May 20, 2024 I finally put down my phone to prepare for another night of sleep on the couch. I walked to the light switch and turned it off. A much darker shadow appeared in the room's corner as soon as darkness hit. I knew what was next, so I sat down on the couch and waited. A short male wearing tattered clothing but a newer hoody stepped out of the shadow and walked up to me. I could smell his body odor when he became visible. We made eye contact, both smiled, and he sat down beside me. He said good evening, then corrected himself with “Good mornin’,” with a slight laugh. He seemed so friendly I wanted to chat, but I knew better. After a short pause, he began his story: I've heard folks say that a person's home is their sanctuary. Well, under the Ben White overpass, among the discarded and the lost, the underbelly of South Austin doesn't offer much sanctity. It’s been a rough patch of existence, me and the other five—our own kind of brotherhood. We're the unseen, the unheard, the unspoken. Our brotherhood, bound by the mutual necessity to survive, was strong. But even stronger was the fear that bound us—a fear of something much worse than hunger, cold, or violence. Candle Face. The stories of Candle Face were woven into our every conversation by the fire pit. She was the breath behind every misfortune, driving those who doubted her existence towards the madness that lay in the bottom of bottles and the tips of needles. “Ever wonder why Kevin never came back?” Jim muttered, eyes haunted. “He doubted. Candle Face got him.” Their eyes—filled with sorrow for the fallen, anger for the indifferent world, contempt for the system that failed us. They spoke of Candle Face’s torment, a relentless mental barrage that shattered the mind. We had to spread the word, they said. We had to save the souls of the homeless. I nodded along, my heart never in it. To me, Candle Face was a manifestation of our collective despair, nothing more. I refused to believe in her supernatural powers, clinging to the hope that there was a rational explanation for the horrors we faced. Then, she came—a silhouette in the night, eyes of fire. The fire pit flickered, trembling in her presence. “One of you has betrayed me,” Candle Face’s voice was barely audible. Her gaze found me, a disbeliever, a pretender among the believers. She moved closer. My façade was stripped away for all to see, and the raw nakedness of my disbelief was laid bare. Yet before she could claim me, she halted her torture. “This one shall be your warning,” she spoke, turning to the others. Her departure left a void filled immediately with silence. The others, my brethren of the streets, now looked upon me not with kinship, but with a devout fervor. They believed I had been spared for purpose, and I saw in their eyes that my punishment had only begun. Days passed in a haze. The group’s devotion to Candle Face deepened, as did the divide between us. They treated me with a mixture of awe and distance—a tainted being, alive yet not spared. Nights were worse; eyes filled the dark corners, and the chill seemed to laugh at the feeble fire that could not keep it at bay. My friends had seen the truth in Candle Face’s judgment and believed more fiercely than ever. Finally, a reckoning under the cold glow of the overpass. We gathered once more around the fire pit, the flames dancing mockingly. This night, their eyes didn't hold sorrow or fear for me; they were resolute, hardened by belief. Candle Face materialized, not as a vengeful phantom, but as an oracle of their vindication. This time, she simply watched, her gaze silent. I stood before them, the disbeliever, the one who had been touched by Candle Face and lived. Then, one by one, the men rose. They moved upon me, fists raised not in defense but in zeal, their blows guided by a belief that I was an insult to their salvation. Their anger, pent up from being unseen and unheard, found release across my face. Pain blossomed where their fists met my flesh, and a choir of grunts and gasps sang a gruesome symphony. They were relentless, representatives of Candle Face’s will, ensuring I paid for my deception. As their blows rained down, each strike was a sermon, each cry a praise. They didn't cease until my breath stopped. Candle Face observed, her flame eyes unwavering. I had become a sacrifice at the altar of belief, a disbeliever silenced not by the ghost they revered, but by the hands of her followers. As the last threads of consciousness waned, I thought I heard her say, “Believe,” as though the word itself was a commandment. Personal Note to My Readers For the first time in seven months of documenting the testimonies of the lost souls, names emerged—an unexpected yet monumental breakthrough. This revelation marks a significant milestone in my work. Until now, these encounters were shrouded in anonymity, their stories devoid of personal identifiers. Introducing the names Kevin and Jim brings a new kind of life into these accounts. Jim was one of the victim's killers. It suggests a shift, a willingness—or perhaps a desperate need—of these spirits to be known and remembered. This newfound detail is more than just a name; it’s a gateway to deeper truths, a sign that we’re peeling back the layers of Candle Face’s mysteries. As I pen these words to you, I want you to grasp the weight of this moment. Kevin and Jim's names signify the beginning of a new chapter, where the lost souls may start to share more than just their ghostly presence. Names bring with them histories, connections, and identities. With these first names, I anticipate a cascade of other names and details to follow. This may become the norm in an era where the spirits' stories are no longer completely obscure. We stand on the brink of uncovering more intricate stories, with names serving as keys to unlocking the full spectrum of their experiences. The air around me feels excited as if the very fabric of the paranormal world is aligning to reveal its secrets in ways it never has before. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

May 24, 2024 I made a big mistake. I tried to sleep on the bed upstairs. This usually doesn’t end well for me because sleeping flat, either on my stomach or back, is a recipe for a major vertigo attack that will plague me for several days. That’s precisely what happened last night. Just as the room started to spin, the shadows stayed still. A female stepped out of the shadowy portal and stood motionless while the rest of the room spun around her. She began her story as I tried to concentrate, knowing my vertigo attack would undoubtedly distract me from much of her testimony. Here’s her story: I worked the corners of North Austin and, at times, downtown. I was a good prostitute; people would ask for me by my street name, Crystal. I was also known to be rough and tough, and I wouldn’t take crap from any man. Try to rip me off, and I would punch, scratch, and kick until the son-of-a-bitch would pay up. One day, a man drove up and told me to get in. After a few minutes of dealing, I agreed, and we went to a secluded spot to seal the deal. He became a regular, maybe once every week, sometimes more often. He was quiet at first, but as we got more comfortable with each other, we would talk about life in general. He started talking about saving me and making me his wife. He wasn’t the first person to say this. I knew this was when things started to get dangerous. I didn’t want him to think I belonged to him, and I definitely didn’t need a savior. But I needed the money, so I played along. One day, he didn’t want to pay me because he said I was his girl. When I mentioned that if he wanted to get laid, I needed to get paid, he hit me across my face. This wasn’t the