Chapter 1
The library is usually barren. Devoid of any life form except for the occasional scurrying of a mouse. There are the sometimes wanderers, the rare high school student who looks about for reading material.
Cemetery Hill is a quiet little town deep into the woods of Pennsylvania. It has very few occupants, with one of them being Sterling Greene. He sits behind a desk that looks all too big in comparison to his small frame. It’s located in the heart of the libraries archives, as if it’s placement is supposed to be open and inviting for potential visitors. Though there won’t be any, not now or ever. This part of the library is cut off, a quiet section that holds the towns history. Sterling was told it would be an honor for him to hold the position. Only those with the gift could pursue such a coveted role.
Even living with Grandpa Greene, most days are spent alone.
That’s Sterlings life, really. He’s used to being alone. Used to the seclusion. It’s a rule established before Sterling could proper talk or walk. Do not engage with the people of the town, do not touch anyone. Remain reserved.
You are to obey.
You are destined for something great.
Sterlings thin and rather short fingers are curled around a mug of coffee. His second or third of his shift, and he is left alone with his usual musings as he fills out paperwork. It’s all rather mundane, and his eyes roam over to the large slither of window to his side. To the sun beaming in through the slit, it often sits with him. The yearning to leave, just as Amadeus; his brother did.
However, Amadeus didn’t have the gift of foresight.
The family blessing, Sterling grandpa would tell him when they would sit together. The back porch would be littered with plants of all types. Sitting and soaking in the rays of sun, breathing in and out in the warmth of Pennsylvania summer.
The blessing Sterling isn’t allowed to use. Not yet. It’s not time.
Sterling lets a sigh escape his lips and he pushes away from his desk to stand. He stretches his arms over his head, flexing the muscles that ache from underuse. Sterling wipes at his eyes, at the tired from staying up all of last night in the archives. His shifts always start as the sun makes a slow descent from the sky. Slowly inching downwards until the moon crawls her way to the throne.
Most nights Sterling gets a good two or three hours of sleep before signing onto his favorite forum. A group of nerds who write silly stories together. Stories of love, adventure and fantasy. A place of escapism.
It’s nothing like his real life.
When Sterling pulls his hand away from his face, his vision free from the dark he’s created; he jumps. Before him is what was not there a mere few minutes ago. He has to squeeze his eyes shut and open them again, to assure he’s not imagining it.
In the aisle directly in front of Sterling there is a man that looks no older than himself. Atop his head the man has shocking blue hair, it’s what stands out to Sterling the most. He’s thin, and not much taller than Sterling pathetic length of 5’5.
Sterling knows no one is supposed to be in this part of the library. He knows it, yet as his lips part to tell the other, he presses them back together. Watching the way blue boy gingerly runs his fingertips across the surface of leather bound books. It’s curiosity that Sterling finds himself feeling. He must be looking for something.
So instead of telling blue off, Sterling sits back down. He presses the lip of his coffee mug to his mouth and takes a sip.
Sterling doesn’t get to talk to people much, isn’t allowed to to be around many others besides his family. As he watches the other boy from behind his coffee, he feels the desire to be close to him. If only to fill the gnawing loneliness in the pit of his stomach. It’s like poison, coating his internals with it. They’ve been soaking in the lonely for a long time; and he can’t help but look up from his paperwork every now and then. Watch the blue boy as he sits down, starts skimming through one of the easier reads. The more “public” records of the town.
It’s quiet, but not uncomfortable. The sound of pages turning is soothing. And Sterling allows this person close, even knowing that nothing is a secret in a family of people who can see the future.
Please stay.
It shocks Sterling that he thinks it.
Not many people do, not Amadeus; who is far away at PenState. Nor his mother, who encouraged him to move in with his grandfather, what you need will be with him.
So when Sterling finished his homeschooling in the quiet family home located a good few towns over, he was shipped to live with his grandpa.
And if not being able to leave the quiet little house with his mother and brother was lonely, living with Arthur Greene is like being in reclusive hell.
Sterling bites at his lips as he watches blue, a part of him yearning to say something. Break the silence before the chance slips between his fingers.
He doesn’t.
