In every library there is a book that kills...

In every library there is a book that kills...

And this library was no different. In fact, Marley wanted to prove to me just how correct she was in telling me this. Her curly, golden hair and tanned face proved to me we were going to have another adventure this summer. Every summer since we met in third grade had always been a thrill ride with her during the summer. Now, two years later, this was sure to be the best.

As she ran across the street, I stopped. The truck came fast, way too fast, around the corner. The trucker saw Marley too late. I froze. The truck slammed on his brakes, and came to a complete hault barely missing Marley, as she made it to the sidewalk, on the other side. She turned around, totally unaware and unfazed by what just happened. Her freckled face and clear blue eys beamed at me once again, then smiled and waved at the disbelieving trucker. I knew he probably wouldn't sleep for the next few nights thinking about how close he came to hitting such an angel.

I looked both ways and ran across the street. We made it up the wide stairs of the LaTour Public Library the sun shining, the sky bright and blue.

Once inside she told me outright, "I'm going to find that book and I know just where to look!"

Down row after row we went. Scouring back and forth searching for that one book.

"Where did you get such an idea, Marley? How could it kill?" I queried.

We reached the end of the last row and she stopped abruptly. "This is it!" She stated.

She reached to the chest height shelf and pulled the dusty heavy book out. It was covered in blackend tooled leather and oversized for her. I felt a sheer sense of excitement and wonderment to see what she would reveal. Clearly, she knew what she was talking about.

As she looked at me, she slowly opened the book, the pages were worn and old and oversized for her small arms.

"One more page," she whispered to me. I could harldy keep myself together.

As the page turned, a loud thunder clap rang out through the shelves, echoing ringing almost burning, in my ears. Startled, I jumped back in bewilderment, falling to the ground.

As I looked up, Marley stared at me, still standing in her own disbelief. "I didn't know, I didn't know." she said, quietly shaking her head. A tear ran down her eye and dropped upon her bright white blouse.

Only then did I see the blood red stain blossoming like a rose..