Chapter 26 - The Library Beneath the World
Nearly twenty minutes later, the train emerged into an enormous underground cavern.
Everyone instinctively stood.
Before them stretched what appeared to be an underground city.
Stone bridges crossed deep chasms.
Massive support columns disappeared into darkness overhead.
At the center stood an astonishing circular building constructed entirely of white stone.
Richard stared silently.
"I've seen those columns before."
Michael nodded.
"They inspired the hotel lobby."
The train stopped beside a marble platform.
Above the entrance stood a weathered inscription.
The Archive of Original Records.
Daniel frowned.
"What kind of archive?"
Michael answered,
"The one history forgot."
Inside, endless shelves stretched farther than the eye could follow.
Books.
Ledgers.
Photographs.
Blueprints.
Film reels.
Audio recordings.
Every shelf carried dates rather than subjects.
One librarian approached them slowly.
She appeared to be in her seventies.
Yet her posture remained perfectly straight.
She looked directly at Richard.
"Founder One."
Richard blinked.
"You know me?"
"I've been waiting for twenty-eight years."
She handed him a small brass token.
Engraved upon it was the number:
13.
"The last archivist left instructions."
"Jonathan?"
She nodded.
"He said his father would eventually arrive."
Richard accepted the token.
"Where is he?"
The librarian looked toward the highest level of the archive.
"I cannot answer."
"Why not?"
"Because no one has ever confirmed whether Jonathan became a prisoner..."
She paused.
"...or a guardian."
Silence settled over the archive.
Then every light dimmed simultaneously.
Somewhere high above the endless shelves...
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
May you like
Measured.
Someone else was already inside the Archive.
