Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The library of the castle was bigger beyond words, it filled with books from different eras in the past 20 decades. Only a few were interested and eager to start reading. Kevin picked up a random book “This is about King Arthur!” he was like a kid in a candy store.
Alex rolled her eyes “I guess it’s stupid to ask if you have any fashion magazines huh?” she asked Howard dryly.
“I shall leave you now.” The messenger bowed and disappeared out the door.
She traced her steps around the tall shelves of endless books while her hand grew weary of carrying the thick book “Have a seat Alex.” Jerry smiled as he looked up at her.
“Are you sure you’re blind? How come you always know I’m around?” Alex asked suspiciously before taking a seat on the comfortable looking single sofa.
“I’ve been blind as long as I could remember.” He replied “But my other senses were increased with sensitivity. Anyways, from the first day I met you, I realized you had a different perfume on. Not something you could find in the malls.”
Alex was intrigued “Not bad, blind man. And yes, the scent you smell is a custom made fragrance that I made myself. I call it Eu de Alexis.” He smiled from the name while she stared at the book in his lap “Wait…if you’re blind, how do you read?” she got off the couch and stepped back fearfully.
Jerry laughed “Silly girl, there is something called Braille.” He opened the book and showed her “They’ve had this language for centuries.”
“Wow…” she sighed while moving closer to the book, her fingers moved across the bumpy page “So you read with your fingers?” he nodded with a smile “That’s amazing.”
“Alex! Jerry! Come over here!” Tammy waved.
Kevin was going through a book that looked to be identical to the book of legends and curses “That book in Hong Kong was missing a few pages.” He looked up at Alex.
“So?” she shrugged.
Ann shook her head ‘A missing page can be crucial. A few pages means disaster.’
Alex crossed her arms “Say that again?” she asked.
Kevin sighed, “Never mind that. It’s says here that when the curse is broken, the days will grow shorter and nights longer. The barrier that has kept evil inside will slowly diminish causing them a larger killing field until it has covered all of earth.” He paused to read more “Once it moves outside the barriers, it will grow stronger. If you are able to kill the creature, another will be born in its place. It’s never ending…”
“Then how are we supposed to stop a plague from spreading?” Kyle asked, “It sounds impossible.”
‘There’s more.’ Ann gestured.
Kevin’s eyes widened as he read on “Dear Lord…”
“What?” Mila asked excitedly.
“It only takes less than one day for the barrier to start spreading once the curse is broken. Each day, another ten creatures are let loose.” He looked at them “That means, if the curse is broken, we wouldn’t know until the next day. By then, it is probably too late to be prepared.”
“Shit!” Christian cursed as he marched towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Tammy asked almost in a cry.
He spun towards them “I’m not going to fucking sit here and wait to be killed. I’m getting out of here.”
“You can’t!” Tammy argued.
“Fine, then come with me.” He replied with his hand reaching out to her.
“Chris…” Tammy shook her head.
Mila walked towards them “This is just a hunch, but you two know each other?” Tammy lowered her head “Here’s another hunch, you two use to date?”
The young girl turned to Mila with a desperate look “Please, don’t be mad at us. We didn’t want anyone to know.”
“You did a good job.” Alex snickered “Didn’t you think it would make you more suspicious because you’re hiding a secret?”
Mila nodded “Anyways, I don’t think this is a place you can walk in and out of. It’s probably got an invisible force that will shoot you down if you step out of the door.” Her head snapped back “Wait, that would be cool. Let’s go try!”
“Actually, the door won’t open.” Kevin spoke up “We tried that yesterday remember?”
Ann waved her hand to get their attention ‘We should stay close with each other to make sure the traitor does not have a chance to get the book.’
“That’s good.” Kevin nodded “Ann says we should stick together.”
“Well, stick all you want. I’m going to take a nap.” Alex yawned, “Beauty doesn’t come naturally overnight.”
Jerry shook his head “No. Alex, you need to stay with the group.”
She ignored him but it was Christian who blocked her exit “If I’m going to be stuck here, you’re not gonna go anywhere. If you’re tired, just sit here and rest.”
“Look, I had two hours of sleep, I’m not exactly superwoman. I have to load around this fifty pound stupid book all day and I can’t trust anyone in this God forbidden place! So excuse me for being a little tired.” She growled.
“Fine, we’ll come with you.” Jerry nodded to the others.
Alex gave in “Okay.” She led the way to the room as they sat around the room while she napped. Her arms still around the book.
After an hour, Christian had grown restless. He got up “Where are you going?” Kevin asked suddenly.
“Take a smoke, I haven’t had one in days.” he looked dangerously at everyone as he slipped out of the room.
