7: Part One: Haunted House

Creeper

Saturday, November 1st.

Around 3 pm, I reach the Oak Hill Public Library. It's one of only two historical buildings in our little town that hasn't closed down. And despite the crumbling look, it's survived numerous severe weather disasters involving hail the size of softballs and violent winds. Not to mention all the snow we got that one winter before Eva was born. I couldn't go to school for nearly two weeks because of the snowstorm, not that I complained. But we were stuck inside for two days from all the snow built up against the door. Eventually, a friend of ours helped dig out our neighbors and us once the snowplows got to work.

Upon entering the building, I find not a soul in sight. Instead, I'm met with the familiar sweet scent of rosewood mixing with lignin and other organic woody scents. The chilled air whirls past me seconds after as the door shuts. Despite the absence of individuals, I can hear someone typing away at a computer over the sound of a heater kicking. I follow it to the front desk.

I used to enjoy spending hours of my day reading here, particularly sitting on the sofa beside the window with the tilted square frame at its center. It didn't matter the weather, but I did love hearing a good downpour. Back then, I wasn't the only one that would spend most of their free time reading inside these walls. That was years ago, now. I guess these days, most of those same kids favor technology over books. The last few years don't exactly color me in a kind light either since I've also have been using my phone more often than reading a book. I've been showing up at this library a lot less often than I used to. And it's not like the library is far from my house. It's right across the street from Oak Hill Park, or the old park as the rest of the community likes to call it.

I spot a familiar face lounging at her desk and smile. She hasn't noticed me yet. I watch her type away at her computer while at the same time pushing her thick-lensed glasses back up on her nose. They keep sliding down, despite her efforts. When she finally spots me watching her, the scowl on her face quickly melts away, revealing a more thoughtful and loving smile, "Oh! Hello there, deary. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. You must be freezing!"

I approach the desk in a few strides while letting the bag slide off my shoulder and dangle over the ground, "Nah, it's not too bad yet, Maggie. Plus, I can at least see the ground today, but tomorrow is another story."

"Well, I'm chilled to the bone!"

"You're always cold, though," I laugh.

She waves me off, grinning, "Eh, cold is cold. Now, what can I do for you deary? Come to browse or take any books home today?"

"Not today, Maggie. I'm just returning these." I reach into the bag and hand each book over to her. In all fairness, It probably wouldn't hurt to check at least one book out. Maybe on the way back, I tell myself.

Maggie takes the books kindly, and after checking in each one, she places them in the box just beside her chair. "Ah, well, it's always good to see my favorite little bookworm, even if it's only for a moment. If you do need anything, dear, you know where to find me." She looks back at me, still smiling as if her face seemed frozen for only that moment. It's probably just me not sleeping well.

"Will do, Maggie, thank you." I'm about to walk away when a thought suddenly hits me. "Actually, can I ask you something, Maggie?"

Maggie looks up from her desk, still smiling oddly, "Yes, dear?"

"I know I said I just came to drop off these books, but you wouldn't happen to know where I can find a book on dreams now, would you?"

"Ah, a book on dreams. Are there any particular dreams that are troubling you?"

"Just one. Nothing major, though. I was just curious."

"Mm," She places a finger on her chin, thinking. "Well, deary, if it's a book on dreams you're looking for, I believe you'll find that section at the back table where Jeffery usually reads. It's a small section, but I'm sure I've got something there for you. But if you need assistance, you can have Jeffery help you. He's around here somewhere. I asked him a little while ago to place books back on their shelves for me."

My stomach turns just hearing his name. Figures that little weasel would be here. Out of everyone in our high school, why couldn't I be stuck with Amanda Grey or that potato-looking kid that likes shooting spitballs out of a straw? Again, I thank her and start to walk away only to stop myself short. Another thought bubbles up in my head, making me suddenly think of Alex. It's probably nothing, but I can't help but be curious.

"Hey, I'm sorry to keep pestering you, but I have another question."

"Eh, there's no pestering me, deary. What do you need?"

"You know practically everyone that was born in this town, right? I mean, you were born here too, and you've been around a while so. I'm sorry if that's coming out wrong or rude."

She laughs, "You're fine, dear, and yes, I know quite enough the folk still living here. You know, just the other day, a young woman came in here with that Larson boy searching for a book on dreams as well."

That stumps me, "Alex came here?"

"He came right up to my desk asking where he could find it too. And that woman that was with him? Never seen her before, and she didn't seem local. She sure was a shy one that girly. Never once made eye contact with me."

