Episode 48 — The Accidental Touch

Episode 48 — The Accidental Touch
"This is my private library, Rae... Welcome!"
"You have a lot of books, Kenny."
Kenny showed her the rows of books behind clean glass shelves. The room was designed to feel comfortable for reading, with warm orange lights and soft chairs.
"So... what kind of book should we read, Rae?"
"Hmm... Do you like stories about underground prisons?"
The question came out suddenly, calm but deep enough to echo softly through the old wooden walls of the library. Rae stood between the shelves, her hand still holding a book, her body not facing Kenny.
The smell of old leather and wood filled the air, like the scent of a past that never fully died.
Kenny nodded slowly, then answered without moving forward. "It depends... fiction or real?"
He stood facing a tall bookshelf, not turning to her. Only a faint smile appeared on his lips as he pulled a black-covered book from the top shelf. "Sometimes, the line between them isn't so clear."
He turned around and handed the book to Rae. She took it hesitantly, her eyes reading the title pressed into the cover, nearly faded with age.
She didn’t sit right away. She looked around the room for a moment. The room was so wide, quiet, too clean. But also... silent. A kind of silence that feels like it's waiting for something to break.
Kenny pointed to the long sofa in the middle of the room. "Maybe we can read it together. It'll be faster that way."
Rae sat down slowly and placed the book on her lap. Kenny followed, sitting close. Not too close to touch, but close enough to feel each other's presence.
They opened the first page together, the sound of old paper filling the space between their breaths.
Each paragraph moved slowly. The book told a story about an old prison under a burned-down church, about bars that had been repainted so they wouldn't look old, about cries that were once heard and then vanished like a legend buried by history.
Their fingers almost touched a few times as they turned the pages. And on page twenty-seven, Rae's fingers and Kenny's finally touched.
They both stopped....
No one pulled away. No sudden movement. Only a silence that changed shape, thicker now, too heavy to ignore.
Rae slowly turned her eyes. She met Kenny's gaze, he had already been looking at her. Silent, calm, but something was there. Not a smile. Not anger. Just... a kind of truth that had no name yet.
“This touch... it's not an escape. But it’s not a trap either,” Rae thought to herself. “If this is his way of trapping me... why does it feel like I chose to step into it?”
Kenny slowly moved his hand away. Not fast, not hesitant. He picked up another book from a small pile beside the sofa. "Do you prefer fiction or memoirs?"
"Memoirs... sometimes they’re more honest than people think," Rae answered, still looking at the book in her lap.
"That's because we read between the lines, not the lines themselves," Kenny replied. He opened the new book and added lightly,
"A house this big must have a long history, right?"
"Better told in a gothic novel," Kenny answered quickly.
Rae turned her head slowly, not blinking. "You don’t like talking about corporate history?"
"Corporate history? Hahh... it's boring enough to kill someone."
"But not all deaths are real, right? Sometimes they're just... parts that need to be buried so the rest can keep going. Like sacrifices."
Kenny didn’t answer. He only looked toward the big window on the side of the room. The evening light started coming in, turning the color of the wood warmer. But the warmth didn’t reach Rae’s chest.
They read in silence for a few more minutes. Then Rae closed the book gently and leaned back. "This book feels heavy. But not because of the topic. It’s the feeling."
Kenny looked at her, not saying anything.
Rae stood up. "I’ll go to the kitchen for a moment."

In the kitchen, the smell of tea reached her first. At the far end of the room, a woman in her fifties was boiling water. Her back was straight, her movements slow and practiced.
Rae walked closer, then pulled something from her pocket. A small memo.
She placed the memo on the table. Her voice was soft, but firm.
"This was you, wasn’t it?"
The woman didn’t answer right away. She just stood still. Then, slowly, she nodded.
"I know I shouldn’t have done it. But you need to know... this house has many doors. Including some even Mr. Kenny doesn’t like to open."
"Doors he doesn’t like to open? What do you mean?"
"I’ve worked for Mr. Kenny for a very long time, Lady... Around twenty years. I know a few secrets that he doesn’t realize that I know."
Rae stayed quiet, imagining how strong this fifty-something woman must be....
"I used to watch your live streams, Lady. I really liked them. You were very brave. I was surprised when I found out you ended up in this house."
"I... I don’t even understand how I got here either," Rae answered softly.
The older woman picked up one of Rae’s hoodies that she had just finished washing. She held it up for Rae to see.
"Lady, I’ll do my best to protect you here. If there’s something I can tell you but the situation isn’t safe, I’ll hide a memo like this one inside your clothes. That’s all I can do, Lady Rae."
"Thank you, but... why would you do that for me?"
The woman looked at Rae. Her eyes weren’t old, just tired. Her voice was low, almost a whisper.
"Because you’re not broken yet. And because you speak for people like us. Don’t wait until this house is the one that breaks you."
Rae was stunned...
She put the memo back in her pocket. She didn’t say anything else. But her mind was running fast, and her heart beat like a bell that had been silent too long, and now rang again.
"Thank you... May I know your name? I’ve seen you around so many times but I never know it."
"Lauren.... Just call me Lauren, Lady."
"Thank you, Lauren. I won’t forget you."
Rae hugged her. Not briefly. Long enough, like someone missing a mother who had been gone for years.
Then she walked back to the library. Kenny was still there, in the same spot. Reading. Or maybe pretending to.

Rae stopped at the doorway.
"Earlier, you said you don’t like talking about corporate history?"
Kenny didn’t look up. "Yes. Why?"
Rae stepped a little closer. Her voice was calm, but there was something underneath it. Sharp, but not angry.
"Ohh... I only wanted to ask one thing...."
Kenny slowly closed the book in his hands. He looked at Rae. And waited.
"Why did you create Blackwood Dreamland? What do you plan to do with it?"
Silence...
Kenny’s face didn’t change. But his eyes stopped breathing.
"I... I just..." Kenny struggled to speak.
Rae shrugged lightly. "It’s okay if you’re not ready to answer, Kenny. Maybe someday."
She turned and walked away.
"I’m going to take a shower. Enjoy the book, Kenny!"
Kenny stayed where he was. His fingers pressed against the book cover. But his heart screamed, without sound, only one sentence repeating inside:
'Rae, I’m doing this so I can change things from the inside. I’m sorry...'

To be continued...