The Forbidden Place

"ugh."

"Stop complaining, I have to do it too"

I rolled my eyes at Clare's whining as we stood in front of the large oak doors of the library.

The library was fairly old, as was the university itself. The campus had old buildings on the edge while newer buildings were more centralized in the center of the campus. The library was the only older building to still be standing, but it definitely wasn't brand new. The old oak doors at the front were stained with different liquids and the rain, and were so very large it took at least three different ladders to even try and reach the top. The building itself was at least twenty feet tall, and ginormous pillars at the front covered in vines and other foliage.

My hand brushed over one of the quartz pillars, and I was surprised at how smooth it was after the many years it has stood. I took care in not touching the vines, though I don't really know why.

"Come'on, lets just get the books." Clare whined, slinging her arm around my shoulders and put her body weight on me, making my balance off. "Dude I coulda fallen!"

"Sorry" She shrugged halfheartedly, letting go of me.

"Whatever." I sighed, making my way over to the doors and pushing them open, the high pitched creaks and ear splitting groans of the old rusted metal hinges filling out ears. When the door had opened enough for us to see,

Clare and I were both amazed.

The walls and shelves were filled to the brim with books, old and new. The shelves reached the ceiling and there wasn't a spot without books. Some books were covered in dust and grime, while others were fresh and new. There were piles in the corners, on carts, tables filled with discarded books left open for the wind to read, pens and papers laid on the floor, everywhere was covered. The fireplace in the center area was out, and the carpets and plush couches were covered head to toe in fluffy, plush, and velvety pillows.

Clare immediately dove into the pillows, smiling. "EEK! Its so fluffy!!" She screeched, sounding like a howler monkey. When she looked back, all she was met with was my unimpressed face, my arms folded across my chest. "Really?" Clare shrugged, but giggled. "I'm goin' to sleep, have fun." She muttered cuddling into the couch and falling asleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

Sighing, I turned around to face the bookshelves, still quite amazed by the amount of space there was.

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By the time I reached the back corner of the library, it had been around thirty minutes.

My arms were filled with books I found interesting, some of them slim and new, others stout and old, leather bound and what seemed to be real golden decals.

My eyes drifted over the shelves, trying to make out what they say on the spines when I found one, deep in the corner of the shelf. Reaching out with an empty hand, having discarded some of the books into the other arm, my fingers wrapping around the leather spine.

The book felt cold and dusty, covered in grime and a gross black goo that coated my fingers.

Pulling the book out, I was curious and that curiosity that I had turned into surprise when instead of a book in my hands, it got stuck and there was a faint click to my right.

When I turned, holding my books in both arms now, instead of a shelf filled with books, there was a narrow, almost too small for me to squeeze into, dark tunnel that looked as though it was covered in soot.

Against my better judgement, I discarded my books onto the floor beside me and took a hesitant step into the tunnel.

I wandered slowly into the darkness, my palm against the wall to guide me as the faint slivers of light disappeared behind me.

Walking for what felt like hours, or most likely minutes, my eyes had spotted light ahead of me, leading me from the void-like blackness of the passageway.

By the time I had reached the end, my limbs felt heavy, like lead was weighing me down as I tried to walk against the currents of darkness.

My eyes were blinded for what was about thirty seconds, and when they adjusted, my jaw dropped.

There was a beautiful field with flowers coloured pinks and violets and mushrooms the size of a house, the sky was beautiful magentas and indigos, there was a river that flowed with clear, vibrant blues, and a forest of cherry trees in the distance.

The warm wind tickled my neck and messed my hair, blowing it behind me.

I wandered around the field for a while, before I laid on a patch of grass to gaze at the clouds. I noticed something flying high above, but I paid it no mind as I found shapes and animals in the clouds.

I suspect I had dozed off, as when I opened my eyes the sky was full of deep blues and purples.

My eyes didn't have to adjust to the darkness much to see that there was someone sitting beside me.

Jolting up I panicked, who was this?

"Hello there." The person said, her voice soft and warm.

"H-Hi?"

She smiled at me, her greenish-blue eyes locked onto mine. "My name is Calcifer, what's yours dear? Oh never mind that, you should get home now." Calcifer grinned like a cheshire cat.

"U-um, yeah, I should" I muttered, standing to my feet.

I looked back down, but Calcifer wasn't there anymore, nor in sight.

My eyes grazed the plains, so many thoughts ran through my head. Who was that? Where did she go?

I stumbled over to the passageway laiden in soot, my hand guiding me along the wall of the passage, the dim moonlight fading behind me.

The way seemed longer than last, winding and looping in ways I don't remember.

My eyes caught a sliver of light at the end, and I made a mad dash to the end, falling down as I tumbled out of the passage.

My hand pushed the old book back, closing the passageway door with a satisfying click, but something was off.

My pile of books now laid in cobwebs and dust, and the library seemed different, bare.

I ran to the front where I had left Clare, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Where was she?