Creative Writing Assignments

Fellen Valley Wood

"Mireya, r-remind me why we are out here?"
"To solve a mystery."
Bright chocolate brown eyes looked back at me, filled with clear determination and excitement. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Mireya has always been a huge fan of mysteries. She's read every single one of Agatha Christie's books, and lots of other mystery stories from other famous authors. Not to mention her father is a homicide detective. She's grown up around the art of reading clues and questioning suspects. However, my lack of surprise doesn't change the fact that she led me to a deep part of an abandoned wood.

The Fellen Valley Woods haven't been entered in nearly 20 years. That is–until now. The reason isn't entirely unknown. There are legends that tell of ghosts and demons who lurk in these woods. Ghosts who haunt anyone who dares enter and demons who terrorize those who dare and try to leave. Of course, these are only legends, widely believed to be not true. But hey, you never know.

"Mireya, can we please leave?"

"This place is creeping me out."

"We can't leave until we find a clue."

"A clue to what?"

"A clue to who killed Mrs. Hinche."

"Mrs Hinche is dead...?"

How hadn't I heard? We live in a small town in New Jersey. It's not like a murder happens here often. Mireya's dad usually has to travel out of state for large cases, but now there's one in our own backyard? It was only then that the fact sunk in. Mrs. Hinche, my childhood babysitter and piano teacher, was murdered. The person who had supported me throughout my parents divorce was gone. The person who helped me realize I was gay was no more. Besides Mireya, Mrs. Hinche was who I went to when I needed help. I asked for advice and followed it religiously. I spent hundreds of afternoons in her living room drinking a cup of herbal tea. It was like a second home. What am I supposed to do without her?

Mireya seemed to notice my expression. Her face warped into one of guilt. She knew how close we were. She must have realized that the way she broke the news wasn't the most sensitive.

"Hey."

I blinked and looked into her now more solemn eyes.

"It'll be ok."

"You'll always have me and my parents."

"I promise."

She smiled at me and held out her free hand. I grabbed it and we ventured deeper into the woods hand in hand.

"So.."

"Do you know what happened to her?"

"Not exactly."

"My dad said that one of her neighbors heard some screaming near the woods after she disappeared the day before. I thought this would be a good place to start our investigation."

"Our?"

"Yes. Our."

I shook my head. Why am I always dragged into all this stuff?

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"You did what?!"

Yep. We deserve that.

"I told you, we went into Fellen Valley to look for clues!"

And of course Mireya sees no problems. Typical.

"And why exactly did you enter forbidden grounds?"

"To solve the mystery!"

"What mystery?"