A mob of Djinn frustrated and looking for an outlet for their situation. They are chasing after a human, a creature of myth and legend, thinking this is the only way they could make it home. Running with the speed and ferocity only a mob can match the chased deep into a never-ending library. Illia has been using all the shortcuts she knew, and tricks to catch up to them followed closely by Rixar.

“What are they doing?” She shouted as she ran finally reaching the back of the crowd, at an intersection guarded by the Djinn. She noticed way more Djinn then she had seen here before. How many people did he send here? It was the first time Illia had even seen some of them, not to mention the weapons some of them held. She could see the magic aura floating over them from where she stood. Where did they get those? Did they bring them with them or find them here? She shook her head. Pushing it to the back of her mind. This place has to many secrets.

One of the Djinn that looked to be guarding the intersection answered. “They are chasing the Human in there.”

“Have they caught up yet? And is he still alive?” Illia asked panicked, hoping she wasn’t to late.

She turned to find Gary the local baker from back home, a holding a shield with an aura of embers. When did he get here?

“No. The building is adding distance, helping him somehow. But we will get the bastard.” Gary spat.

“We need to catch him, not kill him.” Illia said frantic. “If he dies we are stuck here.”

Gary and all the other Djinn looked alarmed. “What?” His face grew a pale silver. We have to catch him?”

“Yes. The rest of the council was supposed to disseminate that to everyone.”She looked around at the group of Djinn “What did you think would happen?”

“If we kill him we would be freed.” Gary answered a strong pleading in his voice.

Looking at all the obvious magical weapoins on the ones gaurding an escape route she could only imagine what the ones chasing had. “Shit. Shit. Shit. WHY!”

“No one told us.” One of the other Djinn Illia didn’t recognize spoke. “Just that the human was responsible for capturing us.”

Rixsr put a hand on Illia’s shoulder. “Illia. There are so many people coming through. The news must have been distorted or lost.”

“Fuck! Out of the way." Illia yelled.

“But.”

“MOVE!”

Gary jumped scrambling out of the way as Illia, Rixar, and a few other Djinn ran down the halls to save a human. Let's hope we aren't to late.

#

A human runs as shots are fired at his back, he serpentines down the isles ducking behind shelves desperately trying to escape.

“Where did they get fucking guns? Aren't they a magic society?” Nicki yelled to the concept casually jogging next to him. When a projectile hit the shelf next to his head, exploding into massive ice spikes.

“You'd be surprised how many magic societies have guns. But they got into your armory.”

“Of course there's an armory.” He could sense the armory deep in the building and feel it empty. He hadn’t fully known there was an armory, but it made sense. What didn’t was. “How did they even find it? Let alone get in?”

“They've been here for months.” Del looked confused himself. “Just keep running.”

“Stop! Running!” Someone from the crowd behind him yelled.

“No!” Nicki yelled back right before turning a corner. Only to be met with another Djinn carrying a spear covered in lightning. “Shit.” Nicki dropped to the ground rolling as a bolt of electricity flew over him attracted to the metal plaque next to him saying “Quiet in the library.”

When Nicki looked up he saw the Djinn spasming on the ground. Must not protect the wielder from its own lightning. He thought as he rolled up and dove into one of the shelves grabbing one of the shelf's and pulled, willing it to fall over.

Like an avalanche the shelf fell as more books then where on the shelf fell completely blocking the isle.

Turning to keep running there where more Djinn there, one of them lining up a shot, with some kind of gun.

Shit. Nicki grabbed another shelf and pulled hard, and jumped away. But it wasn't fast enough, as he felt fire burning in his gut. A torrent of red was flowing out of him as he fell to his knees. The rest of the shelf blocking off his pursuers.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Oww.” His world faded to black.

#

A crowd of Djinn were digging through a massive pile of books when Illia finally caught up. “Stop! Stop!” The Djinn ignored her tossing book after book into growing piles. “Stop!!!” She shouted, this time lacing her voice with power. The digging Djinn froze along with the twenty others all turning towards her.

“Keep going!.” Hyla Draught, one of the members of the council yelled. Before angrily stomping up to Illia. Along with a few men holding various elemental weapons.

I don’t have time for politics. She strode to meet Hyla and kept a level tone, trying to convey urgency. “You need to stop. He can't die.”

Hyla sneered, “You know what he is he's human. And we've eaten his food. You know the only way to escape his realm is to kill him.”

How could he be so daft. He was part of the meeting we discussed. “Hyla”

“No.” Rixar interrupted as he gasped for breath.

Illia rolled her eyes annoyed at Rixar cutting her off but he was able to explain things better. Hyla was now looking at Rixar.

Taking in one last deep breath he explained. “No. We were studying up on the stairs before. It is only the human who can set us free, while we are trapped in his domain. But we have to catch him. Not kill him. That would end up bad for us.”

“But the stories all say that the people who eat there food are forced to stay.” Hyla floundered for an excuse.

