Chapter 4

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Jenkins was puttering about the annex's catalogue. With the information given to him being so vague, he thought to narrow it down through the creature's geography and noted appearances. It was a large task to accomplish by himself, but right then he had no other options.

He threw a book on the pile to the side of him and then reached for another. He was no closer to finding the origin of this urban legend. He could only hope that the team would call soon with more information.

"Where's the team?" A very tired looking Jacob Stone ambled down the annex stairs. At some point he'd been moved to his room, he supposed by the guardian. "We need to find out what the cause of the earth tremor was."

The caretaker sighed and shook his head with exasperation. "The team has gone out to continue with their investigations."

"Why didn't you wake me?" He rubbed his eyes, a bad idea with the pounding in his head.

"In my vast experience, I have come to understand that it is not wise to wake up someone with a concussion and send them off on a mission. You need rest Mr Stone, and I intend to see you have it."

Jake ignored that last statement and instead went to gather up an armful of books. If he couldn't be in the field, the least he could do was help with research.

"Why are you only lookin' into water-based beings?"

"Because, after you passed out," he emphasised his words with a glare, "the clipping book showed us some newspaper articles about a lake monster. Miss Baird and Mr Jones are at the lake now, whilst Miss Cillian is talking to the original witnesses."

A short buzz vibrated in Jenkins' pocket.

"How odd." He looked at the image that had been sent to his phone. "Excuse me, Mr Stone, I need to make a phone call."

"Hello."

"Miss Baird, I wondered if you could enlighten me on the picture I just received from Mr Jones."

"Jones found them by the edge of the lake in some grass."

"Well, I must admit it should help narrow down our search. Mr Stone and I were just doing some research..."

"What do you mean Mr Stone was doing some research? Jacob is supposed to be resting, I'm pretty sure that climbing up and down ladders fetching books is not resting."

The caretaker placed his phone onto an old looking device that amplified its sound. He was not taking the brunt of the guardian's frustration alone.

"I did tell him he needed rest but he wouldn't listen."

"I'm fine, feeling much better. I can help Jenkins with his task and speed things up." The librarian was going for perky, the exact opposite of tired, he wasn't sure it worked though.

"I don't care how well you're feeling now, an hour ago you were slurring your words and falling unconscious. You have a concussion, Stone; they require time to heal"

"Do you know how many concussions I've had? A lot, most of which came from large books falling on my head. I always manage to stay on task though." He smiled but the glare he received from Jenkins made him stop.

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

"Miss Baird, if I may, I think we need to focus on the mission at hand."

"Fine. We'll wait here for Cassandra, Jenkins, you make sure Jake goes back to bed."

"I will try." He replied and hung up the call.

Stone slumped back into his chair; arms folded like an insolent school child.

"I'm not going back to bed."

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Jake had refused to return to his room and even the suggestion to sit on the couch was met with sighs and grumbling. Jenkins decided to ignore him in favour of contacting the final member of the team for an update.

"Miss Cillian."

"Hey, was just about to text you."

"I was wondering how your mission was going?"

"The woman I just spoke to said that she and her friends found some weird footprints coming from behind their cabin. They followed them back to the lake when they saw a blue fish-like creature with gills and fins walking into the water."

"Well that coincides with what Mr Jones found by the lake, they want you to join them at the campsite by the way."

"Ok, I'll meet them there... How's Jake doing?"

"Sulking somewhere upstairs. I'm pretty sure I heard him say something about an overbearing guardian who needs to let him do his job."

"She tell him to go to bed again?"

He could hear the slight sound of a sympathetic laugh from the other end of the line. "Yes, it didn't work."

"She just worries about him. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and sometimes he forgets that he can ask for help. He'll be alright though, won't he?"

"I think he knows that, he just doesn't like letting people down. He had it rough living with his dad, I don't think he quite got over that. He will though, eventually."

"Good. I'll see you in a few."

Jenkins looked up as the sound of the librarian's voice echoed through the building. "Look I'm lying on the couch, you happy now?" The caretaker laughed quietly to himself. "Don't see why everyone is ganging up on me all of a sudden.

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The large table in the centre of the library was covered with open books. Jenkins was flitting from one end to the other in search of an answer to what this creature was? He hadn't seen the head librarian for the past half an hour but he had heard a few mumbled curses and the sound of falling books. Some of these bookcases were not made for the historian's 5ft 10 frame.

"Jenkins," he called from the top of the stairs. "I think I found what we're lookin' for." He ran down the steps with an oversized leatherbound book in his hands, he was also rubbing the lower part of his back.

"What's the matter?" The caretaker jerked his chin in Jake's direction.

"It was on the top shelf and the stool slipped as I was pulling it down," he spoke under his breath. "Anyway," he said louder. "I think this is the monster we've been looking for, but it doesn't mention anything about earthquakes and according to this the creature is pretty harmless."

"Well, that doesn't make sense. If the creature is harmless the clipping book wouldn't have sent us. It would just leave it alone, like Nessy."

"That was my... Aahh." Jake caught himself on the table, dropping the book on the floor as he went. His other hand reached for his head taking a large clump of his hair in its grasp. He scrunched his eyes shut as he let the pain wash over him.

"Mr Stone, are you alright?" The caretaker dropped his standoffish stance as he ran to the historian's side. "You should be resting, not searching through books and falling off ladders."

After a minute or so, Stone stood up and shook himself off. The pain was still there, but it felt more like an afterthought playing in the back of his mind. He reached down for the book he'd abandoned and started reading it again.

"We need to get in contact with the others to see if they can confirm or deny my findings."

Jenkins tilted his head and looked astonished at the younger man. "Mr Stone, you really do need to take better care of yourself. Taxing an already injured brain isn't in anyone's best interest." He took the book from Jake's hands. "I am thankful for your help, but now you must focus on healing."

"I'm fine, Jenkins. Just let me make this call."

He didn't wait for a response before whipping out his phone and pressing a number on speed dial.

"You're supposed to be in bed."

"A good afternoon to you too, Eve. How's your day... you know what, never mind, I found a book on the creature. And before you start complaining again, I lied down on the couch whilst I read."

"So help me... I don't care if you are lying down as you read, it's not your legs that need resting, it's your brain."

"My brain is perfectly fine, it found what we were lookin' for, didn't it." He paused with a sharp intake of breath.

"Is your headache still bothering you?"

"It's better, barely feelin' it now."

"I can attest to that being a complete lie, Miss Baird. Just two minutes ago he almost collapsed due to the pain." The caretaker called out, interrupting the phone call.

"Damn it, Jenkins."

"Jacob Stone, when I get back to that annex you best be up in that bed of yours with a bottle of pain killers and not a book in sight. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah. Do you want to know what we're dealing with first?"

"What did you find?"

"I believe it is an ancient aquatic creature that has lived on earth since the Roman era. They're quite rare with only around twelve known in existence. All evidence seems to point to them liking warmer climates as they are probably closer to their original planet's atmosphere. The library hasn't done anything about these guys because they are actually pretty friendly, and have a great impact on the local environment. They are... Eve, are you listening to me?"

"Jake, tell Jenkins we need a door... like now!"