The Dead End: Darkhill Scary Stories, #5

By Keith Robinson

Ben, Emma, Nate, and Mia – four friends determined to film the paranormal in the creepy town of Darkhill. They call themselves DARKSEEKERS.

 

Mia has lost her phone... and her memory! For the past two weeks, she's been investigating mysterious disappearances in Dead End alley. But she can't remember doing so.

The stories include a thick mist coming out of nowhere, a shadowy figure standing on some steps that aren't there, and people who lose thirty minutes of their lives. When the Darkseekers dig deeper, they start to wish they hadn't...

 

Written by the author of the Island of Fog series, THE DEAD END is the fifth case for the intrepid investigators in this supernatural series. If you're a fan of Goosebumps, you'll love Darkhill Scary Stories!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unearthly Tales
• Release date: May 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223448303

Keith Robinson

Keith Robinson is a writer of fantasy fiction for middle-grade readers and young adults. His ISLAND OF FOG series has received extremely positive feedback from readers of all ages including Piers Anthony (best-selling author of the Magic of Xanth series) and Writer's Digest. Visit UnearthlyTales.com for more.

Book preview

The Dead End

Darkhill Scary Stories 5

© 2023 Keith Robinson

Published by Unearthly Tales

on April 15, 2023

Cover by Keith Robinson

No part of this book may be reproduced without permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Visit the author's website:

unearthlytales.com

Contents

Our Town is Haunted!

1. The Missing Phone

2. Blank Spot

3. Bacon Butties

4. The Dead End

5. Investigation

6. Mysterious Man

7. The Way It Was Before

8. The Artful Dodge

9. 1943

10. Catastrophic Event

11. Everything’s Gone

12. Far From Home

13. The Men in the Crater

14. One More Chance

15. Amber Green

16. Half Buried

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Darkhill Scary Stories

Author’s Website

Our Town is Haunted!

Ben, Emma, Nate, and Mia are determined to film the paranormal in the creepy town of Darkhill. They call themselves Darkseekers. And there’s an abundance of spooky stuff where they live!

Though surrounded by sinister legends and terrible tales, nobody wants to go on record about it. It’s bad for business, the mayor insists. Never talk to reporters.

While most of the residents agree to keep their mouths shut for the sake of the community, a small team of twelve-year-olds is determined to dig deeper into the creepy stories and obtain actual evidence of the supernatural. The brave Darkseekers tackle case after case armed with mobile phones, plenty of enthusiasm, and at least a vague idea of the danger they’re getting into.

For fans of Goosebumps, these ghostly tales are complete stories and can be read in any order.

Chapter 1

The Missing Phone

Mia! You’re going to be late!

Mom’s getting annoyed now. I am, too. After one last frantic search under the bed, I’m forced to give it up and admit defeat. Hurrying down the stairs, I find the front door wide open and Mom standing on the porch. There’s a drizzle of rain and a light mist, which is why biking is out of the question today. She’s already started the car, and white exhaust smoke drifts across the lawn.

Find it? she asks me.

I stomp past her. Nope.

Mom doesn’t speak again until after she’s locked up the house, climbed into the driver’s seat, buckled herself in, and pulled out of the driveway. Then she lays into me.

So help me, Mia, if you’ve lost your phone—

"It’s not lost, Mom, just . . . mislaid."

Mislaid, lost, it’s all the same if you can’t find it. Where did you see it last?

On my bedside table, I think.

And it didn’t fall onto the floor?

Well, gee, Mom, I never thought of that.

Whoops.

Her hands grip the steering wheel harder, and her knuckles turn white. Mia, do not get smart with me. I’m only trying to establish where you’ve looked and where you haven’t.

I know, sorry.

She turns out of the Cold Falls subdivision and heads toward school. Neither of us says a word for a while. I know she’s fuming, and I can’t blame her.

Don’t worry, it’ll turn up, I mutter, for once wishing I were at school already. It’s definitely at home. I used it in my room yesterday to research my history assignment.

But then you went out.

Yes, to Ben’s, for a meeting, I admit. Then straight home again. If it’s not in my room, it’s in Ben’s shed.

A meeting about ghosts, I suppose, she says in a weary tone.

Thankfully, Mom stops grilling me, and the rest of our journey is peaceful. She’s even in a good mood again by the time we arrive at the school.

Bye, Mom, I tell her, waving.

Despite her worries about being late, there are still ten minutes before class. I find Emma by the lockers and make a beeline for her. Her presence always cheers me up. She’s the newest member of the Darkseekers, and I didn’t think she’d last a minute once we let her join us on a case, but she did great and gave me a run for my money.

Emma, I call, pushing through the crowd.

Hey! She gives me a quick hug. Ben says to tell you we have another case.

We do?

Emma raises an eyebrow. You didn’t reply to his group text last night. Did you misplace your phone again?

I sigh. I did.

Okay, well, we’re meeting in Ben’s shed again at seven tonight. He has a case for us.

Did he say what it is?

Nope. He’s being all secretive. He won’t even tell Nate.

The four of us are Darkseekers, and we investigate paranormal activity in the creepy town of Darkhill, where we live. Ben and Nate founded our group, but Ben is the natural leader. I joined up with them soon after, and we were three for a while, and then Emma came along. Four is perfect—two boys, two girls, and as Ben says, that means we can pair up and stay safe.

School is too boring to even think about, and I’m glad when it’s finally over. I glimpsed the boys at lunchtime, but they were with a group of others, laughing about a TV show.

There aren’t many people I like at school. A few morons can’t resist making stupid, racist comments about the earth-shattering fact that I’m Japanese American. The actual comments don’t bother me, but these idiots are mean for no apparent reason. It’s so dumb and pointless. So I keep to myself even if that makes me seem unfriendly. Emma’s the only one I’m comfortable around.

Where was the last place you saw your phone yesterday? she asks as we’re heading out to the sidewalk.

That makes me groan. Why do people always ask that? It was on my bedside table. That’s the very first place I looked.

Well, it’ll turn up. Bet your mom’s ticked.

Understatement.

Emma’s dad is waiting outside the school, and she gives me a wave and climbs in. As the car edges into the traffic, I spot Mom pulling in at the horseshoe entrance. At least the drizzle has dried up in time for our after-school meeting. My bike doesn’t have a rear mudguard to stop rain from splashing up my back.

Nice day? Mom says with a smile on our way home.

I guess. Oh, hey, Mom, the Darkseekers are meeting tonight at seven.

I don’t phrase it like a question. She frowns, then sighs. Well, as long as you do your—

Homework, I know. Don’t worry, I will.

The second Mom pulls into our driveway and shuts the engine off, she wags her finger at me. Find your phone!

Sure thing. I unbuckle my seatbelt and get ready to escape.

She shakes her head and starts into one of her minor tirades about the youth of today. Honestly, the world revolves around electronic devices and the internet. I remember when such things didn’t exist! It’s easier for children now. My parents and grandparents had a much harder life. They put your great-grandmother in an internment camp during the war!

Yes, I know, I assure her, nodding furiously as I open my door. Sounds horrible. Sorry, but I need to get to work on my essay before I forget what I’m supposed to be doing!

As I rush upstairs to get my homework done, a nagging feeling in the back of my mind tells me I’ve not only misplaced my phone but am missing something else as well.

Something vitally important.

****

Well, here we are again, Ben says with a smile.

The four of us huddle around a coffee table in the gloomy Darkseekers HQ. The suggestion of evening light shines through a single window.

Ben is mostly calm and thoughtful, though I’ve noticed he has a flair for the dramatics sometimes. When starting a fresh case, he likes to keep certain details close to his chest until we’re in the thick of it.