Chapter 2: a warning disobeyed

She walked further into the shop, at the back there was a man leaning against the wall in the shadows.He stepped into the light and she saw how old he looked.He was wearing a black shirt and black jeans,”you are free to look around,” he said with a velvety voice,”but don’t touch anything you’re not going to buy. And don’t go anywhere near the book.”He said.she was about to ask what he was talking about but before she could say anything he nodded behind her.Tanith turned around and saw a huge leather-bound book,”my name is Mr James,” said the man, “and this is my shop.”

Tanith looked back but Mr James was already leaving,disappearing back into the shadows.She went back to looking around the shop,trying her best to stay away from the book.She noticed a black curtain and walked up to it.She wearily pulled it back slightly.A long corridor stood before her the floor and ceiling were pitch black but the doors were of the brightest gold.She closed the curtain and walked away from it trying to subdue her curiosity.

Tanith found herself walking towards the book.She stared at the words engraved on the cover”The book of names”it said.She opened it(with much difficulty)unable to stop herself.Inside were endless names and dates that go back to the beginning of time.She went to the back of the book and saw names rapidly filling the pages.She felt the sudden urge to place her finger on a name she thought it was weird but it felt as though she would never be at as ease if she didn’t do this.She rested her finger on one of the names and her head was filled with the sound of a baby crying.

She lifted her finger and stood there for a moment stunned,then that moment ended and before she knew it she was flicking through the pages and seeing glimpses of people’s lives. She wondered what would happen if she wrote a name down it glowed green for a second then abruptly stopped.She felt something  and turned to see a parrot perched on her shoulder,”come along darling,”it said and flew away.She followed it without thinking and it led her to the curtain.It landed on a lever in front of the curtain,”pull,pull,”it repeated.She pulled the lever and went behind the curtain.

This time Tanith stepped into a corridor as black as night,apart from one door that was pure white.She walked up to it cautiously.She turned the handle and walked in.The first thing she saw were the bright hospital lights as she was looking around the room when a woman in a hospital gown walked in with a baby in her arms.She grabbed a bag and walked out the room,smiling at the baby and Tanith followed.