《Canyon的魔法师们》塔里

5、黑发少年

　　-Kate-
　　Few people actually came to the old library these days, and there was no book-search screens on each side of the wall inside of the library like those in the new library. I checked very carefully with the flashlight since the light was out about two hours ago. I was a fool to come at this time of the day, with the library feeling like a giant creepy cocoon. I wandered around aimlessly. To find a book in a library was like to find a fish in the ocean, only I was not risking being suffocated. What a fool I must be, there must a million ways to dig out the very book I was looking for when it was not all dark and creepy. Curiosity, which is my deadly weak point, drove me forward.

　　The crackling of ancient wooden shelves sent my hair standing on end. The flashlight became my only weapon against the endless darkness. What was the book's name The Deveil's Land What kind of name was that Should I go check "Culture and Tourism" area, whose label wiggled as I dusted it with my hand. What if this was all a joke But what for Some maniac was trying to lure girls in I shuddered at the idea, and when finally my fear surpassed my curiosity, I decided to retreat. I'll come back, next morning. I promised to myself. Now is not a good time.

　　I was carefully retreating when suddenly I heard a footstep, then utter silence. My heart, skipped a beat, was pounding against my chest at a speed so fast that I feared I might die of heart attack. I pointed the flashlight to the direction where the sound came from, and I could listen the throbs of my veins. In complete silence, I became the origin of sound. God bless me, please. If I was a fool, I would stay and found out if there was anyone there. Unfortunately, a fool that I was.

　　"Who's there" I asked.

　　No one answered.

　　"Who's hiding I heard you!" I drew near the book shelf.

　　I turned at the corner, something entered my eyesight, and a cry of fear escaped me. In other word, I screamed like a frantic. I hold the flashlight as if it was a sword, which could protect me from being murdered. I fell to the carpet,dropping the flashlight out of weakness, still petrified from the shock. Then sense came back to me quickly: It was a boy with a candle that I saw.

　　"Flashlight, Really?" He picked up the flashlight and handed it to me. I made the flashlight stand so that I could see his face. Muffled in darkness, I had beheld in my eyes a young boy, probably at my own age, or younger than I was. His piercing eyes were chocolate black, looking at me with condescending sarcasm. his hair was dark as the night sky, and shimmers under the dim light.His nose was slightly shining under the candle light. His mouth was slightly curved-up in mockery. He had one of those faces where you are aware of the bones beneath the skin, and even his bare skull could attractive. Yes, beauty was the right word. Wait! He was obviously an Asian boy. Asian boy... I was soon reminded of Jin Baili, who remained the popular subject of discourse in the school. This boy was Jin Baili

　　The idea sent a thrill throughout my body, and I jumped a little.

　　"You are obviously scared out of your senses, whoever you might be, am I really that scary " He didn't even bother helping me stand up, but still looked at me as if I was a clumsy clown who made a fool out of myself. Still not quite recovered from my shock, I switched into the protective and aggressive mode, like some kind of self-protection instinct.

　　"I was not scared! I was startled! And anyone would be when they were plotted against in a filthy trick like you just played!" I rose to my feet, and my anger was great! Whether or not he was Jin Baili, he was the master behind this letter trick. For what did he lure me in What was his purpose How did he find out about me and my abilities

　　"I don't know what you are talking about, but you shouldn't be here at his time. If you were found out,you were as well as expelled."He now had turned to his book, not even bother to look at me.

　　His total lack of interest in me made me change my direction of deducing.

　　"What do you mean The door was left open."

　　He quickly glanced up from his book, without seeing my face, he looked right in my eyes. I felt like he was groping for some explanations from his own mind, and evaluating my credibility at the same time.

　　"You are the intruder And you left the door open, by accident, I suppose" I finally got my hands on the only correct answer here. I looked back gloatingly.

　　"Alas, I might be a bigger fool then I gave myself credit for. But you, lady, obviously enjoy being smart, so leave this place!"

　　"I came here for... something." I refused to leave. How come he was here Who was he Was he another receiver of the letter His voice of speech obviously surpassed the intellectual level of a teenager, and the way he looked at me was uncomfortable: I felt like I was some kind of lab rat, waiting for him to dissect and see through.

　　He now closed his book and lay it down on the margin of the shelf, as if ready to leave this spot, probably in order to get rid of me. Instead, he moved closer to me. Without the time to react, he reached down and grabbed the front of my uniform and shoved me into the wall. He was so strong that there was no point struggling. There was no way out other than to hear him out, whatever he wanted to say.

　　"What do you want" I was cornered, but not defeated.

　　"Your folly was surprisingly inconvenient, little pinprick, this is the classified area of the library, the school was serious about it, and little girl like you better not jog around here after a full dinner, and I was not joking about being expelled, or maybe worse..." he suddenly stopped, "Go Home!" Then he let go of me.

　　Anger was growing inside of me. I was humiliated, and the last two words of him had set me on fire. I had learned hand-in-hand combat with Henry, and had practiced with Herbert very often when I was back home. But Herbert was such a easy target, being smaller than I was. I never take on such a big target, but being provoked by my fury, I decided to have a try. I jumped up and grabbed his arm, the classic move right now would be to twist it and fling him backward using the strength of my back muscle. Unfortunately, no chance was left for me to perform my usual drill. Instead, he quickly turned, took both of my arms, twisted them, and pressed my whole body against the shelf. My arms hurt from the twist and I cried out.

　　"I decided to change your attribute into foolhardiness, which is worse than folly, because you'll eventually get yourself killed. " His tone was sarcastic, and I hated him more for the comment than for the actual defeat. His book on the shelf, however, caught hold of my attention. Being so close to the shelf, I could see clearly what the name was: Asmodian Magicians and their Magical Rituals. Asmo Magician Who on earth was this person

　　Questions rose to my lips when suddenly, the flashlight went out, and the candle was blowed off. Instead of holding me like a prison, he covered my mouth with one of his hand, and swang both of our bodies around, clinging as close to the book shelf as possible. I realized, quickly enough, that someone was patrolling around the library now. I could hear the footsteps of officers and the siren of their cars. I hope they did not see my flashlight through the window.

　　In the darkness, I felt we had formed a conspiracy. He disappeared again into the darkness as soon as the lights from patrolling officers were out. I had no idea where to trace him, he was like a fish that was released to the river. As if darkness was his place. This person knew something about Asmo, and magicians. Who was him About the letter Who wrote it Did he have anything to do with it

　　Too many questions without answer, I pondered on my bed, hating the itchy feeling I felt whenever I can't solve mysteries. I didn't hate him anymore,but I longed to defeat him:I desired to see him along with his gloating smirk succumb to me.He was an opponent worth defeating. But first I'll find answers, I promised to myself and quickly drifted asleep.