Chapter 2
(A few hours later)
It was starting to get dark and me and Bella were doing work. I pulled out some old books I managed to get years ago. They contained information about the devil or the doctor as I call him. I started with the smaller one. The text was in a different language. I knew it by heart. I looked at the table of contents. I started at chapter 1 and started to read.
I read for 20 minutes and there was nothing about where he was from. Just what we know about him. I put the book down and marked my place. This was going to take awhile. I know that there probably isn’t any information that would be useful but wanted to be certain. Its hard thinking that a very nice man is considered a killer and a bad omen. This will take awhile to sink in.
Bella looked away from her laptop. “Thats not English or any language I’ve seen.”
“History book. A very old one,” I lied.
“If you say so,” She said. I knew she didn’t believe me.
“You’ve been on that for a long time. Are you sure you don’t need help?”
“Now, you want to help? I could’ve used it earlier.”
I went behind her. A lot of tabs were open. She was reading an article. The top had a picture of the same blue box that I saw a few hours ago. I assumed that this is how she finds stuff out about the Doctor.
“You can find a lot of stuff on the internet by browsing for hours at a time,” She said.
“What you’ve done is impressive for a 13 year old.”
“I’m 12.”
“In a few weeks you’re 13.”
“It doesn’t matter. What do you think I’ve been doing for 3 years?”
“Doing school work.”
“I’ve finished hours ago. I like to do this in my free time.”
“You have better stuff to do at this time,” I reminded her.
“Its only 7.”
“You never argue with me.”
“Its called disagreeing,” She said. She then left for her room.
This was going to be hard to do. I can figure that out later. It was a few hours before I went to bed.
Its early in the morning and I was reading the book that I started. Bella was at school. There was still no information related to the doctor. There was about half of the book left and I was starting to lose hope. There’s still another book left so now’s not the time to give up.
I stopped reading to give myself a break. I managed to get a little work done before she came home. She dropped off her backpack and pulled out her laptop. “Can my friends come over tonight? We’re working on a project,” She asked.
“Sure. Is 5 a good time?” I answered.
“Yes. Are you still reading that old book?” She replied.
“It doesn’t concern you. It’s just a book.”
She didn’t say anything before heading to her room. I don’t know how I was going to keep her away from this subject. It really shouldn’t be a problem but it’s becoming one. There might be a small chance that she might be able to recognize some of the language which is the last thing I want.
A few hours later her friends arrived. She came out and welcomed them. They then followed her into her room. I heard the door close.
The book on the counter seemed enticing but I wanted to take a break. I accidentally knocked the book over and picked it up. I put it back on the counter. There was a piece of paper on the ground which I’ve never noticed before. I picked it up carefully.
Dear, reader. I hope this note is in the hands of a person who wants the same thing I do. Truth. The truth of the devil. He’s not who we think he his. I know. It sounds ridiculous but it’s the truth. I have a book about this. It’s on the planet Earth in a library called the “Solace Library”. There’s a person that I’ve met that’ll help you find it. She goes by the name of Maisie Poole. Mention my name and she’ll understand, if she remembers me that is. Good luck. Elmes Dewstone
That library isn’t far away. I’ve been there a few times. I headed towards the door and grabbed my coat on the way out. I turned a corner and passed a few people. I went down a couple more blocks. This is where the neighborhood started becoming filled with shops and other places. I spotted the library a few minutes later. The white marble building was always stunning to look at. I walked up the marble stairs and into the library. The many bookshelves lined the inside. I headed towards the receptionist desk. A man and a woman were standing behind the desk.
“I want to speak with Maisie Poole. Is she here?” I asked.
“She’s by the children’s section. Nice to see you, Madelyn,” The woman replied.
“You too, Violet. Thanks.”
The children’s section was shaped like a U. A small girl who looked no more than 10 was talking to a woman.
“Thanks, miss,” The small girl spoke.
“Have a good rest of your day,” The woman said. She turned around and noticed me.
“How can I help you, Madelyn?” Maisie said to me.
She had light brown with a few blond pieces of hair. Her eyes were a brown color.
“Do you have anything on the devil? I’ve been told you know someone called Elmes Dewstone,” I responded.
“Ah, that old man. Follow me,” She said.
We went towards the very back of the library. There was a door labeled “Restricted Section”. She unlocked the door and we headed inside. There was quite a few shelves filled with old books. She searched through the books and eventually found it.
“He was a very nice man. We were great friends. When he told me he was an alien I believed him. Said he wanted to publish one of his books here since they wouldn’t approve. I agreed of course,” She explained, “How did you come across him?”
“He left a note in one of his books,” I said, handing her the note.
“He was always honest. I’m not surprised.”
“He’s a famous historian. His opinions were controversial, speaking the truth. I’ve always admired him for that,” I said.
“We could use people like him,” Maisie said, “When are you going to tell your daughter about it?”
“How long have you’ve known…about me?” I asked, shocked.
“Years. You remind me of him. Does Bella know?”
“No. She’s too young.” To understand… what I’ve done.
She handed me the book. The book was made out of classic leather. The text was faded. I traced over the writing. The Real Truth About the Devil by Elmes Dewstone. I smiled. I knew it would help even without opening it.
“You can keep it, you know.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“You’re the only one interested in it. It does belong to your kind after all.”
We headed out. She waved as I went.
“Thanks Maisie!” I said to her.
“You’re welcome. Have a nice day!” She said.
When I walked outside the fresh air hit me. That conversation had a lot to take in. Some people were staring at me as I headed back home. A weird book with weird writing isn’t considered normal so I could understand.
I arrived home some 10 minutes later. I took off my coat and hanged it up before going to the couch and sitting down. Upon closer examination the book had some sort of glossy finish. I knew doing this was expensive. All books have a special thing done to them that makes it hard to age. That didn’t cost much but finishing it with a gloss was in the thousands.
I opened the book and the chapter names were different. Time started to slip away as I was reading.
He came when we were in time of desperate measures. Back then he was considered a great hero and a very important role model. We were given food and showed new ways of thinking.
After 1000 years he came again and didn’t recognize us anymore. We had changed so much. We didn’t recognize him. He considered us killers and savages.
He kept coming back to stop us, to intervene. That’s when we started calling him a bad omen, a god send to wreck havoc on us.
I set the book down as I heard knocking. I opened the door and there was an adult woman who was about 40. I welcomed her in.
“Megan, your mom’s here,” I spoke.
“See you tomorrow,” Megan said.
“Bye, Megan,” Both of them said in unison, as she left the room.
She said goodbye and I did the same before both of them left. It was another 30 minutes before the another girl’s mother came. Bella came out of her room before her friend left. They said goodbye to each other. It was only me and Bella left.
There was silence for a moment. She glanced at the book. I knew what she was going to say. She headed over to it. I closed it before she could look.
“You do realize that the devil’s a myth?” She spoke.
“It doesn’t concern you. Why are you so interested in this? It’s just a book,” I responded, hastily. This was what I was afraid of.
“Why aren’t you letting me see it, then?” She said.
“Leave the subject alone. Stop pestering me about it,” I said, ignoring her question.
She didn’t say anything and left. I gathered up the three books and put them away.
The Doctor and the TARDIS belong to Doctor Who. Any aliens referenced are also property of Doctor Who.
Comments