“That's only if they take your name. We are safe for now.

"I've never heard anything like that."

“How? You were in the meetings. Rixar already explained it to the council.” She stared at Hyla pointedly. “Did you not pay attention?”

“I did.” Hyla looked off into the distance a little unfocused. “But wasn’t there another meeting were you told us if he died, we’d be freed?”

“What!?I said no such thing?” Rixar said affronted.

“There was never any meeting like that.” Illia confirmed

Hyla looked at the two as if they were crazy, “Of course there was. There were those three odd Djinn’s who ensured us about it. Though I thought the theatrics were a bit much.”

“Theatrics?”

“You have to remember you morphed into one of them, so did you Illia.”

“What else happened in that meeting?”

“Uh.” Hyla looked away trying to remember, only to refuse to look at either of them.

“Was it a dream?” Hyla turned a deep azure.

“Possibly.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. We’re all going to be screwed because of a damn dream? Illia wanted to scream. Now blazing with anger Illia turned back towards the men completely ignoring Hyla. “None of this matters right now. We just need to catch him alive.” She emphasized. The digging Djinn had heard the entire conversation their digging slowing, and the guards around Hyla looking silvered.

“What?” She asked not liking the look.

No one said anything, except a few seemed to be holding back.

“What?” She asked again when the worst case hit her, “Is he already dead?”

“We don't know.” Hyla answered for the lot.

Illia turned to him glaring. “Explain.”

“As the walls collapsed he was shot. And there was a lot of red.” He answered simply

“Fuck.” She turned back towards the other Djinn. “Dig!” Then she jumped in behind them grabbing book after book. Tossing it to the side, for what felt like hours when she finally caught a glimpse beyond.

#

Nicki was surrounded by an all consuming darkness, or it would have been if not for the irritating tapping on his cheek, and the bright light that seemed to be blinking behind his eyes.

“Come on Nicki you got to wake up. I can't help you directly here.” The voice was frantic. Which to Nicki’s addled mind made no sense. He was quite comfortable despite the chill. What does he mean and what does he mean help? This place is so comfortable. I just need to drift off into the void. It was so nice.

“Hey!!!!” The voice shouted kicking Nicki’s fading mind back into gear.

His thoughts so slow. Why does my stomach burn? Nicki’s eyes snapped open remembering it all and tried to sit up. Only for pain to shove him back to the ground. “Owww.” He groaned.

“Good your awake.” Nicki turned his head to see Del kneeling in a pool of blood. “You need to get out of here.”

How can I do that? Looking up at the concept, “Can't you heal me?” He had a lot of power didn’t he?

“No.” He answered shaking his head. “I’ve done all I've can for you.”

“What but you did nothing.” Nicki said incredulous.

Del rolled his eyes. “I woke you up, and gave you a chance. A bit of a deus ex. It's all I can help with. The rest is up to you.” He said pointing down at Nicki.

“How?” How could he possibly do anything with how much blood he was losing. He couldn’t stand let alone run.

“Use your power.”

Nicki blinked and looked around, “But there are no doors.”

“Make one.” Del replied sternly.

“...but. Ahhh.” The wound in his side pulsed sending fresh waves of agony. Cold was creeping in as he felt himself shaking.

“Make a door Nicki.”

“How? There's nothing here.” He pleaded. Nicki need more to go on then just do. His mind was slowing, and darkness was creeping at the edge of his vision. What was he doing again?

“Make a door or you will die.” An angry man’s voice yelled at him.

Oh right. He looked around seeing a nice red paint. That would make a nice shade for a door he thought. Nicki rolled over his stomach. It hurt a lot but he needed to sketch a door. He said he would. Or did he? What was I doing again? Nicki looked down at the red. Door. He bagn to sketch out a simple door on the carpet. His fingers having to dip into the paint a few times to get the lines right. He felt annoyed when he noticed it was just a little lopsided.

“Lines need to be straighter.” Nicki commented annoyed about to fix his lines.

“Focus, on finishing you can touch up later.” A calm voice said.

“Ok”, Nicki did as he was told, finishing the door. Now all it needs is a door knob. Nicki looked around for the right shade only finding red, and began to panic. His world was shrinking, his heart slowing.

“What? Why did you stop?” The kind voice asked.

“I don't have the right color for a door knob.” Of course the kind voice would understand. Maybe he knew where the pigment was.

The voice was quite for a long time. “That's because it's a sliding door.”

“Ohh.” Nicki looked down at his door and agreed. “Then I just need a handle here.” Nicki painted a line, “Done. Now to go home.” He missed his bed. His mom was gonna be so mad. He grabbed the handled and pulled the door open. It sliding to the side. As he looked through at a world sitting at a strange angle.

“Weird.” He heard the sound of tumbling books and footsteps. He turned to catch the eye of a blue skinned person just as his consciousness left him and he fell through the ground.

* * *