by Mark Mulle
***
It was about 9:30 pm by the time we got to the library and it was pitch dark outside.
“Why are all of the torches out?” Penny asked.
“That does seem a little weird.” Danny opened the book and studied it like no teenager would with an actual textbook.
“Is it in there?” I looked over Danny’s shoulder and remembered that I still couldn’t read anything from the book.
“No. Just mentions the torches but I guess that it’s not that big of a deal.” Danny shrugged and
Penny stared at Danny like she was confused.
“Danny, I think that you might want to call the guards and ask them if everything is okay instead of relying on the book for everything. It’s like you don’t trust anyone anymore.” Penny tried to grab the book but Danny took it away before she could.
“I’m fine. The book is just more convenient. Calling takes forever because if the other person doesn’t answer, then I’m just stuck here waiting to see if everything is okay.”
“Penny’s right. You’ve become diluted with power. This is exactly why I can’t read the book. It’s because the author was trying to avoid this from happening. You have to put the book down.”
Me saying that just made Danny’s grip on the book tighten. His knuckles were turning white and he looked like he was trying very hard not to punch one of us.
“I said that I’m fine! Why can’t you just trust me?”
“We do trust you. You’re just paranoid that other people are trying to take power away from you but we’re not trying to do that Danny. We only want to help. Nothing but help you. It’s only been a day and a half since you realized how powerful that book was and now look at yourself. You look mortified and it’s only because you know that it’s the truth.” Penny held her hand out so Danny could place it in her hand but he stood still and didn’t move an inch.
“You guys are all out to get me. You guys are secretly plotting against me, right? That’s what’s happening right now, right?!” Danny’s eyes grew wide and he had the book gripped even tighter in his hands. Penny gasped and pointed at Danny.
“Look at his hands…” Her voice shook and I didn’t understand why until I took a better look at his hands. They were slowly becoming connected with the book. His hand was the book.
“WWhat?”
Danny stuttered and I was shocked. He shook his hand and tried to remove the book but he couldn’t no matter how hard he tried. “Guys, help me!” Danny begged.
“I don’t know how!” Penny looked at me as if I knew what to do.
“Don’t look at me! I know as much as you do right now!” I panicked.
“I can’t feel my arm anymore!” Danny screamed.
Even the librarians were starting to give us weird looks but none of them offered to help or said anything.
“Uhhhh. Grab Danny and I’ll grab the book. We’ll figure something out.”
Penny nodded and I yanked the book but Danny only got more terrified at how much faster his arm was being consumed by the book.
“Stop! It’s like quicksand! Just don’t touch me!” Danny pushed us away and shook his head in disappointment. “I should’ve just given you the book. Then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.” Danny punched the wall with his free hand and a look of pain instantly showed on his face.
“Can you even read the book like that?” I asked
“Sorry, completely forgot to check the book while my arm was being consumed by it.” Danny let out a sarcastic laugh and then frowned at me.
“I was only asking because maybe it has the solution to this.”
“He’s right.” Penny nervously stared at Danny.
Danny opened the book and looked like he wanted to shrivel up in a hole and hide forever.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I can’t read it. It’s blank.” Danny banged his head against the wall a few times and we sat there and tried to list solutions to the problem but everything we said just seemed ridiculous.
The book was growing to the same height as Danny and it was now consuming the right side of his body. Danny stopped freaking out and admitted defeat and Penny look horrified. I just didn’t know what to do anymore.
“If this is how I’m leaving this world, I want everyone to know that I turned this town around and changed it for the better. I guess that I did abuse my powers too much after finding this book.
I’m sorry.”
Three-fourths of his body was now gone and only his left arm was left and Penny didn’t even try to look.
What just happened?
I stared at the blank wall for the next few hours. The librarians left and even they were speechless. I hit my head against the wall and tried to figure what we were supposed to do now.
“Just Jake, come and look at this!”
I lifted my head up and didn’t understand how this girl was sad a minute ago and now excited.
“What is it?” She opened the book to the first page and I could actually read the text inside but it didn’t mention anything about my past, present, or future like Danny said. “‘Apparently, getting eaten by the book doesn’t mean that I die. Looks like I’m your tour guide now. Ha ha ha. Ha.’” I yawned “What about it”
My eyes grew wide and I stared at the page again. “Danny?!?!”
The words on the first page disappeared and more words appeared as if an invisible man writing on the pages next to us.
“‘I’m not going to lie, this is still pretty weird but I’m just glad that I didn’t disappear completely.” Penny grinned and so did I.
“This guy is immortal. How did he survive that?”
“Don’t worry about that right now. What are we going to tell the town? ‘The mayor was eaten by a book that had magical powers and now he’s a book?’”
“Shoot. Did not think about that…” I stared at the page “Any wisdom?”
“‘No, you guys are on your own. Have fun dealing with all 25,000 of them.’” Penny rolled her eyes.
“I’m starting to get annoyed by this version of Danny already.” I sighed.
“Should we just tell them the truth?” Penny shut the book and did it without hesitating.
“Do you think that they’re going to believe us?” I stared at the book for a few minutes and tilted my head at it a few times like a confused wolf.
“Of course not but would it hurt to try?”
“Of course it would. Are you crazy?” I stared at her with wide eyes. There is no way that just telling the people the truth would work.
“I just saw Danny getting eaten by a book. If that doesn’t make you crazy, then I don’t know what would.”
“Very true…” I rubbed my temples and stared at the floor.
“It’s four hours past curfew!” Penny looked like she was about to pass out.
“I blame Danny.”
“Ugh! What are we going to do?!”
“Can we just figure this out in the morning? My head feels like it’s going to split into two.”
“We’re going to get kicked out of this town.” Penny slammed her head into the floor and put the new Danny next to her.
“Goodnight, Just Jake.”
“Goodnight to you too?” I used one of the books as a very uncomfortable pillow and stared at the ceiling. I’ve been here for two days now and I have no idea what I’m still doing here.
