Library of Rain

Worthless sat at his desk, trying to remember the squiggles that represented each word. Learning to read and write was going slower than he wanted. He had even paid three vers to get these papers, yet he didn’t understand how it was supposed to work. 

 

I’m complaining again.

 

He did that too often when he got frustrated. But complaining wouldn't keep Flake and Sea safe. Worthless doubled down on the papers; it wasn’t a matter of whether it was possible for him or not. He would figure this out.

 

There was a soft thump behind him.

 

Whirling out of his chair, Worthless drew the knife on his belt; no one was hurting his family. Standing just inside his window was a small, strangely dressed girl. She had no visible weapons and showed no fear—never a good combination. 

 

Worthless wanted to check on Flake and Sea but refused to take his eyes off the intruder. It looked like she had come in through the window. He thought it was too small for a threat to fit through. He should have known better.

 

“Hello, Mr. Less.” the girl said. 

 

Her quiet voice sent shivers down Worthless’s spine. It sounded like the innocent voice of a young girl but wrong in a way he couldn’t explain.

 

“Why are you here!”

 

Worthless struggled to keep his voice steady and quiet. This home was supposed to be a safe place for Flake and Sea; if they woke up and saw this strange intruder, it would shatter that illusion for them. 

 

The girl, no, the intruder, walked over to the desk where he had been working and looked down at his reading pictures. 

 

To look away from someone pointing a knife at her, she’s confident.

 

 “Learning to read.”

 

She knows what those are for. She’s either well-taught or older than she looks.

 

“Why are you here!”

 

Worthless listened closely for other sounds; if this intruder wouldn’t state their business, then they might be stalling. He needed to make sure no one got the drop on him.

 

“To offer you a way to get those two a better life.”

 

Worthless’s blood went cold.

 

“I'm not selling them or letting you take them!”

 

“No, they will have a better life because I can offer you the power to build them a better life.”

 

That wasn’t the response Worthless expected, and he didn’t like it. No one offered something without expecting more in return. Whatever power this girl was offering, he was sure he couldn’t afford it. 

 

Turning to face Worthless, the intruder tried to sit on his desk. And failed? The intruder used the chair to get up onto the desk then sat there in an awkward pose. 

 

What is that thigh strap for?

 

He couldn't see a weapon or sheath anywhere, and the pants were tight enough that he would see if there was anything under the cloth. Nothing she wore made sense. The tight clothes almost looked like they were supposed to be seductive. Did she think he was into little girls because he picked Flake and Sea up off the street?

 

“The terms are simple. I’ll give you the power to take over the Ash Grifters like you’ve been aiming for. I’ll even help you take down the Black Stones and the Bloody Shovels afterward. In exchange, you’ll perform tasks for me from time to time.”

 

Bloody ashes! he had thought his maneuvering was more subtle than this! Had Ark noticed his actions and sent this intruder to test his loyalty? Worthless needed to pass this test.

 

“What are you talking about? I’m Ark’s loyal man!”

 

“We both know that you’re not.”

 

This wasn’t good. He needed to prove his loyalty before Flake and Sea got hurt. He got ready to charge the intruder.

 

“I’ll show you how loyal I Am!”

 

“I guess I need to show you what I can do.” she cut him off before he could finish. And then the world went mad! Shadows sprung out from under the girl and swallowed the light of the lamp he had been studying by. The walls seemed to disappear as the world turned into an endless void of writhing black and gray. The only real light came from the girl’s eyes; the uncovered eye glowed a frightening purple, while the edge of her eyepatch also glowed that same color. It gave her face, with its unnatural grin, a lopsided feel. 

 

Worthless stepped back. He had been wrong. This wasn't a test from Ark. This girl, no, this thing was too powerful. If Ark could command something like this, he would be unchallenged. 

 

Falling to his hands and knees, Worthless dropped his dagger.

 

“Please forgive me! I thought you were one of Ark’s agents.”

 

The thing cocked her head like a predator deciding whether or not to eat a uffter. 

 

The darkness vanished, and the thing’s eyes stopped glowing. 

 

“There now, do you believe I can give you power?” the thing said in a terrifyingly chipper voice.

 

“Y-yes”

 

Worthless didn’t know what was going on, but his and his family's safety depended on him satisfying this creature. 

 

“Good, so like I said, I can get you and those you bring to me power so you can take control of the gangs in this city. In exchange, you help me when I call for you. Do we have a deal?”

 

Worthless put two fingers to his lips.

 

“We have a d-deal.”

 

He knew he would end up regretting this later, but that would only be possible if he lived to see a later.

 

“Great!” the thing said, repeating the gesture. “Then, if you’re sure, follow me.”

 

With that, the thing hopped off his desk, opened his front door, and walked out. 

 

Worthless stared at the open door with dread. He couldn’t see the hall outside, only swirling darkness. It reminded him of what the thing had just done to his home. 

 

Taking a look at his sisters, Worthless squared his shoulders. He would do what he needed to to appease this thing and protect them. With that thought, he walked through the door.

 

A nauseous feeling came over him as he passed over the threshold. When his vision cleared, he saw he wasn’t in the stairway. He was in Arkit. The walls were shifting black nightmares, a dark mist restrained his vision, and the sounds, he could hear the insane chattering coming from deeper within the mist. The whole atmosphere of this place was like the thing that had led him here: unsettling and unnatural. 

 

Worthless spun around at the sound of the door closing behind him. The thing stood next to a metal reinforced door covered in nightmares. There was no escape for him.

 

“Don't want anyone following us in here,” it said in that cheerful voice. “Follow me; I don’t want to lose you in the mist.”

 

With that, it walked into the mist. 

 

With no better option, Worthless followed. To his surprise, the mist fled from him, leaving the area around him clear. It was still too close for his liking; an ambusher could easily surround him in the mist without him being any the wiser. The constant noise only made it worse.

 

Not long after entering the mist, the thing stopped walking and turned to look at him. 

 

“Let me explain how this will work. This,” the figure said, spreading its arms wide to display the mist around it. “Is my library. The books you see here will grant their reader a skill and a class.”

 

This caught Worthless’s attention. Classes were the difference between the nobility and the trash like him. If he gained a class, then taking over the Ash Grifters would be easy.

 

“Each book also has a cost. The more you read, the more it will cost. You see, these books will alter your mind and body.”

 

That dumped a bucket of cold water on Worthless’s excitement. 

 

“That’s why you will only read the first page until I tell you otherwise. It should stop any major changes from happening.”

 

And with that benediction, the creature turned around and walked between two dark shapes in the mist.