This is my contest entry for the BCS Library’s 2023 Writing Contest. The theme was “Friends locked into a library at night. They can enter the world of any book.” I didn’t win, but it was fun. I hope you enjoy this piece.
#
Let me look through your eyes. Tell me your stories.
Jade’s grief-stricken face looks at me in disbelief across the large, dimly lit, book-filled room. A ring of runes is etched into the library’s floor. Wisps of energy illuminate the space around the woman I love. Keeping calm is difficult when all I want to do is run toward her and rip her from that circle. If she completes her incantations with the storm raging outside, she could kill herself.
“Jade, please stop.” I force myself to approach her slowly.
In my bag is the journal I should have returned days ago. Selfishly, I kept it to savor the feeling of connection with her a little bit longer. Unable to tell her my feelings, I planted love letters inside its pages. I feared that giving the keepsake back would end everything between us.
“Jade, I’ve kept some things from you.” My nerves cause my throat to dry.
“Stay away from me, Onyx!” Still maintaining the circle, she casts another spell by gesturing with her free hand.
CRACK!
A brilliant white light blinds me. I’m vaguely aware as several other sparks pop into existence further away. Jade sounds panicked, but I’m too busy trying to blink the afterglow from my eyes to offer her comfort.
“Th-that was only supposed to be a small flash.” Jade sounds apologetic.
“This is why it’s illegal to cast spells during storms.” Fear for her safety turns my words harsh. “Everyone isn’t sheltering from the hurricane for fun, Jade.”
“That’s why I waited for them to lock the library,” Jade sighs. “What do you care? After you helped those pricks destroy my things… Why start caring now?” Her voice trembles.
The despair on her face makes my chest ache. All I want to do is hold her in my arms. Maybe, if I show her that her mother’s journal is safe, she’ll forgive me for holding onto it.
“Listen, in my bag—”
“Fish Face!” A loud masculine voice interrupts us. Jacob, Chantelle, and Bambi, the group known as the Triad, appear from a row of bookshelves.
A year ago, Jade tried to make friends with the Triad by inviting them to dinner. They were disgusted by the seafood her family served. They mocked her because the salmon still had its head attached. Since then, they have referred to her as “Fish Face.”
“So, this is why Onyx stole the headmaster’s key,” Chantelle titters, stroking her long hair.
“Onyx, I’m surprised you’re working with Fishy. Especially after destroying her dead mother’s journal.” Bambi smirks at me while fluttering her doe-like eyes.
Jade’s sob of anguish pierces my heart.
“Fish Face must be the forgiving type,” Chantelle snickers while twirling her hair and taking a selfie.
“They’re lying. Just wait a moment, and I’ll explain.” In my haste, my trembling hands are unable to open my bag.
Months ago, Bambi came into her fire powers. The Triad stole Jade’s school backpack to use her things as target practice. I noticed the journal and saved it before it was destroyed. However, Jade saw me with the others covered in soot and assumed the worst.
“You were my best friend, Onyx. But I understand why you did it.” Jade smiles self-deprecatingly. “I can’t compete against the Triad and their powerful connections.”
Our eyes meet for a fleeting moment before she completes the last incantation. The glowing magical wisps coalesce and explode. The spell blasts the entire room with a powerful wave of energy. Every book in the library begins to sparkle, illuminating the room in a rainbow of color. I don’t have time to appreciate the beauty because Jade turns, grabs some books nearby, and throws several open onto the ground. A bright portal appears above the cluster of novels. I run toward her, but I’m too late. Jade steps into the entryway and disappears.
“Jade, no…” Every part of me wants to jump in after her, but first, I need to make sure the Triad doesn’t try anything while I’m rescuing Jade.
“Holy Rats, she actually did it.” Jacob’s booming voice cuts across the room.
“Oh my Goddess, she figured out how to make magical realities from books. I thought it was all talk.” I can practically hear Bambi’s eyes blinking from where I stand.
“You guys don’t think the price will be too high? I mean, with the storm raging, most of the magic will come from that, right?” Chantelle brushes her hands through her hair nervously.
“You mean that you hope she doesn’t die because you’ll be in trouble after the way you’ve bullied her for the past year?” I turn toward them, hoping they can see the retribution promised on my face. “Because if this storm stops before I can get her out, then the spell will rip the energy from her body, and—” I gesture at the festival-colored library, “–judging by the sheer volume of this enchantment, there won’t be anything left of her.” My voice breaks at the end, imagining the worst-case scenario.
“Take it easy, man. We’ll probably pop open a few books ourselves and play around.” Jacob’s voice booms.
“Let’s have some fun while one idiot finds the other,” Bambi’s eyelashes bat in excitement.
“I call dibs on romance.” Chantelle giggles and flicks her hair out of the way as she runs, the others behind her.
Full of determination to get my girl back, I hold my breath and jump through the portal.
#
The pirate ship deck I land on is being tossed around in the waves of a violent deep blue sea. The sky is gray with a hint of darkness on the horizon. Disoriented, I spill across the deck as it tilts aggressively to one side. Holding onto one of the masts for dear life, I see a flying boy taunting a scar-covered white whale. An old man brandishing a harpoon and a pirate captain waving a hook for a hand are yelling at each other.
