13: Honestly, in Honesty, Who Are You?

Jacob’s excitement is palpable as he waits eagerly for his girlfriend at the library. His eyes dart around the room, searching eagerly for any sign of her arrival, his heart racing with anticipation.

With each passing moment, Jacob's excitement grows, his eagerness building to a fever pitch as he imagines the moment when he will finally be reunited with the one he loves. The library, usually a place of quiet solitude, is alive with the electric energy of his anticipation, the air charged with the promise of their impending reunion.

As he waits, Jacob cannot help but smile, his thoughts consumed by visions of the moments they will share once she arrives. Whether it is discussing their favorite books, sharing stories from their day, or simply enjoying each other's company in the peaceful library, Jacob knows that every moment with her is precious.

And so he keeps waiting, his excitement bubbling over as he counts down the seconds until he can finally wrap his arms around her and lose himself in her warmth. For at this moment, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the library and the promise of their love, Jacob knows that there is nowhere else he would rather be than right here, waiting for his girlfriend to arrive.

***

“Did you enjoy the book?" Jacob asks eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he awaits Sierra's response.

"Of course, babe!" Sierra replies with a laugh, her smile lighting up the room as she reaches out to take Jacob's hand in hers. "It was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t put it down."

Jacob's heart swells with joy at Sierra's words, grateful for the opportunity to share his love of books with someone who means so much to him. "I'm glad you liked it," he says with a smile, “but did you put it down, though?”

“Of course, babe!” Sierra replies. “You are soooo silly!”

***

Jack sits at his usual spot at the bar, his thoughts wandering as he nurses his drink. The dimly lit atmosphere and the radio jazz provide a welcoming respite from the chaos of the world outside, and Jack often finds solace in the familiar surroundings.

But today, his mind aches with a multitude of thoughts. The music sounds like white noise, and the drink tastes staler by the minute.

Jack takes a sip of his drink as his gaze drifts over to Joe, the bartender, who is busy brewing another shot for him. Joe's face is a canvas of understanding, a kind companion in Jack's nightly ritual of reflection.

"Thanks, Joe," Jack says with a nod of gratitude as he takes the freshly poured shot in hand. The warmth of the alcohol spreads through his veins, soothing his frayed nerves and easing the weight of the world from his shoulders, if only for a moment.

“Say, Jack,” Joe studies Jack’s face for a moment, “you look mighty stressed, friend.”

“Yeah, and it ain’t the first,” Jack sips. “Vincent’s dead.”

“Oh, good for you then,” Joe twirls a glass as he pours whiskey in it.

“Nope, now I got no lead,” Jack mutters. “He knew some things related to my current case, things he didn’t tell me in the interrogation, but the secrets lie in the graves now.”

“Sounds like you need more than drinks, friend,” Joe gives Jack an empathizing look as he wipes the counter.

"Say, Jack. You read books?" Joe asks as he rinses the water out of the rag.

"No," Jack replies, cold glass in hand. "My work takes priority."

A hint of disappointment curls at the corners of Joe’s lips. "Well, I do have a good recommendation. Wanna hear it?"

“Sure.”

Joe considers for a moment before responding, "If you're into thrillers, I just finished one by a new author that's been getting a lot of buzz. It's called The Silent Observer. Gripping plot, plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing."

"I mean, I’m basically living in a thriller, Joe," Jack yawns. "Thrilling cases are my breakfast."

"Your loss, Jack," Joe grins, sliding the rag into his back pocket. "Let me know what you think once you've read it."

"Speaking of silently observing, Joe, have you seen the new library they just built?"

Joe pauses for a moment, trying to remember if he had seen a new library. His eyes light up as the memory strikes him. "Yeah, I've heard about it," he replies, pouring another drink for a patron at the other end of the bar. "They say it's quite the sight."

Jack nods, intrigued. "They say it's got some impressive architecture and a vast collection of books."

"Sounds like it's worth a visit," Joe agrees, wiping down the counter with a cloth. "Let me know what you think if you end up going. Who knows? They might have The Silent Observer there."

"Will do," Jack says with a nod, making a mental note to stop by the new library when he has some free time. “Free time,” Jack chuckles and empties his glass, “Yeah, right.”

Jack raises his empty glass in a silent toast to the night ahead, ready to face whatever challenges may come his way with the determination of a man who knows that, no matter what, justice will prevail.

***

On his way home, Jack wonders about some things. When was the library first opened? He opens his phone to check. His heart skips a beat as he reads the date on the search results. The realization hits him like a ton of bricks— the new library was opened just a day before the Austen Boulevard Massacre. A chilling coincidence that sends shivers down his spine.

