Captain Love wiped the sweat from his collar. It was close to fall and it seemed the sun was radiating as much heat as it could before the large gray clouds, signifying the change in season, made their way towards the city. It was a surprise that when Captain Love opened the large wooden doors to the cold and dark library, lit only by a few candles, that Love would find no comfort in it.

I never thought I would find myself here again. Love grabbed a match and lit it by sliding it across the stubble growing on his face. He took his first step into the dust infested library and felt a wave of discomfort rush through his body. The memories of his teenage years echoed in his mind and Love avidly, with no success, tried to bury the memories.

He made his way towards the aisle his brother Pablo told him to search. Ignoring the librarian who offered him a hand. Cmon, just go in and out. He held the match out in front of him as he searched for the red and green books with faded letterings on the spine. It was a slow process as the small flame barely lit more than the size of his hand. He cursed when the match died and he lit another from his box.

He heard the soft voice of one of the librarians offer to grab a lantern for him but he ignored her just like he did with the first. The memories were like a needle stabbing him at the nape of the neck and the librarians made the memories poke harder and harder until Love acknowledged them. He was going to find the damned books without the help of the reformed workers.

The exterior of the library was modest and made to look like any regular establishment. A hub, a home, hell even a loft that were becoming popular in the wealthier parts of the city. But no amount of changes could hide what the interior once was. The new owner, whoever it was, and Captain Love had a strong guess, took down the beddings, the many colorful drapes that hung in the low ceilings, and somehow got rid of the smell of perfume. But to Love all he saw was what it once was.

Found you! Captain Love sighed a breath of relief when light from his matchstick reflected off the red and green books Pablo mentioned to him. He grabbed both books and placed them inside of his pancho before pacing towards the exit. The first librarian smiled at him and even in the near darkness Love could see her pearly whites.

The hour walk from the library to his office lasted an hour. Within that hour the scorching heat made every city folk groan in annoyance but to Pablo it was a minor inconvenience compared to spending a few minutes in that building.

Captain Love slammed the books on his desk before opening the green one. The pages had been cut in the center and glued together to keep them from moving and dropping the small wooden box inside. Captain Love smiled for a moment. The book safe was a trick they had used often to hide gems and jewelry that he and Pablo would steal to later sell. It kept them fed and more importantly, it kept them alive.

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But he was the law now. He was supposed to find this stuff intolerable. Anyone with a book safe was more than likely a criminal. It was his job to bring the law to those who would break It. At least that's what Commander Joaquin had taught him. But he also taught him to think for himself when necessary.

Captain Love opened the box and saw a parchment cut into a square shape on top.

Once you start reading you can never go back to the way things were. If you prefer to live under the comfort of lies and deception then I highly suggest you return the book where you found it.

If the uncomfortable truth is what you seek. Remove the parchment and allow your eyes to see.

-He who fights for those who can't.

Captain Love wondered if Pablo had shown this to anyone else. When he asked him to reveal what Ephidel meant by lifetimes he saw the smile his brother oftenly wore fade into a gloomy look. Perhaps that should've been his first clue that whatever he was in store for was going to be unpleasant.

Love stared at the warning parchment. He didn't understand why he was so worked up by something that could've been a mistake of the tongue. For a lesser man that would've been the case. But Love was too sharp and too trained to believe that someone as posh and educated as Ephidel would mess up his wordings. Especially in front of peasants like the ones he was interrogating that day. The screaming in his gut wouldn't allow him to believe it.

In all truth, Love hoped the search for the Zapojin boy would allow him to focus on his work. But the boy was clever. It's been a little over two weeks and the boy was nowhere to be seen. Even the mobs that formed to claim the prize were beginning to grow restless. Then a thought Love never imagined he would ever come close to thinking appeared in his mind. If he were to catch the boy would he take him to Ephidel?

As a captain he was required by law to obey and serve his future lord. But would whatever was under this parchment make him rethink his position?

Pablo more than likely wouldn't turn in the boy. But he's always been a rebel. I'm not like him. I keep order in this city. Just like Commander Joaquin and Commander Ettor once did.

But both men relinquished their post. Joaquin did, days before his disappearance when he took a squad of men towards the small settlement down the river. Love wanted to go with him but Joaquin didn't allow him to. If Love knew he would never return he would've disobeyed orders and gone after them. It was his one regret. Soon after Ettor, who was forced to come out of retirement to replace Joaquin as commander, gave up his position and handed it to Love.

He refused to ever use the commander rank. Out of respect for his mentor.

Would he turn out like Ettor? Commanders were supposed to serve for life. Or until…. Love refused to believe Joaquin to be dead. Even after the fall of the village and the bodies of all but Joaquin were recovered, Love had hope that Joaquin was alive. His words echoed in Love's mind.

Think for yourself.

Captain Love's heart grew heavy as he lifted the parchment from the box.