No More Spirit Bottles: Sealing the Fugitives in Scrolls

February 18, 2025

Main Subject: Candle Face

I was ready to transfer The Fugitives into the scrolls.

The bottles sat in front of me, their contents shimmering under the garage light. The glitter inside had been meant to mask their energy, but now I realized it was nothing more than a distraction. Glitter doesn't protect. It doesn't hold them. It was just a way to make the bottles seem more like an illusion, like nothing important was inside. But that was never enough.

One by one, I unsealed the bottles. The wax cracked, and the glitter spilled all over the table.

I chose to type their stories on my computer and print them onto parchment instead of writing each scroll by hand. The fugitives deserve more than rushed or fading ink. Besides, I already had their stories saved in Word files, each with its own QR code, which made the transfer easier. Their voices must be clear, their details precise, and their presence recorded exactly as it should be. By doing this, I ensure that every name, every story, and every piece of their identity remains intact, without the risk of my own errors distorting their past.

I told The Fugitives that the parchment would become their body and the ink would become their voice, and that when their Guardians unrolled their scrolls, it would be the sign that they were no longer forgotten. No longer would they be contained inside fragile glass, vulnerable to breaking, to leaking, to being found. Their essence would now be held within something that couldn't shatter. Their presence would be out in the open, displayed and acknowledged.

Their new bodies took shape as each page came off the printer, every detail captured on the parchment. Each word became a part of them, each letter restoring what had already been lost once. I made sure they understood that they weren't being forgotten.

I promised them that I would choose Guardians, people who would protect them, display them, and read their stories. I told them that these Guardians would acknowledge them, giving them a place where they could be seen, where their voices could be heard.

When someone unrolls their scroll and reads the story, they're listening. They're offering the fugitives something they were denied in life: a presence, an ear, a connection. That makes them witnesses as well as protectors.

When the printing was finished, I rolled each scroll tightly and tied it with yarn, sealing each one just as I had found Mr. Smoe's scrolls. Then I spoke their names one final time, ensuring that their essence had moved from the bottles into the ink.

The moment I finished, I felt something shift. A weight lifted from the room, but not in the way I expected. It felt like a reinforcement. For the first time since they escaped, I felt like they were truly safe.

Aaron's warnings had been right. Bottles would have eventually leaked, and when that happened, the Master Shadow would have found them.

But now, there's no energy to leak.

The fugitives are embedded in the scrolls themselves. They're no longer pushing against a fragile barrier, risking exposure. They exist within their stories. As long as the words remain intact, so do they.

If the ink fades, will they fade too? If the words smudge or are lost, does that mean they're lost again? I don't know yet, and I don't want to find out. For now, I know one thing: the Master Shadow can't sense them anymore. His search has gone cold. The fugitives are hidden in a way he can't detect. They are safe. At least, as long as their stories remain.

I've already started compiling a list of paranormal investigators, psychics, mediums, and avid paranormal readers, people I believe are capable of handling the responsibility of protecting a fugitive.

Before, I needed Guardians to hide the bottles. Now, I need them to read and acknowledge the scrolls.

The scrolls must be read and displayed, ensuring that each fugitive's voice is heard and their presence acknowledged. I can't do this alone.

I'll start reaching out soon. If I contact you, I'll send you to this journal entry first. Read it carefully. Understand what it means. This is a commitment.

The fugitives trusted me to help them. Now, I need to find the right people to carry their stories forward. The Master Shadow is still out there. Candle Face is still a threat. But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm one step ahead.

The fugitives are safe.

For now.