Mystery Story
By Marcus Czosnek
Grade 6
Easton Elementary School
Mrs. McQuade
Prologue – LETTER
The time was 11:00 a.m. when the doorbell rang. “Hello?” said Mr.Simon. He opened the door and a letter had appeared on the front step. The letter read:
Dear Mr. Simon,
We must inform you to go on the next train heading to Millbridge. You will be accompanied by Mr. Tompson, Ms. Sara, Miss Simon, and Miss McGraw. Caution, anything can happen.
Signed, M.E.
Chapter 1 – THE START
Chhhhhhh! The train pulled into the station. Mr. Simon got onto the train. Only four people were there, counting him. They were Mr. Tompson, Ms. Sara, and Miss McGraw. Mr. Simon sat in the front. “ Hello,” said Mr. Tompson.
“Hello, how are you?”
“Good,” said Mr. Tompson. Right then Miss Simon entered the train. She was dressed in crimson red with a see through mask. Choo! Choo! Chugga, chugga. The train lurched away from the station. “Here we go,” said Mr. Simon.
Chapter 2 – THE FIRST DEATH
Soon after the train left, Mr. Tompson went to the bathroom. BANG! A loud noise was heard from the front of the train.
“What was that?” asked Mr. Simon.
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out,” said Miss Simon. The two went towards the front. “Conductor, where are you?” The two said. When they entered the front they found the driver dead.
“ Oh my heavens, he is dead!” said Miss Simon.
“ Stop the train!” They yelled. Just then a loud screeching sound hit, and the train stopped. Then over the intercom a strange man said, “This is not the end. More will die and one will live.”
Chapter 3 – THE SUSPECT
That night all the train riders gathered, including Mr. Simon, Mr. Tompson, Ms. Sara, Miss Simon, and Miss McGraw. “What happened?” asked Miss McGraw.
“The conductor was killed,” said Mr. Simon.
“By one of us,” added Miss Simon.
“My, this sounds fun! Is this a suspect game?” said Ms. Sara.
“No! This is serious!” blurted Mr. Simon.
“Miss Simon and I think it is Mr. Tompson,” said Mr. Simon.
“No! It wasn’t me!” said Mr. Tompson. Just then the lights went out.
“Mr. Tompson? Mr. Tompson?” said Mr. Simon. Then the lights flickered on, and he was gone.
Chapter 4 – ANOTHER DEAD
When the lights came back on they heard a loud scream from the third car. Mr. Simon ran to the third car. “Hello,” he said as Miss McGraw came into view and was holding a gun.
“Whoa! Don’t point that at me!” said Mr. Simon. When they found what made the noise it made them pause. Mr. Tompson was shot dead. No one knew what to do.
“I wonder who is next?” asked Miss McGraw. “I wonder?”
Chapter 5 – THERE IT GOES
The next day everyone found a sandwich next to their chair. “Mmmmmm, these are good!”
“I wonder who made them?” said Mr. Simon.
“It’s crazy!” said Miss Simon. “One night down and two people are already dead!”
“Yeah,” said Miss McGraw.
‘’We need a clue,” said Miss Simon, “and I have an idea.”
“What?” asked Mr. Simon.
“We should detach the other cars.”
“Why should we do that?” exclaimed Mr. Simon.
“Just maybe the murderer is in one of those cars,” said Miss Simon. So Mr. Simon and Miss Simon detached the cars and let them go. “There it goes,” they all cheered.
Chapter 6 – THE NOTE
That night all of the members got together to find out what to do. “OK,” said Mr. Simon, “We need to settle this.” They all crowded into the front of the train.
“OK, so let’s just confess. Who did it?” said Miss McGraw. No one answered. CLICK! Miss McGraw pulled out a gun pointing it and yelling, “Who did it?” Then a rock was tossed into the room. It read DOOM! Then the lights went out. BAM!! A gunshot rang in their ears. The lights came back on. Miss McGraw lay on the ground, dead. Uh oh, three down, two to go, and one survivor.
Chapter 7 – THE DISCOVERY
No one could sleep that second night. They were all sitting next to each other for protection. Miss Sara whispered to Miss. Simon, “I didn’t do it! I swear!”
Miss Simon replied, “Me either.” They both looked at Mr. Simon. “Why did you do it?”
“What? The murders? I would never!” he answered. “But, I did find something.”
“What?” said Miss Simon
“Fingerprints. They didn’t match anyone who’s dead, so it must match one of us. Here, I’ll show you.”
Chapter 8 – THE NOISE
The fingerprints didn’t match Mr. Simon or Miss Simon. “It means that Ms. Sara is to blame.”
“I didn’t do anything. Scan my fingers,” said Ms. Sara.
Just then a noise came from the roof, Thunk… thunk…thunk “What was that?” said Mr. Simon.
“I’ll go check,” said Ms. Sara. A few minutes later Mr. Simon went toward the roof. Ratatatat
“Look!” yelled Mr. Simon. Ms. Sara was slumped off the train, with no pulse.
Chapter 9 – THE GUNFIGHT
Mr. Simon notices a gun and picks it up. He rushes up the ladder to roof. “Who’s up here?” No answer. Ratatatat Mr. Simon fired back. Bam! Bam! Then Mr. Simon was hit in the arm Ratatatat Bullets were bouncing all over the place. “Are you okay?” called Miss Simon.
“Give me the flashlight,” said Mr. Simon. Miss Simon passed him the flashlight. He turned it on and blinded the shooter a few seconds. Bam! Mr. Simon shot the man.
Epilogue – FOUR YEARS LATER
Ring… Ring… Ring Mr. Simon picked up the phone. “Hello,” he said.
“We found out who the killer was. It was… Mrrrrrrkkkkkrrgg.” The phone went dead.
Ding Dong Mr. Simon open the door and a letter had appeared on the front step. The letter read:
Dear Mr. Simon,
Meet me on the top of the Empire State.
Signed, M.E.
Editor’s note: This story is part of the 2015-16 Young Author anthology.
