In the dimly lit attic of their grandparents' house, Sarah and David stumbled upon a dusty, leather-bound journal that promised to lead them to a long lost family treasure.
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The leather was faded, the spine was worn and creased, and the title on the cover was etched in gold leaf, although much of the leaf had peeled away, revealing the black, cloth-like material underneath.
"It's not like it looks special," Sarah said, her voice full of doubt.
"Why are you so excited?" David said, his face hiding his excitement
"What does it say?" Sarah asked, pointing to the spine.
David took a deep breathe. He didn't want to give his sister the satisfaction of reading his thoughts.
"It looks like 'Lil' Biddy Book'.
That doesn't sound very special."
"Let me see it," Sarah demanded.
"I found it, so I will be looking at it," David replied.
"But I want to see," Sarah whined.
"Fine, here," David said, handing her the book.
"See, it's not very big, and there's only one page, " she said, examining it.
"What's this writing?" she asked
"It's some kind of alphabet, I think," David replied.
"How can an alphabet be weird?" she asked, her nose wrinkled up.
"Let me see," David said.
Sarah handed the book back to him. David stared at the writing.
The script was made up of tiny, jagged symbols, like a child had taken a fork and poked holes in the paper. There were no curves, no circles, nothing round, only angles and lines. It was difficult to see because it was written in a thin ink that had faded with age, making the symbols indistinct, almost as if they were moving and shifting as he stared.
"That looks like the crazy alphabet from my reading book. It's called 'runes'," David said.
"Runes are silly," Sarah said, making a face.
"They're cool," David said, turning away from her.
"You're such a baby," Sarah said.
"I know that," David said, looking hurt.
David looked at the journal and ran his fingers along the pages. It felt strange, like there was a faint electrical charge running through the parchment, and he pulled his hand away.
"Take a look, " he said, handing the book to her.
"Fine, give it here," Sarah said, snatching it out of his hand.
The moment she opened the book, she began to shake. The words of the book glowed an eerie, bright blue.
"Hey, what's going on?" David cried.
The book slipped out of Sarah's hands and fell to the floor, and David picked it up. The glowing stopped, and the room was dark once again.
"You dropped the book," Sarah said.
"I didn't drop it, you did," David said, holding it back to her.
"Don't lie. Boys can't be trusted," she said, taking the book from him.
As soon as she touched it, the book glow again.
"I think we should put it back and leave," David said.
Sarah didn't move. Her eyes were locked on one of the pages. And she couldn't seem to look away either. David reached out and shook her.
"Sarah, put the book down," he shouted.
His voice seemed far away, like an echo. But she couldn't hear him. Her body stiffen, and her face went blank. As though she was in a trance.
He reached out to take the book, but his hands passed right through her and the book. David shook her again, and the glow faded. Sarah blinked and looked around, as if waking from a dream.
"What happened?" David asked.
"I found something exciting," Sarah said.
"Really?" He asked while his face brightens.
"Yes, really. But it was like a warning to stay away from the book," she said.
"Did it say why?" He asked.
"Yes, I was told the book is sacred," she said. "It was more like a book housing a secret that should never be revealed."
"Well, at least you got to see something exciting," David said.
"We should probably put the book back," Sarah said, looking at her brother.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to put the book back. He wanted to know what was inside, but he was also afraid. What if it was dangerous? What if it was cursed, like in the stories their grandparents told them?
"Hey, don't be scared," Sarah said, as if reading his mind.
"You are a good brother," she whispered and hugged.
David smiled.
"You are a good sister," he hugged her back
"Let's put the book back and never tell mum or dad about this," Sarah said again.
"Okay," David replied.
They went to the place where they found the book and dropped it back in its spot.