“What in the—”
The pale monstrosity jumps at the boy, misses hitting him, and nearly lands on the ship. A giant wave of cold salty sea water rips me from the safety of the mast. I grab a railing just in time to avoid being dumped into the ocean.
“Onyx, go through that door to your left before the ship is destroyed.” A mysterious woman’s voice comes from inside my bag.
I don’t question her orders and run into the doorway. I briefly register that I’m in a bedroom before my eyes lock on the way out. A bright portal shines above a pile of sparkling books on the ground. I hear a deafening crack and screaming as the room tilts. Not wanting to find out if dying in this world is permanent, I dive through the next portal.
#
I tumble onto a dirt road lit by moonlight. The carriage-worn path cuts through an ominously dark forest. At the end is a castle surrounded by roses. A howl from some creature echoes in the distance.
Dirty, cold, and wet, I try my best to clean my hands before opening the waterproof seal on my bag. Inside, Jade’s mother’s journal glitters, just like the books in the library. Nervous, I go to touch the magic-protected item.
“Now’s not the time to be fooling around, Onyx.” The deep female voice coming from the journal makes me jump. “You need to save my daughter, and I’ll help you do it.”
“Mrs. Yamata?” I gulp.
Have the enchantments brought her back to life? Am I talking to a ghost?
“I can sense the path my daughter has taken.” Jade’s mother’s no-nonsense tone reminds me why I’m here. I’ll question reality later. “Get in the vehicle that’s coming before the guy with the chainsaw gets you.”
“Chainsaw?!”
I hear the thumping of hooves behind us. A beautiful woman is racing her horse-drawn wagon toward the castle. A huge chainsaw-wielding man with a hockey mask is chasing her. I open my mouth to ask Mrs. Yamata how we’ll get on that cart without dying when a giant beast emerges from the forest and tackles him. The lady stops her horse, calling frantically to the creature. I can’t tell if she is trying to encourage or scare it away.
“Now!” The journal yells at me, and I spring into action.
I launch myself into the wagon bed and find a sparkling book among a stack of them. The young woman is shouting in what sounds like French. I peek at the bloody battle and see the two monsters are at a stalemate. The masked man is unarmed and is holding the beast’s jaws open as it tries to clamp down on his neck. Not wanting to see the gory conclusion, I open the enchanted tome and leap into the portal.
#
I land in a spacious, white marble, gold, and jeweled cathedral. In the middle is a raised platform with a diamond throne. Jade sits restrained and crestfallen on the floor near the glittering object. I’m about to run to her, but a large ethereal figure appears on the throne. Trembling, I drop to my knees to grovel.
The beautiful woman who sat on Heaven’s royal seat was the Goddess of Sorcery. The Judge of Justice, Lady of Learning, and Mother of Magic are some of her many names. We are all taught to adore and fear her because of the mercurial nature of her blessings and curses.
“The foolish girl used a holy text to summon me for a wish.” The Goddess’s musical voice sounds disapproving. “I do not interfere with my brother’s domain. I will not bring back the dead. Regardless, a price for using my gifts will be paid.” The Goddess eyes Jade like she is prey.
“Please, My Lady, spare her.” I plead.
The Goddess seems amused. “What will you give me to save her, boy?”
My muddled mind is trying to come up with what to offer while I swallow to get some moisture down my tight throat.
“Please, my Goddess, take your price from me.” Mrs. Yamata interrupts. Jade seems to recognize her mother’s voice and looks around frantically.
I pull out the enchanted journal. Jade looks confused at first, and then she recognizes the book. She stares at me in shock, her eyes full of questions.
“Silence, do not make me destroy you, book.” The Goddess’s words cut through the room.
Jade fights her bonds and tries to say something, but no sound comes out. Unable to understand her, I give her the best confident smile I can muster.
Wanting the Goddess to focus on me, I answer with a trembling voice, “Anything you desire, my Goddess.”
“Then let me look through your eyes. Tell me your stories.”
I feel my eyes lock on to the Goddess’s, and everything fades to black.
#
I wake up on the library floor. Jade sobs while holding my hand.
“I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you.” Jade cries.
“Don’t cry,” I wipe her tears. “What was the price?”
Jade looks devastated. “I got to say goodbye to Mom, but the journal is gone. She said your payment was also inside. Something about letters?”
My heart breaks that Mrs. Yamata and her journal are truly gone now. With Jade safe, the unread love letters don’t matter anymore.
“The others?”
Jade’s tear-streaked face cracks a smile. “Look for yourself.” She points toward the Triad.
I watch Jacob silently screaming. Chantelle rubs her bald head. Bambi flails about, wailing that she’s unable to see. I feel a twinge of guilt for hoping the Goddess’s payment is permanent.
“Come on, let’s get out of here, and let these jerks take the blame.” I grab Jade’s hand and lead her toward the exit.
“Wait,” Jade stops me and plants a kiss on my lips. “I love you, Onyx.”
“I love you too, Jade.” And I kiss her with everything I’ve held back.
END