Dried Flower Soaked Blood.

"This world has become rusty."

A girl spoke, sitting on a luxurious sofa, lacking any excitement, as a person stood behind her at a distance. There was an old globe on the table next to her. It was hard to tell what she was thinking, as the person even after having an idea of what it was, ignored it and gently suggested,

"I think that globe is pretty old, I will bring a new one, princess"

"No need. And I have told you not to refer to me like that."

"Excuse my persistence, but I must not forget my place even in this world. But I, a mere Servant, will try my hardest to not cause you any problem." Even though it had been quite some time since he dad arrived in this world, in the repeated tragedy engraved in the history, a future yet to come. He tried. Tried to never forget his duty—

"Speak less. All that aside, have you found any disturbance as of yet." Having lost interest, she shifted the topic to something more important.

"No, it has been the same from the last 5 years. It may be a long time for Humans, but in the pool of time. Its value doesn't even amount to a needle." Anticipation or aspiration his voice lacked any of them. Even duty after being performed for so long becomes detached.

"The future is still some years away, let's wait and see." She spoke in a tone signalling the end of conversation.

"Yes'' he walked away. Before he could exit the library, the place where they had their conversation, he heard almost silent words slip her tongue— along with exhaustion.

"Again—"

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***

In a new room, now there laid no boxes, things had been arranged in their places, the curtains didn't allow sunlight to penetrate, but where sunlight could not infiltrate, an artificial sound, a loud sound, an alarm, brought the guy lost in the world of slumber to the world of—

He still felt sleepy. On checking the time, he realised it was not his alarm which woke him from his slumber, but a call.

"Now, when did I put my phone on ringing mode."

Usually, his phone should be on vibration or silent mode but…

He had more things to deal with now, giving his previous thought not much thought he shifted his attention to the call. The origin of that call.

After getting ready for his new day, he left his apartment. Though he could make something to eat, and things were stable enough for him to prepare breakfast for himself, nonetheless it being the 3rd day after arrival, he had been accompanying someone from the last few days. As he reached the canteen, on a corner he could see 'that' someone sitting there, scrolling through her phone.

She didn't notice when he arrived at the canteen. But as he sat in front of her, her senses had already become aware of his presence, without looking to confirm her senses' judgement,

"You are late, Shin."

"Yeah I know, I slept late yesterday. Unpacking and arranging everything was more time-consuming than I had anticipated." The way the shifting department had packed his things was a hassle to open, it was good that he preferred a minimalist lifestyle, even then he realised, it can get messy if you do it alone.

"I said, I could help you. But you rejected my offer. You reap what you sow, I guess."

"And here I was being tragic. Anyways, what about you? Are you done?"

He was late, it wouldn't have been surprising.

But having guessed what he might be thinking, Sia said, "Didn't feel like leaving you to your own accord."

"I think I should be the one waiting. But thanks." Shin, surprised at unexpected generosity, showed gratitude.

He gave the usual order to the waiter. They had been having breakfast together from arrival so Shin already knew what she preferred to eat normally.

"That's on me," Shin said, as he looked towards Sia. She was looking at his hand.

"That, where did you get that from?"

Shin had a cut on his hand. It was a minor cut, anyone wouldn't have probably even noticed it unless intentionally looking for it.

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just setting my kitchen, call it bad luck one of the knives happens to be very sharp and heavy."

"You cook?"

"Basic stuff, wait do I seriously look like the non-cooking type…"

"No it's Just that, you know… Well I don't know how to cook." She wasn't surprised that he cooked but rather, it was instinctive, as a person who didn't enjoy cooking, it was a natural response, without any logic.

"Heh? Wait, really? I mean" Shin, lost as to how to take that information, looked for words but before he could do that Sia continued.

"Well It's not that I can't cook. It's just that there are so many less things that I can make taste good. And many which I just mess up most of the time." Shin understood, it was something you can't escape as a novice cook, for he too was bad at cooking some dishes and maybe even hated the exhausting prepwork.

"I am the same, but we can't be having breakfast here at the canteen everyday… So there is no choice but to learn basic cooking."

"I had Brother do most of the cooking so didn't get many opportunities to improve, and I am just too lazy to improve on it otherwise."

