The Library.


Ash pulls up in front of Red Hollow's modest public library. Few people are hanging around on a day like today, what with last night's grisly murder and the big costume party at Will's house. Your Uncle Raymond is going to be chaperoning--he's the new principal of the school and wants to get to know his students. Will's parents felt assured when he offered to come, so they're going out for the night. You had to reassure Will of how cool Uncle Ray is... poor boy was about to hyperventilate.

Ms. Pruitt, the town's most famous 'spinster' at 30 years old, is perched behind the desk, primly fending off a "gaggle of teenage hooligans" as you hear her exclaim. The juniors are leaning over the front desk, ringing the bell and performing other stupid shenanigans. You step back there with Ash and shoo them away from the flustered woman.

"Haul it outta here, guys," You drawl assertively, like a western bartender, giving them a no-nonsense gaze. "You don't have to go home but you can't stay..."

"Aw, Rachel..." One of them interrupts with a pleading glance. "We were just havin' a little fun with her..." His friend starts dragging him out the door as he's talking, and you shake your head, not quite smiling at the melodrama.

Ash is helping the flustered librarian to her seat again. "Tha... thank you, Miss Valentine, Miss Mason," she wheezes.

"No problem!" Ash cheerfully replies, and you smile, not feeling inclined to speak at the moment. You just noticed that Ms. Pruitt's lovely pearl necklace isn't around her throat and you have an odd feeling because of this. You stare at her neck until she notices.

"Oh... I see that you are quite observant, Miss Mason. My necklace, unfortunately, has come apart and I'm having it restrung."

"Ah..." You raise your eyebrows sympathetically. Your employer always wears that necklace. Her throat looked almost naked without it. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Ms. Pruitt gives you a prim, tiny smile, then glances out the window, frowning darkly at the boys' retreating figures outside.

Ash turns to you and grins, shrugging a shoulder. She turns around and walks out among the shelves, browsing.

You do the same for a while, picking up that familiar battered old copy of Charlotte Bronte's classic romantic thriller, "Jane Eyre", always having loved the gothic style of it, and the realistic characters. Your mother always said you "belong to another time". Ash is somewhat the same way, a part of why you two became friends--you're both dreamers. She read the book a few months ago and absolutely loved it. Before checking out, you grab "The Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne and head for the counter.

The blond librarian peers at you over her tortoise-shell rimmed glasses as you and Ash approach. "Ah, Miss Mason... I am loathe to ask it of you, but may I request that you stay and close up tonight? I have a few things I simply must do. Closing time is 5 PM, so you'll still have plenty of time to get snazzy for that party of yours. What do you say? I'll pay you well for it."

You open your mouth to instinctively agree to the job--then hesitate. Normally, you love the peaceful silence and the musty smell of aged tomes the library offers, and would jump at the chance to earn a bit of extra cash...

However, on a night like this, you wouldn't like to be alone, separated from the outside world by only a glass door. Ash is giving you a pleading look you can't quite decipher. You could ask her to stay with you... that would ease your worries, but you don't want to impose if she's got things she needs to do before the party...


So, what's it going to be? Cash or a few extra hours?

This afternoon was going to be boring anyway. I'll stay and let Ash run any errands she might have; we'll meet up later.

Screw it; I may lose my job eventually, but this is one night that fun is at the top of my priority list. Ara's death has reminded me that you only get to live so long.

I'll stay--it's a good opportunity to do some research--but no WAY am I staying alone. It's dangerous and stupid. I'm sorry to rain on Ash's parade if she needs to do some things, but I know I can trust her to watch my back and with a killer on the loose I just might need her.