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

Chapter 19: Many years ago

I was a child again. But this child was not happy, rather hurt and abandoned. The sense of unworthiness gnawed from deep within.

Huddled outside the closed door, I couldn't help but overhear my parents having a conversation about me. Their voices were hushed, but disappointment echoed through the walls.

"Liandra needs to start taking things more seriously. I found her textbooks scattered all over the living room again."

"I know, dear. And remember the incident with the broken vase in school? It's like she doesn't think about the consequences."

"It's not just that. She forgets to do her chores and leaves things unfinished. We need to talk to her about being more responsible."

Listening to their words stung a bit, but I couldn't deny they had a point.

"Maybe we should sit down with her and have a serious talk about this. She's old enough to understand the importance of being careful."

"I agree. We just want her to be more responsible and considerate. Let's find a way to help her see the importance of it."

In the end, I opened my eyes in the middle of night to find out it was only a dream.

***
By the way, this weekend turned into a full-blown family extravaganza at my home. Grandma Millie, bless her lively soul, got this genius idea to throw a family party in our usually quiet house. She claims parties are the secret to eternal happiness, and honestly, who am I to argue with my grandmother?

Our home was buzzing with the laughter of cousins, aunts, uncles, and the occasional weird great-uncle who always shows up fashionably late. Grandma Millie was the maestro of the chaos, orchestrating the whole thing with a spatula in one hand and a dance move ready in the other. Trust me; her dance moves are legendary and questionable in equal measure.

We had it all—food that could feed a small army, kids running around with sticky fingers, and a playlist that somehow seamlessly transitioned from Sinatra to the latest pop hits. And there was Martin, my cousin, the unexpected hero of the weekend. He dropped by unannounced, adding a dash of unpredictability to the mix.

Martin and I ended up having a heart-to-heart amidst the chaos. We reminisced about the good ol' days, teased each other mercilessly, and discovered that we both secretly love those cheesy '80s tunes. Who would've thought? It's funny how family gatherings can reveal the quirkiest connections.

Maybe Ravenwood needs a bit more noise, and Grandma Millie is just the woman for the job.

Martin, being the perceptive cousin he is, casually dropped the question, "Hey, how's Stormy doing?" It caught me off guard, but hey, family secrets are meant to be spilled, right?

"Oh, you sly detective! Stormy's still the reigning queen of stealth in my dorm room. It's like our own little covert cat operation."

"Covert cat operation? You guys should get a secret handshake or something. How's she handling the dorm life?"

"Surprisingly well, considering she's got a knack for sneaking into the kitchen and swiping snacks when no one's looking. I've had to up my game in the stealth department to keep her secret."

Martin raised an eyebrow. "Midnight snack heists, huh? Classic Stormy. You ever worry about getting caught?"

"Constantly. It's like living on the edge, Martin. The dorm authorities have no idea they're sharing space with a fluffy master of espionage."

"You should start a secret society for dorm cats..." He laughed.

"Well, every cat needs a bit of mystery in their lives, don't they?"

Laughter and chatter filled the room as the adults enjoyed a lively gathering, blissfully unaware of the impending excitement. Suddenly, like a whirlwind of chaos, a group of little children burst into the room, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and exhilaration.

"Ghost! We've seen a ghost!" they proclaimed in unison.

The room fell momentarily silent, a pause pregnant with both skepticism and curiosity. Then, everyone laughed.

"My dear, ghosts do not exist," my mom told.

"But we've seen them at the backyard!"

Everyone laughed loudly again. Only I wasn't in the mood for laughter.