Chapter Two

Monday, July 25, 2020 at 6:15pm

“You’re late.” Ms. Waters, the librarian, said. She pushed her 1960s pink plastic-framed glasses up with her boney index finger. She was sitting stiff as a board at the reception desk. Ms. Waters was a thin but a fairly attractive, middle-aged woman. Her dark wavy hair was pulled back in a tight bun that made her eyes look wide and thin. Her white collared shirt was buttoned all the way up to her neck. She was a wearing a light pink, fuzzy cardigan that matched her glasses perfectly. Every time Destiny saw Ms. Waters she was always poised and polished without a single hair out of place. She wore barely any makeup and didn’t really need any. Her mocha skin had a golden undertone and her lips were naturally pink. She wore no ring on her left finger and Destiny had never heard her mention anything about having a husband or children.

“And I couldn’t help but notice you left the book cart out in the stacks last night. You also forgot to lock up the back door. I’m afraid I’m going to have to write you up.” Write me up to who? Destiny thought. She and Ms. Waters were the only ones who worked at Brookside Public Library.

“Whatever you say, Ms. Waters.” Destiny was used to Ms. Waters and her rigid rules about putting everything it its “rightful place”. Since Destiny Started Working here she had been written up for everything from leaving out trash on the desk to forgetting to wipe down and disinfect all the surfaces and chairs at the end of each day. It was this obsessive compulsive behavior that Destiny had grown accustomed to after years of living with the biggest tyrant of all - her adoptive mother Kimberly Rogers. At least Ms. Waters only scolded rather than beat Destiny into submission. Destiny understood the type of person who desperately needed to feel in control. It was years before Destiny realized the source of the abuse from mommy dearest was a cycle that started and ended with Mr. Wayne Rogers. Anytime Wayne was having a lousy day, he took it out on Kimberly who in turn took it out on her and Nick. Destiny remembered sitting in this very library when she was 12 years old, reading a psychology book that explained the mentality behind domestic abuse. It helped her to understand that those who sought power and dominance over those they were threatened by.

Destiny always had a love of books and reading because it helped her escape her world and live in someone else’s fantasy, if only temporarily. But it was then that Destiny fell in love with learning and acquiring knowledge. It was empowering. Ever since, it had been Destiny’s dream to go to college and get her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work. For years, Destiny has been putting away every extra penny, saving for school tuition. The fact that she had dropped out of high school when she was 16 wasn’t going to stop her. A couple years ago, Destiny achieved her GED. And now, she only needed to save up another $3,500 for the first semester’s tuition at Brookside City College.

“And one other thing…” Ms. Waters said. “Someone called here earlier asking for you. He left you a message refused to leave his name.”

“What did he say?” Destiny asked, feigning disinterest.

“He said, ‘he’s sorry he missed you, but hopefully he can catch you later in history at 11’. I assume he meant history class? I didn’t know you were going to school.” Ms. Waters said.

“Oh, yes. Right...I have a history class at 11 tomorrow morning.” Destiny lied. She tried to seem casual but Ms. Waters appeared skeptical. Destiny assumed the call was from one of her regular customers coming up to pick up the usual ounce of marijuana. She didn’t want Ms. Waters to know that.

“Mmhmm. Alright. Well I’ll be going now. Make sure you wipe down all the counters before you leave tonight.” She ordered.

“Sure, Ms. Waters. Enjoy your evening.” Ms. Waters grunted and left the library.

---

Destiny was waiting anxiously for her eleven o’clock customer to arrive. She was leaning back in her chair, her black combat boots resting on the reception desk. She had been staring at her cell phone for the past half-hour willing it to ring. The ticks of the noisy, wood-paneled antique clock above her head taunted her with each loud second. Eleven forty-six.

“Where in the world is this guy?” She said aloud. It is a one of her regulars.

Finally, her phone began vibrating alerting her to a new text message.

Hey Zoe, need an ounce. Packing?. It was a text message from Birdman. Destiny never called her customers by their real names, she always used a pseudonym. It had been one of Nick’s rules. It provided a certain amount of anonymity that helped avoid detection from the cops. She called this guy Birdman because he had a long nose like a beak and floppy wings under his arms.

She texted back, Meet you in the stacks. History.

Destiny got out of her chair, grateful to stretch her legs. Brookside Public Library rarely got any visitors throughout the day so it came as no surprise that it was completely deserted at this hour. Destiny enjoyed the quiet though. It was the main reason she had applied for this job. It gave her privacy, a paycheck, and an inconspicuous place to deal where she didn’t have to worry about getting caught.

If it wasn’t Ms. Waters’ snarky attitude that kept students away, then it was probably the fact that there were no computers or internet access. To most others her age, the library was outdated, but Destiny found it to be quaint. It was the only explanation for why she was willing to work until closing night after night. The extra $11.00 an hour didn’t hurt either.

Destiny grabbed the book cart and loaded it with the return books from behind the reception desk. Every week the books had to be put away. Most of the time there weren’t any return books because there were hardly any customers. But tonight, there were three.

“Might as well put these away while I’m out. Don’t want Ms. Waters to have a hissy fit in the morning if she sees that I didn’t finish what little work needed to be done around her.” She said aloud.

Even though the old library was pretty much abandoned, Ms. Waters, the librarian, still took pride in her duties. She obsessed over the catalog system. Every book had to be its correct place right down to the last letter and decimal point.

