“A day off?” The words rattled incredulously my mind, while replaying the conversation from earlier.

  “That's right,” Jack affirmed. You've done a lot already. You need time to recharge.”

  “Does this mean I'm part of the team?”

  Jack tilted his head in thought. “That's not my call to make...and personally...” he trailed off.

  “I know, 'it's too dangerous,' you keep saying.”

  Jack arched his brow knowingly, before digging deep into his jacket pocket. “Here's a stipend though, for your time...and lost wages.” A rubber banded wad of euros emerged and slipped into my palm.

  “That's it?” I scoffed in jest.

  “No,” Jack shook his head, and clasped a black bracelet around my wrist. “For tracking, just in case.”

  “Think I'm gonna run off with someone else?” I grinned.

  “I'm more concerned about someone running off with you.”

  I nodded thoughtfully. “I'll be okay, I'm resourceful.”

  “I know,” Jack smiled.

  That smile lingered in my mind, until I found my feet had taken me in front of the grand Biblioteca Angelica, in all its glory. I knew I couldn't resist, and found myself in no sense of danger, so it was time to check in...or at least, check out, the career I could've had.

  Upon entering and climbing the wide steps, I returned to the world of my passions; the rich scent of musty Augustan Manuscripts and various tomes reaching back to the 1600s, the sprawling shelves inlaid with texts from new and old ages, and the sliding library ladder, one of my favorite things, of course. It was the world of my dreams...and I'd lost it before I could even grasp it. Not that I blamed Jack, nor anyone else...but from one dream to another, his visage flashed in my mind.

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  I wandered throughout the public library endlessly, skimming through a wide assortment of books before I'd realized the hours had slipped away from me as well. The clock ticked loudly in my thoughts, as I'd noticed closing time was around the corner. The general public and sightseers had fled for the day, and left me to my own devices. However, I spotted a lone worked , her thick framed glasses dangling around a chain at her neck, while she shuffled some paperwork. I still felt like I should mention something about my lack of showing up for the job I'd tried so hard to attain.

  “Hello,” I said, traipsing up to the desk.

  The woman refused to look up from her paperwork. “The library's closing soon.”

  “I'm aware,” I followed up. “I actually had something else...”

  “We're not buying anything.” she cut back flatly.

  “I'm not soliciting.”

  “Not today.”she harangued me, proud and defiant.

  “No, was actually hired here, for a job.”

  “You'll have to come back tomorrow then, the day's almost over.”

  “You don't understand, my name is Ariana Hart, I was supposed to start here--”

  “Is this a joke?” The woman raised her eyes and shot daggers at me.

  “Uh, no?” I looked on in confusion.

  “Listen,” she hissed, “if you're some friend of hers coming in on some kind of prank, I don't have time for it.”

  “I...I don't understand.”

  “Ariana Hart came in last week, said that she couldn't take the job and had other obligations.”

  “What?” I stepped back, flabbergasted. “But I'm Ariana Hart.”

  “I guess I'm Ariana Hart too then,” the woman snidely replied.

  “This is serious,” I said, pawing for my bag with ID in it.

  “Take it up with someone else tomorrow, I'm off the clock,” she said, glancing at her watch and walking elsewhere. “Exit's that way,” she pointed annoyed.

  I sighed in frustration. Was someone pretending to be me? I had to tell Jack...things didn't seem right.

  As I sullenly walked towards the exit, I spotted a bald man, of readily built stature. He was dressed in a black suit, and leaned on one wall of the entryway, his arms crossed coolly while sporting slim black sunglasses. I clutched onto my bag tighter, as I approached.

  Suddenly, he stepped out into the center of the entryway, reaching deep inside his interior breast pocket. A pair of black leather gloves appeared, which he slipped on with ease, stretching his hands in them.

  I stopped in hesitation, feeling sweat lining my brow. Something else was not right here.

  The man held a moment, before he began walking toward me with malintent, a soulless grin plastered across his face and a dark gleam in his eye.

  I stumbled backwards. Fear brimming in my heart as it raced wildly. Something was definitely not right!