by John Stone
“Yes, I was there, but not for the reason you think. I came to warn you, because I knew you were in danger. I think that you must have said those prayers before, the ones that triggered my presence and hence I was there. It was because I thought it was a call for help.”
Rosemary’s explanation settled Emily a bit and she was relieved by the fact that she was not totally losing her mind. However, she needed all her questions to be answered before she could help Rosemary completely. Emily was the one who wanted to control the situation by knowing all the details.
“But I don’t understand one thing though,” Emily went on. “Why would the former lady librarian want to harm me? The last time I saw her, she helped me. It was before I knew that she was not human. I was sitting somewhere along here waiting to finish one of the assignments, but it was too difficult. I couldn’t find the book that I was looking for and then I saw her over there in some retro clothes. I didn’t think anything at first, but she was eager enough to help me herself. She directed me towards the book that I needed and that was it. It had all the answers and problems I needed. Even when Denise didn’t help me with the work, I could finish it on time because I had all the answers ready in my hand. Don’t you think that is surprising?” Emily looked at Rosemary and tried to find the answer in her expression, but she got nothing.
“How did you know then that she was a ghost,” Rosemary questioned back?
“I didn’t at first,” Emily admitted. Honestly, before today, I never even believed something like this could even happen. It still feels like a dream to me if you ask me. I couldn’t even believe it at first when Denise told me about it, but there was always a rumor floating around that one of the students a few years back saw the library ghost and fainted or something. The student had the same kind of nightmares and was later considered insane. I was afraid for the people around me. I didn’t want to pull them into my troubles. Grace left and I befriended Jamie to seek help. I still kept seeing the ghost and it was followed by that horrible night in Mia’s secret necromancy room. What could possibly be the meaning of all this? What is going on behind everyone’s back?”
Emily was clearly stressed while recalling the events of the earlier happenings and Rosemary didn’t stop her from saying anything. She just sat there helping Emily piece it all together. When Emily stopped for breath, Rosemary asked her to continue further.
“Don’t hold anything back from me, Emily. This is for your own good. I will do everything possible to stop what is happening to you. Sadly, there is no difference between spirits and people because anyone can deceive you. So you must be careful what you do and say.”
Emily didn’t want to think anymore or analyze what was being said to her. “I know, I know, that is why it took me so much time to believe in you. Everyone was acting so suspicious around me and I even doubted Grace, Mr. Gallagher and Jamie for that matter. Can I tell you something?”
“Yes, definitely, don’t hold anything back from me,” Rosemary urged.
“I think Grace is on to something, because she thought that Mr. Gallagher … I mean Mr. Keaton was in on this. Well, I wouldn’t blame her completely, because I thought that, too. I didn’t say this to you before, but we were sent some strange books. These were books from rare authors on criminology, which I understand, but they were not all on that topic. There were some other books, too, on spirit evocation. That took us by surprise. We thought it was a joke and didn’t take it seriously, and there was no name of the sender. I was the one who found the photograph. It was your photograph. I didn’t know even then, although in this situation, I must admit that it was Mr. Keaton’s image that looked striking to me. I had a feeling that Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Keaton might be the same person. Grace must have caught on to that, too. She left without letting me know anything. Then, I did a bit of investigation myself to get information on her whereabouts. However, I can’t seem to contact her now. The last I heard she was at her mom’s house. Also, she broke her leg and might be resting. I didn’t want to bother her or call her, but at least she is safe. I simply wish I could let her know somehow that I can handle this situation on my own or else she would be worrying on for no reason.”
Emily was saying too much and Rosemary had no intention of stopping her. There she was, listening to her patiently with everything she was saying and Emily admitted flatly soon that she was grateful that Rosemary wasn’t trying to intimidate her in any manner.
“It was a right decision for you not to involve anyone in this,” Rosemary told her. “You did the right thing, but like I said, you cannot trust anyone too closely. There are those who want this library taken down. They hate sharing. Like the former librarian, nobody knows much, but she has a history. She didn’t like anyone in this library, because it was her haven, her temple and now it will not be here anymore. So if she can’t have it, then she will not let anyone have it, as well. Everyone has their own reason, but they all know how to scare a soul when they see one. Have you seen her again somewhere?”
Rosemary’s words were comforting. Emily found all the information that she needed to know. It was then that she decided that she could lay her trust in Rosemary, after all.
“I don’t know and I cannot even tell you clearly, but someone was there. I am sure about that. I could sense it and feel it as well when Mia took me to that abandoned room. The feeling was so scary and it was nothing like your presence. The lights went off, the wind blew hard and I just knew that something was going to happen, but things were different than they are now. I had a feeling that something might not be right. Whoever was there was trying to intimidate and scare me. And I am not mistaken, because Jamie felt it too. Then, I suffered from heavy fever. Can this all be mere coincidence? I think not, because both of us can’t be wrong. You are here and I felt absolutely fine.” Emily was trying to be honest as much as she could. She believed that saying everything out loud would help them resolve the situation sooner and although the conversation was dragging on, she didn’t mind.