—Well that explains it, he thought.

Their order was brought to them when they were in the middle of this.

"Would you like something more, Sia?"

"It's already on you so there is nothing more."

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After they were finished with breakfast they headed back to the hall.

They were interested in exploring this sector; previously sacred to the point of literally being cut off from the outside world. Probably call it their nature,they didn't like to involve each other in each other's mess, you could call it one dimensional but that's how it was, even though they were aware of it.

"So what do you want to do now?"

It wasn't as they outright avoided each other, it was more of, let's check this place out together, sometimes. At the same time also managing to become familiar with the places.

"You have something in your mind?" Shin asked, as to confirm if she had plans.

"Nah. Well, will you be free this evening?"

Shin, having no idea of the future noded, with "Yeah."

"Then come to my apartment today. at 6 should do." What could it be? he wondered. He went through his plans for the day, verbally.

"Currently I am going to the sector library, and I don't have plans after that, so It shouldn't take much effort."

With having done with the details.

They went different ways.

"Ok. Then, see you in the evening."

***

Archive, that's what anyone would think looking from outside, Shin too was that anyone, until yesterday.

It was not that far from his apartment— well that's the word he had chosen for it, the place they lived didn't fit any normal everyday word they could use, building was like a hotel but at the same time the room or apartments were a house in itself, also it was more common for people to use words like apartment or house. Apartment hotel was not used by people, even though it came close to their situation.

The last time— yesterday when he entered the library, also his first time, it was completely silent, not because silence was the rule, but there were no humans present there, the air was silent as if humans' breathing was the only reason it produced sound — there was still some time for the library to close.

He had accepted that, that silence, that loneliness, that unexpected unease, and that strange comfort, until when he saw it.

The library was large, very large, divided into different sections. As he went deeper and deeper, even the silence became dead. The lights illuminated like an artificial moon, giving the sense that it was already night, which it half was. Probably in the deepest section of the Library, he stopped, not because it was his destination, but at the sight before him, someone was there—

"I don't think, It will be the same as yesterday," Shin said to himself. Maybe it was wishful thinking, maybe not, all he knew was, yesterday was special, he felt like it. There was no way it could be true.

Having his mind made up now he walked, walked deeper. The deeper he went, unlike yesterday, the silence didn't die. It was still silent enough for him to hear his footsteps Echo. The destination, or the section he was headed to was— He took the stairs, 1, 2 , 3 — 3rd floor, the highest floor, the floor above the archive.

Upon reaching the place, he could tell that this place was certainly built with a lot of care. The whole library had different sections, all designed differently which suited their aesthetic, each section gave a completely different aura than the other.

The place he reached, the place he saw yesterday, the place he met—

He shifted his attention, or more importantly, looked for the book he saw yesterday.

"I remember it was somewhere here."

It was just a glance but he still remembered how it stood out among other books on the shelf.

"Found it,"

He looked at its cover to confirm if it was the same book, he could take it home if he wanted to but he liked the atmosphere here, there was a strange comfort. Even then, when silence was dead.

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He was, going through the index as,

"That's a quite rare choice you have there." A voice, a familiar voice, whispered to him, caught his ear. He didn't realise that a person sitting some distance from him had closed the distance. Was he just too immersed in the book that he didn't notice? That didn't seem possible, he hadn't even started the first chapter. Then what could, it be also—

"I didn't recognise you, and when did you…"

"Well, how do I look? Cute right? How is my hair looking? I tried a new colour." While taking her white comfy hat off, she revealed her hair, her natural white hair faintly mixed with translucent purple created a serene effect. While her dressing sense matched that of a cosplayer, but in an aesthetically fluffy way.

"Did you change your whole character in just one night?" Shin spoke, still in awe, unable to process the huge contrast in her attire from yesterday, even though he could say the same thing about her hair. Still, categorising it in head as none of his business, didn't bother to expect the full story.

"Teh, I am glad you like it." the girl smiled

"I never said that, though I don't hate it." Shin, after correcting her, continued with her comment. "So what did you mean by rare?"

