Ca-caw ca-caw, the screech of a crow echoed through the library. Tamara glanced around, wondering who had let the crow inside. Had it came down through the rafters like the starling did that one time in middle school?
The bird screeched again and Tamara turned on her heel, deciding that she was ready to leave. The black book was tucked firmly under her arm, because Tamara wasn't so sure the woman in the strange costume hadn't been right. They had taken something that wasn't theirs. It could have been a faeries.
Another screech sounded, closer to Tamara this time. She looked over her shoulder to see the bird flying towards her, the tips of its wings brushing against the edges of the bookshelves, knocking books off if they stuck out too far. The crow wasn't slowing down. Tamara doubled her pace, taking long, quick strides. The bird screeched again and she covered her ears, still holding tight to the black book. Not sure what else to do Tamara made a run for it.
The crow's wings cut swiftly through the air and it let out another screech. Tamara let out a startled cry and rounded the next corner, cutting down another row of shelves. Surely, now that she was out of the dumb bird's way it would let her be. The crow flew around the corner and headed for Tamara again. She was panting, her heart thumping against her ribcage. What the hell did this damn bird want?
She turned to run, but this particular roll of shelves ended with a dead end. It went nowhere, except the back wall of the library lined with high shelves. Having no other defense against the bird, Tamara raised the book in front of her face with both hands and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
The crow didn't fly into the book. Instead it came to a stop just above the book. Its wings outstretched and flapping, to keep it up. It turned its head to one side and looked at Tamara with a single large round ebony eye, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Her grip on the book faltered and it slipped from her grasp. The crow's black talon's wrapped around the book's cover and it squawked at her before flying off, carrying the book. Tamara chased after the bird, hoping to retrieve the library book, knowing her mom would pitch a fit if her account was fined for a lost or stolen book.
“No running in the library!” the librarian shouted, slamming the book she was reading onto the check out desk. The thump it produced echoed through the library. Several other patrons looked up and Tamara felt the heat rising on her cheeks.
“That crow took a book!”
“What crow?” the librarian asked, crossing her arms.
“You didn't see that huge freakin' bird?” Tamara asked, throwing her hands up, “It was huge! Even if you didn't see it, you must have heard it! One of you must have heard it!”
Tamara looked from the librarian to the other patrons she could see. Everyone was shaking their head and a few, having grown bored of the spectacle returned to their books.
“Really, young lady, just apologize for running in the library,” an elderly woman said, “There's no need to make up stories.”
“I'm not making it up!” Tamara shouted, stomping her foot, “How could you not see it?”
“I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” the librarian said.
“What?'
“You're disturbing the other patrons. I can't allow that at this establishment.”
“Fine, but I'm not paying for the book the bird stole!” Tamara said and stomped towards the front doors. Laughter echoed behind her, sounding unnervingly like the woman who had thrown the book at her head. Tamara pushed open one of the large double doors and stepped outside.
A thick fog had settled over the parking lot and the park across the street. Tamara pulled her hands into her sleeves and shivered. Not wanting to risk her mom's wrath with a phone call, just in case, she was out shopping Tamara decided it was best not to call her for a ride. A light mist of rain was beginning to form on the air, making Tamara wish she had her own car. Not that it was likely to happen. Even if she were to get an after school job her mom had made it clear that the entirety of the money would be deposited into her college savings account.
Tamara walked across the parking lot, careful to keep her distance from the flock of black birds congregating around a piece of discarded candy. Her fingers trembled inside her sleeves as she began to mull over what had happened inside the library. She didn't want to admit it, but it was beginning to make sense. What else could possibly explain the tiny hand prints on her mirror?
She retrieved her cell phone and punched in Hayden's number. It rang six times before he answered it. Was he angry with her for skipping out on practice? After all, she did suck at chess and skipping out on practice meant she would be even less prepared for the next tournament.
“Thought you weren't feeling well?” he answered.
“I'm not and the library just made it worse.”
“Are you going to fangirl on me? What did you read that made you cry?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That's what girl's do when they read, isn't it?”
“Yeah, some of them I guess,” Tamara shrugged, “but that's not why I'm calling you.”
“Don't worry there weren't any notes from practice,” he chuckled.
“Hayden, can you come pick me up at the library?”
“Ah, so that's why you really called me.”
“Well, not exactly. I do need a ride home, but I also need to talk to you.”