text: Elle Marie Calhoun The Mystery Diaries 
   
   
   A New Place 
   My name is Jen Connors, daughter of Jay Connors and sister of Jordan Connors. I am 16 years old and a junior in high school. I now live in Unitah, Utah. This is one of the most mysterious places in America. Perfect place to live, right? It's so creepy here that you can hardly believe the things that happen here. But what would I know? I've only been here for 4 days. It's time to start exploring. 
   I don't really know anyone yet. It's been four days and at night is when everything gets creepy. Yep, exploring is the perfect thing to do. I start walking toward the woods when I hear my father's voice, Jen, what are you doing? You should be at school.” my father says. "Oh okay.” I say. "C'mon, get your stuff and we'll go. The school isn't far from here." Ever since we got here, I've forgotten how many days have passed. 
   I arrive at school right on time; I head to the office to get my schedule which my father had already fixed for me before we got here. I have arrived in the middle of the school year. My first class is Investigative Management; the room is the last room at the end of the hall. When I walk in, I see there is only one table left where one girl is sitting. I go to the teacher's desk, passing him the paper that told I was a new student. He then begins to stand up and starts to speak, "Everyone, we have a new student; Miss Jen Connors." he then pauses and says to me in a more hushed tone, "There is one seat left by Miss Brown.", he gestures to the girl I had noticed when I first walked in. I walk toward the table, lay my stuff down and sit down across from the girl with curly brown hair. She looked at me and began to speak as she extended her hand to shake mine, "Hi, I'm Brailyn Brown. It's nice to see a fresh new face around here." "It's nice to meet you. I'm Jen Connors.", I said, shaking her hand. "So where are you from?" "Edgewood, New Jersey." "Wow, far way. So, I suppose you like investigating." "Yeah...” I paused, "It's something I've always been into." "Hmm... That's very interesting. There have been weird things happening here for years. No one really knows how or knows much about it. It definitely strikes my fancy." I thought for a second, all this sounds incredible. I've heard of the things that happen here and it just makes me want to know more. I begin to speak then, "Weird. Have you ever thought of checking it out?" "I've tried to get my parents to take me, but there's no use." "Well then, we'll just have to do it ourselves." She started to grin at me then spoke, "Lina, I think this is the beginning a wonderful friendship." 
   My next class was U.S. History, which was practically a cinch for me. Most of the seats were already taken by the time I got in there. I struggled and eventually found a seat behind a guy with short, wavy brown hair and milky brown eyes. He turned around automatically and faced me, "Hey I'm Ryder Branson. So who are you, New Girl?” he said as a sly smile appeared on his face. "I'm Jen Connors." "Well Jen, what brought you to Unitah?" "My father's job. So any chance you know anything about the strange stuff happening here?" "Oh, you mean the railroad sounds that you can hear under the ground when nothing is there and the crazy mutations that supposedly happen?" "Uh, yeah. Have you ever been out there?" "Unfortunately not. So why are you so interested?" "Mysterious things intrigue me. They always have." "I see." Then he turned away from me. 
   In lunch, I found Brailyn at a table and joined her. "Hey.", she said as I sat down across from her. "Hey do you know Ryder Branson?” I said, automatically. "That dare-devil with brown eyes? Of course, I've known him forever." Right then, I turned my head and saw Ryder walk my way and then before I knew it, he sat beside me. "Oh, we were just talking about you.” Brailyn said, grinning. "No, we weren't.", I growled to her, shooting a scowl her way. "Oh, were you?” he said, a huge grin on his face. "No, we weren't. I'm gonna get food now." I hurried and got up, trying to avoid Ryder. As I was rushing, I ran into a girl with long wavy blonde hair. She screamed and I began to apologize hurriedly. "Calm down. It's fine. Accidents happen. You must have really had something big on your mind.” she said, he voice as fluid as the ocean. She looked like beach queen, not someone you would see in Unitah with its dreary skies and mysterious happenings. . I looked in the direction of Ryder and she followed my eyes. “Ah, Ryder Branson; I’ve known him my whole life. He’s a bit of a tough guy but deep down he’s actually really nice. But… I do sense something else is on your mind besides him.” “Well you’re right.” “Okay so how about we get food and then go sit over there so you can tell me what is really on your mind. By the way, I’m Nina Johnson.” “Sounds great, and I’m Jen Connors.” “Nice to meet you Jen.” 
   When I got back to the table, I sit back down by Ryder and Nina settles down beside Brailyn. “So Jen, what was on your mind that had you so distracted?” Nina says as she picks at a roll on her tray. “Well it’s just these things happening around here. The railroad sounds, the mutations, everything.” “Ah, so you’re curious about that as well. Most people around here are too scared to go out in the woods and some are skeptics who don’t believe in the things happening here.” Right then, Brailyn spoke up, “Jen and I were thinking of checking it all out. Who’s in?” “I am.” Ryder and I say at the same time. I blush a bit then and look away. Brailyn then looks at Nina, “Are you in or out?” she says. “Most definitely in.” Nina says, grinning from ear to ear. “Well I see we have a plan.” Brailyn says. “I say we all meet at my house after school and talk over the details. Agreed?” I say. “Agreed.” they all say in unison. 
   After school, I ran into the kitchen to see Dad nowhere in sight and Jordan staring into a cup of some kind of liquid. “What are you doing?” I asked him. “I found this recipe online on how to make invisible ink.” he says, not even looking up. I got intrigued then and came closer to him. “So is it working?” “I have to add heat first 
     
   
   
   Publication Date: February 2nd 2017 https://www.bookrix.com/-ellemarie96