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As Jaq seems to contemplate, you turn to Alex. "I'm not an expert, but Jaq seems evidently allergic."
"No, I'm not." She scoffs, but Alex's eyes open wide with realization.
"Of course she is..." He murmurs, then nods. "In truth, I too would rather start with cleaning."
"No, I'm not!" Jaq repeats petulantly, but hesitates. Then, she smiles a small, knowing smile. "And you will be checking the first floor?"
"I can do that, sure." You rub the back of your head awkwardly, feigning ignorance.
"Alright, do it."
Confused, you rise from your station, and start walking away, when Angelina's voice comes from behind the pile. "Aki? Where are you going?"
Before you can say anything, Jaq catches up to you. "We follow our plan. I and Alex will clean the ground floor, meanwhile she will check for any marked documents on the floor, so that we know what we are standing on."
"I've heard everything." She says worriedly. "But miss Brüngger instructed me not to go there unless absolutely necessary. Do you really have to send Aki over?"
"I didn't sent her, she choose for herself, are you really that deaf?" She says churlishly, then suddenly drapes her arms over your waist in a tight hug. "And she will be alright, right, Aki? You were always so brave and dedicated whatever we were doing together, like partners in crime!"
Feeling the rules of the game suddenly changed, you think of how to reply, when you feel paper-like object slipping into your blazer's inner pocket. Now understanding, you say "It will be fine, like always."
Angelina rises her hand in objection, but stops midway. "What about you, president? Pardon me, but I could call in the nurse. You don't look very well..."
"Cut it." Red-cheeked blonde dismisses her and finally let's you go. "Aki, get to work. Have a look what's there. Be thorough, if you have to. Take your time." She commands. "Alex, you get the cleaning equipment!" *Sneeze*
"Ah, yes!" He says, taken aback.
As he goes, so do you, and soon you come vis a vis with the entrance to the library's first and only(?) Floor.
~~~
A symphony of wood's creaks and cracks follows each of your steps along the curving, ornate wooden stairs. Just ahead of you, Your Mute Guide spurs you on with a relaxed, but steady pace.
The pace might be slow, but your heart, certainly isn't. Angelina's warning finally caught on with you. Who knows what this ancient Library has in store for you, if it was enough to warrant Ms. Brüngger alerting Angelina?
As you take a first proper step, nothing seems too out of ordinary. Just a long, straight hall ahead, with several rows of large - but usual - bookshelves and with railing on the other. At the far end, a smal bridge connects both sides of the floor
Seizing the opportunity of Your Cat stopping to look around, you lean on the railing and look down. There, back on the ground level Alex is returning with cleaning equipment, as well as Angelina trotting in a small circle right in the middle looking your way.
