don't leave me

The Mystery of Maple Street

The summer days stretched long and warm, filled with bike rides, soccer practice, and new adventures. Matthew had started to feel more at home in his new town, the unfamiliar streets gradually becoming familiar.

One afternoon, Matthew and his friends were gathered at the park. Jake was showing off his latest trick on his skateboard while Emma and Alex cheered him on. As Matthew watched, he noticed a girl sitting alone on a bench, her nose buried in a book. She looked about his age, with dark hair tied back in a ponytail and glasses that kept slipping down her nose.

"Who's that?" Matthew asked, nodding toward the girl.

Emma glanced over. "Oh, that's Lily. She just moved here a couple of weeks ago."

"She doesn't talk much," Alex added. "Always reading."

Matthew felt a pang of recognition. He remembered how lonely he had felt when he first moved here. Before he could second-guess himself, he walked over to the bench.

"Hey," he said, offering a friendly smile. "I'm Matthew."

Lily looked up from her book, her eyes wide with surprise. "Hi," she replied softly. "I'm Lily."

"Mind if I sit?" Matthew asked, gesturing to the empty spot beside her.

She shook her head, and he sat down. "What are you reading?" he asked, peering at the cover of her book.

Lily's face lit up. "It's a mystery novel. I love trying to solve the puzzles before the characters do."

Matthew grinned. "That sounds cool. Do you want to come meet my friends?"

Lily hesitated, glancing at the group. "I don't know..."

"They're nice," Matthew assured her. "I was new here too, not long ago. They made me feel welcome."

After a moment, Lily nodded. "Okay."

Matthew led her over to where the others were. "Guys, this is Lily. She just moved here."

"Hi, Lily!" Emma said brightly. "Want to join us?"

Jake and Alex waved, and Lily gave a small smile. "Sure."

As the afternoon passed, Lily began to relax and join in the conversation. She told them about the places she had lived before and how much she missed her old friends. Matthew felt a deep sense of understanding, knowing exactly how she felt.

A few days later, Matthew and his friends, now including Lily, decided to explore a part of town they hadn't been to yet—Maple Street. It was lined with old, grand houses, each with its own unique charm.

As they walked, Jake pointed to a house at the end of the street. "They say that house is haunted."

Lily's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah," Emma chimed in. "People say they hear strange noises at night and see lights flickering inside, even though no one lives there."

Matthew felt a thrill of excitement. "We should check it out."

Lily looked uncertain. "Are you sure? What if it's dangerous?"

"We'll just look around," Matthew said reassuringly. "It'll be an adventure."

They approached the house cautiously. The front yard was overgrown, and the paint was peeling off the walls. As they got closer, they saw that the front door was slightly ajar.

"Spooky," Alex whispered.

"Let's go in," Jake said, pushing the door open wider.

Inside, the house was dim and dusty, with furniture covered in white sheets. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and the air smelled musty. The kids stuck close together as they explored the rooms, their footsteps echoing in the silence.

In the living room, they found an old photograph on the mantel. It showed a family—a mother, father, and two children—smiling happily.

"I wonder what happened to them," Lily said, her voice hushed.

"Maybe they moved away," Emma suggested.

Just then, they heard a creaking noise from upstairs. They froze, looking at each other with wide eyes.

"Did you hear that?" Alex whispered.

"Let's check it out," Matthew said, trying to sound braver than he felt.

They crept up the stairs, the old wood groaning under their weight. At the top, they found a long hallway with several closed doors. The noise had come from the room at the end.

With a deep breath, Matthew pushed the door open. Inside, the room was empty except for an old rocking chair, which was slowly moving back and forth.

"How is it doing that?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.

"I don't know," Matthew admitted. "But I think we should leave."

As they turned to go, they heard a soft voice say, "Wait."

They spun around, but there was no one there.

"Who said that?" Jake demanded.

"Please, don't go," the voice said again, this time clearer. It seemed to be coming from the rocking chair.

"Who's there?" Matthew called out.

A faint, shimmering figure appeared in the chair—a young girl, about their age, with sad eyes and a ghostly glow.

"I'm Lucy," she said. "I used to live here."

The kids stared in shock. "You're a ghost?" Emma asked, barely able to speak.

Lucy nodded. "Yes. I've been here alone for so long. I just wanted someone to talk to."

Matthew stepped forward. "We're here now. What happened to you?"

Lucy sighed. "My family moved away, but I couldn't leave. I don't know why. I've been waiting for someone to help me."

"We'll help you," Lily said firmly. "What do you need us to do?"

Lucy looked at them with hope in her eyes. "There's a box in the attic. It has something that belongs to me. Can you bring it to me?"

"Of course," Matthew said. "We'll find it."

They climbed the narrow staircase to the attic, finding it even dustier and more cluttered than the rest of the house. After searching for a while, they found an old wooden box tucked away in a corner.

"This must be it," Jake said, carefully lifting it.

They brought the box back to Lucy, who smiled gratefully. "Thank you. You've helped me more than you know."

As they watched, Lucy opened the box and took out a small locket. She held it close, and her form began to shimmer even more brightly.

"I can go now," she said softly. "Thank you, my friends."

With that, she faded away, leaving the room silent once more.

The kids stood there for a moment, absorbing what had just happened. Finally, Matthew spoke. "We did a good thing today."

"Yeah," Lily agreed. "I'm glad we could help her."

As they left the old house, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over Maple Street. They walked home together, knowing that they had formed a bond that would only grow stronger with time.

That night, as Matthew lay in bed, he thought about the day's events. He realized that just like Lucy, he had found something he needed in this new town—friends who cared about him and adventures that made him feel alive. He smiled, knowing that his new life was just beginning.

Authors Note

Just publishing a bunch today ill go to chapter 5 and then updates will be daily!!