The Fifth Wall
by Thomas Everley
Humour short story competition Winner
Thomas Everley is a writer and filmmaker based in the East Midlands. He typically writes comedy, fantasy and science fiction. He has written for a number of anthologies, including Tales of the Mouse and Minotaur and Evil Genius Guide from Fox Spirit Books (due for release in 2016).
‘I ’m sorry, sir,’ Gabrielle called, as softly as a librarian would permit herself to. ‘We’re actually just about to close.’
He spun round. She saw a flash of panic in his eyes.
‘Yeah, kind of an emergency,’ he blurted out. ‘I need a book. Have to have it tonight.’
She walked round the desk and logged onto the database. ‘Which book is it?’
‘It’s called The Fifth Wall by Hadrian Page.’
‘Doesn’t ring a bell,’ she said as she typed into the relevant fields. ‘What’s it about?’
‘It’s about a character breaking out of their own book.’
The search completed. ‘It turns out we do have one copy, but it appears to be out at the moment.’
‘No no no, it can’t be!’
‘Please, sir, there no need to get-’
‘Who has the book?’
‘I can’t reveal that, Mr… er?...’
‘Page. Hadrian Page.’
‘Oh? As in-’
‘Yes, that one. Now, please. I need my book!’
Hadrian stormed out of the library, the confused librarian in toe. He stopped, clutched his head.
‘Ow!’ He dropped to one knee. ‘God that hurt!’ ‘What’s wrong?’ Gabrielle asked.
‘POV shift.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘The stuff before the text break was all in your head, now it’s all in mine.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Hurts like hell when they change it.’
‘Really, there’s no need to swear.’
He shot a look at her. ‘Hell isn’t a… Oh no, you’re from a kid’s book, aren’t you?’
‘What?’
‘Never mind. Look, we need to get my book.
Who did you say it was with?’
She looked at a printout of the loan record. ‘Stephanie White. She’s a drama student.’