As I walked in, Clifford wasn't at the front desk like he usually was. I didn't bother to call out. Knowing I was probably a fugitive, I didn't want to involve him in my mess.
I walked around the library feeling at home and comfortable. I browsed through each lane and inspected numerous books. I wasn't interested in finding another book to read but I was just curious.
" Did you hear what happened last night? " A girl whispered.
I jumped, startled. Backing back in the corner in hid between a shelf in the back and watched as two girls were heading in my direction while conversing.
' Out of all days....' i thought cynically.
I recognized the girl that was speaking, she was Jessica Andrews from school.
" OMG! Yes! That girl um... what's her name? The vagrant looking girl from school." voice 2 wondered.
" Orphan girl?" Jessica asked
" Omg yes her!"
" Yeah, I heard she hit the orphanage director's husband and gave him a concussion," Jessica said in excitement.
" Wow, I didn't know she was violent like that. We should totally stay away from her." voice two said in disgust.
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes and walked faster.
" My mom told me that when they find her she was going to jail. Apparently, she stole money from the director's husband because they met him with his pants emptied and down his waist. Ew" She gagged thinking of the memory. The other girl mimicked Jessica and followed along obediently.
I had to admit. I didn't see that one coming. I knew they were malicious but I didn't know they were cruel enough to cover up that incident and frame her like that. Feeling even more lonely than ever a single tear slipped out my eyes and fell on the ground.
Hearing them come closer, I hid even deeper into the library. I went so deep I got lost in the forgotten books section in the very back of the library.
Normally this section would be closed and under lock and key but here the door was, wide open and ominously inviting.
' Maybe Clifford was cleaning it out?' I peered in and saw a multitude of old classic books and manuscripts that were from the early 1900s. Fascinated and unable to control my curiosity, I stepped in. Knowing I won't be able to escape the library anytime soon I relaxed.
As if spellbound, I fluttered all over the small room picking up books and reading the covers. Some were in English and others in various other languages.
One book, in particular, caught her eye. It was so far hidden that if she didn't have a marvelous 20/20 eyesight she might have missed it.
It was partially hidden under a large box with only its spine was showing. After, trying for a minute or two to get the book from under the box, I successfully nabbed it and sat in a corner to read its contents. However, not before I almost blew a lung coughing after inhaling a ton of dust.
In my coughing fit, I didnt notice the book start to glow a shiny golden color. When I did take notice screamed and dropped the book and backed away a few meters. The book stopped shining immediately after I dropped it.
' What is that book? A toy?' I wondered curiously.
My heartbeat calmed down for a minute of convincing myself that the most scientific answer was that it was some type of children's light-up storybook. As to how it lit up when I touched it... I didnt come to that conclusion yet.
I inched forward cautiously and poked the book. Nothing happened so I let out the breath I was holding. I held the book again and it lit up again. Amused I set it down and watched as the light went out again and repeated this several times until I tested my theory enough. I opened the book and flipped to the first page. But what I saw first was a letter.
It only said ' πΏπ ππππ ππ πππ πππππππ'.
' Maybe its a love letter' i chuckled lowly. I opened it up and read it.
***
πΏπππ ππππ ππ πππ πππ πππ πππππ ππ πππππ.
π΄π πππ ππππ ππ ππππ ππππ ππππ, ππππ πππ πππ ππππππππ πππ πππ ππππππππππππ ππππ ππππππ.πΏππππ ππ ππ ππππππ πππππ πππ ππππ ππ ππππ.πΎπ,ππππππ ππππππ!
***
There was no signature. My heart beating a thousand beats per minute. I reread the paper a few more times. I've always been a skeptical person and never believed things easily but this letter for some strange reason gave me a serious vibe.
' What...What if it is real?' i thought. I didnt have anyone here who loved me or wanted me around even if it's a hoax or real I'm sure there will be no difference in my life.
I decided to open it. However, as soon as I flipped the page, I heard loud footsteps coming in my direction. It was then I remembered I had screamed pretty loudly before. Cold sweat built up on my forehead.
' If I get caught now its over...but' i glanced at the book.
" Whose there?" I heard an elderly voice questioning.
I really wanted to find out what was up with this book, so using my remaining time I opened the book fully. Before I could make sense of anything, I felt myself being pulled by a strong force.
A second later the room was empty of any living thing and only an old purple beat-up book remained on the floor closed as if it had never been opened in years.
The old woman approached and looked into the room.
"I thought I heard someone in here...must be my hearing aides again" Grumbling under her breathe, she walked away.