Night Vale Unsolved

30

Once Carlos returned with a pitcher full of water - and three cups to go along with it - Shane began his story.
"After you guys left, Ryan and I decided to explore the city a little more. You know, the normal stuff." Ryan snorted into his cup.
"So much for that," He remarked.
"Yeah," Shane agreed. "So, we were walking around, and we saw the Library."
"And you went in," Carlos cut in. It wasn't a question, he just felt the need to clarify it.
Shane nodded. "Yeah, we went in. And we got pretty far in, too. I gotta say," He added, a half hearted smirk appearing on his face, "You guys could do with a better collection here."
Carlos laughed, despite the story. It was true, of course.
Shane continued with the story. "Anyway, I guess we must have been in the biography section when I picked up a book-"
"The biography section?" Carlos interrupted again. "Did you see the Specter?"
Ryan looked up and he and Shane just stared blankly. Carlos realized that, once again, they had no idea what he was talking about.
"Uh, you know what?" He concluded hastily. "Nevermind. You were saying?"
Shane shook himself a bit, and went on. "So, we were in the biography section, and I picked up a book, and that's when we heard this rumbling noise coming from the back of the Library." He shuddered. "It kept getting closer, so we ran. But I guess we got a little turned around, because we ended up in the children's section. And...there was this little stage in the middle of it, and a bench around it. Like it was meant for readings, you know?" Here Shane glanced at Ryan, but kept going. "We kept running, and I saw the stage and went around it, but-"
"I was looking back." Ryan said, and Shane let him pick up the story. "So I didn't see the stage. And I ran right into it, banged my shin, went down, and banged my head." He winced, and rubbed a spot above his ear.
Carlos was on his feet immediately, and parted Ryan's hair to see where he'd hit the bench. The bruise, already a dark purple, started at his hairline and went in along his scalp a good few inches. Luckily, there was no blood.
"Well," Carlos announced, "It'll definitely hurt for a while. Put some ice on it, and I think you'll be alright." He called over one of the other scientists and asked them to get a pack of ice from the freezer. When she got back, he wrapped it in a towel and handed it to Ryan.
"I'm not a doctor," Carlos laughed, "But this should do the trick."
Ryan accepted the ice and held it to his head. After a moment, he relaxed a little.
"That feels a lot better." He looked up at Carlos. "Thanks."
"No problem. How's your shin?"
"Not as bad; just a small bruise."
Carlos turned to Shane. "Any injuries from you?"
Shane shook his head. "Nothing physical. Can't say this whole thing isn't gonna stay with me for a while, but..." He shrugged. "I'll be fine."
Satisfied, Carlos sat back down. "In that case, maybe you could finish your story?"
"Yeah," Shane said, taking a quick sip of water. "So, Ryan went down, and I helped him up. He was...a little out of it for a moment-"
"I'd just fallen off a stage," Ryan protested, "And hit my head."
"Yeah, and I'm the one who had to practically carry you to the door."
Ryan grumbled a bit, but it was all good natured arguing. He picked up the story.
"So Shane helped me get back up, and by now the growling - the Librarian, I guess - sounded a lot closer."
"We still couldn't see anything, though,"
"Did you want to?"
Shane considered for a moment. "No." He decided. "I guess not." He shuddered again.
"Anyway," Ryan continued, "We could see the door from the children's section. We started off across the space - wide open, too - and by the time we reached the doors, I swear I felt breath on the back of my neck."
Shane sighed. "It was probably mine."
"No," Ryan turned to him, "You're too tall. And there's no way your breath was that...wet." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It wasn't you."
"All right." Shane gave in. "The important thing is we're alive, right?"
They turned to Carlos.
"Uh...yeah!" He stammered, caught off guard by the question, "Of course! That's kind of the whole point, isn't it? Staying alive?"