This is where it truly diverges. There's still a bookstore scene, but from here on out, its basically just my brainchild.
"Boy, what are you doing here?"
Killian's head snapped up. The man standing over him was older, with wild graying reddish hair and a beard to match. Towering over him, the man scowled down, causing Killian to scramble to his feet.
"I'm so sorry." He apologized.
"What are you running from?"
"Who says I'm running from anything?" Killian defied, crossing his arms over his chest. The man leveled a look at him. Killian dropped his gaze He had a commanding presence, an air of authority, and eyes that seemed to be able to look straight into your soul. Despite this, Killian wasn't intimidated. The man's aura was more calming than anything. With a reluctant sigh, Killian answered, "I'm running from my messed up life."
"A book store is a good place to do just that, however I'm afraid that I don't keep any of those magazines, or comic books, as you children call them. Best you keep moving." The man tried to usher him out the door.
"I'll have you know, I've read many books!" Killian planted his feet and refused to move, the indignation clear in his voice. "I've read many classics."
"My dear boy, The Twilight saga does not count as a classic-"
"NO," Killian quickly cut him off. "I've read everything by Tolkien, the whole Wheel of Time series, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Odyssey and the Iliad, Tarzan…" The man held up his hand to cut off the tirade.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry I assumed. I guess there's no harm in letting you hide here for a while. You got any family that'll be looking for you?" Hesitantly Killian nodded. Liam would be looking for him soon. A wave a guilt washed over him at leaving his brother to deal with his mess. "Ok, if you have one of those cell phone things, you should let them know you're ok. Meanwhile, go ahead and look around."
The man turned and walked away, leaving Killian the chance to finally look around. I'm in nerd heaven! The walls were lined with books; it was a sea of them. They covered the tables, the shelves filled so full it looked as if some were going to fall. Browsing the shelves he was awestruck. He found original copies of Frankenstein and Dracula in pristine condition. Who is this man? Walking around he found a shelf entirely dedicated to Alexandre Dumas and another to Jules Verne. Emily Bronte and Jane Austin.
On a coffee table, by a fireplace, a book caught his attention. It was different from any he had seen before. The cover was a dusty brown with a gold inlaid letters. Once Upon a Time. Carefully he reached out for it, not sure where the compulsion to touch the book came from. It was as if the book itself was calling to him. He could hear it calling to him, like a whisper in his mind.
"That's not for you." The man slammed a newspaper down, blocking the book from Killian's view. Clearing his head with a shake, the compulsion gone, he looked up at the man confused.
"It's just a book." Killian began.
"Have you ever been Captain Nemo, afraid the squid would destroy you? Or Ishmael, afraid you would be eaten by Moby Dick. Bilbo, afraid of Smaug?" The man's eyes bore into him. The calm that Killian had felt before was gone.
"Of course, that's the best part of books, getting to live vicariously through them."
"Ah, but they are safe. When the book ends, you go back to your life. You're in no real danger."
Even more intrigued, Killian motioned to the book, "And this one isn't?"
Carefully patting the book, the man shook his head. "This one is special. It chooses who it wants." Killian scoffs and reached for the book. Before the man could stop him he moved around the table and opened the book.
"Fairy tales? You've got your knickers in a twist over fairy tales?" Killian couldn't hide the disbelief in his voice. Meeting the man's eyes, he was taken aback by the shocked look in the older man's eyes.
"You can see?" The man asked. His entire demeanor changing. Killian nodded, not understanding the man's seriousness. "This here, you can read what that says?"
"Of course I can! Why wouldn't I be able to see what is printed here? It's a book."
"She chose you." The man's voice was a barely audible whisper as he stared down at the book. When the man looked back up at him, his eyes were wide and intense. "You must go, you cannot be here." Ready to be done with his crazy, Killian tried to hand the book back, but the man refused to touch it. "No, it is yours now, keep it safe."
Killian rolled his eyes, "Ok calm down Gandalf. It's just a book."
The man shook his head, "It isn't just a book. This, this is something special, and she has chosen you. Keep it safe," the man ushered him to the door, as he was about to shut Killian out he whispered low, "and whatever you do, do not read it. Not until you are ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To believe." The door slammed.
Standing back outside, Killian sighed as he heard the man lock the door. Shaking his head in disbelief, he regarded the book. It didn't look like anything special.
