Touched by A Dragon: The Exalted Dragons (Book 2) Read online

  “Yup!” said Gaby. “And you?”

  “I’m done as well,” she said. “Want to go apply for that position at the library?”

  “I do actually,” said Gaby. “Where should I meet you?”

  “Do you know that huge donut shop by the Arts Building?” asked Haven.

  “Yes, I do,” said Gaby. “The one with the brown and pink letters?”

  “That’s the one!” confirmed Haven. “I’m on my way there now, so I’ll meet you there in ten minutes. How does that sound?”

  “That sounds perfect!” Gaby said, excited to finally apply for her first student job. “See you in a bit!”

  They met at the donut shop, and greeted each other with a warm hug. Haven led the way to the library. The streets were busy, with dozens of students running around, laughing, and talking loudly. As they walked, they passed by their own house, and the garbage can in which the old homeless man was searching for food. Gaby stared at it as they walked, remembering the strange man, and the way he so eerily looked at through the blurred glass window. Her skink shivered, spreading goosebumps all over her arms and chest. Haven looked at her, seeming a little concerned by Gaby’s frozen facial expression.

  “Gabs?” she said. “Are you okay?”

  “What? Yeah, yeah,” Gaby said again. “I’m fine, just a little nervous about the interview. What if I’m not good enough? I’m only freshman after all. Wouldn’t they want someone with more experience? I mean, the only job I’ve ever had before was passing newspapers around my neighborhood on a bicycle when I was ten!” Haven burst into laughter, somehow charmed by Gaby’s naturally anxious character.

  “Don’t worry,” said Haven. “Don’t you remember how fascinated our English Lit professor was with you? You blew his mind away from day one! You’ll be great, I promise you! And I’m right here with you.”

  Gaby forgot about the old man, and held Haven’s arm in appreciation as they walked towards the library. It was better than Gaby had ever imagined. Ever since she was a child, Gaby had a particular fascination with books, bookshops and libraries. They blew her mind away, looking like large castles carrying millions of stories – infinite histories and personal tales that deserved to be heard, creating a different world, one that was full of magic and wonder, and where anything was possible. As they walked through the large library gates, brown wooden doors with medieval carvings all over, Gaby took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of old artifacts and ancient book pages. She remembered the days her mother took her to their local bookshop, telling her to pick any book she wanted. Her room was cave made of books and old journals. And then she remembered her father, lying on his hospital bed, and trying to keep Gaby distracted by quizzing her on history, poetry, and literature. She was a sad for a few minutes, and then suddenly remembered her mother’s hopeful words. She remembered her mother telling her that, if one tries hard enough, he or she could make something great out of themselves. She walked confidently towards the reception, ready to apply for the job.

  “Hi!” said Haven. “We’re here for the interview regarding the cataloging assistant position.”

  “Sure, can I get your name please?” asked the young man sitting at the front desk.

  “Gabriella,” said Gaby, “Gabriella Blake. But everyone calls me Gaby.”

  “Gaby it is!” said the young man, smiling. “This way please.”

  He led Haven and Gaby towards a large drawing room, in which he asked them both to take a seat until the main librarian arrives to interview Gaby. They both sat next to each other, with Haven holding Gaby’s hand, again assuring her that she will certainly get the job. As they observed the room, an impressive piece of architecture, they heard the door suddenly open. A large woman walked in. She was incredibly tall, round shaped and almost twice or three times as heavy as the girls. She wore an old fashioned suit with a rather dull color to it, a pair of brown shoes and held a leather suitcase with a bunch of papers in each hand. Her hair was too fine to have almost any shape to it, and was tied up in a round bun. Had she walked through a crowd, she would hardly seem to be of any amusing significance. But one thing about her caught Gaby’s attention, one thing that made Gaby stare at her for a few moments in awkward silence. It was her eyes. They were a large and round bright blue, a shimmering aquamarine that looked directly at Gaby with strong and fixed glare. Gaby’s skin again shivered. Breaking the silence, Haven extended her hand and said, “Hello, I’m Haven, Gaby’s friend. She’s here for the interview.” The woman shook Haven’s hand, and then shook Gaby’s, still looking at her with her large blue eyes.

  “I’m Madam Marie,” she said. “I’m the main librarian.”

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” said Gaby with a smile. “I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to interview me.”

  “Well, we really need a cataloging assistant,” said Madam Marie. “Our last one left abruptly, completely without notice. How rude of her, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Oh,” said Gaby. “I’m terribly sorry.”

  “It’s alright,” said Madam Marie, “it gave you a chance to have a job, didn’t it?”

  “Well, yes,” Gaby said, laughing as she lowered her eyes down to her feet.

  “Let’s get started, shall we?” said Madam Marie. “Haven, was it? I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to wait outside. The interviewer is to be interviewed alone.”

  “Oh, of course!” said Haven. “Good luck, Gabs!”

  Haven stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. Madam Marie asked Gaby to take a seat as she took out a list of questions and a notepad. Gaby swallowed in anxiety, and took a deep breath, reminding herself of the rewards of hard work and persistence, as her mother used to tell her.

