by Amy Cross
"Wait for me!" Sharpe shouts, racing around the corner. He pulls up short when he sees that I have caught the creature. "You have her!"
"Of course," I sneer. "Did you ever doubt me?"
"Perhaps the Forbidders have looked kindly upon your prayers."
"Nonsense!" I shout at him. "This has nothing to do with the Forbidders. I, and I alone, tracked and captured this pathetic creature, and I alone shall benefit from the glory."
"If you say so," Sharpe replies.
"I do," I say, staring in wonder at the moist, succulent human. "I most certainly do."
"Is she..."
"Dead?" I shake my head. "I was able to capture her without causing any harm, although I imagine she will have a significant bruise when she wakes up. Fortunately, I was able to avoid damaging the parts of her body that produce the best meat. One must always take care to look after one's meal prior to placing it onto the grill." Holding her closer, I examine her scalp and see that there is no blood. I was careful not to hit her too hard, although I wasn't entirely certain as to the strength of the human skull. She seems to have withstood my assault fairly well, though, and there is very little sign of trauma; I'm quite confident that she will clean up adequately, and I can hardly wait to see her flesh sizzling next to the platter. Still, I must -
"Fuck you!" the human shouts suddenly, kicking me in the groin before reaching out and biting the side of my face. Shocked, I stagger back, feeling a searing pain in my cheek as her teeth sink into my skin. It has been a long time since any adversary was able to surprise me, but the human is proving to be much tougher than I had anticipated. Still, I have no doubt that I can subdue her. I spin around, slamming her into one of the shelves, before finally pulling her away from my body; she keeps her teeth clenched tightly on my cheeks, ripping off a sizable chunk of flesh as I pound her for a second time into a section of shelving. This time, her head smashes into the wood with a resounding thud and a slight cracking sound, and finally she is knocked unconscious.
"Let there be no doubt," I say, with blood pouring from my face as I hold her before me, "that the carcass of this human will enable me to reclaim my rightful place as ruler of the Library and all its people." I hold her limp body up as high as possible, until her head is almost level with the top of the shelves. "With this creature," I shout, determined to make the gods themselves hear me, "I will begin my journey back to the Citadel!" As I hold her aloft, a trickle of blood runs from her nose, and a drop falls onto my lips. It tastes good. After all this time, after all these months of hunger, I have finally got my hands on fresh, prime human meat.
Book 2:
Into the Library part 2
Vanguard
At night, the Library fills with strange sounds. There are creatures that sleep during the day, and then come out at night to howl and scream at the moon. They are far off, of course; they inhabit dark, faraway parts of the land. I once knew a man by the name of Ergo who set off on a journey to explore and catalog these strange beasts. Despite constant warnings from all his friends, he packed up a stove and some supplies, and set off on a journey that he estimated would take between five and ten years. He insisted that the gods of the Library would never create any truly evil creatures, and that he would be able to navigate his way through the uncharted aisles with ease. The very last thing he said to me, before he left, was that he would see me soon; it has now been more than two hundred years since his departure, and as far as I am aware he has not returned. Sometimes, though, late at night, I can't help but feel that I recognize one of the distant howls.
"Gum!" I call out as I reach the camp-fire. "Where are you?"
I stop and listen out for an answer, but there is no sign of him. His sausages are piled up on the ground, and the camp-fire is still smoldering. Gum is a creature of habit, and one who is particularly fond of two things: food and warmth. I find it hard to believe that he would wander far from the fire, harder still that he would be away for so long as to allow the flame to start dying out.
"Gum!" I shout again.
Stepping around the camp-fire, I spot something on the ground. I pause for a moment as I realize he has discarded his shawl and bandages. Feeling a chill run through my body, I glance about but see nothing unusual in the darkness. Is it possible? After all this time, has Gum finally completed his healing process? I always knew that one day he would be ready to leave, and he's hardly the type to hang around and bid me a sentimental farewell. Still, I last saw him just a few hours ago, and he seemed to be still a long way from full recovery.
"Gum!" I shout one final time, but it's clear he has left. I will not miss him too much and, besides, Gum is the type of creature who always shows up at some point. Kicking his shawl and bandages into what remains of the fire, I turn to start the journey back to where I have left the girl. After a moment, however, I hear a noise nearby; a kind of rattling sound, coming from up above. Looking to the top of the nearby shelves, I see nothing but the clear night sky, but that sound definitely seemed to come from the heavens. Seconds later, I hear it again.
"Who are you?" I ask, determined to show no fear.
No reply; just silence. I suppose a more superstitious mind would immediately assume that the noise comes from a Forbidder. It certainly can't be Gum; there's simply no way he would ever dare to climb the shelves.
"Show yourself," I continue. "Whatever your purpose in hiding like this, you would be better disposed to come down here and face me." I reach down and place my hand on the hilt of my sword; although this part of the Library is sparsely populated, one never knows when one will be accosted by some kind of creature. I wait, poised to strike if anything should leap out me, but after a few silent minutes I realize that I am once again alone.
