Chapter 24 - The Archivist's Door
No one moved after Clara's answer.
The words hung in the air, impossible to dismiss.
"Last Tuesday."
Margaret searched the girl's face for any sign she was joking, confused, or repeating something she did not understand. Instead, Clara simply waited, as though she had answered the most ordinary question imaginable.
Arthur stepped forward.
"Clara, how old are you?"
"Ten."
"And you've always lived here?"
She nodded.
"I help organize the memory rooms."
"The memory rooms?" Rebecca asked.
Clara smiled.
"The Archivist says memories are easier to protect than people."
Without another word, she walked toward the massive wooden door at the far end of the courtyard.
The others exchanged uncertain glances before following.
The closer they came, the more unusual the door appeared.
It wasn't locked.
It had no handle.
Instead, twelve brass emblems formed a circle around a smooth glass panel.
Margaret instinctively placed her hand against the glass.
The panel illuminated.
A calm mechanical voice echoed through hidden speakers.
"Identity confirmed."
One by one, additional lights appeared.
"Margaret Ellis."
"Daniel Ellis."
"Rebecca Brooks."
"Arthur Hale."
"Helen Brooks."
A long pause followed.
Then another sentence appeared across the glass.
ONE REGISTERED INDIVIDUAL IS MISSING.
Arthur frowned.
"There should only be five of us."
The display changed again.
WAITING FOR ELEANOR ELLIS.
Before anyone could react, the enormous door slowly opened inward.
Beyond it lay a circular office unlike anything they had expected.
Thousands of handwritten journals filled towering shelves.
Maps covered every wall.
Dozens of clocks displayed times from cities around the world.
Yet the chair behind the central desk remained empty.
Still warm.
Someone had left only moments before.
On the desk sat a teacup with steam still rising from it.
Beside the cup rested a handwritten note.
Margaret unfolded it carefully.
You arrived sooner than expected. Please don't let Clara see the next room.
May you like
At that exact moment, every clock inside the office stopped ticking.
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