It Began With A Dream, and Ended With A Story

I always found peace inside libraries. I guess that could be why my whole world is one gigantic library. You could walk for miles and never find the door. Once you find your way in here, there is no leaving. I sometimes wonder if I could create a door to leave and explore what else is beyond my library. These are just thoughts though I could never be brave enough to even try to leave. Anyways I like the tranquility of my library. I don’t have to deal with chores, work, or even people!

I know that last one sounded harsh, but I have never been a ‘people’ person. (Although there was that one person but let’s not go into that.) So I try to avoid contact with them as much as possible that also may explain why I live in a library alone with no one else to bother me. It’s not like I’m completely alone though. The books keep me company when I start feeling lonely.

Their voices float through the air and comfort me. When I say voices, I literally mean voices. During my first days I felt scared of the silence that engulfed the library. Everywhere I went the only noises I heard were my footsteps and the occasional sliding of a book. I thought I would go mad if I did not hear another voice.

That is when I heard a faint whisper in my ear and then another followed by more of them. The whispers did not grow in sound but the multitude made me cover my ears. With time I learned to filter them in and out so that I was not overwhelmed. It was some time before I figured out where they came from. That was an interesting experience to say the least. I woke one morning to a motherly voice calling out to me.

“Come on, Lizzie. I need you to get up,” the voice said.

Sleepily I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I turned to where my feet hung off the bed and slowly slid them into my slippers. Pushing myself of the bed, I trudged across my bedroom floor and opened the door. That’s when it hit me.

A person was talking to me!

What’s worse is that they know the nickname only my dad used for me!

“Hello anybody there,” I said peeking my head beyond the doorway. “Who are you and how do you know my name?”

“I’m the Mother. I know everything. Now quickly come find me,” the soft, motherly voice replied.

I walked past the threshold of my doorway and turned left. My body continued to move as I fought against it trying to stop myself. I really just wanted to go back to bed and wake up for real. As my body kept walking, I took notice of the isle I was in: fantasy. Why am I going to the fantasy isle, I thought to myself.

“Because, dearie, you need to learn of the history of the world you live in,” the voice answered.

“History? My world doesn’t have a history. I just created it,” I said.

“Not your world. But the world your world thrives in. Legacy.”

“My world is in a larger one?”

“Yes it is and before you can fulfill your destiny you must understand Legacy.”

“How do I do that,” I said noticing that my body came to a stop.

No response.

In front of me was an bookcase that was nearly empty save one book. This book had a tattered cover, which betrayed the power it gave off. Gold designs covered the front giving beauty to a lifeless looking book. I pulled it from the shelf and opened to the first page. The scent of mildew filled my nostrils while the yellow tinged paper made my heart break. How had a book come to this fate?

I leafed through the book looking for some sign of writing but found none. Puzzled I looked for the nearest table so that I could set the book down. I didn’t see one in sight so I decided to place it on the ground. Before I could a table and chair had appeared out of nowhere. Scared I fell backward dropping the book on the ground.

“Hey, be careful with me,” shouted a voice making me scream. I looked around to find the owner of it, but came up empty handed.

I stood and begin to walk around hoping to find someone. Nobody was in any of the isles next to mine. I walked back to the book and picked it up.

“Well it’s about time, I thought you were going to leave me there,” it said.

“Ah ,” I shouted dropping it on the table.

“Ouch. I swear girlie you have no clue how to take care of a book.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then why do I keep getting dropped?”

“Why do you keep scaring me?”

“Touché. Well I apologize for that but there is still no reason to be throwing whatever is in your hands. I mean what happened if you were holding something deadly you could have killed somebody.”

“God, you sound like my dad,” I said. The book’s voice actually sounded like my dad’s voice. His stern tone that sounded like he was about to burst out laughing. I had heard it a lot in my last days in reality.

Tears began to well up in my eyes. I swiped them away before they could fall. Even though I was happy to be out of that world, I missed my dad who had always tried to help me get through the hard times that plagued my last days. Some days I thought about him until things started to get fuzzy as if my memories were fading.

“Hey, you okay girlie,” the book asked breaking my reminiscing.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Well then ask your question that I can help you with.”

“Wait I can ask any question?”

“Any question that your little heart desires. So long as it is not about your fate or another’s. You must be careful when you ask this question though.”

“Why?”

