Lost on a Page: Character Developments by David E. Sharp

Author:David E. Sharp [Sharp, David E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2022-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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Nexis of Words: The Library

“Where is everyone?” Aelrûn scanned the quiet shelves of Reading Area L-7.

Since they had converted this portion of The Library into a makeshift village for wayward characters, it had become a hive of activity. Their population had grown tenfold since they established it as their fictitious home. People were always be coming and going. Music often drifted through the stacks, mostly the result of Aelrûn and the dead musicians he invited to jam.

Now, it stood empty save for Lisa and William Shakespeare, who sat at a table scribbling in open journals. Lazuli, the blue-furred winged cat, curled in a leather-bound chair. He opened one eye a slit at Aelrûn’s approach, then closed it again.

“Everyone is gone, Aelrûn,” said Lisa, not looking up from her writing. “The protagonists have all gone into other books, and everybody else is just wandering.”

“Nay, Lisa,” said Shakespeare. “You speakest false. I remain, and do I not a protagonist be? For my book doth bear my name, and my visage doth its cover grace.”

“Meh,” said Lisa. “You came from a biography. I think you’re more like a subject.”

Shakespeare frowned. “Alas, ‘tis so.”

“I’ve never seen The Library so quiet,” said Lucas, standing to Aelrûn’s left.

“That’s because you’ve never seen it when the protagonists are gone,” said Lisa. “This always happens. The minor characters just get…”

“Lethargic,” suggested Shakespeare.

Lisa snapped her fingers and pointed at him. “Exactly, Will. Thank you.”

Shakespeare offered a modest bow.

Isabelle snorted. “That’s pathetic. Who needs a bunch of lousy protagonists telling them what to do? These people need to grow a backbone.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” said Lisa. “But I’m just a minor character too. My job is to be small and vulnerable so people can save me from zombies. It means I get stuck waiting around all the time.”

“Going into other books is dangerous,” said Aelrûn. “People want to keep you safe.”

Lisa looked up from her writing. “So? I want to keep Jaime safe, and that doesn’t stop her. She leaves all the time.”

Shakespeare abruptly slammed his quill onto the table and picked up his journal. “Methinks I have something, Lisa. How sounds this for Joe Slade’s monologue?

Hath ever man that lived known such woe?

Alas, he hath not. For man that lived hath flesh.

And no flesh have I, save the parchment upon which I am writ.

Hath not a real man blood, red and hot within his veins?

Yet the sharpest blade could not bid a drop from me.

For blood doth not inhabit Joe Slade, but only ink of the quill that birthed me.

How doth that for you?”

Lisa tilted her head and pressed her lips. “It’s not bad, Will. It doesn’t sound like Joe, though. He usually speaks in fragments.”

“Fragments?” Shakespeare puffed his chest out indignantly. “He may keep them. My purposes vie not for accuracy, but poetry. Am I not William Shakespeare? He shall speak the speech I design.”

“All right,” said Lisa. “It will be good for a laugh when the real Joe sees it.”

“This is no comedy, Lisa. Nor a tragedy for that matter.

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