December 28, 2024
Today felt like a big step forward in my plan to protect the fugitives. After some consideration, I decided to take extra precautions with them. I purchased a roll of QR code stickers from Amazon, and over the past week, I’ve been entering the information the fugitives provided me into a QR code generator. Each fugitive now has their own unique code on a sticker affixed to their bottle, a small yet vital step in ensuring their safety as the situation grows more complicated.
The process of entering the information was both tedious and exciting. Writing down their stories—the fragments of their lives and deaths—felt like a reminder of how fragile this whole effort is. These fugitives, as I’ve come to call them, have entrusted me with their safety.
Despite today being my birthday, this felt more important than any celebration. Ensuring the fugitives’ safety couldn’t wait. I drove to Austin to hand over the box of 30 fugitives to Michael. I decided to keep one fugitive with me, feeling that I’d be a better caretaker for this particular spirit. Michael is my childhood friend and the same person I called Mark in my memoir The Empty Lot Next Door. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, and I trust him implicitly. Michael agreed to keep the box at his house for now. My reasoning was simple: if the Master Shadow decides to return to search for the lost souls, I don’t want the fugitives anywhere near me. My house has already seen enough of him, and I can’t afford to take chances.
The drive to Austin was uneventful, but driving in the middle of the night probably wasn’t a good idea. I kept looking over my shoulder to the back seat, thinking the Master Shadow or Candle Face herself would appear. My mind played tricks on me, every shadow on the road feeding my anxiety until I forced myself to focus, repeating that this was the right thing to do. The box sat in the backseat, and I couldn’t help but glance at it in the rearview mirror every so often. The thought that these spirits were being hunted by the Master Shadow or something worse was enough to keep my nerves on edge.
When I arrived at Michael’s house, he greeted me with the same easygoing demeanor he’s always had. He didn’t ask many questions, probably because he already had the answers. I gave him a quick rundown of the situation, explaining that the bottles needed to be kept safe and undisturbed. Michael, being the practical person he is, asked if there was any chance of the spirits escaping. Deep down, I knew they weren’t evil. I’d seen their desperation, their need to escape the forces hunting them. I assured him that the bottles were secure and that the fugitives were good, not evil.
Driving back home, the absence of the box in my car felt strange, almost unnatural. Even though they’d only been with me briefly, their presence had become a constant reminder of my responsibility. Now, without them, my life feels both lighter and emptier. I can’t shake the thought that I’ve just set something larger into motion.
For now, all I can do is wait and hope that the decision to move the fugitives was the right one. The QR codes will help if I need to keep track of them later, and spreading them out—when the time comes—will hopefully weaken any chance of detection. I can only hope that I’ve made the right decision, though the nagging uncertainty refuses to leave me. The Master Shadow has promised to return, and when he does, I’ll need to be ready for whatever comes next.
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