Vision in Red by Sajjad Rasool - HTML preview

Vision in Red

"You want paper?" she screamed. "Choke on this!"

She hurled the binder. It flew through the air, pages flapping like a wounded bird.

It hit the Librarian square in the chest.

THWACK.

The creature stumbled back. It didn't make a sound. But the ink on its skin rippled, like a disturbed pond.

"Run!" Amal screamed.

Yasmin bolted to the right, disappearing into the shadows.

The Librarian steadied itself. It didn't look at the binder. It looked at Amal.

The smudge on its face began to open. A vertical slit. A paper cut in reality.

And from the slit came a sound.

SHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

It wasn't a shush. It was the sound of a thousand libraries burning. The sound of white noise.

Amal felt her knees buckle. The sound hit her like a physical blow. It scrambled her thoughts. It tried to erase her name.

Who am I? she thought. I am... I am...

She clutched the key. The cold iron bit into her palm.

I am Amal, the key anchored her. I am the noise.

She scrambled backward, knocking over a stack of boxes. "Come and get me, you ink-drinker!"

The Librarian stepped forward.

And the chase began.

Part V: The Ledger of Blood

Running through the Archive was like running through a dense forest. But instead of leaves, it was paper.

Amal sprinted down Aisle 1967. The shelves towered over her, blocking the light.

Behind her, she heard the sound.

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