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

Chapter 13: Reckoning

If I were paid every time I snuck out of home or the dorm at night, I'd probably have saved enough for university by now. But all I've gathered is a strong belief that the world is going crazy, and there's no end of it.

I ran down the road towards Mrs. Coleman's house with one troubling thought in my mind. If the police notice me now and stop me, what would I lie to them? How would I explain it later to my family?

The night sky stretched above like a vast, dark canvas, completely devoid of stars. It was as if someone had turned off the celestial lights, leaving only a deep, mysterious darkness overhead.

And there it was, Grace's house right in front of me. The entrance doors were partially ajar, as if purposely left that way for me. Just a bit more, and I would save Caroline. I don't quite understand how, but I'll definitely save her. They'll regret messing with me.

***
The silence in Grace's house inside was thick, almost tangible. As I stepped over the threshold, it enveloped me like a heavy blanket. The kind of silence that makes you hyper-aware of every creak and rustle, as if the house itself held its breath. A quietude that seemed to have settled in the air for years.

The darkness inside was not the absence of light but a presence of its own. It clung to the corners, draped over furniture, and pooled in unexpected places. The dim glow of the moon outside barely managed to penetrate the heavy curtains, casting eerie shapes on the walls. It was the kind of darkness that played tricks on your eyes, making ordinary objects seem like mysterious creatures lurking in the shadows.

Shadows were flying around the rooms, their erratic movements adding an unsettling layer to the stillness. They flickered and swayed as if they spied on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that they were whispering secrets only they understood. It was an otherworldly ballet, performed by the remnants of the day, stretching and contorting in the quietude. I just tried not to look into the eyes of these shadows, I remember it's not recommended.

The air felt heavy, as if the darkness and silence had combined to create a dense atmosphere. Every step I took seemed to echo disproportionately, breaking the hushed serenity.

I approached the open door cautiously, uncertainty swirling in the air as I stepped into the room. Instantly, my eyes landed on Caroline, Harper, and Grace. Caroline was sitting there, visibly trembling with fear.

"Hello, Liandra," Harper began.

"Idiots! Give me back my friend!" I swear, my shout echoed outside.

"We'll give her back if you agree to cooperate with us."

"With morons like you? Never in a million years! You'll return Caroline to me for nothing!"

Harper didn't have a chance to respond - something happened the next moment. Suddenly, a blazing line of fire materialized, slicing the room in two. On one side stood Grace and Harper, and on the other side were Caroline and me. The flames danced wildly, creating an impenetrable barrier. Fear clenched my heart as I realized the gravity of the situation. We were separated, and the fiery line seemed to hiss with an ominous warning.

As I exchanged anxious glances with Caroline, my eyes caught a figure emerging from the other shadows in the room. It was Jane, her expression unreadable. I felt a mix of surprise and uncertainty - what role did she play in this surreal display of magic? The flames flickered, casting eerie light across Jane's face, adding an extra layer of mystery to the unfolding events.

"Run away! I'll hold them back!" Jane's voice commanded like an order.

There was no time to waste, so I instantly grabbed Caroline's hand, and we ran outside.

***
We were running without looking where. The path led us somewhere between the trees, and here we completely lost understanding of where this place is. I swear never to skip physical education classes again - running fast is much more useful than solving equations. Strong legs can save lives, something math is unlikely to do.

I turned around - Grace and Harper were running after us, though still far behind. It's just strange how well my eyes adapted to the darkness - there was no streetlight outside, no star shining in the sky, and the moon was almost completely covered by clouds.

"Caroline, we won't make it," I said, gasping for breath, "We need to stop."

"Are you out of your mind? Now is not the time to relax!"

"Climb the tree. The leaves are big; they'll conceal us."

"Lia, I didn't sign up for this!"

I never knew I could climb trees so skillfully, but in extreme situations, one can often discover incredible skills within themselves. I think Caroline felt the same way.

Grace and Harper stopped right below us near our tree. They surveyed the area, their eyes searching for us. Luckily, we were well hidden among the leaves. It felt like I wasn't even breathing. Just hoping the branches wouldn't give way...

"Mom, that wretched girl will lead me to my grave," Harper's voice was filled with anger.

"Just don't say you can't handle a high school student," Grace scoffed.

"And can you? Liandra isn't afraid of anything! She's ready to go to hell if it's worth it."

"We still need Liandra. She possesses a valuable, rare gift that no one else has nowadays. And we can use it."

"That's the point, Mom," Harper seemed genuinely concerned, "Her gift is too powerful. So powerful that it consumes her from within. Not only her talent intensifies, but also her fears... And they are slowly killing her. Yet, we need her alive."

Wow, just great! My magical talent is killing me while my enemies need me alive. The perfect plot for a black comedy!

"Exceptional talent and misfortune often go hand in hand, unfortunately," sighed Grace, "We need to hint to her that she has to learn to overcome the dark side of her consciousness."

"I hinted to her, Mom. I commanded her to suppress her fears. But you know Lia - she will never extinguish her inner fire. Mia and Hazel also possessed this gift, which ruthlessly destroyed them."

I had never seen Harper in such despair. She always seemed sarcastic and emotionless to me. Was that just a disguise for those around her?

"I'm more afraid of Jane now," Grace calmly said, "I don't understand why she betrayed us and helped the girls. I don't think she did it impulsively."

The conversation ended here, and they walked away. We waited a bit longer on that tree, then slowly climbed down to the ground and headed back to the dormitory. However it was, we needed at least a little rest. Tomorrow, school awaited us again.

***
Caroline managed to fall asleep instantly. It's interesting how people calm down so quickly after such tense events. That has always been a mystery to me.

I sat on the bed, feeding Stormy the cat, contemplating everything in the world. Philosophical questions always descend in complete silence.

Soon, I'll be sixteen already. Is this how I imagined myself at this age? I remember in childhood, Mabel and I often fantasized about our future. We dreamt of movie stardom, fame, wild success. We used to follow various celebrities. And now?

Mabel has sunk in life to such depths that she became a teenage mother. The father of her child is in prison. Fate has a good sense of humor.

I just smiled to myself and silently decided that my present life is even more interesting and better than I once fantasized.