I woke up in my own bed. If it was not a dream, the Count must have carried me here. My clothes were folded in a strange way. I did not wind my watch before I went to sleep. This is very unusual for me.
I am glad my diary is safe in my pocket. The Count did not find it. He would destroy it if he saw it. My room is now a safe place for me. I am very afraid of those three women. They want to suck my blood.
18 May.
I went to the old room today. I wanted to see if it was a dream. The door was closed. Someone had pushed it very hard. It was fastened from the inside. It was not a dream.
19 May.
I am in a trap. Last night, the Count spoke to me very politely. He told me to write three letters. The first letter says my work is almost finished. It says I will come home in a few days.
The second letter says I am starting my journey home. The third letter says I have arrived in Bistritz. I wanted to say no. But I am in the Count’s power. He is very dangerous.
The Count gave me dates for the letters. He told me to write June 12, June 19, and June 29. Now I know when he wants to kill me. God help me!
28 May.
I have a chance to escape. A group of gipsies (people who travel and live in tents) arrived at the castle. They are staying in the courtyard. They work for the Count.
I wrote some letters to send home. I wrote to Mina in shorthand (a fast way of writing using signs). I told her everything. I hope she can help me.
I threw the letters out of my window. I also threw a gold coin. I made signs to a man. He took the letters and put them in his hat. I hope he posts them.
Later, the Count came to see me. He had my letters in his hand. He was very angry about the shorthand letter. He called it a "vile thing."
He burned my letter to Mina in the lamp. He said he would post the letter to Mr. Hawkins. But he made me write it again. Then he locked me in my room.
31 May.
I had another shock this morning. All my paper and envelopes are gone. The Count also took my notes about the trains.
He took my travel clothes and my big coat too. I have nothing left. The Count is planning something very bad.
17 June.
I heard horses and wagons in the courtyard. I saw two large leiter-wagons (heavy wooden carts for carrying goods). Each wagon had eight horses.
Some Slovaks (people from a nearby region) were there. They had big wooden boxes. I tried to shout to them from my window.
The men looked at me, but they only laughed. They did not help me. My door was locked from the outside. I could not go down to them. They left the boxes and drove away.
24 June.
Last night, the Count went out of his window. He was wearing my travel clothes! He also had the bag I saw before.
He wants people to see him in the village. He wants them to think it is me. If he does something evil, people will blame me. This makes me very angry.
Later, I saw the three women in the moonlight. They looked like ghosts made of dust. I was very afraid and ran to my room.
Then I heard a woman crying in the courtyard. She shouted, "Monster, give me my child!" She hit the castle door with her hands.
The Count called from the tower. Then I heard the wolves. A pack of wolves ran into the courtyard. The woman stopped shouting. I knew the wolves killed her. I felt very sad, but she is better dead.
25 June. Morning.
The morning sun is beautiful. It makes me feel brave. I must do something now. I have never seen the Count in the daylight. Maybe he sleeps during the day.
I decided to crawl down the castle wall. I will go into the Count’s room through his window. It is very dangerous, but I must try. I said goodbye to Mina in my heart.
I took off my boots and went out on the stone ledge. It was a long way down. I did not look at the ground. I reached the Count’s window and climbed inside.
The room was empty and dusty. I found a big pile of gold in a corner. The gold was very old. I found a heavy door and went down some dark stairs.
I walked through a dark passage. There was a bad smell of old earth. I found an old chapel (a small church). There were fifty wooden boxes on the floor.
I looked inside one box. Count Dracula was there! He looked dead, but his face was not white. His lips were red and his eyes were open.
There was no breath and no heartbeat. I looked for his keys, but I was too afraid to touch him. I ran back up the stairs and climbed back to my room.
29 June.
The Count told me I will leave tomorrow. I asked to leave tonight. He smiled a cruel smile. He opened the front door of the castle.
I saw a ring of wolves outside. They had red mouths and sharp teeth. I could not go out. I went back to my room.
I heard the Count talking to the three women outside my door. He told them they could have me tomorrow night. The women laughed.
30 June. Morning.
This is the end. I went back to the Count’s room one last time. I went down to the chapel. I found the Count in his box.
He looked younger. His hair was grey, not white. There was fresh blood on his mouth. It ran down his neck. He looked like a leech (a small worm that drinks blood).
I wanted to kill this monster. I took a shovel (a tool for digging) and hit his face. But the Count turned his head. His eyes looked at me with a terrible light.
I was so afraid that I dropped the shovel. It only cut his forehead. Then the gipsies came into the castle. I had to run back to my room.
I heard the men moving the boxes. They nailed the lids down. They took the boxes out of the castle. I heard the wagons drive away.
I am alone in the castle with the three women. I will try to climb the wall again. I will take some gold and try to find a way home.
I would rather die on the rocks than stay here. If I fall, I will die like a man. Goodbye, everyone. Goodbye, Mina!