first time I got hit. I knew what to do. I bit him on his right cheek and punched him, and I got away. A few days later, he drove by and apologized, saying it was the drugs in his system that made him do it. He looked at me with those puppy eyes, so I got into his truck. He drove me to our spot off the highway. I did my job, and he paid me. We continued this weekly for about two months. He pulled up next to me one day, and I got in. After doing the deed, we sat there talking like we used to. He brought up the story of Candle Face, the demon you named. He said he’s a disciple of hers, responsible for spreading her word and bringing her anyone who doesn’t believe in her. I asked what happens to those who don’t believe. He said Candle Face will deal with them individually. I just laughed, and eventually, we changed the subject. However, as weeks passed, he wouldn’t change the subject; he kept asking me to help him spread the word about her and asked me to tell my friends about her. I would refuse, saying I just don’t believe in ghosts. One day, he asked me if I believed in Candle Face, and I went off on him. I got so tired of him asking me that I yelled at him and said no. I attempted to open the door, but he gripped my left arm and held me inside. I punched him with my right hand, but it barely landed. However, his punch to my face did land. He climbed on top of me and started to choke me with his thumbs squarely on my neck. I knew this was going to be different from the other beatings from my johns. I tried to scratch him but couldn’t reach his face. I tried to grab his hands and pry them off my neck, but to no use; he was just too strong. Right before passing out, he stopped and laughed. He asked, “What’s wrong? All the other girls like it.” He then continued to punch my face a few times and then went back to choking me. This choking and punching pattern continued until I just couldn’t fight or care anymore. He asked me, “Are you ready to believe?” I couldn’t answer, but the answer was no. He took to my neck one final time, and the blackness overtook me. The second my life drained from my body, I appeared in a place filled with other souls. Shadows surrounded me, taller and skinnier than humans, gliding a foot or two above the ground. They grabbed me and told me that my job in death would be the same in life – to entertain. I fell to my knees, which stuck to the ground. A shadow pushed me forward. My forearms hit the ground, and they, too, stuck to the ground. One of the shadows said, “Now that’s the position you will remain in for eternity.” Other shadows formed two lines, one in front of me and the other behind me. “Ray, I, um, I mean, we need your help. Please save us from this hell. You are the only one who can help us. You’re spending too much attention on the wrong things.” I asked, “What can I do differently?” before realizing I had broken Candle Face’s rule of not asking questions. I felt my heart sink, but she answered. “Read and reread our testimonies. There are more clues in the testimonies. You must find them. You were chosen for a reason. All you have to do is…” she said in a hurry, but a huge shadow figure appeared out of the portal. It had elongated limbs, and its eyes glowed a sickly yellow. The figure grabbed her by the neck with clawed hands, lifting her off the ground. She struggled, her form flickering and distorting. The shadow looked at me and said in a voice that was both a whisper and a roar, “You were warned.” Its breath was hot and foul, burning my skin and lungs. It then yanked her back through the portal with a force that made the air ripple and crack. As she was pulled through, her screams were sharp and piercing, echoing around me and mingling with the cries of other tormented souls. I was left alone, my mind racing with the cryptic message she left behind. Personal Note to My Readers The testimonies of the spirits who visit me, filled with hidden messages, swirled in my thoughts. As suspected, the lost souls are providing names now. This is the second lost soul who mentioned a name, but this time, the lost soul mentioned her own street name, “Crystal.” I realized deciphering these hidden messages might be the key to their salvation. I need to review all the previous testimonies more thoroughly, searching for any clues that Candle Face’s victims had left behind. This intricate puzzle could be my path to uncovering the truth and perhaps freeing the tormented lost souls, including my own. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 1, 2024 Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] isn’t just a collection of ghost stories; it’s an anthology woven from the real testimonies of murder and suicide victims seeking justice and peace. These spirits, victims of the vengeful ghost Candle Face, communicate their haunting stories through me, urging me to find their remains and identify their killers. I applied Ramsey Theory to the spirits' testimonies to uncover deeper meanings and messages embedded in the text. Ramsey Theory, named after the British mathematician Frank P. Ramsey, is a branch of mathematics that studies conditions under which order must appear. It’s particularly concerned with finding types of order and structure in large and seemingly disordered or random systems. Traditionally used in mathematics and computer science, Ramsey Theory can reveal hidden patterns and structures within texts. A notable example of its literary application is in the book Moby Dick  by Herman Melville, published in 1851. By applying Ramsey Theory to Moby Dick , researchers were able to discover hidden words and phrases, unveiling deeper layers of meaning within the text. Here are two notable examples of hidden messages found in Moby Dick : "VENGEANCE" The word "VENGEANCE" can be found hidden within the text, reflecting Captain Ahab's relentless pursuit of the whale, Moby Dick. Ahab's quest for vengeance drives the story and highlights the destructive power of obsession. This hidden message emphasizes the novel's exploration of revenge and its consequences, both for Ahab and his crew. "MADNESS" The word "MADNESS" is another hidden message uncovered in Moby Dick . It symbolizes the psychological unraveling of Captain Ahab and the crew on their journey. The theme of madness is central to the novel, illustrating the fine line between sanity and insanity as Ahab's obsession with Moby Dick consumes him and affects those around him. These hidden messages, revealed through the application of Ramsey Theory by researchers, provide deeper insights into the central themes and character motivations in Moby Dick . They highlight the novel's complex exploration of obsession, revenge, and the human condition. Similarly, applying Ramsey Theory to Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]  involved removing spaces, punctuation, and formatting from the text and searching for words in various directions (up, down, backward, and diagonal). This analysis revealed numerous significant words and phrases that suggest deeper meanings and connections within the spirits' testimonies. This journal entry explores these hidden words and phrases, analyzing their significance and uncovering the concealed messages they might hold. Ramsey Theory Analysis Ramsey Theory, typically applied in mathematics and computer science, can also be a powerful tool for uncovering patterns in text. By removing spaces, punctuation, and formatting from  Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]  and searching for words in various directions (up, down, backward, and diagonal), I discovered numerous significant words and phrases. Certain words and phrases stood out among these because they were found in all directions, suggesting