By: Leaya Chen

In the small coastal town of Crescent Haven, there lived a 23-year-old woman named Clara Thornton. She had moved in a year ago after a terrible accident had taken her parents’ life. One of her ancestors had bought the house, and now, whenever Clara’s relatives retired, they moved there.

On one hot summer afternoon, as Clara was walking along the beach, she stumbled upon a diary.
The diary was ancient, its leather cover cracked and worn. It had the name Nathaniel Blackwood written on it. Opening it, she found pages filled with strange sketches and notes.

The diary started with entries about his daily life, but it ended abruptly. There were mentions of a hidden treasure, an old family secret, and some danger. Nathaniel’s last entries ended suddenly, almost like a cliffhanger, as though he had to run away quickly.

Although reading about Nathaniel’s diary sent a shiver down her spine, Clara decided to find out more. She went to the town’s historical society and discovered that Nathaniel Blackwood was part of an old, wealthy family in Crescent Haven. The old records showed that Nathaniel was searching for something connected to his family’s past.

Clara’s search took her to the old lighthouse at the edge of town. After she stepped into the lighthouse, she trod on a loose, creaky floorboard, hiding a map and a compass that pointed to an island off the coast. Determined to solve the mystery, Clara learned some basics on how to drive a boat, rented a boat, and set off for the island.

During the two-day trip, there were crazy waves, sudden storms, and eerie sounds that almost made Clara certain that Nathaniel’s ghost was begging her to turn back. When she finally reached the island, she discovered an abandoned mansion covered in vines. It was full of hidden rooms and dusty old maps.
In one of the rooms, Clara found a journal from Nathaniel’s wife. It was full of her desperate attempts to protect their family from something terrible. The journal revealed that Nathaniel had left his wife and son at the mansion and had been looking for a ‘cursed artifact,’ as Nathaniel’s wife called it. Nathaniel was never seen again.

Clara decided to finish Nathaniel’s quest. She journeyed to the hidden chamber where the artifact was buried. But when Clara stepped into the chamber, she noticed a shadow behind hers. She wasn’t alone; 25-year-old Charles Blackwood, Nathaniel Blackwood’s descendant, who also lives at Crescent Haven, had followed her to the island. After a lengthy conversation, Charles revealed that he worked at the town’s historical society. When he heard that someone was asking about his ancestor, he had secretly followed Clara since he had once tried to uncover his great-great-grandfather. They agreed to work together to find the artifact. After a lot of digging, they found the artifact, which was a locket that once belonged to a person who was wrongfully killed. Rumors had spread during Nathaniel’s time that when someone wears it, they are haunted by the figure’s spirit, who will bring misfortune to the wearer.

When Clara and Charles got back to Crescent Haven, they both went their separate ways.

Charles moved to the big, bustling city, where he became a detective; now, he was able to happily stalk whoever looked suspicious.

Meanwhile, Clara did some research and found out that the artifact wasn’t cursed. She wore it every day afterward to remember her adventure.