Varia

Kain leaned back in the driver’s seat, one hand gripping the worn leather of the steering wheel as he navigated through the quiet streets of Bakersfield. The van rattled with each pothole, but he barely noticed, his mind wandering back to the bizarre dream. There was something about that woman… the sheer intensity in her eyes. He felt a shiver run through him, as if her gaze was still boring into his soul.

He reached for the radio, letting classic rock spill through the van. He found comfort in the familiar lyrics, the guitar riffs driving the last vestiges of sleep from his brain. His thoughts drifted to the old man he’d met at the gas station the week before—a wild-eyed stranger who’d grabbed his hand with surprising strength and muttered about “the coming storm.”

Kain had shrugged it off at the time, chalking it up to the ramblings of a tweaker. But now, with the woman from his dream lingering in his mind, he wasn’t so sure. He flexed his left hand on the steering wheel, remembering the man’s strange warning: “You will walk the path of kings, or you will die a shadow forgotten by the world.” He hadn’t thought much of it then, but something about it now felt ominous.

“Stop overthinking, Kane. It was just a freakin’ dream,” he muttered, focusing on the road as he approached his favorite gas station—the Eleven-Seven.

The van creaked to a halt by the pump, and he hopped out, stretching his legs. He could already feel the caffeine craving kicking in, so he headed inside to grab an energy drink. As he pulled open the cooler door, the blast of cold air hit him like a wake-up call, and he relished the chill, grabbing a bright blue can and cracking it open.

The cashier—a young guy with a shock of neon green hair—barely glanced up from his phone. Kain slid a couple of crumpled bills across the counter, pocketing his change as he took a long swig of the energy drink.

“Big plans today?” the cashier asked absently, his eyes glued to the screen.

Kain smirked. “Yeah, you know, just saving the world one delivery at a time.”

The cashier snorted. “Living the dream, man.”

As he walked back to the van, Kain’s phone buzzed with a text from his boss: “Route changed. New stop added at the edge of town. Address will be on the manifest.”

He frowned. Last-minute changes weren’t unusual, but this address… He checked his manifest and saw that it was a library on the outskirts of Aqua Bay—a place he’d been before. His brows knit together as he stared at the familiar name: The Arcane Bibliotheca.

“Weird,” he muttered. Libraries weren’t exactly known for needing car parts, and this one was way off his usual route. Shrugging it off, he climbed back into the driver’s seat, tossed the empty can into the passenger side trash bag, and set off toward Aqua Bay.

The drive was a familiar one, winding through stretches of open road, then twisting into the dense forest of the mountain pass. Kain had always enjoyed this part of the route, the way the trees seemed to close in around him, their leaves a canopy of green overhead. But today, something felt different. The shadows under the trees seemed longer, deeper, almost as if they were watching him. He shook off the feeling and turned up the radio, letting the music drown out his unease.

As he rounded a bend, a flash of movement caught his eye. He slammed on the brakes, tires skidding as the van came to a stop. Just ahead, a deer stood in the middle of the road, its dark eyes locked onto his. They stared at each other for a long moment, and Kain felt a strange sensation, as if the deer was trying to tell him something. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it bounded off into the woods.

He let out a shaky breath and pressed on, the van rumbling back to life as he continued down the mountain pass. He tried to focus on the road, but the tension wouldn’t leave him. It was like the air itself had changed, thick with anticipation, as if something was waiting for him on the other side of the forest.

Finally, Aqua Bay came into view, the small seaside town nestled against the coastline, waves crashing against the rocky shore in the distance. He followed the winding road through the sleepy town, past quaint shops and bustling cafes, until he reached the library.

The van rumbled down the narrow road, its worn tires kicking up dust as it made its way through the outskirts of town. Kain gripped the wheel, his eyes barely keeping focus on the road as he fought off the fog of sleep that still clung to him like a heavy blanket. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and the sky was a dull shade of gray, punctuated by a few slivers of early morning light.

Today’s stop was Doc’s place—the only library in town, tucked away on the edge of a street that looked like it hadn’t seen new pavement since the 70s. The place was a relic, just like Doc himself. It’d been years since Kain had stepped foot in that library. Back when he’d been a fresh-faced teenager, he and Doc had spent hours talking about everything under the sun—books, politics, conspiracy theories. The guy had a way of making the weirdest stuff sound almost believable.

The library loomed into view, a squat brick building with windows that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in a decade. He pulled into the small gravel lot, killed the engine, and sat in the sudden silence, listening to the engine gently rumble.

The Arcane Bibliotheca was an imposing stone building, standing starkly out of place among the colorful coastal architecture. Its walls were covered in creeping ivy, and the windows were dark, almost reflective. A carved stone archway framed the heavy oak doors, which bore strange symbols that looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t quite place them.

He glanced over at the passenger seat, where his old leather backpack lay slumped against a pile of worn-out delivery slips and half-eaten snacks. “One more day, one more drop,” he muttered, letting out a long sigh. The clock on the dash blinked 6:45 AM in harsh blue numbers. Late again, as usual.

He rubbed a hand over his face, feeling the grit of a long night and too little sleep. He’d taken the delivery job a few months back, just another gig to keep the bills paid while he figured out what the hell he was doing with his life. Not exactly the kind of career he’d envisioned, but then again, life had a funny way of steering him down paths he’d never planned for.

