There’s Something in the Library

Ah the library, the only place in the school that feels mystical and full of wonder for young Lydia.

“Hello Mrs. Winchester!” Lydia says excitedly to the nice old librarian. Mrs. Winchester looks up and a warm smile fills her face, “Hello Lydia! You finished your book already? That was a long one.” She says happily.

Lydia smiles, clearly overjoyed from the compliment offered to her by the librarian, “So does that mean I can go into the library’s special section yet?” Lydia asks excitedly.

Suddenly, the warm happy glow on Mrs. Winchester’s face disappears, “Now, you know I only let kids that are over 10 years old or over go there.” She says sternly. Lydia’s happiness disappears.

The principal, Mr. Lambert, all of a sudden bursts into the library, he walks past students and greets them like he’s a celebrity. He makes his way up to the library desk where Lydia and Mrs. Winchester are talking.

“Hey Lydia! How’s my school’s top elementary reader doing today?” He asks happily. Lydia tries to act joyful, but tears form behind her eyes, “I’m doing good today.” She says in an attempt to sound happy.

Principal Lambert stops whatever it is he was doing and looks down at Lydia, “Hey honey, what’s wrong?” He asks.

Lydia gets nervous, she doesn’t want to throw Mrs. Winchester under the bus, but she also can’t lie.

“She’s just a little upset because she’s not old enough to go to the special section of the library yet.” Mrs. Winchester chimes in, saving Lydia from having to answer.

Principal Lambert thinks for a second, “You know what, she might not be old enough, but I think her reading level is high enough to let her go in.” He says joyfully.

Excitement fills Lydia as she jumps up and down, she looks over to Mrs. Winchester, who she expects to be excited along with her, but a look of despair takes over her face.

Mrs. Winchester tries to chime in, “But, Principal Lambert, she’s just not old enough to…”

“Now now, she’s earned it, she can go.” Lambert interrupts. Lydia wants to stand with Mrs. Winchester, but she is just too excited about all of the cool new books she can read.

“Well, what are you waiting for, get over there!” He says excitedly, he looks over to Mrs. Winchester, “While she does that, can I get your help with planning for next semester?” He asks.

Mrs. Winchester gives a fake smile, “Sure, just give me one second.” She says. She rushes to her desk and quickly scribbles something onto a sticky note.

She runs over to Lydia, “Here you go sweetie, have fun.” She says while handing her the sticky note.

She hesitantly goes back and starts talking to the principal while Lydia makes her way to the special section.

Lydia finally finds the section. She uncrumbles the sticky note that she was holding tightly in the palm of her hand, the note reads:

DO NOT READ HIS BOOK AND DO NOT LOOK HIM IN THE EYE

She stares at the note for a minute, wondering what in the world it could mean, but she just crumbles it up and throws it on the floor.

She browses through all of the wondrous books, all of the books only the older kids get to read. The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, The Great Gatsby, All of them look so tempting, but one stands out the most.

Lydia has her eye on a big leatherbound book, it seems so out of place amongst all of the other books with the printed on covers and colorful titles. This one seems very old.

She walks over to the book and picks it up, there doesn’t appear to be a title on the book, but there is an odd symbol carved into the leather on the books spine.

Lydia touches the symbol with her pointer finger, but quickly flinches it away when it burns her and glows a bit, “Whoah.” She says in astonishment.

Lydia turns the book back over to the front, but it’s different this time, it has a title, Mr. Oogly.

“Mr. Oogly?” Lydia says aloud, “That’s a weird name for such an old book.” She flips to the first page of the book and starts reading:

“Will you be Mr. Oogly’s friend?

He’ll take you to a land that doesn’t end.

He needs your help don’t you see?

So he can last for eternity…”

Lydia stops reading when a shadow appears over her, as if an adult is standing right behind her.

She turns around, but nobody is there, just a shelf full of books. Lydia starts feeling uneasy, when she spots something, it can barely be seen, but it looks like a small white eye peeping from behind the books on the shelf.

Lydia presses the book to her chest and starts walking. She walks and walks, but somehow she gets turned around, she can’t seem to make it back to Mrs. Winchester’s desk.

Lydia stops for a moment and thinks, she realizes that she’s just letting fear get the better of her. She closes her eyes and imagines a clear path back to Mrs. Winchester's desk, when suddenly she feels a hand firmly grasp her shoulder.

“Mr. Oogly?” She asks in a trembling scared voice. There is silence for a moment, and then, “Yes.” A scratchy voice responds.

“Alright Principal Lambert, I think you can handle the rest on your own right?” Mrs. Winchester says in an attempt to get away from this meeting.

“Um, yes, you can go if you want.” Principal Lambert says dismissively.

Mrs. Winchester speed walks toward the special section of the library and starts looking around, “Oh no, oh no, oh no…” Mrs. Winchester mumbles as she searches, she can’t find Lydia anywhere.

Suddenly, she trips over a book, she looks down and it's a leatherbound book that was placed open on the floor.

In the book, five words are scribbled in blood:

YOU CANNOT SAVE THEM ALL!

The End…