A/N - I was just thinking of this story for a long time. I was also thinking of using Alison again because I'm very proud of this character.
In this story Alison is a normal girl who goes to a normal school and has normal friends. Sounds boring. But she picks up a book from a library auction and her life changes forever.
If you get confused, sorry for the confusion caused.
Chapter 1 - The Handbook
'Fifteen minutes till Library Auction starts. Please proceed to the auditorium.'
Alison Fuller was positively skipping when that was announced. "Come on, let's go already. I want to take a quick look at the books on the auction today." Her friends, Nadine and Nicole (twins) were struggling to keep up with their friend's enthusiasm. "Ali, let's slow down please."
"Yeah, not everyone is as excited about a book auction as you are." Alison laughed at her friends. "Besides Ali, why do you want to have more books. You have enough to start your own library." Indeed Alison was a great collector of books. She had more than anyone she ever knew. Her father encourages this and buys new books for Alison to read since she was able to walk. Alison had books in her bathroom, bedroom, under her pillow and under her shelves. Her room was entirely made out of books.
Back to the story, Alison , Nadine and Nicole were looking at the books that were on sale that day. Alison gave a sigh of happiness as her fingers scrolled down the piles of books like fingers on a piano. Her finger caught a book and pulled it out. It had a very dusty cover. Alison blew it, revealing a cover. "The Monster Tamer's Handbook?" Alison said to no one in particular, turning it round and round looking at it from all angles. Nadine and Nicole, distracted, came over. "Oh I've seen that book before. I took it home once. I couldn't even open it. It was like it had a lock on it. But I couldn't even find a lock. Everyone who borrowed it returned it the next day. No wonder they wanted to sell it. I won't buy it if I were you." Alison's natural book instinct kicked in. It was a challenge. And she can't resist a challenge. "It looks like a horror story to me. I try to read it. I don't have any of those in my collection." Her friends stared at her. open mouthed. "What, you're going to buy that book?" Nicole repeated. "It's a waste of money." her twin continued. Alison couldn't put her finger on it, she needed to buy that book. 'It's calling me, pick me up. All good books do that. Something tells me I need to buy it. So I am.'
A man stepped on stage with another man carting a wagon full of books. Alison sits down eagerly while Nicole and Nadine sits down between her. Alison looked eagerly up at the stage, her professional eyes scanning the wagon for the book she had her eyes on. The man pulled books up one by one. Dollars flew out of their wallets. Books were handed out.
After one hour, Nicole and Nadine each had a handful of books. Alison however, had none. Her hand was shaking with unusual impatience,her mouth cursing under her breath. The man drew his hand into the wagon. He pulled out - the Monster Tamer's handbook! Alison's hand changed and began shaking with excitement. "Alright, the Monster Tamer's Handbook, writer unknown. The beginning bid is...(sigh) two dollars." Alison looked around. Everyone was staring at the book with the look of disgust on their faces. Alison shrugged and raised her hand. "Two dollars, going once, going twice, Sold to this young lady. Wish you luck kid." Alison frowned and stood up to collect the book. She turned to her friends with her usual friendliness and together walked out of the building.