Ran's posts

This page is more recent, still written in braille. It's dated four years ago.

June 14
Veles managed to reach me in my dreams again last night. I’d been doing well to keep him silenced, but he hates that. I knew he was scheming. He had that smile again.

He wants to ruin everything we’ve built together. He wants to destroy our peace.

He wants to use our show to collect souls for himself, and if I refuse, he’s threatening to use my powers to hurt my friends. I didn’t understand at the time, but I suppose it means I have something in me I haven’t unlocked yet. That troubles me. But I will not give him what he wants.

I won’t harm innocent people. I won’t betray my friends... My family. I need to leave.

June 15
I tried to run away while everyone else was asleep, but Lin caught me. He can always sense when something isn’t right. It’s strange I didn’t see it coming, but perhaps it’s Veles tampering again. He makes it hard to see my own destiny.

He easily encouraged me to confess. It’s hard to lie to my dearest friend. He told me not to worry, that we will handle this together. That we’ll tell the others and let them make their own decisions. I’m not sure. I don’t want to involve them. They’re too loyal to me, even after all I’ve done. I can’t burden them with this task as well.

They’re too kind-hearted to endure this. I hope they all agree to leave without me.

June 16
They refuse to leave me alone.

They say we're in this together. Why? I'm scarred. Tainted. Why don't they leave and save themselves?

You see the troupe, a couple years younger than they are now. They are gathered around Io and offering him encouragement. There's a sense of misery on his face, despite the smiles they offer him.

It's still six years ago, but six months have past since the last page. The writing is now in braille, although it seems to be a struggle for Io still.

September 21
They want me to write again. It’s still hard, but I’ll try.

Even after all this time, it still hurts. I don’t like people seeing me like this.

September 22
He laughs in my head. His home.

September 25
Everyone tries to include me. Like it used to be. I’m not who I used to be.

I miss them too, but I hope they give up. I hope they leave and be safe. I’m tainted now. It’s too dangerous.

He wants to know what I’m writing. He can’t read braille. He only has my sight.

He stole it. He tricked me.

September 30
Lin refuses to leave me. I did this to keep him safe. What if I end up hurting him?

Lin is trying to convince me that we’ll leave here together. All of us. Finally start our carnival for real. Travel the realms. But what good would I be to them in this state?

I don’t trust Veles. He keeps taunting me. I’ll learn how to silence him.

You see Io sitting in bed, his face bandaged up, struggling to write.

It's another page dated six years ago.

March 15
I’ve decided to make the deal with Veles if he shows up again. I’ll give him anything.

March 16
I dreamt of Lin being eviscerated and He appeared again. Did he know I was ready?

We talked and we made a deal, but it was really weird. He said he would need a home and two windows. I didn’t understand what that meant or how I’m supposed to get it for him. He said I had the ability, so I told him I’d ask the staff if he could stay with us.

He said that’s not what he meant. He told be he would return soon to collect before disappearing in thin air. Was agreeing the wrong thing to do? I’m beginning to feel nervous.

Nevermind. He’s back. I’ll continue after.

The handwriting drastically changes, and this is not written in Io's pen.

This journal sure is quaint, isn’t it? Well! Since he can’t return, I suppose I’ll have to continue for him.

This poor fool of a child really believes his dear ole friend has been saved, but he merely secured an expiration date. Humans are such fun little creatures to toy with! Especially since they come with so many removable parts. How gullible he was to hand them over to me so easily.

I do hope his precious little family has fun cleaning up the mess it made. I’ve heard red is hard to remove from a carpet.

You see a vision of Io lying on the ground alone. He's in the fetal position, holding his face and crying out in pain as his own blood pools around him.

It continues from six years ago.

March 1
I don’t sleep well anymore, and I think it’s affecting me. I hate closing my eyes and seeing my friends hurt, it makes me feel sick. But I also need to see it, to know how to stop it. I’m running out of excuses to tell everyone for why I’m always so tired.

Are we cursed? Why are they all destined to die? Why them?

I’ll save them. I’ll find a way to stop this.

March 3
We took a trip to the library today. It was peaceful and I felt relieved. It was also a good way to distract everyone away from the ice cream shop. That would have been a disaster.