  “So!” said Madam Marie, looking at Gaby with a rather cold smile. “What do you know about the history of university libraries?”

  Madam Marie bombarded Gaby with a list of questions about everything from the history of libraries to English literature and styles of cataloging. It was a hectic interview, yet Gaby had apparently done very well. All those days reading with her mother at the local park, and with her dying father in the hospital truly did pay off. Madam Marie, giving Gaby a slight smirk, was clearly impressed.

  “Welcome to the land of librarians, Gabriella Blake,” she said, shaking her hand. Gaby was thrilled, thanking her with profuse gratitude. She left the room, and went to tell Haven how well she did. Haven was very proud of her, gave her a huge hug, and insisted that they celebrate tonight with the others. They left the library, almost jumping with joy, and walked back to the house. On their way, Gaby spotted a familiarly dark figure. It was him, the old homeless man. Walking slowly a few yards away, scanning the sidewalks for garbage bags. She was hoping he wouldn’t see her, remembering his bright blue gaze that gave her chills straight to the bone. She tried to speed up with Haven in attempt to get out of his sight, but unfortunately to no avail. He spotted them, and gave Gaby a straight and direct gaze. She gasped, holding Haven’s arm.

  “Gaby, what’s wrong?” asked Haven. “Something’s been up with you lately. Is everything okay? I’m a little worried.”

  “Yeah, well,” Gaby decided to tell her, “Do you see that man over there?”

  “Where?” asked Haven, turning her head to where Gay was pointing.

  “There,” Gaby said. “That man over there, the homeless one. He’s staring right at us!

  “OH!” Haven said, bursting into wild laughter. “That one? That’s just Chuck!”

  “Chuck?” Gaby asked in confusion. “You know him?”

  “Everyone in town knows him,” explained Haven. “Well, not personally. But they know of him. He’s harmless. He just walks around looking for food and weird junk in garbage bags.”

  “But…” muttered Gaby, “Why is he looking directly at us? And why hasn’t anyone tried to help him?”

  “He stares at everyone,” said Haven. “He’s weird like that. But people did try to help him, but all I know is tha
t he refuses to accept anyone’s help. I heard they offered him food and shelter, and he just wouldn’t have any of it. So they just let him be.”

  “Oh,” said Gaby, still looking at him. She turned her head to the other side as they crossed the street, and when she looked back he was gone.

  Chapter 3

  Gaby arrives at the house, and everyone there congratulates her on her new job. The next morning, on her way to class, she runs into Trevor and Amanda, who decide that the best way to celebrate Gaby’s new position was to go to the evening party at the Gamma House.

  “Gabs!” yells Amanda. “We have a great idea! We thought that the best way to celebrate your job is to take you to tonight’s party at the Gamma House.”

  “It will be amazing!” confirmed Trevor. “The Gamma House is famous for throwing the best parties on the entire campus. They always have the best DJs, dancers, free food and the wildest games you could ever imagine.”

  “We’ll all go tonight,” said Amanda. “We’ll share a cab at around eight oclock, does that work for you?”

  “Guys, that sounds great,” said Gaby, less enthusiastic than Trevor and Amanda. “But I have my first nightshift today, so I’ll have to be at the library.”

  “Oh, man! You’re starting so soon?” asked Trevor. “You’re not even past the first week of college yet!”

  “I know,” said Gaby.

  “Can’t you get an excuse?” asked Trevor. “Just for tonight?”

  “It’s my first day, Trevor,” said Gaby. “I don’t want to screw it up on my first assignment!”

  “She’s right, you idiot,” said Amanda, teasing Trevor.

  “Alright,” Trevor said. “We’ll see you at the house in the morning then?”

  “Sounds good,” Gaby said. “I’m really sorry, guys. I really wanted to come.”

  “It’s alright,” said Amanda. “They throw these parties throughout the whole first week. There will be another chance.”

  They gave each other goodbye hugs, and each left to get through their classes before the evening. Gaby had three classes that day, and had only a few hours in the afternoon to shower, have dinner, do her readings, and then get to the library in the evening to take the keys from Madam Marie and start her nightshift. Gaby brought a few books with her, just in case she got bored, as well as a few readings she had to do for her classes. On her way to the library, she ran into students that were dressed in party clothes, some already drunk, and on the way to the Gamma House. She watched the girls twirl in short glamorous dresses, as the boys held them from their waists with bottles of liquor in their hands, and getting ready to have a strong night of wild dancing and drinking. Somehow, Gaby was not disappointed that she couldn’t go. She was never the partying type, neither was she ever a wild teenager who screamed at the sound of music and dancing. Most of her nights at school were spent reading and writing, or with her mother on the couch watching movies. These wild gatherings never interested her. In fact, she never found them healthy in any way. She always believed that people, particularly young ones who spent their nights getting drunk at parties, were only drowning their sorrows away. She herself carried a lot pain with her, but she was well informed on the dangers of trying to numb it. Sometimes, she would spend endless nights talking with her mother, often crying when remembering her father. But to her, that was infinitely better than passing out into oblivion without ever addressing the pain. She was, as many of her teachers said to her mother, incredibly mature and responsible for her age.

