My eyes snap back to him, taking in his concerned expression. “I’m just disturbed by the whole doomsday-cult thing, that’s all.” Which is partially true. “I think I’ll go for a run to clear my head.”
“Kae—”
I’m already standing up, beelining out of the room. “Love you, bye!”
It takes me two minutes to change into some athletic wear and get outside. Coincidentally, that’s about how long my ‘run’ lasts before turning into a brisk walk. I figured that would happen. I love my strength training, but I do not run. Ever. I know I should care more about cardio, but it’s never seemed like a priority to me when things like horses, bikes, and cars exist. It’s a sad excuse, but I’ll cling to it for the foreseeable future… Which probably isn’t going to be much of a future at all, if my nightmares are any indication of what I can expect.
Still, I thought a little bit of fresh air and sunlight would help me. It seems like something that normal people do when they’re troubled. No matter how much I plead with the roar in my head toshut the fuck up already, it just won’t quiet. Like a nauseating carnival ride, my thoughtstwirl around and around.
Fresh air, my ass. I’m equally anxious, except now I’m anxious outside, where the sun is too bright.
Once I realize just how pointless my meandering is, I direct myself towards a small local library. I’ve never been to this one before, but the student library on campus was one of my favorite places to be. So, I make my way there and barge through the front doors like I’m coming home from war.
Inside, I’m greeted with a quiet, dimly lit, climate-controlled environment.My favorite. There are only a few other patrons scattered about, most of them hiding from sight. Fellow introverts, I’m sure. Out of respect for their solitude, I steer clear of them as I begin weaving through the tall wooden bookshelves.
It doesn’t take me long before I find myself in the folklore section, slowing my pace to walk down the aisle with my head tilted sideways, eyes skimming the titles. I’m not looking for anything in particular. I mean, if Ihappento find a book that can help me reconcile my prior worldviews with the potential reality of angels, God, and the biblical apocalypse, then maybe I’ll check it out. Maybe. I’m definitely not searching for it.
Eventually, something catches my eye, with its pretty gold lettering and leather binding. I pluck it from the shelf, crack it open, and take a good inhalation of the old paper smell. Yes, I think this will do. As my eyes skim the pages, I wander down the hall, heading towards a good reading spot?—
Slam.
I crash into someone as I round the end of the aisle. In my shock, I jolt, accidentally throwing my book in the process. The hefty tome falls to the ground in a flurry of pages loud enough to wake the dead.
“I’m so sorry.” I quickly scoop up the book, my face burning in embarrassment as I bring my eyes up to the poor stranger I’ve just hit, and—“What the fuck?!”
“Shhh, it’s a library.” Malak leans against the bookshelf at his side, grinning in sarcastic amusement. “You’re not supposed to be loud here,you know.”
I stare at him, frozen and incredulous.
He’s dressed entirely too refined for the humble setting. Everything about him exudes old money—cream suit, white button-down, glistening brown oxfords with a perfectly matching leather belt. Even his golden curls are tidy and slicked back. I hate to admit it, but for a biblical creature, he is terribly,terriblyhandsome. Meanwhile, with my baggy track shorts and ratty old tank top, I look like a complete slob.
Malak leans in, turning his pretty head sideways to read the title of my book.“Angel Encyclopedia,huh? Sounds like a pretty boring read. If you wanted to know more about me, you could have just called.”
I blink a few times, long and slow, as I continue to stare at the angel taunting me.
Angels aren’t real, you idiot.
“This has gone on long enough,” I mutter to myself, whirling around to walk in the other direction. “I think it’s time I admit myself to a grippy sock vacation.”
His voice calls after me, “But Kae?—”
“Go away,” I grumble, tossing my stupid book onto a random cart I pass by. “You’re not real.”
Yet as I rush out of the library, the mirage trails my peripheral vision with casual, long strides. It even seems to catch the door behind me when I exit the building.
Pure coincidence.
Must be the wind.
“Leave me alone,” I hiss, hurrying down the steps. Thankfully, there’s nobody else around to see me talking to myself. That would be embarrassing.
Unfortunately, Malak easily keeps up with my pace. “Are you taking me home with you? How kind of you to invite me over?—”
I spin on my heels to stare down the image, merely an arm’s length away. My breaths are ragged. “You’re. Not. Real.”
This is all in my head. If I try hard enough, I can make it disappear.
“I promise you, darling, I am.” Malak steps forward with a handoutstretched. My eyes widen, jerking down just in time to see his fingers connect with my bare arm. They drag up my skin, buzzing with an otherworldly, electric feeling.
