The Book.

Lochlann was smoking a cigarette outside of the library.

He leaned against the corner of the building, though respectfully away enough from the door that he wouldn't disturb any of the students walking in or out of the building (and also to avoid getting yelled at by the librarian).

His dark hair was mussed just so that it looked as though Lochlann had just woken up, but he had on his normal jeans and he even managed to put on a black jacket, so he was definitely outside with the intention of being outside.

He had just finished his cigarette and was crushing the butt beneath his foot, picked it up to discard it when he noticed....

"Oh hai Marc,"

"Oh, Hey Marcus," Lochlann said, recognizing his recent tutor. He was holding a really interesting book and that had Lochlann's interest peaked, but he was reluctant to admit that in public. He dropped his voice and said, "What...what are you reading?"

“Not too bad, thanks,” Lochlann said, completing their small talk. Marcus held the book up and it looked a bit dull, but that was exactly what Lochlann liked in books.

He almost never talked about his interest in books and talking about his interest in books with another man was almost unheard of.

Lochlann’s fingers twitched. He wanted to touch that book in the worst way. He wanted to run his hands over the edges of the paper. He loved paper.

“It’s blank?” Lochlann asked, wanting to make sure he understood. His head had tilted slightly to the side, the gaze of a curious predator. “That’s kind of cool, though, to get such an old book. Why do you think it hasn’t been used all these years?”

Then, Lochlann blinked and shook his head.

Did he hear that right? Was he a little too tipsy for the day?

“Pull things out from books?” he asked.

"Huh," Lochlann remarked. He considered everything that Marcus had said so far, and when the other boy explained his powers, Lochlann's eyebrows shot up.

"Wow," he said. "That's....well, that's something. Have to admit, it's not often I get to say 'thats a sweet power' to someone on the island, at least, assuming you haven't pulled out like the Balrog or something."

Lochlann's face flushed for a moment as he realized that he might not have been so sensitive. Maybe something like that had happened. Christ, he needed a drink. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Do you think you're supposed to write in it maybe?" Lochlann asked. He shifted his weight from one hip to the other but his balance wasn't so great and he lurched forward.

"Fuck," he said. He caught himself on the bench, his face inches from Marcus, the book pressed up against him but, thankfully, it didn't look like Marcus or the book were hurt.

With how close their faces were, if Marcus was a girl, Lochlann probably would have tried to kiss him.

"Sorry," Lochlann said.

He wondered if he should admit what happened. It's not like Marcus would laugh about it. He didn't know what Lochlann was.

So there was no reason he'd laugh over the fact that Lochlann had a charlie horse.

"Definitely awkward, sorry about that," Lochlann said. He grunted and tried to shift his weight back but--


It must have been one hell of a Charlie Horse because, the next thing Lochlann knew, everything had gone white. Completely white.

Did he black out? Lochlann rubbed his face with the back of his hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The back of his calf was still a little cramped, but not bad enough to make him stumble, so he should have been okay by now, right?

Lochlann took a look around him.

At nothing.

He took a few steps and his feet made no real sound, just the slight crinkling of parchment.

He said, "Marcus?"

And then, he frowned, and asked the empty space, "Am...am I dead?"

"Okay," Lochlann said allowed. He looked around the empty space.

It felt like only a few seconds had passed, so he decided to trust that. He was never very good with time to begin with. He replayed everything that'd happened in his mind.

He saw Marcus. Marcus had a cool book. Lochlann's leg cramped and he stumbled into him. Marcus said this is awkward and then Lochlann ended up here.

Did his leg cramp send him here? Was Marcus saying this is awkward because of how dangerously close they were? Or...did Marcus see something that Lochlann couldn't see? Maybe he was saying this is awkward because he knew Lochlann would end up....wherever the hell this was.

Lochlann took a deep breath.

"okay," he said again. He hoped time was working the same way. It would kind of suck to find out he'd really been trapped somewhere for like a bajillion years while it only felt like a few seconds here. That sounded more like fae magic, though. Lochlann stuck his hand into his pocket, unscrewed the lid off his flask, and took a drink.

It...wouldn't suck to come back and realize everyone who knew him was gone, though, would it? It was almost like dying but he got to stay alive.

Lochlann played with his necklace for a moment and tried to think of a way out of...wherever this was.