How to Find your Way in the Incomplete Archives

Three

'This is it,' the Librarian held out the book, 'Your story. Seeing as it is here, I doubt it has a good ending, or an ending at all,'

"What do you mean?"

'All records that are part of the Archives, are, as the name suggests, incomplete. The stories here are all of that nature, unfinished works left behind by their writers under different circumstances,'

Archaea observed the embossed hardcover, comparing its appearance with the other 'books' in the nearest shelf, "It doesn't look very 'incomplete' to me. Don't you think this one seems a lot, well, like a proper book?"

'Yes, this book does indeed look a little out of place in the Incomplete Archives. But,' the Librarian shook their head, 'No, the Library's ordering is absolute. There has to be a valid reason why it ended up here. At any case, I checked and this book does expand upon your life,'

There was doubt in their words but she did not probe, "Questions aside, Librarian, can this take me back to my life?"

'Yes. Go on then, go home,'

There was an awkward pause followed by, "And how do I do that?"

'Right, I should have explained,' they tugged on their hood in an embarrassed silence, 'All you need to do is hold this book and you will be returned to this story. Easy!'

"That's it? Is it like a magical portal that leads to my world?"

'You are mistaken. This book is your world.'

It took her a moment to accept the explanation. She wanted to protest, to tell them that was impossible but her latest experiences stopped her from rushing to a conclusion.

Instead, she questioned its implications, "And what happens if the book is destroyed? Do we stop existing?"

'A valid question, but,' there was a touch of smugness in the words, 'Rest assured, that is impossible. A book once added to the protection of the Library can never be destroyed, that is one of our Unbreakable Rules. Your world is in safe hands, no safe shelves, so to speak.'

She hesitated, "What about the things I saw here? Will I be able to return to this Library?"

'Once you are back to your rightful place, you will forget all that has transpired here. I believe that is for the best. Who could lead fulfilling lives well knowing their entire future has already been decided?'

"I didn't think of it like that." Archaea whistled, "I wonder if this is what they mean by fate, the path written in the pages of our stories. Say, Librarian, do I get a happy ending?"

The bookkeeper materialised a cloth duster, 'Perhaps, that is for you to discover,'

The other took the hint, "You're right. Then this is truly goodbye, my saviour." She pulled the reluctant Keeper of Words into a bearish embrace, "Even if I forget, I do hope we can meet again someday,"

'No, no need to thank me, wild one,' the Librarian squirmed out of the strong hug, 'And no, I do not hope to see you again. Because that could mean your story is broken. A broken story is a fate worse than death.'

"Why is that?"

'Characters of broken stories can never rest. They wander the Archives like that angler lizard. It may be forced to return to its book for a while but it soon finds its way back here, destined to exist alone in this world, removed from its natural habitat. Waiting endlessly for prey that never comes. An isolated existence,' a touch of melancholy coloured the soliloquy.

"I'm sure that fiend doesn't mind waiting here for prey. It'd probably be doing the same anywhere it goes. Besides, I suspect a creature like that would get a good ending in its own tale but it's free as long as it stays hidden in the Archives," her bright smile was infectious.