Lost

On a chilly Halloween night, when the moon was full, and the wind whispered secrets through the trees, the little town of Harmstead lay deathly still. The houses, decorated with jack-o’-lanterns and cobwebs, looked like they were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

In the heart of this town lived a boy named Sam. He was ten, brave and curious, always looking for adventure. This Halloween, he decided to explore the old graveyard at the edge of town. The townsfolk said it was haunted, filled with spirits that roamed the shadows. Sam didn’t believe in ghosts, but he thought it would be fun to find out for himself.

As he walked, the leaves crunched beneath his sneakers, the sound echoing in the still night. The air grew colder, and the branches of the trees reached out like bony fingers, their shadows dancing on the ground. Sam shivered but pressed on. The graveyard gate creaked open as if inviting him inside, the sound sending a chill down his spine. He stepped through, the chill wrapping around him like a heavy cloak, the silence of the graveyard enveloping him.

The moonlight cast long shadows on the tombstones, each one telling a story of the past. Sam wandered deeper, feeling both scared and excited. Suddenly, he noticed something moving by an old oak tree. His heart raced. It was just a cat, black as the night, its eyes glowing in the dark. Sam chuckled, shaking off his nerves.

But then he heard a soft voice, like the rustle of leaves. “Help me…” it called, barely more than a whisper. Sam froze, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. “Who’s there?” he called out, trying to sound brave. The voice continued, “I’m lost. I need help.”

Sam took a deep breath and walked toward the sound. The closer he got, the heavier the air felt, thick with sadness. Behind the oak tree, he saw a faint light flickering. It danced like a candle flame but was cooler, almost like moonlight. As he approached, he saw a figure—a girl, her dress flowing like mist, her hair cascading like shadows. Her eyes, shimmering like stars, held a deep sadness that tugged at Sam’s heart.

“Please,” she said, her voice soft yet urgent. “I can’t find my way home. I’ve been here for so long.”

Sam, feeling a mix of fear and pity, nodded. “I’ll help you. What’s your name?”

“Lily,” she replied, her eyes shimmering like stars. “But you must follow me closely. It’s easy to get lost in the dark.”

He followed Lily as she glided between tombstones. The night grew darker, and Sam felt the chill in his bones. They passed names carved into stone, each one telling a tale of a life once lived. Sam’s heart raced, but he felt compelled to help this lost girl.

Suddenly, Lily stopped. “We’re almost there,” she said, pointing to a glowing mist at the far end of the graveyard. As they approached, the air became warmer, almost comforting. Sam felt hope blooming inside him.

But then Lily turned to him, her expression suddenly serious. “You must promise me something,” she said. “When I’m free, you cannot follow me. You must stay here.”

“Why?” Sam asked, confusion knitting his brow. “I want to help you!”

She stepped closer, her face illuminated by the glow. “If you follow me, you will be lost forever, just like me. You need to stay in the world of the living.”

Before he could respond, the mist surged around them, swirling and brightening. Lily’s face became clearer, yet her smile faded. “Remember me,” she whispered, and in an instant, she vanished into the mist.

The glow faded, and the graveyard was still once more. Sam stood there, heart pounding, feeling both empty and full. He had helped a spirit, yet he would never know if she had truly found peace.

As he turned to leave, he stumbled upon a tombstone he hadn’t noticed before. It was old and cracked, the name barely readable. With a start, he realized it was his own. “Samuel J. Greene,” it read—the dates showing he had died on Halloween night, years before.

He gasped, the truth crashing over him. He wasn’t helping a lost spirit; he was the one lost, wandering through a night that was both familiar and foreign. The graveyard, the voices, the girl—they were all part of a world he could never leave.

And as the wind whispered through the trees, it carried the echo of Lily’s voice, reminding him of a promise he could never break.