The Keeper

You look around the gigantic expanse of what seems to be a library. It looked like… well, a regular library, to be honest. However, you vaguely remember falling asleep earlier today so… where in the world are you? Are you truly asleep? How do you get out of this place of endless shelves of books and binders? Why does it feel like you’re not alone, even though you see no one else with you?

With your head still full of questions, you turn a corner and saw something out of place for the first time. It was a chest. Your curiosity taking over, you creep cautiously towards it, constantly looking around in case someone turns a corner and accuses you of being nosy (Which, let’s face it, now that you did open this book… you kind of are).

The chest looked worn down, unused for a very long time. Perhaps it contained treasure? You crinkle your nose at the thought that it could contain another book. Taking one last glance around the area for any sign of anyone, you kneel on both knees, carefully open the chest… and it opens surprisingly easily. You lift the lid just enough to peek in, and you threw the lid open when you realized what was inside. Is that… water? You crane your neck, failing to believe what you saw at the bottom of the chest- a book. Why would anyone put a book inside a chest full of water?

You realized it was probably the best way for a book to stand out in a library. It was not hiding a leaf in a forest... it was more along the lines of placing a chest in a library (quite literally, to be honest). Hesitantly, you scoop the book out of the water, hearing whispers at the back of your head the moment your hands tore through the still surface of the cool, crystal clear water.

Isa…bel…la…

What is that?

You shook the whispers away and it seemed to disappear once you got the book out of the water. With a wet hand, you poke at the leather covering of the book, finding everything dry and undamaged. You trace your finger over the engraved title written in silver, over the protruding obsidian plate.

The Keeper

Feeling called to open the book, you follow. The first page was a handwritten letter from the author:

To anyone who reads this book:

Hello there! This is no secret knowledge. Heck, you might learn more from any other book in this library but for some reason, I was made to write it. Whatever lesson you may take from this book, I hope it gives you something, at least. This is simply my life story. All will be revealed to you in time, should you choose to stick with this book. If not, then you have access to literally every knowledge the universe has to offer as an alternative. Either way, I bid you enjoy your reading.

Isabella Sinclair