02. The Blue Man
“This corridor is different somehow,” Theresa said as they turned the corner. It wasn’t just the fact that it wasn’t very wide, it was the feel of it.
Though it was hard to tell if it was this corridor that made her feel hopeful or her that already felt hopeful and projected it onto the corridor.
“I don’t see anything different about it,” Emma said. “Oh, I guess maybe except that weirdo down there.”
She pointed to the far end of the corridor. Way down there… and only just visible was a figure.
“Oh, maybe it’s someone who knows where we are?”
“I doubt it. I told you, it’s bound to be a weirdo. You attract them.”
“No, but Emma…”
This person had to know something. She had to reach him for sure.
“I just… I have to…”
“Theresa, stop.”
But she didn’t listen to the girl, she started running.
She ran, not minding the cold that swept over her as she ran further down the corridor. Not minding anything. She had to reach this person – it was the only thing that mattered right now. The only thing that was right…
So focused was she on the end-goal that she bumped headfirst into someone and fell over.
“Wow, easy there,” a voice said.
She looked up to see… quite the strange face.
“Need a hand?”
“Um… thanks.”
Emma came running over to them, looking the man up and down.
“Lady,” she said. “You just attract weird.”
“Way to judge people on skin tone,” the guy said.
Theresa shook her head. Well, he was blue – that was kind of an extraordinary skin tone if there ever was one. But the way he was dressed certainly wasn't ordinary either.
Argh, but she couldn’t think of that right now. There was that man at the end of the corridor and-
“He’s gone!” she said.
“It’s for the best,” the blue man said. “You ought to stay away from him.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s a freak,” Emma said. “You attract freaks and weirdos.”
“Well, listen to the little lady.” The blue man sighed. “I don’t know if he’s a weirdo, but he is gone and it’s supposed to stay that way. He’s not supposed to be here.”
“What does that mean? We aren’t supposed to be here either.”
“Please, just trust me, Theresa.”
“Wait, you know my name?”
“Trust me.”
Emma snorted. “Yes, Theresa, trust the weird, blue man who knows your name for no good reason, and who turned the light blue. I’m sure nothing could ever go wrong.”
He smiled at the two of them.
“Well, in any case, we’d better get you two out of here, right?”
Finally, that was something Theresa could get behind. She eyed him eagerly, waiting for him to start doing some magic trick that would get them out of there. Instead, he just blinked, she got dizzy and when she opened her eyes…
Her surroundings had changed.
“Hey, wait, what…? You didn’t get us out. We’re still in the Library.”
“Oh, I can’t get you out of the Library, not yet at least.”
“I’m… so confused. Why…”
“Look Theresa, there’s a doggie! Oh look he’s so cute!”
“A… a dog?”
“Oh you are such a cute little doggie. Yes you are. The cutest little doggie…”
“I guess he’s cute. I’m not… very good with dogs.”
“You said the same thing about children,” the blue man said.
“I… I did what? Do we know each other.”
He sighed. “I can’t say anything. There are only about 97 things you need to know, but not right now; it’s too early.”
“You don’t make any sense.”
“Oh you are such a good boy!” Emma giggled as the dog licked her ear.
Theresa turned to look at her. “You’ve pretty much hated everyone else we’ve met so far but that dog…”
“Of course I didn’t like the others. They were people. It’s different with the doggie.”
“Isn’t that right, Biggles? Yes, you are such a good little doggie and you’re so cute!”
“Biggles?”
“Well, I guess it’s safe to leave you for now,” the blue man said, already turning to leave, despite them being in a square room with no apparent way to exit. “I’ll see you around, Theresa.”
“Wait, stop. Who are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“If you know who I am, yes, it does.”
“In that case, you can call me Knight. That’s all I can say for now. It’ll all come together in time, trust me – you’re just not ready yet.”
Once again he was preparing to leave, but Theresa grabbed his sleeve. “Wait, Knight. As in Knightley.”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s a name from my favourite novel. Again. Like Emma.”
“Give it time, Theresa. Oh, and stay away from the man in white. You don’t want to get burned.”
Then he turned and vanished into thin air.