The Stray Souls ["The Diary Keeper" Sequel; "The Dark Legacies" Series]

Prologue

3rd person POV

Under the cloak of a moonless night, a desolate road stretched ahead, flanked by a dense congregation of towering trees that loomed like silent sentinels on either side. Their gnarled branches reached out, interlocking overhead, casting the path below into eerie obscurity.

Amid the shroud of darkness, a solitary black car navigated the winding route, its headlights slicing through the thick veil of night like a dim beacon. The road seemed to beckon it, leading with a silent insistence toward a nearby town.

Within the confines of the car, a complete family was nestled. The father was seated in the driver's seat, his hands steady on the wheel, and the mother beside him.

In the back seat, a trio of teenagers found their places. A teenage girl, with the essence of burgeoning grace and maturity, occupied one side, her eyes wandering with curiosity as the scenery unfolded before her. On the other side, two teenage boys, bearing the vigor of youth, engaged in jovial exchanges and lighthearted banter.

Amidst this youthful exuberance, a little boy of about six years old was perched at the center, his wide eyes filled with wonder as he peered out of the car's window, enchanted by the world passing by.

As the car's wheels whispered upon the asphalt, a single weathered pointer emerged, signaling the way forward. Its letters, etched in faded paint, simply read "Ravenwood".

"Mom, is this the same town we are heading to?" the girl asked.

The silence hung heavy in the air, a weighty pause that seemed to stretch on indefinitely. It was a silence with an eerie anticipation, as if the world itself held its breath, waiting for what lay beyond the next bend in the road.

Their mother the woman sat with her auburn wavy hair cascading around her shoulders like a soft, undulating frame. Her light blue eyes, though once alert, were now veiled with drowsiness, as she leaned against the headrest. The soft hum of the car's engine seemed to lull her into a gentle slumber, and she remained oblivious to the question that hung in the air, lost in the tranquil realm between wakefulness and dreams.

"Mom, we're almost in Ravenwood, right?" the girl asked one more time, a little bit louder.

As the car made its final approach, it came to a gradual halt beside an exquisite, yet antiquated house that stood like a forgotten relic of a bygone era. The building exuded an eerie beauty, with its ornate architecture and the soft glow of the moonlight casting an ethereal aura upon its weathered façade.

But, despite its former grandeur, the house now appeared abandoned and forlorn, as if time itself had turned its back on this once-stately abode. It stood in a secluded and lonely location, far removed from the hustle and bustle of civilization, surrounded by a cloak of silence and an air of enigmatic desolation.

Not far from the mansion, a graveyard lay shrouded in the same veiled silence that enveloped the old house. Rows of weathered headstones and crooked, ancient trees stood sentinel over the resting place of those who had long departed this world.

Near the imposing gates of the mansion, a middle-aged man was standing in a neatly tailored suit. His gaze was fixed on the winding driveway that led to the house, and it was evident that he was patiently awaiting the arrival of the family.

"Good evening!" the realtor beamed, "You're my last clients for today!"

"I apologize, we're quite late today. There was a significant traffic jam on the highway..."

"No problem, it happens! By the way, my name is Mr. Ramirez. How should I address you?"

"We're Estela and Jeffrey Rivera. And here are our four beloved children - Lorena, Daniel, Sam and Oliver." Estela seemed to be a very sociable and cheerful person.