their critical importance in the lost souls’ testimonies. These words include "MAMA," "FIRE," "LOVE," "SAFE," "BURN," "SCARE," "NIGHT," "TIGHT," "GIRL," and "SAD." Each of these words carries a weight of meaning and a potential connection to the unknown – something I must uncover. Analysis of Key Words and Phrases Found in All Directions "MAMA" Found 9 times in all directions, "MAMA" might signify the frequent presence of maternal figures in the testimonies. Several spirits mention their mothers, highlighting a deep connection and longing for the safety and comfort associated with maternal love. For instance, in " Candle Face Victim # 2: Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon ," a young girl's story emphasizes her mother's protection and the heartbreaking separation caused by Candle Face. This hidden word is more likely referring to the young girl from the testimony of Tanisha Lorraine Watkins. The recurring appearance of "MAMA" may hint at a hidden message about the importance of maternal bonds and perhaps a way to reach or appease Candle Face, who might have had a significant maternal figure in her past. "FIRE" Discovered 22 times in all directions, "FIRE" is a recurring theme in the testimonies, likely symbolizing destruction and the origin of Candle Face's vengeful spirit. The tragic fire on Ben Howell Drive in Austin, Texas, which claimed the life of a young boy and maybe even Candle Face herself, is a pivotal event in my memoir The Empty Lot Next Door . The frequent appearance of "FIRE" underscores its significance in the spirits' stories and their lingering trauma. This suggests that understanding the fire's true cause or events might be key to unraveling Candle Face's mysteries or possibly defeating her. "LOVE" The word "LOVE," found 12 times in all directions, seems to contrast with the horror and despair prevalent in the spirits' testimonies. It might represent the undying affection and bonds that the spirits once cherished. For example, the love between the young girl and her mother in "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon" provides an emotional counterpoint to the evilness of Candle Face. The pervasive presence of "LOVE" may indicate that love, or the lack thereof, is central to Candle Face's torment and might offer a clue to resolving her rage or providing peace to her victims. "SAFE" "SAFE," appearing 21 times in all directions, might reflect the spirits' longing for security and peace. Many testimonies reveal the spirits' desire to feel safe again, free from Candle Face's torment. This word encapsulates their ultimate wish—to rest in peace, untroubled by the past. It might also suggest that creating a sense of safety or sanctuary could be a strategy to protect against Candle Face's wrath or to help the spirits find peace. "BURN" "BURN," found 28 times in all directions, is essentially linked to Candle Face's story and her method of torment. The act of burning might symbolize the physical and emotional scars inflicted by Candle Face, as seen in various victim testimonies. This recurring word could point to Candle Face's central trauma and might offer insights into how to heal or confront her fury. "SCARE" "SCARE," appearing 8 times in all directions, likely highlights the pervasive fear that Candle Face instills in her victims. The spirits' stories are filled with terror, illustrating Candle Face's power to frighten and control. This suggests that overcoming fear or addressing the sources of fear might be crucial in dealing with Candle Face. "NIGHT" Found 8 times in all directions, "NIGHT" might represent the time when Candle Face is most active and when the spirits communicate their stories to me. The darkness of night serves as a metaphor for the hidden and often terrifying truths revealed in the lost souls’ testimonies. This indicates that understanding the events that occur at night or using the night to one's advantage could be important in the investigation. "TIGHT" "TIGHT" appears 10 times in all directions and may refer to the tight grip of fears and Candle Face on the lost souls. It also might symbolize the close bonds between the spirits and their loved ones, which Candle Face's evilness seeks to destroy for eternity. This word might suggest that maintaining strong bonds and not letting fear control one's actions are key to resisting Candle Face's influence. "GIRL" The word "GIRL," found 12 times in all directions, often refers to Candle Face herself and her victims, many of whom are young girls. The repeated appearance of this word likely emphasizes the tragedy of lost innocence and the targeting of vulnerable individuals. Understanding the significance of these girls, both Candle Face and her victims, might provide critical insights into her motives and how to confront her. "SAD" Discovered 33 times in all directions, "SAD" captures the overwhelming sorrow that permeates the spirits' stories. Their grief and longing for resolution are central themes in their testimonies. Addressing this sadness, perhaps by helping the spirits find closure, could break Candle Face's hold over them. Hidden Phrases in Spirit's Testimonies Finding individual words up, down, backward, and diagonal within a text is impressive, but uncovering entire phrases hidden in these directions is truly extraordinary. These phrases offer even deeper insights into the testimonies and emotions of the lost souls in Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]. The following phrases were discovered using Ramsey Theory, revealing significant messages embedded in the testimonies: "ISAWMMAMA" (direction = down)  This phrase appears to be a compressed version of "I SAW [MY] MAMA." It might indicate a spirit's memory of seeing their mother, which could be a significant moment of comfort or trauma. The context of the little girl’s testimony in "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon" highlights her mother's importance in her life and the devastating impact of their separation. In a very uncomfortable alternate meaning, it could mean that her mother is also in Candle Face’s underworld, and the little girl saw her there. "HOMEMOBILEROUS" (direction = down)  This phrase likely translates to "HOME MOBILE OUS." It suggests a mobile home, again aligning with the little girl's testimony in "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon" and her account of living in a mobile home with her mother and grandmother. The presence of this phrase emphasizes the setting of her story and the sense of instability and displacement associated with it. "THEREMYGRANNY" (direction = up)  Translating to "THERE MY GRANNY," this phrase likely underscores the presence and significance of the grandmother in the spirit's life. For the little girl in "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon," her grandmother, or "Granny," was a source of love and security, further emphasizing the familial bonds disrupted by Candle Face. Another uncomfortable alternate meaning could mean that her grandmother is also in Candle Face’s underworld, and the little girl saw her there. "THEREMYGRANNYMA" (direction = down)  Similar to "THEREMYGRANNY," this phrase could be "THERE MY GRANNY [AND MY] MA[MA]," further emphasizing the presence of both grandmother and mother figures. It highlights the combined significance of these maternal figures in the spirit's life. It could also mean the little girl has seen both her mother and grandmother in Candle Face’s hell. "EYESLOVEONEMORE" (direction = diagonal upper right to bottom left)  This phrase, "EYES LOVE ONE MORE," might suggest a longing for love and connection. It might indicate the spirit's desire for one last moment of love and recognition, reflecting the deep