In literal sense it could mean that not many people read this book but due to his encounter with her yesterday he had realised that it wasn't that simple. Or more simply, there was more to it than her words implied. It felt like she had slipped that statement, which she had made at the start, out of the mind. He felt like he had bought an already dead topic back, even though it hadn't even been some minutes since that.

The silence continued, it's silence between them, he thought of—

Before he could break that silence, it was broken; unexpected.

"Stupidity."

Her sudden, disolated tone, caused Shin to raise an eye.

Waiting for her to elaborate, he maintained his silence. When she noticed her out-of-character attitude, she shifted her eyes to the book she was reading, both looking at the book in their hands. When only their awareness connected them, she spoke, elaborating her previous reply.

"That book you hold in your hands, is a book full of stupidity. Well, that's what I believe. The boy even after having lived a life full of misery, chose suffering in the end.

Some call it realistic. Even then, I can't help but despise it. People call it a tragedy, but for me it even fails to call itself a tragedy." Realising she said too much, excused herself.

"Pardon, I have spoken too much. Don't mind me."

She was a bit surprised as to why she said that, where did that sudden resentment come from? It wasn't like h—

"No, I don't mind, you got me more interested in the book anyway, even though I might not like it when I am done with it."

"Those are some, neutral words you spoke." After understanding it was all in her mind, or what it was in her mind didn't really matter, she sighed, coming back into the conversation.

"I hope you suffer reading that, like me. Pfft" a simple reserved laugh slipped with her sarcasm.

No one but Shin noticed that, it was that subtle, almost giving an illusion as if the silence separated them from others.

He wondered why she finished that book, if she didn't like it? But keeping that thought aside he replied.

"Sure thing, but if it will be all like you then, I guess, I am finishing this book like you."

"That." As if a past memory resurfaced, she smiled, a smile void of emotions— a self-pity— but yet it was elegant, living with no room for interpretation.

Shin waited for her to continue, but after some pause, she shifted the topic.

"Yesterday I didn't get to talk to you much, no, I mean we did talk, but it wasn't anything related to each other, right? Come to think of it, a boy and girl talking but nothing romantic. How soo not fun."

"Well you are right, but why would it be romantic from the start? even good novels take time to develop."

"Then should we start meeting each other daily"

"Then what, fall in love, kiss each other get married and"

"—Wait wait, You taking revenge on me!?"

"You noticed fast."

"Jeez, That's a nasty way of doing things, I wasn't expecting you to be the bold type."

"I got my revenge for yesterday, I will leave my action to your interpretation." Shin ignored her interpretation of him, he just didn't want to indulge in describing himself.

"Hmm, well let's see. I shouldn't call you bold but I lack the words, this feeling I have, ahh, well let's leave it at that." Just when she was to describe him, a sudden thought came in her mind, in fact, it never crossed their mind before, why? They didn't know. They talked like they were very familiar to each other but, in that, they kept forgetting the most obvious question that should have been asked long ago.

"What's your name?"

"Shin"

—well that's late for a question.

Maybe, not expected but on hearing his name…

" That's… are you new here?"

"Shouldn't that be pretty obvious?"

"How should that be? I mean sure your name is not common in upper sectors, wait did you assume I knew your name."

"Well that would be pretty creep— Shady of you to know my name."

"You didn't have to switch from creepy to shady. Also, Shady!? Well I guess, I would be creeped out as well if you all of sudden called my name."

A small laugh escaped his lips, imagining the creeped out face of the girl eloquently on his side. "Mfft, maybe."

"So, which sector are you from, 9?" the girl asked as if to confirm an already ready answer in her head.

Maybe it was her own observation, but it was not common for people in the upper sectors to have 'S' syllabus in their names, especially not the start. Maybe it was common knowledge, maybe not—

"Pretty accurate for a guess. I am from sector 9. I mean, was."

As if already anticipated his answer, "Heh, That's me for you." The girl gave a smug smile.

Sensing her knowledge, or familiarity, of this place was stronger than he had anticipated, a doubt, a confusion, an unease spread in his mind; still not aware of it he—

"About yesterday. So you weren't"

Already having sensed his question, even before he could form his question on his lips, she spoke.