“You seem to trust Grace too much,” Rosemary said.
“I don’t think so,” Emily batted back.
“Then why did she leave you without saying anything? Have you ever thought about that specifically? Did she contact you in between or even try to contact you at all? If she knew something was wrong and amiss, then do you think it was right for her to leave so suddenly without telling you, knowing that you will worry? That is burdening your friend with additional troubles.”
These simple questions and statements made Emily look up, and there were lines of doubt on her face. She became silent and didn’t say another thing. Sure, she loved and trusted Grace and was almost confident that Grace meant no harm, but she couldn’t completely ignore what Rosemary just said. Thus, she decided to give some thought to it. On one hand, she felt a tinge of guilt for doubting her friend, but how could she purposely dismiss what Rosemary said. Thus, Emily maintained her silence.
“Did I say anything wrong?” Rosemary asked.
“No, you didn’t. It is just me. I can’t deny what you said. I agree that Grace should have informed me about her plans and what she was up to. That would have provided me with more comfort. But she didn’t do that, and in all this, I had to befriend someone new. That is also completely out of character for me. I know that I am making all of these problems for myself, but what am I supposed to do?” This time, Emily expressed her doubts clearly.
“Emily, we have no time to waste,” Rosemary said.
The conversation between the two was going on a surface level, so Emily couldn’t understand the urgency of her statement. She sensed that something was suddenly changing. “What happened?” she asked.
“This library will not be here much longer, and I can sense that you are in deep trouble. We must do something quickly. Do you agree to do as I say,” Rosemary asked firmly? Emily nodded and Rosemary seemed pleased. Once Rosemary got the affirmation, she said, “Don’t talk to anyone but Gregory. Don’t speak with Jamie or even
Grace if she calls you. You can’t afford that. Now listen carefully, do you know who wants this library to be taken down?”
“Who is it?”
“It’s Gregory, and we must stop him at any cost.”
Emily only looked at her in total astonishment.
“He won’t listen to you,” Rosemary went on, “and there is no way that I can get out of here. So you have to agree to the plan that I have in mind,” Rosemary proposed.
“All right then,” Emily agreed. “Tell me what you want me to do, and I will do it. If that's what it will take to save the library and give me peace before I go completely insane, then I am all for it,” Emily said with determination.
“All right then, it’s not too late. I want you to go and inform my brother about this. Ask him to be here and then I will do the rest.” There was urgency in Rosemary’s voice.
“What if he doesn’t agree to come? He didn’t believe me at first, so what is the guarantee that he will believe me now? I cannot possibly drag him in here after everything that happened earlier this evening.”
“I have a plan, so trust me on this. I know he will come. He is my brother, and I was the one he cared about the most. You are a bright student, Emily, and I trust you to the fullest. Please think of something and urge him to come. I must convince him not to take this library down. He must know this is where I am. Emily, there are evil things going on and we must stop it. This is our only chance.”
This was the final push that Emily required and she decided to follow the order swiftly. “I will go at once.” She pushed away from the table and prepared to leave.
“Emily, wait,” Rosemary called out! “One final thing...you can’t trust anyone or listen to them. Not Jamie, Mia, Denise or even Grace. Go directly to Gregory and tell him everything. Go now.” These last words by Rosemary barely grazed Emily’s ears and she was on her way to get Mr. Keaton.
“I mustn’t talk to anyone or trust them,” Emily kept telling herself with half a mind. The other half of her brain couldn’t comprehend how she would convince Mr. Keaton to come along with her to the library. She reached Mr. Keaton's place and knocked on his door. She waited impatiently outside until he opened his door. He looked at Emily furiously, but she didn’t seem to care. “You again,” he said.
Emily noticed that he looked particularly disheveled and tired. He appeared to be extremely ill at ease, but Emily didn’t waste any more time. She was fueled by a constant reminder that time was running out.
“I want you to come with me now, Mr. Keaton, because it is urgent.”
“What did you say,” Mr. Keaton asked, looking aghast?
“I know that’s your real name, but I don’t know why you needed to hide it. We don’t have time and you must come with me,” Emily said.
“No, I won’t, and why would I? Why have you come at this hour, Emily? I am not feeling well with the events from earlier in the evening and now you come rushing back asking me to accompany you. You must have lost your mind!” Mr. Keaton said furiously, but Emily didn’t pay heed to any of it.
“Mr. Keaton you don’t understand, there is a danger that is looming in the background, and not only that it is about your sister, too. She needs you. Moreover, I have my head on the line as well. This is for all of us. Please, Mr. Keaton, don’t let me down now!” Emily begged without knowing how effective her words were.
Mr. Gallagher, as known to her, was stubborn and determined. Persuading him would be a mammoth task and Emily was well aware of that. She hoped against hope that he would listen to her and follow her to the library. Yet, he was such an authority figure that following the whim of a student was almost preposterous.
“Stop calling me by that name, Emily. I don’t need that!” he shouted at Emily.
His voice was caught up in a sudden gust of wind, and it started raining. Emily looked up in astonishment as there was no forecast of rain that day. Somebody or something was here with them, aiding in her quest.