"No harm ever came from reading a book," he mumbled and opened the cover, he took a moment to appreciate the beautiful illustrations that graced the title page. It was a blue and gray painting of the woods. The longer he stared at the picture, the more he swore he saw characters running around in the background. Vaguely he thought he saw a bandit being chased by a prince, two witches faced off hurling fireballs at one another, a couple of children running through the woods. It wasn't until a dragon appeared flying straight at the foreground that Killian snapped the book shut and shuddered a heaving breath.
That is not normal… he turned back to the store, hoping to ask the old man some questions, but the storefront was boarded up. Confusion emanating from his eyes, he looked between a few boards and stared into empty space. That's not possible. Turning back to the street, he quickly realized that night had fallen.
"Oh, Bloody hell, Liam is going to kill me." Placing the mysterious tome in his pack, he took off at a run for home. Maybe Liam could help him figure out the strange book.
"Where the bloody hell have you been!" Liam exclaimed as Killian burst through the door. Before he could answer, Liam had his arms wrapped around him, he couldn't get away even if he tried. The force of the hug gave Killian a clue as to just how much he had scared his brother.
"I'm so sorry, Liam, I am. My phone died, I couldn't call." The half lie fell easily out of his mouth. His cell phone had died, he just left out the part where somehow his memory was missing 12 hours.
"You're home, that's all that matters." Liam ushered him to sit at the table. "Here, I'm sure you haven't eaten anything all day. I'm going to make a few phone calls to let everyone know you're home." Silently, Killian helped himself to the pizza on the table. After a few bites he pulled out the book and placed it in front of him. It didn't look special, but once in his line of sight, he felt the compulsion again. To touch it. The whispers in his head.
"Killian?" Startled, he looked up at his brother re-entering the kitchen. "Ok, that's all taken care of. You'll be pleased to know that you are not suspended. A couple witnesses came forward. Miss Blanchard, for one. Roland came to the office as well and gave his retelling. You're off the proverbial hook as they call it. Though I would highly recommend keeping your head down. You have incurred the wrath of that despicable principal, although from what Mayor Mills said, she will open an investigation into just what it is that Mr Pan allows to happen at his school. Did you know that Ms Mills is quite beautiful… Killian? Are you listening?"
"Hmm? What?" Killian quickly looked up. As he brother carried on, he had found his attention returning to the book.
"What are you daydreaming about this time?" Liam looked over and saw the book. "Once upon a time, huh? You scared me half to death today to hide out with a book of fairy tales? Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that pretty little head of yours?" Picking up the book, Liam opened the cover, and paged through it. Killian noticed Liam side eyeing him.
"What?" Killian shrugged at him. What's the big deal? I read all kinds of stories, what is so weird about me wanting to read some fairy tales?
"Killian, this book is blank." Schooling his features to not react, Killian shrugged. Then and there, he knew something was wrong with the book. Something not normal. "What were you doing with it?"
"I was gonna try my hand at writing my own stories. I read so much, and I have my own ideas, why not put some of them down?"
"Please tell me you didn't steal this."
"Of course not!" Killian practically shouted. "I was at a bookstore and was talking with the owner, he gave it to me." Well, at least I'm not lying about this. The weird old man DID give it to me…
"Ok, Killian, I believe you. Finish up your pizza then get ready for bed. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will probably be just as long. Good night brother." Liam ruffled his hair then headed out the living room.
Killian glared accusingly at the book. You couldn't have shown him? Why are you blank for him? He rolled his eyes, great, now I'm yelling at a book. Quickly, he put the leftover pizza in the fridge, grabbed the book and headed up to his room. Changing into his sleepwear, he sat cross legged on the bed with the book on his lap. The original pull to it was gone. It was unnerving. More unnerving than the compulsion itself. The lack of it left an unsettled feeling in his gut, like something was missing.
A deep breath later, he opened the book, fully prepared to battle a dragon.
The page was blank.
"Bloody hell," Killian muttered. He quickly scanned through all the pages, they were all blank. Slamming the cover shut he tossed the book onto his pillow and stood up to pace the room. "Why? Why me? Why now? I'm not crazy!" He assured himself. Pausing mid step, he glared at the book. "Why would you 'choose me' then be blank? I don't understand." He continued pacing and talking out loud. "This is crazy, it's just a book. Why am I so concerned about a book?"
Once more, he opened the cover and was met with a blank page. With a scoff of disgust, Killian placed the book on the top shelf of his closet, before curling into himself to sleep.
The night was restless. When he did sleep, instead of the nightmares that plagued him of his parents death, he dreamt of a girl with long golden hair and emerald eyes. They were sad, and pleading, and a haunted whisper that kept repeating the same two phrases. "Help me" and "Find me".
Be prepared for a time jump. Let me know what you guys think.