Kain cut the engine and stepped out, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. He approached the doors, hesitating for just a moment before he reached for the iron handle.Pushing open the van door, he stepped out, the crisp morning air biting through his thin jacket. He grabbed his backpack and a small package from the passenger seat—something he’d picked up for Doc as a favor. A stack of old books Doc had ordered from some obscure vendor online. Kain had no idea why anyone would go through the trouble, but Doc was a peculiar guy, and peculiar guys did peculiar things.

He made his way up the cracked stone steps, past a rusty handrail that looked ready to give out at any second. Reaching the entrance, he knocked twice, then pulled the door open and stepped inside.

As he pushed open the door, a bell chimed softly, echoing through the vast, dimly lit room. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, lined with ancient-looking tomes that smelled of dust and parchment. The only light came from a series of candles placed haphazardly around the room, casting flickering shadows that danced along the walls.

The smell hit him first—a mix of old paper, dust, and a faint trace of something medicinal, like the lingering scent of herbal tea. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years. A single lamp glowed in the far corner, casting long shadows that seemed to dance across the floor.

“Kain, that you?” a voice called from the back, deep and gravelly. The kind of voice that belonged to someone who’d seen too much, and maybe had a few regrets tucked away in the folds of his worn-out coat.

“Yeah, it’s me, Doc,” Kain called back, his voice echoing through the empty aisles. He rounded a corner and found Doc hunched over a table, his wiry frame wrapped in a faded brown sweater, glasses perched on the end of his nose as he pored over a thick, leather-bound book. His graying hair fell in loose waves around his face, and he looked up with a grin as Kain approached.

“Brought you something,” Kain said, holding out the package.

Doc took it with a raised eyebrow. “What’s this? I don’t remember ordering anything.”

Kain shrugged. “Got it from some vendor said Car Parts? Labeled special request. Thought it odd after all you don’t have a car?.”

Doc tore into the package, his eyes lighting up as he saw what was inside. “Ah, yes this is a rare finds. Been looking for this one for years.” He held up a book with a faded cover, the title in an old, Gothic script. “Good timing, too. Things have been… strange lately.”

Kain raised an eyebrow, leaning against a nearby shelf. “Strange how?”

Doc glanced around, as if checking for eavesdroppers. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s been talk. Whispers about things moving in the shadows. I’ve heard stories of folks disappearing, and some folks have seen things that shouldn’t exist in this world. Beasts, demons… things straight out of myth.”

Kain let out a short laugh. “Come on, Doc. You always did have a flair for the dramatic.”

But Doc’s expression remained serious, his eyes dark and distant. “This isn’t like before, Kain. The world’s shifting. There are things happening beyond what most people can see and if you’re not ready you’ll be swallowed whole by it.” He paused, his gaze fixed on Kain. “You’ve always had that sense, haven’t you? That feeling that there’s more out there, just beneath the surface?”

Kain shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable. He’d always chalked it up to an overactive imagination, the product of too many late nights spent watching horror movies and reading weird conspiracy forums. But Doc’s intensity stirred something in him, a faint whisper in the back of his mind that he couldn’t quite ignore.

Before he could respond, he heard footsteps behind him, light and familiar. He turned, his heart skipping a beat as he saw her. It’d been years since he’d last seen her, but the sight of her still sent a shock through him.

“Lily?” he said, barely able to keep the surprise from his voice.

She stood in the doorway, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Hey, Kain. Long time.”

He managed a smile, though he felt like a deer caught in headlights. “Yeah, no kidding. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

She shrugged, stepping further into the room, her gaze flicking between him and Doc. “I work here now. Doc needed some help, and I needed… a fresh start.”

Doc cleared his throat, clearly amused by the tension in the room. “You two catch up. I’ve got some books to sort.” He shuffled off into the shadows, leaving Kain and Lily standing awkwardly by the counter.

“So,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “You’re working here now, huh?”

She nodded, her gaze softening. “Yeah. It’s quiet, and I like it here. Feels like a safe place, you know?”

He nodded, understanding. They stood in silence for a moment, memories hanging heavy in the air between them. There were a thousand things he wanted to say, apologies that stuck in his throat, questions that felt too raw to ask.

Finally, she broke the silence. “I heard about you, too. The delivery gig, right? Always thought you’d end up somewhere bigger.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, life has a way of pulling you in directions you don’t expect. It’s not so bad, though. Gives me time to think.” He paused, his gaze drifting over the shelves. “Doc was just telling me about some strange things happening around here. Guess you’ve noticed, too?”

Her expression darkened, and she glanced over her shoulder, as if she, too, were checking for something lurking in the shadows. “You could say that. People around here are… different. They talk about things I’d never heard of before. Dark things, lurking in the woods. There’s a tension in the air, like everyone’s waiting for something to happen.”

Kain felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced a smile. “Well, maybe they’re just bored. Small towns have a way of making folks stir-crazy.”

She laughed, but the sound was hollow. “Maybe. Or maybe there’s more to it than that.”

They stood in silence for a moment longer, the weight of their unspoken history hanging between them. Finally, Kain reached out, his hand brushing hers. “Hey, if you ever need to talk, I’m here. I know things didn’t end the best way between us, but…”

She smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Thanks, Kain. I appreciate it.”

Doc’s voice echoed from the back, breaking the moment. “You two coming, or what? I’ve got something to show you.”