Candle Face's Vengeance: The Master Shadow Will Return
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Time to read 3 min
This entry describes a major shift in the mission. The Lost Souls no longer come, leaving only 31 fugitives who managed to escape Candle Face's lair. They remain hidden in glass bottles, waiting for Guardians who can protect them. Since the Master Shadow has already inspected my home twice, I know more confrontations are coming, possibly even with Candle Face herself. My plan is to pit her against the Master Shadow by exposing his failure to keep the fugitives contained. Until then, every day they stay hidden is a small victory. The focus now is clear: ensure these 31 fugitives remain safe and find the Guardians who will keep them free.
January 23, 2025
Main Subjects: Candle Face
- The Master Shadow
It's been over two months since the last lost soul came to me. On December 2nd and again on the 22nd, the Master Shadow inspected my home, searching for the missing spirits. He knows I have them. There's no doubt in my mind. But I moved them to a friend's house in Austin before he could come back for them. Until I decide who can truly keep them safe, they remain hidden, waiting for their chance at freedom.
But now, I'm certain that no more lost souls will come to me. For over a year, they came, desperate for freedom. And now, nothing. Just silence. Sending them to me was part of her cruel game, yet somehow, some of them, whom I call the fugitives, outsmarted her. Now they're safe, sealed inside small glass bottles, waiting to be sent to their Guardians. I wish more could come, that more could escape, but I know they won't. I have to accept that my role has changed.
I feel sad that there will be no more lost souls seeking my help. Knowing they relied on me made me feel special, but knowing I can only help 31 of them is unbearable. My house feels emptier now, quieter, but deep down, I know the quiet won't last.
If the Master Shadow inspected my home twice, he will return a third time. And this time, I don't expect him to come alone. I fully expect Candle Face herself to seek me out, either to retrieve the fugitives or to punish me for interfering. But here's what Candle Face may not realize: this wasn't my doing. The fugitives outsmarted her, and if my suspicions are correct, they did so by exploiting the one weakness in her system, her Master Shadow.
It's possible Candle Face doesn't even know about the fugitives' escape. The Master Shadow is responsible for overseeing them, keeping them in her lair, preventing their freedom. If they slipped past him, then this is his failure, not mine. If I have the chance, I plan to confront her with this. I want to pit her against the Master Shadow, make her see his failure for what it is. If I can plant the seed of doubt, make her question his loyalty, maybe, just maybe, I can turn them against each other. Maybe it won't work. Maybe she already knows. But if there's even the slightest chance that I can turn her anger toward him instead of me, I have to try.
If Candle Face or the Master Shadow gets to them before I can free them, I know what will happen. I don't want to say it, but I've seen enough to know their suffering won't end. It'll just get worse. The lost souls that once came to me were terrified of going back into the portal, and if the fugitives are returned, there will be no more chances. No more hope. Just suffering.
Every moment they remain hidden is a victory, but it's also a risk. I have to find their Guardians. I have to make sure they don't end up back in the Lair.
For around 15 months, I thought I was simply recording their stories, bearing witness to their suffering. Now I realize I was always meant to do more. I'm their only hope for freedom.
My mission now is to ensure these 31 fugitives reach safety. It won't be easy, but their freedom comes first.
Every lost soul that came to me, every clue I've collected, it's all led to this moment. I have no choice but to see this through.
Arthur Mills
Arthur Mills served for more than two decades as an Army Intelligence Warrant Officer, specializing in piecing together what others missed: patterns, threats, enemy intent, and clandestine activity. He trained intelligence professionals, built threat models, and briefed commanders and world leaders on global threats and battlefield strategy. After retiring from the military, he moved into private investigation, focusing on missing persons, human trafficking, opposition research, and domestic terrorism. He holds a degree in Counter Terrorism Studies.
He has been writing books since 2006 and is an award-winning author. He publishes under his own name, though much of what he has written has appeared under pseudonyms. Readers may already know those titles without knowing they are his. The separation is intentional. His books invite readers to interpret what is hidden, and so does the way he publishes them.