Seeking

Part Five

I arrived at the bonfire an half hour ago, and there has been no sight of Jackson. I am worried that he might have ran into something dangerous in the woods. Again.

I see Mateo and go over to him to explain what happened. He looks worried and snatches the car keys from my hands. While watching him run, I spot the local library. It's long closed by now but I know the owner personally, he once told me that he kept a spare key outside of the place but he never told me where; instead he gave me a riddle to solve that I never bothered with. It went something along the lines of, "where the eye meets the trees that blows beneath the breeze, just along the bank you'll find the keys." I look around for slouching trees, but there are many and all identical. Not mention that there is not a river bank anywhere close to the library. I scan trees once more, and in slight rest of the wind I see one branch of slouching tree pointing directly at a brick- laid a little higher than the rest, it lay right next to the drainage piping. I walk up to the brick and then step on it; it wiggles a bit. I attempt to pick up the brick and it takes a bit more strength than I anticipated, but there under the brick, in between the dampened, dark soil lays the silver keys that will allow me entrance to the local library.

I slip into the library unnoticed and head straight for the "Myth and superstition" section. I search all the shelves for the book, but once again I find nothing. I search through the history section- nothing, politics section- nothing, geography section- nothing. Romance, horror, non-fiction, fantasy and even archives- nada!

I hear a tapping sound behind me and whip my head to reveal the instrument along with it's musician.

"I assume this is what you're looking for?" Seth says with one eyebrow raised, leaning against one of the bookshelves, holding up the crescent moon book.

"Yes, and it also happens that I was going to look for you as well. Hah, talk about 'two birds with one stone'" I say and walk closer to him. "what are you even doing here, aren't you supposed to be hiding out in the woods or something? You know that you're some sort of fugitive, right?" I cross my arms.

"And miss Den života? I don't think so, everybody from across the five villages are raving about this being the place to be. Should I feel flattered that you would want to look for me? "he asks with a smirk,"or am I correct to assume that you were just going to try and turn me into one of your answering machines like poor Jackson Reed? If so, know that I will not be punished as he was."he says.

"What do you know about Jackson? What do you mean by punished and by who? "I ask.

He 'tsk's and gestures no with his finger."I will not be answering any of your questions regarding the mystics. Questions about us on the other hand..."he says and sits down on a sofa, patting for me to sit next to him.

"Since when was there an 'us', because I don't recall an 'us' as of recently" I roll my eyes and sit.

"That's exactly what this is about."he gives me the book," we are the problem here; supposedly. They are trying to ruin us with their mind games and marriages."he scoffs," I want you to read everything that I've marked off, that's the important parts, the other things you can read in your own time."

"Seth, I don't understand. How is reading this book going to help me with everything. Why can't you just tell me?" I say and hang my head.

"I wish that I could, but they're watching me in ways you are yet to learn, and you don't know it, but you need time to let everything sink in." he says and hold my hand. I look up at him, straight into the depths of his encapsulating eyes and find myself leaning into him trying to get a closer look. The closer I get, the more I sense that they've seen immense tragedy. He cups my chin with his hand to stop me and I snap out of my daze.

"Tell me one thing then," he nods, "what does my father have to do with any of this?" I ask.

He huffs and rubs the stubble on his chin. "He has everything to do with this, in fact, he started everything. I know that he's your father but he is going against our very nature and culture for his own personal gain! I don't want to be the one to tell you what he conspired, nor can I, or anyone else without consequence. All we can do advise you, but if you want the whole story; get it from the horse's mouth. Be careful please, read everything I marked, it will help you a ton. I don't want you to get hurt."he says and I feel heaviness across my chest, although my mind is clear.

"Thank you for this, it's much appreciated, but this doesn't mean you're forgiven." I whisper and get up to leave, giving him no room to comment. He follows me to the door and stops before walking out.

"I'm going to see you again, very soon. We have more to discuss, more about us." he says and leaves a chaste kiss on my forehead before disappearing with the wind.
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I clutch onto my bag as I wade through the sea of people at the bonfire. Mateo called to let me know that Jackson and him are waiting for me at the little pond. The pond is in the dark of the shadow of the maintenance building, where nobody can see unless they focus.

Mateo and Jackson are sitting on a bench with their backs facing me. I can only see their silhouettes in the dark, if I didn't know better, I could've mistaken them for a chubby lumberjack, so close they're sitting.

The closer I get, the more I hear it, and the more realization dawns upon me. When I finally get close enough to confirm my thoughts, I gasp sending each of them flying to either side of the bench caught in the act.

"You weren't supposed to see that." said Mateo hiding his face.
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💜A. N💜

Hiii it's been 7 days since I last updated my book, yikes! After next week though, I'll be updating more frequent, my goal is one chapter per day, hopefully I don't get side tracked again🤞🏻.

But anyway...
How did you like the chapter?
(also I'm going to change the "Part One" thing to "Chapter One" instead because it gets really confusing at times😂😂)

Please comment any constructive criticism and vote if you enjoyed the book this far! 😊

I'm hoping to see you in the next chapter! 🙏🏻🤗💜