emotional needs of the spirits. "SCAREREALTOUGHT" (direction = diagonal upper left to bottom right written backward)  Likely translating to "SCARE REAL TOUGHT," this phrase might highlight the genuine fear experienced by the spirits. It reinforces the theme of terror that Candle Face instills in her victims, illustrating the real and pervasive nature of this fear. "DONTPLEASEDONT" (direction = down)  This phrase, "DON'T PLEASE DON'T," likely captures a moment of desperate pleading. It reflects the spirits' cries for mercy and their attempts to avoid further suffering at the hands of Candle Face or her followers. "TRELEE" (direction = up)  This appears to be an incomplete phrase or a name. A Google search shows “TRELEE” is a first name. Without additional context, its exact meaning is ambiguous, but it could be significant in relation to a specific spirit's testimony or a place relevant to their story. "TEXAS" (direction = down)  The appearance of "TEXAS" underscores the geographical setting of all of the spirit’s testimonies. So far, all of the stories are rooted in Texas, particularly in Austin, and this phrase reaffirms the importance of the location in the overall context of the spirit’s testimonies. Analysis of Hidden Phrases The hidden phrases discovered in Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]  provide remarkable insights into the spirits' experiences and emotions. These phrases, often conveying complete thoughts or significant fragments of memories, offer a more profound understanding of the testimonies. Familial Connections : Phrases like "ISAWMMAMA," "THEREMYGRANNY," and "THEREMYGRANNYMA" likely highlights the strong maternal bonds and the impact of these relationships on the spirit associated with "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon." The recurring theme of mothers and grandmothers emphasizes the emotional anchor this lost soul has for the females in her life. Settings and Contexts : "HOMEMOBILEROUS" and "TEXAS" provide specific details about the settings of the spirits' lives and their stories. The mention of a mobile home aligns with the testimony in "Mama’s Last Embrace - Taken Too Soon," who could be Tanisha Lorraine Watkins' testimony, grounding her story in a particular place and lifestyle. "TEXAS" situates the broader story within a specific geographical context, emphasizing the regional influence on the events. Emotional States : Phrases like "EYESLOVEONEMORE," "SCAREREALTOUGHT," and "DONTPLEASEDONT" likely looks into the emotional states of the lost souls. These phrases capture moments of longing, fear, and desperation, providing a window into the psychological and emotional experiences of the spirits. They highlight the profound impact of Candle Face's actions on the spirits' well-being. Desperation and Fear : The repeated themes of fear and desperation, especially in phrases like "SCAREREALTOUGHT" and "DONTPLEASEDONT," underscore the terror and helplessness experienced by the lost souls. These phrases likely reflects the intense psychological torment inflicted by Candle Face, reinforcing the need to address and resolve these emotions to bring peace to the lost souls. The discovery of these phrases suggests a deeper, more complex layer of meaning within the testimonies. They provide clues about the spirits' identities, relationships, and emotional states, offering potential pathways to understanding Candle Face's influence and possibly finding ways to defeat her. By addressing the emotional and psychological wounds highlighted by these phrases, it might be possible to weaken Candle Face's hold on the spirits and bring them the peace they desperately seek. Interpretation of the Hidden Messages The words found in all directions in Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]  appear to form a hidden message about both Candle Face's identity and how to potentially defeat her. The recurring themes of maternal love ("MAMA"), the traumatic fire ("FIRE"), and the need for safety and love ("SAFE," "LOVE") suggest that understanding Candle Face's past, particularly her relationship with her mother and the events of the fire, is crucial. The emphasis on fear ("SCARE"), sadness ("SAD"), and the night ("NIGHT") indicates that confronting these elements head-on and transforming them into sources of strength could be key strategies in dealing with Candle Face. Furthermore, the frequent appearance of "GIRL" points to the importance of recognizing the innocence lost and the specific targeting of young girls, which might hold clues to her motivations. The hidden messages seem to suggest that healing the emotional wounds and addressing the unresolved grief and fear among the spirits could be key in liberating them from Candle Face's grip. The application of Ramsey Theory to Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]  has unveiled hidden words and phrases that enrich the mystery and offer deeper insights into the spirits' testimonies. Each word and phrase discovered holds significant meaning, reflecting the lost souls' emotions, experiences, and desires. The spirits' stories, filled with love, sorrow, and a longing for peace, challenge me and my readers to confront our beliefs about the paranormal. Join me in their quest to uncover the truth and solace for lost souls. However, more in-depth research needs to be conducted on these hidden words, phrases, and their meanings. If any of my readers have any ideas or insights into the meaning of these hidden messages, please contact me . The hidden words suggest a path to understanding Candle Face's past and finding ways to defeat her, emphasizing the power of love, safety, and confronting fear and sadness. Let’s do this together. Let’s bring Candle Face’s reign to an end. Here is a list of additional words that were found written backward in all directions, listed in order of appearance ETAH - HATE EFIL - LIFE ELPOEP - PEOPLE GNINNIGEB - BEGINNING STNERAP - PARENTS SDNEIRF - FRIENDS TNAW - WANT DLROW - WORLD DEVIVRUS - SURVIVED NEVAEH - HEAVEN LLEH - HELL DEPPANDIK - KIDNAPPED DEPOH - HOPED EKAW - WAKE DEIRC - CRIED HTAED - DEATH YDOB - BODY YARTEB - BETRAY SLLIK - KILLS DAED - DEAD PLEH - HELP ESAELP - PLEASE EID – DIE Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 5, 2024 The lights started to flicker shortly after midnight, more so than in the last few days. I thought nothing of it and continued my nightly scrolling through YouTube videos. When one of the flickers was long enough to disconnect the internet, I looked up to see a female with what appeared to be a broken jaw covered with blood on her face and between her legs. I put down my phone. I didn’t motion for her to sit next to me this time. I just sat there waiting for her to begin. I smiled, and she returned the smile, but a few teeth fell out, which she quickly picked up and put back in her mouth. She began her story, speaking slowly, knowing it would be hard for me to understand. Here’s her story: Hi Ray, my name is Cayman. I both loved and hated my husband, an intense mix of emotions that often confused me. It seemed mutual because our relationship was lovey-dovey one minute and conflict the next. Our arguments were mostly about money and his wandering eye, especially his obsession with young girls. He had a thing for young girls, and I tried to look younger by shaving down there. He liked it initially, but he soon wanted the real thing. On the day I died, we fought over something trivial, though I can't recall exactly what, as we were both drunk and looking for a fight. I got right up in his face and spat at him. Enraged, he punched me in the face, and I hit the edge of the end table. He climbed on top of me and started hitting me in the mouth, warning me