Blacken by Alandra Rankin (i love reading books txt) 📕

woman was not getting any direct answers, only speculations, it was frustrating.

Avie stood to thank Jim, shaking his hand, “Thank you so much for your time, it really is incredible, this town. I want to stay for as long as I can and get to know Blacken better.”

“You’ll get along great here, I can feel it, Miss. Conrad. I’ve got to run back to the shop, but you can take your time. I hope you’ll feel better soon!”

She smiled in the middle of tracing a medicated salve over her lip, “Thank you, Jim. I’m doing my best,” she laughed.

Her time with Jim gave her a little more insight to the town, but it still didn’t explain very much. Avie sought an answer on what was causing the sensations to begin with, it had to have been something more interesting than just a ‘God’s Will’ explanation coupled with the inability of the people wanting to know more.

She thought about if anything was reported on the town, or what was going on, then its history may have a few jumping off points or clues on where to start digging up answers.

Pulling the map out of her back pocket, she found the library just a few blocks over. Her attention was grabbed by the abrupt wind howling against the building.

Looking down at her windbreaker, she grimaced at the lighter clothing. Braving the weather in her walk, Avie shivered heavily upon entering the library.

She held her arms across her body, a feeble attempt to keep the extremities warm while rubbing up and down to create friction. Her teeth chattered while walking into the dim lobby. The young woman observed her surroundings, unable to find anyone else in the building, not even anyone at the reception.

Her footsteps echoed in the quiet building, it was so silent, even for a library. The lack of persons, coupled with the storm brewing outside—darkening the lobby through the grand windows, made her uneasy. The space wasn’t over all anything lavish, small town, small buildings, she assumed. However, the woman was hoping to find another friendly face like she did with Jim at Home·Aware, but even glancing around the open area, she couldn’t see any staff wandering around.

Maybe they were busy elsewhere?

Reaching the reception desk, Avie placed her palms down on the cool marble, “… Hello?” she tentatively called out.

A man with dirty blond scraggly hair and beard to match popped out from the desk, seemingly to have been interested in something on the floor or low shelving. Small glasses framed his face as he pushed them up with a large hand, cradling a stack of folders with the other.

“Yes, hi, I was just… Um, hello! I’m here, yes, hello,” he struggled to speak while attempting to catch the falling papers, his tweed suit moving in a flash with his erratic juggling movements.

“Goodness, you scared me!”

He placed the paperwork down between them while strewing his words, “Sorry! I didn’t mean to; I was having problems with the sorting and—holy hell... Are you alright?” The man finally looked at her, taking in her features.

Avie rubbed at her arm, “It’s just a couple of bruises, I was in an accident a few days ago.”

“You’re also shivering! Have you been outside with only that?” He looped around the marble desk, showing off his tall and lanky form, “Do you need some hot chocolate? I also have a large sweater that might help warm you up from the rain.”

She shook her head, holding up a hand, “Oh no, it’s not a worry, you don’t have to go through the trouble.”

The scraggly man looked around the library in an exaggerated manner, “There’s nothing going on here, hasn’t been for a while. C’mon, you’re gonna catch a cold. I’m happy to help if you wanted to keep company and warm up for a bit?”

It was a very tempting offer, Avie felt as though she could not warm up; a mix of the weather and the chills that lurked in her body since the hospital.

She sighed, giving in, “If you’re sure, I would absolutely love some.”

His smile lit up his face, radiating the cerulean eyes. “Done deal. I’m Owen,” he held out his hand for her to shake.

“Avie. Nice to meet you, Owen. You’re the first person I’ve met that looks about my age,” she laughed, finally meeting people in her age group.

He joined in her laughter, “That’s Blacken for you! How old are you anyway, if you don’t mind?”

“Turning twenty-seven in October.”

“Almost time to celebrate for you then! I just turned twenty-five a few months ago, still trying to get used to that milestone,” he laughed.

They walked over to one of the tables and sat, Owen bringing a sweater and hot cocoa. She held the foam cup in her hands, having the heat flow through her with the help of the coat hugging her shoulders.

“So, did you forget to check the weather before going out?”

Her eyes raised to meet his, this Owen was pretty straight forward, it seemed.

“Um, I actually, uh… I don’t have anything else. I didn’t really pack anything with me.”

“And so, you came to the library instead of a winter shop?”

The woman in question took a sip of the drink, careful to avoid burning herself before setting it back down. Thinking over her words, she took Jim’s advice in heed, “I was hoping to get some more information on the town. I didn’t get too much from some of the locals.”

She traced the lip of her cup, eyes trailing her thumb as it danced in a semicircle. Realizing Owen hadn’t responded, Avie grew worried she still said too much. She glanced up, seeing his features gleaming instead.

“You’re one of them, aren’t you—that came into town because of the body tremor? God… It’s been forever since we’ve had anybody new.”

“You know about it? Are you one too?” She became visibly restless, enthusiastic to get more information on the subject. She didn’t really know what qualified as ‘one of them’, assuming it was just having