Safe

Bookworm

The town, as you remembered, was only a few minutes away. A day ago, the streets weren't bustling with creatures going to and fro. They were still calm as ever. Montressor was a peaceful planet, and it gave you an uneasy feeling in your chest. The fact that it was peaceful reminded you of something sad, as if during a peaceful time, something bad could always happen no matter what.

You were scared that a peaceful town like this would be attacked and no one would be prepared.

The buggy passed several houses and buildings. You recognised the hospital you checked out from. You wondered for a moment how the nurse was doing and if she was interviewed for your disappearance. So far, no one was worrying too much about you.

The article in the newspaper came back to you, the words were burned into your mind. They think I'm a pirate. But that's imppssible. If so, where was your crew? Maybe the pirate tattoo was a dare your friends made you do. Maybe you liked pirates.

You were so preoccupied in your thoughts that you didn't notice the buggy has stopped.

"Well, here we are!" You heard Delbert exclaim. You turned in your seat and saw a huge building.

The building was retangular, with two stories and curved windows lining from the right to left on both floors. There were four giant pillars in the center, holding a miniature roof on top of all four of them. In between the pillars was a huge arc with a door beneath it.

You gazed up at the building in awe. A strange feeling at the back of your head tingled. You reached up in confusion and stared at the building again in wonder. Did the library provoke this?

"Coming?" Delbert called as he ascended the steps that reached both ends of the structure.

You got off the buggy and jogged to catch up to him. Stygian followed in pursuit.

When you entered, your breath caught in your throat once you saw rows upon rows of books. There was a desk to the left when you entered, a long bookshelf was further ahead with a few tables in front. A staircase was tk the right leading up to another long row of bookshelves. One either side of the wall, were more bookshelves.

You walked forward and saw that there were two more areas on either side of the building.

You heard someone clear their throat. You turned around and saw a plump alien woman eye you with narrowed eyes. "No pets are allowed in the library. Or weapons."

You felt Stygian growl softly at the woman and you looked at the solar gun tucked in your pants.

"He's not a pet. He is tame," you replied calmly as you made your way outside to leave your gun.

The lady narrowed her eyes at you behind her glasses when you returned.

"Ahem. Go on ahead. I'll be right here for a few moments," Delbert said.

You turned back towards the whole expanse of the building. A sudden thought occurred to you. You went over to the desk and grabbed the attention of a second librarian.

"Can you tell me where I can find books about a history of pirates?"

The librarian pointed to the area on the right. "History books are on sixth shelf on the sixth row."

You glanced around the library. "Um. Could you show me? I just came here to Montressor a few days ago."

The librarian got up and directed you to the area. The area was much larger than you imagined. To the right, there were about a dozen rows of bookshelves reaching to the roof. To the left were tables, and shelves in between windows. Another staircase led up to another story with similar structure of tables and shelves.