that if I ever spat on him again, he’d kill me. When he finally stopped, my mouth and my left cheekbone felt like mush. He seemed to realize he had gone too far and panicked. I was barely conscious as he yelled, "Look what you made me do!" All I could see were his feet pacing back and forth. He lifted me into a sitting position against the couch. My eyes were barely open as he looked at me and said, "I'm sorry." I spat in his face again, blood and snot mixing in the spit that landed mostly in his mouth. Furious, he threw me back to the floor and stomped on my head and neck until I was no more. All the while, I was laughing at the futility of it all. When darkness claimed me, I stared at the most wicked figure I had ever seen. It had the form of a woman with long hair, but her eyes were empty voids that seemed to pierce into my soul. She welcomed me to her hell, saying I’d find my place there, though I had arrived early. She explained that my husband had killed me too soon; I was meant to be sacrificed later due to my disbelief. I tried to speak, but my mouth was full of broken teeth and blood. She then pronounced my eternal punishment: a razer would ensure I’m cleanly shaven for the shadows to enjoy for the rest of eternity. She gave me a half-smile while holding her hands just below her mouth, perhaps to catch her teeth if they fell out again. She turned around and walked slowly toward the shadowy portal. One step before the portal, she hesitated and began to cry. A loud and thunderous voice rang out, “Come.” She stepped into the portal and disappeared. A Personal Note to My Readers Finally! A lost soul provided me with a name – Cayman, or Caymen. It could also be Clayman or Claymen, as it was difficult to understand her through the gargling and broken teeth. Her voice was distorted and echoed unnaturally, forcing me to miss every third or fourth word. I did a Google search for any missing persons with that first, middle, or last name who might have gone missing in Central Texas. I haven’t found any leads yet, but I’ll continue looking. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 7, 2024 I slept early last night. Just as I hit the pillow, the shadows in the living room corner began to flicker, along with the kitchen light I left on to help cast a shadow in that corner. I sat up and saw two figures exit the portal and walk towards me. As they neared, I saw that one was a white man around 60. He was rather short, standing around 5'8" or so. The other lost soul was a much younger female, maybe 25 or younger. She appeared black or light-skinned Hispanic, but I couldn’t tell for sure. The male spirit spoke first. “Hello, Ray. Moana and I need your help.” Moana looked puzzled. “What did you say?” Standing to her left, the male spirit switched sides with Moana and nearly yelled in her right ear, “I told Ray we need his help.” “Oh yes, Ray, we need your help,” she repeated. We just looked at each other, waiting for the other to respond. I wanted to ask them how to help, but I knew better than to ask. After looking around confused, Moana spoke first. “Ray, we drowned in Lake Travis around 20 years ago. We both had dreams of Candle Face the night before. Even though we weren’t together the night before, we had the same dream from our own perspectives.” The male spirit nodded. “I always believed in Candle Face, but I didn’t want to follow her directions, like bringing non-believers to her. I drew the line at participating in killings.” “Me too, I didn’t want any part of that,” Moana added. “In my dream, Candle Face said if I didn’t listen to her, I’d be her next victim,” the male spirit continued. “Moana had the same dream.” The male spirit paused, then added, “Candle Face chooses her followers carefully. She targets those who already believe in her legend but are weak enough to manipulate. She preys on our fears and desires, making promises and threats in our dreams. We were chosen because we both had a history of dabbling in the paranormal and were curious about the other side. She exploited our curiosity and fear.” Moana nodded in agreement. “She promised us power and knowledge beyond the grave if we brought non-believers to her. At first, it seemed harmless—just convincing people to believe in Candle Face’s power. But soon, she demanded more. She wanted us to lead people to their deaths, to feed her power.” “We couldn’t do it,” the male spirit said, his voice shaking. “We refused to become murderers. But defying her came with a price.” “Soon after we got in the middle of the lake that day, the boat nearly tipped over, and we both fell overboard. Moana didn’t know how to swim, so she went underwater. I dived down after her. Once I was underwater, I could see about a dozen skeletal figures grabbing her legs and pulling her down toward the bottom. I tried to pull her back up…” Moana continued, “But the monsters were just too strong. They kept pulling me down to the bottom. I was almost out of air by then, but I saw a few more monsters on the bottom, holding up a large rock. I was placed at the bottom, and the rock was placed on top of me, finishing the job.” The male spirit said, “I was almost out of air, too, but I continued to swim down after her. When the rock was in place, the group came after me. They, too, put me under a large rock. Our bodies are still under those rocks, near the marina where we launched the boat.” “Ray, help free us from the rocks,” Moana pleaded. “If you can find our bodies, our souls will also be free from Candle Face. Please help us.” The two spirits thanked me and walked back towards the portal. The male whispered something in Moana’s right ear, but I couldn’t hear it. They both stepped in and disappeared. Personal Note to My Readers During my high school years, I visited this general area often. I would jump off the cliffs at Pale Face and relax in the water at The Flats. I really enjoyed my time there hanging out with my friends. But many people have drowned in those waters, and many of their bodies were never recovered. It’s possible some of those who never resurfaced could be the “monsters” pulling down Moana and her male companion. In December 2023, a Candle Face victim visited me to tell me his testimony. I kept putting off writing his story in my online journal. On February 13, 2024 , he revisited me, hit me a few times, and even vomited in my mouth. He warned me not to ignore any more spirits. This spirit also drowned in Lake Travis while he was on an overnight boat trip with his two young sons. Recently, an alarming pattern emerged: three spirits in a row who visited me were all victims of drowning, their lives claimed by Candle Face. This pattern prompts me to investigate deeper and understand the dark thread weaving through these spirits’ testimonies. I think there have been four drowning victims so far, and there are likely many more. There have been a lot of bodies found in Town Lake or what the new generation of Austinites call Lady Bird Lake. Many believe there’s a serial killer on the loose. A few months ago, hunched over my desk in the quiet night hours, I began my investigation. The stories of these lost souls, each ending in the cold embrace of water, point to a horrifying possibility: Candle Face is the serial killer responsible for the drowning deaths in Austin and nearby Lake Travis. One spirit recounted, “Suddenly the ground beneath me gave way and I found myself plunging into the cold depths of Town Lake. I struggled, trying to surface, but an unseen force pulled me deeper. Below the water, Candle Face’s face appeared, and her eye sockets seemed sorrowful.” The rumors of a serial killer targeting Austinites add a ghastly layer to my investigation. Despite the police’s best