Catastrophic

Austen was standing in front of their house, raising one eyebrow, and arms folded, "Where did you go?"

Their house is primarily constructed of bamboo. The roof was covered by thatch, the lower floor was about five to six feet in height. They walk towards the door together while Austen is approaching with a suspicious look.

"I thought wild animals already slaughtered you."

"Oh! I thought you were the wild beast," Grayson mocked.

"If I were the beast I won't eat you. Thinking about it, I feel nauseous."

They are fighting when Austen's mother peeks out the window, "Why haven't you come in yet?"

"Coming up, mother."

They entered the house and Grayson smell the food. He saw dim sums, spring rolls, chicken with chestnuts, and more other food.

While eating, Austen introduces them. He pointed his family one by one, "These are my parents, Ava and George. This boy here is my brother and my sister. They are twins."

"I am Grayson and this is Elijah," he introduced.

"Is there any place that allows us to rent a room?" Elijah asked.

"Why would you rent when you can stay here? There are three rooms. The opposite of my room beside this kitchen is vacant. My brother and sister are sleeping with me. You and Grayson can share the room."

"That's right. You can save money. Reserving a place to stay is pretty expensive here," Ava encouraged.

"Thank you for the offer but there are things that we have to do aside from taking a vacation," he said and continues, "We will go to the bookshelves tomorrow, may I know where is the exact location?"

"I already told you, I will help you," Austen said.

"You've gone for a long time, you should spend your time with your family," Elijah said and open his mouth to bite the spring roll.

"It's still afternoon, you rest first and spend the night here. Tomorrow morning, I will guide you through there," George volunteers.

Shadow of dusk starts to chase the light of the sun. The stars and moon began to communicate. Birds stopped singing. Fireflies take over and create a small noise.

Grayson and Elijah set a fabric cloth on the grass. They lay their back and stare at the moon.

"Every moment I watch the stars, my feeling is confused. I used to gaze at them with my mother but after I lost her, watching them is just giving me misery," Grayson sniffed.

Elijah did not look and was silent. Grayson resume.

"She said when a people died, they will become a star. They would watch their loved ones from there to here and guide them. Did she become one? Is she watching me?"

Elijah sat and replied, "Stars revealed by the darkness. Don't look at the darkness but instead at the stars."

Grayson opens his mouth but closed it again.

Austen comes out to call them, "Hey! The newscaster on the radio said there will be a storm. Go back inside, the weather is not good and rain will start to pour soon."

Elijah stands up and offers his hand to Grayson. He pulled him up and fold the fabric cloth and get inside together. They run into Ava. She gave them a blanket and two pillows.

Elijah received it and leave the blanket and pillow in Grayson's hand. The man look at him.

"I'll sleep on the floor and use it," Elijah said while showing the fabric clothes they use a while ago, "you use the bed."

Grayson didn't insist because he thinks Elijah doesn't like to sleep beside him.

The night is heavy, the water knocks on the window, coming forcefully. A light flickers from the outside.

Grayson gets up to check Elijah. He saw him bent his body because of no blanket and cold floor. He leaned and shakes his arm to wake him up, "Come here. You will get sick if you stay there. Let's share the bed and blanket."

Elijah didn't decline because he is really cold.

Sun hanging in a pink haze of clouds and smog. The sky was low and gray. Roosters started up to crow.

Grayson woke up and go out. He greets Ava who's preparing breakfast.

"Austen is outside. The day is beautiful today," she smiled.

He stands on the side of the door near of wooden stairs, watching Austen. Austen is throwing white rice at the small chickens when he noticed him.

"After you eat, prepare your things because my father would climb on the mountain later. You mentioned that you are going to the Slacks."

"Slacks?"

.

"Ah! That's the name of the library."

"Food is ready!"

Grayson entered the bathroom to wash his face and go to their room. After, he wakes up Elijah.

Elijah gets up and straightly went to the bathroom to wash his face too. Grayson went to the kitchen first.

Thenceforward—a carriage arrived. Elijah picks their luggage, at the same time Grayson saying thank you to Ava.

Latterly, George made the coachman halt in a row of red brick houses.

"I would love to take you immediately at the Slacks but it would be difficult for you— having your things with you. These are the only rent houses I know. If you walk straight to this lane, you will see a church and public hot spring. Go there and you will see an alley. Afterward, you can finally sight the library."

"Thank you so much, Mr. George. Take care on your way home," Grayson reminds.

They knocked on one of the doors that has a poster. Room for rent.

A woman appeared chewing bubble gum, bending and holding his waist. When he saw what in Grayson's back her face brightened up.

"Oh my! Oh my! Are you looking for a room?"

"Yes! We preferred two rooms, please," Elijah answered.

The lady guides them to the second floor and stops at the end of two doors in the corridor.

"This is your room, we can talk about the payment later."

"Arrange your things. As soon as you're done, we will go to the library," Elijah placed Grayson's suitcase in the first room and left. Afterwhich—he knocked.

"Let's leave early, so we're not too late when going back."

They reached the library, it's really big. As soon as they entered, they saw books and abstract paintings pair with brown walls and floor. However, with these many books, how can they gather information.

Each column and rows of the bookshelves have a way to go through—to see different books without using a ladder since they have their staircase made with bamboo.

Elijah and Grayson move forward to the librarian. The librarian asked their names and small solicit.

As they wonder—novels, collections of short stories, poetry, Non-Fiction Books: Reference books including encyclopedias, textbooks, instruction manuals, and cookbooks are all they can see.

"Where on earth can we find information?" Grayson sulked.

Elijah closed the book and crouched to his seat, "I shouldn't have declined Austen's offer."

Elijah grabbed Grayson's arm and exit the library. He let go of the arm and wait for the carriage to pass.

"Where are we going?"

"To Austen's house."

"Why?"

"To ask some help."

A carriage is approaching, so Grayson did not ask anymore.

As soon as they arrived, Austen laugh at them, "I told you, you will need me!"

Elijah and Austen are talking when Grayson's eyes accidentally look into the forest. He saw a man staring at him and runs into the woods wearing red clothes.

Grayson followed him, when he enters, there is no trace of her. The wind blew, he was startled when someone talks behind his back.

"Leave. Don't let catastrophic disasters happen."