It was a dark and stormy night. Rain slashed against the windows and Roy could still hear the words of his mother and father. Their soothing voices rang in his ear with the secret they’d shared with him before their accidental death, something about a treasure. Roy knew he had to find it.

Roy slipped on his shoes and ducked out into the night. Heart beating, he remembered his parents' words. "…a family treasure hidden in our old Daleville warehouse. You must find it. It's your inheritance..."

Roy blinked away the memory. He started walking to Daleville. The night was even colder and darker there and he didn’t notice the old man until he bumped into him.

“Sorry” Roy said.

"Get out of my way! My wealth!" said the man and ran off.

Roy felt an odd sensation. Had the man gotten to the treasure already? No! It was his family’s treasure! Roy gasped and raced into the old warehouse. He ran up the stairs and into the attic. Pushing the trap door open, he found a chest of gold in the corner and smiled. He’d done it. He’d been brave, gone into the night, and claimed his inheritance.

© Malisa R. Original for CCF (Malisa R. grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).

* CCF does not publish students' last names on the work they submit for publication.