efforts, the cases remain unsolved, the only link being the victims’ supposed interactions with Candle Face. One of my visiting spirits thought he was helping a drowning child only to be pulled under the surface by Candle Face. Water appears to play a significant role in Candle Face’s evil activities. Several of her killings are associated with bodies of water, and she often appears near lakes, rivers, and the creek near my childhood home. There are several eerie hypotheses about why water is so central to her actions: Elemental Connection: Candle Face may have an elemental connection to water, using it as a conduit for her power. Water might amplify her abilities, allowing her to manipulate and kill her victims more easily. Portal to the Underworld: In some cultures, like the Mayans, bodies of water serve as portals to the underworld. Through these portals, she can drag her victims into a realm of eternal torment, beyond the reach of the living. Manifestation of Fear: Water may manifest the deepest fears of her victims. Many people have a primal fear of drowning, and Candle Face exploits this fear to exert control and terror over her targets. To understand Candle Face, on 30 October 2023 , I interviewed an 82-year-old gentleman who claimed to have seen her. Around 1990, while walking his dog near the creek at the intersection of Wilson and El Paso Streets in Austin, TX, he saw a young girl with long dark hair seemingly bathing in the water. They locked eyes, and he thought he heard a voice asking, “Do you believe?” He whispered, “Yes.” He never saw her again, but he knew it was Candle Face. Mr. Doe's story, along with the spirits' testimonies and the serial killer rumors, paints a disturbing picture of Candle Face as a vengeful ghost or a collective manifestation of the city’s fears. As the chosen confidant of these visitors, I find myself at the crossroads of myth and reality, tasked with unraveling the mystery of Candle Face and the serial killer rumors that haunt Austin. Through my writings, I hope to bridge the gap between the living and the dead, to bring the warnings from those beyond to the living. The task is daunting yet necessary. By weaving together the personal tragedies of the spirits with the broader story of fear and uncertainty that envelops Austin, I aim to shed light on the darkness that looms over the city and perhaps help prevent further tragedies in the waters of Town Lake, Lake Travis, and everywhere else Candle Face’s presence lingers. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 9, 2024 On June 4, 2024, a commenter responded to the April 17, 2024, Candle Face Victim # 25 and # 26: Ghostly Correspondence  journal entry. The commenter believes that one of the victims described in the journal entry is her friend, Sonya Wallace, who was killed in February 1999. Here’s her comment: A friend of mine sent me this article of yours. She said it sounded a lot like our friend Sonya Wallace. Sonya was last seen leaving a post office in Rockdale on February 19, 1999. She said she had to drop off a letter at the post office. No one knows who she was mailing a letter to. The news said her head was smashed in. Maybe this is farfetched, but if it was Sonya who visited you, please help her. Please find a way to help her escape Candle Face. If you have any questions, please email me (I sent you my email address to your email address). Could the spirit who visited me on April 17, 2024, have been Sonya Wallace? After researching her name, I found dozens of news reports about her disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her remains. These stories span over two and a half decades since her disappearance. According to a CBS Austin article , Sonya Wallace was a 15-year-old from Rockdale, Texas, about 60 miles east of Austin. She disappeared on February 19, 1999, while walking from the post office, and her body was found three weeks later in a creek bed in east Williamson County. At the time, she was a student at Rockdale High School and had connections in Rockdale, Taylor, Elgin, and Austin. The spirit’s April 17, 2024 testimony describes her encounter with Candle Face. She also mentions a series of exchanges with her pen pal from San Francisco, which turns dark when her pen pal becomes obsessed with the legend of Candle Face. The lost soul mentions how her pen pal’s letters grew more frantic and fear-laden. The pen pal, consumed by fear and the supernatural, disappears, and the lost soul herself encounters Candle Face, leading to her death caused by a large rock to her head. Here are some similarities between the spirit’s testimony and news reports about Sonya Wallace. Similar Age and Background: Sonya Wallace was a 15-year-old high school student at the time of her disappearance. Given their high school references, the spirit’s testimony involves a young woman and her pen pal, both likely of similar age. Disappearance and Discovery: Sonya Wallace disappeared while walking from the post office, and her body was found weeks later. The spirit’s testimony also mentions walking from the post office and disappearing afterward. Geographical Connection: Sonya Wallace had connections in Rockdale, Taylor, Elgin, and north Austin, aligning with the lost soul’s description of moving through these areas and their connection to the legend of Candle Face, which is centered in the Austin area. Paranormal Elements: The involvement of Candle Face in the spirit’s testimony aligns with the unexplained nature of Sonya Wallace’s disappearance and death, suggesting a paranormal cause. Cause of Death: Both Sonya Wallace and the lost soul were killed by having their heads bludgeoned. Sonya Wallace’s head was bludgeoned, according to news reports, while the lost soul’s testimony describes a large rock being used to kill her. Possible Contrasts: Pen Pal’s Location: The lost soul’s testimony mentions a pen pal from San Francisco, which differs geographically from Sonya Wallace’s known connections in Texas. Timeline and Additional Missing Persons: The spirit’s testimony doesn’t specify a timeline for the pen pal’s disappearance. Further investigation is needed to determine if a girl from San Francisco was missing from late January to mid-February 1999, which could provide additional context. Communication Methods: The spirit’s testimony mentions not using Facebook or other social media platforms to communicate with her pen pal from San Francisco, relying instead on letters. This is interesting because Facebook went live for the general public in September 2006, six and a half years after Sonya Wallace went missing. This discrepancy raises the possibility that the spirit could be someone else who died similarly after Facebook started. Based on the similarities in age, background, geographical connection, and the circumstances of the disappearance, it's plausible to suggest that Sonya Wallace could be the lost soul from Candle Face Victim # 25 and # 26: Ghostly Correspondence. However, the mention of Facebook and social media in the spirit’s testimony raises the possibility that this might be someone who died similarly after 2006. The parallels between the real case and the testimony point towards a deliberate or subconscious inclusion of Wallace’s story within the framework. Recommendations: Further investigation into the connections between the real-life case of Sonya Wallace and the spirit’s testimony is recommended. This could involve: Investigating whether there was a missing girl from San Francisco from late January to mid-February 1999. This could provide further context and potential connections. Investigating other potential victims in Central Texas who disappeared similarly after 2006 when Facebook became widely used. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

