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

Chapter 30: Cake and confetti

In this life, I was lucky to be born on Independence Day in the USA, that is, on July 4th. It is a personal decision for everyone whether it's good or not, but personally, I never liked it. On such a day, various thematic events usually took place around the city, and my celebration never fit into that. So, I often celebrated on the next day, and this year, I completely gave up on this idea - tired of all the preparations.

But, as it turned out, no one asked me if I wanted parties for my sixteenth birthday.

That day I woke up incredibly early - around 12:30 p.m. And yes, I call that early - is there any point in getting out of bed even a bit earlier when the calendar shows summer? The reason for my wake-up was the loud music coming from the courtyard. As soon as I approached the window to determine the source of the sound, I immediately saw...

"Lia! Happy birthday!"

I swear, I thought not only I but all my family and neighbours would go deaf. My whole usual group was looking up at me - Martin and his closest friends, Caroline, Anne, Becca, Josie, and a few more girls from our dorm. The only one missing from the complete lineup was Kaira, but she gets a pass because she's currently hiding from the police - it happens in life sometimes.

"I'll open the door for you right now!" I shouted with all my might and rushed down the stairs to the ground floor.

As I turned the doorknob, the door creaked open, revealing a burst of colours that instantly brought a smile to my face. There they were – my friends, standing on the doorstep, each holding vibrant, helium-filled balloons that danced in the air.

In their hands, they carried a masterpiece of a cake – a delightful pink creation adorned with sparkles and candles. The sweet aroma wafted through the doorway, filling the air with the promise of delicious moments to come. It was a cake fit for a celebration, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for having such thoughtful friends.

Presents were scattered around, creating a cheerful chaos of wrapped boxes and ribbons. Their eager expressions mirrored my own excitement, making the air buzz with anticipation. As I stepped outside, their cheers and laughter enveloped me, creating a lively atmosphere that hinted at the joyous celebration we were about to embark on. It was a birthday surprise beyond my wildest dreams, and in that moment, I felt incredibly lucky to have friends who knew just how to make my day unforgettable.

Who's turning 16? I'm turning 16!

***

I decided not to organize typical teenage parties at a bar or nightclub. To begin with, in Ravenwood, there were no bars or nightclubs, and I never had the energy for a trip to another city. Celebrating at home wasn't as interesting because I live with my parents, grandfather, and both grandmothers - too many adults, meaning too much control. In the town itself, as always, events for Independence Day were held, and I wanted this day to be specifically my celebration.

Finally, we headed to the lake near Ravenwood - there's beautiful nature, a wonderful atmosphere, and the absence of unnecessary people. No one and nothing would interfere with us having fun.

Basking in the warmth of the sun, my friends and I sprawled out near the serene lake. The gentle breeze played with our hair as we soaked up the summer vibes. Laughter echoed as we chatted about everything and nothing, enjoying the carefree moments.

Deciding to add some activity to our lazy day, someone suggested volleyball. Excitement filled the air as we formed teams, and the game kicked off. Sand squished beneath our feet as we dove, spiked, and rallied. Competitive banter mixed with cheers, creating a soundtrack to our lakeside adventure.

I chose the moment when everyone was busy with amusements and not paying much attention to me. I needed to tell Caroline something serious.

"Look!" I pulled out a locket from my bag, which Stormy had brought.

"Cute! Where did you buy it?"

"Oh, Caroline!" I couldn't hold back and just burst into laughter.

"What!?"

"You can't buy something like this anywhere. Our cat brought me this thing."

"Wow! But where did she get it?"

"Listen carefully," I lowered my voice so no one else could hear me. "Recently, I saw Emberlynn Everglen, and she explained something to me."

I recounted everything to my friend. Hopefully, no one overheard us, and even if they did, they wouldn't understand.

"But what's this 'The Empty Room'? Did Mia or Hazel mention anything about it in their journals?"

"Mia definitely didn't mention it, and I still haven't finished reading Hazel's entries."

"Lia, you're so strange! If I had access to magical artifacts, I wouldn't leave them alone until I thoroughly studied them!"

"Most likely, The Empty Room is either in the mansion or in the underground labyrinth of Ravenwood," I tried not to pay attention to her hysteria, "And I still haven't explored that abandoned maze."

"You're investigating everything so slowly!"

"Caroline, understand me, I'm exhausted too."

"Exhausted? Liandra, curiosity can't fade when it comes to things like this!"

We couldn't finish our lively discussion. At that moment, an incredible scream erupted near us – we even cowered in fear.

"What the hell is going on?" Caroline exclaimed.

"There... over there..." Becky's voice trembled, and she pointed into the distance.

"Where is 'over there'?" My voice was uneasy.

Becky couldn't manage to answer. She looked as pale as a hospital wall. Our entire group cautiously shifted their gaze to where Becky was pointing. It was only then that I realized everyone saw the same thing as I did. Something they shouldn't be seeing, something that shouldn't be happening in broad daylight.

On the other side of the lake, amid tall trees with dense foliage, a fog hung low. And shadows materialized from that fog.