joeislove's 100-word story for January 9, 2026

joeislove wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on January 9, 2026. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Nothing matters in the stacks except staying alive. You don't stop to read. You grab your books and you go. When you hear the thundering calamitous tumult behind you, do not pause and look behind you. If you do, and you accidentally behold the horrible gaping maw of the elder bookworm, your only hope is to let your mind go blank. The bookworm has no eyes, no nose, no ears. But it can hear your thoughts, and it feeds on your imaginings. Do not dawdle here. Do not tarry. Go in, take the books on the list, and go. Hurry!

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