  She arrived at the library, which somehow looked a little frightening at night. It reminded her of large, haunted mansions that, in reality, served as homes for the many ghosts of history. It was a chilling thought, but interesting nonetheless. Her imagination was one of her strongest assets.

  “Hey!” said the young man, Allan as he later introduced himself.

  “Hey, Allan!” Gaby said, excited for her first shift.

  “Ready for your first night?” he asked.

  “I am actually,” Gaby said with enthusiasm. “Am I taking the keys from you or from Madam Marie?”

  “Madam Marie will be handing you the keys and giving you any more instructions she wants you to be aware of,” said Allan. “I’m off for the night.”

  “Alright, great,” said Gaby. “See you tomorrow!”

  “See you!” he said, waving goodbye as he carried his backpack and left the library.

  “There you are,” a voice suddenly said. It was Madam Marie, standing with her leather suitcase, a set of heavy keys, and her bright blue eyes.

  “Here I am!” Gaby said, being extremely friendly as always.

  “So,” said Madam Marie, “These are your set of keys. Each one has a label on it, telling you which room it belongs to. Your job is to make sure you lock all rooms by midnight, make sure the windows are shut, no books left on any desks, no student belongings left by anyone, and then finally to stay on watch until you close up at two in the morning. Leave the key with the security guard, and Allan will pick them up at six in the morning. Is that clear?”

  “Yes,” said Gaby, trying to memorize everything Madam Marie had just said as quickly as possible. “Yes, that’s very clear.” Madam Marie gave her a piercing glare with her bright blue eyes, trying to make sure that Gaby did really understand her tasks as clearly as possible.

  “Very well,” said Madam Marie. “Here are the keys. Don’t screw up.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” said Gaby. Madam Marie turned around to leave the library, and then suddenly stopped, standing still for a few moments.

  “And no inviting any guests in,” she said. “No one goes in the building, is that clear?”

  “Yes, of course,” Gaby confirmed. “Very clear.”

  Madam Marie walked out of the library, and shut the door behind her. Gaby goes on to get her tasks done. She found some belongings, clearly left by students. She took those to lost and found box, and then proceeded to restack the books left on desks, benches and chairs. It took her about an hour to get everything in place, to put the chairs back in order, and make sure all doors are closed. Finally, after she was finished, she cleaned up the reception desk, and waited until it was two in the morning. The clock struck two, and she started packing up to leave. Looking out the window, she realized that it was raining. Then she heard the throbbing sound of thunder, followed by the piercing brightness of lightening. A storm was hitting the town, and she remembered that the buses were finished for the day and that she had to walk home. The storm was getting worse.

  “Oh my god,” she whispered to herself. “Just what I need.”

  She put on her jumper, and put on her hoodie, covering her head as much as she could. She then carried her backpack on both shoulders, and readied herself to walk through the storm. She walked out the door, and locked the gates behind her. The security guard was sheltered inside his kiosk.

  “Hey!” Gaby said, calling out to him under the rain and amidst the loud sound of thunder.

  “Hey!” he replied. “You’re the new nightshift assistant, right?”

  “Yeah, I am,” she said. “I just need to give you the keys.”

  “Oh yeah,” he said. “Thanks. Are you going to be okay in this weather? Is someone picking you up?”

  “No, I’m walking home,” Gaby said. “I live very close by, though. Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”

  “You sure?” he asked, looking quite concerned. The storm was getting worse.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Gaby said. “Goodnight!”

  He waved, told her to stay safe, and wished her a good night. She hurried through the streets, her clothes almost soaked from the rain. She crossed her arms against her chest, trying to stay warm from the wind. Some of the streets were closed because of the rain, and so she had to take another route through the buildings. It was dark, cold, and wet. She rushed through the dark alleys, feeling a little frightened, and hoping to get home as soon as she could. Walking through the dark lanes, she heard footsteps. She turne
d around to find a dark figure following her. She panicked, and raced faster through the streets. The figure was keeping up with her, remaining behind her but from a distance. As she ran through the rain, she bumped into two men.

  “Oh my gosh!” she cried. “I’m sorry! Excuse me!”

  “Excuse you indeed,” one of them said, standing in front of her and refusing to let her pass.

  “Now,” the other man said, “What is a gorgeous girl like you doing alone, in the street and on a night like this?”

  “I had a nightshift,” she said, her eyes lowered as she tried to pass. “Excuse me, please. I have to get home.”

  “We’ll take you home,” the first man said, laughing out loud.

  “Come on,” the other said, “Let’s take you home.” He held her arm and pulled him close to him. She quickly screamed, loosened her arm and tried to run. They followed her, grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the alley. She screamed louder, begging them to let her go. One of them put his arm around her throat, attempting to silence her screams. One man held her down on the wet floor, almost strangling her. The other man knelt on the ground, unzipped his pants, and took out his penis. Sliding his fingers under her skirt, he forced her underwear off, and then lifted her skirt over her stomach. She was kicking and screaming, trying to untangle herself from the other man’s arms.

  “No,” she yelled. “Please! No, please! Stop!”