Whether it was harder to find a book that called to you or to run from it, you all eventually managed to complete your task. Where the shelves had spun off into infinity before, a familiar red door appeared in one of the aisles. Word spread quickly, and soon you’d all assembled before it.
The gold handle turned without resistance, and the churning wasteland stretched out before you again. Another bridge, another car ahead. Maybe that one would give you some way to end Neko-Neko’s game. Was that what you were hoping for? Were you hoping for much of anything, at this point?
Either way, you found yourself passing through without hindrance, the air outside the Train a little warmer on your face.
At least, most of you.
With a faint sound only vaguely reminiscent of slamming into a wall, Jack marched straight into something that bounced him and only him back into the library. He stumbled but stayed on his feet and tried again, a little faster—but the result was the same.
Perhaps it’s Viper’s guilt at burning the checkout register, perhaps it’s something else entirely, but hearing Jac—no, Jagal, trying his hardest to take the books, she knew she had to try and do something. Maybe she didn’t know why keeping these books was so important to him—but she could hazard a guess, after they’d snooped so much into his life. His mother, his father, his sister especially… it had to be hard for him. To be forced to think about them again. And once again, she’d messed up someone’s chance at healing.
“Hey—” He bounced back from the door, and she reached forward, just lightly gripping onto his bag. “Jagal—” Maybe he’d listen if she talked to him. The true him, not… Jack. Worm her way in there, she knew it could go very badly. Very, very badly. But equally, she wanted him to understand that she wasn’t out to hurt him. Not at this stage.
Jack warily tugged his bag out of her grip. How did she know his name? Had she—
“….”
No. Absolutely not. It must’ve just come up somewhere else, at some point. Not like it was his most tightly-guarded secret.
“I don’t think they’ll let ya take ‘em wit’ ya—I-I can ask. But ya prob ain’t gonna be able t’.”
Jimithy stepped up, as unamused as ever.
“Already told both of you, you can’t check out a book that doesn’t have a register. A real one.”
“And you can’t leave with a book you haven’t checked out. Put it back.” He grimaced. “Or on a return cart, fine. But you’re not leaving with that. Don’t waste any more of our time.”
Viper picked at a thread on the end of her glove. “It’s… prob best ya leave ‘em here anyway. I dunno if ya’d want ‘em ta get hurt… damaged… ’n all.” Viper raised her gaze to Jagal—having tilted it to the floor. “Look, I’unno if I’ll get anywhere. An’ I know ya gonna try’n act like ya rejectin’ every bit’a niceness. But I wanna know ya. An’ I don’t care how much ya try’n stop me.”
Tag-teamed, huh? It was true, Jack didn’t have any registers, and the train out there couldn’t be safe for a book unless he never tried to open it. Would being damaged hurt them? Surely not, if they were already dead, but…
“…..”
“Fine.”
He withdrew a slim volume from under his hoodie and set it gently on the floor. Not even the return cart, huh.
“Not like I’m much ’f a reader, anyway.”
He stepped through the door, this time without any kickback—apparently that was the only book he’d had. Those of you who hadn’t made it past before all the ruckus followed him out.
But then, even after all that, it was just back to the usual march. Everyone onto the bridge, onto another door…
Everyone. Right?
The fastest walker had already laid hands on the next door by the time you realized your head count was down one. It didn’t take long after to find Jack back at the library doors, propping them open with one hand. He swept a look across you all, hesitating briefly at Viper and Asuka. But only briefly. With a swift step, he was back on the carpet.
“I’m not leaving her again.”
The doors slammed shut before anyone could get in the way. The handle spun with a ratcheting noise and locked back into place. Anyone trying to turn it wouldn’t succeed.
…Ah. Well.
Considering the party involved, it was hard to feel bad about leaving him behind. A relief, if anything. Though you couldn’t be sure exactly how this place worked, if he could still come after you later… Maybe it would have been more of a relief if you were sure he’d die in there.
Not… not that you wanted a person to die! But, well, if it had to be anyone…
“Jack? The game isn’t over yet…! I-I can’t guide you home if you’re not here, nya…”
“Eh, it’d be too obvious if he did the next murder, anyway.”
“We’re sure the rest of ya can do better by yourselves!”
“B-but there isn’t any food or water in that car! As his Stationmaster…”
“That’s his own problem. We don’t gotta call every single death a murder if it ain’t one.”
“We’ve wasted enough time here, don’tcha think? Onward!”
“……..”
Despite the particularly split personality at play, Neko-Neko still gestured expectantly at the next car. No more dilly-dallying on your part.
No reason to, anyway. Whether it had locked automatically or Jack was manually blocking it, the library door wasn’t about to open. Was it even your business to keep trying? If none of you would be blamed for him choosing this fate, why try to save him? He certainly wouldn’t have done any such thing for you.
Something still felt rotten in your stomach as you moved forward.