“Because you only get one and then I disappear among the books again. Now if you can find me then you will receive another question, but I have never been found by the same person twice.” it said arrogance dripping with each word.

One question?

What could I possibly ask that this book if I can not ask about destiny, I thought to myself.

You have two choices that will benefit you, a child’s voice said in my head.

Great another voice is inside my head, I thought to myself while I plopped down in the chair.

Ha ha ha ha your funny, lady, the child’s voice replied.

“Well thank you. Now about those two choices I have. What are they,” I said aloud without realizing it.

“Who are you talking to,” the book said shifting on the table.

“No one,” I said scooting back from the table.

Your powers or the history, your choice, bye now, the voice said before disappearing.

Powers!

“I don’t have any powers,” I said aloud once again.

“So you choose to learn about your powers,” the book said.

“Wait, I really do have powers?”

“Well, duh. How do you think this world got here? You think it just randomly appeared out of thin air.”

“No, I just thought it was already created by a creator or something.”

“Wow you really need to ask about that. Please ask the question now so I can learn you something about your power,” the book said shifting itself making it seem as if it was going to jump off the table.

“Okay, okay. Can you teach me about my powers?”

Ever since that question left my lips, I gained a knowledge unlike any other. I learned everything there possibly is about my powers in my world. The only drawback is that my powers are greatly diminished when I leave my world. So I resolved to train myself till I could even the strongest of dreamscape morphing without affecting myself.

Once I had learned all the book had to teach me, it disappeared like it said it would. I searched for a long time before I finally gave up. I went along with my life in the library peacefully learning the different voices of the books still keeping my ear out for that book.

***********

I shake myself out of the memory of the book, which was brought on by a new voice I just heard. My hopes sky-rocketed at the thought of seeing the book again. Jumping from my reading perch, a simple window seal, I raced down each isle following the hum that indicates a new book that enters my library.

The hum came from the fantasy section and rose in volume as I got closer. My heartbeat quickened at the thought of hearing that book’s voice again. I can’t recall who it sounds like but the memory of it is strong enough to cause me to think about it when I am awake.

The humming turned into a dull vibration against my ear drum once I was directly in front of the case the humming was coming from. I pulled the closest ladder to me and ascended it till I found the book. I reached out to grab it mesmerized by the hum, which had quieted. My hand grasped the spine of the book when a loud crash caused me to fall from the ladder.

I landed with a thud and the world went blurry and spun. I sat up rubbing my head right where I knew a knot would sit later. Another crash rang out again making me jump. Trying to pinpoint the sound, I used the map I created to find books and saw a blinking dot that should not be there. I took off toward the isle the dot was located.

Nobody should be able to get into my library. Once I had mastered my powers, I set traps all around the outside and if someone was to get pass them a barrier surrounds the place. That barrier was a fusion of my own powers and some of the most ancient powers Legacy had to offer.

Who ever broke through that barrier has to have incredible power, I thought as I turned the corner before the children’s section. I slowed as I got closer to the isle the dot was shown to be down. I swiped my hand through the map so that I wouldn’t tip off the intruder. I crept around till I was at the end of the isle peeking around the corner. I racked my brain for a weapon to use. The best one I could think of was a kusari-gama, which is a sickle attached to a chain. All around me I saw the strands of the dreamscape form into the weapon in my mind. Soon I could feel the weight in my hand and the cold touch of the metal.

Looking back at the intruder, I noticed that it looked like a child. The person was grabbing books from the surrounding shelves and placing them on the ground one atop of the other. My blood began to boil at the sight of how this person was treating these books. I could feel my face getting red as the book ladder got higher and higher. I felt like I was about to explode when the last book was place on the ladder and this kid started to climb on top of it.

“Hey you little shit stop treating those books like that,” I shouted jumping from my hiding spot.

“Ah,” the kid shouted falling off of the books.

I watched as the tower of books slowly swayed before toppling down on top of the boy. I stood there waiting for some sign of movement but there wasn’t any. So I walked over to the pile of books and moved them around looking for the kid. My calm search turned into a frantic one as the pile shrunk until I saw the stone floor. I bolted up right and swiveled on feet looking for the kid.

“What are you looking for,” a voice said from above me making me jump.

I looked up to see a young boy about six or seven perched on the top of the book shelf. His hair was golden brown which cause his sky blue eyes to be startling bright. He was sickly thin but seemed nimble like a monkey.

