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Journal Entry 58
31.07.2026 The deep voice calling my name startled me out of my thoughts. I turned and pointed my mobile’s flashlight toward the staircase. Zechariah was slowly descending the steps before me. I should have known better. His eloquence and refined demeanor did not fit a bartender serving drinks to fishermen at Zum Alten Anker. Was I truly that stupid? Why…
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Journal Entry 57
30.07.2026 The basement had a putrid odor bordering on the stench of death. Before me lay the epicenter of my misery. The chain that had connected the clasp around my ankle was still anchored to the stone wall. My dried blood still stained the basement floor. To the left lay my toilet—a metal bucket—on its side. Pain. Disgust. Anger. Sadness.…
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Journal Entry 56
29.07.2026 The feeling that engulfed me as I entered the Captivity House took me by surprise. I had prepared myself for dreadful, painful memories to consume me. Do not get me wrong—I was unnerved the moment I crossed the threshold. After turning on my mobile’s flashlight, I saw decay and neglect all around me. The ceiling sagged overhead, and the…
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Journal Entry 55
28.07.2026 As I stood in front of the house where I had been held captive, my mind raced with memories I wished I could forget forever. There was no doubt that I felt the urge to turn around and return home to Eberbach, but I did not. As rain sprinkled down from the heavens, my adrenaline returned, along with the…
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Journal Entry 54
12.07.2026 Bear with me, my dearest journal; my thoughts continue to demand transcription. Two journal entries in two days is not the norm for me. However, I need—and want—to document my feelings. Upon returning from Zum Alten Anker, I was unable to get my conversation with Zechariah out of my mind. There was something unique and intriguing about the pub’s…
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Journal Entry 53
12.07.2026 As I walked into the Zum Alten Anker, I felt an immediate and unsettling sense of fear. The feeling dissipated, however, when the pub’s bartender and owner, Zechariah, glanced at me and greeted me with a slight nod and a smile. There was no doubt that he recognized who I was. Zechariah did not pry into my story, nor…
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Journal Entry 52
11.07.2026 You are probably wondering why I am writing a second journal entry today. Well, my dearest journal, I cannot seem to halt my racing thoughts. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been so focused on the events in the basement that I blocked out where my troubles in Rüdersdorf began. The memory blindsided me as the train…
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Journal Entry 51
11.07.2026 There is no doubt in my mind that I was having second thoughts before boarding the train to Rüdersdorf. My thoughts were racing. My palms were sweaty. I kept asking myself whether returning to my personal hell was worth it. In the end, I took my seat and ventured north. Riding on a train is not something I usually…
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Journal Entry 50
10.07.2026 The King was not impressed by my decision to travel alone to Rüdersdorf. I explained how important it was for me to visit the basement on my own. Jonas’s concerns are valid. He is worried about a possible negative reaction I might have without someone with me to provide support. The King believes that I will be able to…
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Journal Entry 49
09.07.2026 It feels as though a fortnight has passed since I had decent sleep. Waking up this morning at 4:45 a.m. was even more evident that I needed to clear my mind. Drinking tea in a quiet atmosphere has always helped me focus on what has been bothering me. My concentration at work is lax. Even Otto and Emma have…
