Mila rushes into the book club, a book tucked under her arm as she catches her breath. it’s only me, Ryan and Ella here today, the rest of our group were more occupied with other events to attend.

“hey, how’d that little trip go?” Ryan smiles at Mila as she sits down at our table, a large grin smeared on her face. “i found a book—from the abandoned library!” Mila tells us with pure child-like excitement in her voice and face, “what is it?” Ella tilts her head, all our eyes seem to move in sync to the book she’s hiding.

Mila puts it down, turning it around so we can read the title, “…Decay?” i read, confused. “and what’s with the symbols??” Ella asks, her finger brushing over the symbols where the author’s name should be. Mila ignores our questions and opens the first page, the language is so messy and unreadable. even for us. “i can read it,” Mila adds. “you’d have to be an absolute foul to believe that you can read this crap.” Ryan scoffs with a teasing grin.

“if you can, read this,” Ryan leans forward, flicking to page six and points at the first sentence at the top.

it takes Mila a few seconds before she responds, “scientists are unable to perform procedures as law enforcement begged, i am under investigation of the circumstances that include Sir Skizo Mitchelle’s murder. i am guilty. but thy scum shalln’t put me in cuffs.” Mila reads slowly, in her own time.

all three of us sit in shock, our eyes wide and mouths agape. “how did you do that?…” I ask, “i don’t know.” Mila replies. we all look at each other, speechless.

“what the hell is this book?”