don't leave me

The secret of the old oak tree

The summer days were filled with laughter and adventure as Matthew and his friends bonded over their shared experiences. After helping Lucy, they felt invincible, like they could tackle any mystery that came their way. Little did they know, another adventure was waiting just around the corner.

One afternoon, Matthew, Lily, Jake, Emma, and Alex decided to have a picnic in the park. They spread out a blanket under a massive old oak tree, its branches providing cool shade from the summer sun.

"This tree must be hundreds of years old," Emma said, admiring the thick trunk and sprawling branches.

"My grandpa used to tell me stories about this tree," Jake added. "He said it was here before the town was even built."

As they ate their sandwiches and shared stories, Matthew noticed something unusual. Near the base of the tree, partially covered by leaves and dirt, was a small, weathered box. Curious, he pointed it out to his friends.

"What's that?" he asked.

They gathered around as Jake brushed away the leaves, revealing an old wooden box with intricate carvings.

"Looks like some kind of treasure chest," Alex said, eyes wide with excitement.

"Let's open it," Lily suggested.

With a little effort, they pried open the box. Inside, they found a collection of old papers and a small, rusted key. The papers were yellowed with age, and the ink was faded, but they could still make out some of the writing.

"It's a map," Matthew said, unfolding one of the papers. "And these look like letters."

Emma carefully picked up one of the letters and read aloud: "To whoever finds this, you have discovered the secret of the old oak tree. Follow the map to uncover the hidden treasure and learn the truth about our town's history."

"This is amazing," Jake said, grinning. "We have to follow the map!"

They studied the map, which showed a path leading from the old oak tree through the woods and to a place marked with an 'X.'

"Let's do it," Matthew said, feeling a surge of excitement. "We can start right now."

The friends packed up their picnic and set off on the trail. The map led them deeper into the woods than they had ever gone before. They crossed streams, climbed over fallen logs, and navigated through dense underbrush.

After what felt like hours, they finally reached the spot marked on the map. It was a small clearing with a large, flat rock in the center. Carved into the rock was a series of symbols and letters.

"What's this?" Lily asked, tracing the carvings with her fingers.

"It's a code," Matthew said, examining the symbols. "We need to figure out what it means."

They sat down around the rock, working together to decipher the code. Each symbol corresponded to a letter, and slowly but surely, they began to reveal a message.

"Look," Emma said, pointing to the letters they had uncovered. "It says, 'Beneath this rock lies the key to our past. Use the key from the oak tree box to unlock the door.'"

"There's something under here?" Alex asked, looking at the massive rock.

"Let's see if we can move it," Jake suggested.

With a lot of effort and teamwork, they managed to shift the rock just enough to reveal a hidden trapdoor underneath. Excitement buzzed through the group as they used the rusty key from the box to unlock the door. It creaked open, revealing a dark, narrow staircase leading down into the earth.

"Whoa," Matthew said, peering into the darkness. "Who wants to go first?"

"I will," Lily said bravely. She took a flashlight from her backpack and started down the stairs, the others following close behind.

The staircase led to an underground chamber, the walls lined with shelves filled with old books and artifacts. In the center of the room was a large wooden chest.

"This must be the treasure," Emma said, her voice filled with awe.

They opened the chest to find it filled with gold coins, jewels, and a bundle of old documents.

"Look at this," Matthew said, holding up a parchment. "It's a diary."

The diary belonged to one of the town's founders and told the story of their journey, the hardships they faced, and the treasure they had hidden to protect the town's future.

"This is incredible," Lily said, reading over his shoulder. "We have to tell everyone about this."

The friends carefully packed up some of the documents and treasures to take back with them. As they climbed out of the underground chamber and back into the sunlight, they felt a sense of accomplishment and wonder.

Back in town, they shared their discovery with their families and the local historical society. The story of the hidden treasure and the town's founders quickly spread, bringing the community together in celebration of their shared history.

That night, as Matthew lay in bed, he thought about the incredible journey they had been on. From helping a lonely ghost to uncovering a hidden treasure, he knew that his new town was full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. He felt a deep sense of belonging and excitement for the adventures yet to come.

Authors note 

2 more chapters today!!