During my June 10, 2024, podcast on PARANORMALLYblonde with Robert Stachowicz and Sara Jane Kamyszek Villani, a viewer suggested I learn remote viewing to help the lost souls. The viewer, Stacey Tallitsch, claims to be a professional remote viewer. Tallitsch claims to have trained for 15 years under Major Ed Dames, who led the United States Military's "Psychic Spy" program, Project StarGate, later known as the "Icarus Project" under the FBI. Tallitsch now collaborates with retired FBI agents in the FindMe group to locate missing children. He has also applied his skills to the stock market for Fortune 500 companies and disaster remediation for man-made catastrophes. Tallitsch claims to have accurately predicted election outcomes, the rise of Pope Francis, various sporting events, and the Arab Spring. Tallitsch now teaches basic and advanced topics in remote viewing on Udemy , an educational platform with over 75,000 instructors and 64 million students covering over 210,000 courses. According to the course description, remote viewing was developed by the United States military to, “turn regular ‘off the street’ people how [sic] to become psychic spies.” Tallitsch’s classes teach his students to distinguish intuitive information from imagination and to target and gather information on a person, place, thing, or event anywhere in space and time. Is remote viewing real? The U.S. military thought it was real enough to create a program called Stargate Project. It was a secret U.S. Army unit established in 1978 at Fort Meade, Maryland, by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and SRI International (a California contractor). The program investigated the potential for psychic phenomena in military and domestic intelligence applications. The program was initiated in response to Soviet research on psychic phenomena, as part of the Cold War intelligence race. The Stargate Project and its related programs were eventually declassified and terminated in 1995, as the intelligence community concluded that the methods didn't provide actionable intelligence. Remote viewing involves entering a meditative state, clearing the mind of distractions, and focusing on the target—a person, location, or event. The insights gained from remote viewing sessions could then be cross-referenced with known facts to validate their accuracy and provide actionable leads. Remote viewing could be vital in assisting the lost souls who visit me at night. These souls, victims of Candle Face or her followers, come to me seeking help to find their bodies and identify their killers. By using remote viewing techniques, I could potentially gather intuitive data about the locations of their remains and the circumstances of their deaths, including identifying their killers. This process involves targeting specific information across space and time, allowing me to perceive otherwise hidden details. By honing this skill, I hope to provide closure to these lost souls and bring justice to their cases. Do I believe in remote viewing? No, I don’t. However, I didn’t think one could control their dreams either. But when I learned to control my dreams when I was a child, I used my new ability to fight Candle Face and [temporarily] beat her. So, I won’t discount remote viewing just yet. I’ll take Tallitsch’s courses and keep an open mind. I’ll do anything to help the lost souls. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 19, 2024 SPOILER ALERT: This journal entry contains insights about major themes in The Empty Lot Next Door . If you're trying to avoid spoilers, it's advisable not to read further until you've finished the book. Reading this journal entry may reveal important plot details you'd rather discover alone. Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] has been available on Amazon since May 5th, 2024. I ordered a shipment of books, which arrived on June 14th. As expected, some of the books were damaged, but to my surprise, only four were affected. This is a significant improvement compared to last year when I ordered 100 copies of The Empty Lot Next Door , and 80 of them were damaged due to shady shipping, poor packaging, or subpar print/cutting work – issues many authors face when dealing with Amazon. Despite the frustration, the fact that only four books were damaged felt like a victory. During the grueling refund process, I documented each damaged book. Three had pages fused together due to poor cutting, and one had a sticky substance on the front cover. Anticipating that Amazon might refuse a refund for the sticky book, I sprinkled baking powder on the cover to make the stickiness more visible. It worked, revealing a visible handprint. However, the camera still had problems picking up the handprint. For those who have read my memoir, The Empty Lot Next Door , you’ll know Candle Face left handprints around my house, especially on the windows. As a child, I struggled to determine if Candle Face was real or just a figment of my imagination. Those handprints convinced me she was real. By the end of my elementary school years, I defeated Candle Face, and she disappeared. However, on the day of my high school prom, I found a small handprint on the inside of my car’s hatchback window, a sign that Candle Face wasn’t dead. The handprint has always been a powerful symbol in my life. It represents the tangible yet elusive presence of Candle Face, a ghost who haunted my childhood. The handprints were her way of leaving a mark, a reminder that she was always near, watching. They were both a source of fear and proof of her existence. This duality—fear and proof—became a central theme in my life and writing. I hadn’t seen or heard of Candle Face until October 2023, when I began researching her and the mystery of the empty lot next to my childhood home. Shortly after starting my research, lost souls—Candle Face’s victims—began visiting me, asking for help locating their bodies and identifying their killers. These visits reinforced the significance of the handprint as a symbol of unresolved mysteries and unfinished business. Seeing the handprint on my car that prom night was an alarming reminder that Candle Face was still lurking in my life’s shadows. Now, years later, finding another handprint—this time on the cover of my book about Candle Face—evoked that same heart-stopping sensation. Why would Candle Face leave her mark on my book? Was it a message, a warning, or left by a printing press employee who used my book as a napkin? Adding to the creepy connection, I’ve encountered Candle Face twice in the past few months during my research and the subsequent visits from the lost souls. Each encounter has left me questioning the boundaries between reality and the supernatural. The handprint on my book directly links my past fears and the mysteries I’m unraveling. Could this handprint be a sign that Candle Face is closer than ever, watching my every move as I uncover the secrets of her victims? Or is it a twisted coincidence, a cruel trick of fate to remind me of the horrors I thought I had left behind? The recurrence of the handprint serves as a haunting reminder that Candle Face is real. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