It takes me a short while to get back to where I left the human girl. She is still asleep; asleep or unconscious, anyway. Her injuries do not seem to be particularly life-threatening, and I am confident that she will awaken with the dawn. For now, there is nothing to do other than to keep watch over her. Humans have many weaknesses, but one of their few strengths is a determination to fight against all the odds. Most creatures, when faced with certain death, surrender to their fate; humans, however, will struggle to the bitter end. I have no doubt that, while she is badly hurt, this particular human will try to escape as soon as she is awake, even if her broken bones rattle like marble in a bag while she walks. Besides, just before I knocked her unconscious, I saw something of particular interest in her eyes; I have faced humans before, but I have never seen one who looked so alive and intelligent. It is almost a shame to contemplate the fact that she must die soon. I only hope that her meat will be tender.
For now, however, I must ensure that she regains consciousness. The desire to rip her apart and consume her flesh is strong, but I am forcing myself to wait. Human meat begins to degrade from the moment of death, and I want her to be fresh when I reach the Citadel. The journey will take a week, so I have decided to keep her alive and make her walk with me. This way, when I finally gather the guests for the great feast, I can cut the human down in front of them all. From the moment of her death to the arrival of her meat on the grill, there must be as short a gap as possible. She will live a little while longer, then, even if her ultimate fate is sealed.
"Wake up," I say, kicking Sharpe in the back of the head. I left him here to keep an eye on the human while I went to fetch Gum; he has failed even in this task, and it is purely a matter of luck that the human did not wake up and try to run away.
"Is she still sleeping?" Sharpe asks, rubbing his eyes.
I nod.
"What are you going to do when she awakens?"
"I am going to inform her of our impending journey to the Citadel," I reply. "What else would I do?"
"Under what pretense?"
"Pretense?"
"Are you going to tell her the truth?" he asks. "Are you going to tell her that you want to eat her, and that she has to walk right up to your grill?"
"
She should be honored to learn that she will be part of my great banquet," I say. "Even a lowly human must surely recognize that this is an important role to play."
"Still," he says, "I doubt she'll be too enthusiastic."
Sighing, I realize that Sharpe might be right. There is certainly a risk that the human would decline to be eaten, in which case I shall have to tie her up and drag her all the way. The problem with that approach, though, is that it might risk making her meat a little more coarse and tough that I would prefer; it would undoubtedly be preferable if she were to walk as we travel to the Citadel.
"Relax," Sharpe says, patting my thigh. "You'll think of something. Big old smart guy like you." He pauses for a moment. "Actually, I was thinking I might come to the Citadel with you."
"You?" I look down at him. "Do you believe a lowly creature such as yourself would even be granted passage through the gate?"
"I believe the Citadel is in such a state of disrepair that no-one will give a damn," he replies. "I've heard the stories. They say the Citadel is little more than a set of ruins. I met a Golv recently who'd been there, and he said the place was the preserve of shadows. Even the Forbidders have apparently deserted the place and -"
He stops as, in the distance, some unseen creature howls and gurgles his rage at the moon.
"Didn't that sound a little too close?" Sharpe asks.
"It was miles away," I reply.
"Exactly," he continues. "When something has such a loud howl, I'd prefer it to be leagues away, rather than mere miles."
"Then you're a coward," I mutter. "Whatever that creature is, it's too far away to hurt us. It must be beyond the angel."
"Are you sure? It sounded less distant than the others." He pauses for a moment, clearly gripped by fear. "You're probably right. Still, I'd hate to run into something like that, especially in the dark."
"What is your business at the Citadel?" I ask.
"My business? Oh, I have no business. I merely wish to make the journey with you, Vanguard, and see the place for myself. It's probably my only opportunity."
I stare at him. Thomas J. Sharpe is a cowardly creature who prefers the easy life, so I fail to see why he would willingly ally himself with me for this journey. I can't help but think that there is some ulterior motive to his request.
"You may accompany us," I say eventually, "but you will have to keep up. And if you cause trouble, or if you get hurt, I will leave you behind to rot. Do you understand?"
"Of course," he replies. "I'm getting old, Vanguard. I'm starting to realize that there are many, many things I have never seen, and the years are drawing closer. I've always wanted to see the Citadel, even if it's well past its prime. Besides, wouldn't you like a little company for your journey? I hardly think a lousy human is going to be able to provide much in the way of conversation. She's probably only one step up from Gum." He pauses for a moment. "Did you find Gum, by the way? Is he coming?"
I take a deep breath. "Gum is gone," I reply eventually.
"Gone?"
"He was not at the camp-fire. He seems to have finished his recuperation."
"Then he is back to full strength?"
"Not full," I say. "But he is certainly on the move again."
"And you're not worried?"
I shake my head. "I doubt he has much interest in anything that we do. Ours was an alliance of convenience. We were both injured, and we both needed to heal; it made sense for us to work together for a short while, but the context has changed. I'm glad to be rid of him."
"And you think you won't see him again?"
"I would hope that he is long gone by now," I reply. Deep down, though, I know that Gum will be back at some point. Whatever he is doing, and wherever he has gone, he will undoubtedly raise his ugly head in my vicinity again. When he does, I will have to be careful, since Gum can never be trusted. For now, though, I can put him out of my mind. "Keep watch a little longer," I say firmly, turning to walk away. "I will be back shortly, and we will start our journey at dawn."
