futons and a low table at the center, a colossal chandelier glowing from the ceiling and mini bar on one corner with a mini refrigerator. His own definition of cloud nine. Jeff has already opened the doors for me and there was Samuel, in his usual button down shirt and khaki pants, holding a Coke can and smiling at me.

"Ava. I've been waiting for you." He grinned, spreading his arms for an embrace, which I quickly side stepped, forcing to him to turn to Jeff who went straight inside completely ignoring him as well.

"I know. What do you have for me?"

"Coke?"

"Aside from that."

"Oh yeah. Please, take a seat." He motioned to the black leather futon on the right where Jeff was already feeling right at home. I seated myself on the far right, keeping an obvious distance from him. Samuel remained standing while shaking his can in a slow circular motion.

"You've probably heard about the Grims' recent attack. They have never been this hostile before. Not against the Order, at least." Samuel paused thoughtfully. " I won't beat around the bush anymore. I have a hunch why the resistance has been greater than usual. It's because of you."