The Cursed Library || ONC 2025

Library was shining again!

Not exactly like the version humans saw, but still way better than before. The rotting pillars were getting better. Alas! The already dead ones seemed the same.

Selena's mother was getting better as well. Her health had far improved than before. She hadn't felt this healthier in a long time. She was still sick but not bedridden.

Even if she hadn't completely healed, this was enough to make her happy. Getting back to her job and giving her daughter the much needed break seemed such a blessing.

"Moon seems brighter today, doesn't it?" Selena asked, leaning against the counter, for once not standing behind it.

"Yeah it does," her mom answered, looking up at the shining moon with a bright smile. It seemed like an indication of everything getting better.

"Perhaps the curse is being lifted," her mom said in a hopeful tone.

"Nah!" Selena shook her head. "I already tried getting out of the library. It threw me inside again," Selena informed, fluffing her cheeks, looking cute like a small kid.

Her mother chuckled, ruffling her naughty kid's hair affectionately. The only spirited person in her family who kept trying to get out at any possible chance. Even if she failed, at least she had the guts to try. She could only hope that her daughter wouldn't get punished for her bravery.

"Not my hair," Selena groaned, trying to set it again. The Mane was already hard to manage. She wondered how it would be if she got to get out and get some professional style done on her hair?

"The day I manage to get out of this hell hole, I am directly going to a beauty parlour," Selena told her mom, while opening the jar where she kept all the money she received from the readers.

"That money is for the author, and not for our personal use," Her mom said, shutting down the jar along with all her ideas. "And my daughter doesn't need anything. She is naturally beautiful," she said, affectionately caressing Selena's cheek.

"Isn't she?" Her mom asked.

Selena turned behind to see who she was asking to and saw Swara and Naman walking towards them.

"She is," Swara agreed. "You are really beautiful," Swara told her, making Selena's cheeks turn pink.

She held the author in highest regard and a compliment from such a person meant everything for her.

"Can't say the same about her attitude though," Naman teased, earning glares from all the ladies.

"No one asked for your opinion," Selena huffed.

"What happened to the library though?" Naman asked, glancing around.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Selena asked, squealing excitedly. "I noticed the change after you left."

"Sshh," Naman said, pointing at the Keep Silence board.

"No one's here though." Selena rolled her eyes.

"Did you scare them off?" Naman jokingly asked, but Selena's face fell at the thought.

She looked at Swara guiltily. Author had done so many efforts to bring them here. And they all left because of her.

"They won't come back ever?" She asked nervously in a small voice.

Swara glared at Naman. However her eyes turned soft as soon as they moved to Selena. "Don't listen to him. They will come back. They must have gone to have lunch or take some rest. Some of them even had exams this afternoon. So they must have gone there. Don't worry. They will surely come back."