The Page Turners Novels & Stories

I force myself to snap out of all the thoughts that I was having. Moments later, we entered the backyard and I made a quick scan of the situation. I can see Middle-aged men and women talking on one side, with beers on hand. They’re probably his parents’ friends. On the other side, I see a group that is more likely within our age range. Running around the whole place were a bunch of kids, some looked similar to Blake, so I assumed they’re his cousins or something.

"Ayla, do you need help? I can teach you how to run a project." Tilting her head, she smiled with feigned innocence. "I just secured the Cirrus Project. There are several senior staff members on my team. I could lend you a couple. The Wetland Project is so small, after all. It doesn't need that many people…" Harvey stood beside her silently, but he was not looking at me. His gaze rested on Jenna, a faint smile at the corner of his lips. That smile was so jarring it made me nauseous.

The pages began turning without anyone touching them and from somewhere deep within the sanctuary. A voice that did not belong to any of them whispered, "At last..."

On screen, I looked straight into the camera and said, “There’s just enough battery power left on my phone.” What they didn’t know was that I’d gotten that power by pretending to please those people, but it didn’t matter. They were going to die anyway. The camera eventually shifted to the ship’s cabin, where several disgusting clients were all over me, their hands roaming freely. Then, when they least expected it, I struck. With a sharpened piece of bamboo, I drove it straight into their throats. Blood poured out instantly as they collapsed. As I had always seemed weak, they never guarded against me. Soon, the second one fell, and then the third. One after another, they dropped dead.

For the first time, the endless white sky above them darkened. Tiny cracks spread across it like broken glass. The stranger looked upward. "They're closer." Suddenly— The black book unlocked itself. The silver clasp clicked open without anyone touching it. Its pages began turning on their own. One. Two. Ten. A hundred. Then they stopped. Adrian stepped closer. The page contained no words. Instead... It displayed moving images. Like living memories. He saw the Keeper's Chamber. Edward stood exactly where Adrian had left him. Lucien guarded the golden doorway with his sword drawn.

Shania and I decided on Samuel Turner, a marketing manager at Shania's company. Samuel was younger than Lucille and about six years younger than me. I had gotten to know him through a random dinner event in the past. I had formed a deep impression of him because of his good looks and how smart he was at handling all sorts of situations. Later on, I got to know from Shania that he was also very competent at work. He had managed to get his position as marketing manager within a year of joining the company.

They tumbled down to the second floor and splashed into the garden pond. "You!" Sheila shot me an angry look, then quickly looked sad and pulled on Elliot's shirt. "Elliot! My presents!" I just sneered, "They're just presents. You can get more." Elliot kept staring at me, like he noticed something odd. When I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist. Right then, the butler came in to say dinner was ready. Joseph would also be home at any minute. I laughed without a care, shook off Elliot's hand, and walked to the dining room without looking back.

As Ace flipped through the pages, the soft crackling of the paper filled the space. Ace's fingers moved skillfully over the pages, his eyes scanning each drawing with a mix of pain and yearning. As he turned the pages, I leaned in closer, mesmerized by his talent, my gaze fixed on his strong fingers gently handling each page. Each one unveiled a new design, a new narrative. On one page, I saw a boy gazing at a river, his face reflecting deep sorrow.

Smaller ones, thin like an old bible, yellowed with page break apart. Once there pages were successfully separated, I carefully put the knife down, not wanting to slice any pages or myself. The pages smelt like mould and looked ancient, they looked like they would be grimy to the touch but they felt like silk. The amount of small little pages were like a book of their own, how could this be hidden away for so long and no one notice it?

Dakari squeezed her hand. Luca lifted a hand to turn the page and reverently lifted from the corner. His hand did not shake as he confidently attempted to move the parchment. This was obviously not his first time dealing with old books. To his surprise, he met no resistance. The page that had been so secure now turned like it was bound only hours ago.