Chapter 3
Weiss POV
“Ruby… I didn't know. I'm so sorry.” I look at the investigator on the table as she packed the books away.
Ruby went off in a quick manner, giving of an apathetic mood around her.
“Um, Ruby where are you going?” asked the librarian. She could spot the lost look in Ruby’s eyes, but she couldn’t what's behind them. No. Behind the now cold exterior that is Ruby’s silver eyes was a feeling of great fear.
“Just going to be out for a bit, Blake. I need to do some… research on what we’ve found.” It looked like Blake had picked up on Ruby’s slip of the tongue and tried to ask about it. Ruby left the library too fast for her, however.
“Ruby. Ruby. Ruby!” I yelled. The girl stopped running and took a turn to the nearest alley. She crouched down and put her knees to her face, covering tearful eyes with her hood pulled up.
“It’s hard, Weiss. Having to take up her mantle, when I'm only 18? All the things I could've done,” she croaked. All right. I've had enough of depressed Ruby, and she wasn't even depressed for that long! If this is how glum she's going to be after a glimpse of these Grimm then I have to shake her off this mood.
“You can't be skulking like this! You made your choice to be in this life. Live with it is what I say. Now come on! We've got a case to solve, right?” I comforted. Hopefully my pep talk works. If not, then I really don't have a clue what to do next.
We were quiet for what seems to me a long time. Ruby wouldn't budge. She was still and silent except for her sniffling. It's like my words went through one ear and out the other!
“Ruby, did you hear me?” I inquire.
Ruby shifts from her position and wipes her face. She snuffles for a bit but looks at me with the same determination in her eyes like the first time we met.
“Thanks, Weiss. I needed some encouragement,” Ruby admitted.
“It's what partners are for. You know At some point you must tell me about your past after this,” I ask. A smile forms on the younger girl’s face and she begins to tread away from the alley and into the streets of Remnant.
“I already planned to Weiss, don't worry. Now, we've got a case to solve!”
Beacon Public Library
2/26
10:00 AM
“I need to look at your records. More specifically check out records. We're thinking we might be able to narrow our search down; maybe catch the arson of the books?” I request. I adjust my glasses and spot Weiss giving me a piercing glare.
“Dolt! You used ‘we’ again! You know you're tarnishing the already questionable perception others have of you, you know that?” lectured Weiss. I nod to signal my acknowledgement.
“Right this way then, Ruby. And maybe you can tell me why you say ‘we’ while you're searching our records?” Blake jokes. I follow her lead through the multiple aisles and enter a door with a sign saying: Staff Only above it.
“Our records are very thorough, although many people, precisely students, check books out of the library. I doubt you'll be able to sort through all of them, I tried, but good luck either way,” encouraged Blake.
10:20 AM
“So while you're searching through the logs, why not tell me about what happened? To your mother,” I ask. This is a tough subject, I'm sure, but it has to be done if Ruby is to continue being stable throughout this case. We need the rent money after all.
The investigator scrolls down and checks multiple names before sighing and looking towards me.
“You're right Weiss,” she sighs. “Let me start at the beginning. Take this with a grain of salt. The events were written in my Mom’s journal.”