June 30, 2024   Last night was the worst experience of my life. Another spirit visited me, claiming he was killed by Candle Face's followers. He hinted that he was buried in the same house as two other spirits. One of them, I believe, is the well-known case of Jason Landry, a name familiar to everyone in Central Texas. After sharing his story, he left, and I rushed to my computer to document his testimony. As I finished, a bizarre, overwhelming urge gripped me—I had to get to that house in Luling, TX, two hours away. I don't know why, but I felt compelled. By 3:30 in the morning, I was driving over 100 miles per hour to get there. I called a friend, asking him to meet me, but he begged me to stop and turn around. Minutes later, the trance-like feeling lifted, and I returned home. It was the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced, and it terrifies me to think about what was drawing me there and what might have happened if I had arrived. Now I wonder what to do next. Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666

July 5, 2024 SPOILER ALERT : This journal entry contains insights about characters and themes in The Empty Lot Next Door . If you’re trying to avoid spoilers, it’s advisable not to read further until you’ve finished the book. Reading this journal entry may reveal important plot details that you’d rather discover on your own. Welcome to a two-part series that explores the legend of Candle Face, an evil entity that has haunted my childhood. In this series, I’ll attempt to uncover the truth behind Candle Face's existence—or lack thereof. In this series’ first journal entry (this one), I’ll investigate the notion that Candle Face may be nothing more than a manifestation of my past trauma lurking in the shadows of my human psyche. However, in the second journal entry, I’ll scrutinize the alternative perspective that suggests Candle Face is a genuine ghostly presence, separate from the realm of my human psyche. As you read through these two contrasting accounts, you're invited to weigh the evidence, confront the unsettling stories, and ultimately decide for yourself whether Candle Face is a supernatural entity or a manifestation of my past trauma. Candle Face has been a constant, lurking presence from my earliest memories, embodied by my deepest fears and anxieties. Yet, as I've grown and reflected upon those formative years, a dawning realization has emerged: Candle Face wasn’t an external entity but a creation of my own imagination, a manifestation of the inner turmoil and emotional upheaval I experienced as a child. My childhood was marked by a series of challenging circumstances, including familial tensions, social isolation, and a constant sense of being different from my peers. In this context, Candle Face emerged as a tangible symbol of the fears and anxieties I couldn't articulate or understand at the time. She was a projection of the turmoil within me, a way for my young mind to cope with and externalize the emotional chaos that I was unable to process. The intricate details and consistent story of Candle Face's appearances, which might be seen as evidence of her reality, can also be interpreted as the workings of a highly imaginative and sensitive child's mind. Children, especially those facing emotional stress, often create detailed and consistent imaginary worlds, as my brother Ricky had done with the stories he shared with the neighborhood kids at his treehouse. These provide a safe space to explore and process complex emotions and experiences. The vividness of Candle Face's presence, her actions, and the terror she evoked reflected the depth of my internal struggles. The physical manifestations attributed to Candle Face—the scratches and disturbances in my room—can be understood through the lens of psychosomatic responses. The human mind can produce physical symptoms as a response to psychological stress. In times of intense fear or anxiety, it's not uncommon for the body to react in ways that mimic physical harm inflicted by an external source. The shared experiences with Ricky, often cited as proof of Candle Face's reality, can be explained through the phenomenon of shared delusions or folie à deux. This psychological condition occurs when one person's delusional beliefs are transmitted to another, particularly in close relationships. Our bond, combined with the power of suggestion and the heightened emotional state we were in, could easily have led to shared hallucinations of Candle Face. As for the emotional and psychological impact of these encounters, it’s undeniable. However, the depth of this impact doesn’t necessarily corroborate the reality of Candle Face. Instead, it highlights the profound effect that our mental creations can have on us, especially when they’re born out of deep-seated fears and unresolved trauma. The specific knowledge and foresight attributed to Candle Face could result from my subconscious mind processing observations and information that my conscious mind hadn’t fully acknowledged. Children are often more perceptive than they’re given credit for, and it's possible that I picked up on cues and details about my environment and future events without fully realizing it. The purpose and intent observed in Candle Face's actions could reflect my need for structure and understanding in a chaotic and unpredictable world. By attributing these qualities to an imaginary figure, I was, in a way, trying to make sense of the senseless, to find meaning in the randomness of life. The nature of Candle Face’s appearances, tied to specific emotional states or events, further supports the theory that she is a product of my imagination. It's often the case that our fears and anxieties manifest more strongly during stress or change. Candle Face's appearances coincided with such periods in my life, suggesting a correlation between my emotional state and the intensity of her presence. In retrospect, it becomes increasingly clear that Candle Face was a complex psychological response to the challenges and fears I faced as a child. She was a construct of my mind, a way to cope with and make sense of the world around me. As I've grown and processed these experiences, Candle Face has receded (until recently), indicating that the need for this imaginary figure has diminished as my understanding and coping mechanisms have evolved. While Candle Face was a very real and terrifying presence in my childhood, the evidence suggests that she wasn’t an external entity but a manifestation of my inner world. Her existence was a testament to the power of the human mind to create and believe in realities as a way of coping with the complexities of life and the depths of our own emotions. As I've come to terms with my past and the challenges I faced, I've also come to understand that Candle Face was a part of me, a creation of my imagination, born out of necessity, and a symbol of the resilience and creativity of the human spirit. For the opposing view, please visit:   https://www.candleface.com/post/distinguishing-reality-from-imagination-the-candle-face-debate-part-2 Key To Understanding To ensure readers grasp the full context and significance of this journal entry, it’s crucial to be familiar with Arthur Mills’ award-winning memoir The Empty Lot Next Door ,  inspired by actual ghostly events in Austin, TX. The memoir provides essential background information, and without it, the nuances and depth of this journal entry might not be fully appreciated. Therefore, reading The Empty Lot Next Door  is highly recommended for a more enriched and coherent understanding of this journal entry's content and implications. To purchase The Empty Lot Next Door , please visit Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/46lCovb eBook for Kindle: https://amzn.to/44YFww4 To Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One] , please visit Amazon Paperback:   https://amzn.to/4dz3m7d eBook: https://amzn.to/4bsM6ib Visit Us Online Website: https://www.candleface.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/candlefacechronicles Facebook Group (Dream Team Members Only): https://www.facebook.com/groups/candleface YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandleFace666