The Last Library

Chapter 1

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

~ Charles R. Swindoll

Flashback

Amelia's POV

"Come on, Amelia. You too, Chris," my mother called through our top floor apartment.

My dad was frantically stuffing the classics into his duffel bag. "I've got Moby Dick, How to kill a Mockingbird, 1001 Arabian Nights, Romeo and Juliet....that should be the rest of them," he muttered.

He proceeded to stuff the bag under the bed. He then crouched in front of me and told me, "You need to take these books to the sewer, you'll see Uncle Emanuel there."

My 11-year old self was only partly familiar with the plan. My parents were to go to the second big book burning while I delivered our priceless collection of classics from the 20 and 21st century to Uncle Emanuel, although I wasn't sure what he was planning to do with them.

Just recently the government had banned any type of fictional book. They were all going to be publicly burnt like the spinning wheels in that Sleeping Beauty movie, only that to many people books were way more valuable.

I pulled on my hat and walked out of the door with my parents. We were the last people from our apartment block to leave. Actually, we were so late that there was barely anyone else in the town that wasn't at the book burning.

As soon as we were outside of our apartment block I claimed to need to use the toilet, which was part of the plan. My parents responded that they would meet me at the town center.

Just like I was told, I ran upstairs and got the duffel bag out from under the bed. I had a hard time lifting it, but I managed to sling it over my shoulder.

I exited through the back door of our building, my pale blue eyes surveyed my surroundings. I walked towards the sewers at a fast pace, my wild ginger curls swaying at each step.

After a while I saw Uncle Emanuel at the entrance of the sewer. He beckoned me towards him and took the bag from me.

"Thank you, my sweet. Now, let me show you what I've been working on," he greeted me.

"I-I've got to go, but I'll come back later!" I replied, looking forward to later.

I waved at him and ran towards the town center where my parents were waiting.

"Why must you always take so long on the toilet?" My mom scolded me, for show, while my dad winked at me.

(((())((()))(())))

3rd Person POV

After the big book burning Amelia went ahead to go meet Emanuel. Chris and his wife Ella were held up by a police officer that used to be a good family friend.

"Hey Chris, I couldn't help but notice that you didn't bring as many books as you could have. You know that that's against the law, right?" He addressed the couple maliciously. They had drifted apart because of their view on books. The officer, Jaxon Crowbery, believed that they were a waste of space, and that all they did was spread spread lies. Chris and Ella on the other hand believed they were a great escape from reality and one of the best parts of life.

"We were saving some of them for the biggest burning of them all, the third burning," Chris lied, although not as smoothly as he would have liked.

Meanwhile Amelia was walking through the abandoned sewer at the edge of the town with her uncle. She made it a point to skip over the puddles, of which there were many.

Finally, Emanuel and Amelia arrived at a tunnel in which Emanuel had laid long planks across the floor. There were a couple of dim light bulbs and some makeshift shelves with books on them. The whole thing was quite inconspicuous, but to Amelia it was clear as day as the what this was.

"A library?" She asked, surprised. She had thought Emanuel was collecting books for himself.

"Yes, my sweet. This place is mine as much it is yours now. Can you keep this a secret? You must never tell anyone."

"Yes!" Amelia replied to her uncle confidently.

Emanuel handed Amelia a flashlight and key for the gates that were in the sewer.

"I will be in charge of inviting trustworthy people and maybe someday you will too." Emanuel continued to tell Amelia.

Neither of them were aware, that at this moment in time, the residence of Amelia, Chris and Ella was being burnt to the ground.

(((())((()))(())))

Approx. 750 Words

Not edited!

This is my newest project which I hope to actually finish.

Let me know whether you like it or not.

- Merida