Chapter 6 – The Library
Brook barely slept.
The note had replayed in his mind all night.
The truth isn't outside the Wall.
Start looking beneath it.
Who wrote it?
How did they know he was searching?
And why disappear without saying another word?
By morning, he had more questions than answers.
The city library sat on the eastern side of Shinokuni-01.
Unlike the Royal Archives, it was open to the public.
The building wasn't large, but it was one of Brook's favorite places in the city.
Rows upon rows of books lined the shelves, filling the room with the comforting scent of old paper and polished wood.
The elderly librarian looked up from her desk as Brook entered.
"Good morning, Brook."
"Morning, Ms. Evelyn."
She smiled knowingly.
"History section?"
Brook chuckled.
"Was I that obvious?"
"You always are."
Brook walked to the back of the library where the history books were kept.
He had read most of them already.
Still, he searched.
One shelf held books about the Great Experiment.
Another contained biographies of the Twelve Celestials.
There were maps of the Shinokunis, books about engineering, medicine, farming, and even children's stories.
Everything seemed ordinary.
Until something caught his eye.
There was a gap on one of the shelves.
Not an empty space where a book had been borrowed.
A missing label.
Brook frowned.
He traced his finger along the wood.
Every section had a brass plaque.
History.
Science.
Military.
Agriculture.
Except one.
Someone had removed it.
"Looking for something?"
Brook turned.
Ms. Evelyn stood behind him carrying a stack of returned books.
"Just curious."
She glanced at the empty section.
"It used to hold books about the years immediately after the Great Experiment."
"Used to?"
She nodded.
"They were transferred."
"To where?"
"The Royal Archives."
Brook looked back at the shelf.
"When?"
She thought for a moment.
"About fifteen years ago."
"Why?"
She smiled sadly.
"I was never told."
Brook thanked her and continued searching.
As he reached for another book, a folded piece of paper slipped from between the pages and landed on the floor.
He picked it up.
It wasn't part of the book.
Someone had tucked it inside.
Written in neat handwriting were four words.
Room B-12. Noon. Alone.
Brook's heart skipped a beat.
He quickly looked around.
People quietly read at nearby tables.
A student copied notes from a history book.
An old man slept in a chair near the window.
No one seemed to be watching him.
He folded the note and slipped it into his pocket.
Exactly at noon, Brook stood outside Room B-12.
It was one of the library's small reading rooms.
The door was closed.
He knocked once.
No answer.
He slowly pushed it open.
The room was empty.
Only a single wooden table sat in the center.
On it rested an old leather-bound book.
No title.
No markings.
Brook stepped inside.
As soon as he picked it up, he heard the door close behind him.
He spun around.
A young man, perhaps a year older than Brook, leaned against the closed door with his arms folded.
He wore simple dark clothes instead of a Watchman's uniform, and a pair of round glasses rested on his nose.
"You actually came," the stranger said with a small smile.
Brook tightened his grip on the book.
"Who are you?"
The man pushed himself away from the door.
"My name is Rick."
He extended a hand.
"I think we're looking for the same answers."