The Book Without Eyes [Chapter Two]

The days that followed were filled with arduous amounts of research. I surveyed every website, forum and thread I could think of, but alas, the internet held no answers for the whereabouts of my missing Eva figurine or an explanation for the presence of the mysterious book. 

I finally, after nine straight days and nights, succumbed to the humiliation of a help hotline. I cannot entirely remember when the last time I spoke to a human was, but it must have been some time for my ability to convey my dilemma was challenging. 

"Thank you for calling The Delivery Help Line, my name is Le'Quanda I'll be assisting you." The voice was from, what I assumed to be, a woman of African decent. The way in which she recited the words seemed jaded and mechanical. "This call may be monitored for training purposes. How can I help you?"

This would be it, the first words uttered from my lips to another human soul in a long time. What should I say? How should I begin?

"…Hello?" She asked, her voice heavy with irritation. "Are ya' there?"

I tried to say 'hello' but what came out was more of a squeak. Then I coughed slightly.

"Ye-yes, I am here." The words felt strange coming out.

"How can I help you, sir?" Her tone hadn't changed.

"My figurine, where is it?" I asked. 

"Excuse me?" She asked. "I don't know what you're talking' about. Can ya' please give me the account information or tracking number of the package?"

I obliged the woman with the appropriate information.

"Please hold while I pull up the information." Then she rudely added a passive aggressive, "Thank you." and I was hurriedly bombarded with overtly poppy music. If this music were to have been food I imagine it resembling something made of nougat, covered in marshmallow and caked with butterscotch, all topped with sour chucks of crystalized sugar assorted candies. I held the phone away from my ear for fear of vomiting. 

An eternity may have passed before Le'Quanda returned to the line, but I will never know for sure.

"Theodore, are you there?" She asked in the same mechanically jaded voice.

"Yes." I replied.

"Kay." She added quickly. "It looks like your package ended up in Wisconsin. We've contacted the local distribution office. They'll contact you when they find the package. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"The book?" I asked.

"What book?"

"I was sent an old tome with strange Greek writing on it."

"The hell's a tome?" She asked. 

"A book."

"Someone sentcha a Greek book?" 

"Correct."

"Who?" 

"That's what I'd like you to tell me." I asked rudely.

"Excuse me, sir." She replied. "There's no need to raise your voice at me, mkay!"

"Thank you, for your time." I replied sarcastically. "I'll take this matter into my own hands." Then I promptly disconnected the line. It was at that moment I was reminded of why I ceased verbal communication originally. 

My statement may have been made in a blinded rage of anger, for I knew not where to find any more information on the tome; it could not stay in here, not while my Eva figurine was out there somewhere, lost and alone in the world. So at great length I concluded to take a photograph of the tome and post it on several book related forums.

And then I waited.

Eventually, the distribution company had contacted me. They had received my package and would promptly deliver it on the next business day. To hear that I was thrilled, in what I had approximated as a week's time, I would be finally united with my figurine.

The sun and moon traded places and before long a week had passed. It was on the eighth day I harkened a rapping sound at my door.

"Ted, its me again. I'm leaving the package outside your door, just sign for it. I'll be back in ten." It was the same delivery man from before. I waited until I heard his footsteps no longer before venturing into the hallway. 

Atop the faded red carpeting that covered the floors of the building sat a much smaller package, roughly the size of a fist. A more fitting size. 

I scribbled my name on the digital pad and selfishly snatched up the package slamming my door and locking it behind me. Eagerly and in a maddening frenzy I opened the package, removing the contents wildly with my hands. 

But my heart sank when the excitement wore off. On the ground was again, not my Eva figurine, but two identical ivory keys with monstrous engravings on them that make my hair stand on end just remembering.

-Jestro