Why would he go to the library searching for a book on dreams when he could look it up online? I know he has a computer, let alone a phone as well. I mean, I could just look online as well, but I prefer books over a screen. I didn't think Alex enjoyed reading books as much as I do. "Did he check any books out?"

"No, but he was in here for a while. I imagine he found the book he was looking for and spent that time reading it."

If I'd known he wanted to come here days ago, I would have asked him to join me instead of meeting up later. Unless he was on a date... My skin suddenly feels hot, and my stomach drops to my feet. I push thoughts of that aside, unable to make sense of it. Why a library? There has to be a logical reason. Though, I can't think of any, besides maybe one. How it connects is a mystery to me.

"By any chance, do you know of anyone by the name of Timothy Nelson? I don't know if he grew up here."

Mrs. Hamilton stares blankly, almost like she doesn't know what to say to me. I wonder if the name means something to her. Her reaction baffles me. But whatever had brought on that blank look, it quickly changed to one being confusion.

"I don't recall the Nelson family ever having a son, let alone children for that matter."

"Are they still around?"

"Oh no, deary. Dr. Nelson and his wife died years ago in the fires on Brickfield road. It completely devastated the whole town. It's a tragedy, truly, what happened to all of them."

"Oh," I react in a whisper. Out of habit, I bite my lip. I wonder if she remembers why the fires happened. I try thinking back to that part of my childhood, but nothing wants to resurface.

"Why so many questions today?" Her change in tone snaps me out of whatever trance had hold of me.

My brows knit together, "Huh?"

"It's just I haven't seen you this curious since you were small and had your head buried in a mound of books."

"I...I don't know. A lot's been on my mind, I guess."

"Ah, well I'm sorry I don't know more, dear. "

"It's alright. Thanks again, Maggie." I give her a cheeky smile before awkwardly zipping up my bag and throwing it over my shoulder.

I head around the first section of shelves finding my way to the back of the building. Instead of stocking shelves, I find the scrawny book warm sitting in the corner wedged between a shelf and the wall with stacks of books piled around him. He wasn't making much noise, but I figured no one else would sit and read with that many books piled like a fortress around him. It takes all of my best efforts to betray my stubborn nature and walk over to him when all I care to do is turn around and leave. Jeffery Sanders isn't exactly the accompanying type, and I don't exactly enjoy his company either. I can't imagine a time being friends, since we both at a time shared a great passion for books. Now it's only his great obsession along with all things complex. His intelligence is beyond impressive, I'll give him that, but he's annoying to be around. Since he 'dislikes conversing with simpler minds' as he would put it, and I'm easy to anger, so.

I grimace at the sight of him, slumping upright with a novel in hand and his eyes completely drawn into it as if he were under some spell. I could sneeze, and he probably wouldn't hear it. He surely doesn't take notice of me standing across the table staring at him. It's already bad enough I have to ask him for help on a book, but standing here unnoticed feels somewhat insulting. I clear my throat rather loudly. Fortunately for me, he takes notice and peeks up from the depths of his read, and our eyes lock on one another. I force a smile and do a small wave. His eyes shift back to the pages of his book, paying little attention to me.

"If you're looking for assistance, may I suggest being patient?" His tone ends in a long, heavy sigh.

I bite the inside of my cheek, "So, you're busy then?"

"I am." He replies while turning a page, saying nothing else.

"If it's not too much trouble, would you mind sparing a moment of your time to help me find a book?"

"You're going to have to be a little more specific." He says calmly.

"Anything that involves dreams and maybe their meaning?"

"Is that an answer, or are you asking another question?"

I roll my eyes, "Ok, maybe like a dream dictionary or something. I'm not exactly sure." I slide off my bag before drawing my arms behind my back.

I hear him mutter under his breath. "Well, that narrows it down."

Dropping my arms, I glare down at him, "I can just find it myself if you're going to act like an ass."

"I'd say be my guest, but you've already disrupted me once. So I may as well stop what it is im doing to help you search for a ridiculous book on dreaming. Or better yet, why not take a seat across from me. Maybe open a book and wait until I finish this chapter. Heck, you might even learn something new."

I catch Jeff rolling his eyes, making me want to reach across the table and strangle him like a rag doll. Any restraint holding me back suddenly snaps, and I find myself swiftly reaching over the table. I snatch the book from him in one swipe, closing the chapter he was on in the process.

"Hey! Have you completely lost your mind!?" He springs up from the table like a startled furious stoat, hissing in a loud whisper, "You can't just rip a book from a man's hands while he's still in mid-read! That's incredibly rude!"

"Rude, sir, is your middle name. So how about you shut up and swallow your pride or whatever the hell you want to call it and get your over here and help me find a book on dreams or so help me. I will shove this book so far up where the sun doesn't shine, you'll never get to finish a damn chapter if you don't give me one damn moment of your time. I'm done asking nicely."