“Old lady, I asked you what are you looking for,” the strange boy repeated.

“Ummmm,” was all I could say.

“Hahaha you are a funny old lady,” he laughed jumping from the book shelf landing on his feet with an ease.

“How did you get in here,” I asked.

“I don’t know. One minute I was floating in the Boundary the next thing I know I was here trying to get that book down.”

I looked up at the book he was pointing at and nearly collapsed. There sitting on the top shelf was the book that haunted my time here. I called the nearest ladder to me and climbed it as fast as I could. My heart was pounding and my breath came in short bursts as I reached out to grab the book. The moment my hand touched it a shock ran up my arm and end at my head.

A ringing began in my ears and before I knew it I was falling off of the ladder clutching the book against my chest. Before I felt my body hit the ground, I fell into the Boundary.

***********

When I opened my eyes, they were met with an intense light. I shut them tight till I knew I could open them without going blind. The sky above me was an indigo with silver and gold clouds.

The sky!

How could I be seeing the sky if I’m inside my library? How can I be here? Where is here? What happened? All these thoughts raced through my head as I bolted up right sending my head spinning. I got up, slowly this time, and analyzed my surroundings.

I stood in the middle of a meadow surround by all sorts of flowers. This meadow was surrounded by a mountain range that soared to an unimaginable height. On one of the mountain sides, I could make out a castle surround by strange other buildings. One look at it and I could tell that this castle out did the rest. The beauty of it radiated with a power that even the sun could not compare to. In fact the castle was the source of the light; it stood out as a beacon even among the natural light.

A sudden urge to run to the castle came over me. Before I knew it, my feet had started running at it as fast as I could. The more I focused on stopping myself the faster I went.

“Stop resisting the urge and you will gain control once again,” a woman’s voice called out to me.

I did as she said and started focusing on the flowers around me. Daffodils, sunflowers, tulips, forget-me-nots, violets, tiger lilies, and the occasional rose. The more I focused on these flowers the slower my body got until I stopped completely.

“Very good,” the same voice from before said.

I looked around for the person the voice belonged to. That is when I noticed a small table but a couple feet before me. The table was set for tea for two along with an assortment of cakes and finger foods. On the side closest to me sat a fancy cushioned chair turned toward me beckoning me to sit. On the other side of the table sat a woman dressed like a noble queen. Her features were schizophrenic constantly changing her hair and eye color along with her facial features. They were at some points healthy but then changed to a gaunt shallow cheeked woman.

“Please sit, Lizzie” the woman said breaking my thought.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said sitting in the chair opposite of her. “How do you know that name?”

“Well aren’t we a blunt one,” the lady smiled. “Lizzie, I am the Mother. I came to Legacy when I was about your age, but soon I faded into the dreamscape. I was only allowed to stay like I am now because of my great connection with Legacy.”

“I don’t mean to be rude,” I said. “But that doesn’t answer my question.”

“Ha ha, silly me I forgot to answer the question. Well to answer it simply, every dream that you ever had in the real world came into Legacy and I see them all. Since I am one with Legacy, I know everything that has happened and will happen.”

“Really?”

“Yes really.”

“Can you tell me my future?”

“Don’t be to eager to learn your future. Once you learn about it, you can never forget it. The future will haunt your thoughts until it finally comes to pass. Now that you have heard my warning, what is your answer?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

“Well aren’t we an eager young one,” the Mother said. “Alright dearie, brace yourself.”

Silence clung to the air as the Mother slowly paled and changed into the raggedy woman I caught a glimpse of earlier. I was about to get up to see if she was okay when she returned back to normal. She seemed fine but there was something different about her facial expression that scared me. Her face stayed unhealthy for a longer period than before, which I took as a bad sign.

“What is it,” I said.

“Your future was difficult to see,” she said but I could tell she was holding information back.

“There is more that you are not telling me. What is it?”

“Now dearie, there is a saying about knowing to much about the future. It goes-”

“I don’t care how it goes. I want you to tell me what you saw in your vision,” I interrupted irritated with her stalling

“I shall share it with you, but do not be angry with me when it comes to pass since you asked to hear it,” she said ominously.

“I won’t.”

“Your word is your binging contract remember that, Lizzie dear.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She stirred her tea a little longer before letting out a long sigh. She looked up from the table right at me. Her eyes were full of sadness yet pride as if I had made a choice that she was knew was the right one but did not want me to make.

