The next morning, Ella woke up early, the dim light of dawn filtering through her curtains. She quietly slipped out of bed and went to find her mother, Margaret, who was busy preparing to leave Rosewood Vale for work. Margaret turned to her with a warm smile tinged with concern.

"Morning, sweetheart," Margaret greeted, brushing a strand of hair from Ella's face. "I have to leave soon, but I'll be back next weekend. Be brave, okay? And if anything's troubling you, don't hesitate to message me. I'll call you whenever I can."

Ella nodded, trying to hide her disappointment about her mother's departure. "Okay, Mom. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Ella," Margaret said softly, giving her daughter a reassuring hug before hurrying out of the house.

Feeling a pang of loneliness, Ella made her way to the kitchen where Mrs. Daisy, the maid, was already bustling about preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Ella," Mrs. Daisy greeted warmly, setting a plate of pancakes in front of her. "Your mom told me she had to leave early. How are you feeling today?"

Ella sighed, poking at her pancakes with a fork. "I'll be okay, Mrs. Daisy. It's just weird being here without Mom and Dad. I miss them."

Mrs. Daisy nodded sympathetically. "I understand, dear. But your mom will be back soon, and I'll take good care of you in the meantime. Remember, if there's anything on your mind, you can always talk to me. My door is always open."

Ella managed a small smile, grateful for Mrs. Daisy's kindness. "Thank you, Mrs. Daisy. Actually, I wanted to ask you about something. Have you heard about the urban legend near my school? People say there's something dangerous in the forest."

Mrs. Daisy paused, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled gently. "Oh, that's just a rumor, Ella. There's no truth to it. Rosewood Vale may have its quirks, but it's a safe place. You shouldn't worry about things like that."

Ella sensed a flicker of something in Mrs. Daisy's eyes, a fleeting hesitation that made her wonder if there was more to the story. But before she could ask further, Mrs. Daisy's smile returned, reassuring and warm.

"Just focus on your studies and making new friends at school," Mrs. Daisy continued, her tone cheerful. "And if you ever want to chat, you know where to find me."

As they finished breakfast, Ella couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Mrs. Daisy's reaction than she let on. She wondered if the maid knew something about the urban legend that she wasn't sharing. Despite Mrs. Daisy's comforting words, Ella's curiosity was piqued, and she resolved to find out more about the mysterious rumors circulating in Rosewood Vale.

Later that morning, as Ella was getting ready for school, her eyes fell upon Anna's diary resting on one of the shelves. She made a mental note to study it that evening when she returned from school. Determination flickered in her eyes as she resolved to uncover the truth about what was happening in Rosewood Vale, including within her own family.

"Digging up the dirty things is the only way to know the truth," Ella muttered to herself, trying to steel her nerves. "I need to stay calm and act like nothing happened yesterday."

With a deep breath, Ella gathered her school bag and headed out. As she neared the school gates, she spotted Clara, a girl from another section but in the same class as her. Despite being somewhat introverted, Ella sensed something off about Clara. Nevertheless, she approached her and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Ella," she said politely, extending her hand.

Clara glanced at Ella with a hint of disdain before reluctantly shaking her hand. "Yeah, I know who you are. I'm Clara," she replied curtly, her voice laced with indifference.

Before Ella could say anything more, Clara spotted Mary approaching. Without a word of explanation or farewell, Clara abruptly turned and walked away, leaving Ella puzzled by her behavior.

Mary, a friendly girl from Ella's class, caught up to her with a concerned expression. "Hey, Ella, be careful around Clara," she warned in a hushed tone. "She's been jealous of you because of Liam."

Ella raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Liam? But why?"

Mary sighed, shaking her head. "There have been rumors that Clara likes Liam, but he doesn't feel the same way about her. In fact, he doesn't even consider her a friend. She's got quite an attitude problem too."

Ella nodded slowly, her intuition about Clara proving to be correct. "I see. Thanks for the heads-up, Mary. I'll be careful."

Mary smiled reassuringly. "No problem, Ella. Just stick with us, and you'll be fine."

As Ella and Mary walked to school, the air felt thick with secrets. After Clara hurried off, Ella debated whether to ask Mary about the urban legend, her curiosity battling her apprehension. Noticing Ella's hesitation, Mary decided to speak up.