I make sure to keep my voice down so Maggie wouldn't hear me. Jeff stares at me oddly; probably surprised as I am at my little outburst. I will admit I've never really engaged Jeffery before, but I feel much better doing so than having to suffer this moment repeatedly in my head. That's what you get for acting like a self-centered ass to me, moron.

I give him a look suggesting he should follow me, but instead he just stands there staring at me. What, did I stun him or something? "Are you coming or not?"

"You can find a few dream dictionaries over on that shelf, labeled Collection of the Mind, and anything dealing with astral projection or involving sleep. If you don't find anything there, then I suggest checking the room downstairs." Jeff says flatly. He sounded a bit hesitant, more or less expressionless by his own words, but it doesn't matter to me. Maybe next time he'll be nicer to help if there happens to be the next time. Scratch that. I hope I never have the pleasure of encountering this rude boy again.

"Thank you-" I through the book over at him and he catches it, "-for not being such a complete waste of my time." Jeff grunts, but says nothing. Instead, he sits back down to return to his reading.

I don't have to go far to find the section Jeff had suggested. The label Collection of the Mind hovers over the small bookshelf like a faint beacon, but at least it's a start. I run my hands over each book, searching through the top shelf first, then the middle and two lower ones, but no dream dictionary. There are a lot of empty spaces here, and what books remain are few and are not exactly helpful. For a moment, I start to wonder if Alex did take a book. Maybe even more. Maggie said he hadn't checked any books out, though, but she never mentioned if the girl he was with did or not. Unless he took them without Maggie noticing? No, that doesn't make sense either. Alex wouldn't steal. Maybe someone else checked some of these books out, or they haven't been put back on the shelf yet.

Suddenly I'm startled by a groan-like noise coming from behind the bookshelf. The sound slowly started sounding catlike, but more so gravelly. Being an animal lover, I peek my head out at the end of the aisle, curious to know why the cat sounded so off. At first, I see nothing. Then I notice the flickering of a long black tail hanging freely on the second to top-shelf. A few books fall abruptly, startling me as the tail shifts back further into the shelves. The cat is hidden well behind the books before I see its tail pop back out. It's swaying softly, becoming me closer. As I inspect the creature, it begins groaning again, gently turning into a deep meow. I've never heard such an odd sound come from a cat before, and it only grew louder as I veer closer.

"I didn't know they let little fluff balls in here. Here kitty, kitty. Don't be scared. I just want to get you down from there, ok?"

Gently I go to grab the little beast from the shelf, but before my hand can touch it, the cat hisses in response, startling me. Fallowing the hiss, the cat makes a low growling noise. I quickly drop my hands and take a few steps back, hoping the distance will calm it down.

"Sorry, kitty. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to help you get down and get you outside. Well, maybe it's too cold out there for you, huh? If you let me pick you up, I can place you over by the sofa. There's a heater vent beside it, so it'll be nice and warm there. Does that sound better than sitting on a shelf?" I know the cat can't understand me, but it makes me feel better talking to it. The cat's tail flickers more aggressively, making me take a few more steps back.

"I guess I'll take that as a no then," I mumble. The cat suddenly screeches, unlike any cat I've ever heard and leaps out from the bookshelf. The sudden action catches me by surprise, causing an ear-piercing scream to escape from my throat. I instantly cover my mouth in shock at the creature's face before it darts past me and down the steps leading to the floor below. Its face was scared into my brain. It's the only thing that didn't resemble a cat. It had horns that curved upwards instead of ears, big triangular-like eyes sunken into its face with tiny white dots in the center. And instead of a mouth, I can only guess they were human teeth stitched onto where its mouth should be. The teeth curled into a creepy-looking smile, like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. It sends shivers down my spine. I stood frozen with my gaze locked onto the doors that lead down into the floor below. My heart is pounding like drums against my chest. All thoughts keep spinning crazily in my head.

"Who allowed you to raise your voice in a library?!" I hear Jeff demand bitterly from behind.

I whip around in a start, "Gah! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Stop yelling firstly; this is a library."

"You were yelling too," I whisper back.

"I at least am attempting to keep quiet, unlike some people here."

Great, he's got his confidence back. Just what I needed.

"Well, sorry for freaking out over almost being mauled by something."

"What are you talking about?" I start heading for the door that leads downstairs, only to hear him follow hot on my heels. "The only 'something' that's in the building is you and I."

