THE HIDDEN ARCHIVELESS THAN MEDIOCRE

A PRIVATE AUDIOBOOK COLLECTION

Some doors
open other worlds.

You found this one.
A collection of voices, a refuge from the noise.
Find a story. Settle in. Disappear for a while.

Enter the library

Your library account is your key.

EX LIBRISTHE PRIVATE COLLECTION
An antique burgundy grimoire with gold ornamentation and the archive's triangular seal, illuminated in the dark.
The GrimoireAn original Micah & Rae adventure.

DISPATCHES FROM BETWEEN THE SHELVES

A paper with a life of its own.

VOL. I · No. 001THE LESS THAN MEDIOCRE PRESSPRICE: A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME
The

Archive Gazette

EXTRAORDINARY STORIES. UNREASONABLY GOOD COMPANY.
THE AFTER-HOURS EDITIONSTRANGE TIMES.
EXCELLENT STORIES.
Two pages. No ordinary news.

Atmospheric conditions

Reading roomQuiet, with chapters

DungeonPaperwork descending

PlatformChance of escape

From the Department

All complaints must be submitted in triplicate. Complaints about triplicate must be submitted in quadruplicate. Please bring your own ink.

THE OMENS

Unfavourable.
Proceed anyway.

EXCLUSIVE

Filed from the Department of Unscheduled Survival. Two uninvited visitors. One catastrophic customer-service incident.
The complete account appears in the grimoire. Officials advise against reading it.

01

LOCAL PAIR DECLINE
TO DIE ON SCHEDULE

Micah & Rae take on a dungeon with a customer-service problem. Management unavailable for comment.

OUR DUNGEON CORRESPONDENT

OWL DENIES
EVERYTHING

An owl employed by the Department of Unscheduled Survival has declined to explain how two visitors brought the entire dungeon to a halt using three quarters and a toilet key.

Micah and Rae entered through a laundromat. They left through a loophole. A photocopier was unavailable for comment.

Witnesses describe the boy’s sandwich as “structurally uncertain” and the girl’s approach to locked doors as “persuasive.” Neither qualification appears in the Department’s approved survival handbook.

At press time, reception was still referring all enquiries to a supervisor. The supervisor was referring them back to reception. Both desks have requested a larger desk.

“Your deaths
are important
to us.”
Micah supplies lunch. Rae supplies technical support. The copier objects.
FROM THE CASE FILE
EXHIBIT A
One disputed sandwich
EXHIBIT B
An oversized brass key
EXHIBIT C
Extremely bad service

THE FULL ACCOUNT

TERMS & DISMEMBERMENT

A dungeon. A very bad sandwich. A supervisor with a brass key. Read the complete adventure of Micah and Rae in the grimoire.

Eight chapters of administrative menace, questionable machinery, and the stubborn belief that two people ought to leave together. The official report is much shorter. It says “unexpected.”

EDITOR’S NOTE Names have not been changed. The Department has requested that we change the ending. We have declined.

THE QUIET SOCIETY

WANTED
LISTENERS

No experience necessary.
A library account is your invitation.

Apply at the nearest comfortable chair. Curiosity preferred. The ability to stop after one chapter is neither required nor expected.

CONNECTION DETAILS

PERSONAL NOTICES

LOST: ALL SENSE OF TIME

Last seen at the beginning of an excellent audiobook. If found, please do not return until the chapter is finished.

Also inside: a railway to elsewhere, the art of disappearing, and a practical guide to finding your way back.

To the reader still saying “just five more minutes”: we have held the presses for you.

FOUND: ONE BOOKMARK Discovered between “one more chapter” and sunrise. Slightly embarrassed. Answers to the name of Good Intentions.

SMALL ADS.
Large problems.

FOR SALE: ONE PLAN

Lightly used. Abandoned immediately upon contact with reality. Buyer collects from reception.

MISSING: LEFT SOCK

Last seen before the floor opened. If found, please reassure it that the laundry is no longer our biggest problem.

POSITION VACANT

Acting assistant to the acting assistant. Must enjoy forms, owls, and extremely limited advancement.

PERSONAL

To the girl with the brass key: good thinking. To the boy with the sandwich: surprisingly, also good thinking.

DEPARTURES

Filed from the Archive Express. The passengers have objections. The conductor has several detachable parts.
Our correspondent recommends keeping your luggage light and your options open.

