Dear Diary

Chapter 3: clue after clue

The morning came too soon, and Gabby was already packing the car, determined to keep moving. The siblings sat together, their minds still spinning from the night before, unsure of what to believe. As they went through their father's things, they found an old photo of their family, a happy snapshot of better times. On the back of the photo was a faintly written message: "In a very dark night in June, she was able to move the moon." The words sent a shiver down their spines as they pondered who "she" could be.

"Do you think it's one of us?" Ky'lani asked, her voice filled with both wonder and fear. "Could we have powers like Dad said?" Jaz's mind raced as he thought about what this meant for them, for him. Could he be the one with telekinesis? Or was there something more to the clue? He felt an inexplicable connection to it, but he didn't know how to interpret it. His thoughts were interrupted by Georgia, who pulled out an old journal that had belonged to their father. Inside, she found another clue. This one read, "He sees what others cannot, in the quiet hours before dawn."

Gabby looked over the clue, a mixture of frustration and concern filling her eyes. "We're going to have to figure this out ourselves," she said quietly. "Your father left us these clues for a reason. But David isn't far behind, and we don't have much time." The siblings began to speculate, wondering what these clues could mean. Was it referring to Jaz, who seemed to have powers of his own? Or was it someone else? Their questions went unanswered as Gabby quickly ushered them out of the motel room, the ticking clock in her mind louder than any other sound.

At the gas station stop, the family was approached by a strange man wearing a hoodie. His eyes were hidden in the shadows of his hood, but his voice was clear, urgent. "You need to keep moving," he said in a hushed tone. "David knows you're on the move. He's closer than you think." Gabby didn't hesitate. She grabbed the kids, hurried them back into the car, and drove off, her heart pounding. The stranger's words rang in her ears: David was closer than they thought, and the journey ahead was only going to get more dangerous.

"Who was that?" Georgia asked, looking back nervously through the rearview window. Jaz didn't have an answer. He was just as confused as she was. But he couldn't shake the feeling that this man, whoever he was, might be their only hope—or their greatest danger. As Gabby continued to drive, her eyes scanning the road, the sense of urgency grew. She had to get her children to safety, no matter the cost.

As they left the cafe, Gabby continued to drive, her mind heavy with the cryptic words of the mysterious man. She couldn't help but wonder if they were headed down a dangerous path, one where the unknown would swallow them whole. Each clue they uncovered seemed to open up new questions, but no answers. The letter from their father, the strange journal entries, and now the cryptic stranger—they were all pieces to a puzzle she wasn't sure she could solve.

Jaz's mind kept returning to the idea of his power. The sensation he felt when the cup moved—it had been so real. Was he the one their father had been referring to? Could he be the key to all of this? But he didn't feel powerful. In fact, he felt more uncertain than ever. What if he was just like everyone else—just a scared kid trying to survive? He glanced at Ky'lani, wondering if she had any answers. But she seemed just as lost as he was, her face pale as she stared out the window.

Gabby turned onto a small dirt road that led into the woods. "We'll stop here for the night," she said, her voice tired but resolute. "Tomorrow, we keep moving." The woods surrounding them were dark and silent, the perfect hiding place for those who didn't want to be found. Jaz, Ky'lani, and Georgia piled out of the car, taking a moment to stretch their legs and breathe the fresh air.

As the evening wore on, Jaz couldn't shake the sense of being watched. The night seemed darker than usual, the shadows too thick, the silence too heavy. He kept hearing things, whispers in the trees, rustling footsteps just out of view. His hand instinctively reached into his pocket, where he had kept the map they had found earlier. It felt as though the answers were just out of reach. If only he could understand what his father had meant.

Later that night, as the others slept, Jaz sat outside by the fire, staring into the flames. The flickering light danced and swirled, and for a moment, he thought he saw something—an image, a figure, forming in the fire. It was faint, but there was a resemblance to their father. His heart pounded in his chest, and the flames seemed to beckon him closer. Was it a vision? A warning? He couldn't be sure, but it felt like a message from beyond the veil.