"—I will leave that to your interpretation. I had never seen you before in the library, also that's a weird time for you to visit this place, yesterday. To tell you the truth, people don't come here after 6, and this place gets silent before dawn." Her words were vague, enough for anyone to reach their own conclusions, giving a piece for every visible missing puzzle piece. Maybe it was his curiosity, maybe a subjectively vague objective answer didn't satisfy him…

He wondered why she was there yesterday then? Also why isn't library closed by 6 if no one comes—

Not to pry into her personal choices, even though he was curious, he shifted his words to later…

"So shouldn't it be closed early."

"Well, you are right on mark. Most of the staff leave this place early. But that is just because there isn't much requirement. And it's also kind of a rule here, for it to be open regardless of people coming here or not. Even though on paper it says something else."

Maybe thinking, any further he bring his inner questions to a halt and said,

"I suppose, common logic is best." Suggesting the end of his curiosity. But then to his surprise—

"Anyways, not many people come here at night so not much is required to manage this place, even though it's a large place." The girl added, before nailing the final hammer.

They went on with some minor conversation, while immersing themselves in the world of words written on paper. Slowly the frequency of their talks lessened. Died. The silence overtook, then even it died, into something beyond that.

Minutes passed, then hour, then hours, when—

The girl noticed the boy who had returned back to the world of living, from his book, as he stood.

" —you leaving"

" Yeah, rendezvous."

Being satisfied with the brief answer to her brief reply, spoke,

"I see. well see you later then. Will you come tomorrow?"

He was about to say yes without any thought, If it was his usual self he would, but after it crossed his mind that he was forgetting—

"Well, I can't be sure, but I'm planning on coming if I get some free time."

Sensing that this could be the last time they would talk like this for a while, she gave a warm…

"Well, then, takecare."

Silence took over.

He realised that the section they were in now was completely silent, empty, of any other human other than them. He remembered the words she had spoken to him.

—I see.

He started to walk, the distance between them grew. But as if he realised something. –––Something he was forgetting.

"What is your name?"

He made it short, with no other strings attached, he asked a simple question, with a simple answer. The distance between them didn't allow them to whisper their words, nor was it so that they had to scream.

The girl spoke, for the first time, in a voice which resonated with the atmosphere, no one was there, other than him, it was directed at him. As if a bell, her voice resonated in his ears.

Her name was—

"—Aimee Emi."

***

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Red, the sky was almost turning crimson when he left the library. It was silent. The hustle and bustle wasn't there. And what little life that passed by him when he walked was ignored by his mind. As he walked to his apartment. Still…

Maybe it was strange, or the still lingering longing of immersion, or something simple.

The sky slowly reminded him of the book, a book that girl— Amiee detested. He hadn't finished it. He wanted not to form any opinion on it before then. Yet the words painted the same colour as the sky he saw, bloo—

—Crimson. Crimson was what the book conveyed, a tragedy with no salvation. Yet the crimson he saw currently, was not of tragedy; it looked alluring, as if asking the person to be immersed in them, to forget about their destiny.

That's why no one glared at it. Maybe appreciate its beauty for once. But that should be all. For all they knew the sun would eventually fall and the path they walked would turn dark. As if crimson was the prelude to dark that would befall, which uneased the animalistic mind of humans, even then in the world— that feared death.

Sinking in these thoughts which immersed his mind while he walked towards his apartment.

He reached.

There was still 1 hour left. Having been relieved from the time running against him he decided to take a bath early today.

"Saves me hassel before the sleep"

he didn't know, what kind of endeavour it was going to be? So he went with the casual clothes. Not like he had any other taste in fashion. He was simple, and his simple taste in his attire reflected that.

Checking, there was still some 20 minutes left, he left the room. He was quite hungry, it was normal for him to skip meals sometimes, but then he thought…

—She didn't move from there all the time I was there.

He left his room early. He was headed to Sia's apartment. But probably it was in his nature to intentionally never arrive early, he wandered, and took the long way before he reached the rendezvous point.

—Still 2 minutes early but, anyway.

He exhaled almost as if sighing. And then he Pressed the button— the bell.

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He heard someone's footsteps getting closer. Then the door opened like

— That book of___