The cold atmosphere that envelops me with the gentle rays of the sun in orange skies, the warmth that I felt of my cup of coffee in hand as I flip the last page of reading a book and the subtle honking sound of cars in a busy boulevard- It's a bliss afternoon. I closed the book and put it aside as I finished reading it, The Mystery behind NorthWestern University.
A smile tugs on my lips, it was a great book to read. I glance down, watching the cars passed by.
I pulled out my phone and open my messages.
Good afternoon, Mr. Hamilton. Hope you had a great day today just as how I'm having a great day. I'll be there to return this book.
The message was sent and I put my phone back in my pockets. I stood up from my seat and grabbed the book and went downstairs. I'm living in a two-storey apartment, away from my home. As I went downstairs, sudden vibration is felt on my phone. I pulled it out, a smile tugs on my lips as I saw who the caller was.
"Hey, Mom" I answered.
"How are you there, my son? Are you eating properly? How wa—"
I cut my Mom's sentence with a laugh, "Mom, don't worry about me. I'm fine, college life took a lot of my schedule"
"Okay, dear but be careful on your way to the library"
"How did you know that I'll be going to the library?" I asked with a laugh and rested the phone on my shoulder, open my room and went inside, "Your duration of reading a horror, mystery books takes only 4 days"
"You know me well, Mom"
Before Mom could reply, I heard Dad's voice on the other line.
"I should go now, dear. Dad needs a bit of assistance on the house" and Mom ended the call. Living alone without my parents is great but the absence of their chatters made me feel alone.
I put my phone back in my pocket. I put my empty cup on the sink and grabbed my black and grey striped scarf that is hanging on the standing coat rack. The building is old and a bit run down but the rent is cheap in comparison to college dormitory that I need to check how much money I spent on.
I wandered my eyes around as I walked through the sidewalk, it's been 3 months and I can't still get enough of the new life here. Living in a suburban area before, it was quiet and peaceful. The thought of the city back then was such a good idea, the busy boulevard and cafes that fills with chatters is a good ambience for me to study. I can't study with so much deafening silence. Dad had thought that living alone in my college life makes me more independent and as for my Mom, it's wasn't much of a good idea for the fact that a city is a place that is surrounded by the honking of cars, people walking back and forth on a street intersection that could possibly disturb my study time.
As I reached the library, being greeted with the subtle sound of people flipping their books and some are studying with subtle chatters. The library is the best place to immerse in other worlds being created by imaginative authors.
Books being arranged in dark brown shelves, I head to the librarian desk.
"Good day, Mr. Hamilton" I greeted. An old man around his mid-60s, wearing a black cardigan slowly turned around and chuckled as he saw me.
"You already finished reading the book?"
'Yeah. It's the great horror book, Mr. Hamilton." I commented as I handed my book to an old man. "Too bad that it is underrated, I like the author's writing style."
"Glad you like it, I told you it's a great read" he said as he turn his back on me and put the book back on the shelves. I watched him as he put the book back on its shelves and start to look at other books and enlist them on the inventory sheet to see what books were already returned.
'Mr. Hamilton..." I called out, following him behind.
"Yes?" he replied, looking at the title of the books and rearrange it.
"Do you still like being here? I mean, at your age…you're supposed to enjoy the rest of your days and..." I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe go for a vacation somewhere and enjoy the mellow music that plays in the comfort of your home"
He smiled and looked at me, "I like serving here. People like you like to stay here, to read and to escape the reality,"
I smiled at his statement, I admired it even.
"What do you like to read?" he asked, eyes still on shelves.
"You seemed finished reading all of these books" he continued and walked back to the librarian's desk. I followed him behind.
"Yeah" I nodded, I've already read all the books that were on the shelves.
"Why do you like reading horror, suspense books?" Mr. Hamilton asked as his eyes fixated on the books that is on the shelves.
"It's the dread and the thrill of what is about to happened, Mr. Hamilton." I paused as I walked by the shelf. "What if I'm inside of a book and I became a main character? And I prefer its horror" I said with a chuckle.
I turned around and face Mr. Hamilton, "It's just that I love the author's creativity in regards to writing dark themes. It's fiction"
Mr. Hamilton smiles and chuckles, "Wishing is bad luck, remember that. Don't underestimate words, child. Words is powerful, they can either build you or destroy you."
I didn't reply on Mr. Hamilton's sentence. Mr. Hamilton looked at me, "Just a food for thought."
"Right" I replied and smile, I pulled a sticky note from his librarian's desk and scribbled on it.
"Contact me again, Mr. Hamilton if there is a new book"
"Still horror and thriller?" he asked as he pulled the sticky note that I stick on his logbook.
"You bet. Have a great day" I said with a smile, walking backwards and stormed out of the public library. I went to the local bookstores that is near from the public library but they don't have new horror books being displayed.
Heading my way back to the apartment, I thought that I don't have any pending books to read. As I arrived at my apartment, I turned my head on one side directed to piled books with papers. I pulled out my chair and grabbed my laptop, opened it and try to study.
