The Fire in our Hearts

The Library

I dreamed of the boy again with his terrified look and pale face. But instead Edward Callaway’s face was plastered onto his body. And instead of shouting “You’re lucky you’re a girl,” he screamed “A minute for a life? A minute for a life!” I woke up in a cold sweat which I hurriedly wiped away. I looked to the ticking clock and read 2:17. We had to wake up at 5, so I had a while to kill. I slowly got dressed into my baggy clothing and laced my boots up without a sound. I padded out of the room and looked at the crossroads in front of me. The Fate Flame called to me but I had already seen it; maybe not a lot, but enough to wonder about the path I hadn’t taken. So I turned my back on the usual path and went down the strange way. It was dark and I was only able to see because of the few oil lamps dotting the black walls like twinkling stars in the night.
I ran my hand against the wall as I walked to feel the texture of the building. Then my hand hit a crack. I turned to look at it. The crack was perfectly straight and clearly manmade. I followed it to the top then over then down again. I stepped back to look at it. The pattern of repeating doors had been broken by the suspicious crack. Then I noticed a strange divot in the wall. Feeling it, I furrowed my eyebrows. Then it hit me. It was a door! The divot was where the doorknob was before it had fallen off. I pushed hard on the door and it moved. I put all my weight onto it but it didn’t open wide enough for me to get through. So I looked around, backed up, then slammed into the door, and watched it fly open on creaky hinges. I coughed as dust exploded into my face. After my wheezing finished I looked up. The dust had settled around me and I could smell the age of this room. It clearly hadn’t been touched in years. So much grime, dust, and dirt covered the floor that I left footprints in the thin layers. But this did not turn me away from the room for books, hundreds of books lined the multitude of shelves.
Chairs were scattered about the library. I couldn’t get over the sheer number of books. I walked toward it in a daze. Faded words were written on the shelves and I had to squint to read them on the first rack. “Fire Mechanics” was printed in a bold print. Glass coverings had been placed to protect the books from damage. I slid one back and grabbed the first book.

The Basics of fire mechanics
Vol. i

I opened the book, beyond excited, and started to read. It was titled perfectly. It explained what fire was, the uses of it, how to make it, why it’s great, and anything to do with it. By the time I finished my eyes were stinging wickedly and the page read “Chapter 14: Section 5: Theoretical Electric Storage.” I had trouble closing the book but my dream crept into my mind and I didn’t want to be the next face plastered on the body of the cast-out. I carefully placed the book back and slid the glass panel back in place. Sadly, I left the room and dragged the door closed behind me. Now that it was lighter out, I realized the door was nearly invisible against the wall. It’s only give-away being the notch on it.
I sprinted back to my dorm and I heard the snoring of Beck. I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked at the clock and saw 4:56, perfect timing. I plopped down on my bed feeling like a new person. Not only did I discover a hidden room but I discovered a hidden room with books. I had gotten the chance to read and learn. It was an exciting feeling. It felt as though I had been enlightened by this new knowledge. It gave me a new perspective on the world. I understood things I hadn’t before and that was amazing. I felt as though I could do anything with this new information and level of comprehension. I questioned myself on everything I could possibly think of about fire, lightning, or electricity and I could answer them all. I was fascinated with this subject. And I had only read one book! There were so many books in there and I felt this way when reading just one!
BANG BANG BANG! The sound rattled my teeth and made my ears burn. I looked around with wide eyes as adrenaline surged through my body. Fight or flight kicked in and I was on my feet. Beck was bolt upright in his bed. His eyes were as big as mine. I looked up and realized the sound was coming out of the clock. BANG BANG BANG! Again it screeched out into our room. “We get it!” I yelled back. BANG BANG BANG! “Shut up!” I snapped at it. I bounced up onto my bed and saw a flashing red button. I pressed it and waited anxiously to see if I would be blown out of my skin by the obnoxious noise. But it didn’t. I sighed and looked at Beck. “Are you awake?”
“I think I’ll never sleep again. That sound is still ringing in my ears.” He said sounding tired.
“Agreed.” I sat back down and rubbed my forehead. Now all that wonderful knowledge was swimming in front of my eyes. I listened to Beck’s shuffling and I heard the general mumbles of his morning ritual. When the sounds stopped I said “You ready?”
A moment of silence was followed by a quiet “Yea.”
“You know where the cafeteria is?”
“We have plenty of time to find it.”
“Well we better get started.” I left the room and started my journey to the food. After 10 minutes I was in a part of the building I had never been before.
“Lost again, eh?” A familiar voice laughed behind me. I turned to see the tan boy waltzing down the hall
“You know you have to stop sneaking up on people and not again. This is my first time.”
“Mm-hm” he hummed smugly. “Cafeteria, right?”
“Yup.”
“Well your close and by close I mean in the general building!”
I rolled my eyes “C’mon, where is it?”
“Follow me!” he said cheerily. So I did and he took some shortcuts and a few turns and we were there. “Voila!”
“Thanks---” I paused politely wanting to find out his name.
“Antoine. And I know your name, Snip!” he winked and danced away.
I laughed and turned to see the bear-man standing at the door.