Lynn Combs

Every school has its ghost stories. At Emerson Middle, they whisper about Locker 237.

When seventh-grader James takes a forbidden shortcut through the abandoned wing after practice, he doesn’t expect to find a locker that opens on its own—or a voice whispering, “Help me.” Inside are three things: a notebook, a broken watch, and a photograph of a boy who vanished in 1983.

With his best friend Derek, James digs into the mystery of Benji Henderson’s disappearance. The deeper they go, the darker it gets—disappearing records, strange warnings, and a janitor who seems to know more than he’s saying. Soon, whispers turn to threats, and the boys realize the truth was buried for a reason.

But Benji’s ghost is tired of waiting to be found.

Now, as October 13th approaches—the anniversary of his disappearance—James and Derek must uncover the secret behind Locker 237 before history repeats itself. Because some echoes don’t fade… they call you back.

This Story took First Place in the Middle-Grade Fiction For Boys Contest at the 2025 OCW (Ozarks Creative Writers) Conference.