"What if she doesn't wake up?" Sharpe calls after me.
"She will," I reply firmly. "One way or the other, I shall make sure of that." Instead of stopping to engage in more discussion, I keep walking away. The sun will be up soon, and before we set off on our journey to the Citadel, I have one more thing to do in this part of the Library. I have to say goodbye to my family.
Claire
"And you think you won't see him again?" asks the small round guy.
"I would hope that he is long gone by now," the big guy replies. "Keep watch a little longer," he adds as he turns and starts walking away. Suddenly there's a hint of sadness to his voice. "I will be back shortly, and we will start our journey at dawn."
"What if she doesn't wake up?" the small guy asks.
"She will," the big guy says, his voice getting further and further away. "One way or the other, I shall make sure of that." I want to open my eyes, but I don't dare; I need to make sure he's gone before I make my move. The small guy I can handle; the bigger guy, not so much.
"One way or the other," repeats the small guy in a quiet, mocking tone, "I shall make sure of that. Yeah, whatever. Blowhard." He sighs, as I finally open one eye and take a look at him. I was right: it's definitely the same overgrown bowling ball that attacked me in my parents' house. "Damn it to hell," he continues. "Why did I ever agree to this? What could I possibly gain from -"
Seizing my moment, I lunge at him, forcing my hand over his mouth as I push him to the ground. He struggles, but despite the pain in my ribs and ankle, I make sure he can't get free. He might have got the jump on me once, but there's no way I'm going to let it happen again.
"Okay," I say, staring into his panicked eyes. "I don't know what the fuck you are, or where the fuck this is, or what the fuck you and the big guy want, but I'm getting out of here, do you understand?" I pause for a moment, hoping that he'll see that I mean business. "Trust me," I continue, trying to sound as fierce and determined as possible, "I will fucking smash your head in if you make a noise, do you understand?" I stare at him with the fiercest, most determined glare I can summon up from the depths of my soul. I've never had to look scary or crazy before, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job. Finally, I lean closer. "When I take my hand away from your mouth, it's only so you can answer some very specific questions. If you try to call for help, I will finish you. If you try to escape, I will end your fucking life. If you say one word that isn't a direct response to my questions, I will turn you inside fucking out. Got it?"
He stares back at me, and suddenly I realize there's a foul smell coming from the ground. Looking down, I see a kind of dark brown gunk oozing from between his legs, as the smell gets worse and worse. It takes me a moment to realize that he's soiling himself.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" I say, moving out the way just in time. "Seriously?"
"Seriously what?" He looks down between his legs. "It's a defense mechanism," he says eventually, fixing me with a panicked expression. "I'd say it worked pretty well." He licks his lips. "You humans taste salty."
"Okay," I reply, moving around behind him in an attempt to get away from the small puddle of poo. I grab a rock from the ground and hold it over his head. Hopefully he can't see that my hand is trembling. "If you call for help, I'll cave your skull in, you got it? Shit yourself all you like, but I'll do it."
"Fine!" he mutters. "What do you want to know?"
I pause for a moment. I only woke up a couple of minutes ago, as they were talking about a journey to some kind of Citadel. The big guy sounded pissed off, and after our little encounter earlier, I really don't want to meet him when he's angry. "Why do you want to take me to a Citadel?" I ask, holding the rock just a few inches from the little guy's head. "Why? What kind of Citadel. What..." I pause, realizing I'm not even certain what a Citadel looks like. "Tell me!"
"Well... It's the only place to go, really," he says, making it sound as if it's the most natural and logical idea in the world. "I
mean, there's not much else in this part of the Library, apart from shelves, and after a while they all end up looking the same."
"And what's at the Citadel?"
"These days? Not much, apparently. It used to be the seat of power for this entire section of the Library, but I've heard it's all fallen into disrepair. I imagine there's just a bunch of ruins, maybe some bones."
"So why are we going there?"
"Vanguard thinks he can find some of the Elders and put together an army."
"Vanguard?"
"The guy who was just here. The big guy. The guy who, by the way, is gonna be back real soon."
"Vanguard." I pause for a moment. "Okay. And what's your name?"
"Thomas J. Sharpe," he replies. "You can call me Sharpe. Do you have a name?"
"Claire," I say, steadying the rock in my hand, just above his head. "Claire the Torturer."
"Claire the Torturer?" He laughs. "Did you give yourself that name?"
"No!" I say firmly, figuring I need to at least pretend that I'm in some way fierce. The last thing I want to do is let this Sharpe guy think I'm a push-over. "It's a name given to me by my victims." I take a deep breath; I sound completely ridiculous, but I guess context is everything. In a place like this, it's probably totally normal to talk of 'victims' and Citadels. "What if I just want to get out of here?" I continue. "I mean, I know I'm in a coma, but I figure I need to find some kind of light or some kind of way out. You're a manifestation of my subconscious mind, so I guess you must know how I can wake up."