02

NEXT STOP:
SOMEWHERE ELSE

The Department’s express service promises a performance review. Passengers request a refund.

FROM OUR STATION REPORTER

THE LONG WAY
IS THE GOOD WAY

The Archive Express has no return fares, no refreshments, and a conductor whose jaw occasionally requires reassembly. Micah called the service unsettling. Rae called it actionable.

Their destination: the Performance Review. Three trials. One survivor. The pair have submitted a strongly worded objection.

The timetable described the journey as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Passengers have requested that the railway explain which part of that sentence constitutes a promise.

Staff insist the exit is clearly marked. Rae has suggested marking the entrance just as clearly, preferably with the words “absolutely do not.” Management is considering a smaller sign.

Departure: imminent.
Destination:
regrettable.
A shutdown, an open exit, and two very dissatisfied customers.
FROM THE CASE FILE
PLATFORM
Somewhere below
RETURN FARE
Not recommended
STATUS
Running for it

TRAVEL ADVISORY

YOUR PLACE IS RESERVED

Sign in to your library account to keep your listening progress. When the real world calls you back, your story will be ready for your return.

No need to memorise the page, bribe the conductor, or leave a trail of breadcrumbs. Your account keeps your place. The breadcrumbs would only attract the owl.

RETURN TO YOUR SHELVES

QUIET CARRIAGE Talking permitted only when it improves the story. Loud chewing remains under investigation.

THE ARCHIVE EXPRESS

ONE TICKET.
OTHER WORLDS.

Now departing from your browser.
Headphones highly recommended.

Through services to improbable places. Connections available from your favourite chair. Real-world interruptions may affect arrival time.

TAKE YOUR SEAT

A TRAVELLER’S NOTE

BRING THE ARCHIVE WITH YOU

Connect your listening app with the server address below. The same library account opens the door on your next device.

The full address is printed below this newspaper. Copy it carefully: even imaginary railways need the correct destination.

FIND YOUR CONNECTION

TRAVELLER’S CHECKLIST Account, headphones, comfortable seat. A brass key is optional. A questionable sandwich is entirely your own decision.

PLATFORM
Whispers.

DELAY ANNOUNCEMENT

The 8:43 to Certain Doom is delayed by an unforeseen outbreak of independent thought.

SEEKING: A REFUND

Two passengers. One deeply misleading itinerary. Payment in apologies will be considered.

LEFT LUGGAGE

One suitcase full of unresolved questions. Handle with care. Do not open near management.

NOTICE TO READERS

If this paper appears to move, your eyes are working correctly. If the platform moves, hold someone’s hand.

PRINTED IN THE QUIET HOURSA FICTIONAL DISPATCH FROM THE HIDDEN ARCHIVEEST. MMXXV

From the grimoire: The Department of Unscheduled Survival.

BEYOND THE COVER

For the art of getting lost.

Leave the everyday at the door.

01 /

Your world, on pause.

Long walks. Late nights. One more chapter. Take a good story wherever the day leads.

02 /

Your place, remembered.

Pick up where you left off. Audiobookshelf keeps your listening progress with your account.

03 /

Your own rhythm.

Find your listening speed, set a sleep timer, and let the rest of the world wait.

KEEP THE DOOR CLOSE

The archive.
Within reach.

Listen in your browser, or connect an Audiobookshelf-compatible app to the same collection.

Explore Audiobookshelf apps
YOUR CONNECTION
  1. 01
    Bring your key

    Use your existing library username and password. Need access? Ask the person who invited you.

  2. 02
    Connect to the archive

    When your app asks for a server, use this full address.

The same account. The same collection. Your next chapter.

A little help finding your way

Already signed in? Enter the library to return to your shelves.

Using a mobile app? Include /audiobookshelf in the server address, then sign in with your library account.

Having trouble signing in? Check your server address and credentials, or contact your library host for help.

There is always another chapter.

Find yours in the library
THE HIDDEN ARCHIVE MICAH & RAE · AN ORIGINAL ADVENTURE
MICAH & RAEA TALE IN EIGHT CHAPTERS

I · AN INCONVENIENT TUESDAY

The floor had other plans.

The laundromat swallowed Micah at 8:43 p.m., one sock before his laundry was finished. Rae grabbed his wrist. This was brave, poorly timed, and how she got swallowed too.

THE HIDDEN ARCHIVEIFIRST EDITION

Continued in Chapter II

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