"You know," Mary began, glancing around as if the shadows themselves might be listening, "the urban legend first surfaced around 1990. Before that, Rosewood Vale was just another quiet town."

Ella felt a shiver run down her spine. Mary continued, "It all started when a farmer spotted something moving near his field. He went to investigate and found a creature—half-human, half-animal—devouring something. It was horrifying. When he shouted, it darted away, leaving the ground stained with blood."

Mary paused, letting the words sink in. "The next day, the police confirmed it was human blood, belonging to a government teacher who had just started at our school. After that, the town passed a rule: only locals could teach here. Outsiders weren't welcome."

Ella's mind raced. Could the diary she found hold any clues about these events? Mary continued, "And about the cell tower—no one outside this town knows it exists. When they were building it, one of the workers died under mysterious circumstances. It fueled the rumors about the urban legend. That's why we mostly use landlines. If you're lucky, your cell might get a signal, but usually, it's just static."

As they approached the school, Ella felt a mix of fear and excitement. She was determined to uncover the town's secrets, starting with the diary that waited for her at home.

As Ella and Mary reached the school, Ella's gaze lingered on the dense forest bordering the grounds. The shadows among the trees seemed to shift, stirring a knot of unease in her stomach. She was lost in thought when Liam suddenly appeared beside them.

"Hey, Ella!" Liam's cheerful voice broke through her worries, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. His bright smile and easygoing nature lightened the atmosphere, making her momentarily forget the dark legends surrounding Rosewood Vale.

In the classroom, Ella found herself laughing with Liam and Mary, the morning sun filtering through the windows, casting playful patterns on their desks. The tension from earlier dissipated, replaced by a sense of belonging. Despite the eerie tales, the camaraderie with her friends was a welcome distraction, filling her day with warmth and a vibrant energy that was hard to resist.

As they shared stories and joked around, Ella realized how much she enjoyed their company, a stark contrast to the unsettling mysteries of the town. But even as she laughed, a part of her remained curious, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within the pages of ANNA's diary waiting for her at home.

After school, Ella went straight home, her mind swirling with thoughts about ANNA's diary. When she reached her room, she noticed the diary wasn't on the shelf where she'd left it. Instead, it lay on her table, its cover slightly askew. This made her suspicious, and she quickly checked her room, but no one was there.

Pondering who could have moved it, she recalled that only the staff were at home. She hadn't mentioned the diary to anyone in her family. Convinced that it must have been Daisy, she confirmed with other staff members that Daisy had been in her room earlier.

Worried that pages might be missing or tampered with, Ella opened the diary with trembling hands. As she flipped through, she felt a mix of fear and anticipation. Each page revealed secrets and whispers from the past, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something crucial might have been altered or removed.

As Ella continued to examine the diary and the photo of the Hawthorne family from the 1970s, she noticed her father, Charles, looking remarkably young among the gathered relatives. The photo captured a moment in time, frozen in black and white, where everyone seemed cheerful and united. Ella was struck by the realization that this was her family lineage, extending far beyond what she had known.

The diary entry from 1989, with its mysterious symbol, intrigued her. Ella's curiosity deepened as she pondered the significance of the symbol and its connection to her family's history. She flipped through more pages, searching for clues or explanations, but the entries leading up to the urban legend incident remained cryptic.

Ella felt a mix of emotions — curiosity, confusion, and a growing sense of urgency to uncover the truth buried within her family's past. She knew there were secrets hidden in these pages, perhaps even secrets that could shed light on the strange occurrences in Rosewood Vale.

As Ella turned more pages, secrets continued to unfold. She found another photo, this time of three family members. One was unmistakably her father, the other her grandfather, but the third person's face was mysteriously scribbled out with black ink. The clothing suggested it was a female, but the identity remained hidden. Ella's curiosity was piqued. Why would someone deface this photo?

On another page, she found a series of strange symbols and erratic scribbles. The chaotic writing gave her chills, reminiscent of scenes from horror movies where characters were possessed or involved in cult activities. A thought crossed her mind: Had someone in her family been possessed or joined a cult?

As she pondered this unsettling possibility, she was startled by a sudden knock on her door. Her heart raced. She quickly closed the diary and hid it under her pillow before responding.

"Who is it?" she called out, trying to keep her voice steady.

"It's me, Daisy," came the reply. "I brought you some tea. May I come in?"