As Destiny began pushing the cart towards the back of the library where the history section was located, she couldn’t help but marvel at the library’s beauty. This was not your ordinary library. There were countless shelves along the walls filled with classic books, some of which were first editions. It was dusky and dimly lit with only a few sconces light her pathway. The library smelled musty, like the inside of an attic in an abandoned house. The air was cold and damp, sending a chill down Destiny’s spine as she continued to wheel the cart. The silence was deafening -- the sound of the slight squeak of the cart echoing against the marble floor.

Birdman was waiting for her in the history section.

“Hey Zoe, what’s good girl?”

“Here. You kept me waiting for 45 minutes. Next time I’ll smoke the shit.” Destiny pulled a tiny bag of weed out of her pocket and held it up. Birdman pull some money out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“You ain't’ gotta be like that girl.”

“Whatever.”

“Thanks, Zoe I appreciate it. Catch you on the flip.” With that Birdman left the library. Finally it was time to clock out.

Destiny clicked off the desk lamp and walked out the front door.

The library didn’t appear as old and dilapidated under the forgiving gleam of the moonlight. The giant pillars and white stony walls towered over Destiny. The library looked like a historic landmark with its silver dome ornamenting the top of the building. Destiny remembered going there after school as a child to prolong going to the group home where she lived. It was before she knew Nick and it was the only place she felt safe for a long time. She used to imagine it was a castle that guarded her from monsters and demons. Later, Brookside library had been a protective shelter for her when she was living on the streets. On many dreadful rainy days and nights she sought the comfort of the library where she felt warm and safe.

A gentle breeze blew, quickly reminding Destiny that she wasn’t wearing any sleeves. It was an unseasonably cool night for July in Brookside, and her graphic muscle tee and harem parents were hardly warm enough. She tilted her head up to enjoy the view of the dark blue sky, and let nighttime wash over her. To be in the heart of Brookside, the area surrounding the library was welcomingly calm at this time of night. Darkness stretched ahead as far as the eye could see. The dark clouds moved quietly over the crescent moon. The birds were silenced -- nothing but the soothing chirp of the crickets could be heard for miles. No one dared walk the streets of East Brookside at this hour except those looking for trouble. She made her way across the pavement towards the bus stop half a block away.

Destiny sat on the cold bench, grateful for the partition, partially shielding her from the wind, and waited for the next 319 bus to South Brookside.

---

It was nearly 2am before Destiny arrived at her apartment. She was exhausted and glad to be home. Her bedroom was furnished on a scanty budget but it was cozy and full of warmth. The room contained a twin bed, no frame, and a quilt she has fastened together out of scraps of fabric she’d found. In the middle of the room was a small dining table with two mix-matched chairs neatly tucked away in the tiny kitchen. The moon was peeking in from the skylight, illuminating the room. There was a small dresser near the bed. Sitting on top was book titled, “The Holy Bible”.

Destiny opened up the cover revealing a container for storage. Inside was her college fund - all the money she had been saving for the last two years. Destiny used it as a book safe. She figured no one would think to look for money inside a bible. Destiny didn’t trust banks. All they did was deduct fees and provide low interest rates.

She dug inside her pants pocket and pulled out the tips she had made that morning at Roxanne’s diner, about $47. Altogether it was $5,149. Only $3,351 to go, she thought.

Destiny removed the green cloak from her bag. It was soft, made of rich velvet that almost felt like fur. It had gold trim around the edges. The cloak smelled of fresh pine and sweet rain. Who in the world would wear a cloak like this, especially in the middle of summer, she thought.

“Been waiting for this all day.” She said. Destiny pulled out a joint from her pocket. She grabbed the lighter out of her tote bag. It was a gift Nick had given her six years ago. It was gold and engraved with the letter “Z”. Not the most traditional gift a brother gives to his little sister but then again Nick was not a traditional guy. That was what she had loved most about him. Destiny put the joint in her mouth and lit it.

“Ah…” she exhaled. It was a definite relief after the stress of today. She welcomed the familiar taste and smell. She inhaled again and relaxed on her bed while the calming effect of the marijuana took over.

“Grr…” It was a low, familiar growl right on cue. From the shadows came the dark wolf, its body crouched low to the ground. Its yellow eyes showed through the darkness like two flashlights.

“Long time no see, Wolf.” Destiny said casually. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” The wolf stepped forward, its charcoal gray tufts of fur glistened in the moonlight.

“Hello, sister.” The wolf bellowed. “I’ve come to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?”

“It is imperative that you listen to what I have to say.” The wolf’s mouth never moved when it spoke but somehow Destiny could understand it. “The dark day is upon us. God’s spirit grows weaker with each passing day while the Holy Mother grows stronger. Only the light can save us. You must help her find the light.”

“The light?”

“Yes, Sister. Search for the White Winged Lion. He will keep you safe.”

“We are in the city. Where do you expect me to find a lion? At the Brookside zoo.”

“Fret not, Sister. Your heart will show you the way.” With that the wolf bowed its head to Destiny and stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

When Destiny was younger, the wolf had invaded her dreams and awakened her nightmares. The wolf’s visits always seemed to coincide with an impending tragedy. Right after Nick disappeared was when she started having recurring nightmares of a dark wolf chasing her through the woods. The day Nick died, she had received an unexpected visit from the mysterious wolf, warning Destiny of the great sadness and heartache that was to come. Ever since, the wolf showed up occasionally when Destiny gets high.

“I’ve got to stop smoking this shit.” Destiny muttered as she put out the joint in the ashtray next to her bed. She could no longer keep her eyes open. She let the haze of inebriation take over as she drifted off into a deep slumber.