"Aren't you forgetting someone, Dr. Brainiac? Mrs. Hamilton, the librarian perhaps?" I roll my eyes, walking faster to outpace him. The damn weasel doesn't falter.

"No. Mrs. Hamilton left a few minutes ago to retrieve a few items from her car. And you didn't answer my question."

I clench my teeth. Why do I even bother coming here? I knew I should have left after handing those books to Maggie.

"You didn't hear that screaming...well screeching?" I ask after a brief sigh.

Jeffery raises an eyebrow, "You mean yours?"

I hold my tongue this time, "No, I mean the other sound right before I screamed. It came from this thing that I thought was a cat."

Now he's looking at me as if I were crazy.

"Please tell me you heard something other than my screaming."

"I didn't hear a cat if that's what you're getting at." He says finally, and I groan in annoyance.

Determine to know exactly what I saw, I make it to the door in three long steps and push past it.

"Where are you going?"

"Downstairs to find the thing that tried to maul me, duh. I saw it run through this door."

"I'm sure you're overreacting about this. It's most likely a stray that wandered inside sometime during today." He notes as we descend the stairs. For whatever reason, he keeps a close pace with me. Close enough that my arm brushes against his, making me flinch. That sudden contact immediately causes him to push himself awkwardly around me until he's standing on the ground floor first.

"Excuse you, then," I blurt out.

"Apologies."

"It wasn't a cat, by the way. Not really. It had a disturbing face."

"It's entirely possible that the cat is inbred or survived a serious accident of some sort. Maybe it belongs to someone who visits the library often. You don't know for sure what the reasoning is."

"Yeah, or the thing is entirely feral and not a cat at all. It didn't even sound normal. You said it yourself that you didn't hear a cat."

"Or it's entirely the perspective of how you're conscious chose to see it." He suggests.

"If you don't believe me, then why did you follow me down here? Don't you have books to read or something?" I ask, hoping he would just leave.

"Can I not satisfy my curiosity about what it is you saw? I'm quite keen to know what this so-called creature is, if not a cat."

"Maybe you should go outside more and experience nature instead of stuffing your head with books in closed walls all the time. You might learn a thing or two about the outside world. Maybe you'll find yourself an actual girlfriend or friends for that matter." He doesn't take my sarcastic remark as a joke. He scowls at me.

"I prefer knowledge over companionship. I spend my days outside plenty working. When I have time, which seems shortened now, I read and learn what I can. My only desire is to one day leave this place behind and start fresh. I'll find a better job that'll suit me well, with pay that is more than good enough, and even when I have all that, I don't want any form of companionship. Maybe next time, you should think before you speak."

Clearly, I hit a nerve there. I know Jeffery has always been the outsider of this town, and other than being an odd annoying bookworm, I never gave it a second thought about who he is exactly. I gather he doesn't like people much, but I can't think of a single reason why someone like him would choose to be alone with books than spend any amount of time just living in the real world. Does he even like animals? Just like Alex and I, Jeffery has lived in RedWood his entire life. I know his father and how strict he can be. He's the chief of police and an asshole too.

"Look, I'm sorry for offending you. I just think maybe instead of reading, maybe you can try to at least make one friend. You're not going far in life with an attitude like that. And being isolated is lonely. Complete geniuses or not. Just speaking my mind here."

He scoffs, "It's difficult to hold a decent conversation with someone who doesn't understand a word of what I say. I feel inaudible most times, if not all the time. Being alone does not make one lonely, either. Some seek refuge being in isolation, and most times find peace amongst themselves as well."

Mumbling, half distracted, I wonder to the first section of shelves, "Maybe you can help me with homework sometimes as practice. You know, to see how it goes."

His throat bobs, "Unlikely."

"What? You're not even going to try? It could be fun. I know a lot of fun things we could do." Not paying attention to what I'm saying, I focus on the trail of books on the floor leading to a black shape nuzzled halfway underneath a heap of open books collected in the center of the room. Jeff doesn't comment and instead steps ahead of me, closer to the black creature.

"Wait-What if that thing attacks you or something?"

"It is just a cat, Shae." Odd that he didn't even think to mention the possibilities of it being feral and turning on him. Not to mention any underlining diseases it could have. I can only watch in horror as he gently scoops the creature up in his arms before calmly turning around. "See? It is only a cat, not a thing or something constructed of your imagination."

The animal suddenly looks my way. Its big green eyes are absent of disfigurement or oddness, confusing me further. There is nothing abnormal about the feline, or its face, but it isn't the same creature I had seen before. It can't be. What I saw was a lot bigger with long black fur and a horrid face. At least this thing is a cat. I'm not so sure what the other creature was, but it differently wasn't a cat.