Ella took a deep breath and opened the door. Daisy stood there with a tray, smiling warmly. But Ella couldn't shake the feeling that Daisy knew more than she let on.

"Thank you, Daisy," Ella said, taking the tray. "I was just about to take a break."

Daisy's eyes flickered toward the pillow where the diary was hidden, but she said nothing. "If you need anything else, just let me know, Miss Ella."

As Daisy left the room, Ella's mind raced. She needed to find out more about the mysterious woman in the photo and the strange symbols.

After Ella closed the door, strange noises began to emanate from the top floor—the floor known for its haunting presence. Remembering the outdoor stairs she had noticed earlier, which led up to the top floor and the terrace, she decided to investigate. With her heart pounding, she grabbed her mobile phone and headed outside.

As she climbed the stairs, the wind picked up, and the closer she got to the top floor, the louder the noises became. When she reached the window, she was startled to find it half-open. Questions raced through her mind: Why was the window open if no one had entered this room?

Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, using her phone's flashlight to navigate the dark, dusty room. Suddenly, a gust of wind slammed the door shut, making her jump. She swung her flashlight around and noticed the same photo of her father, her grandfather, and the mysterious figure she now knew to be her grandmother, Anna. The names "Charles," "George," and "Anna" were engraved beneath the photo, confirming that the diary she found earlier belonged to her grandmother.

Trying to control her racing heart, Ella turned towards the source of the strange noises. They seemed to be coming from an old cupboard next to the photo. With trembling hands, she opened the cupboard and found another diary with "ANNA" engraved on the cover. Her shock turned to curiosity as she realized this might hold more secrets about her family's past.

As she neared the door, something brushed against her feet. She shone her flashlight down to find a bunch of white papers scattered on the floor. The papers seemed to flutter in the wind, some flying outside through the open window. Just as she was about to gather them, Daisy's voice echoed from downstairs, calling her for dinner.

Ella realized she could hear everything happening on the ground floor from up here. She quickly grabbed the new diary, hurried back down the outdoor stairs, and closed the window behind her. Once back in her room, she hid the diary in her study table drawer and sat down, pretending to study.

A few moments later, Daisy knocked on her door. "Dinner is ready, Miss Ella."

Ella took a deep breath and opened the door. "Sorry, Daisy. I was studying with my earphones in to block out any noise."

Daisy smiled. "That's alright. Come down when you're ready."

Ella nodded and closed the door. She sat back down at her desk, her mind racing with the new discoveries. She had two diaries now, and both were filled with clues and mysteries waiting to be unraveled. As she prepared to go downstairs for dinner, she couldn't help but wonder what other secrets her grandmother's diaries would reveal.

Ella was certain of one thing: she needed to know how many people had died due to the urban legend. She called her uncle, her mother's brother, who was a detective, and asked for his help. He agreed but with one condition. "Don't tell your mom about this, or she'll kill me," he said with a chuckle.

Ella smiled, feeling a bit more reassured. Her uncle's connections in the town could prove invaluable. She thanked him and hung up just as her dad called her for dinner. As they ate, Ella decided to subtly probe about her grandmother. "Dad, did I ever have a grandma like Grandpa who used to take care of me?"

Her dad looked thoughtful for a moment. "Your grandmother, Anna, passed away when your mother was pregnant with you," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "She was a wonderful woman."

Ella nodded, her suspicions confirmed. The diary did belong to her grandmother, Anna. But why were there two diaries with the same covers? The question nagged at her, but she decided to let it rest for now. Both she and her dad went to sleep soon after dinner.

The next morning, Ella woke up early, before the sun had risen. She noticed her dad had already left for the factory, leaving her curious about why he always left so early. As she got ready for school and waited for the driver.

Ella watched in awe as the sleek, red car pulled up to her home, a sense of mystery and anticipation swirling in the morning air. The middle-aged lady who emerged introduced herself with a confident smile, "Hello, Ella. My name is Anna Hawthorne."

As Ella processed the shock of meeting someone who shared her grandmother's name, she couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and intrigue. Who was this woman, and what secrets did she hold about Ella's family history? With Anna Hawthorne's arrival, the stage was set for a new chapter in Ella's quest for truth, where each revelation promised to uncover deeper layers of the enigmatic Hawthorne family saga.