Chapter 3: Hide and Wait

The orange-gold light of the setting sun painted the library. Eli sat as still as a statue, waiting for Alice's reaction to his story. She scratched her head. "So...after you saved that Ajax-douche from a...demon lizard?" She asked, Eli nodded, assuring her she got it right. "You started having visions of some mysterious crystal," Eli lifted his head and mouthed some words urging her to remember the last part, "With something living inside it?"

"Yes," Eli answered with a comical flatness. Alice stared at him blankly for a moment. A grin crept on her face along with a creased brow. Eli reddened. "I told you it was a weird story," he justified.

"Yeah, very strange," Alice said as she reached for a book from the 'unread' pile. Eli fixed a question on his face. "Look at all this," she gestured widely with both arms, "you're gonna need some help. Besides, I literally had nothing to do for the entire summer. This should at least help pass the time." she opened the book and started flipping through pages. A small smile overcame Eli's lips. Without saying a word, he too began flipping through pages.

Even with the extra help, searching through the mountain books was a daunting task. At least with the company the days seemed shorter, Eli thought. Eli would try his best to focus on the task at hand but would always find his attention wondering to another part of the library, though only for small moments before he regained himself. Each day he would return to the library, sure that Alice would be there waiting. They would talk about anything as they followed their daily routine. Still, Eli's mind would wander, almost pulling him into the farthest corridors of the library.

As time pressed on Eli found himself less and less able to pull back his wandering attention. Eventually, Alice noticed his absences. "Hey," she said with a snap of her fingers. "What're you staring at?" Eli turned back to Alice but didn't answer her question. Without thinking, he rose from his seat and headed off deeper into the library, gesturing for Alice to follow. Eli walked into the library's labyrinth, and Alice followed. It wasn't long before they approached a double-door. It was old and secure, very secure. "I've been coming to this place for a long time and I've never seen this." Alice said.

Eli turned and saw that they were a far way from anyone else, "You've probably never been this far in before," He said and Alice shrugged at the truthful statement.

"Never needed to," she replied. Eli turned back to the door and appraised the round lock that carved made into its centre.

"I doubt this is open," Eli said.

"Do we need it to be?"

"Yes," The answer came from Eli before he even properly considered the question.

"Maybe we can ask one of the librarians?" Alice suggested, and they did, but the only answers they got were ones of rules, regulations, and restrictions. Normally Eli respected the rules, but with the combined power of Alice's eager persuasions and the fact he himself wanted to get on the other side of the door, he was led astray.

***

"It’s impossible," Eli said in a tone he hoped was firm, "Let's say we break into the library, which is crazy, the door is locked and we don't have a key." It was just after twilight and cool evening air whisked Eli's hair.

"Come on Eli, don't you want to get on the other side? You said it yourself. Are you denying that?" Alice said. Eli pressed his lips together, "Exactly so here's—," She cut herself off when a man walked out of the convenience store they were standing beside. With a lowered tone, she continued. "Okay, here's the plan."

***

The next day, Alice and Eli broke their usual routine of book surfing. Alice strutted through the isles, confidently making her way to their usual table. Eli followed behind with obvious reluctance. "This is a bad idea," he said.

"Why didn't you say so last night," she said teasingly, "Besides, it's too late to back down now," Eli hung his head, "look," Alice called his attention, "It's the head librarian, come on Eli, you can do it," Eli turned to see what he thought to be a kind old lady walking through the isle. With the aid of a fair amount of coercion, he swallowed his pride and marched forward, "think sad thoughts," Alice whispered as he walked away.

"Aunty!" Eli called out with tears in his eyes. The head librarian turned and looked down in horror at the sight before her. She shuddered with rage at the thought of someone who would bring tears to such a cute, innocent child. "There's some mean people, pushing me around and bullying me," Eli blubbered.

"Awe, you poor thing," The head librarian pulled him in for a hug. Over her shoulder, Eli could see Alice keeling over in silent laughter. She pretended to wipe a tear from her eye and approached Eli and the librarian. In her hand she held a sketchbook. She opened and flipped through pages. She pinched the air above the book and from it pulled a string with a hook tied to the end. Eli widened his eyes in surprise. "Where are they?" the head librarian cooed, "let aunty take care of them." Alice approached and quickly lowered the hook into a satchel that the Librarian had at her side, and in a fluid motion removed some keys and quickly scurried off. She gave thumbs up when she was a safe distance away.

"Uh, that's okay, I'm fine now," Eli said dry-eyed just before running away. "I can't believe you made me trick that nice old lady," He said to Alice when he approached.

"And I can't believe how cy-ute you were," she sung as she rubbed the top of his head. Eli purred against instinctually and reddened when Alice froze. "...What?"

"Shut up—"

"—Was—,"

"Don't think about it!"

"That!"

"Ahh! What's the next part of the plan?" Respecting Eli's wishes, she ignored his kitten-like outburst and answered his question.

"Now, we hide and wait." She answered.