NO ONE DESERVES THIS

To my savior

I am so sorry. I thought I was stronger. I thought I could endure it. But I am not a strong man. Many before me have tried yet none have succeeded. If you are reading this then you must’ve already found yourself in the Endless library. I don’t know the proper name of the place but it's what I’ve called it for the last twenty years. This place demands an occupant, it demands a prisoner, a keeper, a librarian. You’ve undoubtedly panicked already and dropped this book and tried to run away. But the halls are endless and the shelves are empty. There is only one desk. On that desk there are two books. One that is blank and the one you are currently reading.

There is no day and night as you currently remember it. The lamps are the only light and even those will periodically go out. If you find that a lamp has gone out where you are you must run to the nearest lit lamp. Do not try to climb over the top of the shelves though you will most likely ignore my warning. There are things that lurk in the dark and though this library is a prison it also serves as a safe haven.

These were the tips passed down by the last occupant and after witnessing the creatures beyond the shelves myself I have decided to follow them. If you hear a voice calling to you from a darkened area do not go to it. Do not reply to it. If you fall asleep and realize that your area’s lamp has gone out, keep your eyes closed. No matter what you hear, no matter what you feel, do not open your eyes. I was lucky to read this rule right before this event happened to me. I heard whispers, barely audible but completely incomprehensible. I felt fingers along my exposed skin, and a hot breath on my face. I cried softly which seemed to agitate whatever it or they were but I kept my eyes closed. The light brightened my closed eyelids as the lamp was relit. I opened my eyes and found nothing there.

Do not go up or down stairs. Even if you hear cries for help do not take a single step up or down. Now for how you get out. It's actually quite simple. You must write a book. A book that will be loved by countless people. A bestseller I suppose. I don’t know if this book is released anonymously or if it's released under our name. All I know is that you will leave this place once that condition has been met. Though it is not entirely within your control I would suggest you start as soon as possible.

This place changes you and I don’t think it's just the isolation. It’s as if something claws at your mind and soul. The more it claws the more it corrupts. Like mold that spreads throughout bread or cancer that slowly infects its host. I found myself breaking down in tears of depression and fits of rage more than once. Sometimes the abyss beyond the book shelves looks like a comforting alternative. But the fear of what I saw before sobers me though only slightly. I don’t know if the voices I hear are real or in my mind. I don’t know if the monsters I see are real or in my mind. I don’t know if this place is real or in my mind. Will I still hear the voices when I leave? Will I still see the monsters when I'm free?

At the end of this book I've made a list of names that I copied from the book the previous occupant left me. 1256 names are listed. All were previous occupants of this library. It’s a staggering number, all of those people suffered in this place as I have suffered. As you will suffer. The thought made me want to vomit and scream. No one should have to go through an experience like this. Which is why I thought maybe it could end with me. I tried numerous ways but none of them worked. It was then that I read the end of the book the previous wrote to me. It will not let you die.

The thought of being insane for eternity was too much for me to bear. So I wrote and wrote and wrote. As I finish this book I will have finished my seven hundred and twenty third manuscript. I have a good feeling about this one. Look at me, still capable of humor after so long. We don’t know how this place selects its occupants. A theory I’ve been working out is that the library picks whoever is the first reader of the previous occupant's Masterpiece. So I'm sorry. It's not much of an apology I understand but by the time you have reached the end of this you will have probably been here awhile. I think you would appreciate the simplicity of it. But do not lose hope. I do not consider myself a master of literature so if I was able to make it out then you can too.

I would ask you to look me up when you get out but I don’t know how much longer I will be in here and I don’t know how long you will be in here. Apparently we are only allowed to leave our last names or our pen names if we decide on one. I doubt I will become famous enough that my last name will be enough but if I am then please seek me out. As far as I know no one else has asked this of their successor, due to fear perhaps? But I think it would do both of us good to talk about this with each other. After all, no one else would understand. I hope you truly enjoyed my so called masterpiece. Though a large part of me hopes no one will ever read it. Like I said before, no one deserves this.

Sincerely yours,

King