November 4, 2023
Every night, as the world sleeps, my reality unravels, thread by vivid thread. It’s been four days since these strange psychedelic states began, each one strikingly like the last, like a terrifying déjà vu I can't escape. The sleep journey has become a treacherous path, where the ordinary act of closing my eyes is the prelude to a haunting sight.
It started innocently enough—on the night following Mr. Doe’s interview. Our conversation was rooted in a grim reality: the tragic story of a house fire in 1969. He recounted the details with an unsettling mixture of detachment and relish.
As Mr. Doe described the little boy who perished in the flames, I remember feeling hot despite the chill of the room. He spoke of the aftermath, not just the charred remains of a once happy home but of the stories in the streets of Austin about Candle Face, the ghost that emerged from a hole in the back of the empty lot that once held the doomed house. According to Mr. Doe, Candle Face was destined to roam in search of non-believers, her story igniting a mix of fear and skepticism in the community.
The night after our meeting, my ordeal began to morph into something out of a psychedelic nightmare. As I lay in bed, the darkness behind my closed eyelids erupted into an array of colors, forming patterns that swirled and pulsed with a life of their own. This wasn’t merely the abstract art of the subconscious; it felt directed, intentional, as if I were being shown something—or warned.
With the vibrant visuals came a sensation that tethered me to wakefulness and sleep but somewhere in between. I felt my body grow lighter as if I could float away at any moment. Then the voices began—a discord of angry and urgent screams and shout. They seemed to be yelling at me, perhaps at each other, but the words were muffled, lost in the storm of sounds surrounding me.
Nearly every night, this experience repeated itself with alarming precision. I would wake up, my heart racing, only to find the yelling resumed when I attempted to return to sleep. In those waking moments, I tried to rationalize what was happening, telling myself it was stress or an overactive imagination. But the truth was, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was something more, something connected to the interview with Mr. Doe.
By the time the fourth night arrived, exhaustion was my constant companion. During the day, I poured over websites and online forums, seeking anyone who might have experienced something similar. That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of hypnagogic hallucinations—vivid experiences that occur at the threshold between wakefulness and sleep.
Yet, while the descriptions seemed to match, they didn’t account for the specificity of my dreams, the recurring themes that tied back to Mr. Doe’s haunting story. The little boy, the fire, and Candle Face all played roles in this nightly drama that unfolded in my mind.
I couldn’t help but think back to the interview and the stories Mr. Doe had shared so nonchalantly. He had spoken of Candle Face with a believer’s conviction, painting her as a vengeful spirit preying on those who dared to doubt her existence. Had his stories somehow infiltrated my subconscious, manifesting as these nightly episodes?
Desperate for sleep and answers, I contacted Mr. Doe once more. Our previous meeting had been difficult to arrange, and reconnecting with him proved to be just as challenging. When I finally managed to speak to him over the phone, his reaction was unsettling.
“Perhaps she’s trying to tell you something.”
His words weren't the reassurance I sought. Instead, they were an indirect warning, a confirmation of my deepest fears—that these experiences weren't just random hallucinations, but a connection to something beyond my understanding. I once awakened Candle Face by jumping into her lair. What have I done now?
As I prepare for bed tonight, I feel uneasy. I am at a crossroads between the desire to uncover the truth behind these visions and the desperate need for restful, uninterrupted sleep. The prospect of encountering Candle Face or the echoes of the past in my dreams is frightening.
I’ve taken to leaving a light on, [again] a small beacon in the hope that it might keep the darkness at bay—both the literal darkness of night and the metaphorical darkness that seems intent on seeping into my sleep [again]. Only time will tell whether this is the key to a peaceful night or merely a futile gesture.
For now, I hope that understanding these nightly visitations will lead to some measure of control or even an end to them. Until then, I walk the strange line between waking and dreaming, searching for the light amidst the shadows.
Personal Note to My Readers
I find myself struggling with a deep yearning for uninterrupted sleep. These relentless sleepless nights, filled with psychedelic states, are encroaching on my daylight hours, disrupting my work, and straining my relationships. It’s as if by investigating Candle Face, I’ve unwittingly invited her back into my life, reigniting her attention and unsettling presence.
Unlike many “paranormal investigators” who would flee at the slightest hint of the supernatural, my military background has instilled a different response: run towards the enemy, engage rather than retreat. This ingrained instinct tells me to confront Candle Face and seek answers rather than turn away in fear. It’s daunting, but I refuse to be intimidated or driven away from this challenge.
I understand that facing this may be a long and difficult journey, potentially fraught with more sleepless nights and strange encounters. But I’m committed to this path. I hope that by confronting whatever truth lies behind these visions, I might finally reclaim the peace and normalcy of a good night’s sleep. I’m prepared to see through this fight, this investigation into the unknown, to the end.
Key To Understanding
Purchase Candle Face Chronicles: The Lost Souls [Book One]
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