"Cassie, I'm finally through with Ghost tales".
"Oh yeah? Give it to me so that I can return it".
"Here" Linda replied giving the book to Cassie, "You can also get me another book". Cassie nodded and headed for the library.
"Uh, sorry for disturbing your reading Mrs. Librarian but I have a hard time figuring out where I got this book from" Cassie said to the frail looking woman.
"Ghost tales?" The woman glanced at the book cover and gave Cassie a rather judgmental look, "Over there". Cassie looked at the direction of the old woman's finger but there was not a single bookshelf in that direction.
"Do you mind being more specific. I don't see any bookshelf".
"And how's that my problem? I wasn't the one that took it out neither was I the one that read it".
What's up with old people and being rude to her? She thought as she passed through every bookshelf looking for an empty space so she could put the book back in. Her quest led her to the deepest part of the library where she finally saw a little space. She heaved a sigh of relief and returned the book. She wanted to leave but she decided to get Linda another book. She came across a book named Book of the dread. The book radiated an unsettling energy with it's leather-bound cover adorned with enigmatic symbols that seemed to writhe and shift. The air around her suddenly got colder, sending shivers down her spine. Cassie cautiously opened the book. The pages revealed passages written in a language that transcends the ordinary. She was sure she had seen this language before but where? She paused for a while and quickly remembered. The amuelisk! That's where she saw it. Cassie read through the words like she could understand it. The words seemed to etch themselves into her mind, resonating with an ancient power that transcends time. The moment Cassie began to read, faint whispers echoed through the library. The shadows seemed to dance and the atmosphere grew heavier with a sense of foreboding. It was like the book itself was trying to communicate with her.
"What are you doing?" The librarian asked Cassie making her to snap out of whatever that was happening to her.
"Nothing" Cassie replied as she put the book back where she got it from. She bowed her head and hurriedly walked out of the library.
At night, Cassie kept on hearing whispers. She buried her face with her pillow but the whispers didn't seem to stop. She slowly opened her eyes and saw two figures standing in front of her. She squinted closely and couldn't believe what she saw.
"Mom? Dad?" She called coming down.
"Oh Cassie, how I've missed you" The spirit in form of Cassie's late mom said stretching out her two hands.
"Cassie my little pumpkin. Come to daddy. Daddy is dying to hold you once again".
"Mom? Dad?" She called again, slowly approaching them, tears trickling down her cheeks. She touched the hands of her parents and they slowly faded before her eyes causing an eerie laughter all over the room making Cassie to cover her ears tightly and scream out loud.
"Cassie?" Linda called turning the lights on, "Are you okay?".
Cassie hurriedly embraced Linda, sobbing.
"Are you alright? Did anything happen?".
"I'm scared" Cassie replied.
"It's fine. I'm here now" She said slowly stroking her hair. Cassie let go of her and fell to the floor when she saw her parents standing behind Linda. Cassie slowly pointed at them, hyperventilating.
"What are you pointing at?" Linda said turning back, "I don't see anything".
The eerie laughter became louder and deafening. Cassie covered her ears, screaming and sobbing profusely.
"Cassie wait here, I'll go call principal Margaret!" Linda said she hurriedly ran out.
"Cassie". She heard her mother call her name. She shook her head refusing to look up.
"Cassie, it's me mommy. Mommy misses you Cassie".
"No... You're not real" Cassie said still refusing to look up.
"Cassie? Cassie? Cassie!". Cassie stood up and immediately ran out of the room. She ran all the way to the library in search of the book. She rushed to the bookshelf and took out the book and started flipping the pages. She found herself understanding the language. It was a book of ancient prophecies, spells and rituals. She came across a spell; the veil of forgetfulness.
It was a forbidden spell that could erase traumatic memories offering solace to those burdened by their pasts but it comes with a price; she wouldn't be able to remember who she is any longer and her abilities will leave her.
Linda rushed into the room with the principal but they couldn't find Cassie.
"Well where is she?" The principal asked her.
"I don't know. She was right here when I left. She was sobbing and covering her ears like there was a loud noise but I couldn't hear anything. She also..."
"Wait, by any chance did she go to the library today?".
"Yes. She went to return the book, ghost tales".
"She must've opened the book of the dread".
"The book of what now?".
"We have no time. We must hurry to the library!". The two of them rushed over to the library. They saw Cassie sitting down on the floor surrounded by candles muttering inaudible spells.
"Cassie!" Linda called.
"It's of no use. She can't hear you" The principal said to Linda.
"What do we do now?!".
"The book of the dread is a forbidden book that contains the ancient spells written by white bloods and only them can understand and use it".
"But Cassie isn't a white blood".
"Yes, that's why the book is slowly driving her insane. It's up to you to save her".
"Up to me? How?".
"You're a white blood".
Linda gasped, "How did you know?".
"I've stayed on this earth longer than you think I have and I know a white blood when I see one but no need to worry, I won't tell Cassie neither will I let any harm come to you".
"Thank you principal Margaret. Now what do I have to do?".
"Easy. You see that open book over there?" The principal asked pointing at the book of dread in front of Cassie.
"Yeah, what about it?".
"All you have to do is to seal it with your blood".
"And how do I do that?".
"You have to cut yourself and let your blood drop three times on the open page and the curse will be uplifted and the book sealed. You have to hurry before Cassie is through with the spell as it can lead to her death or worse, it can make her lose her powers" The principal said and handed Linda a penknife. Linda nodded and did exactly what she was told. After her blood dropped thrice on the open page, the book itself flipped it's pages until it was completely closed. The candles surrounding Cassie immediately went off and she regained herself. Linda picked up the book and placed it back in the bookshelf and helped Cassie up.
"Thank you, the both of you for saving me".
"It's all fine Cassandra Olsen but I think it's high time we shut off this part of the library" The principal said and two girls nodded in agreement.