Booktok Box Advent Calendar Novels & Stories

Arthur blinked a few times, lightly frowning as he reached out and took it with care. “Did I forget an important date?” he asked, concerned, mentally running through the calendar. Zoe smiled softly, pulled out one of the chairs, and sat across from him. “No, you didn’t forget any special date,” she said, her eyes shining, her voice heavy with emotion. “But I thought you needed this gift… for this moment.” Arthur lifted the lid. A soft lavender scent escaped immediately, awakening his senses. Inside lay a dark leather-bound book and an elegant gold pen, engraved with his name in fine lettering. He picked it up carefully, his gaze focused, almost reverent.

“Congratulations, dearie.” She handed me a red, medium-sized gift box. “Open it,” Allison said, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Open it,” the group chorused. I capitulated and unwrapped the box, and froze. Inside were three different sex toys. All sleek. All clearly expensive. Beside them was a small hand book labeled: “Let’s Experience Orgasm” in bold. A nervous chuckle escaped me. I picked up a rose-shaped toy with a tongue-like center. “Whoa!!” the girls chorused.

That would be a total disaster for him. Then he walked over to the bookshelf on the side, reached up and took out a book. There was a button behind the book. He lifted his index finger and pressed it. The bookshelf slowly moved to the side. When it stopped, he put the book back, walked in, and then the bookshelf slowly moved back. After he walked in, the whole inside suddenly lit up. The decorations were really fancy, and there was a big pearwood box in every spot, each big enough to hold a spirit beast's body. There were ninety-one boxes like that.

Just enough to fade into the background. She extended a box to him and waited while he opened it. “I, um… I wasn’t sure what to get you.” He peeled the paper apart carefully, trying not to rip it too badly. That notion flew out the window when the sides of the wrapping fell and he noticed the book inside. It slid out onto his hand. A photo album with blue leather and gold foiling. Swallowing a grunt, he flicked it open to the first page. I glanced over, careful to keep my distance but curious enough to stay close and saw two photos tacked neatly to the center of the page.

“You did well.” He didn’t have the heart to pressure her anymore and instead, reached into his pocket and drew something out—a slim velvet box. He set it lightly on the cabinet beside her hand. “Congratulations.” Isabelle blinked, stunned. “…What is this?” “A small gift.” His tone was casual, as though it meant nothing. She hesitated before lifting the lid. Inside was a delicate bookmark, silver-plated, shaped like a crescent moon with a tiny star at the end. It was elegant, understated, but clearly expensive.

When my shaking fingers lift it out, I read on the front, "Becky and Rob" When he manages to calm me down, he says softly, "Turn it over." On the back it says, "2/14/2011 Until Forever". Oh my God, I'm a basket case. Lots of kisses and tender hugs later he says, "Now you have to open it." When I do, I see a picture of two cartoon characters kissing, and he chuckles, "I'll let you decide what to put into it. But now, open the cover all the way."

Ben whispers, mostly to himself, as he shakes his bundle. “You go first, Isla,” Maddox says, taking Isaac’s bundle from my hands. I smile, tearing open the bundle and looking down at a small, worn book with no title and leather cover. I pull a piece of dried lavender from between the pages, but when I open the book, there is no text inside. “How strange,” I say over the sound of paper ripping and people remarking about their own gifts.

For Evelyn, with love from Dad. Blake's gift arrived three days before Christmas—a simple cloth book with textured pages for Evelyn to explore, and a letter: *"Dear Aloe,* *Enclosed is something for Evelyn's first Christmas. The book isn't impressive, but apparently babies like textures, and this has lots of different fabrics to explore. I asked the prison librarian for recommendations.* *I hope your first Christmas as a mother is everything you hoped for. You've earned the peace.* *- Blake"* Evelyn loved the cloth book immediately, grabbing at the different textures with intense concentration. Watching her explore something Blake had chosen felt oddly significant—like he was part of our liv

I go the opposite way, painstakingly reading each and every title. “Callie!” Alice exclaims excitedly. “I think I found something.” I hurry over, seeing her pull a smaller black book off the shelf. There’s no title on this book, only a gold Baphomet overlaid on the leather. “The Book of the Beast,” I whisper, eyes lighting up. “I think you did find something.” She cracks the spine and I lean over, heart racing. And then the library doors open and close with a boom, echoing throughout the entire room. Alice and I both jump, and she quickly shoves the book into her cloak.

I’ll spend the rest of eternity making it up to you; till the day I die. My heart was overwhelmed by the heat while my stomach was swarmed with butterflies that were knocking on my ribcage eagerly waiting to be let out. All the books had small sticky notes poking out and it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that they all stood for something in particular. At the bottom of the box were chocolates including my favorite Hershey and there was a card. I opened it up. To Nemesis,