His mind races with questions. Could there be a connection between the two events? If the library's somehow related to CORE, perhaps as their base of operations, it makes sense for it to be close to the heart of the city, Austen Boulevard, where it's swarming with people daily. Their activities can be masked behind the bustling urban life, hiding in plain sight!

Jack cannot shake the feeling of unease that settles over him. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together, forming a picture that he is not sure he wants to see.

***

Jack stands before the entrance of the Atoras Library, the morning sun casting streaks of dark light across the grand facade. The building looms before him, its sleek lines and modern design a stark contrast to the historical architecture of the surrounding area.

Upon stepping through the entrance, Jack is immediately struck by the sense of quiet grandeur that permeates the space. The air is filled with the hushed whispers of patrons and the soft rustle of pages turning, creating an oddly inviting atmosphere. But Jack feels uneasy. The library holds the promise of answers to questions that have plagued him since the day of the Massacre. Jack knows he must tread carefully, determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

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As he wanders through the dusty shelves, Jack scans the rows of books, searching for any clue. The library is vast, its shelves filled with knowledge and secrets waiting to be discovered.

But as Jack delves deeper into the tunnel-like corridors of the Atoras Library, he realizes that the answers he seeks may not be found in plain sight. They may lie hidden in the shadows, waiting to be brought into the light.

With gritted teeth, Jack presses on, knowing the truth is out there, waiting to be uncovered. And as he moves through the hallowed halls of the library, he knows he is one step closer to it.

Jack wanders through the aisles, taking note of the eerie stillness that permeates the air. It is quiet. Too quiet. Unlike any silence he has experienced before, even for a library. The hush seems almost palpable as if the very walls are holding their breath. Jack swears he has seen some patrons earlier, so why is the space so empty?

But what strikes Jack as even more peculiar is the presence of the librarian, or rather, the lack of one. In a place like this, one would expect to see a librarian or two bustling about, shelving books, or assisting patrons. Yet, as Jack looks around, he sees no sign of anyone responsible for maintaining the library in order.

A sense of unease settles over Jack as he considers the implications of this discovery. Could it be that the library is deserted? Or is there something more sinister at play?

With each passing moment, Jack is more sure of his intuition in coming here. This is no normal library. He must proceed with caution, for the quietude of the library belies the secrets that lie hidden within its walls. Jack continues exploring, wary of the feeling that there may be eyes upon him. Watching. Observing.

Glancing over his shoulder, Jack sees nothing. He quickly shrugs the feeling and presses on. He knows that danger lurks behind the shelves, waiting to swallow him whole. Jack hovers his hand lightly over his hoister. It is just a matter of when.

Jack walks down corridors and corridors, his thoughts consumed by the liminal space surrounding him. The absence of people and the unnerving quiet of the space weigh heavily on his mind.

Lost in thoughts, Jack rounds a corner and finds himself face-to-face with another patron of the library. The man, towering over Jack, regards him with a curious expression, his dead eyes putting Jack on edge.

For a moment, the two men stand in silence, sizing each other up, each one wary of the other's intentions. Jack's instincts tell him that this encounter is no coincidence—no one else is here but Jack and this man. He has been watching.

With a cautious nod, Jack breaks the silence, his voice calm and steady. "Do you work here?" he asks, searching for a hidden weapon underneath the man's clothes.

The patron shakes his head. "No," he replies. "I'm just here to… observe."

Jack's pulse quickens at the man's words. Everything about this stranger sets off alarm bells in his mind.

“Nice to meet you,” Jack holds out his hand. “I’m Jack, what is your name?”

The man slowly holds out his hands. Each movement feels dragged.

“Jacob.”

“Nice to meet you, Jacob,” Jack repeats. They awkwardly shake hands.

“Have you ever read The Silent Observer?” Jacob asks. "It's one of my favorites."

“What a coincidence,” Jack replies, his curiosity piqued by Jacob's enthusiasm for the book, “A friend of mine also recommended it to me. Mind giving me the synopsis?”

Jacob's eyes light up at the opportunity to share his favorite book with someone new. "Sure thing," he says eagerly. "So, The Silent Observer is a psychological thriller that follows the story of a detective who becomes obsessed with a series of unsolved murders. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that lead him down a dangerous path of deception and betrayal..."

Jack listens with a deaf ear as Jacob continues to recount the plot, his interest diminishing with each passing minute. It is clear that Jacob has a deep affection for the book, but Jack cannot help but feel repelled by the story as it unfolds before him.

