The Diary Keeper ["The Dark Legacies" Series]

Chapter 46: Hypnotized

As I stepped into the room with the grand piano, it suddenly struck me that this was the first of the three locked rooms. Without wasting a moment, I quickly made my way to the second room.

The moment I entered, I was greeted by a breathtaking sight. It was like stepping into a lush, vibrant greenhouse. The room was filled with an array of beautiful flowers, towering trees, and lush bushes.

The air was thick with the scent of blooming blossoms, and the room was bathed in a soft, diffused light that filtered through the leaves.

I couldn't help but wonder how all these plants thrived without anyone to care for them. It was as if they possessed a life of their own, thriving in this enchanting oasis despite the absence of human attention. The room held an inexplicable beauty and magic of its own.

Caroline and Kaira entered here too, admiring the breathtaking view. But we had no time to waste - the third room was waiting for us to be explored.

We ventured into the third and final room, our hearts pounding with trepidation. To our shock and astonishment, the room was engulfed in flames. Fire danced along the walls, crackling and flickering with a mesmerizing intensity. The furniture, too, was ablaze, yet it remained untouched by the destructive power of the flames.

Fear gripped us initially, but a strange realization washed over us. The fire in this room was different. It wasn't a menace; it was more like a living, breathing decoration. The flames swirled around us, creating an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It was as if we had stepped into a realm where fire itself was a part of the room's intricate design.

Despite the initial apprehension, we soon understood that this fire posed no harm to us. It was a perplexing sight, a room that defied the laws of nature and logic, leaving us in awe of the inexplicable wonders that surrounded us.

But Mia also mentioned the fourth room underground. Where is it supposed to be? She mentioned it is in of the three rooms. But there are no doors leading to one more room here.

What also remained unclear to me was the following. The room with the piano was depicted on the cover of Mia's diary. Was this image there from the very beginning? Did it appear there later? And why this particular room, and not any other? Could it be because music was so essential for Mia?

And one more. Who could be sending these messages, concealed in secrecy? The thought gnawed at the edges of my mind, leaving me wondering if someone might be watching, spying on my every move.

The cryptic nature of the messages only added to my sense of apprehension. I couldn't help but wonder about the sender's motives and what they hoped to achieve by communicating with me in this covert manner.

And the last thing we decided to check was the front door. As we approached, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. The hauntingly beautiful melody Caroline had played on the piano seemed to hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of this place.

To our amazement, the front door was really open, as if it had been waiting for us all along. The melody had acted as a magical key, unlocking the final barrier that had kept us inside.

That's OK, but where is the treasure?

"Caroline, what were the items that Harper instructed you to find by the end of spring?" Kaira inquired.

"She gave me Mia's belongings, but I was supposed to find Hazel's items and this treasure," Caroline explained.

"I understand now," I said. "I asked Grace to return Mia's diary quickly after our investigation, and she did. Then, Harper was instructed to find a victim who would give up everything. Caroline became that victim. Harper hypnotized me, stole Mia's belongings, and passed them on to Caroline for safekeeping. And Caroline was supposed to help locate the treasure, which required all these items..."

The girls nodded silently; this version appeared plausible.

"But then why did Grace give us a task that required items from both Hazel and Mia? Mrs. Coleman doesn't know that I managed to find Mia's belongings. Or does she?.."

***
Another day - another surprise.

Next morning, I read the local news with a heavy heart. It was reported that Ethan had been finally found a few days ago in a severely deteriorated mental state. Rumors had begun to circulate throughout the school that he had been hospitalized in a mental health facility, his condition so fragile that he seemed to have lost touch with reality.

Thankfully, Ethan was alive, but the circumstances surrounding his mental state were undeniably strange. I felt a strong urge to visit him in the mental hospital, even though I knew the hospital staff would be unlikely to grant me access, but with Mia's pendant it's easier to persuade people, right?

***
After some effort and persuasion, I found myself in a hospital room with Ethan. To my relief, he seemed to be in better spirits than the rumors had suggested. We talked, and I could see a glimmer of his old self returning. It was a small victory, but it filled me with hope that he would eventually recover from whatever had taken a toll on his mental well-being.

Ethan's voice trembled as he confessed, "Liandra, I was deceived, hypnotized, made to do things I can't fully remember. It's all so foggy."

I leaned closer, concern etched on my face. "Ethan, what happened? Where were you found?"

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to recollect the hazy memories. "Near the old graveyard in Ravenwood," he admitted. "I heard a voice, Liandra, a voice that told me to find something there, something important. But I... I couldn't remember what it was, and then everything went blank."

"Was the voice male or female?"

"Does it matter somehow?"

"I'm just interested."

"Female, I think," he answered indifferently.

My heart sank as I processed his words. It seemed that Ethan had become entangled in the same web of mysteries that had ensnared Mia, Hazel, and all of us.

But it's too early for him to know everything. It's not the kind of information he needs right now.