“Why can't I call you by that name? That is your name, Mr. Keaton. I know everything. Your sister told me everything. Come with me now!” Emily shouted out against the wind. The wind was blowing hard now and mixed with water droplets. It stung her face, but she decided to ignore it.
“Don’t you dare, Emily. Nobody calls me by that name, but my family and you know nothing about any of them. Stay out of this. I am warning you!” Mr. Keaton shouted back.
“I met your sister, Mr. Keaton. I know that you are one of the heads behind taking this library down, but it is your sister who is in there. You cannot ignore that,” Emily shouted back. Emily was making her last attempt to convince Mr. Keaton to come with her. It was then that Mr. Keaton started crying. He stepped down from the porch and he knelt down and cried. He looked up and said teary eyed, “The library, it‘s not meant to be.”
Chapter 11
Emily wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. She was like a woman possessed. Emily found herself dragging Mr. Keaton towards the library. She hardly believed her own actions. By the time they were at the entrance, both she and Mr. Keaton were soaking wet.
“Are you doing okay, Mr. Keaton?” This time, Emily hesitated before addressing him as Mr. Keaton. She knew that it would take time, but it was more difficult than she expected it to be.
“I am okay. Now, what are we supposed to do? Wait here or go inside?” he asked.
“We can’t wait here. No one knows about this and we can never be suspected. So we must go inside as discreetly as possible.” With this Emily started to go inside.
“Emily, wait. I still don’t understand why you dragged me over here, and I still don’t believe a word you are saying. So if I find this entire thing to be a gimmick, then I will not hesitate to report you.”
He warned Emily for the last time. There was no explanation that Emily could offer Mr. Keaton which would make him believe otherwise. So she decided against saying anything at all. Her eyes merely conveyed a message which asked him to trust her for the final time. Her sheer desperation alone was enough to convince him that something important needed to be done.
“You go in first, Mr. Keaton, and then I will follow you inside in a short while. I need to dry myself a little bit first, so wait for me in the criminology section. I promise you, I will be there.”
Emily left after saying this. She saw Mr. Keaton watching her from the front of the library door with eyes full of suspicion, so she didn’t look back twice. Something caught her eye downstairs in the building lobby and Emily hurried in that direction. Emily made her way down the stairs and around the corner, when Jamie pulled her aside.
“Emily, what are you doing? You’re soaking wet. Can’t you see that? You are completely out of your mind,” she said with her eyes full of concern.
“No, I am absolutely fine. I came here for the sake of our friendship, for one last time, because I saw you standing here. Please, Jamie. I want you to stay out of this. I will be fine and I promise you that,” Emily assured her.
“What about Grace? She asked you to wait, didn’t she?”
“Everything is clear now. She was wrong. I can’t blame her because there was more than a little confusion. I was confused, too. However, now everything is understandable,” Emily said, but in between checked the time twice.
“Emily, call her now. Just once, talk to her. You know where she went, so there must be a reason behind it. Please do this,” Jamie urged.
Time was running out, and it was already several minutes that she had kept Mr. Keaton waiting. “I don’t have a phone on me and I should be going. Plus, I told you that Grace was wrong and she should have told me before leaving. I will talk to her when she gets back,” and Emily turned on her heels to leave.
Jamie caught her by the hand and spun her around, “Emily, here is my phone, so just call her up before you do anything else.”
“I don’t need to do that,” Emily told her, forcefully pulling away. “I know what I am doing and I am not afraid. I have my own reason, too, J
amie. I need a cure and this is the only way. A storm is coming, Jamie, so you better head back to your place. You wouldn’t like to get caught up in this storm, would you?” Emily warned her friend.
Jamie saw no way out and there were clear signs of defeat in her eyes. “The storm is already here, Emily. Only you are too blind to see it. Is there anything that I can do to stop you from whatever you are doing,” she asked in a sad manner?
“It is too late, so I am afraid not. Go back now and don’t think about this anymore.” For a moment, Emily softened her hard demeanor, realizing that she was talking to a true friend. “Jamie, thank you for all you did, but in the end, it is just me. And one more thing, when Grace comes back, tell her that I forgive her and I miss her. I will be back, I suppose.” Emily’s words were chaotic and most of them didn’t make any sense. Then, she didn’t look back and started to leave.
“But Grace didn’t do anything. What are you forgiving her for?” Jamie called on, but Emily left without replying.
Emily was shivering a little when she pushed open the library door to get inside. The assistant librarian seemed to doze off sitting in his chair. The temperature was colder than usual and the ambiance was figuratively lazy. Not many students visited the library at this hour and Emily considered it an advantage. The place was quieter than usual and the nearest tables were also empty.
Where did everyone go? Emily thought, but didn’t want to ponder on it any more. It was time for action, so she directly went where she had asked Mr. Keaton to wait. He was sitting there with his head bowed down, resting on his hand. Emily couldn’t see Rosemary anywhere. She walked up to him slowly, but he made no movement. Emily huffed out an amount of air and approached him.