Alexander's mind is preoccupied with what book he will read next, he felt a bit cliff-hanger on the last book he read. Tired, Alexander crashed on his bed, stared at the ceiling and the continuous thoughts of what book is next to read. He reached out on his phone in the side table and stare at the search bar.
"HORROR THRILLER RARE BOOKS"
Alexander typed, scrolled down as he read from left to right, searching for an interesting book. Reading horror thriller is what he likes, he was glad that he tried to read horror despite being scaredy-cat. He stood up from bed and went back to the table, his eyes fixated on his phone.
He opened his laptop and typed, "books4sale.com"
It was a website that he happened to see on his phone.
Curiosity filled his mind, Alexander didn't hesitate to scroll on the site and start to explore. Every books were budget-friendly, Alexander halted from scrolling as he saw a cheap price of the latest physical copy he bought in a local store. He wished he bought the copy on the site, on that way he could save some of his money from his monthly allowance.
All sellers of the books were legitimate, reviews were all 5 stars with proofs and feedbacks. The site is secured. Alexander halted from scrolling as his attention was caught of a latest book copy he has read, offering cheap prices. He clicked on the seller with its name, "ScreamNRead"
Alexander visited the seller and scrolled down to see what books the seller offers. Surprisingly, all of it were books that he all read. The seller is legitimate with reviews of how accommodating and replies to inquiries. He halted and hovered his mouse on a book cover, a skull being placed in the center with big tree roots in a hardbound book. Curious of its design, he clicked read. It was entitled, DARK ABYSS, and the book has 1 stock left. Looking at its price and its expensive look, Alexander thought it's too good to be true.Alexander scrolled and read the reviews.
REVIEWS OF DARK ABYSS- 4.5 STARS
daffodils: this book is so amazing. How a short story compilation be this amazing? The title was dark abyss but the content isn't dark nor something scary. The characters, the things that the main character's felt is what kept me going.
_Darkmind: This book is shit. As I read the first chapter, I stopped reading. For personal reasons. It affect my mental being. I didn't continue reading the second page.
a_darkgirl'sthought: I'm so entertain reading this book. The author is creative (won't tell why, it would ruin the fun) The fictional characters relates to me so much. I don't get it why some reviews says it affect their mental being but as what I've heard in rumors (I don't know if it's true though) that all the things written in this book is based off yourself but I wouldn't believe it because the main characters of each short story chapters was not nearly like me that is rich or perfect but half of their personalities though.
Jackstein: I was intrigued and bought this book, carried away from the reviews saying that after reading the book, it directed them to their own self, they relate to it so much but.. it's otherwise to me. This book negatively impacted myself, for personal emotional and mental reasons. The fictional characters and emotions depicted through the chapters is almost me.
Craig: No blurb but what's intriguing is the author's note and dedication. I have no words for this book, this book is half amazing and not to me. I recommend you to read this if you are in "okay-kind of" state. I'm amazed of the author's creativity however, it kind of disturbed me in some way.
Intrigued by the reviews, Alexander quickly made an account and chatted the seller.
Alex_reads: Hello, I saw this book and was interested to buy. How much for this one?
ScreamNRead: "WELCOME TO MY PAGE HERE IN BOOKS4SALE. I'M GLAD YOU TOOK AN INTEREST TO VISIT MY PAGE, KINDLY WAIT TILL I RESPOND. TAKE YOUR TIME TO READ AND FIND BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE INTERESTED IN.
It was an automated message, Alexander laid his back as he waited for the seller to answer his inquiry.
ScreamNRead is online.
ScreamNRead: Hello, I'm glad that you would like to purchase the book however I'm afraid I won't be selling it.
Alexander brows raised.
Alex_reads: Huh? But I saw that you are selling it publicly here in this site.
ScreamNRead: My apologies, I forgot to remove this on the listings but this book is not exclusively sale now. I don't know who is the author of the book and I bought this in an old antique shop near my area.
To Alexander, he thought it's an excuse from the seller.
ScreamNRead is typing..
ScreamNRead: I know this would sound crazy, the reason I'm not selling this book is due to the recent rumors that spread near my area that some readers who coincidentally bought a copy of this book didn't wake up for months and some went missing however there are some readers that claim that everything was fine after reading the whole chapter of the book. I decided not to sell it for the safety to the readers who wants to buy the book.
Alexander scoff of what the seller had said, Alexander thought that it's just a dumb excuse to refrain him to purchase the book. Not wanting to offend the seller in a way, Alexander replied and brushed off the warning.
Alex_reads: Okay, I understand but it's just rumors. How about this, I'll buy it for 80$?
It was a risk, it's the half amount of his monthly allowance. Alexander waited for his reply, leaning his back on the chair. A smile put on his face as he received a reply, "Deal"
ScreamNRead: I wouldn't be held accountable of your action, sir. Anyway, thank you for purchasing.