As Jacob reaches the climax of his synopsis, Jack finds himself barely awake.

"Sounds like a thrilling read," Jack frantically rubs his eyelids to stay awake. "Thanks for sharing, Jacob. I'll have to check it out sometime."

"But you know what my favorite part of it is?" Jacob asks.

"What?"

"The fact that the detective keeps looking when there is nothing to be found."

"Okay…” Jack trails off.

"This library has nothing of your interest, does it?" Jacob speaks in a monotone. "You should leave."

As Jacob's words take on a chilling tone, Jack's senses go on high alert. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up on instincts. Something is not right. No, everything is not right.

"What are you hiding?" Jack demands, his hand instinctively reaching for his holster. He can feel the air tightening, thick and suffocating, as he braces himself for whatever comes next.

But before Jack can react, the lights in the library suddenly flicker and go out, plunging the space into the abyss. Panic surges through Jack's veins as he struggles to orient himself in the pitch-black room.

In the darkness, Jack can hear the sound of the door shut, sealing him off from the outside world. A cold sweat runs down his neck as Jack realizes he is alone in the library, with whatever unseen force is toying with him.

Heart pounding, Jack fumbles for his flashlight, his hands shaking with adrenaline as he clicks it on and scans the room for any sign of danger. But all he finds is empty shelves and echoing silence, punctuated only by his uneven breaths.

With each passing moment, the dread only grows stronger, pressing down on Jack like a weight he cannot shake. He must find a way out of this nightmare, but the darkness seems to stretch on forever, swallowing him whole.

With a silent prayer for strength, Jack sets off into the unknown, determined to escape the clutches of the malevolent presence. Lurking. Always watching.

***

Bang!

The deafening sound of gunshot echoes through the darkness, reverberating off the walls infinitely. The acrid smell of gunpowder fills the air. For a moment, there is only silence—heavy, oppressive silence.

But then, as the smoke from the gunshot begins to clear, Jack sinks as he realizes he has hit nothing but air. There is no sign of movement, no indication that his shot has found its mark.

Panic sets in. He is alone in the darkness, with no way of knowing what—or who—may be lurking just beyond his line of sight. Every instinct screams at him to flee, to escape the confines of the library and seek safety in the outside world. With trembling hands, Jack fumbles for his flashlight once more, his heart pounding in his chest as he scans the room for any sign of danger. But the darkness cages him, suffocating and relentless, leaving him feeling more ill and helpless than ever.

Caught in the grip of fear and uncertainty, Jack knows that he must find a way to regain control of the situation. He squares his shoulders and takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever may come next. Standing alone in the darkness, the absence of the mysterious man earlier only creates more questions.

Every instinct shouts at, claws, and pulls Jack back from advancing. "Escape this abyss before it's too late!" They scream at him. But something holds him rooted to the spot, a stubborn determination. Jack can feel his heart jumping out of his chest as he sweeps the flashlight around the room. But all he finds is emptiness—a vast expanse of darkness stretching out before him, devoid of any sign of life or movement.

Fear threatens to overwhelm him. Jack forces himself to focus, hitting his temples and rubbing his eyes with all his might. He knows that he must stay strong. He has come this far, after all. There is no sense in giving up now. Not when the truth is just beyond his reach.

Wandering through the hallway, Jack shines his light upon an old elevator. It seems to be locked. Possibly malfunctioning. What could have happened there?

With a deep breath, Jack continues forward, refusing to be cowed by fear. He will confront whatever lies in wait within the darkness, armed with nothing but his courage. As Jack reaches where he thinks to be the end of the hall, he is met with a startling realization—there is nothing beyond it. No walls, no floors, no ceiling. Just an endless expanse of pure darkness stretching out before him, swallowing him whole. The end is never the end.

Panic pierces Jack's heart. The ground he is standing on is nothing, teetering on the edge of an abyss from which there may be no return. He takes a step forward, only to find himself falling—falling into the endless void below.

A million questions overwhelm his brain. What has happened to him? Where is he? And most importantly, how can he escape? Is this the end? If there is a ground in this void, he is as good as dead.

With every last ounce of strength, Jack fights against the pull of the void, struggling to grab onto something—anything. But the darkness is relentless, swallowing him even deeper into its unfathomable depths.

And as Jack disappears into the darkness, his fate uncertain, one thing remains clear: he will never give up the fight. In the face of unimaginable horrors, he stubbornly clings to the belief that somewhere, somehow, there is light to be found in the darkest of places.

Let’s test that belief.