Connie was complaining a lot, but Arika found some books to read her. Lin and I slipped away from the kids section, and Ran followed us. I’m not sure why she didn’t join us. She was just lagging behind. She didn’t seem happy. I wonder if she was bored?

I found a book about breaking curses in the magic section, so I hope I can find something in it that will help. I’ll try them all if I have to.

March 6
They aren’t working.

March 10
Nothing is working!

You see Io sitting over a large open tome, papers scattered around him. They're all covered in notes and scribbles, it's clear that he has been at this for a while. He tugs his hair out of frustration as he flips to another page.

The page is also from six years ago.

February 22
I don’t know what to write. This just happened and I’m still not sure how to process it. I had the worse dream yet tonight… I saw the orphanage burning. This time everyone was trapped inside. Lin, Arika, Berin, Connie, Ran… I had to wait outside and watch them suffer, scream and plead for help. When I tried to approach, the fires would only burn hotter. I knew it wasn’t a dream. I was seeing the inevitable. But when? How could I stop it? What could I do?

When I woke up… The man was in my room. Veles. I still can’t make out his face. He was sitting on my dresser and smiled, and I felt afraid. His words are sticking in my mind, so I’ll write them down:

“Don’t be afraid, little Io. I’ve been watching you for so long and you didn’t worry then. Tell me, are those dreams scaring you? I bet they are. And as they should. You can’t protect them forever. You don’t have that power. I could, however, offer you a solution to all your woes. I could grant you the gift to protect them forever, but I’ll need something in exchange. Would you like to make a deal?”

Even if I am afraid, I didn’t trust him. So I told him no. He only grinned and said he’d be back to ask again.

I opened my eyes again. Was it just another dream? I have a bad feeling.

I need to check for fire hazards today, and make sure Connie hasn’t been up to any trouble. Just to be safe.

You see Io curled up in his bed, chatting to a casual Veles. The strange man never once drops his smile.

This seems to continue from the other pages as well, also dated sixth years ago.

February 14
I had a scary dream last night that Lin was crossing the street and got hit by a car. I told him not to go outside today and he agreed. We all played a board game together! It was really fun. I’m glad he’s safe.

February 15
I had another nightmare. This time Lin was climbing a tree and fell on his neck. So today when we were playing outside, he wanted to climb our tree but I begged him not to. He asked me why not and I told him I wanted to build a fort instead.

I don’t want to scare him.

February 16
Another dream where Lin dies. Why do these keep happening? I need to tell Lin to avoid the park today.

February 17
Another dream. They keep getting more graphic. I’m starting to wake up crying. I don’t want to see Lin like that. I need to keep him safe. I can’t lose him.

February 20
They won’t stop. It’s been every night and it’s getting harder to prevent them. I’m scared... I don’t know what to do, but I’d do anything to stop this.

February 21
Please make it stop. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Pl e ase.

You see a vision of Io sitting up in bed, panting heavily as he clutches his chest, tears pouring out of his eyes as he struggles to breathe.

It seems to be a continuation from the last page, still dated six years ago.

February 10
The man came again today. He wasn’t lying. Why can’t I see any visions of him before he arrives? I still can’t remember his face either. I wonder if I’m losing my powers, or worse. I’m afraid to tell anyone.

In fact, you’re the only one I’ve told about him, diary.

This time I saw him in the halls. He came up to me and said that I shouldn’t worry, that I’ll “understand soon enough”. What does that mean? I tried to ask but he kept walking. He was gone just before Lin came out of his room. He asked what was wrong but I just told him I didn’t feel okay. He pet me and it didn’t feel nice. I felt bad about lying...

February 11
I looked out the window and saw the man looking up at me from across the street. I turned to see if anyone else was looking, but nobody was. When I looked back he was gone. How did he move so fast?

February 12
I didn’t see him again today. Maybe he’s gone. Maybe it was all in my head?

You see from Io's eyes, looking out the window. Veles is dressed in a fine suit, his jacket draped over his shoulders and fluttering in the snowy winter wind. He's looking straight back at Io, and grinning.