THE NEW LIBRARIAN

"Hey excuse me, is anybody here? Can I borrow this one?" Professor Mackey searches the corners of the library to find the librarian. It's almost nine o'clock in the evening and he was about to go home but he remembered the book he wanted to read. He prefers to spend his Friday night reading a horror story rather than going out and spending the rest of the night on bars or somewhere else.

"Ah, I know it's almost closing time but I want to read this book so I may-

He stopped as he feels something strange inside. No one was at the library counter when he entered and he has seen no one around.

"Would you mind if I come in?"

This time, he slipped inside the counter and look around the corners and behind the dividers. He's alone and there's no single student or teacher apart from him.

" Hello! Mrs. Refort? Where are you? It's Macky! Yahoo!" he took a step back and forth.

He was sure that he was the last person there but the librarians are nowhere to be found. The place is not as huge as the libraries in the universities and there are no secret rooms for hiding.

"Okay, no one is here. I'll just wait for someone."

He sat down on the sofa near the counter then started opening the pages of the book. He spent about ten minutes reading the first chapter when he smelled something stinky.

"What's that? it's---its ahh!" he pinched his nose and stood up. He then heard steps fading as if leaving the place.

"Wait! Is that you Mrs. Refort? Could you please fill the borrower's card for me? I'd be treating you with fries and burgers next Monday!" He ran as fast as he could to the exit door to take a look at who's coming or leaving the place.

"No one was here?" Macky was confused.

"But I heard someone walking!"

He scratched the back of his head and went back inside but to his surprised, someone was standing on the counter.

A woman in his late 20's wearing a black gown. She has fair skin and disheveled black hair. She was wearing thick red lipstick.

"Yes? What can I do for you?" she asked Macky.

"Ah, well, I would like to borrow this book." He was a little bit puzzled as he put down the book on the table and took a glimpse at the mysterious woman.

"You're late Mr. Snither. It's almost closing time. But anyway, I supposed you are the last one to borrow books here at this hour, are you?"

The new librarian filled in the borrower's card and signed it. She turned to Macky with a smile and with a mysterious look.

"Yeah, well wait? Do you know me? I don't know you! Are you the new librarian? Where are the others? Where is Mrs. Refort? I was here a while ago and nobody was around. Where were you hiding?"

"Okay, slow down a little bit professor. I'm Desiree. I am the new librarian and I started working here Monday 'cause Mrs. Refort had just turned in her resignation last week. By the way, I was here when before you came in. I just waited for you to finish shopping for the books."

"B-but I'm sure no one was here. I checked all the corners."

"I heard you calling Mrs. Refort but I got a little busy with something. Anyway, you can now take this book. Enjoy reading professor Macky."

Macky could hardly believe what she heard. He finds her statement a little bit confusing. Moreover, he could feel a different vibe from the aura of the new librarian.

"O-okay, thanks for this. I would be returning this on Monday. I gotta go. Good evening and Goodnight!" he hurriedly grabs the book and turns his back on the said woman who just waved her right hand and smiled.

This was not his first time visiting the library but this time, he sensed something creepy sending the chills down his spine.

It's been two days since he borrowed the book from the library but he was not able to finish reading it. He barely started reading the first two chapters and yet his curiosity is killing him as he could not forget about the strange things he experienced at the library the previous day. He keeps thinking about the smell, the stench which seems familiar to him in any way, and the new librarian. He's the type of person who does not take an interest in trivial matters but when it comes to things that trigger his curiosity, he would surely find ways to answer the questions rather than playing them on his head.

It was Monday and he has his first class at nine o'clock in the morning. He thought he could re-visit first the library and asked why Mrs. Refort resigned.

However, to his surprised, Mrs. Refort was standing at the library counter and she greeted him with a bright smile.

"Professor Macky! Good morning! Have you brought me a coffee?" the older woman reached out her both hands expecting a sort of breakfast from him.

"What the hell is going on here? Mrs. Refort! You're back? I thought you have resigned last week?"

"Resigned? Who told you? I was here last Friday night. Oh boy! Where is my coffee?" The woman frowned upon seeing the empty-handed professor.

"What? Wait? Are you kidding me? I was here last Friday night before closing time and somebody was here, a woman in her late 20s. She was wearing a black gown. Her name was.....ahh her name was.." Macky closed his eyes and after a few seconds, he snapped his fingers.

"Yeah, it's Desiree. She told me, she was the new librarian since you resigned last week!"

Mrs. Refort then whispered something in his left ear.

"Ah, you must have seen the dead librarian here. Her name was Desiree and she wears a black gown," and she giggled as if she was excited by what she heard.

"Oh yeah and I don't believe in ghosts, okay? But I was serious, who was she? Did you resigned and get back to this work 'cause you realized it was quite difficult and frustrating being unemployed?"

"Nope. Why would I resign? I have kids you know? Don't worry prof, do not die yet of curiosity. Hang in there, I got you. I would be looking into that mysterious woman, Desiree!" and she chuckled.

"I will be counting on you. I would be coming this evening to return the book I borrowed last Friday and tell me something about that new librarian."

"Copy that! Now go. You're disturbing me." She waved her hands fast forward as if she was shooing him.

From a criminology professor at the age of 31, he only believes in what he sees, otherwise, without physical evidence and real objects to represent and prove the occurrence of something, it would be difficult to convince him.

As he entered the office, he was met at the door by one of his fellow professors. He was the youngest among them and he was the guy who always hangs with him.

"Professor Macky! Have you heard about the news last night?" the young professor asked.

"Nope. What news? You're getting married? I'm sorry to tell you in advance, I will not come. I'm broke. I could barely buy a pair of socks and underwear, I've got nothing to buy a gift for you."

"Oh yeah, and I hate you for that but that's not what I'm about to tell you! You know, one of the librarians here went missing last Friday!"

Macky froze. He could not move another step further. He swallowed and took a deep breath before asking, who was the missing librarian.

"Who?"

******next episode****""

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