The Secret of the Old Lodge

April 3, 2026

by Twila

3 min read

Story Premise 3 min read (579 words)

"The summer before my seventh grade was filled with excitement. At twelve, I was ready for my first adventure at a sleepaway camp. When I arrived, the camp buzzed with laughter and chatter from kids my age. I was placed in a cabin with five other girls, all seemingly just as eager to make memories. […]"

The summer before my seventh grade was filled with excitement. At twelve, I was ready for my first adventure at a sleepaway camp. When I arrived, the camp buzzed with laughter and chatter from kids my age. I was placed in a cabin with five other girls, all seemingly just as eager to make memories.

On our first night, we gathered around a flickering campfire. Our counselor shared a chilling tale about an old lodge deep in the woods. He spoke of a boy who had vanished there years ago, leaving only whispers of his presence behind. According to legend, his spirit lingered, haunting the very lodge where he disappeared. Some of my cabinmates rolled their eyes, but they were clearly intrigued.

That night, after the counselor turned in, we huddled together, fueled by curiosity and a little Encountershief. We decided to investigate the old lodge, despite the rules warning us to stay away from the woods. It was nearly 1 AM when we crept out, armed with flashlights and dressed in dark clothes to blend into the shadows.

The moonlight barely pierced through the canopy of trees, casting strange shapes on the ground. Our hearts raced as we approached the lodge, its silhouette looming in the distance. As we reached the door, we could feel the chill in the air intensify.

With a deep breath, we pushed the door open, its creak echoing through the still night. Inside, the air was stale, filled with the scent of damp wood. We shined our flashlights around, casting beams of light on dust-covered furniture and cobwebs. Then, we heard a sound—a soft thud from upstairs.

Frozen in place, we exchanged nervous glances. Every scary story we had ever heard flashed through my mind. Despite our fears, we decided to explore further. We tiptoed up the staircase, each step creaking under our weight. At the top, we found a hallway lined with doors, each one seeming to hide its own secrets.

As we approached the last door, we could feel an inexplicable pull, as if something was beckoning us to enter. We opened it slowly, revealing a small, empty room bathed in moonlight. In the center stood a dusty old mirror, reflecting our anxious faces. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, and the door slammed shut behind us.

Panic set in. We rushed to the door, but it wouldn’t budge. It felt as though the lodge itself was alive, trapping us within its walls. Just when we thought we were truly stuck, a quiet voice pierced the air, “Help me…”

We turned to each other, fear etched on our faces. The voice had come from the mirror! Without thinking, we grabbed each other’s hands and shouted together, “We’re here to help!”

In that moment, the mirror shimmered, and for a brief flash, we saw the boy’s face—lost and longing. Then, just as suddenly, the door swung open, and we stumbled back into the hallway, gasping for breath. We didn’t stop running until we reached our cabin, hearts pounding and minds racing.

The next day, we shared our adventure with the counselor, who listened with a knowing smile. He encouraged us to embrace the unknown, reminding us that sometimes, the stories we hear are just the beginning of our own.

From that night on, the old lodge became a part of our camp lore, a reminder that adventures often lie just beyond the boundaries of our fears.

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