October 25, 1989
Sweet Charlotte Ann. That's what they all call me. Well, soon that sentence may have to be conveyed in the past tense. I wonder if they'd all think I'm so sweet if they knew what I've been doing. What I've been forced to do. Clues, riddles, crypts, and clocks - my mind grows heavy when I think about all of the traps and clues I've laid out in the past two months. She's onto me. I know she is. Clara's been giving me the oddest stares as of late, stares that boil my blood and send shivers down my back. I wonder if she's seen some of the things I've put together. Does she know about the gift I gave to Harper? Oh, dear little Harper. How terribly she'd miss me if something were to happen. I haven't been spending time with her like I should. I know that I should be talking to her, giving her some warnings about what could happen. But I can't bring myself to it; not if Clara suspects what I've been up to. I know that we Thorntons are a paranoid bunch. But am I taking the paranoia too far? I feel terrible, using the resting places of my family as a path of clues for Harper. Maybe they won't mind. After all, we're Thortons - the lot of us stick together... except for the Night of the Fifty-Four Souls. There's a mean little voice in my head, screaming, "If that's true, then what is Clara up to?" She's got a right to be mad, that's true - everyone's entitled to an opinion - but what I give to Harper is my choice. It's my choice alone.
At least I have something to look forward to. My twenty-first birthday is in five days. The dress is done, and now I'm working on the finishing touches for the lace mask. It's absolutely gorgeous, in my opinion. Wade thinks so too. He just barged on me the other day, while I was trying it on for size. Thankfully the dress was on - but I smacked that little smirky chicken hawk on the head with a book. That got rid of him real quick. But something troubled me about the whole thing. I couldn't believe that I had forgotten to lock my door. Even though it was kind of funny, it set my heart to beating. If Wade could get in without me noticing, who else could?
I can't keep thinking about these things.
