
23 January 2025
It’s been over two months since the last lost soul came to me. On December 2 and again on the 22nd, the Master Shadow inspected my home, searching for the missing spirits. He knows I have them, there’s no doubt in my mind, but I moved them to a friend’s house in Austin before he could do anything. Until I decide who can truly keep them safe, they remain hidden, waiting for their chance at freedom.
But now, I’m certain that no more lost souls will come to me. For over a year, they came, desperate for freedom. And now, nothing. Just silence. Sending them to me was part of her sick, twisted game, yet somehow, some of them, whom I call the fugitives, outsmarted her. Now they’re safe, sealed inside small glass bottles, waiting to be sent to their caretakers. I wish more could come, that more could escape, but I know they won’t. I have to accept that my role has changed.
I feel sad that there will be no more lost souls seeking my help. Knowing they relied on me made me feel special, but knowing I can only help 31 of them is unbearable. My house feels emptier now, quieter, but deep down, I know this is the calm before the storm.
If the Master Shadow inspected my home twice, he will return for a third. And this time, I don’t expect him to come alone. I fully expect Candle Face herself to seek me out, either to retrieve the fugitives or to punish me for interfering. But here’s what Candle Face may not realize: this wasn’t my doing. The fugitives outsmarted her, and if my suspicions are correct, they did so by exploiting the one weakness in her system, her Master Shadow.
It’s possible Candle Face doesn’t even know about the fugitives’ escape. The Master Shadow is responsible for overseeing them, keeping them in her lair, preventing their freedom. If they slipped past him, then this is his failure, not mine. If I have the chance, I plan to confront her with this. I want to pit her against the Master Shadow, make her see his failure for what it is. If I can plant the seed of doubt, make her question his loyalty, maybe, just maybe, I can turn them against each other. Maybe it won’t work. Maybe she already knows. But if there’s even the slightest chance that I can turn her anger toward him instead of me, I have to try.
If Candle Face or the Master Shadow gets to them before I can free them, I know what will happen. I don’t want to say it, but I’ve seen enough to know their suffering won’t end. It’ll just get worse. The lost souls that once came to me were terrified of going back into the portal, and if the fugitives are returned, there will be no more chances. No more hope. Just suffering.
Every moment they remain hidden is a victory, but it’s also a risk. I have to find their caretakers. I have to make sure they don’t end up back in the lair.
For around 15 months, I thought I was simply recording their stories, bearing witness to their suffering. Now I realize I was always meant to do more. I’m no longer just a conduit for their voices, I’m their only hope at freedom.
I wish more would come. I wish more could escape. But I doubt it. My mission now is to ensure these 31 fugitives reach safety. It won’t be easy. I know the Master Shadow will return, and when he does, Candle Face may be with him. But I can’t focus on that yet. The fugitives’ freedom comes first.
Every lost soul that came to me, every clue I’ve collected, it’s all led to this moment. I have no choice but to see this through. The real work begins now.
Key To Understanding
Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]
Visit Us Online
Comments