Touring around the castle, he found a door that led up to the roof. The stairs circled up until he saw sunlight. He had only one pack left and used it gingerly. He leaned over the stone rail as he stared out into the ocean. Puffing his cigarette, he turned to the other end of the castle, there was not a home within the naked eye. The bizarre feeling returned when he heard a hawk like call, except it was much sharper to the ear.
He turned towards the sea again and this time, his eyes bulged out as he witnessed a bird like creature that shot up from the sea, its wingspan was long even from a far distance. It’s beak sharp and the scales were shiny against the sunlight. He had seen it over a month ago at the Po Lin Temple in Hong Kong but this was real “Oh shit!” he threw down the cigarette and raced to the stairs and shut the door with a bang.
“What was that?” Kyle asked when he heard a loud sound.
“Don’t be so paranoid.” Mila rolled her eyes “Oh my God! Did you hear that?” she said abruptly causing Tammy and Kyle to jump. Laughing as she shook her head “That was too easy.”
Ann grimaced as she began to twitch in her seat, suddenly her hands fell over her head "Ann? What's wrong?" Kevin asked worriedly.
Kyle stepped closer "She's had these headaches before."
"I don't think their headaches." Tammy shook her head "She's covering her ears."
Alex suddenly began convulsing violently in her sleep. Ann stood up with her finger pointing shakily towards Alex. Her face red from pain. Kevin rushed over to his friend’s side “Alex! Alex!”
“Great, not again.” Tammy muttered.
“Alex, wake up.” Kevin touched her face and felt it icy cold “Alex!”
When the door opened, Alex’s eyes popped open as she sat up “The curse was broken.” She was short of breath, her eyes directly staring at Christian.
“She’s right, I saw one of them.” He breathed, “It’s starting.”
“Cool…” Mila’s slow crooked grin appeared.
Kyle shook his head in disbelief “Wait, how could it start already? You had the book the whole time? Who had a chance to get their hands on it?”
“REM.” Jerry answered. The group turned to him “When a person is in their deepest sleep, no sound or lights could wake them up. Its usually half an hour long and it’s when you dream the most vivid of all dreams.”
Ann began talking with her hands, her headache had diminish. Alex lowered her forehead into her hand “I don’t have the energy, could someone translate please?”
“She asked if you were in a deep sleep last night.” Kyle spoke up. He tilted his head "Are you okay now?" she smiled with a nod.
Alex looked up “Yes…I was in a deep sleep. I had a dream that someone came in to steal the book. I remember being too weak to move and I tried to scream a few times too. But when I woke up…the book was still next to me.”
“How about your little friend?” Mila pointed to Kevin suspiciously.
“Kevin…” her eyes darted back and forth “He was still there…but I woke him.” She tilted her head strangely while Kevin looked away “But it can’t be him.”
“We’ll figure out who the traitor is later, but right now, we have to find a way to stop those evil creatures.” Kevin said firmly.
“He’s right.” Jerry agreed, “We need to close out any openings to this castle.”
Ann began motioning ‘I’ll look in the library for more books.’
Kevin nodded “I’ll help you in the library. Everyone else, be careful and watch your backs.” He ushered Ann out of the room leaving the other six to stare at each other.
“Strange how quick he knew what to do.” Mila narrowed her eyes at the door.
“We don’t have time for that.” Jerry said hurriedly “We need to close out the windows and any doors that it could enter from.”
“I’ll take the living room.” Christian volunteered.
“I’ll check the rooms.” Mila offered.
“Tammy and Kyle, you two check for any secret passage ways. It’s a big castle, I’m sure there are plenty there.” Jerry nodded. When he heard their footsteps moving away, he turned to Alex “Who’s the traitor?”
She looked at him oddly “What?”
“You heard me. You know who it is…who is it?” Jerry insisted.
Alex moved away from him “I don’t know. Why do you think I know?”
“It’s a sixth sense.” He replied calmly.
She shook her head insistently “I really don’t know.”
Jerry relaxed his face “I’m sorry. Sometimes the instincts come so strong that I’m not sure when to believe it. Come on, it’s safer downstairs.”
Alex nodded as she walked over to help him “I don’t need to carry the book anymore do I?” she asked. He seemed to be the most knowledgeable next to Kevin.
He smiled “No, carrying it wouldn’t help.”
She sighed with relief as she dropped it on the couch “Thank God! I think I was starting to grow biceps.” Laughing, she linked her arms through his and walked him out of the room. The minute the door closed, the book floated until it was returned to it’s original spot, inside the creature’s beak. Waiting to be called again.