“Death and betrayal is what your future holds, my sweet child. Beware the hypnotizing hum of a book and the raven’s bloody beak for these will bring unhappiness and disaster to your life,” the Mother said in a cold voice.

“What book? What raven? Whose death?,” I asked faster than she could answer.

“That is all I can see for you.”

“How does that help me at all?”

“I never said it would be helpful. The future is a mysterious thing that is never set. It constantly changes with the tides of fate and choices. The only thing I can say is to go back to your body now. Ask the book about the history of Legacy and listen to your Guardian.”

As she said these things to me, the scenery slowly began to fade and the darkness of the Boundary engulfed me. I reached out to grab the table but it dissolved in my hands. I went free falling through the Boundary until it stabilized and held me in place. Questions rushed through my mind as I floated there. Whose death was she talking about? How far off was it? What were the raven and book warnings for?

I pondered these questions only for a little longer before I noticed a difference in the Boundary. The darkness that once seemed deadly had calmed into a mere shadow of what it use to be. I no longer felt a rush to leave but rather enjoyed the serenity of the Boundary. Unfortunately I did not enjoy it for long because the Boundary began to light, which meant that I was beginning to regain consciousness in my world.

**********

My eyelids fluttered as my eyes adapted to the sunlight that poured in from an open window. I sat upright in my bed and looked around the room. I wondered how I had gotten back to my room.

The boy!

I swung my feet over the side of the bed and stood up. I took one step forward before I stubbed my toe on something

“Ouch,” I yelped grabbing my foot while falling back onto the bed.

“Mmmm,” someone replied.

I looked down at the ground and saw the little boy from earlier laying there asleep cuddling a book. I starred at the book closely and I sucked in a breath. Then I remembered what happened before I passed out. I had grabbed the book but fell off the ladder and landed on the ground. As the memory came back to me, a small throb came from the back of my head. I reached a hand up to the throbbing area; my hand touched a knot the size of a small orange.

“You’re awake,” a voice said sleepily.

I looked back down to see the boy rubbing his eyes and letting out a small yawn. The sight of him made me smile, and I got up from the bed and picked him up. I had no clue why I was doing this but the next thing I knew I was giving the boy a hug.

“What was that for,” he asked once I had set him back down.

“Thanks for carrying me back here,” I said walking over to the book and picking it up.

I stroked the spine a few times remembering the knowledge that was hidden deep inside it. I turned it over to the front cover and ran my hand over the cover following each of the fade gold letters.

“Welcome back ol’ friend,” I said

“Thanks for the welcome,” it replied.

“Wow it can talk that’s so cool,” the kid said as he hung from a beam using his tail.

“Yes it can.”

“Did you teach it to do that? What else can it say? How long have you know that thing? What can it do? Does it have any special powers?”

“If you really must know, it contains everything about Legacy. All you have to do is ask it a question and the answer shall be yours, however; it comes at a price”

“What’s the price?”

“The book disappears as soon as you have learned all you could have from it,” I said with a sad look on my face.

“Well what are you gonna ask it, old lady,” the boy asked trying to cheer me up.

“ I have a question in mind. It’s one that I have been saving and I have just been reminded of,” I said with a smile as I lifted the book up higher. “What is the history of Legacy?”

“Now that is a question I have never heard,” the book said surprised yet pleased to answer such a question. “Hang on let me come up with information.”

Once the echo of the book’s voice faded, a tense silence filled the room as I held my breath waiting for the answer. I silently prayed that it would have the information and that I had not been lead astray by that lady. A creaking noise made me jump as I looked up to see the boy rocking back and forth on his perch. I realized then that I didn’t know his name.

“Ummmm…. What is your name,” I asked breaking the silence.

“Mac,” he said hanging upside down. He was face to face with me and wore a huge goofy grin as he swung back and forth.

“Nice to meet you Mac, my name is Elizabeth,” I said sticking my hand out to shake his.

He stuck out his hand and shook mine. I felt better now that I knew his name; the awkwardness had settled now so I relaxed more.

“Alright I got it all,” the book said startling both of us and making Mac fall from the beam he was sitting on.

“Thank you very much,” I said picking it up hastily and opening the cover to the first page.

I began to read the story of Legacy.