PHASE 37
Night of the Library
(1:00. 1:01. 1:02. Wes can't sleep. He stares at the small clock. The evening had been uneventful. Cel had come out of 's workplace with an odd, somber look on her face. After that, led them to dusty guest rooms. Wes had fallen asleep for a few hours…and now was awake again, watching the clock. It seemed like Cel had really accepted his apology…or maybe not. She barely talked to him at all. Wes's sleepless thoughts could have lasted for hours, maybe even the whole night, had the bookcase not fallen over. A loud CRASH, followed by a festivity of curses, coming from the library. This is my problem, isn't it? Wes thought, as he slowly opened the door…and staring Jonas face-to-face. …Or face-to-mask…)
Wes: Gah! What are you doing? You…scared me.
Jonas: Erm…I'm sorry. I was going to see if you were awake…
Wes: Of course I'm awake! I don't think anyone could be asleep after-
Jonas: Actually…Cel's still asleep. And there are loud snoring sounds from the…erm…doctor…
Wes: …They're asleep?
Jonas: Yes…and Cel wouldn't wake up! I shook her a few times…
Wes: Ughhh…there's something really bad about this, and we have to deal with it, don't we?
Jonas: Erm…yes.
Wes: Alright, let's go. (Sigh)
Jonas: Erm.
(The two leave the hallway, and then enter through another door…messily marked "LIBRARY". They slowly open a door…to a completely dark room.)
Wes: (Whispering) Alright…there's got to be a lightswitch-AGH!
(Wes trips over the fallen bookcase. A obnoxious laugh issues deeper from the darkness.)
Wes: Son of a-Who's there?
(More laughter. A book comes flying from the darkness, and flies at Jonas. He moves at the last second, and smacks him in the side of the face. More laughter.)
Jonas: Erm…there has got to be a light switch somewhere…
Wes: You find the switch, I'm going to find this creep…
(HEE HEE HEE)
(More books come flying from the darkness. Wes is quicker then Jonas, so he dodges two of them. The third hits his leg…a dictionary. Wes falls over again.)
Wes: Grr…stop throwing books, come out here! You cheap b-
(A bookcase starts to fall over. Wes barely rolls away. Another loud crash issues out, accompanied by loud, mocking laughter. Wes angrily gets up.)
Wes: That's it…JONAS! Find the damn switch!
Jonas: Erm…I don't think there IS a switch…there's a lamp…
Wes: We don't have time to light it…I don't want to, but…
(Wes sticks out a hand and a bright light issues forth. It covers about the same area as a lamp. In front of Wes is the fallen bookcase. Ahead are more bookcases…and the laughter.)
Wes: I'm coming you laughing idiot. I'm coming for you.
(HEE HEE HAH)
Wes: Stupid…
(More books come flying out of nowhere. Wes dodges them with simple ease.)
Jonas: Erm…Wes? Where'd that light come from?
Wes: (Calling back) I found a lamp…stay there…
(A book almost streaks Wes in the face, as he's turned away. Wes turns back, glaring.)
Wes: Don't worry. I didn't forget about you.
(Passing the bookshelves, a book flies by from a corner. Wes turns. A chase begins, with the books constantly changing angle. Finally, Wes comes face to face with a wall.)
Wes: WHAT? No…you've got to be kidding…
(A round form materializes out of the air. It has a leering, crooked face…a Boo.)
Boo: Hee hee. You're pretty persistent. But I could have escaped you at any time.
Wes: A…Boo?! What are you…?
Boo: I was a spy for the Koopa royal family…but last I checked, the Koopa Kingdoms in chaos, and there are no rulers…so I'm living my own life now. Messing with this old man…
Wes: Why don't you do something more worthwhile? Surely there are better haunts then an old man's library…
Boo: Hee hee hah! You're right. He's an old man. His times almost up. And this'll be my own haunt! Hee hee-
(The Boo notices the light coming from Wes's hand. It's laughter abruptly stops.)
Boo: You…are one of them?!
Wes: By ability only.
Boo: So they aren't all gone…I will leave for you, great one...but once he's dead, this place is mine.
Wes: Fine…(I don't think I can convince him to do anything else…) Did you put Cel to sleep?
Boo: Hee hee…yes. I guess it didn't affect you, great one, for the obvious reasons, but it is only temporary. They will awaken by dawn. I will tell you something else as well, great one…of the papers and books I have stolen from here…let's just say that if the Koopa royal family rises again…above the odds…hee hee hee…it will be a terrible day for the world. Goodbye.
Wes: Wait! Are you…the one who gave the information on the…weapon…to the Kingdom?
(A moment of silence follows. And then the Boo laughs.)
Boo: Depends on what weapon, great one. If you speak of the weapon that killed that fool Mario…no. I didn't. No one does. After he came, he left. And last I heard, any attempts to contact him failed.
Wes: So it is a man?
Boo: …Maybe, maybe not. No one knows. He was covered by a cloak the whole time. The voice suggested male…but…who knows? Goodbye, great one! Hee hee hee!
(The Boo evaporates into the air. The light in Wes's hand slowly goes out, and the darkness surrounds Wes.)
Wes: Great one...please, no…