This is Day 16 of #MarchusAnnus challange. Continuing On the Edge of Sight. Read Part 1 & 2, Part 3
Price has a quick look around his new workspace. There are a couple of computer screens, keyboard, and mouse. A magnetic card reader sits on the counter across from him and a barcode scanner directly in front of him. He sees plenty of counter space, useful if he is going to be studying while at work. A red hue softly lights the underside of the maple counter. Price takes in a deep breath and settles into his seat.
Ray, while straightening his navy tie, enters through the library doors before Price has a chance to stack some books left around the counter. Ray takes a quick breath and throws a grin on his face before greeting Price with a wave. Price stands and waves back, while Ray walks up to the counter.
“Ah, Price, you look well rested. Feeling better?” He queried sincerely.
“Much, Mr., um, I mean Ray” Price’s awkwardness, truly, knew no bounds. “I’m ready to get started.”
“Good, let me give you the nickel tour of your work area” Ray said, trying to be clever.
Ray showed Price the ins and outs of the library systems. It was advanced for the region, the computers handled checkout and returns, as well as reservations for high demand books. The card catalogue was completely electronic and voice activated, you could say the name of a book or an author and a list of results would populate on the screen, including inventory levels. What Price didn’t realize, however, is that this job was just the tip of the iceberg.
Price picked up everything instantly and was able to demonstrate his comprehension when the first few students came into the library. Ray was quickly affirmed that, in picking Price, the library was getting far more than a librarian, and he was getting someone who was capable of his apprenticeship. It was going to be a rigorous apprenticeship, because head of the library was only one of the titles that Ray held. Soon enough Price would have to find out more, about his boss, this library, and the rest of the world, than he could imagine, but today he needed to return books to the shelves.
Back in the campus yard Price failed to see Ray. To Price’s defense, Ray was trying to not be seen. Ray was tucked behind the statue of the university founder, William Myers, peering around at the incident between Price and the linebacker. More accurately he was tailing the linebacker and Price interrupted his pursuit. Ray was now on standby, making sure nothing happened to Price.
Ray took this time to go back over his notes.
Dwight Jonas: linebacker for River Valley Snappers.
6’1”, 240 lbs
Hasn’t been to a single class or football practice for 3 weeks.
Has been spotted around campus for the past 2 weeks, silent and with a clear focus.
He could overhear the awkward apology that Price offered. It made him look up, fearing it might have triggered a reaction out of Dwight. He let out an audible sigh upon watching Price walk away. However, Ray never let his guard down. As soon as Price was out of site, Ray continued his pursuit of the walking wall, known as Dwight.
As Dwight rounds an empty corned Ray gives chase. Both men breakout into a full sprint. It was still the early hours of the morning and the foot traffic on campus was quiet. Dwight threw a trashcan into Ray’s way, but Ray reacted quickly to his new path and leaped over the trashcan.
Ray started to gain on Dwight, reaching out to grab him by the shoulder. This was Ray’s first mistake; he knew that Dwight was on the football team. Dwight stopped and pivoted on one foot. He lowered his shoulder while turning and put it directly into Ray’s abdomen. With a lifting motion, he threw Ray to the ground, then turned back to continue fleeing.
Ray struggled for a moment, short of breath, but picked himself up. He got his feet under him and started to sprint again. He followed Dwight around another corner, trying to close the distance, almost ten yards. Dwight was well trained for sustained running, but Ray had been training a lifetime for foot pursuits.
The first classes would be starting in the next quarter of an hour. Ray knew he had to finish this, before students started flooding the campus. Lucky for him most university students were expert procrastinators. This afforded in another five or six minutes. Time he normally wouldn’t need, but his target was fast and just kept on going.
The arts building stood in front of them. First Dwight blasted the doors open like a bull. Moments after, Ray slipped in as the doors recoiled from slamming shut. Dwight made a right at the end of the hall; Ray made a right through the music practice room. Dwight made another right 40 feet down; Ray jumped over chairs and dodged a kettle drum. Dwight made a break for the exit, thinking he was in the clear when Ray burst out of the music room right behind him.
When the door latch snapped Dwight took off, again, through the exit door, showing no sign of tiring. Ray on the other hand was starting to feel his experience catching up to him. Ray motivated himself with a sense of duty, it was imperative that he get to the bottom of the disappearances.
Ray was now only several feet away from Dwight, in hot pursuit. He looked around quick to assess where he was on campus. He knew now that he was leading Dwight into a corridor with only one room connecting to it, a maintenance closet. He thought that Dwight must not know about the dead end coming up. The maintenance closet was in a cove of this wing of the university and there was no way further into the building. It was a fire hazard, old buildings were full of them, but this one was going to be a benefit to Ray.
Looking down briefly, Ray searched for something on his hip. It looked like a flashlight. He raised his eyes with his flashlight only to find Dwight was gone. The door to the maintenance closet was ajar, but there were no signs of motion.
Deciding to follow Dwight into the dark room, Ray turned on his flashlight as he swung the door wide open. He kicked a rock up under the door to prop it open. His flashlight shined with a gentle red tone. Though he was confident Dwight went this way, Ray had a suspicion that he wouldn’t be catching Dwight today.
Ray swept his light slowly from the left side of the room. A streak of shadow struck across the front of Ray from his right side. In an instant he dropped his flashlight, knocking its power switch off. Ray stood still in the light casting in from the doorway, scanning the room. As he reached for his flashlight another darkened blur sped across, knocking it into the shadows. It was clear that whatever was in here was targeting Ray. With a flick of the light switch on the wall Ray realized that his hunt was over for the day. He looked around for his flashlight, but it was not in plain sight. Since he didn’t want to stick around for a sneak attack, Ray decided he would leave to fight another day, besides he know that Dwight was “inbetween” now and he wouldn’t be finding him today.
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The Original A.J. Young 
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